El Pollo Loco

If you are in a hurry, and have limited options… then ok, stop in. But, if you have the time, keep on driving. We have eaten from here a few times, but that was strictly out of convenience.

Doesn’t taste like fast food at all and is well worth it. Very fresh and the service is getting way better since their initial opening. Their chicken is so yummy!!!

I’ve been to EPL a few times when I lived in Cali, so I knew what to expect when coming to the Humble location. I ordered the poblano avocado burrito thinking it would be full of flavor and I would get full. The burrito was just average tasting, nothing special and I didn’t get full! I ended up having to order a loco street taco to go. So that was a little dissapointing. Plus, it was a little weird too. If I come back, I’ll probably just stick to the chicken meals.

I dropped by to try something else on the menu. I tried the double chicken enchiladas for lunch and added a small chicken tortilla soup.
The enchildadas werent bad at all for fast food, i expected worse! They were good and I could definitely see myself going back for the enchiladas. They arent my homemade enchiladas but for lunch they will certainly do. Better than alot of places. Generous amount of chicken.
The soup was eh. It wasnt anything special. I had big chunky pieces of chicken, few frozen corn and veggies floating around in broth. They gave me a small cup of a blend of tortilla strips, cheese and herbs. I blend it in and it wasnt bad. Definitely edible but its not a chicken tortilla soup I would come back for.
Trying new items on the menu. Some are hit or miss.

Ate here with my son for the first time… It was OK. I need to give it another try… some of my chicken was great, some of it was not, only reason for the 3 stars. If the chicken would have tasted the same throughout… I would have given a better rating.

Had high hopes for this place. I had it while on trips to LA, so I assumed that it would be just as good. I was wrong. Food was luke warm and bland. Just not what I remembered from LA. Maybe I caught them on a bad day. Who knows, but I am not on this side of town often enough to make this a go-​to place.

Beans are good and so is the chicken. Tortillas aren’t freshly made and the rice could use some more flavor. Love that they have a under 500 calories menu (Avocados are fresh).

The staff was friendly when we walked in. Very helpful. The facility was clean. The food was great! They have a small salsa bar which is always a plus! For fast food… I will go back!!!

Honestly the grilled chicken was super dry and definitely didn’t have any chicken on the leg or thigh I go. thank god I had a coupon or I would of took everything back… will not try agian.

First impressions … are lasting impressions.
I was expecting a lot more. After all, El Pollo Loco (EPL) rolled into Houston with a lot of fanfare. I was curious, but waited. Waited for the hype to die down. Waited for them to get things right. Just waited because in all honesty, the locations near me were not all that close.
So, I rolled up (Hey, they have drive through? Really?) …
The menu is somewhat confusing. Lot of choices (that’s good right) from bowls to burritos. Many items that are not on menus at competitors. Oh, and they have shrimp! Already, it’s got to be better than Chipotle (they are now charging extra for beef and have no more pork) and Freebirds (who can’t love their option to add bacon!). So, after a laborious ordeal trying to get the cashier to hear me correctly (shrimp burrito meal), I get to the window. Burritos, soda and chips over $ 9 (not a deal-​breaker), but still kinda steep for drive-​thru food.
No iced tea (not even unsweetened), so I opted for a Dr. Pepper (yuck!). I was then told to pull up and wait. C’mon. A shrimp burritos with rice and beans … can’t be that hard to construct, but whatever. I pull up and immediately get on my phone to check in on Unilocal – no signal. What’s up with T-​Mobile and the Humble-​area? Ugh.
So, the same guy from the window brings me a bag. No «Enjoy your meal» or «Have a nice evening» even. Just a big olé, nonchalant, transactional … nothing. Do they even attempt to train workers in basic customer service and hospitality anymore?
The burrito was nicely toasted on the outside (a good sign), but DRY and COLD on the inside. The shredded cheese was not even melted. I mean, how hard is it to serve a warm, moist burrito? Obviously, pretty hard in EPL’s case. Bonus point for the ample shrimp throughout which were cooked well, but INCREDIBLY salty. The accompanying chips were dry and cold. No salsa and hey, no napkins either.
For those that like EPL, more power to you. The menu looked enticing, but after trying it, the lackluster effort to make even basic Latin food, slightly better than Taco Bell, I know I will not be back.
First impressions. They get you every time.

Ugh. I went through drive thru at about 9:30 on a Friday night. I had to repeat «small tortilla soup» literally 9 times because they were too busy roughing around behind her for her to be able to hear. I was practically shouting.
I got to the window and it took two people to be able to give me accurate change. There was someone yelling at the register inside so I apparently wasn’t the only person dissatisfied today. My order was missing pieces including my drink which I suppose was my fault for not realizing it before I drove off, but still. I was so excited for EPL but the service was bad and the food mediocre.

I was happy to see this EPL being built in my community…
Yesterday I purchased the 3 course meal and aside from the tasty chicken and green salsa everything else was quite disappointing.
The large salad was GROSS… fresh on top but mushy, brown and disgusting on the bottom. I should’ve taken it back instead of dumping it in the trash!
The churros so were stale, the sides were cold as if pre packaged.
I had fond memories of EPL from California, but this experience turned me off as a future patron of this establishment.

When comes to grilled chicken i love el pollo loco i just cnt wait if they will open along The Woodlands area
For me the chicken is really good and was marinated so well;))
The service were always fast.
My only concern is the restroom but i hope they will tell the staff to keep an eye also on this area .
So good and will always come back for their grilled chicken & flour tortilla;))

I got the 2 PC wing & breast with two sides a small drink and tortillas. It was a good price. Customer service was ok at the drive thru.
The chicken was under cooked. There was still blood on the bones. Mashed potatoes were good. I expected a little more from the chicken but the chicken skin was good. The rice was ok.

Growing up in California I’ve had El Pollo Loco many times, it’s basically like a KFC but with all your Mexican fixings. It also has burritos, soups, salads, tacos, and much more. I was definitely surprised when I saw it around H-​town, especially in the Humble area. From my understanding this opened recently, less than a month, the place was full even on a stormy night.
So obviously you have to try the chicken here, it has a citrus marinade and they grill the chicken right in back of the counter so you see it cooking, and it smells so delicious! I really don’t remember the menu having this much on it but I guess they’ve expanded it, so it took my awhile to decide what I wanted but I shared a family meal which is probably what I suggest since you get to try their chicken and your choice of sides, plus tortilla, which is a complete meal! I’m a fan of the rice and corn for the sides. And can’t forget the pico de gallo and avocado salsa.
Prices are great for the value. Service is good. I’m glad they have one around now!

Great service. Abundant sides to choose from. Need to watch them actually make the chickens however my food the chicken was kinda dry. Prices are good. I’ll try the tacos next. Maybe better.