Details

Pollo Campero - Herndon

496 Elden St.
Herndon, VA 20170

703-904-7500

703-904-7565

Neighborhood: Fairfax

Cuisines: South American, Deli/Quick Bites

Opening Hours:
Monday through Friday 10 to 10, Saturday and Sunday 9 to 10.

Price Range: Inexpensive

Dress: Informal

Noise Level: Chatty

Reservations: Not Needed

Website: http://www.campero.com/

Best Dishes:
Fried chicken; stewed beans; Spanish rice; horchata; Tamarindo.

Dirt Cheap Eats 2007: El Pollo Campero - Herndon

By: Todd Kliman, Ann Limpert, Cynthia Hacinli, sara levine, Erin Zimmer

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.