El Pollo Loco

My burrito stop. It’s either chicken or shrimp. Except once, and the last for shrimp burrito, I broke out in hives. I’m not allergic. I’m guessing it was how it was cooked, or perhaps not cooked enough.
Lately, besides new years eve, I haven’t been to other Mexican restaurants to dine. I don’t know of any other place that makes tasty burritos, loaded with chicken, and the other fix-​ins including rice. Their burritos are heavy! A baby can do burrito weight lifting with these things and be buff. They don’t skimp out on the chicken. And like my Buca spaghetti review, I haven’t ordered anything else other than a burrito here. I love their cajun flavor, and I’m obsessed with the avocado green sauce. I admit to having taken it like shots from the container. Don’t worry, let your dork out. I’m with ya’ on that.
This location is one of the busiest during commute hours because it’s right off highway 91, and convenient from Santa Ana Canyon. The only negative about this location is the driveway to get to the drive thru lane is shared with Carl’s Jr. And the exit of their parking lot is right where the drive thru entrance starts. Congestion cannot be cured by their salsa.
Even though they get super busy during commute, I don’t mind the slight wait, because once I get to the window, the kid helping me usually has a friendly personality. They, having to deal with me being hungry on a long commute, and somewhat forgetful because my mind is shut off — are pretty patient when I ask for extra napkins, extra avocado sauce, a copy of my receipt (sometimes it is missing). But, I don’t ask at the same time see. I have caught myself saying «Oh, and… sorry…thank you». Yes, I realize I may be annoying company during commute time.
By the way, I don’t recall ever having my order incorrect either. That’s right, I always order just a burrito. I’ll be back guys!

Went through drive thru took 15 min to get my food, was after the lunch hr rush and not many people inside, never coming back

Double check your drive-​thru order before you pull away. If you order more than one item, they’re sure to mess it up. Napkins, a fork, and salsa… is that too much to ask??? I asked for salsa twice and didn’t get it.

Your Tortillas soup is ugly the taste is different what happen to you guys I’m disappointed; dam fix it!

Incredible what just happened.
I stopped by this particular location on my way out of target.
I was the only person on the drive thru line, i ordered my food and the girl on the other line told me to give her a second. So I did, she then went back on the speaker and asked for my order again.
It being «a unwrapped bowl without rice and extra pinto beans.
Mind that I was the only person on the drive thru…
It took them longer then usual to give me the bowl. As I was waiting to receive my order. I over heard the works discussing my order… Really?!
Well let’s get to the chase. I drove home sat down and opened the bag… Well I had gotten about ¾ of rice, a splash of salsa very few slices of chicken and two pieces of avocado. NO BEANS…
I can’t help but feel angry.
I called the store and the manager said she would redo the order and have it ready for me as soon as I would get there.
Well I got there and my order wasn’t ready… But rather some other person was given my very specific order WITHOUT RICE AND EXTRA BEANS…
The manager was very unprofessional… Looked as if she had just crawled out of bed.
This is just horrible.

Hello Unilocal.I currently started working gat this location about 3 ½ months ago. I’m not a boss or anything but I really would love for u guys to come bAck and check this out. I am the one who cleans the lobby. (Which I love because I get to interact with you guys.) I’m definitely a people person (: I just want to give you some tips though. Because we do get a lottt of customers. Drive thru is allllwayyys hell. Never go thru drive thru!
Second our worst hours to come are from I’d say 11:30 to 2. It’s lunch break for everyone. Other than that I’m trying my hardest to give you guys exactly what yu deserve! (: & that is comfort and knowing that yu enjoy what we have made for yu!
I hope you find this a little helpful (:

Waited 20min in the drive thru for a chicken bowl with extra chicken to only get a cold chicken bowl with about 5 pieces of chicken. No extra chicken! cold food and a long wait. Never again!

Literally just left this place and every time I go to this particular location I remind myself why I don’t come here. I LOVE EL POLLO LOCO always have but this location is THE WORST! service sucks I only have 30 min to eat when I’m on lunch and 25 of it is spent waiting at the pick up window. All I ordered today was mashed potatoes and rice «to go» «drive thru» and I didn’t get any napkins and no utinsils gee thanks! Also when I opened the bag half of my mashed potatoes were spilled out again thanks! I stopped ordering chicken from this location too they are always «out of chicken» its el pollo loco how are you «out of chicken?» Soooo frustrating every time I go here. Something needs to change A.S.A.P someone here has to care what customers are saying.

Something is ALWAYS WRONG with my order at this location. Especially when I go through the drive thru. It’s so frustrating that I have to check every item I order, which also includes opening each package and checking to make sure I didn’t get ripped off.
Usually my chicken breast look like skin and bones or the diced chicken like in the black bean chicken bowl look like 1 table spoon of shaved chicken, like tonight
Besides checking for the quality of food, I also have to make sure I receive silverware, napkins, the salsa or even side orders because they usually forget one or two of those items as well.
Who owns this franchise??? If you read this and basically ALL the other reviews for this location you might notice that SOMETHING IS WRONG HERE!!! Pull your head out of your ass and fix this, you are a shitty business owner and I’m embarrassed for you.

When will workers in general understand that there’s a certain decorum when you’re on the clock. Watch your language and be careful of the topics being discussed. Just left this location and had a loud mouth employee rambling on about getting beans and rice at target. I know age plays a factor but if I was the manager I’d be holing some ealry morning training sessions with my team.

Once again this place is horrible! 5 entire minutes to even get someone to answer in the drive through!

Helpful people, never had any problem when eat inside, but when I, 1 day, picked up food, they did forget 1 side on my combo meal.
Only went 1 time in the restroom: ugly, old and dirty…

Lets get this out of the way first, at this establishment it doesn’t matter if you purchase $ 5.00 worth of food or $ 75.00 it’s all going in one bag. Also, the pinto beans will be smashed by the time you make it home. I also wonder how they always manage to run out of chicken… its el Pollo Loco, what else do they have going on!!! The drive thru line is always too slow, I believe it is the store policy that they can only help one person every 10 minutes. Is it fast food? Not really if you have to wait 45 minutes in a drive thru, but I keep coming back because it tastes good.

I can only liken this location to an alcoholic step father, you continually give him a second, third or fourth chance but really… You know it is not gonna work.
The staff at this location really does not care about their customers, I have frequented this location over the last 15 years and it is always the same story, drive through line takes forever and a day to get through. I dont know why they ask what sauces you want cause YOU ARENT GETTING THOSE. I have left numerous times with no forks or napkins, or with a burrito that resembles a shih tzu through a wood chipper. Everything pretty much resembles being assembled with the same love and care as a red headed step child.
I have called corporate, I have spoken with managers, they just know they are the only «pollo game» in east Anaheim and therefore accept themselves as the chicken slingin mafia of the Hills.
Do not go there with any expectations.

The worst experience I’ve had from A Pollo Loco location. The salad I ordered had the lettuce so nasty like it sat in the same container for days. The worst part was the chicken they just threw a small piece of chicken burnt with skin & bones. The salad its meant to come with a chicken breast. The employees young kids just F$&ing around & laughing. This place needs a responsible manager. The rest of the food we ordered was fine but what a waste. Will never be back to this crappy location.

Food is decent. Chicken always seems to be on the dry side though. I typically go after the lunch rush so I don’t see much of a wait while I’m there. Went today and when I got to the office there was a long black hair half inside the salsa cup and the other half sticking out… GROSS!!! How did they not see that when they were making the cups AND when they were putting it into my bag?!?
I’ll come back but I’ll make sure to check my food before I leave the window or the counter.

I think this place has definitely come around.
And if you have a problem with waiting, then get out of your car and walk in. I get some people have children or something so it might be hard, but come on. It’s probably the «healthiest» fast food. Healthier food takes longer. Especially healthy food on the go.
I don’t know any el pollo loco that has a quick drive thru. Sorry, but they aren’t microwaving your burger like McDonald’s.
The inside moves very quickly.
The staff is friendly.
They show you your order before handing it off to you.
And you can try all the salsas.

You have to be joking right??? Anyone that gave this establishment more than 2 stars must be on the payroll. Believe the other negative reviews. This place is terrible.
Drive thru– zero stars. long lines every time I go. And I truly believe because they have this long line they can punch out crap food through the drive thru. food is burnt and order is usually wrong.
Customer Service– zero stars. I have an idea when you ask «can I take your order» why don’t you listen to what is spoken into the squawk box and punch the proper button. Its not brain surgery. if it was brain surgery EPL would have a lot of dead people on their hands.
almost 30 one star reviews with under 50 total reviews. something is seriously wrong with this place.
Lastly, I don’t know about anyone else but I have given a few harsh reviews of places and usually, not all the time, but usually someone will write to me apologizing and trying to make it better. I am baffled that the owner/​managers of this place are not on Unilocal trying to right their wrongs. to me is just shows that this place needs to close their doors for good. lets get a place in there that actually really care about serving quality food.
I say if enough people stop going to this location they will have to close the doors for good! DONT GO HERE!!!

I know its fast food so you already expect half assed food and service but god was this place a mess. The salsa bar was a mess, obviously the staff was too involved in the laughter to notice the splattered mess all over the counter & the numerous filthy tables (we had trouble finding one that was clean).
No excuse, obviously this is a place that just gave up. Profits over standard. I will not be coming back and suggest you stay away unless you want to risk a food born illnesses from this filthy place.
Like I always say I blame the owners of this place not the employees. Obviously the owners are OK with the standards the staff produce.
So since the owners dont care, please replicate the same and do not support these greedy people.
edit: 8÷4÷2014
Well to add insult to injury this place gave me a bad case of food poisoning. This is the last thing I have had to eat since Saturday night and paying dearly for choosing this place. I cant keep anything down. Thanks Pollo Loco you have accomplished something not even McDonald’s could do to me.

I have always loved El Pollo Loco’s flamed broiled chickens. They are both tasty and healthy. But today I was there to try their new Chicken Harvest Salad, which turned out to be a pretty good fast food salad. At about $ 6 (salad only, not a combo), it’s on the pricey side by fast food standards.
It came with the staples — greens and cubed chicken breast meat — and was garnished with slices of green apple. The salad was mixed with really tasty dried cranberries, walnuts, and drizzled with balsamic vinegar. It was served with a side of a citrus vinaigrette which tasted great but was quite sweet. The balsamic vinegar was also on the sweeter side, so if this suits your palate you’ll love it. However, they were a bit too sweet for my taste. The temperature of the salad was ok, cool, but not cold enough like a salad is supposed to be served.
Overall, a good lunch, and will return occasionally if I’m in the area.