Pollo Campero is a restaurant chain that originated in Guatemala and is now famous throughout much of Central America and beyond—in particular for the juicy, flavorful, and richly spiced fried chicken recreated by this recipe.
Shallow-frying the chicken ensures crispy, golden brown pieces all over without the amount of oil required for full deep frying.
A small dose of MSG gives the chicken the savory flavor of the original.
The last time that my mom flew back from El Savador, I greeted her at LAX with an excited “Hi, Ma!” She responded with an urgent, “El Pollo Campero is in that maleta (suitcase).”
Pollo Campero is a food chain that originated in Guatemala, but has since become a cultural icon throughout Central America, including my family’s native El Salvador. Their signature dish is delicious and succulent fried chicken that’s layered with spices, perfect when paired with tortillas, french fries, a dinner roll, or—a more appropriate Central American side dish—yuca fries.
