John’s Fried Chicken

Love the chicken in this place I drive 40 minutes one way to get me some yummy chicken with onions… yumm

Bergenline Ave is the go to place for delicious and affordable Latin take out food. Once you get towards 50^th street and up the options are endless.
John’s Fried Chicken which has an additional location in Union City and Washington Heights is good quality Dominican food at a cheap price. I would recommend getting the roasted chicken. They have many options whether you are getting for the whole family or individual meals. I usually order a ¼ of a chicken with a side of rice which runs at a cost of $ 5.25. The portion is huge especially with the rice. The amount of rice they put can feed at least 3 people. Your rice options are white with beans, arroz con gandulez (yellow rice), or arroz moro (black rice). My favorite is the arroz moro. Their rice has the perfect amount of seasoning not too salty and not enough salt. Their chicken is always moist and baked to perfection. They also ask if you would like onions on top of your chicken to give it that extra flavor which is free.
Forget KFC and hit up JFC! I promise you won’t regret it.

Probably the worst take out I’ve ever had. The chicken, even the dark meat, tasted dry and mealy. Like it was cooked days ago and reheated. The soup was awful, tasted like salt water. It had a whole piece of corn in it — with the core. And the plantains were just disgusting. Not sure how they screwed that up. To top it off, they put a nasty marachino cherry on the already crappy flan. Will not be ordering from here again.

One star because i have to give it atleast 1 star. First impression was good. Lots of food. The fried chicken. Was already fried kept in a warmer. It was nothing amazing at all. I dont know the hype. Maybe the rotisserie chicken is better. That is what my friend had. He says it’s the best. However i had the underwhelming fried. I got to pick one side. I didn’t expect to see little options for a fried chicken meal. Just because i dont like rice and beans. Or yuca com mojo with fried chicken. So the only thing i saw was the macaroni salad. First bite. I said. Wow this is really sour. I should have never had the 2^nd bite. 15 minutes after. Already had a major belly ache. Withing 45 minutes. I was sick to my stomach. And after about 3 hours. I was puking. I was sick for 40 hours. We counted. Mind you. I have a tank disposal stomach. I dont get food poisoning. Ive travelled. And eaten the craziest stuff. But yet this place rocked me. I should have asked for my money back and not had my meal because while standing. I noticed a cook loading chickens to the rotisserie racks. He then wiped his gloves on his shirt. Then he used the same gloves. To push the door open. To push the care. To grab the trays. Gross. I told my friend. This guy is gonna get people sick. Ironically. I was one that got sick just a few hours later. So guys. Beware. Chicken is delicate. If its not kept, maintained, handled then cooked properly. You will get seriously sick. If i could sue this place for the discomfort and terrible nightmares i had. I would. Never again. Employees are gross. Fried chicken was dry as hell. Food is heavy salted. Not good at all. If you are a foodie like me. You like to eat good and maybe cook yourself. Stay away from this place. Seriously. I dont eat fast food. But i tried popeyes once. And for fried chiken. I rather go there.

Yes, an hispanic Fried Chicken spot, and it is good, fried right when you order.
But their rotisserie chicken (pollo a la brasa) is the real winner here, juicy and delicious.

Don’t be fooled by the name. This place is more than fried chicken. Food is really good. Priced right…

I don’t get to go here often. But the food is certainly delicious. A must stop and affordable.

The food is awesome but a little expensive for a family of 4. Keep in mind this is only a take out place.

The food was really good, but, I walked out paying $ 18 for three chicken thighs, a side of yuca, one corn on the cob, and a small rice. The sign reads $ 1.75 for a thigh, but, I was charged $ 3.25 per thigh. I questioned the price, but, just decided to pay because of the lack of communication.
Good food, but, please go in with a Spanish speaking person. I know I didnt pay the displayed prices. But, there’s no point in discussing the cost if there is a communication problem.

I think it’s about time I update my review on this place. Still as great as before. I seriously love how consistent this place is with their hot meals. Still have yet to try the actual chicken unfortunately because I am addicted to their homemade hot food. One of these days, I need to suck it up and try the chicken as opposed to the hot food because of all the amazing things I have heard about it. Today I was helped right away, service is always quick and pleasant. Today I decided to try their ribs for the first time. I found them to be a tad bit on the salty side for my taste… I can totally look past that because on the regular this never happens. However, they are still pretty good an very tender. The red beans and white rice mixed together was off the hook as always. I can always indulge in this alone. All and all I am always a happy camper when I come here!

John’s is a neighborhood staple! I grew up in the area so I’ve had many a meal at John’s. When I was younger, I was hooked on their fried chicken which is quite tasty but I finally wised up and saw that the rotisserie chicken is where it’s at! I’ve stood in a line 10 deep and we all patiently waited and watched those chickens spin and spin and spin… until that magical moment that the woman behind the counter makes her move. The chicken is full of flavor and so juicy. Make sure to ask for the onions when ordering the chicken. They’re soaked in a vinegar sauce and it complements the chicken perfectly.
All of their rice options are moist and delicious. Their yellow rice with veggies is my go to. And a ladle of red beans and I am go to go!
I haven’t tried any of their other items but I’ve heard good things about their picadillo and side dishes.
It’s super affordable. Generous portions for under $ 10 (can’t remember exact pricing). It’s mainly a takeout place. They have a few tables but it’s not really a sit down spot. They opened up another location in union city as well so you have a couple options. I think they’re getting the 5^th star for nostalgic reasons but the high rating is well deserved as you can see from the other Unilocalers. After writing this review, I think I’m due for a trip to John’s soon. I’ll make sure to post some pics!

Allow me to echo my fine fellow local Unilocalers — do NOT sleep on the rotisserie chicken here.
The «fried» might be in the name, but frankly, I have never seen anybody buy up massive amounts of that the way I see people stockpile the spit-​roasted goodness. I have literally seen a lady go in there and purchase 15 chickens, disassembled and cloaked in vinegary-​delicious onions, with the intention of serving them at a birthday party… and why not?! For $ 8.95 a chicken, you get something delicious and definitely a step up from your run of the mill party fare. (Sorry, Chuck E. Cheese!)
I always buy up more than one bird — one for dinner, and the other for myriad uses during the week (shredded atop a pile of greens, tossed into pasta, WHATEVER!).
The folks working the counter are lovely (and yes, more Spanish-​speaking than anything else… but I’m baffled that anyone has expressed surprise about this), and the price is right.
In fact… I think I now know what’s for dinner!

If you like fresh and tasty Peruvian-​style rotisserie chicken, you have to try the chicken here! Although the name of the restaurant would lead you to think that you should order the fried chicken (which I tried, and it was ok), you MUST have the delicious moist meat and crispy seasoned skin of their rotisserie chicken. The flavorful pickled red onions add such a nice garnishing touch over the chicken, and even the white rice is flavorful and tasty without anything on it! What makes it even more wonderful, is that the pricing here is so reasonable. You can feed a family of 3 with about $ 10! (Unheard in my hometown of Brooklyn.) There is also another location in Union City that recently opened, and I tried the food there as well. Just like McDonald’s they were able to duplicate the exact taste I originally experienced in West New York. I love the ladies that work the counter in West New York, who do not speak English very well. Although I do not speak Spanish very well (a shame since I took Spanish in school during the entire course of each level of my education), they humor me and provide me with exactly what I order. Love this place and children will as well. My son actually would prefer to get food from here than take a fast food run. (Of course, he prefers it second to my cooking, of course!) I didn’t give this restaurant five stars because it is a takeout place (although there is some seating provided.)

I’m from Puerto Rico, when I’m dying for some delicious spanish food I come to johns, although the name threw me off the first time I went to go in. Their rotisserie chicken is unbelievably good and their guineos and arroz con gandules is incredible, take note $ 10 min for credit/​debit cards and make sure you have your identification with you or you can’t use the card. This place sells out of chicken during the holidays, you have to order a whole ck in advance during the holidays. Its a hole in the wall, but I can’t get enough!

Awesome food, reasonable prices

This place is always a mid-​week pleaser in my household and holds a coveted spot in my dinner rotation.
There is consistently a line a night that takes a few minutes to meander through, but I find the wait is always worth the while, for the chicken, at least.
Their rotisserie chicken is juicy, delicious, and always served right off the spit, as a result of the consistent crowd. The side selction seems to be lacking though with various rice dishes, vegetable medley, and fried plantains. Then again, I’m not here for the sides.
This is strictly carryout in my book. They do have a couple tables against the wall, but for posterity’s sake. You won’t stay for the décor, but you will return.

Goes down all I have to say

For what it is, solid cheap chicken. Rotisserie, Fried and chopped to pieces.
This is not white glove, be ready to be sloppy and grab it to go!
Great eats on the cheap!

The staff is nasty, the rotisserie chicken is overrated (nothing like peruvian style chicken or pollo a la brasa). And the décor is standard. Why go to this place when you can go to Kikiriki that is one block away.

So it’s fried chicken. Spanish style!
The servers do not speak English (ok maybe a little but I suggest you bring a translator) Or you can always just nod and point !
They have rice and beans of all kinds, meats of all kinds, desserts, salads, and my favorite is their spaghetti… trust me not very Italian… this has a more «dominican» twist to it but still good!
The food is great! Think of it as a Spanish KFC. but the people who are there to service you… meannnn!!! Which is why I rate the place 3 stars. So much so that one time I went, this big hipped lady overcharged me on my food (I think just because she was miserable and I was looking like a million bucks). I mean, come on. and extra 3 dollars for a! small! fried sweet plantain???
But the food is good…
I remind myself that it is worth it. Wooosahhh breathe in breathe out…