El Pollo Loco

The chicken here is almost always spot on juicy. The avocado salsa is amazing. The rice, beans and other sides are nothing special, but hey I’m a protein guy so I’m really only concerned with the chicken.
For me, El Pollo Loco is the gold standard for chicken that all others need to be judged by. Unfortunately pretty much every where in Austin until Pollo Tropical opens falls short of the mark.
With all the Californians living in Austin I’m not sure how we haven’t gotten one of these, but we need one badly. Those of you in Houston and San Antonio, consider yourselves lucky and if you haven’t checked out an El Pollo Loco yet and you like char broiled chicken, you need to go now.

Long wait BC drive thru speaker doesnt work + crying toddler is NO BUENO. To make matters worse, my chicken was damn dry and old… wtf. NEVER AGAIN.

Never been to this place before but have heard good things about it from my brother. Walking into the store the tables and restaurant set up was pretty organized and clean for the most part. The menu was easy to read and catered to all kinds of people (vegetarians to meat lovers). I ordered the classic chicken salad and it was delicious for an affordable and reasonable quanitity. I would definitely come back for it again.
One con of this place would be that they definitely don’t have enough workers. We ended up waiting a long time when there weren’t the hat many customers. Other than thus small complaint I really liked this fast food restaurant.

I used to like this place but as time passed, it seems their chicken portion shrunk to a pathetic size. Forgot to take pictures but imagine 2 PC leg and thigh can fit on a small lady’s palm. Shrimp in taco was salty and not fresh. Too much cold cheese which made the whole taco cold and slimy.
Not sure if I will come back anymore.

This was my first time at a Pollo Loco, though I’ve seen them all over California. Finally ventured in for some grilled chicken that I’ve heard good things about. It was late so there were very few customers. I asked the guy up front what he recommended and he said the half chicken combo. I went with a two piece (thigh and leg) with pinto beans and mashed potatoes. Combo came with a drink and was about $ 8.
The chicken flavor was really good. Crispy skin was cooked perfectly. Moist, hot and a nice smoky grilled flavor. It’s nice to be able to eat chicken right of the bone and not have something so overly processed. The mashed potatoes with gravy was fine and the beans were good, but a little too salty for me.
Had to have a little horchatta for dessert.
Overall, I think this is a great place for a quick and as healthy as you want to order meal. Glad they finally made it to Texas and I’ll be back.

This is the third time I tried the restaurant, and every time I have tried, I felt it satisfied my hunger, but it never left me an awesome feeling. After working out one evening, I was hungry and decided I want some chicken. Since the restaurant is nearby, I decided to go for it. Wanting to be healthy, I got the fire-​grilled skinless breast meal with broccoli and salad and another order of the breast with skin.
The Pro’s– I find the chicken quite dry, probably due to being on the grill for a long time, but it is flavorful enough to save the taste. The skin is very crispy, to the point that when I slice down, you can hear the crackling sound of the skin. It also adds to the chicken as well. I would say, if given the choice, and if you aren’t too worry about fat, get the chicken with the skin on. I also quite like the guacamole dip at the self-​serving station. It’s really good for a self-​serving item. I filled up three little cups with that! Environment is clean for a fast food restaurant, and the people were nice. I also see several options on the menu for less than 500 calories as well as listing out the calories for all the other options. It’s great to see a fast food restaurant acknowledging calories upfront.
The Con’s– The salad was very bland. I even tried putting the guacamole dip on it to save it, but it was just blah. I also didn’t like the broccoli. Perhaps it is because I see it in a plastic bag when one of the employees put it on my plate. It looked like it was heated in the microwave, and taste-​wise, it was super bland and soggy/​limpy. The tea was a little too sweet in my opinion.
Verdict– I wouldn’t mind coming back again for the chicken, but I wouldn’t get the other things.

I got the Chicken Black Bean Bowl from their Under 500 calories menu. Unfortunately, the chicken was pretty dry. Disappointing to have subpar chicken from a place that specializes in chicken! The rest of the bowl was fine.
They have a drive through.
Service was good and fast. The employees were attentive and friendly. No complaints there.
But… Dry chicken! Maybe their normal (non-​500 calorie) menu is better.

Typically I love this particular location. Tonight however was a different story: the chicken was very old, the guacamole was brown and our chips were stale. Very disappointed to say the least. Sadly, we were already home when we saw everything. I’ve always loved this place because everything is so fresh. :/​my advice: please don’t serve old food! There was still an hour and a half before closing and this is the kind of food we got. I’m almost debating whether or not I want to go back next time.

Avoid the drive thru you. You will be waiting 20 minutes just to place an order, and then another 15 minutes to pay for and receive your food.

I actually really like this place! Ive come here several times now. It’s just a good place to get a reasonably priced meal without being too unhealthy and not having to deal with a dirty eating area. The staff is super friendly and helpful. Last time, they came by to check on us and even threw away our trash. I particularly like coming by here for more private chit chat time, since they aren’t too busy and they don’t rush you out at night.
Food. I like the tostado bowls. The shell is so crispy and delicious. The shrimp one only comes with maybe 6 medium sized shrimp, so it’s not a ton of meat. They are mostly known for their chicken, which is a must try! It’s quite good and moist. They have some off the menu 2 person combo meal, which comes with 4 piece chicken, 3 sides, 2 side salads, tortillas, and churros. I found out bc I had a coupon for $ 10, not sure what regular price it is.
Overall, great place to grab a meal either eat there or to go. They get your food out before you can get your drink and sit down!

This place is fast, inexpensive, and delicious. Oh, and healthier than Whataburger for a post-​workout meal apparently. They have some avocado ranch sauce thing that is the bomb dot come, and I would put it on everything. At first, I was a skeptic, but I was blown away by how juicy and real the chicken was! Is this still even considered fast food?

I came here after a workout at the Fitness Connection nearby. El Pollo Loco is the perfect location for a post workout meal. You can get so much healthy protein and carbs to fuel your gains.
I ordered the 8 piece chicken, comprised of legs and thighs, tortillas, and a side of spanish rice. I really enjoyed the food here. The chicken was really juicy and tender. It was so well seasoned that I was surprised that the food was actually from a fast food restaurant, The tortillas and rice were perfectly soft. I also enjoyed the avocado salsa. It was sweet with just the right amount of spice to it.
Anytime I am in the area, I will be sure to make a stop at El Pollo Loco. The food was great, and it came out promptly! On my next visit, I want to try their burritos and tostadas.

I will keep this short. My last visit to El Pollo Loco had to be in 2006 & in Los Angeles. Imagine my surprise to find them here in Texas!
The chicken was as good as I recalled, and the cashier was super friendly. I got a 3-​piece, white meat with two sides and a drink for under $ 10. It came with a substantial side salad and a generous portion of steamed broccoli.
Their chicken is truly awesome. The skin is crispy, the meat juicy, and the flavor amazing. They offer a selection of salsas to go with, and all are very fresh (and self-​serve). The chicken meals come with your choice of corn or flour tortillas.
Hopefully, they continue to expand in Texas so I can get one closer to home!

I can honestly say that the service I received from Maria was top notch. She so nice and friendly. She let me switch charro beans in for pinto beans in my pollo bowl. This was nice and special treat given that we can’t get it like this at home.
Super stoked to see El Pollo in Texas! It definitely makes my time away from home easier. Now I won’t have issues figuring out what to eat when I’m short I time and want something good and healthy!

Tostada salad!!! what??? I haven’t had these since my college dorm years! They were my favorite type of salads… they added that extra crunch to my salads. I’m from the East Coast so I’ve never heard of the hype associated with El Pollo Loco until my Californians informed me that I better try this place.
This location is very clean, nice décor, and it doesn’t smell like grease and oil, because they grill it. The grilling aspect sets them apart from all the other chicken places. It’s a «healthier» option. You order food and pay at the front counter, then you get a buzzer to inform you when your food is ready. There is a fountain drink station with free refills. They have tables scattered throughout the restaurant so you may sit wherever you like.
On the food… I ordered a chicken and baja shrimp tostada. It was a very filling portion. There’s a bed of rice at the bottom, pinto beans, lettuce, cheese, a dollop of sour cream, pico de gallo. It’s topped with avocado slices, grilled chicken and baja shrimp. The shrimp was flavorful and taste best only if it’s hot off the grill. The chicken was seasoned pretty good and it wasn’t dry. I had this with the light creamy cilantro dressing. It was unique. not too heavy, the cilantro flavor wasn’t overpowering. At the counter, there’s a bar where they serve a variety of pico de gallo. Hot, medium, and mild. There’s also extra chilantro, onions, jalapenos, and a guacamole sauce. You can place it on your salad or order a side of chips. Not to mention, the prices are pretty reasonable. I was expecting to pay at least $ 10, but it was actually around $ 6-​$ 7 for the tostada. They also have family combos as well.
Overall, the food was great and I’ll definitely be back to try the other items on the menu, especially their horchata and churros!
Great service for a fast food restaurant! The staff actually will go around asking my friend and I if there’s anything additional we need.

Went here for the first time today. I was all ready to love this place and give it 5 stars because I’m on a high protein diet and was excited to have a «fast food» place I could enjoy. I told the cashier it was my first visit hoping for a little input, but since he barely spoke English I guess he didn’t understand.
I ended up choosing the 2 piece white meat combo with black beans and a side salad. The black beans were very good, but the rest was a little disappointing. I expected to get a chicken quarter, but the way it was butchered there was very little breast meat. The little meat that was there was dry. The wing was the best part. The salad was almost nothing but white lettuce core and had very little dressing. I did not realize there was a salsa bar until I had finished eating. Next time I will try adding some of the delicious looking salsas to make things a little tastier. For some reason the ads I’d seen led me to believe the meals came with guacamole. It didn’t, so next time I will be sure to order some.
There will definitely be a next time. I’m going to try the grilled shrimp, broccoli and guacamole next time. I’m still hoping for a diet friendly fast food place. I left the restaurant full and satisfied without breaking my diet, so that’s a real plus in addition to the fact that I didn’t have to cook!

You ever wondered why someone would call a place The Crazy Chicken? I think it’s because the flavors will drive your tastebuds crazy – in a good way!
I had recently heard about a new location opening in the Houston area from some posts on Facebook, but not knowing anything about the company, I just shrugged it off as another chain restaurant. While running some errands in Sugar Land before Bible Study, I noticed the brand new restaurant while passing by. I was kind of wanting Chinese this particular day, but why not try something new? I was still undecided as I passed by to get to my last destination. Once finished, I made up my mind to drive back to EPC and see what all the hubbub was about.
First off, I love the aesthetics of this place! Bright, vibrant, warm color palette. Almost reflective of the food and the service! I went during the weekday before 7, so I may have missed the dinner crowd, but there were a few customers in line before I entered the building.
I kind of wanted an enchilada, but I’ve learned to not order the most sophisticated (nor most expensive item) from the menu on your first visit. It’s almost like when you go to a new stylist – if they can’t wash your hair right, a more skillful request (such as cutting, coloring, etc) cannot be expected to turn out quite well. In effect, I opted for the $ 5 combo located on the left side of the menu. You have a choice of a bowl, taco, or.. .cannot think of the third option, but I tried out the bowl since I’m suppose to be watching my carbs. $ 5 combo comes with side of tortillas or chips and drink, which is self serve. Similar to Taco Cabana, there’s a condiment bar filled with pico de gallo, salsa, lemons, onion, cilantro, and whole jalapenos! Kind of gets crowded when a few people are waiting for their food and getting condiments because it’s located at the front counter. That;s probably the only criticism I have at this time because the food was superb! I thought I wouldn’t eat all my food and asked the server to place the order in a take out container. However, the bowl was so flavorful, I couldn’t help myself! The warm grilled chicken layered with rice and pinto beans and pico was just what my appetite wanted! I had ordered the tortillas chips with the combo, but the traditional tortilla chips were pretty hard. I almost requested the tortillas instead, but next time! I really enjoyed the depth of flavors infused in the chicken bowl. Would definitely order again!
Reading some of the other reviews, I have to say that the food is decently priced depending on what you buy. I was’t moved to buy the grilled chicken because I couldn’t smell it – even though you see them grilling it right in front of you. Another analogy: If you ever go to a BBQ joint and you can’t smell BBQ before you enter the establishment, you will not get BBQ, but broiled meat. You smell real BBQ before you see it or eat it. Therefore, I wasn’t enticed to try the grilled chicken when I didn’t smell it. Maybe I’ll try a piece a la carte on my next visit just to make my loco visit official.
By the way, weird bathroom! No mirror and you cannot tell whose in the bathroom because the first stall faces to the side versus forward. Clean, but I guess somebody ran out of money to make it eye catching. Other than that, pretty decent place and menu selection for you crazy chicken customers! A must try in your future if you’re in the area!

Can’t tell you guys how excited I was to find out El Pollo Loco was finally coming to the Houston Market. Growing up in Los Angeles, this was one of my family’s top choices to eat at if ‘fast food’ was our option for the night. It’s a much more healthier option than KFC, Popeyes, or even Church’s.
The citrus marinated chicken is fire-​grilled right in front of your eyes as you place your order at the register. Once you place your order, they take those half pieces of chicken and chop it up for you. You’ve got multiple sides to choose from like their awesome mashed potatoes and gravy, coleslaw, black beans, corn, and Mac & Cheese. As far as soft drinks go, you have your traditional sodas and what not BUT! Omg, they also have an ‘Horchata’ fountain station. That’s legit! For those who don’t know what Horchata is, it’s a Mexican traditional sweet, Rice water drink. It’s made differently everywhere but the one here was decent. And yes, there are free refills on the Horchata. YAAAS!
The experience wasn’t very much different than any other El Pollo Loco in Los Angeles. I think the ‘cheery, YAY’ hoopla has worn off because the employees weren’t exactly happy. The place was pretty busy, but that doesn’t come as a surprise to me since this is the very first and only location in Houston. There wasn’t much room to really sit anywhere. I stood around for a few minutes waiting for a seat to clear up. There wasn’t anyone on the dining floor cleaning the tables so I had to clean it myself. I think that with the volume of people they are seeing, management should have someone monitoring the area regularly.
Overall, the food was great! Flavors were on point. The place is very busy. And cleanliness is something they need to work on.
I look forward to the opening of El Pollo Loco closer to my ‘hood in the Copperfield/​Cypress area later this year.

Dropped in for an early lunch today to give it a try and I’m glad I got there when I did cause the place got packed not long after I sat down. I wanted something basic to get an idea of the flavors, so I ordered the 2 pc meal that comes with 2 sides of your choice (I got rice and mac & cheese), tortillas, and a drink. The service was friendly and I received my food super fast. There’s a little salsa bar at the counter between the register and the space where you receive your food but it’s not the best location if it’s busy. That was not planned out well. Almost seems like the space could be a bit bigger too but I’m sure it will be fine once the «newness» wears off or more locations open.
Now on to the food. As far as the chicken goes, I found it to be pretty tasty. Pieces were kinda small but the flavor was actually all the way through it. The mac & cheese was good for fast food mac but the rice was totally bland. I’ll try something else next time since they do offer a number of side options. Oh and the tortillas… you are offered the option of flour or corn and I chose flour. I don’t know how to describe them other than, not quite cooked? I don’t know, just off, or I guess I’m used to seeing some sort of browning or markings from where it was cooked and this was just white and hard around the edges. Now I knew what adjustments to make on my next order and its always nice to have somewhere to go that’s fast and different. 3.5 stars

Eating here makes me feel like I’m back home, as I have always loved this chicken. In high school I worked for a knock-​off of El Pollo Loco (that restaurant, now closed, was such a copy that El Pollo Loco sued them and won) and ate this stuff every day. When I lived in Southern California, I’d eat the real thing.
The primary difference between this and the El Pollo Locos I ate at 25-​ish years ago is this restaurant looks fresh and modern. It’s all charbroiled chicken, grilled before your very eyes. As you walk in, all you see are chickens on the grill that have been slowly grilling all day. As you order, the cook takes a fresh chicken off the grill and chops it to order. It’s been marinated in citrus and it tastes great. You can order a skinless breast, but the skin is really flavorful from the marinade and cooking all day. Pick out a side of beans, rice, slaw, or a salad and don’t forget the tortillas.
It’s fast food on styrofoam plates, but they get an extra star for the teenage girl they had working in the dining room. I’ve never seen someone as excited to work at a chicken place as she was, especially since her job was to clean the dining room. She asked us what we ordered while we waited and told us what her favorites were on the menu and was cheerful to everyone. She’s going to make a good businessperson someday.