Guapo's-Pollo A La Brasa

[Joe H]

Guapo's is a mini chain which includes Tenleytown, Manassas, Manassas Park, Gaithersburg and Bethesda. The Herndon location which looks like it will open in a couple of weeks will feature pollo a la brasa. Has anyone been to any of the Guapo's? Any thoughts on their pollo a la brasa and how it compares to Crisp 'n Juicy or El Pollo Rico?

[JPW]

I've been to the one in Gaithersburg and it was pretty standard fare.

Absolutely average in every way shape and form.

Save a couple of bucks and go to Anita's, you'll get better food to boot.

[BigWyoming]

If it's the same Guapo's as in Shirlington it is seven different kinds of horrible. Every bad Mexican food cliche is there, from the salsa jarred in New York City to the piles and piles of greasy cheese melted over everything.

Anita's, because it is the only place I've found in the Mid-Atlantic that makes green chili out of, gasp!, green chiles and not tomatillos holds a place that is near and dear to my heart.

Damn it! Chile verde is not made with tomatillos. That's salsa verde!

Dios mio!

[Gastro888]

Ugh, don't even bother going. The one in Tenleytown smelled horrible and the one in Gaithersburg serves mediocre food.

Donde esta Anita's?

Edited April 26, 2005 by Gastro888 (log)

[JPW]

Ugh, don't even bother going.  The one in Tenleytown smelled horrible and the one in Gaithersburg serves medicore food. 

Donde esta Anita's?

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Herndon.

701 Elden Street.

[Gastro888]

Sweet, thanks!

[redglass]

Is there still the Anita's in Vienna, near the Westwood Country Club?

[misscindy]

Anita's, because it is the only place I've found in the Mid-Atlantic that makes green chili out of, gasp!, green chiles and not tomatillos holds a place that is near and dear to my heart. 

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There is at least one other place in the Mid-Atlantic that makes green chili out of green chiles--my favorite hang out, the Golden West Cafe in Baltimore. I love the breakfast burrito covered with the stuff for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

[bilrus]

Ugh, don't even bother going.  The one in Tenleytown smelled horrible and the one in Gaithersburg serves medicore food. 

Donde esta Anita's?

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Herndon.

701 Elden Street.

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There is also a location in Chantilly near 50 and 28 and I saw one listed on the web in Vienna near Hunter Mill and Rt. 7, but can't for the life of me place where it is.

[mojito]

Ugh, don't even bother going.  The one in Tenleytown smelled horrible and the one in Gaithersburg serves medicore food. 

Donde esta Anita's?

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Herndon.

701 Elden Street.

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There is also a location in Chantilly near 50 and 28 and I saw one listed on the web in Vienna near Hunter Mill and Rt. 7, but can't for the life of me place where it is.

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The one in Vienna that I remember (but it's been 1+ years) is on Rt 123 South, past Tysons Corner Center, after you go over Rt 7. It would be on the left.

[VenerableBede]

if i remember, there are actually 2 anita's in vienna, within a mile or 2 of each other. both on 123 through "downtown" vienna.

Edited April 26, 2005 by VenerableBede (log)

[Joe H]

if i remember, there are actually 2 anita's in vienna, within a mile or 2 of each other.  both on 123 through "downtown" vienna.

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The original Anita's (formerly a "Donut Dinette" from the 'late '50's) opened in the mid '70's and closed about two years ago. Whoever took it over didn't last long because there are no new owners-the sign in their window says, I believe Salvodoran Mexican. Anita's is still in her second Vienna location which, frankly, I never liked. I remember sitting in her parking lot at a table and eating before some county agency forced her to stop; this was probably the late '70's/early '80's. At the time she and "Speedy Gonzalez" on N. Randolph street in Arlington were the D. C. area's best Mexican dumps. (Georgetown had Enriqueta's.) I also found a big difference between her locations and who ran them. Wherever she and her daughter were at were consistently the best. Still, I would drive once a month from Silver Spring to Vienna to eat at Anita's.

I also remember her husband driving a Cadillac with steer horns on its hood as well as her having a Rolls.

Anita, her husband and her restaurants had a LOT of character. And carne adovoda as good as Albuequerque.