El Pollo Loco

Boo! I love El Pollo Loco, but this location is sad! I got a 16 piece meal. Half the pieces were SO small (two wings had less than a bite of meat and two thighs had like 3 bites, and I take small bites! Not okay! Also, the mashed potatoes were ¾ full. Seriously? Almost $ 40 for this? No bueno!
On another note, I asked the drive through attendant if the mashed potatoes have gluten. I was told she didn’t know and they are already made (clearly never heard of gluten). It’s ok if you don’t know, but ask a manager, look at an ingredients list, and find out. I looked it up on my phone (no gluten in the potatoes).
Won’t be back here, which is sad because it’s on my way home from work.

I happen to make it to El Pollo Loco at 9:54 however I got a voice recording saying that they were closed but they have their drive thru open sign lit up also on top of it I waited to find some other food options in the area and I happened to see a car behind me in the drive thru exchanging money with the cashier at the window for food at El Pollo Loco when I was just in line and shoot away with a voice recording I am very disappointed because me and my family happened to coming to El Pollo Loco for years because we love the chicken however the service lately has been slacking and disappointing I hope El Pollo Loco reads this and reaches out to me because I am disappointed one of my favorite fast food restaurants wouldn’t take my service and this may be the last time I ever come to El Pollo Loco

I like El Pollo Loco especially this one, tonight I went and saw a tip jar on the front counter. To me it’s that’s wrong! A large fast food chain resorting to begging for tips? C’mon, that’s just tacky!

I like El Pollo, but the one time I’ve been to this location the chicken was pretty bad. Lots of fatty pieces. Won’t be going back.

The crazy chicken is definitely a step up from most fast food places in my opinion with grilled chicken and good sides. I go to this location every so often and have never had an issue or a bad meal. Staff is always friendly, the food is always fresh and really good, and drive-​thru is usually pretty fast. I usually get the Pollo bowl combo, really good deal for only $ 5. Chips, drink and a loaded bowl. My only suggestion is I wish they stayed open later. With not alot of late night food options in this shopping center, I think they would get a lot of business if they stayed open for a couple more hours.

This is a great El Pollo Loco to order for large groups or drive-​thru. Always good service, pleasant staff and consistency… and loooove their tostada salads!

Didn’t give me salsa with my meal, like??? That’s the whole point! You’re the ones who asked me in the first place and you didn’t even give it to me haha which is pretty sad. Otherwise it’s just some stupid whatever chicken with tortilla. Gross. Going tomorrow to get the salsa I should’ve already had.

Twice a month we use this El Polo Loco for over 30 people. The food is always good and the service is excellent. Any issue we have ever had has been handled immediately and to our complete satisfaction. We will continue to order from this location and would recommend to any one individual or group.

I drove thru 2 days ago and ordered the Pollo Bowl combo, a single leg, and an Arnold Palmer drink. I had to repeat myself over and over and over to the woman on the speaker. I pulled up and was given my drink — which was PINK and not even close to what I ordered. I had to repeat myself 2 more times to get the drink right. I asked her if the speaker wasn’t working… and the employee then said she was sick, had an ear infection and so couldn’t hear. (Mind you, this the person serving me my FOOD!!) If someone is SICK, they should NOT be at work and handling food!
I took my order and pulled into the parking lot to eat and the chicken in the bowl was dry, the leg was about as big as a drumette and dry. I called in that I wasn’t happy with this experience and was told the manager wasn’t in, but would call me. Needless to say, I’ve never received a call, and it’s pretty obvious they not only don’t care about the food they serve, but don’t care about a customer’s feedback or bad experience either. There are soooo many other restaurants that do and will value you. that I will spend my money elsewhere from now on.
Addendum — days later and 3 phone calls and I finally got the restaurant manager, and she acted surprised to hear about it. I don’t know if it was an act, or no one told her a customer wasn’t happy, but she did offer and give me a free meal today. The food was 90% good — the tortillas were over microwaved and tough though. I’ve also noticed that El Pollo Loco has become very cheap with their chips and the soup tortilla strips.

Worst service I have ever experienced. Young man stood behind the cash register, didn’t bother to speak. I waited for him to take my order. He never did. Meanwhile, another counter person (I assume one who is older and more experienced) stood by idly chatting with another customer about her/​his vaction. After 10 minutes, I decided they didn’t want my business and left. I wanted a good salad for a sick friend, so I drove over to La Mesa El Pollo Loco (where the service is traditionally great) and bought the desired salad. I will never return to the El Cajon store, not when the people in La Mesa act like they truly want my business and make it a pleasure.

We stopped in for an early lunch, assuming it was a more healthful choice than Jack on the corner. The counter person was cheerful and pointed out their new under 500 calorie menu, which is admirable. We opted for the $ 5. chicken bowl with beans and rice. The portions of this are large, so you’d definitely get full. Unfortunately, unless you like rubbery cubed chicken, I’d have to say pick a different menu item, or Pollo Loco location. It seems like a reasonable way to use leftover chicken, except three quarters of the portion of chicken had to be spit out, and left on the plate because it was beyond chewy, with gristle and should have been discarded instead of made into an entrée. As we got there within 20 minutes after they opened, (they’re not open for breakfast) it was also disturbing to find the restrooms smelly, with trashcans over-​flowing at the beginning of their day. A dirty bathroom always makes me wonder about their kitchen, ya know?

First off, the food is great. I have no complaints about that. However, my fiancée and I just went through the drive through for dinner. I ordered the 2 piece meal with breast & wing, while he ordered the 3 piece meal with breast & wing. The person taking our order (the receipt says Tori but I don’t know if it was actually her) repeated the order back to us, correctly. (After us having to repeat it 3 times). We got to the window to pay, and she repeated it back to us again, but said legs and thighs for the 3 piece. We corrected her and said they should both be breasts and wings. She apologized and said that was what she meant. We paid and she gave us the receipt, and we noticed it said legs and thighs for the 3 piece. By this point we were a bit frustrated. We told her again that it needed to be breast and wings. She then told us that we said legs and thighs, and we should’ve double checked. Instead of just switching the order out, or charging us for a side or something, she put the original order back on my card and re-​rung us up. (About another $ 18). As it turns out, it will take 24 – 48 hours for the funds to go back on my debit card. So I paid about $ 40 for something that didn’t even turn out right in the end. I was very disappointed in the customer service here, and I will probably not be coming back again.

I was happy with my experience yesterday. I went inside. Places like these that offer a salsa bar you should always go inside. I got a bunch lol. The cashier was very nice and helpful at helping me decide what to get. I ended up with a 3 course meal 8 thighs n drumsticks with rice, beans, tortillas, churro s, and an avocado salad for $ 20! And all the salsa I wanted.
The restaurant was very clean and the back of the kitchen seemed very organized. I really like the location also, it’s next to chase!

Dam this place… Didn’t give me any salsa… The girl said it was in the bag and she was the one who asked me if I wanted some when I ordered during the drive through.
This sucks… You know how dry their chicken gets after sitting for a while. I usually buy chicken for lunch and ill have it again later dinner time.
The car before me asked for some extra salsa and the girl also told the driver, she gave extras in the bag… So when I pulled up I figure she got it, she is good at her job since she asked me if I wanted some salsa and tortillas… WRONG!!! Damn I shoulda ask for some salsa lol. (I wonder if the car in front of me got their salsa)
The chicken was good, made a little taco for myself. Dry as hell…
Hope this places do me justice next time and ill review again
Or add to this one.

The chicken was cooked and seasoned just seasoned perfectly

I don’t normally like to review chain/​corporate establishments, but I’d just like to give some credit to this El Pollo Loco because they have been consistently awesome. I especially love the employee named Grizelda because she’s always so nice.
My husband and I gave up eating fast food almost a year ago, however there are still many nights that no one wants to cook and sitting down or even sitting and waiting for takeout seems like too much. Those were the nights we used to hit up fast food places. In comes El Pollo Loco. Now I know technically EPL is fast food, but when you compare their menu to, say, McDonald’s you get food that’s way more wholesome and healthy. So it’s great that this EPL is just down the street from us because I end up stopping in to pick up pollo bowls quite often.
I don’t do chicken on the bone, but my husband loves their chicken meals. I love their ultimate bowl. The avocados are always fresh and the bowl itself is filling, even without the tortillas (which I never order so I can’t speak on their quality). Pretty much I only eat the bowls, the salads, and when I’m feeling especially fat, the macaroni and cheese. All of them are excellent, especially coming from a fast food joint. A couple weeks ago I was fighting an extremely sore throat. I did not want to eat, cook, sit in a restaurant, or do anything but be sick under a blanket. We decided to run through EPL so my husband could get himself some dinner since I wasn’t hungry. But behold! El Pollo Loco had tortilla soup! Just what a sick person with a sore throat would desire. I ordered a large but they either accidentally gave me two, or the large is very large because I had enough for dinner that night and lunch the next day. It comes with crunchy tortillas strips and cilantro and queso fresco. I was very pleased with the quality.
I should also note that I’m VERY picky when it comes to meat. I was a vegetarian for years and only started eating meat again because I became anemic and started dreaming about meat (seriously). So, because of that, I will often stop eating a meal right in the middle if I feel the meat is not great quality. I don’t like dark meat or fat. If I find any of those weird veins in my chicken, I’m done. That being said, I’ve never had a problem with the chicken from this El Pollo Loco. The chicken on my pollo bowls is always large chunks of freshly grilled chicken breast. Even the meat in the soup was top quality. It’s refreshing to trust the meat, especially for someone like me.
Also, CHEAP.
Also also, their churros are pretty good for $ 1.

Best chicken I have had that was grilled over an open flame:
#1 — A small fishing village in Punta Baja, Baja California
#2 — My house, my recipes
#3 — El Pollo Loco
Since El Pollo Loco came to San Diego in the 80s, I’ve been a fan. At the various locations I’ve eaten at, I have found the chicken to be spot on the same good taste. I’ve even been to a wedding that was catered by El Pollo Loco & it was way better than most of the weddings I’ve been to with the typical crappy catering food that probably cost 3x+.
Since it is still «fast food», I always go in to order & check my order before I leave. This also gives ME the opportunity to get what I feel is enough salsa & condiments that I need. Service has always been friendly & the place has always been reasonably clean. When I’m in the mood for grilled chicken & I’m not in the mood to cook, and I know Punta Baja is a few hours drive & they might not have any chickens … I’ll go to El Pollo Loco.

I came for dinner this evening and ordered their special for $ 5 which consisted of 2 pieces of chicken, rice and whole beans, a couple of corn tortillas, and a small drink.
The chicken was very good but a little skinny. Perhaps these birds were on a diet. I used the thigh piece to make a couple of tacos with onions, cilantro, fresh salsa, and with a hit of lemon juice. The tacos I put the together were awesome. (
). I especially loved the one I made with their avocado spicy green salsa.
The beans needed a touch of salt and the rice was good and properly cooked. The chicken drum I ate was tasty but like I said earlier, it sure was one skinny minnie chicken. I like the salsas the had, but the house one was rather bland.
The food gets 3 stars, but when I include the great friendly service, this place deserves a four star rating. It is nice when a place makes you feel welcomed. Thank you Mitzy! Que Curiosita.
The Skinny Crazy Chicken is Back!

I Dont care what anyone says El pollo Loco is the shit. I always get their 2 piece meal with white meat, honey bbq beans and rice. I love their salsa because it is so FRESH and so tasty, just wish it was hotter. Service was quick and they were all so nice!

Ordered 10 pc mixed chicken dinner with pinto beans, mac ‘n cheese, roasted corn and sweet corn cake.
Chicken was fresh! Beans were hot. Mac ‘n cheese was gooey, roasted corn — meh and the sweet corn cake — the best!