New Lexington chicken restaurant brings taste of DC and Peru to Central Kentucky
A new chicken restaurant has opened in Lexington: Chic Charc features rotisserie chicken cooked Peruvian style.
The restaurant at 1474 Anniston Dr. Suite B1 is owned by Myriame and Ilsan Guzman. They both grew up in the Washington, D.C., area and were inspired by locally famous Edy’s Chicken & Steak in the Falls Church area, Myriame Guzman said.
Peruvian style chicken, also known as pollo a la brasa, originated near Lima, Peru. Whole chickens are traditionally marinated and then cooked rotisserie style over hot coals and served with a crispy skin and tender, juicy meat. It’s such a popular dish that Peru has a national day for it in July.
“When we both moved here, we really missed it and the closest place to us that offers it is in Louisville, so that inspired Chic Charc,” Guzman said. “It’s definitely a favorite, we both grew up eating it. It’s a staple there. Over here, there’s not many places to get it.”
So they started their own restaurant; Chic Charc is small, family-owned and serves a focused menu.
What is on the Chic Charc menu?
There’s a daily lunch special with a quarter chicken, a side, a salad and a drink for $10.50. You can also get a half or a whole chicken with sides or a la carte. The menu also includes a chicken sandwich, a pulled BBQ chicken sandwich and a Philly style steak and cheese sandwich.
Guzman said whole chickens are marinated for 24 hours then roasted over charcoal. The chicken is served with two signature sauces: A spicy green sauce made with jalapeno and cilantro and a milder yellow sauce made with pepper and garlic, both made daily in house.
The chicken can be paired with various sides including rice, yuca fries, fries, beans, seasoned chickpeas, coleslaw, mashed potatoes and green beans. Yuca bites stuffed with cheese and empanadas made with beef and peppers also are available.
The restaurant opened Sept. 10 and is open for lunch and dinner, with seating inside. Carryout orders also available.
Chic Charc Peruvian Style Chicken
Where: 1474 Anniston Dr. Suite B1
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Call: 859-469-8028
This story was originally published September 20, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
