pollo ala brasas

[1newyorkguy]

Just went there today. This place is what chowhound was made for. In the words of the comic book store guy, "best chicken ever." On the downside, the beans and rice were bland.

[broncosaurus]

Try the one in Gardena around Vermont/165th ish. That aji will curi any blandishments.

[emmy]

I only got the beans and rice once -- I liked the garlic flavor of the rice but found the beans a little salty. When I get chicken at Pollo a la Brasa, I get it with fries and salad.

The fries are cut big (with the skin on) and are a little soft -- I think they're parboiled before being deep-fried rather than being "twice-fried" like most fries. Though not everyone likes this style, these are my favorite fries in town. (I try to note or ask that they are newly made -- when business is slow, occasionally they miscalculate and dip extra already-fried fries back in the oil, making them hard and dried out.)

I also like the salad well enough-- cabbage with beets, green pepper, tomatoes, etc. with a sweet commercial Italian dressing.

[1newyorkguy]

You find most places twice fry their fries? I know they are supposed to, but most do not. In and out likes to showcase their fries being freshly fried--that would be okay, if they had been fried once before.

[emmy]

I don't actually know what they do. I had thought that was how fast food places produce that light-colored crispy part of the fry, which many regard as tasty but which I don't much like. When Pollo a la Brasa re-dips already-fried fries sitting in the basket over the oil, they become more like that, but they also become hard and dried out. So maybe they are two different processes.

But at P a la B., one can look over and *see* what they're doing -- I usually request recent fries unless the place is so busy that I know they're fresh.

As I said, the Pollo a la Brasa fries are non-crispy, large and soft. You might hate them. But it's an empirical matter -- maybe you can try them and let us know what you think...

[1newyorkguy]

will do...me returning there is a definite. how do they pack so much flavor on those birds? amazing.

[jimmyodonnell]

I also love these fries, not generally my preference of fries but they seem to go perfectly with the smoky chicken and the spicy aji.

[Skunk2Racer]

Speaking of NON Commercial fries, I like the fries at Oki Dog, Big cut freshly fried, sprinkle with seasoned salt. but only good eaten there or out the bag on the drive home.once cold fuddah getta bouttt itttt

[Skunk2Racer]

Seen the Bottle they use Wishbone Italian...

[Skunk2Racer]

Which one did you go to? I Just eat the chicken with "Aji" that green hot sauce. i go to the one on western & 8th

[1newyorkguy]

Yup, that's the one. I used the green sauce on my beans and rice to add flavor...the chicken had plenty on its own.

[therealbigtasty]

Their Anticuchos are pretty rockin', too!