This Peruvian Chicken Spot Is One of the Country's Best New Restaurants — The Experts

Quick Overview

Mister Pio, a Peruvian rotisserie chicken spot in Phoenix, Arizona, utilizes a specialized, imported Josper oven fueled by high-heat charcoal and wood to achieve exceptionally juicy chicken with crispy, flavorful skin, preparing it for service alongside house-made fries and traditional Peruvian sauces.

Key Points: Mister Pio, located in Phoenix, Arizona, specializes in Peruvian rotisserie chicken cooked in a high-heat Josper oven using charcoal and wood for authentic flavor and crispy skin. Co-owner Justin Nasralla attributes the success to the quality of ingredients, including Bell & Evans air-chilled chicken, and the specific cooking method in the Spanish-made Josper oven. The chicken is seasoned with a blend of 22 spices sourced from Mount Hope in Sedona, Arizona, and air-dried overnight in containers to ensure crispy skin. French fries are made in-house, starting with chipping Idaho potatoes, soaking them in a water/vinegar solution, briefly boiling them (20-25 minutes), and then double-frying in rice bran oil for optimal crunch. The menu includes traditional Peruvian sauces like Aji Verde (made with jalapeños and cilantro) and Aji Amarillo-based sauces, which are essential to the experience. The restaurant operates in a casual setting despite aiming for fine dining quality execution, reflecting the owners' backgrounds in fine dining across Japan and Peru. The owners, Justin Nasralla and David Goluboff, have been operating for just under a year and credit the supportive Phoenix community for their early success.

Context: The video profiles Mister Pio, a Peruvian rotisserie chicken restaurant in Phoenix, Arizona, operated by Chef and Co-owner Justin Nasralla and Co-owner David Goluboff. The focus is on their commitment to quality, from sourcing antibiotic-free Bell & Evans chicken to using specialized cooking equipment, such as an imported Josper oven, and making components like fries and sauces entirely in-house to achieve an authentic Peruvian flavor profile in a casual setting.