Pollo Campero — Restaurant in Lawrenceville

This was my first visit and it was pretty good. We ordered two campero bowls, empanadas, a chicken sandwich, sweet plantains, and fries. The service was excellent. We had to wait for the chicken to be freshly cooked, so the shift manager, Kimberly, offered us drinks and an additional side (we chose mac & cheese) for the inconvenience. She was so friendly and checked on us a couple of times while we waited. We ordered it to go and didn't realize until we got home that our fries weren't in the bag. The chicken was really good. Both of us who got campero bowls felt like some type of sauce was missing, so added that. The ingredients seemed fresh, which was nice. The chicken sandwich was pretty good. It's just chicken and pickles but the chicken is seasoned well. The mac & cheese was surprisingly good. Most places that have it don't do it very well but this is good. The cheese is the right consistency and the noodles were cooked well. The sweet plantains were also good. We tried the jamaica when we were given drinks and it was refreshing and not too sweet. I will definitely go back and try...

Came here excited to try. They have an app, so I scanned the app before paying. The app had a $5 dollar off promotion. Somehow, the total on the register still read $5 higher. I paid anyway. Then, it said I was owed the $5 change because it wasn’t deducted. Cashier and I guess manager were confused. Talking in Spanish in front of me, which felt rude, even though I know it wasn’t anything offensive. Then, instead of giving me the change, they said to pick a side because the $5 is “not in the system” or whatever tf that means. Ok fine. I choose a side. Then, they come to me and say they will give me the change. Mind you I never got a receipt. Then, they refund everything and tell me to pay again but I have no receipt saying I was refunded. I waited for food I never got because they did not know how to work their own cash register. I was so excited to try this place but the incompetence of the workers will ensure I never return. Complete incompetence. Super disappointed and...

Much like with Whataburger and Raising Cane's in Snellville, I had to wait a while to go to this place while the crowds slowed down. But tonight, it was finally calm enough at Pollo Campero that I decided to try it.

At first, I was disappointed that it felt more American than Mexican since I had thought before coming here that it was supposed to be Mexican. However, in reality, their selection feels more like KFC, but with a broadly-Hispanic twist; their jamaica and horchata are Mexican, but empanadas are Chilean/Argentinian and plantain and yuca are more Hispano-Caribbean.

That said, this is still one of the best chicken places I've been to in a while. I like how, instead of having iced tea and lemonade machines for you to refill your drink, they have jamaica (hibiscus) and horchata machines; and their chicken is like KFC Original Recipe, but way better. In fact, that describes Pollo Campero as a whole: like KFC, but so much better. I'll definitely come...