Can't get enough of Pensacola's Mr. Pollo? We have good news for you.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to correctly identify Mr. Pollo's rotisserie-style charcoal chicken as Peruvian.
It's a great day for Pensacola's Mr. Pollo lovers: a second store is coming soon to 8710 Pensacola Blvd.
Mr. Pollo has been a Pensacola favorite since it first opened at 6404 N. Ninth Ave. in 2019, The star of the menu is the rotisserie-style Peruvian charcoal chicken. The restaurant started out as a local hole-in-the-wall but has since gained national attention on Yelp’s top 100 list for restaurants to try in 2020.
Mr. Pollo co-owners Eduardo Arraez and Maria Rodriguez expanded into Santa Rosa County last summer when they opened a Pace location at 4275 Woodbine Road. However, the owners have since closed the Pace location to relocate to their home turf in Pensacola.
How did Mr. Pollo get started?
The Venezuelan-born couple opened their first location to replace the former SteakAway on North Ninth in 2019. The goal was to bring traditional Latin American favorites in a fast-casual format. They gained a reputation for the quality of their food that shows in everything from the homemade marinades to the desserts and dipping sauces.
What’s on the Mr. Pollo menu?
The Mr. Pollo menu is broken up into a handful of soups, traditional dishes, desserts and the main attraction: the chicken meals. Let’s break the menu down:
Chicken meals: The famed, juicy chicken that the restaurant is named after is first brined for four or five days before being placed in the charcoal oven. Once finished, it sold in larger sizes, like the whole chicken, and in smaller sizes, like the half and quarter, The meals are also served with signature sauces and sides, including Latin American favorites like the sweet plantains and yuca, along with the classics such as macaroni and cheese, coleslaw, and salad. Pro tip: make sure to order an extra cup of the house garlic and cilantro sauce for dipping. Trust us on this one.
Traditional dishes: The menu also holds a variety of composed dishes, including the Pollo En Salsa, a chicken stew served over rice and beans, and the tostones, deep fried mashed green plantains topped with garlic-cilantro sauce, ground chicken, pico de gallo, cheese and seasoned mayo-ketchup sauce.
Soups and salads: If you’re looking for something lighter, the restaurant also offers a handful of soup and salad options, including the Aguadito soup, a traditional chicken and cilantro soup with rice and vegetables, and the ensalada pollo a la brasa, a salad with chicken, tomatoes, onions, cucumber, cheese and the house “famous vinagreta.”
Desserts: Save room for a slice of tres leches, coconut crème cake, or a pack of alfajores, traditional South American soft cookies with homemade dulche filling.
Where can I find more updates and information?
Follow Mr. Pollo Pensacola on Facebook for updates regarding the second Pensacola store's opening day.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Mr. Pollo to add second Pensacola restaurant on Pensacola Boulevard
