El Pollo Chulo

The food is good and unique. Almost everything on the menu is fresh and very flavorful. The only thing that drags down my rating — and it’s unfortunately a biggie — is that the owner is a complete crook. When you first see the prices on the menu, you’re like «Holy crap! How can they be so cheap!!!» Well, they’re not. The owner rings things up without a menu and without you being able to see how much he’s charging. He NEVER gives you a receipt. Even when you ask for something showing how much you were charged, at best you’ll get the end price, not how much the individual items were. After going here on numerous occasions and wondering how something that was supposed to have cost $ 10 somehow ended up being $ 16 or when with family, a meal that was supposed to be $ 20, somehow ended up being $ 34, we finally asked. I know. Took long enough. The owner admitted the prices shown are NOT correct. Does he have anything showing how much they really are? No. The prices are all in his head. Too bad for you. Generally after the restaurant gets a write-​up in the Gazette or something like that, he’ll go straight and you get charged correctly, but if you’re a regular and don’t pay attention, or it’s been long enough after a write-​up, then beware.
It’s been bad enough that my dad went once and got a chicken. The sign out front had been advertising it as $ 10 for months. The owner made it then left the restaurant. When my dad went to pay for it, the owner was gone and he had a old-​time regular/​friend take the money for him. He told my dad that he owed $ 18. My dad said it was supposed to be $ 10 as advertised and that he was not paying any more than that. The friend got very hostile and said the owner told him to charge $ 18, so that’s how much he had to pay. My dad asked the friend to provide a menu or any kind of proof showing that the food was supposed to be anything other than $ 10. He couldn’t, so my dad refused and said take the $ 10 or nothing at all, that he was not paying more. The friend backed off and took the $ 10. It was extremely sketchy; the owner was basically scamming the price not expecting someone to pay attention or call him on it, and then when they were called on it, the only recourse was to say that the advertised price was incorrect, even though there was no proof of the «correct» price. Anyway. If you go to the restaurant, and honestly the food is good, just make sure and figure up how much you’re supposed to pay or ask for the REAL PRICES in advance.

I came from california and heard this was a good place to eat so we desided to try this and i have to say Good food, great service, going to come back here again!!!

This is some of the best chicken I’ve had in forever. I was looking for some healthier options to eat and some of my gym buds had talked about they chicken and veggies here. I brought my family after church and we all devoured our food. In fact, I had to order another 3 piece meal. We have been craving it ever since and just got a 12 piece party pack to take home. Such flavorful chicken. Love the char. Lots of side choices too.

Today for lunch I headed to El Pollo Chulo, which contrary to popular belief is Spanish style, not Mexican. If you’re looking for a low-​cost, healthy place to eat, this is a great place. Fred, the owner, will be all too forthright to let you know that his food is healthy and broadcasts it on his wall-​menu and take-​out menu as well. In fact their moto is «We worry about what goes into your body so you don’t have to…»
The star of the show at El Pollo Chulo is Fred’s chicken. The birds are butterflied and marinated in a fruit and lime marinade (that Fred won’t reveal, doggone him!), and then flame-​grilled slowly over some large grills built into the counter. It’s the first sight you see when you walk in the door and step to the front of the cafeteria style serving line.
Through the glass, you can view the sizzling slow-​grilled chicken and view its odd crimson– taint of colors from the marinade.
Chicken seems to be the house favorite at El Pollo Chulo. You can opt for ¼ ($ 4.99), or ½ (6.99) of a chicken or you can order by pieces — 3 piece ($ 5.99), or 8 pieces ($ 10.99) of chicken.
All come with 2 sides and complimentary salsa and 2 tortillas. Fred will also ask if you prefer white or dark meat and only asked me the first couple times I went. Now he remembers and doesn’t ask me anymore, which makes you feel remembered and is pretty cool. He also keeps the high def TV tuned to the Cooking Channel or Anthony Bourdain, No Reservations (my latest intrigue), which I enjoy to view while munching on his creations.
But chicken isn’t all that El Pollo offers in the means of animal flesh. You can also get your fill of Omega 3’s with grilled wild salmon ($ 6.95) or how about a seafood skewer ($ 6.95). Both of these are served with the 2 choices of sides and 2 complimentary tortillas with salsa as well. Prefer bovine? You can opt for seasoned chuck eye steak for $ 6.99.
Let’s talk about the sides. The sides are served, as I said before, cafeteria style and they range from pesto-​type noodles, to spanish rice to sweet potatoes but also include black or pinto beans, vegetables and parsley potatoes.
Another popular favorite which I’ve enjoyed is the Burritos. Fred hacks up his wonderful chicken and grills a burrito on his flat grill, and there are various versions from which to choose. The burritos range from $ 1.99 (beans and rice) to $ 3.25 (The Ultimate), a bargain for lunch.
Don’t know what to make for dinner? How about stopping by El Pollo and picking up a Pollo Party Pack? For $ 13.75 you can get 12 pieces of chicken, 4 side orders and 8 tortillas and salsa. Keep in mind however, the sides are a tad small, so take that into consideration. At $.99 for a small and $ 1.99 for a large side order, though you could order a few extra.
The dining room is spacious and very casual and well-​lit by large windows.
I am a fan of El Pollo, and go there regularly. I hope you try it sometime. It’s a great healthy alternative to fast food.
One word of advice. Although it’s well into fall, I did go a few times in the summer, and there was no air-​conditioning turned on. There were some overhead fans, but in our Oklahoma heat, I could barely stand it for an hour’s lunch. You might try take-​out in the summer. Maybe by next summer, Fred will turn the air on.