El Pollo Rey
901 Kansas Ave, Kansas City, KS, 66105
El Pollo Rey Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Kansas City for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Kansas City for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Kansas City for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
901 Kansas Ave
Kansas City, KS, 66105 - Phone (913) 371-4243
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 8:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : No
Caters : No
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
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Eric D.
They turn chickens here. In this case, high-volume means consistently fresh, properly cooked chicken. Not fried. Grilled. On the salty side, so taste it first. But the low-fi vibe and the basic props make for a delicious, build-your-own soft chicken taco, or mini-burrito, or whatever you like using the salsa, beans, rice, pickled onion and that chicken. Great spot for lunch. Would probably be good for carryout too. Not fancy. Not even close. Just really good tasting grilled chicken.
(5)Layla M.
We found this on yelp. And this might be the best chicken ive ever had in my life. We were there at like 5:15 and there was still a long line. The service was great. The guy that helped us was very nice. No one really cares about all that though. You want to know about the food. The tortillas were fantastic. The beans and rice were just average. But the chicken ...omg the chicken! I can't recommend the chicken strong enough.
(5)Rachel E.
My husband thinks I am the world's best cook. Little does he know it was carryout! Seriously though, he was so happy when he found out I had bought to full chickens instead of just the one I told him I was going to get. This is seriously great chicken. And I love the pickled onions. This will be a repeat option for dinner. Easy peasy & cheap!
(5)Cathy C.
When I think Mexican, I don't think smoked chicken. Likewise, when I think Smoked Chicken, I would never have thought of a Mexican place in Latino KCK. Or that a Mexican place would ONLY do chicken. Interesting. Yep, that's all, folks-you can order a half or whole smoked chicken, or wings, and I can't tell you how the wings are cooked. Stuffed from 3 prior Crawl sites, my friend and I split a half chicken, which we picked on for awhile and took the rest home. Dry white meat is always a risk, and ours was a little bit that way in the very middle, but it was smoky and tasty. Not really any Mexican-type heat, but it was good, including on a sandwich the next day. Beans and rice come with it. The rice was...rice, and the beans reminded me much more of American baked beans-whole beans in sauce, rather than your typical refried beans. You order at a counter; the servers were quick and polite. It took a good ten minutes or so to get our food, but they were busy, even on a hot Saturday mid-afternoon. Apparently tacos aren't the only beloved food in this part of town.
(3)Nate C.
Been here many times. The Armourdale area is ground zero for great Mexican food in the KC metro. Once you get past the sketchiness, there are tons of great options, and parking is never problematic. Whenever I have family or friends from out of town, El Pollo Rey is generally on the list. The smoked chicken is ridiculous. I've never run across anything else like it. Other reviewers have stated that it's been too dry, but that not been my experience. It's always been smoky, tender heaven. Generally I'll hit up San Antonio across the street first for tortillas and fixins, and then El Pollo Rey for the chicken. Instant Mexican picnic. The beans and salsa are weird, but whatever you do, don't skip the pickled onions. If you need to dress it up a little more, cross the street. I really can't say many bad things about this place. It's a toss up if you'll get someone at the counter who speaks English but hey, it's Armourdale. Great local place. We're lucky to have it.
(5)Tom C.
Many places try to do everything well and end up either only doing a few things well or nothing at all. El Pollo Rey is the polar opposite, they do chicken and only chicken and they do it to perfection. You can order a whole, half or wings. That's it. Anything else would be missing out on tasting the best grilled chicken in Big KC. The order comes with tortillas, beans, rice, salsa and some onions. You can also get a soda, even real sodas from Mexico without HFCS. Do yourself a favor, visit El Pollo Rey often!
(5)Phil Z.
The wings Rock!!!!! Chicken is the bomb. Always over stuff my fat face at this joint. Love this place. Reminds me of El Pollo Tropical in South Florida. I do wish they would get a fly swatter. But, don't care, I will be back many times for awesome chicken and happily greet the friendly flies.
(4)Kim C.
So the decor is not super fancy but holy smokes if you want some mind blowing wings (served with a side of tortillas, great for dipping into the wing juice) and some awesome chicken (served with tortillas, pickled red onion, side of rice, side of beans and some sort of sauce, must eat all together!!) Then this is a must go to!! The above is pretty much the menu...
(5)Billie H.
Ummm, yeah, so, I don't get it. I tasted the beans and rice first. The beans are pretty soupy and there isn't much flavor to them. The rice is a little under cooked and again, not much flavor, The chicken was a bit dry. I was expecting something that would make flying unicorns shooting rainbows from their bottoms appear, but it was just burnt skin and dry chicken. It isn't awful, but I wasn't licking my fingers. Personally I think the roasted chickens at the grocery are better. The tortillas were even a little bland. How do you make bland tortillas??? The salsa was blended into not quite a sauce, but no chunks, I would say a slurpee consistency. The best part of my trip was that when I walked out the door I saw Tortilleria San Antonio across the street. My initial reaction (after previously being told by the girl at my favorite taco place that they have better tacos at S.A.) was sadness that I didn't see it before going for the chicken. I probably looked like a little kid standing in the parking lot with my lip slightly stuck out pouting and debating whether I should go ahead and get some tacos and let the chicken wait. El Pollo Rey isn't bad, but don't be expecting a chicken orgasm.
(3)Fazle H.
This place was amazing. They only sold one thing, chicken, and do a damn fine job too. I ordered the whole chicken and it was more than enough food. It came with three sides and about 10 tortillas. They also had Coca-Cola imported from Mexico, the kind with real sugar and not the farmer johns high fructose corn syrup.
(5)Lacey D.
The chicken here is perfect. You know as soon as you drive up and smell it.
(5)Kira M.
I will give a 3 because of the bang for your buck. Chicken was good but nothing unique. As for the beans, when I saw the hotdog slices included I passed. Rice was again ordinary.
(3)Matthew S.
The moment you get out of your car you know you are going to have some real food cooked with real wood, the name says it all: Pollo and pollo is all they have. A huge log filled grill is covered with half chickens filling the air with much good. Salsa tortilla, onions and Mexican cola abound. This is one of the shortest menus in the city but no one does it better. It is also cheap, I think the half chicken dinner is 6.95..complete with 5 tortillas and special sides. Great and authentic food in this safe location where little English is spoken or needed.
(5)Susan S.
It almost feels unfair to rate this place, as it was the fifth stop on a taco tour of KCK that had me feeling stuffed. But this chicken is so amazing, it was worth the discomfort. My group ordered a whole chicken, and even though we were all full, we sat there and picked at it until it was gone. It was great with the tortillas, pickled onions, beans, rice and sauce. I was delighted to see that you could also buy an avocado at the counter. They just cut it into quarters and then gave it to us whole to pull away from the pit. Awesome! I love a place that specializes in one thing and does it perfectly. Truly the king of chicken!
(5)Natalie S.
I've been meaning to try El Pollo Rey for some time and finally got around to it at noon on a Sunday. The place was packed with a number of families. You've heard the deal so I won't repeat it. We each got a half chicken and were immediately reminded of our fave chicken place in Chicago, Chicken Hut. The chicken was terrific, nicely charred, a not super juicy but that was okay because the sauce and pickled onions add enough moisture when wrapped in the provided corn tortillas. Others have said they hate the sauce but I LOVE the sauce. The heat comes on very slowly but by the end, you will have a nice little tingle on your lips. It is a refreshing balance to the chicken. The sauce is what I've been missing from Chicken Hut all these years after moving from Chicago. The rice is meh so add some sauce, and the beans with franks are just okay. The key is the chicken and even if you don't like onions, please try a few on the chicken in a tortilla, the acid really complements the mildly seasoned. Charred chicken. We will back, maybe too often. Oh, we noticed a number of regulars brining in their own beverages including a full 2 liter bottle of Coke. There is a liquor store just across the street. Not sure if you can bring in a beer.
(5)Rob A.
Whole chicken, half chicken, hot wings that's the entire menu. What you see is what you get. From the second you step out of your car the real wood smoke engulfs you and you know you're in for something special. This is not fancy, there is no ambiance, you eat on white paper plates. The chicken is unbelievable! I think I was the only one in the entire restaurant that spoke English, you know it's going to be great Mexican food then! Bone Appetit!
(5)Tricia H.
Well all I can say is if you want authentic grilled chicken mexican style with fresh tortilla's, rice, beans and pickled onions and amazing flavor check this place out!!! I never knew chicken could be so Delish!! Can't wait to go back!!!
(4)Mike B.
Holy Hole in the Wall, two things on the menu 1) chicken and 2) chicken wings...thats it. The chicken is great, served with fresh corn tortillas and several sauces. Try it with a mexican pure cane sugar Coke!
(4)Sal S.
This chicken is off the hook. Just might be some of the best grilled chicken I've had anywhere. Three options on the menu. You can get a half chicken, whole chicken, or hot wings. The chicken is served with a side of rice, a side of charro beans and about a dozen tortillas. Great value. Half chicken/sides under $7 and the whole for just under $13. Went twice in two days, and will be back soon. Gotta try those hot wings.
(4)Matt B.
Unbelievably good. This place is one of those infamous holes in the wall that does one thing and one thing spectacularly. If you live in the KC area and haven't been here, you are totally missing out. I can't believe I lived here this long before seeking out El Pollo Rey. Unpretentious, no nonsense, outstanding chicken.
(5)Bobby N.
Im sitting around with my cousins and I mention El Pollo Rey. Immediately everyone flips out! "The Mexican Chicken! Oh man! You haven't had that?!" Everyone was shocked that I had never tried this before. One cousin lived in the Armourdale area and had been eating El Pollo Rey since her teenage children where little kids. She's moved out of the area but makes the 20 minute drive for her boyfriend regularly. "You need to get some Bobby, but chicken will never be the same for you..." I was warned. "Send your wife tomorrow for lunch. And tell her not to worry. She just needs to tell the guys at the counter she wants a whole or a half." About 8pm that same evening my wife and I where headed home. In unison we both proclaim "I'm hungry." I didn't give any explanation or warning. I passed our turn and headed down 7th St to Kansas Avenue for El Pollo Rey. We arrived about 815. They close at 9, so I was a little worried. I was told that all of the chicken was cooked over an open fire. I didn't see any of that when I walked in. But the smells! Oh man, it smells soooo flipping good in here! At the counter I was greeted with a simple "hi." "I'd like a whole chicken please." "for here?" "To go please." There was a pregnant pause while I waited to hear my total. I looked down at the register and realized that the gentlemen was silently waiting on me. I handed over my cash and in a flash we had made the exchange. I was headed out the door with my bag o' chicken! I made the fifteen minute drive back to the JO in ten minutes. I had a date with chicken. I sent a message to my cousins letting them know I was checking out this chicken for myself. I received their immediate replies. "How was the chicken!?!" The smell of this delicious chicken had already permeated my Acura and had my taste buds primed and ready to go. I put the bag down and ran to get comfy. When I returned my entire home was full of the tasty and delicious smokey aroma. I opened the box to reveal my deliciously quartered whole chicken. There were about a dozen delicate corn tortillas. There was also a small serving of soupy pintos and rice. The beans were seasoned well and had tiny bits of chicharron. The rice was pretty standard flavored of tomato/chicken bouillon. A plastic baggy of thinly sliced red onions and chile sauce rounded out the meal. The beans were tender and savory. Very delicious. The rice was pretty generic and did not wow myself or my wife. The onions and chile where the perfect accompaniment to the smokey succulent chicken. The chicken was deliciously seasoned, not only by the flavor of the wood smoke and the grill, but there was spice here too. This was far beyond any barbecue I've had at any of the area restaurants and knocks out - better yet, delivers an unadulterated ass whopping to Jack Stack, OK Joes, etc. Even at 45 minutes to 9, when the restaurant is closing down for the night, my chicken was still tender, succulent and juicy. I prefer dark meat. But with this chicken it didn't matter. Even the white meat was delicious and rich. My wife and I stood over the box making the perfect bites. I'm pretty sure this was the best chicken I have ever had in my 36 year old life and she would say the same. After my meal I sat on the sofa quietly. I had just been loved properly by this chicken. I rubbed my belly and grabbed my iPhone to reply to my cousins. "Cuz, I feel like that filthy chicken just had its way with me. Then it through a $50 on the dresser and left. I just wish that chicken would call me." My cousins were right. I have officially been turned out. Chicken will never be the same.
(5)Eryn C.
I can't think of another place in the city where you get such good food for such a good price. Even when the line is long it moves quickly. I could eat here weekly!
(5)Rosie Y.
First visit. Been going to San Antonios across the street for years but wasn't familiar will this Mexican chicken restaurant. The grilled chicken is amazing / don't know if they use a rub or marinade. Suspect a rub as the chicken, while delicious, is a little dry. Very simple menu. 1/2 chicken, whole chicken, or wings. The chicken is cut into pieces for easy eating. The chicken comes with corn tortillas, beans, rice, and very good salsa. These side servings are just the right size - around 1/3 cup. Focus is on chicken. Also comes with sliced red onions. They also sell while avocados to eat along side your meal and I noticed the regulars enjoying those. Prices are quite reasonable for the quality and amount of food. I will definitely be doing take out from this place. Check it out!
(4)Thomas A.
Excellent smoked chicken. It's what they do. The beans and sopa are awesome too. Sometimes, I just buy a pint of sopa and beans and then hit San Antonio Tortilleria across the street for fresh tamales and have a nice meal of the three.
(3)Scott M.
The menu is simple: whole chicken, half chicken, buffalo wings. Go there with a friend; one of you get a half chicken (comes with beans and rice), the other get the buffalo wings (comes with tortillas). Share. Enjoy. The chicken tastes fantastic, which isn't terribly suprising. However, I wasn't sure if they would have buffalo wings figured out. But they were perfect: right amount of heat with a great flavor. So I would recommend both the chicken and the wings. The food is served very quickly and steaming hot. The restaurant itself is a classic dive and you are welcome to stay there and eat; there are plenty of tables. However, your clothes are going to smell like chicken when you leave - the grill is right by the counter. We stayed the first time, but will likely do takeout in the future. The perfect plan: get a half chicken and buffalo wings to go, hop on the highway and drive 10 minutes to Sporting Park, tailgate in the parking lot enjoying your amazing dinner with a cold one and some friends, watch Sporting KC defend their title in the best venue in MLS.
(5)Kimberly S.
Best wood-fire grilled chicken tacos in Kansas City! I eat here frequently because it is healthy and cheap. Try the wings, too! Sometimes it gets really busy, but the food is worth the occasional wait time.
(5)C B.
Chicken/tortillas were good (though not El Pollo Loco good), the sides were rather bizarre. Others said the rice was bland, that is correct, it did not taste like much, and yes the beans had sliced hot dog in them, again bland. Neither were anything very tasty, I do not even think they were eaten. Will probably go back some day if we are in KCK.
(3)Jeff D.
An experience that reaches all of the senses!!!!! I walked in and was greeted by the most friendly of servers. She explained the menu to me. I ordered my food and proceeded to eat the most amazing chicken I have ever had. This place is amazing......
(5)Scott T.
Think of it as an Arthur Bryant's of chicken run by Hispanic guys. I was headed to a Mexican joint I'd been wanting to try after getting stood up for a lunch date. No problem, I like exploring the Mexican options in the bottoms instead of eating downtown KCMO or in the Crossroads. Unfortunately, I find my destination has closed so I drive another few blocks and suddenly the smell of smoked meat hit me like a ton of bricks. I flip a U-turn and pull up in front of El Pollo Rey. It's 11:40, not many folks there. Dubious, I check Yelp. Wait... 4.5 after 33 reviews? I'm game. Back to the Arthur Bryant's comparison. The floors are slippery with grease, it's got the joint definition down pat, bare bones, might be a former Dairy Queen building? Hell, I don't know. It's a messy place. But it's *all about the meat.* They have 25-30 chickens roasting on a grill, smoke everywhere. Order, pay, and 30 seconds later a huge plate full of chicken with impossibly too many flour tortillas, sides of beans and rice, a hot sauce of some kind, a plastic bag of cut up red onions (that's a new one). Far too much to eat for $6.50. Within minutes, the place is bustling with guys looking for a big meal to fill what's clearly been a working man's morning for them, and hungry they are. The chicken is smokey, hot and moist. Simply delicious, and so much of it. And that's essentially the story here. Can't emphasize enough what a great job they're doing with the smoke. Intense, savory, the real deal. It a nutshell that's what this venue is about. Not a date destination necessarily. Come here and dine in or get carry-out when you need a belly full of delicious chicken. You won't be disappointed.
(4)Joe G.
hands down, fantastic food. You will not go wrong here. HIGHLY recommended.
(5)Matt E.
Curses to those over-hyped expectations. El Pollo Rey is A-OK, for sure. But I was led to believe that a trip to this KCK chicken shack was going to change my culinary life forever. Didn't happen. So, they have three things on the menu: 1) A whole damn chicken. 2) Half a chicken 3) Wings Basically it's "how much of this fowl do I wish to devour?" I went with option 2. They're cooked over a giant wood grill, and the entire place smells like a delicious campfire. The chicken itself is nice and smokey, with some pretty tasty char. Various accompaniments include tortillas (like six of them!), a zip-lock back of pickled onions, salsa (that has an odd texture not unlike putting pico in a blender) and pinto beans w/ sliced hotdogs. Yeah, hotdogs. WTF? Anyhow. It was fine. It was certainly affordable, which can be important for lunch. The staff was friendly. But for years of hearing about how glorious a place is El Pollo Rey, I just didn't get it.
(3)Lorena M.
This place does one thing and they do it right, chicken! Whether it's a 1/2, whole or wings it delicious and comes with corn tortillas, beans, charro beans and salsa. I had to wait about 20 mins for my to-go order so next time I will be calling in my order ahead of time.
(4)Ray M.
Best Chicken I've Ever Eaten!!! Fire grilled whole and half chicken meals with homemade white corn tortillas...if you don't try this place, don't call yourself a foodie:)
(5)Claudia S.
Finally, I made it here to try the food after stealing free smells when driving by for years now. They were packed at lunch, but no fear, the line moves fast. As you've read in other reviews, you have 3 choices. I got 1/2 chicken to go. Chicken was yummy, although I wish you could get all dark meat. I'm not a huge fan of breast meat and would have preferred to opt for other parts. The beans were pretty good...something different. I liked the rice better once I mixed it with the beans. It's a great price; I'll definitely go again.
(4)Crystal M.
Yes this is our favorite place, and we go up to twice a week. We have never had a bad chicken, consistent through and through!! My family has eaten here for years and I just wanted to share a little tip for other diners, you can buy the chicken by itself for $10 for a whole, or $5 for a half, so if you want to take it home for a family meal, and make your own sides they will oblige!
(5)Josh P.
1/2 chicken for $6, with tortillas, beans, rice and salsa included... Enough said. The grill is wood fired, and they load it up! Really cool atmosphere walking in, and super delicious.
(5)Teague P.
I love El Pollo Rey, the best chicken ever. So smoky, which I think is puro Kansas City! But also so perfectly marinated, a tangy, spicy, salty glaze on the wonderful juicy chicken. The chicken, as noted by many others, comes with beans and rice. I am not a rice-lover, and find theirs meh. The beans on the other hand, have sliced vienna sausages in them and that's awesome! And they taste pretty great. The tortillas that come with your chicken seem fresh, and are tasty always, and I love pickled onions. I like that they have Yucateca hot sauce on the tables, that stuff is super hot but has a lovely flowery flavor underneath. The tomato salsa that comes with your meal is a simple pulverized tomato/onion/pepper mix that is a nice foil for the rich chicken. I get whole chickens here when I have company coming, and they always just go crazy for it, it's a wonderful lunch for guests. Very portable, and so much better than grocery store rotisserie chicken. I also use these chickens to make wonderful smoky chicken enchiladas.
(5)Danny B.
Mmm mmm, that's good. Don't forget the avocado. Get yourself a Juarutos or a Coke and dig in. Can't say much for the salsa or the beans, but tortilla, chicken, onion and avocado were delicious! A side of cilantro would take it over the top.
(4)Donald F.
In a word...Wow. I can't recall eating a chicken dish with that much flavor in eons. It has all of the bases covered: smoke flavor, insatiable crust, moist meat and an almost silky tenderness. All of the accompaniments are well thought out with your order ($8.71 with a Mexican Coke by the way). Don't come here expecting anything other than simple, flavorful food. After your first bite, you'll want to work there just to find out the secret behind this recipe.
(5)James D.
Based on the chicken alone this is going to get 5 stars. Its divey, its smokey, if you sit inside and eat you'll smell like smoked chicken for a while, but it smells so good I'm thinking of starting a line of cologne "El Pollo Rey Smoked Chicken". I think it would sell. The parking lot even smells great, when I first walked in I saw what looked like a campfire burning with a grill on top. Which is basically what they use to cook their chicken. Its a big grill fed with logs and the top is covered in chicken parts... yummy, beautiful chicken parts. They start on the grill raw then turn to pieces of gold when finished. This chicken is good enough I think KC will start using it as currency in the future so you better go and stock up. The sides are decent, they are there to compliment the chicken, not take the spotlight and they do just that. I will be back. Also, don't order a taco, they look at you like you're a retard because all this place sells is chicken, you either get a whole chicken or a half chicken. That small sign with 3 options is actually the menu, there isn't a secret way to order, you either get some badass chicken, or you don't and cry yourself to sleep. Edit: If you eat here DO NOT throw the trash away in your home or office because it'll make you hungry ALL day and you'll have chicken withdrawals and HAVE to go back the same day to get more.
(5)Carie H.
My first time here only regret is not coming sooner also should've got an avocado! Most simply amazing chicken in KCK.
(4)Jandk M.
Great chicken....my new favorite chicken place. Not the fanciest place but best tasting. Something about the smokey grilled chicken with glass pop bottles and Mexican sides. Definitely a must try.
(5)Kevin O.
I appreciate places that only do a few things and do them extremely well. El Pollo Rey, located in the Armourdale area of KCK is exactly that. They only offer three menu items: whole chicken meal, half chicken meal and wings and tortillas. Though the limited fare might upset people who are used to dining out at Golden Corral, this place is a refreshing, delicious establishment that dishes out a quality product. I ordered the half-chicken meal and in addition to the grilled half chicken, I was also given a side order of beans, rice, red onions, five corn tortillas and fresh red salsa. The chicken had a nicely grilled quality, with a nice, lime-flavored seasoning that resembled a higher quality El Pollo Loco style of chicken. The chicken are also cooked in full sight, ensuring the quality and cleanliness of the preparation of the chicken. The rice and beans were nice (though unspectacular...but they were a good portion) and the tortillas were nicely cooked and soft. All this came for a little over seven bucks, a steal considering its a much healthier and cheaper option than some fried chicken places around the area (mainly KFC and Go Chicken Go, though I do like those places). I know their wings also get rave reviews and you get 10 wings and tortillas for six bucks before tax. Spanish is a big help, but considering the limited menu, all you really need to know is the menu (which is listed in Spanish) and how to say "for here" or "to go" if you're not familiar with Spanish. A great deal, and great quality chicken. It's definitely a place that stands out as something unique and different in an area where there are Mexican/Central American restaurants aplenty.
(5)Amber T.
Oh, El Pollo Rey, after a decade in Kansas City, how did I just recently find out you exist? This place is straight up no-frills deliciousness. You choose either a half chicken, whole chicken, or wings. I've now had both kinds of chicken, and while the buffalo wings are tasty (and damned buttery, but a bit too light on the heat), the half or whole wood-fired chicken is where it's at. And I could seriously devour a whole bag of those pickled red onions. I can't say I really *get* their salsa...it's more of an applesauce consistency, and the only thing I tasted was pure salt...no discernible tomato flavor. I also don't pay much attention to the rice, or beans because, really...they're just a distraction from the chicken! The tortillas are fine. I'm a gringo that much prefers fluffy flour tortillas, but their corn jobbies will get the chicken from my plate into my mouth just fine. I would love it if they had some crema available, but now I'm just nit-picking. But, I will say that if they offered crema, and pico de gallo, this place would be worthy of a full five stars. Go...NOW!
(4)Jason Y.
Yes indeed folks........Once you try El Pollo Rey, you will not look at smoked chicken the same way again. Their old location off Kansas Avenue which is literally a few blocks away from their current location was a staple of ours growing up. It was literally three doors down from our grandmothers house. Waking up and going to bed with the smell of never ending BBQ smoke permeating the neighborhood will never leave my senses. The thing is, I wouldn't realize until years later that traditional American BBQ was reserved for the Anglo Saxons of America. But remember folks, these are 100% latin purveyors of succulent smoked chicken rarely seen in this part of the country. The new location is a former Tasty Q/Dairy Queen type building. Much larger and more accommodating for the masses who have caught onto El Pollo Rey in recent years. The area is better known as the KCK Armourdale area. The last 20 years has seen the neighborhood resemble what some call "Little Mexico". Plenty of latino markets, restaurants, bakeries, and various others businesses now dominate the area. Competition is fierce and El Pollo Rey a formed a nice niche that has been unchallenged for years. Don't be scared off by the area. It's actually pretty safe and family oriented. First off, be prepared to receive a huge portion of food in a timely manner. It's a no frills approach with mainly styrofoam accompaniments. The star of the show is the smoked chicken. Order a half or whole chicken. It will consistently be served hot and somewhat moist. On occasion it may be a bit dry (which I love) and other times a little more juicier. The chicken will be cut up butcher style and laid across the plate. Tortillas will come with the meal as will rice and beans. Yes, they will serve a little baggy of pickled red onions. Some may not like the onions and my advise is to place the onions on the tortilla along with some chicken rice and beans. OMG! This combination just works to perfection. Be sure to order a glass bottle of Mexican Coke. Straight forward menu and not much deviation. Fantastic place to visit and experience a different approach to what many have come to see as "Mexican food".
(5)Brad J.
The most delicious chicken I have eaten in my entire life.
(5)Dena N.
The husband and I were turned out on El Pollo Rey just a couple weeks ago and we crave it all the time now. After having a meeting end a bit early today I decided to stop and grab some chicken for dinner. As I turned onto Kansas Ave. I instantly saw the smoke rising from the restaurant. This late afternoon the restaurant had quite a few gentlemen sitting and enjoying their chicken and glass bottles of Classic Coke. I was pleasantly greeted at the counter by the young lady and ordered. Your menu choices are simple: whole chicken $12, half chicken $6 or wings $6. All come with white corn tortillas and your whole or half also comes with rice, beans, sauce and pickled onions. The star of the show is the chicken! As the young lady gathered my order I admired the grill full of smoked chicken as the gentleman manning the smoker/grill added wood to the smoker. After just a few moments, I was in the car with the intoxicating smoked chicken and had the longest 12 minute car ride home. This chicken is so delicious and juicy with the perfect flavor of smoke and seasonings. This is by far the best take out dinner $12 can buy. Give it a try and I guarantee you won't be disappointed.
(5)Adam S.
If you want a place that focuses on what they do well, go to El Pollo Rey. They make *amazing* smoked chicken. When you walk in, you'll see about 30 chickens being grilled over a wood-fire right in front of you. It's one of those places where you don't need to look at a menu, it's chicken and more chicken. It's a fun place to go, too, because it's almost a completely cultural experience. The neighborhood is primarily hispanic, as are many of the patrons. Throw some of this chicken in with some cilantro, corn tortillas, and a little salsa and you're in for an amazing dinner.
(4)Karla M.
My husband and a I moved to KC in 2011. I can count on one hand the # of times we've had fast food through a drive through since then. El Pollo Rey (along with and endless list of awesome options elsewhere) is the main reason we don't have to eat that processed crap anymore! D stumbled upon this place by accident when he was getting my oil changed - he came home and said "there's this tiny hole in the wall in KCK with smoke coming out of the side of it, it's called El Polo Ray." I said "what? where? let's go right now... and it's pronounced El Poyo Rey." I knew immediately what kind of place this was from the name. We hopped in the car drove the 7 minutes to KCK as soon as we walked in I was delighted to find out it was exactly what I thought it was! Awesome chicken that reminded me of home. We ordered a whole chicken our first time and had so much left over that we have since started ordering a half chicken ($6.50) for the both of us. Neither of us are ever left wanting and the meal is delicious,much better than a Big Mac, and half the price. The chicken is charbroiled on a wood burning grill, a HUGE wood burning grill. They will give you a cup of rice, cup of beans, cup of salsa, tortillas, and pickled red onions with your order. Don't let the small "cups" deceive you, it's plenty of food! I'm not sure if they take credit cards, our first time there we had to leave to get cash and since then have not gone back without it, so you may keep that in mind when you go check it out. Trust me it's a MUST!
(5)Ellen S.
At El Pollo Rey, they keep things simple. Do you want half of a chicken or all of a chicken? You get the same sides no matter who you are: rice, beans, onions, salsa. Let me help you with portion control: the half-chicken could feed a family of four. I know this because it fed me and my husband, whose appetite often rivals that of a velociraptor, and we had leftovers. The half-chicken order was described as "an unnecessary amount of chicken" by a friend of mine. Oh, and you get all of this food for $6.50. Yes, you can feed two staunch adults for six dollars and fifty cents. This is our kind of place! And the chicken is goooooood. They cook it all over a wood-fire oven, so the place is the kind of smokey you can smell on your clothes for hours afterwards and still want more. You can smell the smokey goodness when you turn on to 7th street a block away. And this chicken is not dry, like some grilled chicken can get. It's flavorful and juicy. And they serve it with about six tortillas for convenient eating. TL;DR - So much chicken. So good.
(5)krysztof n.
The Best Chicken, Ever. Wow, that's pretty big of you to say, isn't it? Have you had EVERY CHICKEN, EVER?! Well, no, I haven't, but of all the Chicken I HAVE Had Ever, this is the best. You mean better than FRIED CHICKEN? Yep, this stuff is grilled, on this huge f*in' grill, right next to, like, a thousand other chickens, all grillin' themselves up into a frenzy. You walk into the place through the FOG of char-smoke pouring out the side of the place. I know vegetarians who've become blood-thirsty POLLO-tarians just by passing through this magical smoke. So you're saying it's magic? Magic in my mouth, yes. But, how do we know it's that good? Look, go to Yelp, right? See people like Reed N. and Tresha G. and Melissa R. ALL TOUTING THE SAME THING. Was I wrong about El Camino Real? No. Was I wrong about San Antonio? No. I work a block away from this place, and the smell of it alone wafting past the junkyards, car-lots, and something called a "truck dump" is enough to make me have to eat here at LEAST once a week. Yeah, but, dude, it's in Armourdale? I don't even know where that is. This is entirely your loss, you schmuck. Anyone who knows anything about where the best food is in ANY town knows they had to FIND that stuff, and sometimes it's not in a great part of town, but so what? If you fancy yourself any bit as in-the-know as Bourdain, you know you need to eat where the locals do. Well, I guess you might be right. I AM RIGHT! HUGE plates of FOOD, dude! A HALF A CHICKEN, grilled to perfection, tortillas, beans, rice, salsa. Home. Made. Baby. EAT IT! You know that damn El Pollo Loco chain they have on the West Coast? Yeah? IT ONLY WISHES IT COULD BE AS AMAZING! It's called KING CHICKEN for a reason! Well, it's called El Pollo Rey... Wait, would that be The Chicken King, then? I don't know, I like KING CHICKEN, in all caps, just like that. I guess... I GUESS YOU BETTER GET SOME! And get a Mexican Coke, too. Call me when you go, I'll meet you down there, seriously, I work a block away.
(5)Reginald C.
A thousand times YES. This is the best chicken ever. I've had grilled chicken at many different locales in Mexico. I've had it from a restaurant in a small dirt road town that had no electricity. The only chickens they had were raised in the back yard and would squeeze their necks when ready to cook. I've had it at a food stand on the side of a mountain road on my way to Durango from Mazatlan. I've even had it from a trailer parked at a 7-11 in southwest Oklahoma City. I just love Mexican grilled/bbq chicken. To make your ordering experience as simple as possible, you should just order the whole chicken and pack half of it up for later. There is no sense wishing you had another half order to eat once you get home when it is already packed up and waiting for you.
(5)Blake R.
I have since been to El Pollo Rey again, and not only is it still 5 stars, but it has joined the ranks of 5 star restaurants I deem "crave worthy." Read my first review if you want more detail. The only thing to add now is that the food is consistent and I can't think of anywhere else I'd rather get a taco in Kansas City. Maybe anywhere.
(5)Alex T.
Sweet Xenu, this is sinful excess at its finest. The Hef himself would be proud of the gratuitous and decadent offerings The Chicken King doles out. Smoke billows out of the building and down the road, hinting at the loads of succulent chicken being grilled to perfection inside. If you ever needed an excuse to do your best Adam Richman imitation (minus the obscene and rapid weight gain, hopefully), this is your big chance. The portions of crispy, juicy, delicious chicken are large and cheap enough that you can keep going back for more if you like. The chickens are mopped in a savory marinade and cooked to perfection over an open fire. The skin is rendered down beutifully so that it is light and crispy, and the chicken remains tender and is permeated with all that wonderful smoky flavor the grill imparts. El Pollo Rey is the bomb. Head over to KCK, and get your food porn on.
(5)Jamie L.
Love swinging by here on my way home from work. In and out in 2 minutes. The chicken is a bit charred and salty, but not dry, and it travels just fine. Plus it's a TON of food for the $$$. Pick up an avocado while you're there for tastier tacos.
(4)Drinky C.
The BEST chicken in town, hands down. There are three items on the menu: half chicken, whole chicken, and buffalo wings. I've never had their wings, but they're half as good as their pollo al carbon, they're sure to be great. The only side worth anything are the pickled onions. The beans and rice are mediocre at best. Be forewarned, they close pretty early, 7 or 8pm.
(5)Jeremy L.
Simple but tasty! First you should know, there are two options here. Whole Chicken or Half Chicken. They don't ask you anything else, and you don't ask any questions. They marinate the chicken in something yummy and then crack them in half and fire grill them until they are almost blackened. That is how it's plated. They include corn tortillas, side of pinto beans, side of mexican rice and then some sort of emulsified salsa that has a lil kick to it. You tear your chicken off the bone and make your own tacos. They also have a few spicy sauces on the table as well. It's pretty basic but darn good.
(4)Jocelyn M.
If you only have one thing on the menu (two if you count a half order or a full order), you best be doin' it well. "Well" is an enormous understatement for what El Pollo Rey does to that darn chicken. It is cheap, it is good. It is crave-worthy. Just a delish bird grilled on an open flame with rice, beans, pickled red onions and salsa. And corn tortillas. It is our fave to get to-go as a last-minute dinner option.
(5)Trip C.
I spent the last two months before my planned trip to Kansas City thinking about El Pollo Rey. I'd read reviews here and knew it was a must-stop while in town. The glowing reviews, the photos of the beautifully grilled chicken---I couldn't wait. Eventually, I almost worried that it couldn't possibly measure up to my level of excitement. Well, it did. All the reviews are true. El Pollo Rey has the best chicken I've ever had. The first thing I noticed when I walked in was the wonderful smell. Dozens of chickens were on the grill, which was a flat, wood-fired model. I walked up the counter, ordered a half chicken and within 90 seconds, I had a tray of chicken, tortillas, rice, beans, onions, salsa and a half-liter of Coca-Cola. It cost a little more than $8, an incredible deal. The chicken was tender, smoky and delicious. The best I've ever ate. I cannot stress this enough. I am from Memphis, so it pains me to admit that any food from Kansas City is better than its Memphis equivalent. But it was. There are many wonderful chicken places in Memphis, but the flavor here surpassed any grilled or fried chicken I've had in my hometown. That includes any of the excellent BBQ chicken I've had. The rice was fluffy and tasty. The beans had a little heat and were very good. The tortillas, which tasted homemade, were thick and almost rubbery. Different from most tortillas I've tried, but very good. Eventually, I ate the sides, tortillas and chicken separately because I didn't want any other flavors getting in the way of the chicken. I ordered a half-liter bottle of Fresca before leaving and walked out after one of the best meals I've had---all for about $10. If you live in the Kansas City area and haven't tried El Pollo Rey, you have no excuse. You have to visit. It's close, cheap and excellent. When you eat there, just know that there's a guy in Memphis burning with jealousy that you live so close.
(5)Timothy B.
The King of Chicken in KC. Smokey, salty, juicy delicious chicken served with tortillas, some rice and beans and some salsa. This is probably the best chicken dish in KC, especially for $6. Only three items on the menu, half chicken, full chicken, chicken wings, new place has plenty of seating, but you will still end up smelling like smokey chicken for the rest of the day.
(5)Mike S.
I learned about this place a couple of years ago from an internet forum and all I can say is that everyone who recommended El Pollo Rey was absolutely right! The menu is basic, chicken or half chicken, rice and beans served along with corn tortillas. I originally went when they were in their previous location down the street and I thought when they moved that things may change (hopefully not for the worse). Everything they offer has stayed consistent and I'd say it's become one of my favorite places for authentic Mexican in KC. Don't expect anything fancy here with the interior people - you're going for the food experience...and you'll never hear anybody being serenaded Happy Birthday in Spanish!
(5)Ryan W.
This review app needs an audio portion so I can add all of the sounds that I make when I enjoy my pollo Rey. 2nd time I've brought a newbie and 2nd time someone has said it is the best chicken that they have ever had. These guys can run a wood fire grill fo sho!
(5)Wes G.
This is the best chicken in Kansas City. Period. After reading all of the glowing reviews on Yelp, I just had to check this place out. Holy cow, am I glad I did. This place is exactly the reason I joined Yelp... to find local places with amazing food that fly under the radar. Everyone has heard of Strouds and Arthur Bryants. El Pollo Rey? Not so much. You find this place chilling beneath the gigantic cloud of woodsmoke, surrounded by industrial wasteland in crappy KCK. The smell is divine. You walk in and there is a guy manning a 12 foot wide wood fuel grill. This guy appeared to have about 50 chickens grilling. The menu had only 3 items. Half chicken, whole chicken, and something else (I think Buffalo wings?). I was getting dinner to go for my wife and I, so I opted for the whole chicken for $12. My food was handed to me in a giant heavy bag in 30 seconds. I get home and find the bag to contain a massive amount of chicken, a cup of beans, cup of rice, salsa, and a stack of tortillas. I stuff everything in tortillas. Fantastic! But to me, the best part was the little drumsticks. They were out of this world. The skin on the chicken is crispy and has this sweet and spicy seasoning with the wood smoke flavor. The wood flavor makes the chicken. I would seriously pay $10 for a handful of the skin to just munch. This place is nowhere near where I work, live, or play. But I will be back on a regular basis. Thank you Yelp for introducing me.
(5)Tom G.
One thing that always worries me about going to eat somewhere based on Yelp reviews, is that there always seems to be one or two people who write about a totally negetaive experience, compared to dozens of 5-stars. 2 reviews out of 26 panned this place, but everyone else raved about it. I finally decided to find out for myself, and brought a friend from work for a late lunch this afternoon. The enormous grills with what look like hundreds of chickens cooking are quite a sight. For $6.50, we each had a half chicken, six tortillas, two containers of stewed beans (hold the rice), a container of salsa and a Baggie of pickled red onions. The earlier reviewer's comparison (unfavorable) to grocery store rotisserie was plain off-target. I love smoked meats, but this was extraordinary (plus, the place was immaculate, right down to the men's room)!
(4)Mike W.
Possibly the best chicken I've ever eaten. Add to that the fresh tortillas, the combination of the sweet, sour & HOT condiments & a glass bottle Coke all for under $10 & you've found the magic of this special place. Their rice is AMAZING & the beans are pretty tasty too.
(5)Eric K.
Oh, thank you Yelp reviewers. El Pollo Rey is fabulous. Chicken cooked over a wood stove, everyone very gracious to the only person who broke the beautiful rhythm of Spanish in the dining room. $12 for a wonderful dinner for two, lots of smokey chicken and tortillas, with a great salsa, wonderful onions, and nice beans. My mouth is watering as I write this.
(5)John P.
When a restaurant only has 3 or 4 items on the menu, you know it will be good because they can specialize on just those 3 or 4 items. El Pollo Rey does just that with its Chicken. This place has some awesome chicken, I really like the salsa, it kind of reminds me of a Tomato Slushy in a way. The pickled onions are always a nice addition to add to your chicken tortilla taco.
(5)Ryan F.
The next time you and your buddy are trying to determine just where to have lunch, this is it! We've all been there before...it's 11:15 in the morning, and we find ourselves craving, nay longing for, street tacos at one of those holes-in-the-wall Mexican restaurants/taco stands in KCK. You know the ones I mean...the ones that flourish along the streets of Central, Minnesota and Kansas Ave. Rather than involve yourselves in yet another moment of indecision, or the all-too-familiar lunch-time impasse resulting from conflicting and yet unyielding devotions as to the best venue for taco-Tuesday, let us rectify that now. Let me introduce El Pollo Rey... For starters, I'll just say, El Pollo Rey is flat out AMAZING! If you're looking for grilled chicken, i.e., char-grilled with all the woody smokiness that takes it to a state of almost gustatory perfection, look no further. In the last 6 weeks, I've been there thrice! And, the mere thought of it now only makes my taste buds weep with anticipation. For around $12, you can enjoy a whole char-grilled bird, rice and beans, pickled red onions, warm corn tortillas, and your choice of hot or mild salsa. And, yet, if this is not enough, and your looking for utter transcendence, you'll soon find that the tortilleria across the street, San Antonio's, is a required stop, if only to pick-up some pico de gallo and avacado salsa. Both complement the chicken wonderfully! It is truly a match made in heaven! So...Do it! And, do it tomorrow! Not only will you get to experience something a little different, you can court another addiction in the process...
(5)Reed N.
I don't need to blather on... this place rocks a serious bird. Read the other reviews... they are legit. Remember... three choices... wings, half, or whole. And what to drink. Just order and eat... hard to beat and you certainly can't lose. The two guys and young lady working there today were pleasant, and happy to be serving food that does not suck.
(5)Brenda R.
AWESOME! Pollo Rey is located on the 900 block of Kansas Ave ( think it's 900 or so, just a couple blocks down) not 1101 as stated in the information box. Regardless, they are hands down the best char-grilled chicken in town and they don't fool around with a ridiculous menu. Your options are chicken wings (10 for $6 and they are spicy), a half chicken, or a whole chicken. The chicken comes standard with tortillas, pickled onions, a small serving of rice and one of beans, a small cup of medium pureed salsa, and you have the option of purchasing an avocado at the register. The price for a whole chicken (+ all the included goodies) and two drinks was $15 and you just can't beat that. The bathrooms were sparkling clean and the clientele was mostly Spanish-speaking families. I felt completely safe and comfortable (no creepers trying to hit on me) and the staff was very friendly. I asked for a Mexican coke before I left and sure as hell I only had about a dollar and twenty cents in my purse (the coke was $1.50) and the nice dude at the register was like no problem and handed me my delicious corn syrup-free pop. This is a magical little hole in the wall in KCK and I will absolutely be back!
(5)Jeffrey W.
Awesome chicken joint. Clean place, love the minimal menu - your choices are a whole chicken, a half chicken, and chicken wings. The side items (rice, salsa, beans, onions, tortillas) were excellent. Folks should definitely try it.
(5)Lisa L.
Possibly the best chicken I have ever had. You would miss this place if it were not for the smoke coming out of the building. You can smell the delicious smell of the chicken from blocks away. The inside is in a run down building and has only 5 tables. They have a sign saying they are moving to 901 Kansas Ave so hopefully this will be a better place. The chicken is amazing. Grilled/Smoked right in front of you and comes with rice, beans, purple onions, and tortilla shells. You have a choice of wings, half and chicken, or a whole chicken. We took a whole chicken to go and the smoky flavor of the rub is really good with the juicy taste of the chicken. I would recommend to go down and take it to go......Can't wait to see their new location and hopefully as time goes by they expand the menu. YUM YUM
(5)Tresha G.
Just to let everyone know that they have moved to a bigger location two blocks east to the old chihuahua building. Much more space to get your eat on in. Also sporting a patio for the warmer weather. Bonus is there is a parking lot. Not the best, but it will do.
(5)Matt S.
I don't want to let people know how good this is, but it's the best. I think crack would be slightly less addictive that this chicken.
(5)Michelle F.
It's simple, do you want chicken or chicken? Either way it's served up hot off the grill with a friendly smile. Dress it up if you desire in soft corn tortillas, soupy beans, salsa and pickled onions. Wash it all down with a Mexican coke. Mmm, mmm, good!
(5)Igor C.
I've been twice in the past two weeks for dinner. The first time was good the second was terrific. We had to wait a little the second time and the chicken came straight from the grill fresh and made a noticeable difference. Beans are good, rice is OK.
(5)Tj P.
The best smoked chicken in Kc. Simple menu and perfect in every way. A must, a big yes, just go, you will love it.
(5)j w.
I love the simplicity of this place. No menu, no waitstaff. Get a chicken on a plate and eat it. Grab an avocado if you want and they'll cut it into quarters. My only complaint is that it would have been nice to have a knife to help pull the meat off the bones - a plastic fork doesn't help much. It goes without saying its some of the best chicken el carbon you can get. Go there planning on getting takeout but be happy if a table opens up for you, as there's only three of them.
(4)Tom S.
My family and I love this chicken. The best in town! The new digs make it easier to find a place to sit. Rougher section of town (my son was accosted in the parking lot by a drunk that wanted to beat him up) but worth it. Wow! Worth the risk of getting beat up? YES!!!
(5)Joe H.
This is possibly the best chicken I have eaten in my life. I was reluctant to actually eat the chicken with the tortillas, rice, beans and salsa provided because they took away from the insanely great taste of the chicken. After I was done eating, I noticed that my hands were drenched in the scent of the lovely bird. I contemplated retiring to a stall in the bathroom to apply this scent to certain parts of my body, but instead spent 5 minutes scrubbing them at the sink so as to not get tempted to eat a finger by mid-day. With your order of a half chicken (also available whole) you get about 5 corn tortillas, pinto beans, rice, salsa and a ziploc bag of what I imagine are pickled strips of onion. I can only imagine because there is no way I will open it. All of the sides were edible but pale in comparison to the king chicken. They had a sign up also offering wings if you're into that. Place has about 4 tables. Feels like it would get nasty hot in the summer. The neighborhood isn't bad at all and the employees speak enough English to get your order and take your money. Fridge full of Mexican sodas. You will never regret eating this chicken. Cash only.
(4)chris v.
What isn't great about El Pollo Rey? This is by far the best chicken el carbon (grilled chicken on wood) I have had in the City. As a former Peace Corps volunteer in Central America, I'd eat this type of food on a regular basis. They have all bases covered. You can get a half, whole or just chicken wings. Your order comes with soupy beans that have vienna sausage chunks, rice, pickled red onions, hot and mild salsa and corn tortillas. This is as authentic as it gets. The chicken melts in your mouth and the sides are pretty good, too. The place is very small with about 6 tables so the majority of their sales seems to be carry out. We ate there and had a good time watching a variety of folks (50% with neck tattoos) coming in to pick up delicious chicken. They don't seem to speak English unless prompted so here's a lesson. La mitad de pollo. That means "half a chicken". My cohorts opted to make little tacos out of their chicken. I prefer to eat the chicken off the bone and use the tortilla as a spoon to eat all the sides. I didn't want to say anything, but there were some funny looks at the "taquitos" they were making. Gringo mistake #1. Gringo mistake #2 was wearing a Khaki suite to this place. I hope the cleaners can get the smoke smell out and the chicken juice spatter. If you like chicken grilled over a wood burning grill and you want some adventure. Check this place out. I can't wait to go back again.
(5)Justin F.
It doesn't get much more straight-forward than El Pollo Rey. There's no menu but they make it pretty easy for you, you have your choice of chicken or chicken. I'm a firm believer if you do one thing really well, just keep doing it. The chicken is perfectly seasoned, grilled to perfection and served with a stack of homemade tortillas. We did venture out and order 10 buffalo wings in addition to our 1/2 chicken. They we're nice and crispy on the outside, moist on the inside and coated in buffalo sauce. I'm guessing it was a slightly doctored version of the standard buffalo sauce because it was slight sweeter than I'm used to. I'm glad we tried them, but I won't need to order them again.
(5)Steven C.
This is the best chicken I have ever eaten. I ate here for the first time Monday and have now eaten this chicken 3 times in one week. Very simple. Smoky, moist, delicious . Not much ambience. It's a lunch place for working people. In and out. You can get an avacado. It comes with green sauce, corn tortillas and red onion shreds. It's fine with nothing too. Entertaining to watch them blast this chicken over an open hickory flame. It's $6 for god's sake. Go there. I'm thinking about moving next door.
(5)Elizabeth N.
off the charts
(5)Chamberlain H.
Its smells and "feels" like somewhere I want to love. But after two trips, WOW! - that was some of the driest chicken I've ever had! Maybe El Pollo Seca would be a more appropriate title. I understand smoking/grilling poultry can be quite precarious with respect to preserving moisture, but they need to do better. The breast meat was especially hard to choke down. Make no mistake, however, the flavor was very good, it was just too hard to eat and enjoy. The no-nonsense ambiance of the place is definitely a winner. As is everything that comes with the chicken, tortillas, sauce, onions, etc....Perhaps there is a more optimal time to go than the noon rush for more moist, succulent chicken, but I'm not sure.
(3)Fike D.
I'm going to be sad when I wash my hands because I won't be able to smell that delicious char-grilled chicken on my fingers any more. As luck would have it I don't even have to wash them because I licked my fingers clean. This had got to be one of the best, cheapest and manliest restaurants in KC. I heard about this place from, of course, yelp. On Sunday night, when I didn't want to do any cooking, I came across this gem in KCK. My appetite was right and grilled chicken seemed to wet my palate. I went in to gab some dinner togo and to my delight stepped into a smoky, char-grilled scene. The grill it's self is huge, filled with chickens splayed over every inch of it. The place was packed for a 4o'clock on a Sunday afternoon. I ordered my whole chicken and even with taxes it was only $13 and some change. I didn't even have to wait for more than 5 minutes and they were sending me out the door with my prize. It contained 10 home made tortillas, rice, beans, onions and some green hot sauce. I got home and ravished that bird. The smokiness of the chicken combined with the simple ingredients of onions and sauce to make a delicious dinner. I was disappointed by the fact that you only get a thimble of rice and beans. However, you are not going there for rice and beans. All said, I would love to go back here and I have plenty more chicken left over for a couple meals!!
(5)Jason G.
Simply outstanding. I have dreams about this place. The pickled red onions are simply divine with the chicken. Make sure you pickup an avocado when you check out. Menu is simple with 2 items available. 1) Whole chicken or 2) 1/2 chicken. All grilled over an oak fired indoor grill. Sounds simple?...yes....but chicken does not get better than this. I cannot explain my deep love for this little "joint" of a restaurant. I love love love this place and PRAY that it survives FOREVER. Oh ya...and they have real Mexican Coke as well....did I say I love this place?
(5)Jeff H.
You'll go in and be a little confused because a menu or menuboard will not be found. Just know, they have 2 menu items, whole chicken dinner and half chicken dinner. They may have a 3rd choice of 6 wings but I don't read Spanish so I can't be sure what the piece of paper I saw said, but I would guess it said 6 wings. The half chicken dinner costs $6.50 exactly and contains a leg, wing, thigh and breast. I don't know how much the whole bird costs but I would guess it would be under $13. The place consists of a counter, a wood burning grill, a cooler full of Jarritos and Mexican Coke (Coke with cane sugar instead of corn syrup) and about 5 tables. You order your meal, and if you're like me, that will be the only English you hear in your time at El Pollo Rey. They have a soccer game on the TV and Mexican music playing on the radio. This is nothing to be concerned about, it's a sign of quality. The grill guy will throw your chicken into a styrofoam container while the counter guy gathers your rice, beans, tortillas, hot sauce and pickled red onions (they may not be pickled but they were in a plastic bag with some sort of liquid and tasted like they were pickled) and puts them in your bag. You then go on your way and enjoy the smell in the car on the way to your eating destination. At your eating destination you will eat the best chicken you can get in KC. I ripped mine off the bone and put it in one of the tortillas and added some of the pickled onions. I wrapped it up a little and dipped in the salsa making a fabulous little grilled chicken taco. The tortillas are obviously freshly made, I'm unsure if El Pollo Rey makes them or has them delivered from one of the tortilla places all along Kansas Ave. It doesn't much matter because they're fresh and fabulous. The rice is a run of the mill Spanish rice which was good, but nothing special. The beans had bits of bacon and sausage in them and were a nice side with the chicken. The salsa was great and I found myself wanting more to dip my 2 leftover tortillas into. The pieces of chicken aren't that big so it's not a problem to eat all 4 pieces. I thought going in that I would have my lunch and dinner for the $6.50 but that wasn't the case. I'm not complaining because every bite of the chicken carried the grilled flavor that I don't think could happen with a plumper chicken. The 4 pieces made for the perfect amount of lunch.
(5)Keith H.
Some of the best pollo I've ever eaten. Ordering couldn't be easier: whole or half chicken. That's it. Nothing is covered in the usual (and disgusting) factory-produced spicy espinaca queso ranchero casero picoso tex-mex sauce that also doubles as a high-sheen floor wax. All you get is delicious grilled bird, some beans, rice, salsa and a stack of tortillas. Cash only.
(5)Rick R.
This is the real deal. Yes - they only have chicken and serve it with soupy beans, rice, plenty of corn tortillas, pickeled red onions and salsa. Some of the best chicken I've ever had. It is hot and somewhat smoky in the very small place but worth it. Look for the smoke billowing out onto Kansas Ave.
(5)Kev L.
THE BEST poultry in the entire metro. And it's not even close. I agree with Chris that the hood it is around is questionable, but as far as I am concerned, you should be in good shape unless you park a 500 Benz in front of the joint. Like all other major cities out there, the best food is often in the hood so this should be no surprise to you. And even if this hood really was dangerous, this chicken is certainly worth getting shot in the buttocks for. They serve straight up grilled chicken as mentioned with a few corn tortillas, beans, a small side of rice, and hot sauce that likely has crack residue on it (it's addictive). The grill is straight powered with wood, thus there is a very primal feel about this food when you eat it. You will go back and back and back again for this chicken. It is the best chicken within a 100 mile radius. Even more awesome is that they have MCBOD available (Mexican Coke Bottles On Demand). Basically it's Mexican coca cola which equals cola made with cane sugar. And it's the perfect medium to wash down all that ultra-juicy chicken with. Oh, and bring cash only. If you read Chris review closely you might have figured that.
(5)Christopher Y.
Yup, this IS the best chicken ever.
(5)Matt K.
Have to mention the smoke pouring out of the exhaust fan does help fine the place. Location as of this review is still 1101; don't be fooled by the El Pollo Rey sign on the closed building (901) a few blocks to the east. Dialogue with employee: me "Hey what are the options (no menu)?" employee "We only serve chicken, you want a whole or half?" me "Looks like I will take a whole chicken and an avocado." employee "that will be $15." What do you get for $15: a hole chicken with a great salt rub to tear apart like a carnivore, pinto beans with little weanies in them, Mexican rice that has great salsa flavor, pickled onions in a bag for topping, a stack of tortillas, the avocado which they cut into quarters for you, and salsa that is freshly pureed and could be drank like a smoothie that has great tomato flavor along with just the right amount of heat to turn your face a little red but not start your mouth on fire. Great place to stop and get lunch, the only downside is if you stay and eat you smell like a wood-fired grill the rest of the day.
(4)jennifer j.
Damn good chicken, I can't deny.
(4)Michael C.
They do one thing and they do it very well. Lots of food for the money. I will deffinately be returning here on every visit to Kansas CIty.
(5)David W.
I drove by this place one day and the smell of the chicken cooking made me almost fall out of my car. I flipped a u turn and went in. The lady working the front told me they had chicken and only chicken. I ordered a half chicken for 6.50 and it came with rice, beans, onion's, salsa and tortillas. The chicken is flame cooked and it is amazing I am getting hungry just talking about it. The rice and beans were nothing special but I found the onions and tortilla's to be great. I will be going back many times.
(5)Aaron G.
This place still rocks!!! Food is great, people are nice, what more can I say!
(5)Rob C.
This is some seriously good chicken. As noted earlier, bring cash! I wouldn't worry about the neighborhood, but I would do a carry out. The focus is obviously on the chicken and not the decor. However, after you taste the chicken you won't care. I didn't try any of the other stuff they give you except the hot sauce and the tortillas. I don't know what they do to the tortillas, but they were excellent too. Maybe it was from just sitting on the chicken on the ride home. I don't typically find hot stuff very hot at your average restaurant, but that stuff is warm. Try a small taste first. It was a couple of months ago that I went there and now after this review I am really hungry for some El Pollo Rey...
(4)Melissa R.
next time the in-laws come over, I'm picking up some el pollo Rey and passing it off as my own! absolutely delish. plus, you can't beat $12 for an ENTIRE chicken. yum, yum, yum. The salsa is amazing and the white corn tortillas were the best I've had. FYI: your car, your hands, and your house will smell like this delicious chicken for days. the lingering scent will make you want to go back.
(5)Chris D.
Probably the best chicken you're gonna find in the KC metro area. No its not in the nicest neighborhood, and no the people working there don't really speak English, but don't let that deter you. Lunch is the way to go here. You will likely want to plan on taking it to go. Pollo Rey is a very small place, approx 4-6 tables seating a maximum of 16 people at a time. There is usually one cook and one person at the register. The only thing this place serves is either 1/2 chicken or whole chicken. The half chicken is $7. It comes with a leg, wing, breast, and thigh, a side of re-fried beans, tortillas, and a delicious hot sauce. The chicken is grilled to perfection with juicy meat and crisp skin. The whole thing is covered is an assortment of spices that I am unable to determine the makeup of, but it is nonetheless delicious.
(5)