Marcelo Gonzales likes coming to El Pollo Gordo because it makes him feel like he’s at home in Uruguay.
“It’s good, I come here a lot because it represents food from my country, and it makes me feel like I’m at home,” Gonzales said.
This is quite a feat for the owner of the new Peruvian restaurant. Mohammed Elghoul is originally from Palestine, but was married to a woman from Peru at one point and grew to love the food. He has hired a Peruvian chef who works magic with spices.
“I’m from the Middle East, but I’ve worked in restaurants. I’m not from Central America, but I’ve learned the food, the language and the culture,” Elghoul said.
Gonzales also likes the food at El Pollo Gordo because it fills him up. “I work in construction and eat here. It gives me lots of power. They have good portions and it fills me up.”
Carlton Phillips and Luis Llamas are regular customers as well. Working at nearby Home Depot, Phillips said, “We come here almost every day. We like the chicken, the flavor, the service — everything about it. It has a good atmosphere and we don’t have to wait long.”
“They have good food and good service,” Llamas said.
ELGHOUL IS A MEMBER of the Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce and lives in Belle View. He conceived the restaurant's design, featuring bright yellow and brown tiles, accented by orange chairs. He said that he is still planning to redo the floors and ceiling. He is looking forward to the opening of the new Safeway complex across the way because he is hoping that will bring more people into the area. The restaurant, tucked away in the Mount Vernon Square Center, is hard to see from Route One. Elghoul said that he has many repeat customers, so he knows that once people try it, they’ll come back. He just needs people to find him.
Elghoul said that lunchtime is busier during the week, but on weekends a lot of families come for dinner. There are plenty of tables to eat at, but they have carry-out service as well. They also do a lot of deliveries in the Mount Vernon area. About half of what Elghoul sells is the rotisserie chicken, which is served as a quarter, half or whole. Other chicken dishes are also popular, as are some of the beef entrees.