Latin American chicken to land in OKC
You might feel there are enough fried chicken options in Oklahoma City, but what about Guatemalan fried chicken?
Owners and managers of the City Bites and The Cow Calf-Hay chain of restaurants are betting Oklahoma eaters, and Oklahoma City’s growing Latin American community, will embrace a new chicken restaurant whose product is a little different from the rest of the market. Pollo Campero is planned to occupy a lot at 1414 NW 23 and could open this summer.
“It’s nothing like we have here because of the Latin flair and flavor,” City Bites Manager Mike Woolf said. “We tell people we’d be nuts if we were just looking for a restaurant to sell fried chicken, because we’ve already got a dozen here. Campero is different.”
Originating in Guatemala in 1971, Pollo Campero has expanded into South America, Europe and the U.S.
“There is not a restaurant that caters to the central Americans and Hispanics like Campero and we all know that is one of the fastest-growing ethnic groups in the United States,” Woolf said. “They’re so super excited about it and we are too.”
“In 2002 the first U.S. Pollo Campero was opened in Los Angeles,” Woolf said. “To date, there are just over 70 locations in the United States now.”
Employees prompt closer look
Ownership at City Bites became aware of the restaurant thanks to several
chicken-hungry employees of their own.
“We have several Guatemalans who work for us at City Bites and they kept mentioning this Pollo Campero,” Woolf said. "We’d hear stories that they’d have families take trips to Dallas and bring back enormous amounts of chicken.”
After continued prodding from the employees, one of the owners tried the food while in Texas visiting his daughter. The review was great and, back in Oklahoma City, Woolf got to work applying for a franchise.
The response was not a swift one. It took months, but Woolf eventually got through and secured the rights to develop five Pollo Campero restaurants in Oklahoma in the next 10 years.
Menu items include both fried and grilled chicken options. Chicken empanadas are available, as well as more exotic sides such as yuca fries and plantains. For dessert, Central American favorites flan and dulce de leche empanadas can be purchased.
Greater Oklahoma City Chamber Retail Development and Recruitment Manager Tammy Fate believes the arrival of a new restaurant, one with the international flavor of Pollo Campero, is great for Oklahoma City and other businesses surrounding the eatery.
“That corridor has a lot of unique food offerings,” Fate said. “You have some Asian restaurants, American fare, and now Pollo Campero. You’re getting enough clustering together but a variety of options.”
Cultural diversity surrounding the location makes it a strategic place for the Latin American cuisine, according to Woolf.