Eight years after my first review, I ventured here. Big deal, right? Yea, well, first time with ANYONE other than my wife in the car. As in, 3 other friends we stayed close to but socially distanced from on our patio for dinners through the past shitty 14 months of pandemic seclusion. Now, all fully vaccinated, we celebrated by picking El Pollo Rey as our destination, because fine dining celebrations call for BBQ chicken, right? Heady stuff, being in the car with other humans after being secluded from others for so long. For some of us, our first dine at a restaurant in awhile, and we were prepared to eat inside, but, well... if you've been here, you know that's not always such a good idea unless you like that thick smoke that sears the eyes. As on cue, the clouds parted, the sun shone, the rain stopped, an angel choir sang--eh... some guys drove by on Harleys without mufflers as we dined on three full chicken dinners among the five of us. Enough to feed a small army. Mango Jarritos washed down the smoky, succulent birds. A fine meal it was. Still as good as the first visit, and maybe because of being outside and the weather perfect it all tasted just a little better. And so more than a visit, it feels like it'll be fun again to be visiting new dining spots and favorite old ones on Yelp again and sharing those experiences. Lets just not do that thing we're still passing through again. Ever. Burp. Be careful out there.
John Ocker
Wow! My first time here and I ordered 4 street tacos - 2 chicken and 2 steak. The tacos were excellent! I wish they were a little bigger, but that’s my only tiny critique. The staff provided extra lime slices on the side and the two side sauces were amazing!! I will be back to try other menu items!
Alicia Giron
Delicious food love the staff! Best Chicken! Go try it out!
Shae R.
Grilled chicken seasoned deliciously. And a unique Buffalo sauce unlike anything I've had before.
Briana Jones Wells
I'm originally from Southern California and I miss this style of restaurant. The price for all you got was absolutely amazing. The quality reminded of me of home.
FRANCISCO GONZALEZ
Good customer service
Mac A.
Next stop on the KC Magazine's top taco joints.... El Pollo Rey. When you pull up there is wood stacked up, that wood is used to grill chicken. They have 3 things on the menu, full chicken, half chicken and wings. The food is amazing. Chicken in served with beans, rice, corn tortillas, and a refreshing salsa. If you opt to eat inside, you will go home smelling like smoke, so don't dress fancy. Make the trip down, you won't be disappointed!
Tito J.
Great food crappy staff, called them for 20 min straight 1 hr before closing, I decide to drive there in the rain for them to ask me if I called in my order. I say "no, but I've been calling and you guys don't answer your phone", to which the lady responds "well we are out of chicken". Great customer service guys!
Pamela Manzanarez
If you are Kansas and want great food stop by great customer service
You've seen the reviews. I've eaten there at least 10 times. Matter of fact, I think I'm going right now. Can't beat this place. Just remember, 1/2 chicken or whole chicken. Make sure you get an avocado. The prices are getting a little high. Started at $6 1/2 chicken, $11 whole. They are approaching prices that they will lose my business. The value/price index.
Rigoberto V
Delicious grilled chicken many sides to choose from.
KSSunflowerMom
Place is a bit of a dive but has the best wood grilled chicken in town. There are only 3 options: full chicken, half chicken or chicken wings. All come with rice and beans. I recommend getting some chicken to go after you eat your meal bc the chicken is even better cold the next day. Yummy
Jessica P.
I love when a place keeps it simple and does what they do well. El Pollo Rey gives you delicious and simple wood fire grilled chicken and that's it. Great value and you get what you expect.
JP H.
A buddy of mine mentioned this place one day and I told him he needed to take me there for lunch, so a few days later we decided to trek up to Armourdale and visit El Pollo Rey. I leave most of the Spanish speaking in my life to my bride (who's not really of Latin heritage but has been studying Spanish the past few years) but my Texas heritage grants me enough fluency to know that "El Pollo Rey" translates to "The Chicken King," and I can't disagree with that assessment! So here's what you need to know: DON'T wear nice clothes when you go... and DO plan to smell like oak wood smoke for the remainder of the day! The building is old and tired... and PERFECT. The food is outstanding. You won't have to make many decisions... the menu is what it is- you'll order either a whole or half chicken and you'll get some delicious pinto beans (complete with sliced wieners!), Mexican rice, corn tortillas, salsa, and some sliced red onions. You can purchase an avacado a la carte, and a canned soft drink if you wish... the chicken is great, as are the sides. I've had many salsas i like better, but this one is fine to add to the makeshift tacos I created with my food. Prices are good... the half chicken meal with a soft drink was ten dollars and change... i think the whole chicken is sixteen. It's become one of my new favorite places in KC... so much so that I almost hate to tell you about it for fear of making the lines long or turning them into some kind of overrated chain restaurant! ;-)
Food are delicious staff friendly and very nice
Eight years after my first review, I ventured here. Big deal, right? Yea, well, first time with ANYONE other than my wife in the car. As in, 3 other friends we stayed close to but socially distanced from on our patio for dinners through the past shitty 14 months of pandemic seclusion. Now, all fully vaccinated, we celebrated by picking El Pollo Rey as our destination, because fine dining celebrations call for BBQ chicken, right? Heady stuff, being in the car with other humans after being secluded from others for so long. For some of us, our first dine at a restaurant in awhile, and we were prepared to eat inside, but, well... if you've been here, you know that's not always such a good idea unless you like that thick smoke that sears the eyes. As on cue, the clouds parted, the sun shone, the rain stopped, an angel choir sang--eh... some guys drove by on Harleys without mufflers as we dined on three full chicken dinners among the five of us. Enough to feed a small army. Mango Jarritos washed down the smoky, succulent birds. A fine meal it was. Still as good as the first visit, and maybe because of being outside and the weather perfect it all tasted just a little better. And so more than a visit, it feels like it'll be fun again to be visiting new dining spots and favorite old ones on Yelp again and sharing those experiences. Lets just not do that thing we're still passing through again. Ever. Burp. Be careful out there.
Wow! My first time here and I ordered 4 street tacos - 2 chicken and 2 steak. The tacos were excellent! I wish they were a little bigger, but that’s my only tiny critique. The staff provided extra lime slices on the side and the two side sauces were amazing!! I will be back to try other menu items!
Delicious food love the staff! Best Chicken! Go try it out!
Grilled chicken seasoned deliciously. And a unique Buffalo sauce unlike anything I've had before.
I'm originally from Southern California and I miss this style of restaurant. The price for all you got was absolutely amazing. The quality reminded of me of home.
Good customer service
Next stop on the KC Magazine's top taco joints.... El Pollo Rey. When you pull up there is wood stacked up, that wood is used to grill chicken. They have 3 things on the menu, full chicken, half chicken and wings. The food is amazing. Chicken in served with beans, rice, corn tortillas, and a refreshing salsa. If you opt to eat inside, you will go home smelling like smoke, so don't dress fancy. Make the trip down, you won't be disappointed!
Great food crappy staff, called them for 20 min straight 1 hr before closing, I decide to drive there in the rain for them to ask me if I called in my order. I say "no, but I've been calling and you guys don't answer your phone", to which the lady responds "well we are out of chicken". Great customer service guys!
If you are Kansas and want great food stop by great customer service
Restaurantji Recommends
You've seen the reviews. I've eaten there at least 10 times. Matter of fact, I think I'm going right now. Can't beat this place. Just remember, 1/2 chicken or whole chicken. Make sure you get an avocado. The prices are getting a little high. Started at $6 1/2 chicken, $11 whole. They are approaching prices that they will lose my business. The value/price index.
Delicious grilled chicken many sides to choose from.
Place is a bit of a dive but has the best wood grilled chicken in town. There are only 3 options: full chicken, half chicken or chicken wings. All come with rice and beans. I recommend getting some chicken to go after you eat your meal bc the chicken is even better cold the next day. Yummy
I love when a place keeps it simple and does what they do well. El Pollo Rey gives you delicious and simple wood fire grilled chicken and that's it. Great value and you get what you expect.
A buddy of mine mentioned this place one day and I told him he needed to take me there for lunch, so a few days later we decided to trek up to Armourdale and visit El Pollo Rey. I leave most of the Spanish speaking in my life to my bride (who's not really of Latin heritage but has been studying Spanish the past few years) but my Texas heritage grants me enough fluency to know that "El Pollo Rey" translates to "The Chicken King," and I can't disagree with that assessment! So here's what you need to know: DON'T wear nice clothes when you go... and DO plan to smell like oak wood smoke for the remainder of the day! The building is old and tired... and PERFECT. The food is outstanding. You won't have to make many decisions... the menu is what it is- you'll order either a whole or half chicken and you'll get some delicious pinto beans (complete with sliced wieners!), Mexican rice, corn tortillas, salsa, and some sliced red onions. You can purchase an avacado a la carte, and a canned soft drink if you wish... the chicken is great, as are the sides. I've had many salsas i like better, but this one is fine to add to the makeshift tacos I created with my food. Prices are good... the half chicken meal with a soft drink was ten dollars and change... i think the whole chicken is sixteen. It's become one of my new favorite places in KC... so much so that I almost hate to tell you about it for fear of making the lines long or turning them into some kind of overrated chain restaurant! ;-)