Chicken House

If you like chicken don’t eat here. I got a burrito and no joke I’ve had better ones that came frozen. The chicken was really chewy and full of bones.

Delicious soups and costilla asada des res (grilled short ribs).

No idea why this place is listed under «Chicken Wings,» but everything I’ve tried there has been tasty and in really generous portions. If you’ve been to La Mexicana Bakery up the road, the interior is the same: spartan taqueria with a couple tables and a self-​serve soda cooler. This is not Tex-​Mex but standard Central American taqueria fare: soft tacos, tamales, burritos, and a dozen other dishes. The Tacos De Res are three tacos (two corn tortillas each) brimming with charred, grilled meats with lots of rich, medium rare beefy flavor. They’re smothered in a fresh pico de gallo, some extra raw onion rings, a touch of cilantro, and a lime wedge. Plenty of food and a steal at $ 6. The only downside was that the tortillas weren’t grilled and since the meat and toppings were so juicy, by the time you get to Tacos #2 and #3, they’re falling apart. Fortunately, they give you a fork and knife. If you’re not into cilantro or onions, try Tacos el Costalilla: similar setup but they have a self-​serve fixins bar so you can load your tacos up the way you like.
The Chicken House carne asada is a huge portion of shredded beef with salad and frenchfries. The meal was a delicious mess. The other customers were poring over the steam trays, which held a variety of dishes; a couple of guys were praising the yucca con chicharrones, which they were washing down with Coronas at 10am. Make of that what you will. So if you find yourself broke and hungry on that stretch of Route 1 and you don’t feel like the usual chain fastfood, Chicken House will get the job done.

This place has changed ownership a few times in the last year. The latest incarnation is pretty good, though not exceptional. In particular, it offers excellent value for the dollar. It does have a few tables, but the atmosphere is dismal, I would recommend it only for take out. The few things I have tried here include the carne asada soft tacos which were very good with about ¼ lb of chopped beef in each of the three tacos in the order. The slices of avocado are a nice touch. The lomo saltado is not bad and is huge for a measly $ 8. They do have rotisserie chicken, but not nearly as good as Su Pollo down the road. Anyway, a worthwhile place offering good food at cut rate prices.
**I’ve been getting take out here a few times, usually get dinner for two for under $ 10. You really can’t beat the price. I can say that they have been inconsistent in their preparation. Depending on who is cooking your dish may be very different than the last. Nonetheless, always at least pretty good and cheap.**
**Another update. The «costillas de res» (beef ribs) are another find, as is the fried yucca. The owner is Korean and these are in that style, some very tasty pieces of meat. The yucca is boiled prior to frying, making them tender and very approachable. Don’t let the tired food sitting in the warmers in the glass case at the counter or the dicey clientele stop you from giving this place a try.***