text: I want to like this place I am a fan of Peruvian food and was delighted when this place opened in Oakland back in However the disappointment I experienced during the first visit surged again during the visit todaynnBoth times I ordered the chicken combo which comes with two sides I do not recall the sides I ordered the first visit but the ones today the sweet potato fries and pinto beans were the saving grace of the visit Fries were fresh and crispy although somewhat less so by the time I got them back to my office pinto beans were wellseasoned and savorynnBut the chicken the main reason I went to AJs In contrast to other reviewers experience the chicken was terribly dry and not particularly flavorful on both trips On my first visit in I chalked it up to the expected hiccups of a place that had just opened Two years later that excuse no longer holds any water The chicken portion today was from a small bird and composed of a wing and breast Perhaps because of the small size the little meat on the wing was so dry as to be crunchyand not in a pleasurable way The skinny breast was also dry and fibrous My side order of aji pollero sauce while piquant and delicious could not save the chicken nnPerhaps there is something different about the chicken at lunch left over from the day before but I am not likely to rush back My last complaint about the placeagain one that I initially chalked up to justopened hiccupsis how long it took to get my order Both times I was the only person there Both times it took minutes to prepare my order OddnnTo avoid ending on a sour note besides the delicious sides and aji pollero sauce the other clear positive at AJs are the employees who were friendly and welcoming both visits Makes it that much harder to leave this negative review