El Pollo Loco

[BGKYSmoker]

When i grew up in S, Calif we had a chicken fast food chain open up. Mind you the small desert town i grew up in only had 9000 people back then.
The chain was El Pollo Loco Chicken. Back then it was just marinated chicken and warm flour tortillas. The place evolved over the year with more food choices and expanded in the western states. (BTW) Any of you old timer Californians remember Shakeys pizza, Straw Hat pizza and Pioneer Chicken, Bobs Big Boy, Sambo's)

I'm making my old fav marinated chicken

My dry items.

Wet items.

Mix everything (except chicken) together.

I'm using a 2 gallon zip. (put on some sort of cookie sheet just in case it leaks.)
I left the limes in there, you can add oranges the same way. Zest em up some too

Going for an overnight marinade. Turn the bag over a few times during marinade to get all the chicken seasoned.

See ya tomorrow

Recipe.

Marinade: 1/2 cup rice vinegar
1/4 cup lime juice
1/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup pineapple juice
2 teaspoons ancho chile powder
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon turmeric
1-2 pinches saflour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne
1/4 teaspoon ground clove
1/4 teaspoon ground coriander (cilantro seed)
6 cloves garlic, minced

 

[BrianGSDTexoma]

Man is that gonna be good. I like that bottle of cayenne. Looks like we both fans. I use it like most people use pepper.

 

[Sowsage]

That marinade Looks real good! I cant ever find saffron...

 

[Kevin DeShazo]

Sounds like some good yardbird

I grew up in VA and we had Shakeys pizza

 

[chopsaw]

Nice . That going on the kettle ?
We had Shakeys Pizza , Bob's Big Boy and Sambo's in St. Louis .

 

[hooked on smoke]

Thanks for sharing. I'll have yo give this a try..
I remember all of those places.

 

[BGKYSmoker]

Yeah going on the kettle tomorrow.

winchells dohnuts, spud nuts, naugles, del taco, a&w, purple pup. Most are prob all gone. Remember Gemco dept store, eating at the food bar at woolworth, coronet, shopping bag mkts, safeway, ralphs, stater bros, charliebrown farms

 

[Bearcarver]

We had a "Bob's Big Boy" in Quakertown, PA---My Birthplace & where My Heart still resides.
Be back to see the finished shots!

Bear

 

[HalfSmoked]

Awesome recipe waiting final. We had some of those fast food joints too.

Warren

 

[BGKYSmoker]

I dont have a Vortex for the kettle yet. i do have a SnS that i will use.

 

[BGKYSmoker]

Some cornbread to go with the crazy chicken tonight.

Famous Daves mix.

I rubbed buttah all over the top while its still hot.

 

[HalfSmoked]

Corn bread is like bacon its good with anything.

Warren

 

[hooked on smoke]

Yeah going on the kettle tomorrow.

winchells dohnuts, spud nuts, naugles, del taco, a&w, purple pup. Most are prob all gone. Remember Gemco dept store, eating at the food bar at woolworth, coronet, shopping bag mkts, safeway, ralphs, stater bros, charliebrown farms

Thrifty, 5cent ice cream cones. Oh yeah, you mentioned a lot of the throwbacks. Good times. Thanks for sharing

 

[BGKYSmoker]

Yup Thrifty Drug store. I wanted one of those fancy scoops they used.

 

[BGKYSmoker]

Decided not to use the SnS and went vortex style. And since i dont have a vortex (yet) i went with the poortex.

Let the coal burn down some and get ready for crazy chicken.

 

[chopsaw]

Famous Daves mix.

That's great corn bread mix .
Be watching for the bird .

 

[BGKYSmoker]

Got the EPL pintos made

EPL Chicken on the kettle.

 

[HalfSmoked]

Warren

 

[BGKYSmoker]

All done

All the prep and it eaten in 10 mins.

 

[chef jimmyj]

Sounds and looks great. The marinade sounds really tasty...JJ