Kokoriko Natural Rotisserie, a fast-casual restaurant, has opened in Brickell, bringing Colombian-style chicken and sides to Miami. If the name sounds familiar, it's because Kokoriko Chicken has been open in South Miami for years. Both restaurants are owned by the same parent company, by the way. The difference, we're told, is that this new incarnation is helmed by a celebrity chef with a modern take on the traditional chicken joint.
The Colombian chain, which features free-range all-natural chicken slow-roasted for 70 minutes, garnered the attention of Richard Sandoval during a culinary trip to Colombia. The prolific chef who owns restaurants in New York, Las Vegas, Mexico, Colorado, Dubai, and Qatar was so enraptured with his meal, he decided he wanted to partner with the company's CEO Eduardo Robayo and become its executive chef.
Kokoriko brought over some dishes for Miami New Times staff to try at lunch yesterday. The verdict? Flavorful food with some surprising additions to the usual fast-casual chicken menus, like corn cachapas pancakes filled with chicken, chicken soft tacos, and arroz con pollo. Some items got better reviews than others. For instance, the arroz con pollo was salty, but the tacos had a surprisingly nice heat to them. Others noted the chicken was moist and juicy, and the cole slaw had a touch of cayenne pepper.
This weekend is a good time to try some for yourself. To celebrate its grand opening today, April 27, Kokoriko Natural
Rotisserie will be offering everything on the menu at half-price until
Sunday, April 29. The offer is good on everything on the menu --
including alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages -- during lunch and
dinner service (dine-in service only).
Arroz con pollo ($9.95) at Kokoriko Natural Rotisserie.
Barbecue chipotle chicken salad with BBQ chicken breast, corn, beans, crispy tortilla strips, and queso fresco ($9.95).
Tacos Tinga featured rotisserie chicken and lettuce on two soft tortillas covered with spicy chipotle tomato sauce ($6.95).
Churrasco de pollo, half of a boneless chicken, comes with two sides (we chose beans and cole slaw) for $14.95.
Corn on the cob with creamy chipotle sauce and fresh cheese ($2.95 for small order, $3.95 for large order).
Kokoriko Natural Rotisserie
1111 SW First Avenue, Miami
305-372-2594
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