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Taste the Tropics!
You’ve come to the right place to relax and enjoy a great meal that’s cooked fresh and served quickly.
Pollo Tropical® is one of the most popular quick-service restaurant concepts. Our chicken is fresh, never frozen, and is free of hormones and trans-fats. Our menu started with a simple recipe for citrus-marinated chicken grilled on an open flame and has grown to offer a variety that is unsurpassed. From our signature grilled chicken to our mojo pork, guava barbecue ribs and world-famous TropiChops®, Pollo Tropical® enjoys an audience of more than 20 million people that dine at 120 locations throughout Florida, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, Trinidad, Honduras, Venezuela and Ecuador. The company also licenses the concept at Florida International University, University of Florida and Florida State University.
So kick off your shoes and escape to the tropics by clicking through our menu and lifestyle. From our online tropical oasis, you can plan a meal, plan a party or even plan a healthier lifestyle.
For exclusive, members-only freebies and discounts, be sure to sign up for Pollo Reward$™!
Fun Facts
- Pollo Tropical® serves 24 million pounds of chicken annually = 225 Boeing 737 jets.
- 900,000 gallons of secret marinade is used annually = one entire Olympic size swimming pool
- Each year customers order an average of 1.9 million pounds of yuca which = nearly 130 elephants
- 4.6 million pounds of rice are cooked each year = 82 rail cars
Historical Facts
1988
Brothers Larry and Stuart Harris open first Pollo Tropical® in Miami at 741 NW 37th Avenue. The restaurant is still there, newly remodeled and better than ever!
1993
Pollo Tropical® goes public through an initial offering of 1.5 million shares.
1994
First TropiGrill® opens in Orlando.
Headquarters moves to Dadeland, current location.
Pollo Tropical® reaches $50 million sales mark.
1995
In December, Pollo Tropical® moves outside the continental US with a franchised restaurant opening in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico.
1996
Value Meals are launched and become the most popular food item ordered by customers.
1997
Pollo Tropical® expands further internationally with franchised restaurant openings in Ecuador.
Original TropiChops® are launched.
1998
Founder Larry Harris sells Pollo Tropical® to Carrols Corporation.
1999
Pollo Tropical® is recorded in Guinness Book of World Records for largest bowl of Black Beans and Rice at the Super Bowl XXIX.
2002
Sales reach $100 million milestone.
2003
Grilled, Caribbean Ribs added to menu.
2004
Chefs at Pollo Tropical® create new sandwich spread with Peppadew– the latest tropical fruit discovery since the Kiwi.
Another home- made, feel good recipe is introduced and warmly received by customers– Caribbean Chicken Soup.
Orlando restaurants change name from “TropiGrill®” to
“Pollo Tropical®”.
2005
Quarter Chicken & Ribs is introduced.
2006
Pollo Tropical® spreads its wings and flies north for winter—opens first corporate owned store outside of Florida in North Bergen, New Jersey. (March 10)
Pollo Tropical® goes west and opens in Cape Coral (July), Pinellas Park (October), and Tampa (December).
2007
Pollo Tropical® continues to expand – opens second store in New Jersey – Clifton (March).
In April, Pollo Tropical® opens a second Southwest Florida store in Naples.
2008
In April, Pollo Tropical® opens a third Southwest Florida store in Naples.
In December, Pollo Tropical® opens its fourth location in New Jersey, this time in Little Ferry.
2009
Pollo Tropical® launches NEW grilled wings, with two Caribbean inspired dipping sauces –Spicy Amazon and Caribbean Rum.
Pollo Tropical® converts Oldsmar, FL location to new “island inspired” service style, with table runners, “real plates” and more side dish offerings.
Pollo Tropical® enters new international markets with franchised units opening in Freeport, Bahamas, and Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
Pollo Tropical® licensee, ARAMARK® , opens its third college campus location at the University of Florida.
2010
Pollo Tropical® enters another new international market with a franchised unit in Port of Spain, Trinidad.
Company launches new line of five sandwiches and wraps.
Pollo Reward$™ launches!
Pollo Tropical® opens in Jacksonville, FL (November)
2011
Carrols Corporation announces plan to bifurcate Pollo Tropical and Taco Cabana to create a new, stand alone, publicly traded company: FIESTA.
Pollo Tropical® enters another new international market with a franchised unit in Barquisimeto, Venezuela.
First restaurant in Lawrenceville, Georgia opened.
Second Jacksonville site opened in September.
Tim Taft named CEO of Fiesta Restaurant Group.