Pollo Norte

How does Pollo Norte take chicken, the wallflower of the meat world, and turn it into the bell of the ball? Your guess is as good as mine. Love? Gypsy Magic? Seasoning passed down from generation to generation? All of the above?! Sure!
Rotisserie chicken is dope, so it’s safe to assume a place that perfects that art would be likewise dope. Pollo Norte does one thing, and it does it right. You come here for the chicken, you stay for the chicken. Or you get it to go and gorge yourself in the privacy of your home, hopefully with your hands like an animal because that’s what I always want to do but there is people around. If this place were closer to my house, my trash can would be filled with chicken carcasses.
They offer a few basic sides. Rice, beans, slaw, potatoes and of course corn tortillas. I always get extra corn tortillas because they’re on the small side and God forbid I run out while there is chicken to be had. Sides are good, not great. In full disclosure having grown up in a Mexican household, I can get on my high horse when it comes to beans and Mexican rice. For me it could stand a little more TLC spice wise, but that being said it is good and the price is right. I will say the corn tortillas are on point.
I’ve heard they run out of chickens but this hasn’t been my experience. Last time I was there they mentioned having increased production and that you can call ahead. So be smart, call ahead if it’s your dinner plans and get that chicken on lock down.

We’ve eaten Pollo Norte twice. Once when my boyfriend picked it up to go, and we didn’t eat it till a few hours later. My boyfriend let the gentleman at the restaurant know we were eating it later and he was give instructions on how to best re-​heat it, which we appreciated so much. It was so delicious re-​heated (except for the tortillas, they did not re-​heat well) that we decided if it was this good re-​heated, then imagine how good it would be eaten right away. We finally got to experience that the other day, and it was as good as we imagined! Got a full chicken to split between three people. Got a side of potatoes and cole slaw to go with it. I don’t think I can think of a way to explain it that hasn’t been said by others, but it was crazy good.

Didn’t realize that this was a popular place to go. This place is extremely overpriced for the portion that you get. It seems like there’s some Unilocal mass hysteria going on because there’s really nothing that stands out about the chicken here. The potatoes are good though.

Holy chicken paradise!
Pollo Norte, to me, is the better quality, local, much tastier version to Pollo Loco. (Remember that place?!)
I was so happy to hear about this chicken establishment and even happier that it is amazing.
I love everything! The employees, the décor, the service, and of course the food. The chicken is super moist and the seasoning is utterly delicious. Like most peeps I recommend getting those delectable potatoes (those which are collecting the drippings from those lovely chickens). I really like the green and orange salsas too.
So basically what I am tying to say is go here. #treatyoself to chicken heaven.

Since opening day, Pollo Norte has rec’d lots of love from food critics. We’ve waited until the hype died out to try this place. Sadly it is highly overrated. First the price for the chicken is ridiculous. Second it is way under seasoned. We paid $ 16 for half a bland chicken, two sides (rice & charro beans didn’t miss her), three dipping sauces, and 4 cardboard tasting corn tortillas.
The rice & beans and salsas are good (thus 3 stars) but you’re better off grabbing a rotisserie chicken from store for $ 7.99 and making your own sides.

The rotisserie chickens that come out of this tiny joint on Northeast 42^nd Avenue and Killingsworth are marvelous. Served with a load of wilted cabbage that picks up the juices dripping off the chickens as they cook, they are a flavor bomb.
I came in as the shop opened at 11 a.m. on a Monday for lunch. Fifteen minutes later, the dining area was nearly full.
The meat was tender and juicy. I shredded it and placed inside a home-​made tortilla and loaded separate tacos with the habanero, ancho and tomatilland lime salsas provided.
This is awonderful restaurant with dedicated, enthusiastic owners. great addition to Portland’s ethnic offerings.

Yum! I ate here with a friend, on a rainy day, seated at the tiny counter. We split a ¼ chicken and got extra sides and that made a satisfying small meal. I think between us we had all of the sides, and they were all delicious! Because the place is small, I’d advise ordering takeout instead of dining in, especially if you have a large party.

I don’t have enough complements for this place. I was born in Mexico D. F and this food brought childhood memories. Tortillas, the frijoles charros, everything was on point. If I lived closer to this place I’d be here every day.
I wish they had some Mexico D. F music. That would make this place so Mexico city like!!!

I tried pollo Norte for the first time tonight. Got their take out meal for 2 people and it was amazing! I echo many of the previous comments when I say everything is delicious and basically. It Melts in your mouth! The chicken and cabbage were so tasty and moist; beans, rice and slaw were nothing short of perfection. Tortillas were a perfect combo of crispy yet moist as well. I liked the level of spicyness of everything without the salsas. My other half loved the salsas though so it’s nice to have options ;). I felt it was a great value for the price. I will definitely be back!

It was our first time eating here after reading about it on Portland’s cheap eats and it sure didn’t disappointing. The chicken was very tasty and the corn tortillas was da bomb! My wife loves also all of the sides specially the cabbage.
The spot is fairly small and it was a 100 degree day so it was hot specially inside where It’s pretty much bar stool seating.
The outside had picnic tables with umbrella cover shared with Kim Jong Grillin. We will definitely come back on a cooler day.

NE 42^nd is the spot! I just love this little neighborhood.
Right next to NEPO 42, Pollo Norte has a small restaurant with only 3 parking spaces. The menu is fairly simple, you order the amount of chicken you would like (quarter, half or whole) and then add some sides.
For a personal order, a ¼ chicken order with two sides is perfect. You will get 2 – 3 tortillas with it (and it’s never enough tortillas!).
You can choose from rice, two styles of beans, slaw or potatoes.
Personally, the black beans and slaw are the way to go. The slaw is the perfect amount of citrus, vinegar, and that fresh snap of radish and cilantro. Get it! You won’t be disappointed.
You pay at the bar and take a seat, and wait for that sweet, sweet meat to get in your face.
There are two picnic tables outside, and limited seating inside. I would suggest larger parties get the items to go, and relocate to the new Cully City park and have picnic.
Two people can share a half order of chicken, and two medium sides, but you may want to throw in a third side ($ 3 extra) for good measure.
As far as quality, taste, service and price point goes. I have been here twice in a week, they now know my order and I haven’t broken the bank. It’s just good, simple food.

Didn’t meet the hype, but still a quality meal.
Chicken was decent, but a good bit away from great. For this to have become my go-​to pollo spot, it needed to be great. Instead, I’ll keep searching (I’m somewhat new to the area). The meat was quality and cooked nicely, but didn’t have much flavor. I also prefer a crunchy and massively seasoned skin, but it was soggy and mildly seasoned. So… the flavor just wasn’t really there for me. The cabbage and tortillas were a nice touch, but not enough to make the chicken [at the chicken place] great.
Sides were outstanding. Had the rice and frijoles charros. A+ there.
Folks complaining about the price? Sure, you can get $ 6 pollo and sides at a filthy and more authentic place (and the ‘roided up bargain chicken may make your tastebuds sing a bit more), but $ 10 with sides is hardly overpriced. Still pretty cheap in my book.
I’ll be back for sure, but it’s not a must-​try spot by any means.

Summary of this ridiculously overhyped place: white person tries to do Mexican street food, fails miserably, receives a ton of hype anyway because dude’s white and male. Classic. And yep, I said it. Feel free to quote me and throw sticks and stones, but I’ll stand behind that statement any day.
Because let’s be honest here… this place sucks.
Shockingly overpriced for the teeniest, tiniest portions. Come on, Shelton — can we talk real talk here, for a second? The chickens you’re giving us aren’t actually CHICKENS, right? You’re serving roasted game hen, or quail… because with chicken legs the size of my thumb (and as an Asian girl, I have pretty small hands), there’s no way that those things are roasted CHICKEN. Don’t be a jerk; give us the real meat that we paid for.
And you know, if you’re gonna just serve one thing, at least serve it well. Soggy, RUBBERY, under-​seasoned chicken skin with really REALLY incredibly dry meat and bland sides is your meat and potatoes. What on earth… do people here actually enjoy this??? This place is seriously like Boston Market for snotty Portlanders. But worse!!!
The saddest thing is, Pollo Norte is smack dab in the middle of a pretty Hispanic strip that serves food that is par, if not better. Of course, these small mom-​and-​pop places get ignored though. Why? Simply because they’re not headed by white hipsters with tattooed sleeves and beards who once had the best chicken of their lives on the streets of Mexico while on a 3 month long backpacking trip through Central America. Gag.
The Oregonian, Eater, Portland Monthly Magazine, and everybody who is gushing about this place need to wake up.

Nestled into what could only be described as the typical tienda location you’ll find Pollo Norté (Chicken North). Filled with friendly service, and better food they have been focused on their chicken game since opening 3 months ago. They may be experiencing growing pains along the way but are overall pretty together. The seasoning and texture of the chicken skin is something to be strived for, as is their cilantro lime sauce. The coleslaw is a nice contrast to the chicken and more significant items. Roasted cabbage was an unexpected but welcome addition to an already well prepared meal. The black beans have been subtly seasoned with onions presoaked in vinegar. They have mastered the art of tart with many if their dishes.
Inexpensive and will certainly require a return.

When I was in Spanish 7 – 8 at age 15, my highschool Spanish class took the train from Nogales to Guadalajara. There was a group of lanky, perpetually starving teenaged boys who ate nothing but roast chicken for the entire trip. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Even at Lake Chapala where most of us ate the famous delicious white fish, they ate pollo asado.
And often their food was better. Something about stuffing torn bits of tender, juicy chicken into a handmade tortilla with some salsa, that’s pretty good sh… stuff. I think they were onto something.
Pollo Norte presents an opportunity to do that, shovel chicken into your hungry, greedy mouth via tortilla with some salsa. Theres a limited menu. We tried all of it. The best parts were the chicken, the OMG potatoes saturated in chicken drippings and the tortillas. The other sides were good but didn’t stand out. The cabbage under the chicken was tasty too. I got a frosty can of pop to drink while I waited and was offered a lime. Nice touch.
Its a small place. Maybe 15 barstools with counter seating. Four parking spaces in their gravelly lot. Friendly people working at the counter. I liked it.
For people who say the chicken was underseasoned, maybe youre used to costco rotisserie which is pumped full of salt or freddys (which can have msg). This is very simple chicken. I initially thought oh hey it could use salt but as we ate I decided no, its chickeny self is shining through. It didnt need anything. Maybe some pico de gallo would be a welcome touch but otherwise, it’s spot on.
Princess declared this good stuff. I wish it was a bit closer to my part of town. The 45 min drive home with the good smells wafting through my car about killed me!

I wouldn’t know the first thing about going into a Rotisserie restaurant. Yah, I can eat, I love chicken, but a whole bird? me???
It was a bit intimidating, but I wanted to try a new place.
Atmosphere is quick, white, sort of a take out feel, but eating in is a perfect option if you can get a seat.
Their overhead music was agreeable to me. I felt like I was in L.A. or just a very modern cool, hip place.
The service was simple, good, thorough.
The menu was simple as well, Rotisserie chicken, add sides if you’d like. Soda and alcoholic beverage options.
The birds are delightful. I ordered a quarter and two sides — when it arrived, I thought, I am never going to eat this all. Well, I did. I was not dainty or cute about it. The chicken was moist, buttery, and of good quality. I put a small bit on a cute little tortilla and added green sauce.
The two sauces I received. One was red, one Green. Red was good and smokey. The green was my favorite — a little more zest and bite to it.
The sides I chose were fantastic and flavors galore. The Frijoles (Pinto) had great consistency and a good spice. Not hot, but tasty. The potatoes — were a nice side as well, good texture and I used the Red Sauce on them. One of the most surprisingly tasty bits was the cabbage underneath my quarter chicken — -so flavorful and buttery and salty.
A great stop for lunch — and yes you can finish your plate (s).
Draft beer, wine and some canned beer along with a few Mexican sodas.
Restroom is painted a cool — but bright blue, clean. A cozy establishment and I think they might offer outside seating in the future. First time eating a completely Gluten Free Meal! Not on purpose.

Well– it was good. However, I didn’t fall in love with the place. Super uncomfortable from the parking lot to the seating. Cars were strewn about when we pulled in… parked at angles, parked blocking the entrance and parked with ¾ of a spot between them because there were no painted lines whatsoever. Where to park was not immediately clear and I ended up parking in front of a house on the lot where I’m not sure if I was suppose to or not.
Ordered a half chicken for my wife, my son and I. It was good but very dry in spots and the skin was rubbery not crisp. The sides were good but small. There are no tables– only bar style seating which is hard when you have a 2 year with you. Chairs were ridiculously uncomfortable. Overall it was good but I wouldn’t return.

Maybe I was just too excited to see a rotisserie chicken joint within walking distance to home. Maybe the great reviews set my expectations too high. I was hoping this would be a hands down, 5 star review. Sadly, it isn’t.
Popped in and ordered some lunch to go an hour after they opened. Got the half chicken meal for $ 16 to share. Cut up chicken atop roasted cabbage, 4 homemade tortillas, 2 small sides (we got pintos and potatoes) and 2 sides of salsa. Let’s go… The chicken? Sighs… It was just ok. It was tender, however the skin wasn’t crispy like some reviewers said. I also expected more flavor and a juicier chicken. Regardless, it was decent, tender chicken. Onto the tortillas… I actually liked it. Just a good, standard, homemade tortilla. Potatoes were good, but just didn’t blow my mind. Pintos were tasty. I liked the smoky bacon in it, but it could’ve been just a TAD more tender. My favorite thing? The green salsa. Fresh, limey, hint of jalapeño and tasted great with the chicken. Least favorite was the other sauce, but it’s only because I’m not a fan of the smoky, chipotle/​adobo flavor.
Overall, it’s a great addition to the neighborhood. I think selling it as «Mexican rotisserie chicken» set me up to expect big flavors. I don’t think the prices are outlandish. Its on par with similar restaurants within walking distance. It’s obviously not Costco cheap, but it’s a small batch, hipster joint with homemade sides, kind of chicken. Plus, you don’t have an annual membership fee.
*Oh! Random fact that threw me off. With the rotisserie right there and homemade beans and such being cooked, I didn’t smell anything. You know how you walk into a restaurant (especially one this size) and are hit by the amazing smells? It didn’t exist here… So odd. I don’t know why I thought I should share, I just am.

Me he convertido en fanática del Pollo Norte! El pollo estaba super sabroso y perfectamente sazonado, las tortillas calientitas, los frijoles negros y el arroz bien ricos, y el repollo me sorprendio que me haya gustado tanto! La salsa que preferi fue la verde, pero creo que eso depende de gusto personal.
Alright, I want you to understand the rest…
We didn’t call ahead, just sort of came here on a whim to grab a to-​go order. Luckily, we were able to buy one of the last few chickens of the evening. We were told that the wait would be about 20 – 30 minutes, but it was well worth the wait. The staff was busy, busy, busy and the place is small, so honestly, I’m am surprised and impressed that they were as nice and polite as they were. I think if it were me, I’d tell everyone to stay quiet and let me think. Let me tell you again, this place is small.
I already wrote about about how much I liked the food, so I’m not going to do it again. We had the whole chicken with two large sides and it was exactly enough for my family of four. The only thing I think I’d do differently is ask if I could buy more tortillas. I’m not sure if that is an option, but we received 7 tortillas, so everyone except for me got two. I wanted another one.
Do yourself a favor and head over to Pollo Norte.
Te puedo asegurar que te va a gustar!

I’mmm comin’ up, so you better get this Pollo started
Me voy Norte, so you better get this Pollo started
Get this Pollo started on a Saturday night
Everybody’s waiting for the grub to arrive
Sendin’ out the message when I Unilocal my review
We’ll be Four by Forester in my Subaru
Skewers are slowly turning as I’m comin’ up fast
Watch it with the salsa, you’ll be hot stuff at last
Walk into the Chop Shop and get out of the rain
Calling it a diner would be yanking your chain
I got lots of flava, check my roaster dripping
I can go for Hot Slaw if you know what I mean
Pumping up the Pinto, double-​porked with chilis
Free-​range fowl that’s local-​sourced and organic
I’mmm comin’ up, so you better get this Pollo started
Me voy Norte, so you better get this Pollo started
Get this Pollo started, right now
Don’t just sit there, P! nk about it

I too am jumping on the Pollo Norte rave wagon. Cluck, cluck.
This 10 seat, boxcar-​sized diner isn’t fancy. It’s just simple, delicious, unpretentious food served up fresh and piping hot, and as such, it is everything that is good about independent business making the choice to do one thing very, very well.
The secret is in the simplicity. The birds are seasoned with salt, lime, chili, and maaaaaaybe some recado rojo, but that’s gotta be it. It’s obvious that they source quality meat and let the juicy flavor of a well-​cooked chook speak for itself.
And look, I know it’s all about what’s on the rotisserie, but it was the freshly made tortillas, salsas and slaw that stole the show. The potatoes were delicious as well. And the cabbage covered in drippings. And the porky charro beans. Plus, booze. Yeah, I’d say you should probably swing by at some point.