Chick-O-Rico — Restaurant in Charlotte

UPDATE: JANUARY 2022

sad to say, that the owners on the older view sold the business in December 2021. We had to almost exact same meal as noted before. EXCEPT: The lomo saltado was completely prepared differently. It was drowned in soy sauce and vinegar. I honestly do not know how the tomatoes could have breathed. The meat was tender, but one needed a jug of water to get the vinegar and soy sauce taste out. we also got the orange drink, also called maraquoi (not sure spelling) , but it had a strange aftertaste, something that you would taste at the bottom of a barrel or something. the ceviche was okay, but extremely limey. Like they gave up on flavors or spices, and used a bag of limes.

very disappointed! We loved this restaurant and would come almost 40 minutes because it was really the only authentic Peruvian in Charlotte. For the price of each plate, and the time to get there, it is not worth it.

Sorry, but the new owners should have researched how the old owners were cooking, hate to give less than par reviews, but this was not good at all!

PRE 2022 REVIEW

We ordered the ceviche (Peruvian Fish dish) and the Lomo Saltado (steak/onions/Fries on a bed of rice, tomatoes.

Lomo Saltado was very smooth, and then me was very soft. Dish I get when I go, been here twice.

Ceviche - Wife got the ceviche, which is a combination of cilantro, lime juice, fish, sweet potatoes, and Peruvian corn, with other things. There's a little kick to it,

The food, was consistent as far as taste and texture when we came the last two times.

Plates are on the medium price side. But if you want good quality, you have to pay a little bit more. Sit down type of restaurant, but not full service waitress type of service.

Kyle, the one in the picture is the chef and he is from Peru. Hence being a Peruvian restaurant!

10 - speed of service, attentiveness 10 - cleanliness 8 -. Ambiance 10 - food quality/taste 10 - portion size 10 - authenticity of cuisine. (the other Peruvian style restaurants in Charlotte are Viva Chicken and Machu Picchu. Viva chicken is fast food production line quality. Good, but this food is what you would find in a high-end Peruvian restaurant in DC and the best in Charlotte for authentic Peruvian food)

$$$ out of 5 for...

Decent authentic Peruvian food. I tried this restaurant out for the first time today, and don’t usually write reviews but there were a couple of things I wanted to address about this place. First off, I want to say the owner and head chief seems really proud of this restaurant, I want to applaud him because the restaurant looks beautiful and I know he has worked hard to open up. I know not every new restaurant opens smoothly (I’ve read about their opening struggles prior). I had really high hopes for the dishes (my family and I are from Perú), I ordered the Lomo saltó, looked beautiful in the bowl, but it was hard to eat with the plastic utensils. However, I started eating the steak and realized I was given a very small portion of steak for 16 dollars. Half the plate was onions and tomatoes, rice and fries at the bottom. By the time I realized their was fires it was all soggy and unpleasant. My parents ordered the ceviche, and weren’t so excited about it after they ate it. The potatoes were raw and not properly boiled and the portion was smaller then expected. Although I know ceviche is hard to come by, but they too were disappointed about the plates. The restaurant was smaller then expected, and not COVID friendly. I understand that it’s a new restaurant but they have little seating options and customers were arguing with each other about trying to grab the next available table. We sat closer to the the kitchen, where right behind us was a line for ordering, there was no barrier to protect us from them. Having older parents I know this made them a bit uncomfortable, but we tried to look past that for the food, but in the end we left unsatisfied and disappointed. I hope to come back again and be able to have my mind changed about this place because it’s hard to come by good authentic Peruvian food here in Charlotte. But for now I will give them some time to improve before I go back to try...

Looking for a Latin culinary adventure beyond the typical Mexican and Central American fare in Charlotte? Look no further than Chick-o-Rico! From the moment you step in, you're greeted with a warm ambiance that sets the stage for an unforgettable dining experience.

I recently indulged in a lunch feast at Chick-o-Rico, and let me tell you, it was a fiesta for the senses! I kicked things off with a tantalizing chicken empanada that left me craving more. Then, the pièce de résistance arrived – a succulent 1/4 rotisserie chicken served with mouthwatering sides of house salad and rice topped with pinto beans. Each bite was a symphony of flavors, perfectly seasoned and oh-so-satisfying.

And let's talk about that salsa picante – although I requested it, I found myself abandoning it after the first heavenly bite of their moist and impeccably seasoned chicken. That's how good it was!

If you're a connoisseur of Peruvian chicken chain restaurants, prepare to be blown away. Chick-o-Rico's offerings are in a league of their own, surpassing expectations with every dish.

As for beverages, I resisted the temptation to dive into their array of tantalizing juice flavors, because I would have preferred a limonada de coco and they do not offer that. Perhaps next time, I will try one of their beverages.

The ambiance was just right – vibrant music filled the air, creating an energetic atmosphere without drowning out the possibility of engaging in lively conversation.

In conclusion, Chick-o-Rico delivers an exceptional dining experience that leaves you eagerly anticipating your next visit. Trust me, once you've tasted their culinary delights, you'll be counting down the days until you can indulge again....