Pollo Campero — Restaurant in Dallas

I lived in Guatemala for a couple years and ran into this restaurant there a little over a decade. Apparently they've made it far from home now.

Now for the food itself: the horchata is more authentic than the majority of other Latino restaurants. Yuca could replace the potato if more people actually knew about it (aka delicious). Fried sweet plantaín is absolutely divine. I don't even like bananas but holy cow this is straight candy. Salty plantain chips are dumb when this is even an options. The trouble is that I have yet to find someone who feels as passionately about this as I do.

Complaining: They were always expensive there but wow they are just that much more money here. Nuggies for over a buck a piece?! To be fair, Chick-Fil-A does the same thing but there's a reason I whine about them too haha. I suppose I'm too much of a tight wad for my own good.

Rant continued: Something I find absolutely hilarious is that they serve a Mexican hot sauce with the food here ... Anyone who knows anything about Chapines (Guatemalans) would know that most of them aren't exactly fond of their neighbor there and that the majority don't use spicy stuff on their food. To be fair, here in Texas, the majority of the customers do so it's understandable that they adapt.

When I finished eating, I couldn't find...

Pollo Campero has a few standout items, but my recent visit left me with mixed feelings.

The spicy chicken sandwich was decent. The breading had a solid crunch and the chicken itself was cooked well, but the seasoning didn’t fully deliver the bold spice I expected. It leaned more salty than flavorful, and the sauce felt like it was missing that extra kick to set it apart from other fast-food chicken spots. The bun was soft but a little too plain to balance the heavier breading.

The mango drink, on the other hand, was a highlight. It had a refreshing sweetness that paired well with the sandwich. It was different from the usual soda options and made the meal feel more interesting. I’d definitely order the drink again on its own.

Service was quick and friendly, and the restaurant was clean. Prices were fair for what you get, but the overall flavor experience didn’t fully match the hype.

If you’re nearby, the drink is worth trying, and the sandwich is good for a quick bite. But I wouldn’t go out of...

Overall a great experience. The staff were very friendly, professional, and attentive. It was my partner and I first time here, which caused us to look over the menu to figure out what was offered on the menu to make a selection. The staff was patient and understanding. While we were looking over the menu another customer came in and walked up to the counter in an effort to skip us. The staff FIRST asked us if it was okay to take another customer while we were looking over the menu. We placed our order and was impressed with how delicious all of the food tasted. We ordered the fried chicken, grilled chicken, fried plantains, Campero beans, and a roll. All served hot and delicious and on real dishes (no paper/plastic/styrofoam = environmentally friendly). Shortly after sitting to enjoy our delicious meal, a staff member stopped by our table to ask if everything was good. It's been such a long time since we've experienced great service along with a great meal. Please keep it...