Spinz Pollo a la Brasa in Anchorage, Alaska
Spinz Pollo a la Brasa, located in Anchorage, Alaska, specialized in Peruvian-style rotisserie chicken. It was described as a brand-new quick-service restaurant when it opened.
What Makes It Unique
The restaurant’s uniqueness stemmed from its commitment to authentic Peruvian-inspired preparation and being the only wood charcoal rotisserie chicken restaurant in Alaska.
- 12-Hour Brine: The chicken was marinated for 12 hours in a special blend of spices and brine before cooking.
- Authentic Cooking Method: The chicken was cooked over wood charcoal in handmade, authentic Peruvian wood charcoal rotisserie ovens to a specific temperature.
- Scratch-Made: Sides and sauces were all made from scratch, in-house, and the menu was noted as being MSG-free.
- Focus on Flavor and Health: The mission was to deliver “HEALTHY alternatives” to the typical night out, utilizing fresh ingredients to be both delicious and nutritious.
History
- Spinz Pollo a la Brasa opened its doors in 2022 in Anchorage, Alaska.
- Its soft opening was announced for Thursday, January 20, 2022.
- The concept was to bring Peruvian-inspired Pollo a la Brasa to the Alaska dining scene.
- The restaurant was owned by Daniel Mainor, a veteran.
- Reports indicate that the restaurant permanently closed some time after a temporary closure for maintenance was announced in August (of an unspecified year, though later comments suggest this was around late 2023 or early 2024). It was noted that the location is now owned by a different business.
Customer Feedback
Customer feedback was generally very positive regarding the food quality, but some common points of critique included:
- Positive: The chicken was consistently praised for being delicious, moist, tender, juicy, and flavorful with crispy skin. The portions were often described as generous. Customers loved the house-made sauces and unique sides like yucca fries, arroz chaufa (fried rice), arepitas (corn fritters), and cilantro mojo chicken salad. The staff was frequently mentioned as being friendly and helpful.
- Negative/Observations: The restaurant was initially or primarily takeout only, which some customers wished could be changed to include a dine-in option. It was also considered pricy by some compared to grocery store rotisserie options, although many felt the quality justified the extra cost. Some reviews mentioned service delays, inventory issues, or slow wait times, especially during the soft opening.
Highlight Menu Items
The menu centered on the Pollo a la Brasa (rotisserie chicken) and a variety of Latin and Peruvian-inspired sides:
- Chicken Options: Whole Chicken, Half Chicken, 1/4 Dark (Leg & Thigh), 1/4 White (Breast & Wing).
- Sides: Arroz Chaufa (fried rice), Yucca Fries, Sweet Plantains (Maduros), Arroz Congri (steamed rice and beans), Agave-Lime Coleslaw, Cilantro Mojo Chicken (Latin chicken salad), Roasted Corn & Tomato.
- Sauces: Included green and red house-made sauces. The red sauce was noted for having a “tiny bit of spice.”
- Other Items: House Smoked Baby Back Ribs (with jerk marinade or house-smoked rub), 3 Chicken Tacos, and Tamales (Chicken, Pork, Veggies, or Cheese).
Significant Events
One publicly discussed event was the restaurant’s occasional set-up at a local venue that hosted political meetings. This led to a mixed reaction in the community, with some customers choosing to stop supporting the business due to their disagreement with the political nature of those events.
Address, Contact, and Web Information
- Address: 3024 Mountain View Drive, Suite 108, Anchorage, AK 99501, United States
- Phone Number: +1 907-277-7469 (or 907-277-7469)
