Reviewer: Jason
Total Reviews: 1040
Reviewed: 3/17/2004
Rating: 8
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I've been going to Chicken Salsa for a couple of years now. It was introduced to me through my coworker. He's been going there for over 10 years. The dish to get is the 2 chicken taco combo with rice and beans for $5. The food tastes healthy and not greasy. The tortilla felt like a fresh version of Guerrero tortillas that you can pickup at any supermarket. I'm more of a fan of mexican tortillas that taste like an unsweetened pancake. The salsa bar provides 3 different choices of salsa; super hot, hot, and mild...i think they should rename it; medium, weak, and more weak. If you're going to label super hot, you gotta back it up :p
If you have a huge appetite, go for the 3 taco plate. All in all, this place gets a solid 8. Its one of those restaurants you dont mind going to at least once a month.
RETURN VISIT for Jason!5/23/2005 - 8 Rating: Since my last review, Ive probably visited Chicken Salsa about 10 more times. Its very consistent and service is super fast. I have yet to have a disappointing visit and would like to retract my statement about the salsas being weak. I had the super hot today and it definitely had some heat to it that left a lingering burn.
I went with half my team today and the concensus was,
enchilada sauce rocks, flavor enhanced by onions and spices taco chicken salad, tasty shell, large portion tamales are decent hot sauce and ranch make great combo for tacos
Reviewer: Terry
Total Reviews: 739
Reviewed: 3/17/2004
Rating: 7
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I must preface my review by saying that, being Vegetarian, I couldn't enjoy their signature item, the grilled chicken. I ordered a Vegeterian burrito. It was prepared quickly and arrived on a plate (we ate there) with some chips. The free salsa bar was nice and the salsas tasted fresh and were good, not the best salsa but decent.
The burrito I found to be a little on the dry side, but had all the right fixings. I threw some salsa in it to make up for some of the dryness and it tasted better. The ingredients tasted fresh but nothing earth-shatteringly interesting. Just some decently good mexican food.
Chicken Salsa has been a main staple for me as a lunch get away at work. A co-worker of mine turned me on to this place. The first time I was there I order the 2 chicken taco plate with rice and beans. About 12 visits later I still order the same dish. It is amazing. The chicken is from the rotisserie (mesquite slow roasted) that gives it the mad flavor. The rice and bean are a perfect complement to the meal. I also have to mention there salsa, well it’s just the way I like it, not to a lot of onions and a lot of tomatoes. It’s more of a blended salsa than a chunky one. Another addition to my plate is adding their ranch dressing to the tacos. I gotta tell you it a flavor that you will craving in the middle of the night when you get the munchies! I give this place a 9
This is also one of my favorite places to go in the area. Service is fast and friendly, food taste good and cheap, what else can you ask for? The ever famous 2 taco plate, comes with rice and beans for $5. The taco tastes very good with the signature grilled chicken. I like to put their salsa and hot sauce on the rice and beans plus a bit of ranch dressing, hmm........ taste so good.
You know the food is good after more than 10 visits and you still order the same dish. If you are really hungry, try the 3 taco plate. Its going fill you up.
Reviewer: ne00
Total Reviews: 187
Reviewed: 9/17/2005
Rating: 7.5
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Reading the reviews about Chicken Salsa, I decided to give this place another shot. I live very close but after my first time several years ago I havent been back. The first time I came I felt the food was a bit pricey for what you get and the chicken was not that memorable.
I came here with the intention of ordering the recommended 3 taco combo plate ($6.25), but as I scanned the menu I noticed the half chicken salsa for a few cents more which includes half a chicken, tortillas, pinto beans, and Spanish rice (or your choice of two sides which also includes potato salad, coleslaw or a side salad) for $6.85.
Since I was the first to order my order came out within minutes. I was a bit disappointed that they didnt include a bag of free chips with my order as I know they saw me help myself to some salsa and ranch dressing in their condiments bar. When I finally arrived home the food was still warm, in fact I still saw steam from my beans and rice. The tortilla was too hot to handle wrapped in its own little pouch.
I first attacked the beans and they were only eh. Nothing special about the beans, I usually prefer black beans if I want to eat healthy or splurge with refried beans. Then I tried the rice on its own and it tasted on par with most Spanish rice Ive had. Its some what fluffy but tasted average. Finally I had some chicken. I remember the chicken being dry in the past but this time it was a bit moist in certain areas and near being dry in other. By this time I was regretting my choice, so I decided to use the ranch dressing with my chicken and it started to be more enjoyable.
I was only planning to eat the rice, beans and chicken and ignore the tortillas but wanted to try it mixed together and make my own chicken soft taco. With salsa or ranch it tastes very good. Everything tasted so much better mixed together rather than being eaten separate. Maybe I should have gone with the taco combo instead, but I have so much left over chicken I can much on throughout the day having just paid only a few cents more.
Verdict: The place is clean (but then again I was the first customer for lunch); the condiments bar is clean as the salsa and ranch taste good. I am not sure if they make their salsa from scratch though although it tastes fresh.
The chicken here is healthy. The beans and rice looks healthy as well. There was very little fat dripping from the chicken, not compared to the fat from the rotisserie chicken you buy from Safeway. In terms of tenderness, the chicken should be a little tenderer since its somewhat dry when eaten alone.
The price is reasonable and very affordable for what you actually get to what you pay for. The half chicken deal is defiantly worth it as its a meal and half for a few bucks.
Haven't been here in 10+ years, but was in the area and thought I'd give it another whirl.
Upon entering I immediately noticed an enticing smell, that of the 'house' chickens, which are apparently cooking on a rotisserie throughout the day.
I was in a burrito mood and ordered the super w/ chicken. It was ready lightning quick - almost too quick. I noticed that the person making it seemed to be folding, rather than rolling it... weird. Got back to the office and it was... floppy. I take for granted that burritos are fairly firm and should retain their shape to some extent. This one did not - most likely the result of the poor wrapping technique I'd witnessed earlier.
As far as the internals, the rice and whole pinto beans and cheese were decent, but it was the chicken that really shined. Each piece was deeply infused with deep mesquite flavor and was quite delicious. This definitely is the specialty of the house and worth ordering again.
CS would be an 8 but I have to dock them a half point for the poorly wrapped and slightly pricey ($7) burrito. However, I'd return for their tasty signature chicken either in tacos or as a stand alone lunch plate.
“Chicken was tasty but a bit on the dry side. Beans and rice were ok. The "Super Hot" salsa was more of a medium-hot but did have good flavor. Corn tortillas were ok although microwaved.”
