El Pollo Imperial — Restaurant in Long Beach

Verdict: pretty good food, great value. A constantly-yelping friend from work just took me and some other work friends here, cause she was curious. The food certainly wasn't bad, and the prices were more than reasonable for the amount of food we got. If I didn't have anything to compare it to, I would have been completely amazed - but I went to college less than a mile from Inka Trails in Claremont, and the food there (or at least the Aji de Gallina) had a bit more flavor. But being that I now live a bit far from Claremont, if I'm ever looking for Peruvian food, I certainly won't hesitate to visit this place again.

EDIT: Our lunch group just returned there a second time. I had the Saltado de Mariscos, which was fantastic, though admittedly, I had nothing to compare that one to. Also tried the fried plaintains - I was pleasantly surprised with the amount you get for 2.80, and happy, though not particularly surprised, that they were also super-delicious. Further edit: their fried cassava is also excellent, though slightly less exotic. It basically just tastes like the best french fries you've ever had in your life. (We've now been back several times. And going again today!)

edit: I've now been back to Inka Trails in Claremont, too, and while I still think I prefer their aji de gallina to the same dish here... everything there was also about 50% more expensive. So this place probably does...

We found this place one day when my hubby and I came to visit his brother who lives up the street. I was in the mood for Pollo asado or roasted chicken so I did a Google search and El Pollo Imperial popped up as the closest place to get some. We walked in and the place looked small but clean. They emediately seated us then served us a small bowl of delicious chicken soup. I ordered the half chicken meal which I shared with my son and my hubby ordered a chicken stir fry kind of meal and a fried calamari appetizer. Everything came with a simple green salad and your choice of two sides (veggies, fries, or white rice). The chicken was out of this world tasty and perfectly prepared. It was moist, tender and scrumptious. My hubby's dinner was tasty as well. The service was great. The prices were more than I expected for a little hole in the wall but not too bad and well worth it. The only somewhat negative thing I have to say is that since the restaurant is quite small, the restroom is just a few feet from the eating area but you can sit wherever you want so we always sit across the room from it. Honestly if it wasn't so good I probably wouldn't have gone back specifically because of this but we've been back many times since we first discovered it 7 years ago. If the restroom thing is an issue, order ahead and take it to go. You...

I have never written a restaurant review, good or bad but what I saw was disgusting. The cook, (Description: Male, in his 30’s, brown hair, short & overweight) was wearing gloves and holding his cell phone while cooking. He kept moving the phone from hand to hand & up against his ear, like if he was listening to music. He switched his phone to his left hand, picked up a hand full of raw steak, put it on the grill and switched his hand back to his right hand. All this while I was paying. The kitchen is 7-10 feet from the register. I walked away & came back and then I saw him drop a half chicken or chicken thigh and he just casually picked it up and was going to put it on the counter when he saw me staring at him. He put it to the side and grabbed another one and started giggling with a coworker (Description: women, 50-60 years old, brown or reddish wavy hair & short). Because I saw what he was going to do. Threw my food away. You can just imagine what they do before they’re open. I’ll definitely not go back and tell everyone I work with not to go there.

Besides the fact that he was cross contaminating the food he was obviously not ashamed that I saw him.

FUN FACT: cell phones are much dirtier...