Chicken
Perfect fried chicken is the hallmark of this Guatemalan fast-food chain. Coated in seasoned flour—the 11 ingredients are top secret—and sizzled to a gorgeous saffron hue, the chicken ($6.99 for three pieces) comes out tender and juicy, with a perfect meat-to-crust ratio.
Just as good are the beans ($1.89 for a single serving) in a soupy stew studded with sausage and peppers. Spoon them over Spanish rice or into a corn tortilla with a dollop of smoked chipotle salsa. Authentic drinks such as tart tamarindo and milky almond horchata go well with the salty, spicy fare.
Ann Limpert joined Washingtonian in late 2003. She was previously an editorial assistant at Entertainment Weekly and a cook in New York restaurant kitchens, and she is a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education. She lives in Petworth.
