El Pollo Real, Prospect Heights

A few months ago, Prospect Donuts disappeared -- probably a victim of the Dunkin that opened just a block south -- and Pollo Real moved in. I hadn't a chance to try it until tonight, one of the rare bachelor evenings (MrsF celebrating her mother's birthday with her sisters).

El Pollo Real - Royal Roast Chicken
1 South Wolf Road
Prospect Heights, IL 60070-2627
(847) 813-9733 ‎

I was hoping for something Central or South American. I've had D'Candela's Peruvian version, and a Salvadoran version in Jersey, and this menu is missing exotic things such as arepas, chicharon, maduros (fried plantain), etc. It's straight-up Mexican rotisserie chicken. You don't want chicken? Go somewhere else.

You can order 1/4, 1/2 or whole chicken, or family meals, plus chicken tacos and wing platters. 1/4 chicken is $8.49 for dark meat, $8.99 for white. Half is $9.99. I ordered the 1/4 white, to test how they do with a chicken breast. Dinners come with two sides (you can replace one with a drink), which include rice, beans, fries, mashed potatoes, grilled onions, grilled peppers, corn, totopos, and a couple others I've forgotten, along with a couple chicken-based entrees that have slipped my mind. I ordered fries, just being in that kind of mood, and grilled peppers.

Ordering was at the counter, but they served to table, very attentive (n.b. I was the only one there at 7PM on a Saturday). They brought chips and two salsas to the table (good thing I didn't order the totopos). Both red and green salsas were tasty, but neither were particularly notable, and I couldn't swear that they aren't commercial jarred stuff. Both went well with the chicken.

The platter was served with two slices each of lettuce and tomato, two large grilled jalapenos, a bunch of fries, the wing, and the breast which was cut into three or four pieces, plus two corn tortillas.

The positive: The chicken was very good. Not quite as moist as D'Candela nor as crisp-skinined, but it's a timing thing: you want enough fat rendered from the skin, but no so much that the meat dries out. Not every bird will hit 10 out of 10 (note to self: invent a chicken rotisseries that can test skin crackleability, and tweet its readiness to serve). Seasoning is good (I find D'Candela to be just a little over-salted). The tortillas are house-made (I verified after noticing the not-quite-circle shape and lack of "tread marks" you see on commercial corn tortillas), nice chew, very tasty. I made a couple little tacos from the breast meat and the green salsa. I saved the wing for last, and it was stellar: it had that toothsome stickiness you find in things like Sun Wah's BBQ items. I may just order a plate of the wings next time.

The negative: the fries, while skin-on, usually a sign of fresh spuds, were coated with a starchy seasoning mix, and somewhat limp. Go for something else. The place is also rather hot inside: The south end of the building is tolerably warm, the counter area and north end are sauna-like. The staff said the AC was on, but it must be struggling in today's 90+ heat.

I will definitely be back, but perhaps I'll carry out in warm weather (probably losing out on the chips, but I hope they still include the tortillas).

Here were my thoughts on the place back in April. Maybe they've made some improvements since then.