Puerto Rican Rotisserie Chicken Expanding in St. Cloud
Pioco’s Chicken will serve rotisserie chicken, mofongo, and scratch-made Puerto Rican meals in an expanded St. Cloud space.
ST. CLOUD, FL — Pioco’s Chicken is preparing to open a new, expanded location in St. Cloud, with owner Miguel Fontanez Jr. targeting a February 9 opening at 5160 Boggy Creek Road, St. Cloud, FL 34771.
Fontanez told Business Debut the restaurant will continue the family’s long-running Puerto Rican concept, built around affordable meals, scratch cooking, and a strong connection to the local community.
What to Expect
Pioco’s Chicken is a Puerto Rican-based, fast-casual restaurant with a build-your-own format similar to Chipotle-style service. Guests move through the line choosing from white rice with beans or yellow rice with pigeon peas before selecting their protein.
The concept is best known for its rotisserie chicken, with established locations producing hundreds of chickens daily for family-style meals designed to feed four to five people at accessible prices. The St. Cloud location will offer similar family meals starting at $29.99, along with individual plates.
Menu and Vision
Fontanez said the rotisserie chicken remains the cornerstone of the menu, seasoned with a proprietary blend of spices and prepared fresh daily. Another signature item is mofongo, a traditional Puerto Rican dish made from fried green plantains mashed with garlic and crispy pork.
Image from Pioco’s Chicken website
“We’re really well known for our mofongo,” Fontanez told Business Debut. “It’s like mashed potatoes, but with plantains, garlic, and chicharrón. It’s something that represents where we come from.”
Everything in the kitchen is made from scratch using fresh ingredients, reflecting the family’s long-standing approach to food.
Family Roots and Community
The restaurant’s name comes directly from its origins. “When chickens sing, they say ‘pio, pio,’ and ‘cos’ comes from costillas, ribs,” Fontanez said, explaining that his father originally sold only chicken and ribs when the concept began.
Fontanez credited his parents, Miguel Fontanez Sr. and Olga Gutierrez, for trusting him to carry the business forward. “They made this investment and helped me open a dream restaurant for myself,” he told Business Debut.
He also emphasized the restaurant’s commitment to the community. “We are nothing without our clients,” Fontanez said. “Our slogan is family, food, love, and that’s what we put into every dish.”
Market and Space
The St. Cloud restaurant spans nearly 6,000 square feet and can seat more than 200 guests indoors, with two outdoor patios. Multiple televisions and a casual layout are designed to accommodate families, groups, and large catering orders.
Service will be counter-based with ordering kiosks available, and staff will deliver food to tables when ordered digitally.
Opening Timeline
The team is targeting a February 9 opening.
Hours
- Monday–Saturday: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Sunday: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Follow for More
Visit the website, Instagram, and Facebook
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