El Pollo Unico

This place is delicious great prices fast and friendly I frequent here often i rather come here than roscoes across the street

This place is great. Blows el pollo loco out the water no comparison. The chicken is seasoned to perfection and the chicken is juicy through out every piece. Parking sucks eating in is a hit or miss if there are tables open. The food is by far the winner with this spot. Highly recommended!

Good chicken. Don’t like how they charge extra for dark meat, but good quality chicken. :)

This chicken has got to be one of the best Chicken I have ever tasted in my entire life. Definitely better than pollo loco and they serve you a large portion of food. It’s a bit small but the food definitely makes up for that tiny issue. I recommend this place for anyone who loves chicken.

I use them many times for small parties. A lot of Great food for a great price!

Ate El Pollo Unico at a birthday party recently. The chicken seems alot better than before which is a big plus. Still the same great prices and portions. Win win.

How is the chicken so tasty ??? It has so much flavor and the lunch special is a perfect size for anyone. Prices are cheap and portions are great sizes. Love this place it’s like el pollo loco but 50 times better !

The wait is horrible (20−30minutes minimum) but my wife loves this place. Yes, I’m currently waiting for my checking while I’m updating my review.
The chicken itself is always moist. There are times when it’s a bit salty but it’s usually good. even the next day. I do recommend this place but do not come during peak hours…(11−2) or (5 – 7).

I Unilocal’d «chicken» when I was in Alta Dena, and this place popped up as top 10. Here are my thoughts:
What I ordered: ½ chicken with spanish rice, potato salad, salsa and 5 corn tortillas DINNER with a medium drink all for $ 7.95 out the door!
Pros:
–great price for the amount of food you get.
–the chicken was good and the sides were decent.
–great service.
Tips:
–if you are looking for quality then do not come here. However the chicken was above decent quality but the sides were decent.
–CASH ONLY.
Conclusion: I’ll go here only if I am in Alta Dena!

The chicken at «El Pollo Unico» was like the first time I ate «El Pollo Loco» — back then it was called «The Crazy Chicken» (I think I was nine or ten — and it was in the early to mid-​80s). I was hooked immediately. Nom nom nom…
I would beg my mom to get food from «The Crazy Chicken», before the name changed to «El Pollo Loco». I’m not sure if it was chain back then, since it was in the early to mid 80s and I only knew of the one close to my house back then. But, it is now, and the food — ugh.
So, I looked for another Mexican grilled chicken place that had the same flavor and crisp, I looked for a while too. I am a discerning eater (LOL).
Unilocal led me to «El Pollo Unico» and I decided to try it since it was close by. I’d driven past it so many times, but never thought to try it, since I hadn’t found a good Mexican grilled chicken place, and not for lack of trying. But one day, I went in and OMG — it tastes like the chicken I had when I was young!
After many disappointments at «El Pollo Loco» (which used to be my FAVORITE as kid), their chicken just doesn’t taste the same anymore. You also can’t see the grill in the kitchen with tons of chicken on it anymore either… So, I have a theory that they boiled the chicken (for their tortilla soup — which I really like) before grilling — so they can save time and grill space, since the chicken is already cooked. That’s the chicken is now very bland and mushy. But when it’s lunch rush — quick to make crispy fast. This is my own theory, but I know people that think the same… I used to work in food service in college.
I’m so happy I found «El Pollo Unico» — I will be back!

Every and any time im in the area or near Pasadena it’s a lunch time ritual to get in here. Definitely one of my top 3 for chicken and the cash only I don’t mind because as long as I have 5 $ and some spare change I can pretty much get a meal. The only reason it’s not a 5 star it’s because of the sour ass lady that always takes the orders always has a poochi attitude and a poochi face. Other than that the food makes up for it!

I like to try as many new things as possible, dining experiences included. I aim to spend as little time north of the 210 as possible as I have found it just is not my cup of tea. I have lived in Pasadena for years and have seen this spot. However, since they do not feature a drive thru option it never was high on my list of spots to try.
I came by on a Saturday afternoon for lunch. Mediocre customer service that anything but welcoming. No air conditioning (very north of the 210-​thus the term «ghetto») to provide dining guests with any sense of comfort while dining. It took over ten minutes to receive my order of a basic two piece meal.
As for the food. They do provide healthy portions but I found the flavor of the chicken and sides (rice and beans) to be bland. I had high expectations of the chicken as many Unilocal reviews had raved about the flavor of the chicken but it is second to the type of rotisserie chicken available at most major retail supermarkets.
Glad I checked it out for myself. Now that I have appeased my curiosity there is no need to return. The next time I am in the mood for flame broiled chicken I know where not to go.

Great Food! Cheap Prices!
Only down side is their cash-​only policy. I had to leave before because of it. No way I’m paying a near $ 4 ATM fee.
Excellent chicken and huge portions for your buck.

This is our go to place for chicken. The only bad thing about this place is the waiting for your order, they take so long!
The chicken is awesome. It’s always juicy and flavorful, and very affordable! Where else can you get a whole chicken (8pc) with two large sides, two salsas and 10 tortillas for $ 13.99. We always get the whole chicken with 2 sides. The sides that they offer are pretty good too. They have a large range of combo sizes from 2pc to 24pc. They also have party trays. So order away and enjoy your chicken!

Another great eatery around the Orange Heights neighborhood. El Pollo Unico shares a lot in common with it’s other El Pollo cousin… as in El Pollo Loco …
Only the chicken here taste much better with bigger portions and cheaper prices. The dining area leaves little to be desired since it accommodates about 15 people at max but most people take their food to go. The parking situation here is a joke too and it’s best to find street parking. You’ll be in and out faster than if you were parked in the parking lot.
I’ve eaten here once and driven/​walked by here about a half dozen times in the past week and every time I’ve been here, there’s a line out the door with hungry people waiting to get their chicken. And it’s not a big surprise, the food is really good and their daily specials make it even harder to resist coming by.
Good stuff!!!

This place is awesome
So good. Dinner special is $ 7.57 and get a lot of food. Recommend the spicier salsa. Highly recommend

This place is a hidden gem in Pasadena. The chicken is plumper, jucier and generally taste better than El Pollo Loco. Also, it’s a little bit cheaper. The salsa that it came with was OK. It’s a little bit in the watery side. The macaroni salad and the cole slaw are just generic, run of the mill type. Nothing to be excited about. It’s all about the cheap, great tasting chicken.
About the place, you will want to come here during off peak hours as the parking lot can only accommodate a few cars and this place get’s packed. Also, the dining area is sparse and is not the nicest place to eat, even when properly cleaned up.

Think El Pollo Loco but cheaper. Yesterday I got a healthy portion of 2 pieces of chicken, corn on the cob, mexican rice, corn tortillas, salsa and a medium horchata all for $ 6. Prices are great and food is fresh so I’m definitely a fan. My only minor gripe is about the parking being horrible. They have a small lot that is shared with a few other businesses AND they are located on a busy street so parking options are rather limited.
P. S. They take cash only. Se habla espanol. Be ready to point and enunciate if needed :)

My review is for take out only.
Great lunch and dinner specials for the wallet. Even better is how good everything tastes. You don’t sacrifice any quality because it’s not expensive.
Yes, the parking lot is super small, so, be patient or park on the street. It’s not the business’ fault that their parking lot is that way.
So, for great tasting chicken, sides drinks, order from Pollo Unico.

The chicken is good, but it’s pretty dirty inside. The tables aren’t cleaned and trash just sits there.
Not sure if I would give this place another try.