Yaku in Arlington, R.I.P.

Yaku: R.I.P.

Yaku suffered from an odd location (an apartment building with very little walking traffic, and a strange name (is it Japanese? Is it Latin? Is it Fusion?).

I only had a chance to visit once before it closed in January 2010. Service was very good (contrary to some reviews) and the food was very mixed. The dumplings we had (pictured at bottom) were quite good - as were the other appetizers, but the main courses were lacking.




Restaurateur Mauricio Fraga-Rosenfeld, founder of the Latin Concepts group, still has a number of other locations in his stable, including the nearby Gua-Rapo.

Meal: Dinner
Rating: **
Date: 8 November 2010
Address: 1900 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201
Website: http://www.latinconcepts.com/

Super Peruvian Chicken: Super Pollo!

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Originally uploaded by martin_kalfatovic

Super Chicken!

All over Arlington, Virginia - and I'm sure around the
greaater Northern Virginia, and perhaps elsewhere in the country - have popped up Peruvian rotisserie chicken spots.

Just in my general neighborhood is El Pollo Rico, Pio Pio, and many more.

I'm going to focus here on Super Pollo. This is the second location (so they must be doing something right!). Sitting right next to a McDonald's, it's so sad to watch people going to Mickey D's and probably getting some tepid/flacid McNuggets when they could getting some prime, juicy, cilantro rotisserie fresh chicken ... ah well, their loss!

The basic idea here is small to medium chickens, slathered in cilantro and then spit roasted! You know you're near one of these spots by the mouth watering smell of roasted chicken pouring out of the smokestacks! Generally speaking, the chicken at all of these spots is all nicely done; served as a half, quarter or a whole, you then get to choose from a variety of sides. Beans, rice, plantains, yucca fries, spinach, corn on the cob, etc.

This location of Super Pollo has a nice large seating area and is kept nice and clean. Be aware, this isn't fine dining, just good eating. You get styro plates and plastic forks (but you'll be eating the chicken with your hands!). On this visit, we got the corn on the cob and spinach with potatoes side dishes. The corn was alirhg (probably sitting too long in

the steam tray), but the spinach and potatoes were fabulous (sorta like an Indian saag, but not as spicy). If you're in the mood for some great rotisserie, stop by. And remember, you can also get take away.


P.S. for you non-chicken lovers, there are other things on the menu, flank steak, burgers, etc. But, uh, why bother!

Meal: Lunch
Rating: ****
Date: 18 April 2009
Address: 5100 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22203 (another location at 607 N. Randolph St., Arlington)
Website: N/A

A Tale of Two Chalans ....

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Originally uploaded by martin_kalfatovic

El Chalan Restaurant (Washington, DC)
Chalan on the Beach (Miami Beach, FL)


OK, I know, you're likely to run into a "Chalan" if you go to any city with more than a couple of Peruvian restaurants (well ... if you're in the kind of city that would have more than one or even just one Peruvian restaurant!).

So, in just a little over two weeks, I had the opportunity to visit to Chalans, one in Washington (El Chalan) and one in Miami Beach (Chalan on the Beach). They were different, but both very good - in different ways of course!

El Chalan (DC) is located in Foggy Bottom down a flight of stairs and can easily be missed. But do not miss it!

For starters, we had the Ensalada Mixta (Tossed salad with Chalan house dressing). A very good and basic salad that set the stage for the meal to follow.

Sticking with beef and chicken, we had the Seco a la Hauchana (Beef stew cooked in cilantro sauce and spices, served with beans and rice) and the Aji de Gallina a la Arequipena (Shredded chicken cooked in a creamy garlic, onion and peanut sauce).

Both were very good, but the Seco a la Hauchana was spectacular. The beef was cooked just right and fell apart at the touch of your fork. The chicken was smooth and surprisingly not spicy.

El Chalan also features a nice selection of wines as well as some tasty looking Pisco Sours.

* * *

Chalan (Miami Beach) is located on Washington Ave., just off the more trendy Collins Ave. and a few blocks from the chic spots located along Lincoln Road. Chalan on the Beach gives you something that the eateries on Ocean Drive, Collins Ave., or Lincoln Road can't. Great food at a really great price with none of the SoBe attitude.

If you're looking for minor European or Latin American celebrities, you probably won't find them at Chalan on the Beach. If you're looking for a great meal (and don't mind spending LESS than $50 for two people WITH drinks!), then Chalan on the Beach is for you.

As with the Washington Chalan, we went with a beef and chicken pairing. Both dishes were tasty and well presented. We substituted a brown rice with vegetables with one dish that added a nice touch of difference.

We also ordered from the children's menu, which was not the greatest. The chicken fingers looked like they were fresh from the pre-packaged freezer. Stick with ordering from the main menu if possible.

All in all, a welcome difference from the typical Ocean Drive spot!

More photos from the two Chalans.

Restaurant: El Chalan Restaurant
Meal: Dinner
Rating: **** of 5
Date: 30 July 2008
Address: 1924 I St NW, Washington, DC 20006
Website: http://www.elchalanrestaurant.com/

Restaurant: Chalan on the Beach
Meal: Dinner
Rating: *** of 5
Date: 17 August 2008
Address: 1580 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139
Website: N/A