SWAMPSCOTT — Craving a fried chicken sandwich? Look no further than 197 Essex St.
North Shore-based food truck Walloon’s opened its brand-new store this month, offering fried chicken, traditional Dominican food and Latin staples like empanadas and quesadillas.
“Everything is cooked to order,” said owner and founder Nelson Sanchez, adding that the chicken is prepared every day and never frozen. “That’s why it’s so good. We put a lot of love in it.”
Walloon’s was originally located on Route 1 in Peabody, but the first store closed in 2016, leaving only the truck. Sanchez said during the pandemic it became much more difficult to make a profit with the truck, with the normal lunchtime crowds in Boston working from home. He decided that opening a store again was the best path forward.
“I said, ‘I need a store, because people gotta eat,’” he joked.
They currently offer mostly takeout, and can seat eight people inside the store, but are waiting on a permit from the town to offer outdoor seating.
Since the grand opening on April 10, Sanchez says business in the store has been good, with many people finding out about the new location through social media.
“I’m proud that whoever comes here once, they’ll be back,” he said. “I can say that for sure, because with the food truck, I see it happening.”
Part of that loyal following is due to Sanchez’s secret sauce, which he describes as “honey mustard without the mustard.” The restaurant also serves Dominican yaroa — french fries with meat and other toppings — and chimi sandwiches. One of their more popular chicken sandwiches is the Pepper Jack, which is topped with pepper jack cheese, jalapeño peppers and chipotle aioli.
A native of the Dominican Republic, Sanchez says he spent his childhood enjoying his mother’s traditional cooking. He came to the United States at the age of 17, and has been cooking for more than 20 years, including at popular Boston restaurants like Legal Sea Foods.
Now Sanchez operates his new restaurant and the food truck with his family, employing his parents, sister and niece.
“I wouldn’t be able to do it without them,” he said.
