Flying Chickens: Guatemalans and Salvadorans Bringing the Taste of Home to the US

If you board a flight from Guatemala or El Salvador to the United States, some things will be familiar. Showing your passport, being called to the gate and people rolling their suitcases. What won’t be so typical is that you’ll likely see some other travelers with boxes of fried chicken. I’ve seen it many times myself back home. That how important the connection to home is for Guatemalans and Salvadorans who have moved away.

Whether it’s La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala or El Salvador Airport, you’ll find popular fried chicken restaurants like Pollo Campero. While it’s not odd to find a fried chicken restaurant in an airport, the amount of takeaway orders these places fulfill is unusually high.

This is because both Guatemalans and Salvadorans connect the taste of this fried chicken to fond memories of growing up at home and sharing a meal with friends and family. Food has an amazing ability to trigger memories and emotions, and that’s exactly why people stow their chicken in the overhead locker.

What might seem a little unusual about this is the fact that there are many fried chicken shops across the United States that are familiar to Guatemalans and Salvadorans, including Pollo Campero. In fact, this fried chicken spot has nearly 100% nationwide coverage in the US. But according to many Guatemalans and Salvadorans, “Campero doesn't taste the same there”.

That’s how important an authentic connection to back home is.

Fried Chicken Express Tips

If you’re as hungry as I am writing this just thinking about the chicken it’s time to start planning for your family’s next visit.

• First of all, you’ll need to send them an eGift for Pollo Campero or a Pollo Campestre.

• Of course, you’ll then have to tell them what your order is! Get lots – these chances don’t come often! The big box is great value.

• Make sure they have a strong bag. A Pollo Campero box falling apart isn’t unheard of.

• Wait patiently for your loved ones to arrive.

I’d recommend you ask them to grab some chicken for themselves before the flight too so they don’t get tempted to eat yours on the way!

Cold or Hot Chicken?

The flight time from Guatemala to LAX is over 5 hours and El Salvador is about the same. Naturally, this means you have a choice to make when the fried chicken arrives. Do you eat it cold or reheat it?

My personal preference is often to eat it cold as soon as it arrives. Fried chicken is still a pretty amazing food when cold. If you want to heat it up again, placing it on a rack in the oven at a relatively low temperature is the best approach. You could also play it safe and split the batch, reheating some and having the rest cold while you wait!

With Ding, it’s easier than ever to reconnect with family and friends back home. Send them a phone recharge for a chat, available in both Guatemala and El Salvador, or send them the gift of fried chicken with a Pollo Campero Guatemala or Pollo Campero El Salvador digital gift card.

Both eGift options and more are available online with instant delivery.