Depth over breadth

Bonchon chicken

Bonchon Chicken, Korean

7215 Columbia Pike Annandale, VA 22003

The draw of many restaurants is their focus on the execution of a single dish. For certain items with a sufficiently broad appeal, such a strategy can result in significant popularity even if the establishment itself is associated with a particular ethnic cuisine.  Two establishments which have successfully applied this depth over breadth strategy to chicken are Bonchon Chicken and El Pollo. 

Bonchon (translated to Hometown) is a Korean franchise around the U.S that serves made to order fried chicken wings and drumsticks with hot and/or soy garlic sauce. We visited locations in both Annandale and Fairfax. They both offered a delightful dining experience, though we preferred the Annandale's location due to the complementary coleslaw, which is a must if you order the chicken with the hot sauce.  On the other hand, the ambience was a little more refined in the Fairfax location, and the servers a little more attentive. The menu includes a few other traditional Korean appetizers and entrees, which helps if you or someone in your party is not in the mood for chicken. Of these, we tried their vegetable dumplings. They were not exceptional but certainly edible.

El Pollo Rico, Peruvian

932 N Kenmore St, Arlington, VA 22201

We have been customers of El Pollo (Translated to chicken) since we were students due to its location across the street from George Mason's Arlington campus. The sole entree is the charcoal broiled chicken, which is filling and flavorful, though not particularly spicy. The chicken comes in full, half and quarter sizes. The half chicken is priced at $8. Sides include french fries, coleslaw and sauces (a hot sauce and mayo-based sauce). Producing chickens on a mass scale, El Pollo's kitchen and dining space are most similar to what one would expect to find in a school cafeteria. If you cannot deal with this "ambience", a take-out option is available. Recommended due to its lack of pretension, low prices, and delicious food.