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Monday, February 18, 2008

El Pollo Fino - Review #1

El Pollo Fino #2
714 W Chapman Ave
Placentia, CA 92870
(714) 524-7300

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I stopped in for lunch at El Pollo Fino in Placentia. This is their second location, the first being in Anaheim. They are located in the Bargain Basket Market shopping center just east of the 57 fwy. El Pollo Fino is the kind of place El Pollo Loco started as, years before it became the big chain it is today.


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They split grill whole chickens in a similar manner until they have glistening crispy skins that crackle when you bite into them.

The resulting chicken has crispier skin than El Pollo Loco and it is also a little saltier. I ordered the 3 piece combo which runs $5.73. It comes with rice and your choice of refried or whole pinto beans on the side. As you can see, I opted for the whole beans. They were good if a bit bland. So I spiced them up with the house salsa. The salsa is a thin red fiery concoction that is closer to pepper sauce than salsa. It has a good kick to it. The rice was very good and tasted as if it was cooked in the broth from the chickens. You also get a grilled fresh chile and hot tortillas. I went with corn tortillas and used them to make tacos with the chicken. They were great dipped into the salsa but you don't need it. The chicken is plenty flavorful by itself.


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The 3-piece combo is a good amount of food and left me full all afternoon.

Besides the chicken, they also serve a number of shrimp dishes, fajitas of shrimp, chicken or beef, birria, taco, burritos and menudo on the weekends. But most of the business in done in those chickens. They serve beer, soda and agua frescas for beverages.


El Pollo Fino - Wall Painting


One wall is decorated with a big mural of a fantasy Placentia of the past; a nice touch to make the room homey. They also have a jukebox filled with Mexican songs that one of the patrons seems to have going all the time. If you want to try the grass roots version of grilled Mexican chicken this is a good place to try. I give it 3 and ¾ Speedys:


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