skip to main content skip to footer

Reviews

This place can't be beat! Such ...
This place can't be beat! Such a great value for high quality, home-cooked food. The whole chicken feeds 4 people. Love trying the different salsas!
Chelsea H. via yelp.com - May 16, 2020
🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔 ... read more
J Harris via google.com - May 2, 2020
One of my most anticipated restaurant ...
One of my most anticipated restaurant visits. I had been wanting to try their well-spoken-of food for ages, but it didn't happen until a few weeks ago when we wanted a good local option for takeaway food. Al Carbon does the family meal the right way and their menu/style of serving makes it easy.

We got the familia, a whole ch ... read more
Abi M. via yelp.com - Apr 30, 2020
One of my favorite restaurants in Cville! Everything is so flavorful and yummy. Super affordable to
One of my favorite restaurants in Cville! Everything is so flavorful and yummy. Super affordable too. Highly recommend the street corn and tamales 😋🙌🏼 ... read more
Caila Motto via facebook.com - Apr 27, 2020
Excellent food! Stop if you get a chance! The chicken is delicious. The sandwiches are great! The sides are phenomenal!!!
Sara De La Rosa via google.com - Mar 17, 2020
Authentic and real. Great smoky flavor.
Deano Deano via google.com - Mar 10, 2020
Great authentic Mexican food!
Leandra Hill via google.com - Mar 9, 2020
- delicious and juicy chicken- ...
- delicious and juicy chicken
- various side options as well: my favorite is the plantains
- service is phenomenal
- the only down side is the location: far from the university but this is subjective hence why still 5 stars ... read more
Sei Young Y. via yelp.com - Mar 9, 2020
Fun!
James Temeyer via google.com - Mar 8, 2020
I have a conference in Charlottesville every March and this is the ONLY place we make sure to go every year! It's not like any other place we've ever been. The chicken is fantastic, the salsas are unique, the sides are very good, and the guacamole is worth the trip all by itself. 10/10, definitely recommend.
Mike Goff via google.com - Mar 8, 2020
Best (special) rotisserie chicken in town.
Steve O'Neil via google.com - Mar 6, 2020
Al Carbon is one of my favorite ...
Al Carbon is one of my favorite spots in Charlottesville!! I've been there 3 or 4 times now and it has never disappointed. They have a wide variety of foods on their menu, I've gotten the tacos which are great, but ever since I've gotten the chicken I've stuck to that for my entree. You can't go here without getting some sides, I per ... read more
Jillian D. via yelp.com - Mar 6, 2020
Pretty tasty!
My wife and I lived in C'ville for a couple years and would stop by here every few weeks. It can get a little crowded as the dining space is on the smaller side but there are generally lines out the door - because the...More ... read more
Shawn C via tripadvisor.com - Mar 5, 2020
Drove from Richmond to Charlottesville to visit with our daughter who takes off for parts way East of here on Saturday. She suggested Al Carbon because she loves it. We were not disappointed. Chicken was tender and the sides were well prepared. Well worth our trip mainly because we were able to see our daughter but also because our m ... read more
David Leopold via google.com - Mar 5, 2020
Great prices and great food at this restaurant! Each time I visit Charlottesville, I have to stop in to this restaurant to get the chicken!
Matthew Curcione via google.com - Mar 4, 2020
Always great quality food. You must try the esquites (which is pretty much Mexican street corn, off the cob & in a bowl) it's amazing! The cemitas are giant & delicious. The tacos are the real deal! I'm also very glad they vegetarian options as well.
C. C. via google.com - Mar 3, 2020
Extremely happy with the food. I will be back ... read more
Henry Fields via google.com - Mar 2, 2020
So goooooood! The tacos are amazing! Food was quick and prices were reasonable.
Anne Blair via google.com - Feb 27, 2020
Reminds me of home! You have to try the elote! Que rico!!!
Donald Giannangeli via google.com - Feb 27, 2020
Delicious food and comfortable atmosphere. The chicken is AMAZING! And the TACOS too!!
Jaruchan Palakawongs via google.com - Feb 26, 2020
Good tacos and chicken. Al carbon and pho 3 pho are probably my two fav places to eat lunch and dinner at.
Ashley Carter via google.com - Feb 25, 2020
The chicken is uh-mazing!
Molly D via google.com - Feb 22, 2020
Great, nice place and unique foods.
Great, nice place and unique foods.
WillIam Stevens via facebook.com - Feb 22, 2020
First time here and I'll definitely be back! Delicious food and great service!
Christian Paul Dehli via google.com - Feb 22, 2020
Soooo delicious!!!!
Gabriela Dehli via google.com - Feb 22, 2020
Been coming here on and off for 2 or 3 years now and have never been disappointed. Very great place and atmosphere ... read more
Kaleb Rod via google.com - Feb 21, 2020
The food and service is very good!! They let me taste the green rice to see if I liked it before I ordered it.
Y D TM via google.com - Feb 20, 2020
Best carbon rostisserie chicken in VA. Worth the drive.
Ivan Reyes via google.com - Feb 20, 2020
Great spot for a quick and casual ...
Great spot for a quick and casual, but yummy meal! The spice on the chicken is delicious and it's perfectly cooked. I definitely didn't opt for the healthy side options, getting the yucca fries, fried plantains, and the Mac & cheese - but they were all good and certainly filled me up. The star of the meal though were the sauces! We g ... read more
Alison W. via yelp.com - Feb 18, 2020
The best chicken in Charlottesville. It's rotisserie, not fried, and the sides are amazing. Try the chicken whole or in a 'cemita' sandwich with the long wispy strips of Oaxaca cheese. I also recommend the elotes and grilled jalpeños with onions.
Lee Talman via google.com - Feb 18, 2020
Anything with the rotisserie chicken is amazing! Moist and flavorful food.
Constance Hadley via google.com - Feb 16, 2020
One of the Best Family and Friends Joints Around
We have been coming here since they opened (years ago). It's my kids' top spot for flautas. The Peruvian-style rotisserie chicken is great (and the family platter is awesome). It's one of my favorite places for traditional tacos as well. There's nothing fancy about it,...More ... read more
GSEarly via tripadvisor.com - Feb 12, 2020
Green sauce is AMAZING!! What’s in it? How can I make it at home??? ... read more
Nicholas Hale via google.com - Feb 12, 2020
Wonderful eat in or take out venue
This year for Thanksgiving we did the unthinkable and ordered two turkeys from Al Carbon. This, not something that is available every day. What a great success! The birds were spit-roasted over hardwood coals and the best we have enjoyed. We also ordered their large...More ... read more
Tom O via tripadvisor.com - Feb 11, 2020
My first time eating there was tonight. The chicken was good and tender with a great taste of seasonings on it. The pinto beans were great tasting also. I will be going back to try different items as well as getting more chicken 😋 ... read more
Tee Cee via google.com - Feb 10, 2020
I'm that weirdo who requests poblano ...
I'm that weirdo who requests poblano rice with no spice and a bowl of elote instead of the cob. I can't handle my spice and didn't want to get too messy. Very grateful they were able to accommodate my request, otherwise the rice would go to waste.

I found Al Carbon as a top lunch spot on Yelp and recommended for cheap eats on ... read more
Danae L. via yelp.com - Feb 8, 2020
The chicken is out of this world. I highly recommend ordering the beans as a side. You can order all dark meat or white meat if you like.
Joseph Drought via google.com - Feb 7, 2020
Best rotisserie chicken in town ... read more
coolspring via google.com - Feb 6, 2020
Hands down the best Mexican I've ...
Hands down the best Mexican I've ever had. Everything is INSANELY delicious. The Cemitas, omg. Chicken. Tacos. Literally everything I have ever tried is wonderful.
Katie R. via yelp.com - Feb 2, 2020
Food was ok, very authentic place: The chicken, which is their main entree, tasted a little like wet feathers in a hen house. My only other complaint is how much cooking oil is in almost every dish. I what have consumed 3/4 cup of cooking oil in one meal. Chips and salsa were good, I prefer spicier salsa though. If you aren’t too con ... read more
Camp H. via google.com - Feb 2, 2020
No thrills, decent priced wholesome ...
No thrills, decent priced wholesome rotisserie chicken. Causal cafeteria style seating area. Self service.
Yvonne Z. via yelp.com - Feb 1, 2020
The service is always  quick and ...
The service is always  quick and the food is delicious! The yucca fries and chicken are super good, too. I've gone there 5+ times and each time was delicious!
Ryan D. via yelp.com - Jan 29, 2020
You just can’t beat the food and prices. The chicken taste is unreal!
Charlotte Nelson via google.com - Jan 28, 2020
Good, just not a place to go to all of the timr ... read more
christie morse via google.com - Jan 28, 2020
Everything was delicious. The chicken was tender, juicy and we'll seasoned, and all of the sides w
Everything was delicious. The chicken was tender, juicy and we'll seasoned, and all of the sides were equally good.
Kevin Beverley via facebook.com - Jan 26, 2020
This restaurant is so good . Everything tastes so fresh . Reasonable prices too! You will not be disappointed.
Kitty Bluestein via google.com - Jan 25, 2020
Great place for rossted chicken ... read more
Zena Salih via google.com - Jan 23, 2020
First time here. Delicious food, good price, speedy service. Food came out hot and fresh. Good customer service. Will return! Highly recommend.
andrew johnson via google.com - Jan 22, 2020
Me ... read more
Ofelia Abundio via google.com - Jan 20, 2020
Chicken was great but fries and Mac n cheese and rice were just good.
Meagan Roper via google.com - Jan 19, 2020
Best plantain...............................
Best plantain...............................
Ray Ezell via facebook.com - Jan 19, 2020
Its got to the best Peruvian chicken ...
Its got to the best Peruvian chicken I have had. Well marinated and you taste the charcoal fired flavor. I love the poblano rice, not spicy but tasty. The grilled spring onions and jalpeno peppers are good. Their Cimenta sandwichs are real good also.
Chris S. via yelp.com - Jan 19, 2020
Fresh, yummy, & cost effective!
Fresh, yummy, & cost effective lunch! We told the cashier it was our first time and he gave us a little explanation of the menu. We ended up with the whole chicken (awesome), green salad (basic but great) and plantains (of course fried but not...More ... read more
ekiritsis via tripadvisor.com - Jan 19, 2020
Great food that is Reasonably priced. Try the roast veggies ... read more
Logan McKinley via google.com - Jan 16, 2020
A great place with the best bird ...
A great place with the best bird and tacos (and tamales!!!) in Charlottesville. I walked in this place a few years ago on a whim and was amazed at the quality of the food. Great people and a really good menu - I order food from Al Carbon 2 or 3 times a month.
Charles M. via yelp.com - Jan 14, 2020
Burritos are bangin ... read more
Paige Stoner via google.com - Jan 9, 2020
Amazing food, great beverages, warm friendly atmosphere and reasonably priced. The chicken is always tender, juicy and full of flavor. If you havent been here yet, what are you waiting for?!
Elizabeth Thompson via google.com - Jan 5, 2020
C'ville gem!This place is always ...
C'ville gem!
This place is always spot on! The food is the star every single time and whether we are dining in or taking out, everything is delicious. My all time favorite there are the flautas. Crispy, crunch with all the right toppings!!!! Delish!
Great environment and crowds from all groups around C'ville. Everything comes o ... read more
Mia W. via yelp.com - Jan 4, 2020
Want To Tell Us About Your Experience?
GoogleMyBusinessFoursquareFacebookYelpZomatoTwitterTrip Advisor