Pollo Palenque McAllen — Restaurant in McAllen

Honestly when I went to McAllen, I was expecting to eat some of the best Mexican food of my life. Every sit-down restaurant I went to disappointed me with dry, overcooked meat.

The best meal I ate in McAllen was honestly from Pollo Palenque! The chicken was so flavorful! This place is like El Pollo Loco, but so much better! The fresh salsa bar and the free chips seals the deal, and my sides of charro beans and mac salad were both great as well (even though the mac salad had ham in it and I'm really not into that, it was still good).

Seems crazy to say about a fast food joint, but if there was one place make a point to eat at again if I'm in McAllen, it's here.

Really could use a good scrub-down, though. Only complaint is that the place is...

When you want a change from the beef, this is the place to go! Their grilled chicken is DELICIOUS, tortillas taste freshly made, unlimited refills on drinks and tortilla chips, salsa bar. They have a variety of combo choices. I saw 2 tables having monitors with games for kids. We sat in 1 of them....my 5 yr old was having so much fun with the games. There's also tv(s) for the adults, the volume was down but it was okay because I was having a blast listening to their music!!! I don't know where Pollo Palenque gets their music but it reminded me of the valley's own 107.9 ....soft rock but all in Spanish, no commercials. Awesome food, awesome...

I am basing the three stars on my last experience. The food is always good here. The service is definitely hit or miss. This last time I felt we had to beg for every little thing like napkins, lemons, and even the tortillas that come with the food. I get it, Covid has changed everything, but now that things are opening up, put up the salsa and condiment bar. People can get their own stuff. It is really annoying to be asking for refills and other things from them. They aren’t nice about it at all. The service tonight...