Chicken Loco, Pollo a la Brasa Chain in Several Suburban Locations

[DonRocks]

I'm not sure whether La Fondita has changed ownership, or simply gotten a makeover along with its new rotisserie. Much of what's inside Chicken Loco looks very similar to the way it did at La Fondita, with Latinos chowing down on hearty soups with hunks of corn thrown into the bowl, and Central and South American specialties sitting in trays behind the counter. What's new, aside from the name change, is that as of yesterday, they're serving Pollo a la Brasa, and a Half Chicken ($5.20 without sides) was a pretty game effort for the second day of operation. The cumin-y rub had a decent flavor, but they'll ultimately need to adjust the temperature of their oven, and get the penetration of spicing down more into the core of breast meat - easier said than done. The white mayonnaise-based sauce is, as it so often is, lame, and the green sauce was a standard spicy-grainy version.

Either way, I think the decrepit Chicken Pollo down the street is in for some tougher competition from Chicken Loco than from either of the (superior) Korean-based chicken houses, Bon Chon Chicken or Chicken Village, all four sitting on Little River Turnpike between the Beltway and I-395. Mama's Pollo, a fifth, sits right next to TemptAsian Cafe, but is probably too far down the road to make much difference.

Cheers,
Rocks.

[DonRocks]

Empty today, with some of the lights on inside, and no signs of any renovation except for a single ladder.

[leleboo]

Maybe it's a temporal anomaly.

[DonRocks]

Maybe it's a temporal anomaly.

I was thinking more along the lines of a hose job:

A plumbing system shall be installed to preclude backflow of a solid, liquid, or gas contaminant into the water supply system at each point of use at the food establishment, including on a hose bib if a hose is attached or on a hose bib if a hose is not attached and backflow prevention is required by Law by providing an air gap as specified under 5-202.13. The spray hose at the 3-vat sink shall be altered to hang above the flood level rim of the 3-vat sink in order to provide an air gap.

[DonRocks]

Empty today, with some of the lights on inside, and no signs of any renovation except for a single ladder.

Chicken Loco reopened about three weeks ago, and I was told it had the same ownership. (If they have the Lengua Guisada ($6.99 with two sides), get it - it's phenomenal!)

Cheers,

Rocks

[Pool Boy]

In the shuttered space of the former C.J. Ferrari's on Route 1 in Laurel, MD, there is now a sign for 'Chicken Loco' to be coming soon. Sounds like another rotisserie chicken joint. Does anyone know when it is expected to open? I'd love to have a place close to home that approaches Chicken on the Run quality. Thanks!

[DonRocks]

In the shuttered space of the former C.J. Ferrari's on Route 1 in Laurel, MD, there is now a sign for 'Chicken Loco' to be coming soon. Sounds like another rotisserie chicken joint. Does anyone know when it is expected to open? I'd love to have a place close to home that approaches Chicken on the Run quality. Thanks!

C.J. Ferrari's! I haven't been here in twenty years, and I don't miss it! I remember sweet, canned tomato sauce in my packaged pasta dishes, etc.

As a moderator, I detest places like Chicken Loco - it's in several suburban locations, doesn't have a webpage, may or may not be related to the Chicken Loco based in Spain, could be either a chain or a franchise, might be locally based or not, etc.

Regardless, we already have one in Annandale, Silver Spring, and Hyattsville, so Laurel will make four.

[Pool Boy]

C.J. Ferrari's! I haven't been here in twenty years, and I don't miss it! I remember sweet, canned tomato sauce in my packaged pasta dishes, etc.

As a moderator, I detest places like Chicken Loco - it's in several suburban locations, doesn't have a webpage, may or may not be related to the Chicken Loco based in Spain, could be either a chain or a franchise, might be locally based or not, etc.

Regardless, we already have one in Annandale, Silver Spring, and Hyattsville, so Laurel will make four.

We tried CJ Ferrari's once, maybe a dozen or more years ago. Pizza I think. Feh. No loss that.