Alpaca Peruvian Charcoal Chicken

Came here Friday with some coworkers for lunch. The place is off of the main road so it’s kind of hidden. The parking lot is limited but I guess we came early enough to find spots open.
I ordered the quarter chicken with rice and corn. The charcoal really does make the difference! It gives the chicken that nice smokey flavor. The seasoning on the chicken skin was amazing. I got the spicy red chili sauce to dip the chicken in. Warning: the spiciness builds up gradually but you will feel it. The sauce is a bit salty but I was able to balance that out with the sweetness of the corn.
One of my coworkers got the half chicken with black beans and chicken soup. My other coworker got the Pollo Saltado which looked really good.
Overall, price is not bad (mine was $ 7 something) and the portions are satisfying.

I’d give it 5 stars if they didn’t try to skimp on the portions. The food itself is fantastic, but since they changed from Mami Noras to Alpaca, they’ve gotten cheap. When we order the half chicken, beans, rice and maduros, there’s noticeable less of everything. It’s probably a ¹⁄₃ less maduros and close to half the amount of rice and beans.
Don’t mess up a great thing. I’d pay more for the same amount since the number of mouths I’m feeding remains constant.

This review is about a bad experience that I had with a carryout order. On Friday, I ordered a whole chicken with rice and black beans and the lomo saltado. When I got home and opened the bag, the whole chicken was not included in my order. I called back to the store and told them of their mistake and was told I could come back in and pick up the chicken and they would take the cost of the chicken off of my credit card and leave a note at the cashier. Since I live in North Durham, I told the young lady that I would come in on Saturday on my way back from Southpoint, as it was more convenient then me hopping back in my car the same day.
I came in on Saturday and while there was a note left, there was not an indication on whether the charge had been removed from my credit card and she also had not indicated that I would receive something for free because of the mistake. Therefore, my credit card was charged for a whole chicken.
The original charge which included the cost for the whole chicken (which I never received) was charged to my card on Monday and another charge for another whole chicken appeared on my account on Tuesday.
So, the removal of the charge never happened. Very disappointed in how you don’t include the priciest item on my menu in a carryout item. Buyer beware!

I went with two friends and shared the whole chicken (comes with two large sides and we got beans and rice), the maduros/​sweet plantains and the chaufa (fried rice). The chicken is really good, and I would definitely recommend going with friends and getting the whole — you get dark and white meat, and it’s definitely the best deal for the amount of meat you’re getting. I was very pleasantly surprised by the rice — I expected plain white rice, but I think they add some seasoning to it that adds a tasty layer to it. The maduros were also great. You get pretty big portions for the regular size, and I cut them up and mixed it in with my rice and chicken. The sweet and savory combination is so good.
I’d say skip the chaufa though. It’s good, but the highlight was definitely the chicken and rice and beans.

On our way home and so glad we found this place via Unilocal instead of the usual fast food. Don’t be afraid, it’s a very plain place (we wouldn’t have gone in except for the great reviews.) I’ll just say we would have missed out big time if we had judged this place by its simplicity. Friendly service, great chicken and sides (sweet plantains amazing, beans were really good, yucca fries crisp on outside and pillow soft inside) and the sauces were to die for, especially the green one with a big spicy kick. Prices were abt 25 percent lower than our favorite Peruvian place in charlotte. Liked this place better as well.

My friend had been raving about the chicken here for months (maybe years) before we finally dragged our lazy butts north of I-​85 (which really isn’t far…) for take-​out. One whole chicken, rice & beans, and sweet plantains. More than enough food for 2, plus leftovers for lunch the next day. AND SO GOOD. The chicken is moist and flavorful, the rice and beans are delicious, and the plantains are addictive. We now order here every week or so.
PS: Ordering through EatStreet/​Yelp is really easy!

Small hidden gem off club. They have a huge rotisserie oven behind the counter yummy. Simple menu but very good.

Best Peruvian chicken in the Raleigh, Durham and Cary areas. Always well-​seasoned, juicy and piping hot. The whole chicken, which comes with 2 large sides is the best deal and great for sharing. The leftovers are yummy reheated or re-​purposed. I typically use it to make chicken salad the next day.
Their homemade sides and homemade sauces are the perfect complements to the chicken. They are all delicious but I always opt for the tostones and yucca frita (and yes… they are worth the extra
$.50)!
If you’re in the mood for something other than their awesome chicken they make a mean lomo saltado and their daily specials never disappoint.
If you’re not opting for water to drink, try the homemade chi cha morada. The spicy clove and cinnamon make this drink absolutely yummy. If you want a beer with your meal, grab the Presidente.
The only criticism I have of Mami Nora’s/Alpaca is that the tres leches and alfajores are prepackaged. As a lover of tres leches I wish this wasn’t so. But honestly with food like this who needs dessert?
We have been regular patrons for over 5 years (starting at the Wake Forest Road location and now here) and we will continue to be for years to come.
Welcome to your newest addiction!

So simple yet so delicious. Had a wonderful meal here — quarter chicken, yucca fries, and perfectly seasoned green beans that left my mouth watering! The chicken was perfectly roasted and moist — loved the different dipping sauces (especially the spicy green one) that accompany it as well. The price point is spot on — a great value for the amount of food that you get! Wish that they had a bigger parking lot as the surrounding area can get a little sketchy.

Wow I loved this place.
The rotisserie chicken is on point. I haven’t had such good rice since I lived in East Africa. Everything was delicious. I can’t wait to go back!
As a side note, Durham has an amazing food scene– obviously-​but sometimes the creeping gentrification means that businesses that represent the multidimensional aspects of Durham are pushed out. Mami Nora’s is an institution, and a great place to support. Don’t forget about it just because it isn’t as shiny as some of the newer places!

Friggin love this place. They kinda do a simple offering which is a lot of times better than you «everything under the sun» cheesecake factory type menus. I’m a big fan of places that do just a few items but do them very well like Mami Nora’s does. I’ve been here a couple times and had the chicken with beans and yucca fries. The rotisserie style chicken can be bought in the quarter/​half/​whole varieties and you can even request dark meat if you would like. I’m not sure what the hell the dipping sauce is made of but it is delicious also when paired with the chicken. The yucca fries are really the only thing I’ve found to just be «ok» and the black beans are very good for what they are. The best thing about this place hands down is the value. The items are priced just right to get a great meal for a reasonable price. I hope they never change that since there are so many places out there now where a good and filling meal will set you back 30 – 50 $. At Mami Nora’s you can feed two people completely for 20 $.

Great little hole in the wall! Their menu is simple, and they’ve perfected each item. Best rotisserie chicken I’ve ever had — definitely puts Costco to shame (sorry Costco). Each cut of meat is juicy and flavorful. The plantains are hot and sweet and the yucca fries are magical. Order food to go because the place itself is kind of hot and grimy. Once you’re home, I would suggest making a bed of rice in a large bowl, heaping it with black beans, adding the chicken, and garnishing with plantains. The liquid from the beans will make both the rice and the chicken more tender and flavorful. Really spectacular! What a find!

Got the quarter chicken, yuca fries and beans and my husband got the fried rice. The chicken was juicy and well seasoned and I loved the yuca fries. The fried rice had a good seasoning to it as well. I would definitely head back when I’m craving some chicken.

Food is delicious here! The chicken
And lomo saltado are to die for. The place is really small and if you go around12 you Will have to wait but it will be worth it

Simple. Str8 forward. Yummy.
The sun was setting and starting to encroach downwardly on my friend’s face sitting across from me. We had both finished our chicken, rice, and beans and now were sharing the last of the delicious maduros. Three police officers entered the restaurant, a sign of something good I tell myself. My friend and I finish our time together by marveling at the size of his new mosquito bite and how much we dislike living in North Carolina.
But we are happy. The food was comforting, and that’s all I could ask for in this backwards town.

This place is a true gem! For under $ 20 you can get a whole chicken with 2 large sides. And the chicken is incomparable. The rotisserie is just wood burning, not a gas/​wood combination like US built units: it was imported from Peru… how better to make true Peruvian-​style rotisserie chicken! Its small with only 7 tables, but always full, but what they do they do very well. I would give them 5 stars if they had fresh green vegetables, but I can live with rice and beans to get chicken this good.

Food: 4.5
Ambiance: 3.0
Food/​Price: 4.5
Pros: Excellent Peruvian dishes, great sides, great sauces
Cons: Closed on Tuesdays
The worst thing I can say about this place is that its closed on Tuesdays. It’s no accident that there’s now at least three of these in the area after starting as a relatively obscure shack located on what is basically a sketchy alley off of Roxboro. Roxboro, a road that is already in the running for Durham’s sketchiest.
While the place isn’t expensive, its not exactly cheap either. A half chicken with two sides will run you about $ 9 – 10 after tax, and though not my style I’ve seen many people spread that portion size over two meals. The chicken is juicy, flavorful, and wrapped in a brown and blistery skin that is perfectly complimented by both of Mami’s signature sauces, one mild and sweet, the other tangy and spicey. The sides are delicious, and if I’m feeling healthy I’ll usually opt for the slaw and beans. However, the fried plantains offer a great complimentary sweetness to the chicken and are by far the most addictive accoutrement.
Bottom Line: Don’t chicken out because of this places location, bullet wounds are a small price to pay for dat perfectly rotisseried poultry.

The best Rotisserie that I have ever been to. The chicken is cooked to perfection, with just the right amount of fat and juice. If you are a rotisserie lover, this should be a must and a regular on your list.
I am writing this after my recent visit to Mami Nora’s at Durham last Thursday. I ordered a half chicken with fries and soup and fried rice with chicken and sausage. The chicken was awesome as usual (no surprises) but the soup was also super delicious. Same goes for the fried rice. it’s very very difficult to make fried rice that is loaded with chicken and sausage and yet feels so fresh and delicious. I have become a regular at Mami’s for the rest of my days at Durham.

I finally got down to Mami Nora’s for a take-​out lunch today, and it was wonderful.
My order: A Large Dark (chicken leg and thigh) with white rice and black beans.
The chicken was tender, juicy, and flavorful. The rice and beans were also very good. I’m not sure what spices were used because I’m not familiar with Peruvian cuisine, but I can tell you that it was tasty.
Everything was good, but I wasn’t quite sure what to do with the two sauces they included. One was a green hot sauce and one was a mayo-​based (?) sauce. Is this for the chicken? Does it go over the rice and beans? The green sauce was too hot for me, but the other was fine. Perhaps these would’ve been good with an order of plantains.
I got there around 2pm and there was no line, so I had my order and was out the door in less than five minutes. The ladies behind the counter were very pleasant. The price was reasonable.
I’ll be back!

5 starts from my husband. 3 starts from me (because I am not a big fan of rotisserie chicken), but their rotisserie chicken is definitely better than any other rotisserie chicken (better than wholefood market). not much fat, but very soft tender seasoned good… sides are good, too. very good price…
I tried their stir fried rice dish, which was just ok.