Señor Pollo

I've heard a lot of raves about the Latin restaurant, El Chupacabra, and I've always wanted to try it but I just don't find myself in Makati very often. When I found out that the guys behind it opened a Latin restaurant in Tomas Morato, I couldn't be more thrilled since that area is very accessible to me. If your idea of Latin cuisine is simply nachos or hard shell tacos topped with ground beef and loads of commercial melted cheddar cheese, then you better hit this place up and get things straight.

Señor Pollo specialises in Latin chicken, and if you know me, you know how much I love chicken. You order downstairs at the counter before heading up to their main dining area. I love his friendly the staff are to the customers because when we were asking about their sides, they were kind enough to let us try some Patatas Bravas before we even ordered so that we can decide if we like it or not. And yes, we liked it. 

The dining space upstairs is so cool! I love the brick wall together with the hanging light bulb fixtures because it gives the space a modern feel, but you still get a grubby vibe from all the mismatched wood furniture. There's also a bar for those who want to enjoy a drink or two. However, the coolest thing for me has to be the murals that are just all out Latin culture meets rock and roll. You'll find them on some parts of the walls but the best ones for me are the ones in the bathroom (pictured above) so make sure to check them out!

What's even better than their murals is the food. My boyfriend, Martin, ordered the Quarter Señor Pollo Roast with Patatas Bravas and Latin Coleslaw (P135). Their chicken, which comes with an herb condiment called chimichurri, is perfectly roasted -- the meat was juicy and tender, with a crisp, salty skin. It's also a bit more flavorful than your usual roast chicken, giving it that Latin kick. We loved their, Patatas Bravas which is basically potatoes drizzled with two kinds of sauces. The potatoes have the skin on which gives it a nice chewy texture. The veggies in the Latin coleslaw were fresh and crisp, and is the perfect base for the rich, flavourful sauce that's not fatty compared to the usual mayonnaise-based coleslaw sauce.

My sister, Darryl, had the Grilled Chicken Quesadilla (P158) which was so good I kind of wished I ordered that as well. The tortilla was toasty on the outside but still had a nice chewy bite to it. Inside is a generous serving of grilled chicken with lots of cheese and salsa which gave the dish lots of freshness and flavor. In true Latin cuisine fashion, it came with lots of delicious condiments. The red and green chill sauces added lots of heat, while the white garlic sauce cooled down the heat a bit. 

I had the Quarter Señor Pollo Roast with Colombian Beans and Fried Plantain (P158). If you like the taste of refried beans in burritos, you will love the Colombian Beans. It has the same taste but in a thick, creamy consistency. While eating this, all I could think about was how great it would be to have some tortilla dipped in this. I was excited to try the Plaintains because I love fried saba bananas, and it's pretty similar. I love how it's a bit crisp on the outside, yet soft and fluffy inside with just a hint of sweetness. I could literally eat that whole plate of plantains any day.

South American cuisine has unfortunately been stereotyped as overloaded cheesy nachos or tacos, but it's a good thing that there are restaurants like Señor Pollo that try to give us taste of the real deal. The robust flavors of their dishes are certainly something you won't easily find anywhere else. 

Señor Pollo
F7 Building, Scout Rallos Street,
Tomas Morato, Quezon City