I love El Pollo Loco but this restaurant location is where I learned that they no longer make crunchy tacos. I'm so mad I can't stand it anymore. There is no reason for me to go here ever again. I'm back-talking my parents, slamming doors, and the only emotion I feel is rage. Thank you for the memories! I don't even remember the last crunchy Taco I had. I took it for granted, I would have appreciated it more if I knew corporate was planning on ruining their menu by making those tacos go away.
(5)
Charles R.
I am convinced that El Pollo Loco searches everywhere for the smallest and cheapest chickens that can be found. There is close to no value that one receives for the inflated amount they are being charged for their food. Their prices are ridiculous! They only thing they have over KFC is that their chicken is healthier. Nothing against the staff. They are just doing their jobs, and they do it well.
(3)
Chanell F.
I visited this establishment on 6/16/15 for lunch and ordered a "Pollo Bowl" and shortly after I felt the effects of food poisoning! Beware! Not sure if they're the cleanest place!
(1)
Nicole C.
I ordered a $500.00 catering order for a company lunch. My confirmation email said that it was supposed to be delivered at 11:30 am, so when it hadn't arrived at 11:38 am I called the store. The woman told me that her calendar said 12 pm. I was a little angry but it was fine. At 12:05 pm when the food STILL hadn't arrived I called back and the woman told me that it would be arriving shortly, the driver was on his way. After waiting another 10 minutes I call again for the drivers number. After calling back and forth, back and forth and being told multiple times that my food was on its way, the driver tells me that he has the wrong food order and the wrong address. At this point I am livid because I have a whole office who was told they were getting a catered lunch from El Pollo Loco and it is now 12:45 pm and my order is not even close to being delivered. I told the driver to forget it. I didn't want to wait any longer and I had to feed the office. I ended up going to buy pizzas for everyone and while i was out guess who had the nerve to show up. Not only did the driver bring the food the office but he still didn't even have my order!! On top of it he wouldn't bring it to the kitchen he just set it on the front desk and then the idiot asked if we would pay for half the order! I will be calling the corporate office. This location should be shut down, they don't know what they are doing. Why have an online ordering system and delivery if you don't know how to operate a business? Never again will I order from here again. This was the worst catering experience I have ever had and I'm still amazed at how these people still have jobs.
(1)
Thomas C.
Food is beyond terrible. Routinely over cooked chicken....I just think they really sacrifice quality in order to keep waste down. Chicken just doesn't taste good when it's overcooked. Need to have better quality control and deliver a more consistent product from open to close.
(2)
Yona Y.
Actually this place deserves 3 1/2stars. This location is kinda hidden from the big street, the sign is not too noticeable. I got the coupon for a free one entree with $10 purchase, so I bought 8 pcs of legs and thais, then chose tostada salad to go. The salsa bar was not super clean but it was ok. They got 4 different salsas and chopped cilantro, lemon pieces, pickled peppers and fresh peppers. I tried the hot green salsa, it had many chunks of chopped onions and it was a bit salty to my taste, but it was not as salty as other locations. Mild salsa was fresh . Chicken pieces were too cooked, meat was all shrunk, but the good side was that all fat had dripped down the grill from long cooking. Also the chickens were not as salty as other locations, I appreciated it. Tostada was better than what I paid for. Big chicken breast chunks, chopped lettuce, beans, cheese, pico de gallo, rice and avocados. Got the sauce on the side, which seemed like some kinda mayo, so I didn't bother it. Tortilla shell, i like the one at Baja F**** because it is more flaky pastry like, one here is a big fried corn chip. Once in a while, with a coupon deal, this place can make a perfect lazy sunday dinner.
(3)
Ryan M.
Bad service and food. I stopped coming to this location about 5 months ago. I was fed up with the ignorance of the staff, continuous attitudes, poor quality of food and their failure to do their jobs right. Every single time I had gone to this location, the person taking the order via drive-thru could never hear a thing I would say. I have read many Yelp reviews stating the same thing going years back. This is not a new problem and it really proves how ignorant the management is; totally missing the mark and failing to address and resolve said issues. Tonight was my first time returning to El Pollo Loco and definitely my last. Same problem in the drive-thru with the intercom. The idiot taking the order was deliberately being obnoxious and refusing to take the order properly. I said screw it, drove to the window and ordered from there. By that time, I was seriously pissed and tired of everyone's stupidity at this place. I could tell the employees inside thought it was funny and were laughing. I got news for you ignorant minimum wage idiots working at El Pollo Loco who thought it was funny...I find it funny that you will never amount to anything with the stupidity, zero common sense, lack of skills of any kind, and ignorance you have...so keep laughing. I'm not the one losing here...I don't need El Pollo Loco and I'm more than happy to spend my money elsewhere. Although I purchased food at the window, I threw it out once I got home. There is no way in hell I would trust eating any food from this place when their ignorant employees act/work the way they do. There is no telling what they would do to the food. I have watched enough shows such as caught on camera, and have seen what ignorant employees would do to a customer's food before serving it to them. I refuse to be subjected to tainted food, foodborne illness, and food poisoning, resulting from their negligence and stupidity. Wiping my hands clean and never returning to this ghetto-ass third world country style establishment.
This location is generally well maintained, quick, and the staff is courteous. However, they forget to give me my entire order about 25% of the time when I order at the drive-thru. Since El Pollo is usually for larger family orders, it's difficult to notice the missing taco that you paid for until your unloading the food at home. They seem to have a great system going when you order in-store as they show you each item before putting it in the bag and giving you your order. They need to develop some kind of efficient system for drive-thru orders as well. It's awful to drive back to get the rest of your order while your food is getting cold at home.
(3)
Jeff L.
Like other branches like this, El Pollo Loco serves chicken. I came here with a special Valentine's Day week coupon from their mailing list program for $10 for a 2-person meal. Either they gave me the wrong person's receipt or forgot to give it to me, though, so I couldn't check how much the discount was. Anyway, it was really worth it since I was full afterwards and I spent even less here than at other fast food places. I'm not sure about the romanticness of that coupon, though, since my (female) friend said nothing lovey-dovey to me when I said I'd be buying that. Here, the cashier line is typically entered from the entrance parallel to Alton, but they have a door that faces the Oak Creek main shopping area as well. On the opposite side of the partition for the cashier line there is a row of cushy seats with tables. However, for those that sit on the side that faces the partition, one would be scooting up to let people walk through that aisle if one has a big butt. What I don't really like about this branch is that they have one of those bells that people ring when they get good service. My friend and I have sensitive ears and that just surprises and bothers us when we hear it. But it rings so much that they must have good internal service here or something like that.
(4)
Nicole J.
I wouldn't normally write a review for an El Pollo Loco... It's sorta weak lol BUUUUT if you give my dad attitude.. Oh, you're getting a review and your picture up on yelp for dang sure! I really wanna give one star but we have had good service from this particular El Pollo Loco in the past. But... Today (Sunday, 10/12/14) we were rushing to get food after church because we had to be somewhere so we went through the drive thru. My dad, who might I add speaks perfectly fluent English, was being extremely polite with the rude lady over the drive thru intercom. We gave her the benefit of the doubt, thinking she may not be able to hear us. But when we got to the window she was actually even more rude. I have never seen someone give such obviously horrible customer service like that, it was as if she didn't care that we knew she was giving us attitude. She asked if we wanted flour or corn tortilla and my dad asked, "oh, is that included?" And she basically barked back saying, "10 PIECES OF CHICKEN IS $14.03 I SAID THAT!" Whoa lady! First of all, we didn't order a side of attitude with that chicken! Second, that did not answer our question. And third, please don't work somewhere where you have to deal with people, because you're obviously lacking in politeness and common courtesy. Sorry to blast your picture on this site, I'd just like you to know that it was, indeed you who gave bad customer service. Thanks.
(2)
Dean W.
Good food but the prices are high based on the portions. As an example they only give you 1 enchilada in the enchilada suiza and the price is higher than their competitor down the street for a two combination combo. I hear the same thing from others as well. Good food but the overall value is not there.
(3)
Wes P.
I have been to a lot of El Pollo Loco's, but this one is my favorite. I come here during business hours and lunchtime, and they always seem to consistently push out hot food quickly. This location is managed very well. I enjoyed the tostada salad, the avocado tacos, and the rice and beans. I'm not a big fan of the enchiladas. This location is a good one if you're looking for good fire grilled chicken.
(4)
Erika P.
This location constantly runs out of staple sides and drinks. Tonight they were out of mashed potatoes, before they have been out of Coke, mac and cheese, and corn! If you happen to get what you want, it's a miracle.
(1)
Robert G.
I really miss the classic chicken burrito...
(2)
Vee F.
I have been to this location so many times (not by choice, its the only location close to my office) and not once have they ever got my order correct. Their intercom system sucks, you have to repeat yourself at least 3 times. Their bottled water is always room temp or warmer which I'm not a fan of. They like to put nice leafy green lettuce on the top of their salads so that when you look into the container everything looks delicious, then when you start to eat you'll see all of the disgustingly brown and slimy lettuce underneath.
(1)
Katrina R.
Seriously, El Pollo's entire premise is freshness. So why on earth does my Classic Chicken Burrito have rock hard dried out chicken in it?! I mean it looks like it's from yesterday. I would call to complain, but already chucked my receipt. Grrrr
(1)
Ray A.
I have been eating here for over 10 years, they have the best personnel and the food is great and consistent all the time. I have read other reviews and people set the wrong expectations for themselves. The staff is very friendly and they strive to provide a great customer experience. Enjoy the meal and stop stressing out about everything. Life goes on either way, make the best of it. Now go and get yourself some loco chicken.
(5)
Haley S.
I come here a few times a week and use the drive through to satiate my moderate addiction to El Pollo Loco vanilla ice cream cones. They really are amazing. There is sometimes a younger kid working here who is super friendly and always has a smile on his face. He genuinely seems to appreciate your patronage which I appreciate. I can't speak to the rest of the food at this particular location, but the vanilla ice cream cones are delicious. They keep me going back again and again...and again. :)
(4)
Neluta G.
Good service, the meat is freshly cooked and they are generous with the portions. Pretty good if you are trying to get something healthy at a fast food restaurant.
(4)
Matthew C.
It's crazy how even though they must stick to the same recipe that corporate gives to them , the management is what really makes the food. Every time I have been here I am disappointed. I live in victorville and the el pollo loco there on palmdale is phenomenal!
(3)
Michael W.
I was pleasantly surprised when I stopped to eat dinner at this El Pollo Loco. El Pollo Loco is the healthier version of it's American counterpart, KFC and a less authentic version of El Pollo Norteno (located only in North Orange County). First of all the service was great from start to finish. I received a welcome not normally offered at a fast food restaurant (except at In-N-Out), the cashier was helpful in answering my questions about the menu and the person who delivered my food was also very friendly. The menu is convenient as the side order options are on the counter in front of me with choices ranging from healthy (corn and vegetables) to the not-so-healthy ( Mac and cheese and salad with creamy cilantro ranch). I chose a mix of the two: corn and salad. Trust me, get the creamy cilantro ranch. You won't be disappointed. The 2 piece plate I ordered was fresh and tasty. They have four salsa selections ranging from mild to somewhat hot. My favorites were the spicy avocado which is creamy and the salsa roja which is in the hotter side but has an attractive smoky flavor. I decided to try the new chicken bacon guacamole quesadilla, so I ordered it with the intention of taking it home for a meal the next day. It was so good I finished it at the restaurant that day. Oh, well. Try this El Pollo Loco. It's better than the others nearby.
(4)
Randy L.
Inconsistent quality. I've had pretty good chicken from this store, and I've had dry chicken from this store. Luck of the draw. Service is friendly. Store is clean.
(3)
Greg M.
Service is so slow today. Don't waste your time if u are in a hurry
(2)
Damon D.
Portions are absurd......been eating here for years and this location is getting bad. I don't think they use chickens anymore but Cornish game hens.......2 piece meal is a joke.
(2)
ellen h.
The food has always been pretty good and consistent at this store so you know what you're going to get. I've never had bad service at this store either except for an instance a couple days ago. The salsa bar was completely out. The way the salsa bar is set up already makes it difficult to scoop so when it's down to the last quarter inch of salsa, it's pretty much impossible to scoop anything. The problem was ALL of the salsa bins were out- not just one, and it was 6pm (prime time!). We notified an employee and asked if she could refill. She claimed that we could still scoop and tried to scoop the last tidbits with difficulty. Even if we could, it would maybe fill half of one of those small salsa cups which was not enough for a family meal. So we asked her again if she could refill all of them. She seemed to understand and acknowledge the request but made no effort to get any refills. She began slowly taking some napkins and wiping the surrounding area... Slowly, for an uncomfortable couple of minutes. When we asked again, she nodded but kept wiping the non-existent salsa drippings. I seriously think she purposely dragged because she thought we were annoying. We got fed up and ended up asking the the guy at the counter and he yelled for the lady to get a refill. She acknowledged, took one of the salsa containers and slowly started towards the kitchen. We ended up leaving without the damn salsa because it just took too ridiculously long! The 2 stars is for the apathetic employee who gives this store a bad name. Customers should not be asking several times for something that should be replenished regularly.
(2)
Paul A.
Sweet deal- came here for some food for my Fiance- she works at Kaiser- super convenient!
(3)
Brad T.
I'm tempted to knock a star off based on my most recent experience here, but I guess I won't. Of all restaurants I visit, the two I go to most are probably this El Pollo Loco and the Del Taco by my office. I go to each probably once per week. I'd avoid the drive thru here at all costs, unless you like long waits and getting your order f***ed up on a consistent basis. So why 4 stars? I guess we just like the chicken here, and the sides are all pretty good too. I like their $5 tacos al carbon combo that comes with a side of your choice and a drink. I usually get the side salad. My wife likes the Wing Lovers meal - which is 4 wings, two sides, and tortillas. I pretty much like all the chicken burritos as well. As I mentioned above... avoid the drive thru here. They never give you the salsa you ask for, and there have been several times where we've just not gotten things we ordered. Plus, if you go inside, you can get whatever salsas you want. So I was here a couple of days ago and went inside and got my stuff to go. The guy who gave me the bag kind of repeated back my order and showed me the items in the bag, so I feel stupid for not noticing this at the restaurant. When I got home, I realized that the (free with coupon) chicken tostada salad we ordered was in a bowl, missing the tortilla shell, and missing the chicken. It was basically a plastic bowl filled with lettuce. How something like that could get f****d up is beyond me, but needless to say, I had to drive back and get it fixed. Luckily, I live about 1-2 minutes away. For the foreseeable future, I'm sure I'll be visiting 'The Crazy Chicken' at least once per week, inside of course!
(4)
Bunny F.
The parking lot is already crazy with hungry people during lunch time. To add to the frustration they locked the handicapped door without putting a sign "please use other door" so when I went there for the first time I went to the locked handicapped door and then 5 people got in line before me just because I went to the wrong door. How was I supposed to know they would lock the door during business hours if they don't put a sign or anything! I understand they want one entrance to create one line, but they need to put a sign!!! They can't just lock the door. What if a handicapped person came to eat? How would they get in? It would be a law suit!!!!!!!
(1)
Annie H.
Food tastes the same as any other El Pollo Loco, so nothing to complain about there. Like all fast food places, sometimes it's hit or miss, but I haven't had and bad experiences with this location. Service is good, they're always pretty helpful. Sometimes I have issues when using coupons, but at the end they always end up honoring it -__-. They're not stingy when it comes to cups or sauces. I always ask for the bigger cups for salsa and extra of the creamy cilantro sauce and they never complain.
(3)
Pillin L.
I handle all our catering needs at my company. I have my go to favorite places to get catering from and El Pollo Loco is pretty high on the list. Which is strange since I hardly ever eat there. But in my opinion, their catering is stellar. Until now. I place an order for 25 people for a 12 o'clock delivery time. At 12:05 the driver calls to ask me for directions. Hmm... Do you not have a smart phone? Do you guys not have a computer to access this kind of information? And if I wanted to be frank, you're already 5 minutes late. I proceed to tell him the address. We hang up. He's only about 5-8 minutes away. Shouldn't be too long. 15 minutes elapsed and I call El Pollo Loco. Spoke to Liz and told her that it is now 12:20 and my food has yet to be delivered. She tells me she'll call the driver because she sent him at "11:45". Look lady, I don't care what time you sent him, but you guys are less than 5 miles away, and it's been 35 minutes since you "sent him"! She proceeds to tell me that she'll call him and find out his whereabouts and call me back. 12:35 rolls around and still no food. I call back and I hear a gentleman and Liz speak in Spanish in the background. I'm not sure what they're talking about but obviously a very disgruntled me. I then see the driver's car pull up to the office. Finally! Luckily the catered food was for our employees and not for an important lunch meeting with our vendors because if that were the case, it would have been very very bad. Being 35 minutes late is unacceptable in these kinds of situation. I mean, an apology would have helped. But I didn't even get one of those.
(2)
Angie M.
Came here yesterday for lunch.... I was happy with the drive thru service, and thought about honking, like the sign on the window asked... but there was someone sitting just past the driveway, eating, and I thought that would be rude :) I had the Poblano Burrito. It was good! I feel like the salsa has changed here... its very watery and also very chunky too. I know that almost doesnt make sense, but its not the same. Kind of a bummer. I also had a crunchy taco.... Everything was delicious!
(4)
Gary B.
I was going to start eating after bringing my El Pollo Loco order home, but just had to take the time to post on Yelp. It is 8-30-13 at 7:40PM so you know who to talk to. I pulled up, ordered my food, then proceeded to the window. Wow, was I pleasantly surprized. I was greeted by an intelligent young man that actually made me feel like he really appreciated my business (unlike other visits where I felt like they were just after my money). Instead of slamming the window shut, he actually talked to me like we were old friends. It ended with him extending his reach, handing me my food and thanking me for choosing El Pollo Loco. Please, if you happen to know who he was, acknowledge his above average service to your restaurant. Because of him, I will be visiting your establishment again. Oh, and my order was right! Yahoo!
(5)
Jonathan W.
The chicken at this location was very juicy compared to the one in Costa Mesa. The staff is very nice and attentive.
(4)
Sherri G.
Customer service at the drive thru is awesome. Seriously, the kid at the window has to be the friendliest server EVER, even my husband mentioned it during a separate trip.
(4)
Charlie C.
Whats the big deal about this chain? The food is so mediocre that I forgot what I ordered the last time I was here and it was only a couple of weeks ago. I feel bad for coming here because I should have gone to a "mom n pop" place to get a burrito. I think what attracted me to come here was the distance. Its very close to my place and I didn't feel like driving far on that particular Friday afternoon. The fact that I can remember my mood and the day I went to this place and not remember the food I ate is a clear sign the meal I had from the crazy chicken sucks! This chain should change their name to " EL Pollo BLAH"
(2)
Brenda L.
I have always like El Pollo Loco food and this review is for their service. July 15.. I went to their drive thru to pick up dinner for my kids. I have to repeat my order 3 times... When I got to the window- they were chit chatting. That explained why I had to repeat my order 3 times. Then the girl asked if I need salsa and I said yes. But she turned around and talked again. Then the guy who gave me my order asked if I need salsa and I said yes. He turned around and continued his chit chatting .. So I still have no salsa.. Then I have to ask for salsa again and finally got it. The worst of all, when I arrived home and looked at the order... which I have repeated 3 times.. It was wrong!!!! I asked for coleslaw and they gave me beans. They were all busy talking among themselves and cannot focus on their work. What a mess!!
(1)
Ralph L.
Although they're always training new, confused employees here, the service has always been above average. Add the fact that their chicken is quite honestly some of the healthiest stuff you can get in *any* restaurant, at any price, and you've got a recipe for success. Every time I go, I ask myself--why don't I come here more often? PS: Apparently other EPLs in the LA area are a lot dirtier than this one.
(4)
Desmond S.
I had this place rated as a four, but after getting consistently good service and and consistently good food, it would be out of line to just keep the rating at a four. Definitely worth a five.
(5)
Matt V.
That does it! I have been overcharged twice now at this location, have called them on it and they still have posted menu prices that are different than what gets rung up on the cash register. Plus, every time I go in I ask for my order to be "for here" but my order is always bagged "to go." I've eaten my last meal at this location yesterday and won't be sorry not to return.
Nicest Loco I've ever been too. The staff knows our names, food is always delicious, my order looks like the menu picture, and it's always clean. 5 stars!
(5)
W H.
I went here to get takeout for dinner last night. The cashier was friendly. I believe, she was a new employee. The food was good, but they forgot to put utensils in my bag. Also, a piece of soft corn tortilla broke off. I think because it was little old. I will definitely be back.
(4)
Sam D.
never go to this el pollo loco. Everytime i have a lot of trouble communicating with the cashiers and they have messed up my order two of the last three time i was there. I went thru the drive though and ordered a 2 piece breast/wing combo and after i get home i open it only to find a breast wing. bad service, never coming here again
(1)
Giligan G.
This El Pollo Loco is the best. The staff is so nice and friendly. They always lighten up my day. The prices are so reasonable. And the food is just delicious.
(5)
Gabe C.
Great Chicken. did you know you can get it extra moist
(4)
Madi S.
So ive been coming here once a week since I moved to Irvine,never had a prob great food great people work there friendly and all until today, after ordering I was waiting in the drove through and 2 huge rats,yes RATs ran next to my car, I was so groosed out, canceled my order and almost threw up, I think its over for me and this location.
(1)
Charley C.
Found plastic in my food. Pretty gross! This place was okay before that. But this kind of stuff makes me not want to return. Plus this place always gets the orders wrong when going through the drive thru.
(2)
Diana C.
They are pretty fast with the drive-thru. Not that bad during lunch hours. The line can get pretty long though and it's awkward when you try not to block traffic. Stay away from the avocado burrito. So bland and the cabagge wansn't working for me or the tomato salsa. But I do like the classic chicken burrito. Finally, I loved their avocado spicy salsa. Simply amazing! a little watered down, but it was still okay.
(3)
Parker S.
The staff here is incredibly friendly and helpful. They gave us a free ice cream cone that I'm guessing they accidentally made. Love the food too! Most hospitable fast food place that I've been to in a while.
(5)
Cieux B.
Awesome customer service friendly team and great management! I've really noticed that they've really been focusing on the service they provide!
(5)
Kelly C.
Love all the side options. Clean & great customer service.
(5)
Steve L.
You can never go wrong with El Pollo Loco, but at the same time you can't expect anything good or great. This place always satisfies me but that's as far as it gets. One thing I love about El Pollo Loco is the unlimited condiments and sauces. I love getting the crunchy tacos and supersizing it with all of the onions and cilantro and the guacamole sauce. Delicious!! I also like to get the chicken platter that comes with the tortillas and make tacos out of them. The condiments are perfect for these too!! Chicken is a must, I almost like it better than any other fast food chicken(aka KFC)
(3)
Megan C.
Terrible service, employees that don't care. Took my order, and when I got to the window in the drive through paid with my card for another persons order, they didn't even have my order on the screen or in the window. Had to get a manager to refund my card which took several minutes, not one employee including the manager said they were sorry for the inconvenience. On top of that when they tried to re-take my order they let me know they were out of that item the entire time! After that I took the refund on my card and went next door to McDonald's.
(1)
Nick B.
The workers are extremely kind, and I received a free ice cream for no apparent reason. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at this location, and plan on returning many times
(5)
Timmy S.
When I am in the mood for non-deep-fried chicken and want it now, this is a good place to go for it. I've only gone though the drive-thru because I usually only order the chicken and take it home and make a salad. I much prefer this juicy, tender chicken over the lousy roasted chicken they offer in the nearby supermarkets. The employees here always seem friendly.
(3)
Laura F.
This restaurant seriously needs a complete overhaul - overcharging, missing items, complete and utter incompetence in the staff. Very disappointed.... won't be coming to this location again.
(1)
Stone ..
Just went there for lunch again today... The manager opened the door for me, the service was very prompt and I swear this place is the bar "Cheers" for fast food restaurants. Absolute best service of any fast food places I have ever been to. And the food is always good, fresh and delectable! I walk out stoked every time. Well done, El Pollo Loco... well done.
(5)
Andrew L.
Usually with fast food places like this you really shouldn't really critique it because the food is usually the same with whatever subset of the restaurants. What I wanted to note however is not the food here but the service. I just came here to get some food and the workers are really friendly and offer better deals off the menu if there is one. They saved me 60 cents! The worker that was taking my order was named Alejandro. Definitely if you like good service go to this El Pollo Loco.
(5)
Cori G.
Nice clean El Pollo Loco. Has a drive through. Separated location from the rest of the plaza with ample parking. Inside is clean, the walls have outlets. Yay! I am obsessed with their Value Menu Loco Side Salad. It has amazing cilantro ranch dressing and I'm in love. Get that and a chicken leg for $3.53 and enjoy a delicious little meal that is high in taste and low in the sick feeling of being too full. I got a surprise bean in my salad. It was exciting and saddening. Enjoy!
(3)
Leigh E.
Yummy Skinny Margaritas! GREAT HAPPY HOUR prices. Love the "old school" feel. The service is great and the food is good too. Try the Guacamole, its fresh!
(5)
Anita L.
I've never been to an El Pollo Loco before.... EVER. We were pressed for time so hubby suggested we just pop in here for a quick bite. He also warned me to ONLY order the flame grilled chicken because according to him, I would hate the fake Mexican food in here. So I ordered the 2 piece chicken with 2 sides. I must say, the chicken was really really good. I was surprised that a fast food place could make such moist chicken. The green sauce they have at the salsa bar went really well with the chicken (kind of reminded me of the green sauce at Inka Grill, but Inka Grill's is much better) and they also had fresh jalepenos. I think I have found a fast food place where I actually like the food instead of just settling for it because it's close by and convenient. Hubby got tacos which I didn't try since he said I wouldn't like it.
(4)
Alan O.
Consistently good food and salsa. This location has the best service of the locations I have visited.
(5)
Ming L.
What can I say? I love chicken. El Pollo Loco has good, tasty, grilled chicken that you can eat with flour or corn tortillas. Add some BBQ black beans, rice, onion, salsa, and jalapeno hot sauce for some real goodness.
(5)
Terry A.
We're regular customers because my wife is gluten-intolerant. This particular store is clean, well run, and has a very friendly staff. The chicken is great. The standing joke with my wife is that I offer to take her out to eat at the finest chicken restaurant in all of Irvine....which this EPL really is!
(4)
Crystal C.
I found beans in my Chicken Bowl with no beans. =( Makes me wonder about their health and safety procedures if beans are getting mixed in with other separate ingredients. Came here because the one at Sand Canyon & Irvine Blvd doesn't have a drive thru. Made me wish I went to that instead.
(2)
Jay D.
Better than most fast food - so that's a plus. Pretty darn cheap - that's a plus. Ambiance sucks - that's a negative (and no surprise). Can't give it 4 stars - and it's not 2 star fast food - so - 3 stars! Go off menu and get the chicken lovers burrito. Just chicken, cheese, salsa and hot sauce.
(3)
Liewan M.
Flavorful, moist, delicious chicken +flour tortillas. Add amazing flavorful salsas (pico de gallo, house, and guacomole), cilantro, limes, chopped onion and serrano chiles as condiments to your chicken/taco/burrito etc at a self service station at no extra charge (highly recommend you check this out). Definitely the best healthy "fast" food there is. Everyone is currently jumping on the bandwagon of healthy or fast like souplantation, z-pizza etc...but they don't give credit to mr. pollo loco. It's been out for quite awhile though. The churros are a hit or miss though. Favorite combo is coleslaw+and gravy/mash potatoes. Enjoy!~
(4)
Dru C.
Unreal. We brought in our crumpled up KFC Oprah coupons and redeemed them for a couple of free 2-pc meals, including 2 sides for each. If you want the breast and wing instead, it's only $1.50 extra. I admit, I was a bit sheepish when I handed over the KFC coupon. Yeah I know, I said "sheepish." I looked at the receipt and just grinned. We just paid $1.50 + tax for a $14 meal. I know EPL has the reputation of having munchkin-sized, shrunken-down chicken pieces, and I've had my fair share of them. This time around, all of the pieces were pretty big, especially the breast piece. The corn was unseasoned and the mashed potatoes aren't anywhere near KFC's, but the the rice and BBQ beans were pretty tasty. This EPL freebie on Mother's Day only must have the KFC big wigs seething with hot steam spewing from their ears. The Oprah coupon was already a colossal failure, and now EPL pours salt on KFC's wounds with this marketing gem. Stop rubbing your eyes, yes I just gave a chain restaurant 5 frickin' stars!
(4)
Suzanne M.
It seem the food has changed a bit. I always liked the $1 chick taquitos. This particular location makes them with corn tortillas, while another location I frequent makes them with the much preferred flour. I only wish they had tamales 365 days of the year! Also the salsa seemed a bit different then what I have had in the past. The best thing about this location was the service. Very friendly, kind and helpful!!
(3)
Gary Y.
The staff here is very friendly, courteous and my orders haven't suffered any issues. When I'm not sure what to eat for dinner and too lazy to cook, I usually go here or Chipotle. The food obviously isn't high-end, but I do enjoy piling up salsa onto everything I eat and it's cheap. I give a thumbs up and an extra star for the staff here!
(4)
Kiki T.
I swear I saw a cockroach clan there.. don't ever go there.
(2)
Drannab V.
Fairly clean. The sides are often just slapped-on and lackluster. It's a very healthy and cheap alternative to nearby chains.
(3)
Angel Q.
I only came here for drive through one time, but my experience was not a good one. My friend and I ordered one combo and a bowl. The combo includes a drink. My friend asked the guy if we can have some salsa that has tomato in it and some spicy sauce to go with. In the end, we left without the drink and they gave us some random green sauce. I can tell my friend was not happy about the whole thing and I am just disappointed at the drive through service. Would I ever come back to this location? No, thanks.
(2)
Christine M.
I don't normally write a review for fast food joints... but this El Pollo Loco had the best service and staff. Seriously. Of course, the chicken is always good, but I was blown away by the friendliness and helpfulness of this staff. I just had to yelp it.
(5)
Carrianne M.
I LOVE EL POLLO LOCO try the creamy cilantro dressing on your salad, goes so well with the chicken. I crave it a lot. In fact, I'll eat it tonight, ill try your El Pollo Bowl (whoever recommended it before) Its healthier then the average fast food place and ...hmm I just love it
(4)
Chris B.
Walked in to the friendliest fast food employees ive ever seen. Greeted me at the door, asked me about my day, explained what was in my order, and brought my food out to me. And the food was really good. Didnt expect to be writing a yelp review on el pollo loco, but there you have it haha.
(5)
Amy K.
It's tamale time!!! I've always been a fan of El Pollo Loco. Remember when their motto was "the fast-food habit worth having"? It's definitely better than any other fast-food restaurant. I know it's not very healthy, but I really love the tostada salad. It's not too bad calorie-wise if you don't eat the fried shell it comes in, but I can't help it. It's just so good! Now that it's getting close to the holidays, they have their seasonal chicken tamales. I really like them. I came here last night, and I was so excited to see the tamale sign posted. I went through the drive-thru, and the person taking my order was very pleasant and made sure to repeat my order back to me. They don't try to sell you other items you don't want, like drinks or side orders, like they do at other fast-food restaurants. They were very short staffed last night, and the drive-thru guy was kind to apologize for the wait as soon as I pulled up to the window. Go online to the site listed on the back of your receipt, and you'll get a code for $1 off your next purchase. Woo hoo! El Pollo Loco! (I'm hearing the song in my head).
(4)
Jon M.
I used to dislike el pollo loco food. Now I cannot stop eating there. Their $5.99 burritos are a must try, especially the chicken avocado burrito. Everything on the menu tastes so much better. The tortilla roll... awesome. The carnitas quesadilla is amazing too. Great job el pollo loco.
(5)
Jeremy G.
Food 4. Price 5. Interior 4. Service 3. Cleanliness 3. Healthy 5. Music 3.
(4)
Skydog C.
Had some the other night, breast and wing combo with sides, and it was good. I'm going for that again tonight.
(4)
Alex L.
I vist this place more than any other restaurant. 3 reasons 1. good taste 2. healthy 3. cheap. You cannot go wrong with the flavor that is cooked over an open flame. There is a selection of sauces to poor over your meal as well. I personally will order the classic chicke burrito or the chicken bowl. Both great but the chicken bowl is more filling. They are both about 350 calories. Not too bad for lunch. The bowl should be part of EVERYONE'S diet plan.
(5)
Trevor T.
As they say, "taste the fire." I love this chain fast-food restaurant. The citrusy, flame-grilled chicken is the best. I only order one thing at El Pollo Loco - the Pollo Bowl. This is a bowl filled with refried (or black) beans, rice, and flame-grilled chicken. Then they top it with some salsa, onions and cilantro. Served with a side of flour (my choice) or corn tortillas. This location is usually spotlessly clean with quick service and friendly employees. I can be in and out with my takeout order in about 5 minutes. And it's pretty darn affordable - figure you'll spend $5 - $8 to eat here. Oh, and try the Spicy Avocado Salsa - it's awesome.
(4)
Aryn F.
Yum! I tried El Pollo Loco for the first time the other night and loved it. I don't usually go to fast food joints, but I can't turn down a good deal, especially when my favorite dinner (roasted chicken) is involved. The refried beans are now a new favorite!
(4)
Rich C.
i hate the drive through here but when i'm at jackie's house they are the only thing open in this stupid neighborhood so i have to give them three at least.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Drive-Thru : Yes Caters : Yes
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
Phill G.
I love El Pollo Loco but this restaurant location is where I learned that they no longer make crunchy tacos. I'm so mad I can't stand it anymore. There is no reason for me to go here ever again. I'm back-talking my parents, slamming doors, and the only emotion I feel is rage. Thank you for the memories! I don't even remember the last crunchy Taco I had. I took it for granted, I would have appreciated it more if I knew corporate was planning on ruining their menu by making those tacos go away.
(5)Charles R.
I am convinced that El Pollo Loco searches everywhere for the smallest and cheapest chickens that can be found. There is close to no value that one receives for the inflated amount they are being charged for their food. Their prices are ridiculous! They only thing they have over KFC is that their chicken is healthier. Nothing against the staff. They are just doing their jobs, and they do it well.
(3)Chanell F.
I visited this establishment on 6/16/15 for lunch and ordered a "Pollo Bowl" and shortly after I felt the effects of food poisoning! Beware! Not sure if they're the cleanest place!
(1)Nicole C.
I ordered a $500.00 catering order for a company lunch. My confirmation email said that it was supposed to be delivered at 11:30 am, so when it hadn't arrived at 11:38 am I called the store. The woman told me that her calendar said 12 pm. I was a little angry but it was fine. At 12:05 pm when the food STILL hadn't arrived I called back and the woman told me that it would be arriving shortly, the driver was on his way. After waiting another 10 minutes I call again for the drivers number. After calling back and forth, back and forth and being told multiple times that my food was on its way, the driver tells me that he has the wrong food order and the wrong address. At this point I am livid because I have a whole office who was told they were getting a catered lunch from El Pollo Loco and it is now 12:45 pm and my order is not even close to being delivered. I told the driver to forget it. I didn't want to wait any longer and I had to feed the office. I ended up going to buy pizzas for everyone and while i was out guess who had the nerve to show up. Not only did the driver bring the food the office but he still didn't even have my order!! On top of it he wouldn't bring it to the kitchen he just set it on the front desk and then the idiot asked if we would pay for half the order! I will be calling the corporate office. This location should be shut down, they don't know what they are doing. Why have an online ordering system and delivery if you don't know how to operate a business? Never again will I order from here again. This was the worst catering experience I have ever had and I'm still amazed at how these people still have jobs.
(1)Thomas C.
Food is beyond terrible. Routinely over cooked chicken....I just think they really sacrifice quality in order to keep waste down. Chicken just doesn't taste good when it's overcooked. Need to have better quality control and deliver a more consistent product from open to close.
(2)Yona Y.
Actually this place deserves 3 1/2stars. This location is kinda hidden from the big street, the sign is not too noticeable. I got the coupon for a free one entree with $10 purchase, so I bought 8 pcs of legs and thais, then chose tostada salad to go. The salsa bar was not super clean but it was ok. They got 4 different salsas and chopped cilantro, lemon pieces, pickled peppers and fresh peppers. I tried the hot green salsa, it had many chunks of chopped onions and it was a bit salty to my taste, but it was not as salty as other locations. Mild salsa was fresh . Chicken pieces were too cooked, meat was all shrunk, but the good side was that all fat had dripped down the grill from long cooking. Also the chickens were not as salty as other locations, I appreciated it. Tostada was better than what I paid for. Big chicken breast chunks, chopped lettuce, beans, cheese, pico de gallo, rice and avocados. Got the sauce on the side, which seemed like some kinda mayo, so I didn't bother it. Tortilla shell, i like the one at Baja F**** because it is more flaky pastry like, one here is a big fried corn chip. Once in a while, with a coupon deal, this place can make a perfect lazy sunday dinner.
(3)Ryan M.
Bad service and food. I stopped coming to this location about 5 months ago. I was fed up with the ignorance of the staff, continuous attitudes, poor quality of food and their failure to do their jobs right. Every single time I had gone to this location, the person taking the order via drive-thru could never hear a thing I would say. I have read many Yelp reviews stating the same thing going years back. This is not a new problem and it really proves how ignorant the management is; totally missing the mark and failing to address and resolve said issues. Tonight was my first time returning to El Pollo Loco and definitely my last. Same problem in the drive-thru with the intercom. The idiot taking the order was deliberately being obnoxious and refusing to take the order properly. I said screw it, drove to the window and ordered from there. By that time, I was seriously pissed and tired of everyone's stupidity at this place. I could tell the employees inside thought it was funny and were laughing. I got news for you ignorant minimum wage idiots working at El Pollo Loco who thought it was funny...I find it funny that you will never amount to anything with the stupidity, zero common sense, lack of skills of any kind, and ignorance you have...so keep laughing. I'm not the one losing here...I don't need El Pollo Loco and I'm more than happy to spend my money elsewhere. Although I purchased food at the window, I threw it out once I got home. There is no way in hell I would trust eating any food from this place when their ignorant employees act/work the way they do. There is no telling what they would do to the food. I have watched enough shows such as caught on camera, and have seen what ignorant employees would do to a customer's food before serving it to them. I refuse to be subjected to tainted food, foodborne illness, and food poisoning, resulting from their negligence and stupidity. Wiping my hands clean and never returning to this ghetto-ass third world country style establishment.
(1)Emi K.
I love The Crazy Chicken! It's sorta healthy (operative word being "sorta"), but more importantly it's tasty (most of the time). My go-to order is the Grilled Chicken Salad piled high with add-ons pico de gallo and avocado salsa. One time I ordered the Whole Wheat Avocado Burrito which did not sit well with me. My husband was somewhat sympathetic saying something to the effect of "that's what you get for ordering off the Under 500 Calories menu." Touché, sir. The churros are delicious and served crispy and warm. Service is consistently friendly and fast. Menu options are affordable. Good choice for dinner when you're deep in the middle of home improvement projects and cooking is the last thing you feel like doing after a long day. We've been to El Pollo Loco more times in the past two weeks than I care to mention.
(4)Aubrey S.
This location is generally well maintained, quick, and the staff is courteous. However, they forget to give me my entire order about 25% of the time when I order at the drive-thru. Since El Pollo is usually for larger family orders, it's difficult to notice the missing taco that you paid for until your unloading the food at home. They seem to have a great system going when you order in-store as they show you each item before putting it in the bag and giving you your order. They need to develop some kind of efficient system for drive-thru orders as well. It's awful to drive back to get the rest of your order while your food is getting cold at home.
(3)Jeff L.
Like other branches like this, El Pollo Loco serves chicken. I came here with a special Valentine's Day week coupon from their mailing list program for $10 for a 2-person meal. Either they gave me the wrong person's receipt or forgot to give it to me, though, so I couldn't check how much the discount was. Anyway, it was really worth it since I was full afterwards and I spent even less here than at other fast food places. I'm not sure about the romanticness of that coupon, though, since my (female) friend said nothing lovey-dovey to me when I said I'd be buying that. Here, the cashier line is typically entered from the entrance parallel to Alton, but they have a door that faces the Oak Creek main shopping area as well. On the opposite side of the partition for the cashier line there is a row of cushy seats with tables. However, for those that sit on the side that faces the partition, one would be scooting up to let people walk through that aisle if one has a big butt. What I don't really like about this branch is that they have one of those bells that people ring when they get good service. My friend and I have sensitive ears and that just surprises and bothers us when we hear it. But it rings so much that they must have good internal service here or something like that.
(4)Nicole J.
I wouldn't normally write a review for an El Pollo Loco... It's sorta weak lol BUUUUT if you give my dad attitude.. Oh, you're getting a review and your picture up on yelp for dang sure! I really wanna give one star but we have had good service from this particular El Pollo Loco in the past. But... Today (Sunday, 10/12/14) we were rushing to get food after church because we had to be somewhere so we went through the drive thru. My dad, who might I add speaks perfectly fluent English, was being extremely polite with the rude lady over the drive thru intercom. We gave her the benefit of the doubt, thinking she may not be able to hear us. But when we got to the window she was actually even more rude. I have never seen someone give such obviously horrible customer service like that, it was as if she didn't care that we knew she was giving us attitude. She asked if we wanted flour or corn tortilla and my dad asked, "oh, is that included?" And she basically barked back saying, "10 PIECES OF CHICKEN IS $14.03 I SAID THAT!" Whoa lady! First of all, we didn't order a side of attitude with that chicken! Second, that did not answer our question. And third, please don't work somewhere where you have to deal with people, because you're obviously lacking in politeness and common courtesy. Sorry to blast your picture on this site, I'd just like you to know that it was, indeed you who gave bad customer service. Thanks.
(2)Dean W.
Good food but the prices are high based on the portions. As an example they only give you 1 enchilada in the enchilada suiza and the price is higher than their competitor down the street for a two combination combo. I hear the same thing from others as well. Good food but the overall value is not there.
(3)Wes P.
I have been to a lot of El Pollo Loco's, but this one is my favorite. I come here during business hours and lunchtime, and they always seem to consistently push out hot food quickly. This location is managed very well. I enjoyed the tostada salad, the avocado tacos, and the rice and beans. I'm not a big fan of the enchiladas. This location is a good one if you're looking for good fire grilled chicken.
(4)Erika P.
This location constantly runs out of staple sides and drinks. Tonight they were out of mashed potatoes, before they have been out of Coke, mac and cheese, and corn! If you happen to get what you want, it's a miracle.
(1)Robert G.
I really miss the classic chicken burrito...
(2)Vee F.
I have been to this location so many times (not by choice, its the only location close to my office) and not once have they ever got my order correct. Their intercom system sucks, you have to repeat yourself at least 3 times. Their bottled water is always room temp or warmer which I'm not a fan of. They like to put nice leafy green lettuce on the top of their salads so that when you look into the container everything looks delicious, then when you start to eat you'll see all of the disgustingly brown and slimy lettuce underneath.
(1)Katrina R.
Seriously, El Pollo's entire premise is freshness. So why on earth does my Classic Chicken Burrito have rock hard dried out chicken in it?! I mean it looks like it's from yesterday. I would call to complain, but already chucked my receipt. Grrrr
(1)Ray A.
I have been eating here for over 10 years, they have the best personnel and the food is great and consistent all the time. I have read other reviews and people set the wrong expectations for themselves. The staff is very friendly and they strive to provide a great customer experience. Enjoy the meal and stop stressing out about everything. Life goes on either way, make the best of it. Now go and get yourself some loco chicken.
(5)Haley S.
I come here a few times a week and use the drive through to satiate my moderate addiction to El Pollo Loco vanilla ice cream cones. They really are amazing. There is sometimes a younger kid working here who is super friendly and always has a smile on his face. He genuinely seems to appreciate your patronage which I appreciate. I can't speak to the rest of the food at this particular location, but the vanilla ice cream cones are delicious. They keep me going back again and again...and again. :)
(4)Neluta G.
Good service, the meat is freshly cooked and they are generous with the portions. Pretty good if you are trying to get something healthy at a fast food restaurant.
(4)Matthew C.
It's crazy how even though they must stick to the same recipe that corporate gives to them , the management is what really makes the food. Every time I have been here I am disappointed. I live in victorville and the el pollo loco there on palmdale is phenomenal!
(3)Michael W.
I was pleasantly surprised when I stopped to eat dinner at this El Pollo Loco. El Pollo Loco is the healthier version of it's American counterpart, KFC and a less authentic version of El Pollo Norteno (located only in North Orange County). First of all the service was great from start to finish. I received a welcome not normally offered at a fast food restaurant (except at In-N-Out), the cashier was helpful in answering my questions about the menu and the person who delivered my food was also very friendly. The menu is convenient as the side order options are on the counter in front of me with choices ranging from healthy (corn and vegetables) to the not-so-healthy ( Mac and cheese and salad with creamy cilantro ranch). I chose a mix of the two: corn and salad. Trust me, get the creamy cilantro ranch. You won't be disappointed. The 2 piece plate I ordered was fresh and tasty. They have four salsa selections ranging from mild to somewhat hot. My favorites were the spicy avocado which is creamy and the salsa roja which is in the hotter side but has an attractive smoky flavor. I decided to try the new chicken bacon guacamole quesadilla, so I ordered it with the intention of taking it home for a meal the next day. It was so good I finished it at the restaurant that day. Oh, well. Try this El Pollo Loco. It's better than the others nearby.
(4)Randy L.
Inconsistent quality. I've had pretty good chicken from this store, and I've had dry chicken from this store. Luck of the draw. Service is friendly. Store is clean.
(3)Greg M.
Service is so slow today. Don't waste your time if u are in a hurry
(2)Damon D.
Portions are absurd......been eating here for years and this location is getting bad. I don't think they use chickens anymore but Cornish game hens.......2 piece meal is a joke.
(2)ellen h.
The food has always been pretty good and consistent at this store so you know what you're going to get. I've never had bad service at this store either except for an instance a couple days ago. The salsa bar was completely out. The way the salsa bar is set up already makes it difficult to scoop so when it's down to the last quarter inch of salsa, it's pretty much impossible to scoop anything. The problem was ALL of the salsa bins were out- not just one, and it was 6pm (prime time!). We notified an employee and asked if she could refill. She claimed that we could still scoop and tried to scoop the last tidbits with difficulty. Even if we could, it would maybe fill half of one of those small salsa cups which was not enough for a family meal. So we asked her again if she could refill all of them. She seemed to understand and acknowledge the request but made no effort to get any refills. She began slowly taking some napkins and wiping the surrounding area... Slowly, for an uncomfortable couple of minutes. When we asked again, she nodded but kept wiping the non-existent salsa drippings. I seriously think she purposely dragged because she thought we were annoying. We got fed up and ended up asking the the guy at the counter and he yelled for the lady to get a refill. She acknowledged, took one of the salsa containers and slowly started towards the kitchen. We ended up leaving without the damn salsa because it just took too ridiculously long! The 2 stars is for the apathetic employee who gives this store a bad name. Customers should not be asking several times for something that should be replenished regularly.
(2)Paul A.
Sweet deal- came here for some food for my Fiance- she works at Kaiser- super convenient!
(3)Brad T.
I'm tempted to knock a star off based on my most recent experience here, but I guess I won't. Of all restaurants I visit, the two I go to most are probably this El Pollo Loco and the Del Taco by my office. I go to each probably once per week. I'd avoid the drive thru here at all costs, unless you like long waits and getting your order f***ed up on a consistent basis. So why 4 stars? I guess we just like the chicken here, and the sides are all pretty good too. I like their $5 tacos al carbon combo that comes with a side of your choice and a drink. I usually get the side salad. My wife likes the Wing Lovers meal - which is 4 wings, two sides, and tortillas. I pretty much like all the chicken burritos as well. As I mentioned above... avoid the drive thru here. They never give you the salsa you ask for, and there have been several times where we've just not gotten things we ordered. Plus, if you go inside, you can get whatever salsas you want. So I was here a couple of days ago and went inside and got my stuff to go. The guy who gave me the bag kind of repeated back my order and showed me the items in the bag, so I feel stupid for not noticing this at the restaurant. When I got home, I realized that the (free with coupon) chicken tostada salad we ordered was in a bowl, missing the tortilla shell, and missing the chicken. It was basically a plastic bowl filled with lettuce. How something like that could get f****d up is beyond me, but needless to say, I had to drive back and get it fixed. Luckily, I live about 1-2 minutes away. For the foreseeable future, I'm sure I'll be visiting 'The Crazy Chicken' at least once per week, inside of course!
(4)Bunny F.
The parking lot is already crazy with hungry people during lunch time. To add to the frustration they locked the handicapped door without putting a sign "please use other door" so when I went there for the first time I went to the locked handicapped door and then 5 people got in line before me just because I went to the wrong door. How was I supposed to know they would lock the door during business hours if they don't put a sign or anything! I understand they want one entrance to create one line, but they need to put a sign!!! They can't just lock the door. What if a handicapped person came to eat? How would they get in? It would be a law suit!!!!!!!
(1)Annie H.
Food tastes the same as any other El Pollo Loco, so nothing to complain about there. Like all fast food places, sometimes it's hit or miss, but I haven't had and bad experiences with this location. Service is good, they're always pretty helpful. Sometimes I have issues when using coupons, but at the end they always end up honoring it -__-. They're not stingy when it comes to cups or sauces. I always ask for the bigger cups for salsa and extra of the creamy cilantro sauce and they never complain.
(3)Pillin L.
I handle all our catering needs at my company. I have my go to favorite places to get catering from and El Pollo Loco is pretty high on the list. Which is strange since I hardly ever eat there. But in my opinion, their catering is stellar. Until now. I place an order for 25 people for a 12 o'clock delivery time. At 12:05 the driver calls to ask me for directions. Hmm... Do you not have a smart phone? Do you guys not have a computer to access this kind of information? And if I wanted to be frank, you're already 5 minutes late. I proceed to tell him the address. We hang up. He's only about 5-8 minutes away. Shouldn't be too long. 15 minutes elapsed and I call El Pollo Loco. Spoke to Liz and told her that it is now 12:20 and my food has yet to be delivered. She tells me she'll call the driver because she sent him at "11:45". Look lady, I don't care what time you sent him, but you guys are less than 5 miles away, and it's been 35 minutes since you "sent him"! She proceeds to tell me that she'll call him and find out his whereabouts and call me back. 12:35 rolls around and still no food. I call back and I hear a gentleman and Liz speak in Spanish in the background. I'm not sure what they're talking about but obviously a very disgruntled me. I then see the driver's car pull up to the office. Finally! Luckily the catered food was for our employees and not for an important lunch meeting with our vendors because if that were the case, it would have been very very bad. Being 35 minutes late is unacceptable in these kinds of situation. I mean, an apology would have helped. But I didn't even get one of those.
(2)Angie M.
Came here yesterday for lunch.... I was happy with the drive thru service, and thought about honking, like the sign on the window asked... but there was someone sitting just past the driveway, eating, and I thought that would be rude :) I had the Poblano Burrito. It was good! I feel like the salsa has changed here... its very watery and also very chunky too. I know that almost doesnt make sense, but its not the same. Kind of a bummer. I also had a crunchy taco.... Everything was delicious!
(4)Gary B.
I was going to start eating after bringing my El Pollo Loco order home, but just had to take the time to post on Yelp. It is 8-30-13 at 7:40PM so you know who to talk to. I pulled up, ordered my food, then proceeded to the window. Wow, was I pleasantly surprized. I was greeted by an intelligent young man that actually made me feel like he really appreciated my business (unlike other visits where I felt like they were just after my money). Instead of slamming the window shut, he actually talked to me like we were old friends. It ended with him extending his reach, handing me my food and thanking me for choosing El Pollo Loco. Please, if you happen to know who he was, acknowledge his above average service to your restaurant. Because of him, I will be visiting your establishment again. Oh, and my order was right! Yahoo!
(5)Jonathan W.
The chicken at this location was very juicy compared to the one in Costa Mesa. The staff is very nice and attentive.
(4)Sherri G.
Customer service at the drive thru is awesome. Seriously, the kid at the window has to be the friendliest server EVER, even my husband mentioned it during a separate trip.
(4)Charlie C.
Whats the big deal about this chain? The food is so mediocre that I forgot what I ordered the last time I was here and it was only a couple of weeks ago. I feel bad for coming here because I should have gone to a "mom n pop" place to get a burrito. I think what attracted me to come here was the distance. Its very close to my place and I didn't feel like driving far on that particular Friday afternoon. The fact that I can remember my mood and the day I went to this place and not remember the food I ate is a clear sign the meal I had from the crazy chicken sucks! This chain should change their name to " EL Pollo BLAH"
(2)Brenda L.
I have always like El Pollo Loco food and this review is for their service. July 15.. I went to their drive thru to pick up dinner for my kids. I have to repeat my order 3 times... When I got to the window- they were chit chatting. That explained why I had to repeat my order 3 times. Then the girl asked if I need salsa and I said yes. But she turned around and talked again. Then the guy who gave me my order asked if I need salsa and I said yes. He turned around and continued his chit chatting .. So I still have no salsa.. Then I have to ask for salsa again and finally got it. The worst of all, when I arrived home and looked at the order... which I have repeated 3 times.. It was wrong!!!! I asked for coleslaw and they gave me beans. They were all busy talking among themselves and cannot focus on their work. What a mess!!
(1)Ralph L.
Although they're always training new, confused employees here, the service has always been above average. Add the fact that their chicken is quite honestly some of the healthiest stuff you can get in *any* restaurant, at any price, and you've got a recipe for success. Every time I go, I ask myself--why don't I come here more often? PS: Apparently other EPLs in the LA area are a lot dirtier than this one.
(4)Desmond S.
I had this place rated as a four, but after getting consistently good service and and consistently good food, it would be out of line to just keep the rating at a four. Definitely worth a five.
(5)Matt V.
That does it! I have been overcharged twice now at this location, have called them on it and they still have posted menu prices that are different than what gets rung up on the cash register. Plus, every time I go in I ask for my order to be "for here" but my order is always bagged "to go." I've eaten my last meal at this location yesterday and won't be sorry not to return.
(2)Yvonne D.
I've been to El Pollo Loco before when I lived in San Diego and have passed by (what I thought was) this location several times now. Let me explain...this El Pollo Loco is on the intersection of Jeffrey and Alton. But on the opposite corner of Jeffrey and Alton, there is an El Chollo Cantina. They both have super markets in their respective plazas and it completely threw me off. Thank goodness for my Google Map app (sorry Yelp, the Blackberry app is sooo slow!) I called the restaurant and the nice lady on the phone pointed me in the right direction. I occasionally get their coupons in the mail and decided to go in for the new Carne Asada Tostada (steak taco salad.) It was essentially -$1, not great savings, but any filling lunch that is less than $5 is a winner to me. It also comes with salad dressings, but you really dont need it. The location is nice, the place was spotless and the staff was super friendly. You can visually see them cooking the chicken and other meats in the kitchen (and it smells delicious!) When I picked up my order the guy thanked me for coming in. When I went to get one of their 4 salsas (regular, spicy, very spicy and spicy avocado...when I'm still iffy about), the manager thanked me for coming in. When he saw I was getting 3 salsas, he came back with a separate small baggy to hold the salsas. "It would be a shame for them to spill all over your bag," he said. True that! Lastlye, they have a -$1 off any $5 purchase coupon on the back of their receipt for taking a short survey. A lot of times people forget to look on the back of receipts - like Panda Express (who doesn't want a free entrée!) They also sell Foster's ice cream desserts, yum! This place is pretty darn awesome. I will definitely be back to use my other coupons including their healthy alternative menu - skinless chicken. I know, I know, 'fast food' is never 'that healthy'. Don't tell me how many calories are in my taco salad! :P
(4)Derek G.
Nicest Loco I've ever been too. The staff knows our names, food is always delicious, my order looks like the menu picture, and it's always clean. 5 stars!
(5)W H.
I went here to get takeout for dinner last night. The cashier was friendly. I believe, she was a new employee. The food was good, but they forgot to put utensils in my bag. Also, a piece of soft corn tortilla broke off. I think because it was little old. I will definitely be back.
(4)Sam D.
never go to this el pollo loco. Everytime i have a lot of trouble communicating with the cashiers and they have messed up my order two of the last three time i was there. I went thru the drive though and ordered a 2 piece breast/wing combo and after i get home i open it only to find a breast wing. bad service, never coming here again
(1)Giligan G.
This El Pollo Loco is the best. The staff is so nice and friendly. They always lighten up my day. The prices are so reasonable. And the food is just delicious.
(5)Gabe C.
Great Chicken. did you know you can get it extra moist
(4)Madi S.
So ive been coming here once a week since I moved to Irvine,never had a prob great food great people work there friendly and all until today, after ordering I was waiting in the drove through and 2 huge rats,yes RATs ran next to my car, I was so groosed out, canceled my order and almost threw up, I think its over for me and this location.
(1)Charley C.
Found plastic in my food. Pretty gross! This place was okay before that. But this kind of stuff makes me not want to return. Plus this place always gets the orders wrong when going through the drive thru.
(2)Diana C.
They are pretty fast with the drive-thru. Not that bad during lunch hours. The line can get pretty long though and it's awkward when you try not to block traffic. Stay away from the avocado burrito. So bland and the cabagge wansn't working for me or the tomato salsa. But I do like the classic chicken burrito. Finally, I loved their avocado spicy salsa. Simply amazing! a little watered down, but it was still okay.
(3)Parker S.
The staff here is incredibly friendly and helpful. They gave us a free ice cream cone that I'm guessing they accidentally made. Love the food too! Most hospitable fast food place that I've been to in a while.
(5)Cieux B.
Awesome customer service friendly team and great management! I've really noticed that they've really been focusing on the service they provide!
(5)Kelly C.
Love all the side options. Clean & great customer service.
(5)Steve L.
You can never go wrong with El Pollo Loco, but at the same time you can't expect anything good or great. This place always satisfies me but that's as far as it gets. One thing I love about El Pollo Loco is the unlimited condiments and sauces. I love getting the crunchy tacos and supersizing it with all of the onions and cilantro and the guacamole sauce. Delicious!! I also like to get the chicken platter that comes with the tortillas and make tacos out of them. The condiments are perfect for these too!! Chicken is a must, I almost like it better than any other fast food chicken(aka KFC)
(3)Megan C.
Terrible service, employees that don't care. Took my order, and when I got to the window in the drive through paid with my card for another persons order, they didn't even have my order on the screen or in the window. Had to get a manager to refund my card which took several minutes, not one employee including the manager said they were sorry for the inconvenience. On top of that when they tried to re-take my order they let me know they were out of that item the entire time! After that I took the refund on my card and went next door to McDonald's.
(1)Nick B.
The workers are extremely kind, and I received a free ice cream for no apparent reason. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at this location, and plan on returning many times
(5)Timmy S.
When I am in the mood for non-deep-fried chicken and want it now, this is a good place to go for it. I've only gone though the drive-thru because I usually only order the chicken and take it home and make a salad. I much prefer this juicy, tender chicken over the lousy roasted chicken they offer in the nearby supermarkets. The employees here always seem friendly.
(3)Laura F.
This restaurant seriously needs a complete overhaul - overcharging, missing items, complete and utter incompetence in the staff. Very disappointed.... won't be coming to this location again.
(1)Stone ..
Just went there for lunch again today... The manager opened the door for me, the service was very prompt and I swear this place is the bar "Cheers" for fast food restaurants. Absolute best service of any fast food places I have ever been to. And the food is always good, fresh and delectable! I walk out stoked every time. Well done, El Pollo Loco... well done.
(5)Andrew L.
Usually with fast food places like this you really shouldn't really critique it because the food is usually the same with whatever subset of the restaurants. What I wanted to note however is not the food here but the service. I just came here to get some food and the workers are really friendly and offer better deals off the menu if there is one. They saved me 60 cents! The worker that was taking my order was named Alejandro. Definitely if you like good service go to this El Pollo Loco.
(5)Cori G.
Nice clean El Pollo Loco. Has a drive through. Separated location from the rest of the plaza with ample parking. Inside is clean, the walls have outlets. Yay! I am obsessed with their Value Menu Loco Side Salad. It has amazing cilantro ranch dressing and I'm in love. Get that and a chicken leg for $3.53 and enjoy a delicious little meal that is high in taste and low in the sick feeling of being too full. I got a surprise bean in my salad. It was exciting and saddening. Enjoy!
(3)Leigh E.
Yummy Skinny Margaritas! GREAT HAPPY HOUR prices. Love the "old school" feel. The service is great and the food is good too. Try the Guacamole, its fresh!
(5)Anita L.
I've never been to an El Pollo Loco before.... EVER. We were pressed for time so hubby suggested we just pop in here for a quick bite. He also warned me to ONLY order the flame grilled chicken because according to him, I would hate the fake Mexican food in here. So I ordered the 2 piece chicken with 2 sides. I must say, the chicken was really really good. I was surprised that a fast food place could make such moist chicken. The green sauce they have at the salsa bar went really well with the chicken (kind of reminded me of the green sauce at Inka Grill, but Inka Grill's is much better) and they also had fresh jalepenos. I think I have found a fast food place where I actually like the food instead of just settling for it because it's close by and convenient. Hubby got tacos which I didn't try since he said I wouldn't like it.
(4)Alan O.
Consistently good food and salsa. This location has the best service of the locations I have visited.
(5)Ming L.
What can I say? I love chicken. El Pollo Loco has good, tasty, grilled chicken that you can eat with flour or corn tortillas. Add some BBQ black beans, rice, onion, salsa, and jalapeno hot sauce for some real goodness.
(5)Terry A.
We're regular customers because my wife is gluten-intolerant. This particular store is clean, well run, and has a very friendly staff. The chicken is great. The standing joke with my wife is that I offer to take her out to eat at the finest chicken restaurant in all of Irvine....which this EPL really is!
(4)Crystal C.
I found beans in my Chicken Bowl with no beans. =( Makes me wonder about their health and safety procedures if beans are getting mixed in with other separate ingredients. Came here because the one at Sand Canyon & Irvine Blvd doesn't have a drive thru. Made me wish I went to that instead.
(2)Jay D.
Better than most fast food - so that's a plus. Pretty darn cheap - that's a plus. Ambiance sucks - that's a negative (and no surprise). Can't give it 4 stars - and it's not 2 star fast food - so - 3 stars! Go off menu and get the chicken lovers burrito. Just chicken, cheese, salsa and hot sauce.
(3)Liewan M.
Flavorful, moist, delicious chicken +flour tortillas. Add amazing flavorful salsas (pico de gallo, house, and guacomole), cilantro, limes, chopped onion and serrano chiles as condiments to your chicken/taco/burrito etc at a self service station at no extra charge (highly recommend you check this out). Definitely the best healthy "fast" food there is. Everyone is currently jumping on the bandwagon of healthy or fast like souplantation, z-pizza etc...but they don't give credit to mr. pollo loco. It's been out for quite awhile though. The churros are a hit or miss though. Favorite combo is coleslaw+and gravy/mash potatoes. Enjoy!~
(4)Dru C.
Unreal. We brought in our crumpled up KFC Oprah coupons and redeemed them for a couple of free 2-pc meals, including 2 sides for each. If you want the breast and wing instead, it's only $1.50 extra. I admit, I was a bit sheepish when I handed over the KFC coupon. Yeah I know, I said "sheepish." I looked at the receipt and just grinned. We just paid $1.50 + tax for a $14 meal. I know EPL has the reputation of having munchkin-sized, shrunken-down chicken pieces, and I've had my fair share of them. This time around, all of the pieces were pretty big, especially the breast piece. The corn was unseasoned and the mashed potatoes aren't anywhere near KFC's, but the the rice and BBQ beans were pretty tasty. This EPL freebie on Mother's Day only must have the KFC big wigs seething with hot steam spewing from their ears. The Oprah coupon was already a colossal failure, and now EPL pours salt on KFC's wounds with this marketing gem. Stop rubbing your eyes, yes I just gave a chain restaurant 5 frickin' stars!
(4)Suzanne M.
It seem the food has changed a bit. I always liked the $1 chick taquitos. This particular location makes them with corn tortillas, while another location I frequent makes them with the much preferred flour. I only wish they had tamales 365 days of the year! Also the salsa seemed a bit different then what I have had in the past. The best thing about this location was the service. Very friendly, kind and helpful!!
(3)Gary Y.
The staff here is very friendly, courteous and my orders haven't suffered any issues. When I'm not sure what to eat for dinner and too lazy to cook, I usually go here or Chipotle. The food obviously isn't high-end, but I do enjoy piling up salsa onto everything I eat and it's cheap. I give a thumbs up and an extra star for the staff here!
(4)Kiki T.
I swear I saw a cockroach clan there.. don't ever go there.
(2)Drannab V.
Fairly clean. The sides are often just slapped-on and lackluster. It's a very healthy and cheap alternative to nearby chains.
(3)Angel Q.
I only came here for drive through one time, but my experience was not a good one. My friend and I ordered one combo and a bowl. The combo includes a drink. My friend asked the guy if we can have some salsa that has tomato in it and some spicy sauce to go with. In the end, we left without the drink and they gave us some random green sauce. I can tell my friend was not happy about the whole thing and I am just disappointed at the drive through service. Would I ever come back to this location? No, thanks.
(2)Christine M.
I don't normally write a review for fast food joints... but this El Pollo Loco had the best service and staff. Seriously. Of course, the chicken is always good, but I was blown away by the friendliness and helpfulness of this staff. I just had to yelp it.
(5)Carrianne M.
I LOVE EL POLLO LOCO try the creamy cilantro dressing on your salad, goes so well with the chicken. I crave it a lot. In fact, I'll eat it tonight, ill try your El Pollo Bowl (whoever recommended it before) Its healthier then the average fast food place and ...hmm I just love it
(4)Chris B.
Walked in to the friendliest fast food employees ive ever seen. Greeted me at the door, asked me about my day, explained what was in my order, and brought my food out to me. And the food was really good. Didnt expect to be writing a yelp review on el pollo loco, but there you have it haha.
(5)Amy K.
It's tamale time!!! I've always been a fan of El Pollo Loco. Remember when their motto was "the fast-food habit worth having"? It's definitely better than any other fast-food restaurant. I know it's not very healthy, but I really love the tostada salad. It's not too bad calorie-wise if you don't eat the fried shell it comes in, but I can't help it. It's just so good! Now that it's getting close to the holidays, they have their seasonal chicken tamales. I really like them. I came here last night, and I was so excited to see the tamale sign posted. I went through the drive-thru, and the person taking my order was very pleasant and made sure to repeat my order back to me. They don't try to sell you other items you don't want, like drinks or side orders, like they do at other fast-food restaurants. They were very short staffed last night, and the drive-thru guy was kind to apologize for the wait as soon as I pulled up to the window. Go online to the site listed on the back of your receipt, and you'll get a code for $1 off your next purchase. Woo hoo! El Pollo Loco! (I'm hearing the song in my head).
(4)Jon M.
I used to dislike el pollo loco food. Now I cannot stop eating there. Their $5.99 burritos are a must try, especially the chicken avocado burrito. Everything on the menu tastes so much better. The tortilla roll... awesome. The carnitas quesadilla is amazing too. Great job el pollo loco.
(5)Jeremy G.
Food 4. Price 5. Interior 4. Service 3. Cleanliness 3. Healthy 5. Music 3.
(4)Skydog C.
Had some the other night, breast and wing combo with sides, and it was good. I'm going for that again tonight.
(4)Alex L.
I vist this place more than any other restaurant. 3 reasons 1. good taste 2. healthy 3. cheap. You cannot go wrong with the flavor that is cooked over an open flame. There is a selection of sauces to poor over your meal as well. I personally will order the classic chicke burrito or the chicken bowl. Both great but the chicken bowl is more filling. They are both about 350 calories. Not too bad for lunch. The bowl should be part of EVERYONE'S diet plan.
(5)Trevor T.
As they say, "taste the fire." I love this chain fast-food restaurant. The citrusy, flame-grilled chicken is the best. I only order one thing at El Pollo Loco - the Pollo Bowl. This is a bowl filled with refried (or black) beans, rice, and flame-grilled chicken. Then they top it with some salsa, onions and cilantro. Served with a side of flour (my choice) or corn tortillas. This location is usually spotlessly clean with quick service and friendly employees. I can be in and out with my takeout order in about 5 minutes. And it's pretty darn affordable - figure you'll spend $5 - $8 to eat here. Oh, and try the Spicy Avocado Salsa - it's awesome.
(4)Aryn F.
Yum! I tried El Pollo Loco for the first time the other night and loved it. I don't usually go to fast food joints, but I can't turn down a good deal, especially when my favorite dinner (roasted chicken) is involved. The refried beans are now a new favorite!
(4)Rich C.
i hate the drive through here but when i'm at jackie's house they are the only thing open in this stupid neighborhood so i have to give them three at least.
(3)