El Pollo Loco

Good food and fun for the kid's

Visiting area. ...try the drinks! Horchata was delicious!

A little pricey but didn't get family meals . efficient friendly service

Wow!!! The thighs were twice thw size of orher visits. Hope it stays that way

Eating healthy at El Pollo Loco is one way to get yummy food and nourishing. Try it for yourself!!

Still fantastic chicken, and their rotating menu with other meats are usually really good too.

The chicken Avacado bowls are amazing. The prices are a little high, but the food is worth it.

Have three floors full of antiques

Good and fast service

👀

Delicious. Healthier options than many other fast food places.

Great services, love the food and the managers and employee super friendly

Always come here with my family we like the pollo crazy so good...

Order on the app and pick up easy, keto burrito no chicken!

It's El Pollo loco....always fresh, wonderful chicken.... This location has kids play area..my kids love it but it's only a 3☆☆☆...because it could be cleaner.. Enjoy

Great service all around and very helpful employees

Super clean place! Quick service and delicious food. One of the best burritos I've had.

Never thought fastfood can be this good, their quality of meat, food and sauces... unbeatable

My first time at this restaurant. I did a walk in instead of drive thru. Staff was very friendly and helpful and professional.

My lunch spot if I don't bring lunch . I got free tortillas yesterday . I ordered a chicken bowl no onions . Use the Restroom to wash my hands .and came back my food was ready on th e counter I told the young lady .oh no I forgot my order of tortillas she said no problem..handed me an order and there was a line to pay so I told her I'm on my lunch .! She said it's OK PAY next time!? What . Amazing.not a lie it is a true story I was there at 1138am about on Saturday on August 20th 2016

Good food. Good service. ( The lady out there taking orders "D-T" was very helpful it was lunch time and so fast. Everything so fresh. Thanks :)

I waited close to 30 years to go back to eat here. Use to go all the time when we lived in Vegas. Still the best chicken and great food

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (10 stars if I could) El Pollo Loco in San Clemente is basically my second kitchen at this point 😂 I’m here every other day, no exaggeration. The whole family loves it, the kids go crazy for it, and honestly… it’s hands down the best flame-grilled chicken around. Period. That chicken is always juicy, smoky, perfectly seasoned — not dry, not bland, not drowning in grease. You can actually taste that it’s grilled, not just cooked and slapped together. Huge difference. And let’s talk about the rest of the menu because it deserves respect too. The quesadillas? Dangerous. The tacos? Solid every single time. Rice, beans, sides — everything just works. It’s one of those places where you can order almost anything and you know it’s gonna hit. What really keeps me coming back though (besides the food addiction lol) is the service. Special shoutout to Jose, the general manager — seriously one of the nicest, most genuine guys you’ll meet. Always friendly, always smiling, always making sure customers are taken care of. He’s hooked me up with some great specials more than once, and it’s never forced or fake. Just real customer service, the way it’s supposed to be. Respect. The place is clean, fast, and consistent — which matters when you’re feeding kids who are already starving and impatient 😂 Orders come out right, staff is cool, and the vibe is just easy and comfortable. If you’re in San Clemente and craving something reliable, flavorful, and actually satisfying, this El Pollo Loco is a no-brainer. We keep coming back for a reason. Highly recommend. Now excuse me while I probably go back again tomorrow 😅🔥🐔

My first visit to this franchise let alone this location. We had chicken avocado street tacos and chicken tortilla soup both very good and served fast with nice condiments. Both are good fast food options to reduce junk food intake. Very clean restaurant and friendly folks.

I have been there a lot of times every time the food is good and the service is great. They have a curbside delivery a little play room for the kids The place is always clean and workers very helpful and when it comes to ask for their opinion

One tostada to rule them all. I went two days back to back because their double chicken tostada salad slaps. Tons of food and a large soda for less than $15 makes me very happy. Drive through line was not too bad when I went before the lunch rush. I’ll def get it again.

Love the grilled chicken here. It is just like we do it at home. For a chain this place is outstanding

WebWorks Agency

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (10 stars if I could) El Pollo Loco in San Clemente is basically my second kitchen at this point 😂 I’m here every other day, no exaggeration. The whole family loves it, the kids go crazy for it, and honestly… it’s hands down the best flame-grilled chicken around. Period. That chicken is always juicy, smoky, perfectly seasoned — not dry, not bland, not drowning in grease. You can actually taste that it’s grilled, not just cooked and slapped together. Huge difference. And let’s talk about the rest of the menu because it deserves respect too. The quesadillas? Dangerous. The tacos? Solid every single time. Rice, beans, sides — everything just works. It’s one of those places where you can order almost anything and you know it’s gonna hit. What really keeps me coming back though (besides the food addiction lol) is the service. Special shoutout to Jose, the general manager — seriously one of the nicest, most genuine guys you’ll meet. Always friendly, always smiling, always making sure customers are taken care of. He’s hooked me up with some great specials more than once, and it’s never forced or fake. Just real customer service, the way it’s supposed to be. Respect. The place is clean, fast, and consistent — which matters when you’re feeding kids who are already starving and impatient 😂 Orders come out right, staff is cool, and the vibe is just easy and comfortable. If you’re in San Clemente and craving something reliable, flavorful, and actually satisfying, this El Pollo Loco is a no-brainer. We keep coming back for a reason. Highly recommend. Now excuse me while I probably go back again tomorrow 😅🔥🐔

John Crankshaw

My first visit to this franchise let alone this location. We had chicken avocado street tacos and chicken tortilla soup both very good and served fast with nice condiments. Both are good fast food options to reduce junk food intake. Very clean restaurant and friendly folks.

AG Goldmen

I have been there a lot of times every time the food is good and the service is great. They have a curbside delivery a little play room for the kids The place is always clean and workers very helpful and when it comes to ask for their opinion

Kevin Ranta

One tostada to rule them all. I went two days back to back because their double chicken tostada salad slaps. Tons of food and a large soda for less than $15 makes me very happy. Drive through line was not too bad when I went before the lunch rush. I’ll def get it again.

Fred Depold

Love the grilled chicken here. It is just like we do it at home. For a chain this place is outstanding

Excellent service and food.

Oh it was late, just before they were getting ready to close, and I was able to place my order. The food was great, the service was great as well, I was just happy the overall experience.

genuinely the best el pollo loco experience I’ve ever had. food was absolutely delicious and the staff was super friendly!! if I were local I’d frequent this place 10/10

Lavetta Lewis

Oh it was late, just before they were getting ready to close, and I was able to place my order. The food was great, the service was great as well, I was just happy the overall experience.

Good fresh food alternative to other heavy, greasy fast food options.

this is my local restaurant and they are fast and don't mess around

Good food, pretty much what you would expect from El Pollo Loco.

Great food.. first time here.

Get the chicken avocado wrap. It's really good and not too high in calories

I rather; New year's, nearly yes to try Pollo loco.

Food is good but staff needs to be a bit more positive... To many rude staff members...

Great drive through chicken. Love their fresh jalapenos too!

Excellent food and prepared well service good too!

Very clean, very nice mployees and fast service. The chicken was juicy and fresh, it wasn't dry or tough. The manager was super nice and I appreciate his help.

On par for what you'd expect from El Pollo Loco. Occasionally, they've got a great person working the drive thru.

Doesn't get better than a Double Chicken Avocado Salad. All food very fresh, south of the border excellence. Quality food, quality taste. Enjoy.

It is allowing drivethrough, online order pickup or inside order. Still no eating in the facility itself. Food was decent. It is a fast food place, what do you expect?

Not as busy on Sunday after 3pm. Food is cooked right and they don't skimp on portions. Table, seats and restrooms are clean but floors could use some "fabuloso". Also need to fix the lack of Horchata. They do have the unsweet and passion fruit teas.

Felix Ventures Foundation

Not as busy on Sunday after 3pm. Food is cooked right and they don't skimp on portions. Table, seats and restrooms are clean but floors could use some "fabuloso". Also need to fix the lack of Horchata. They do have the unsweet and passion fruit teas.

Their tortilla soup was delicious. I was surprised - very authentic with a side of chips and cilantro grated cheese. Served hot so don't be in a big hurry.

I am at this El Pollo on a weekly basis, this week, twice! I work nearby and it's an office fav. The people at this location are fast, friendly and accommodating. We have five people in our office and there are always a few modifications to our order. I nearly always go thru the drive-thru and it is usually correct. There was recently an exception to that but for as often as we go there, that's not bad. I'm giving it 4 instead of 5 because the last time I used the restroom (which honestly has been a long time (actual years) it was not very clean. So I can't give it a five because I am uncertain of that. However I did eat inside one night when I wasn't working about a month ago and the restaurant itself is clean.

I went on Taco Tuesday where any, two tacos are just $5.00. I enjoyed the chicken avocado tacos. And was very, suprised as to both, how large and fresh the avocados were. The staff here are excellent as well. Although I live near another El Pollo Loco store, I make the drive down to this one, because it's so much better than all of the other locations I've visited.

Rita McPhail

Their tortilla soup was delicious. I was surprised - very authentic with a side of chips and cilantro grated cheese. Served hot so don't be in a big hurry.

April C

I am at this El Pollo on a weekly basis, this week, twice! I work nearby and it's an office fav. The people at this location are fast, friendly and accommodating. We have five people in our office and there are always a few modifications to our order. I nearly always go thru the drive-thru and it is usually correct. There was recently an exception to that but for as often as we go there, that's not bad. I'm giving it 4 instead of 5 because the last time I used the restroom (which honestly has been a long time (actual years) it was not very clean. So I can't give it a five because I am uncertain of that. However I did eat inside one night when I wasn't working about a month ago and the restaurant itself is clean.

Thier prices have gone up, and the portions gone down.

Great tasting food at a decent price

This location use to be great, but recently the staff is really slow. I think they are under new management.

Lately, every time I order for delivery, they forget something. Will find another store to order from in the future.

Food was good but the staff member was quite cold

Been disappointed with the continued reduction in serving sizes throughout the last ten years. Would only patronize in a pinch.

Convenient location for us now that La Pata is open. The staff is not the best, as several times they did not get the extra items we asked for in the bag when we got home. Not extremely attentive.

Mid I'll go back and try other things but not the chicken it's like okay not good beans and enough nether was the rice and it wasn't the spicy and flavorful food that it looked like

Local El Pollo Loco, usually good for a basic lunch. Get the combo meal and the staff is nice. Parking is good and the food is okay, sometimes better sometimes mediocre at best.

Location is good. I like the Chicken Nachos cause they are $5 currently. Love the avocado salsa, but that is it. Street Tacos are dry always

My husband and I have been coming to this Keno's for a long time. The server was strange and not very good. The nachos were terrible. This was the first time we ate bad food at this restaurant.

Wanted an avocado chicken tortilla wrap and was told they only had flour tortillas. Said that was fine. When I got home and opened it, not only NO TORTILLAS, a small slice of avocado, no corn, mega sour cream and lettuce...needless to say was not happy with this visit and usually love them!

First time eating here since before the Covid-19 pandemic. Our chicken was SO DRY, the avocado salsa was SO WATERY, went up to the counter to let them know and their response was, .... OH! Not coming back😟

Just an average El Pollo Loco. Restaurant was clean, staff was friendly and helpful. On the downside, the salsa bar was low on items. Had to ask multiple times for the guacamole salsa to be refilled. On the plus side, this location has a place for children to play.

Idk. The place is meh by default. In that sense it's all 5 stars.... "Exactly who we thought they were..." But it's still a meh restaurant. Meh food, meh prices, meh sauce....Been about 4 years since I last went, it'll probably be another until I go again.

The food is good. It tastes good and doesn't make you feel greasy when you eat it. The problem here is the service. They don't all speak English and often they act like you're bothering them. The management needs to hire people who speak English and know what customer service is. Oh and they need to clean up more as the dining room is often dirty.

We didn't have a lot of money growing up, and when we were kids, coming to El Pollo Loco for BRC's (beans, rice and cheese burritos) was a treat, they were so affordable too. Now when I order them, I ask for extra cheese, am charged for extra cheese...and not only are they double the price now as it is, but the "extra cheese" is barely what they USED to put in them anyways....so they are charging me extra for "extra" cheese just to have the C part of the BRC actually be in my burritos tho, lol...sucks.

five2andfiesty Nunya

We didn't have a lot of money growing up, and when we were kids, coming to El Pollo Loco for BRC's (beans, rice and cheese burritos) was a treat, they were so affordable too. Now when I order them, I ask for extra cheese, am charged for extra cheese...and not only are they double the price now as it is, but the "extra cheese" is barely what they USED to put in them anyways....so they are charging me extra for "extra" cheese just to have the C part of the BRC actually be in my burritos tho, lol...sucks.

BS BS

The food is good. It tastes good and doesn't make you feel greasy when you eat it. The problem here is the service. They don't all speak English and often they act like you're bothering them. The management needs to hire people who speak English and know what customer service is. Oh and they need to clean up more as the dining room is often dirty.

Tom C

Idk. The place is meh by default. In that sense it's all 5 stars.... "Exactly who we thought they were..." But it's still a meh restaurant. Meh food, meh prices, meh sauce....Been about 4 years since I last went, it'll probably be another until I go again.

Aggie Delosevic

First time eating here since before the Covid-19 pandemic. Our chicken was SO DRY, the avocado salsa was SO WATERY, went up to the counter to let them know and their response was, .... OH! Not coming back😟

Turi Daniels

Wanted an avocado chicken tortilla wrap and was told they only had flour tortillas. Said that was fine. When I got home and opened it, not only NO TORTILLAS, a small slice of avocado, no corn, mega sour cream and lettuce...needless to say was not happy with this visit and usually love them!

Page N.

Just an average El Pollo Loco. Restaurant was clean, staff was friendly and helpful. On the downside, the salsa bar was low on items. Had to ask multiple times for the guacamole salsa to be refilled. On the plus side, this location has a place for children to play.

Salad tasted awful, too bad I was way far to go back. Made my stomach upset.

We have a huge homeless issue in SC, El pollo loco is dealing with this too, if you must go there, go on the drive thru and don't touch anything :(

They charge 45 cents for the creamy celantro dressing if you don't order a tostada.

Was so happy to go after moving out of state. So disappointing. Food sucked. Quality was gone.

Food is normal El Pollo Loco but the drive through microphone/speaker are barely understandable. Had to repeat my order 3 times and they still got it wrong.

20 minutes waiting for an employee who was using the restroom, just so I could wash my hands. Food was cold by then. Not the place you want to go if you're in a hurry. Or hungry.

I got the Spicy Chipotle chicken at around 6:30 on jan. 27 2019. my burrito tasted weird.. upon further investigation, my burrito had bits of charcoal in it from the grill. i opened it up and found huge chunks of charcoal all in my burrito. its because they dont clean there grill properly. disgusting

You know i've been eating here for a year. I work right up the street, They hired some guy in the past 4 months and he ALWAYS messes with my food. ON PURPOSE. i know he does cause he will ask me everytime what kind of salsa. then he will put the wrong salsa in the bag and OPEN! My company has about 21 employees and NONE of us will ever eat here again until' this is fixed. bullshit

Don't door dash from this location. They won't give you the option to add special instructions and on to of that you can order a meal and get zero salsa. Total BS maneuver and it's happened before so shame on me for trusting that it was a simple mistake the last time.

Great food, good prices. The staff is a big issue, a bad issue. They are either poorly trained or slow. While we where there at least 5 people from drive through came in and complained about their order being wrong.

Sky Force Technology

Don't door dash from this location. They won't give you the option to add special instructions and on to of that you can order a meal and get zero salsa. Total BS maneuver and it's happened before so shame on me for trusting that it was a simple mistake the last time.

Keyz Sotelo

Great food, good prices. The staff is a big issue, a bad issue. They are either poorly trained or slow. While we where there at least 5 people from drive through came in and complained about their order being wrong.

They dont respect service hours. Came to the store at 9:50 pm when they say they close at 10pm. They completely ignore us.

walked into a store at 9:45 that was supposed to be open until 10 and was told that they were closed.

Every single piece of chicken was dry as a bone. What a disappointment. And now they charge extra for nearly everything. KFC is head and shoulders above this dump.

This place doesn't have foster's free and most of these restaurants can't have playgrounds!

Terrible food, worse service and a dirty store. Enjoy.

I no longer go to el pollo loco,I used to stop there occasionally for lunch and ordered tye classic tacos but the last time I was givin the cheapo tacos, so I complained ,and the girl just looked at me ,then went to the food preparer and gibbered something in spanish, this person gibbered something back then they both ignored me ,so thats when I figured , neither even knew what the hell I said........I didn't see the order taker ,she wasn't around ,maybe in the office.

The worst El pollo Loco I tried many locations of this restaurant food’s they are really good but here staffs are very lazy and rude for the first they hang up the microphones without I complete my order and after that they didn’t put for me salsa and tostada bread was broken it’s like you order a salad and the bowl is broken and also they’re chicken wasn’t fresh like the other locations 👎👎👎

The manager (male with dark mohawk hairstyle) and staff at this location are so rude and unaccommodating. The food is unpredictable and quality varies from visit to visit. Disappointing.

The food is perfect, customer service is very bad, they have a bad attitude, the customer is always right, and even more so when the customer gives them the respect they deserve.

You need to change the closing time on Google. It states 10PM, but you close at 9PM! People plan to come according to open hrs. I don't care if you close at 7pm, just change the info on Google.

Horrible experience do not waste your time with this location! I came on vacation from denver Colorado expecting to enjoy my time at this establishment because my family had raved about pollo loco from past experiences but this time fell well short. The soda machine was completely out of order only tea and water available. For the incovienience I thought I could ask for some sour cream but they fought me on charging me a measly 54 cents! They definetly do not know anything about customer service! Then while we were still eating they take away all of the condiments when they are suppose to stay open until 10pm and we got there at 9pm! The food was good I can't say it wasn't but the customer service was horrible which made the experience bad which is sad. I definetly would never recommend any of my family or friends To come here again.

HORRIBLE. When you think of bad customer service, think of the fat nasty slob (I wish I got her name) that works in the drive thru. I don't understand how a place that says they are open until 10, would lock the door at 9:15? The soda machine was out, condiments were taken from us in the middle of our meal & the blob of a woman spent most of her time in the bathroom stinking it up while her employees cleaned. Where is management & why do they think it's acceptable to have a person like that working in this establishment? My family & I came from out of town & although our vacation has been nothing but amazing, I'm sad to say we ended on a bad note with our visit to pollo loco. NEVER AGAIN!

We seem to have consistently poor service or food quality at this location. My wife and I were in the drive thru tonight and ordered a Spirit drink along with our dinner combo. When we drove to our destination, we tried the drink and it tasted horrible (like watered down, carbonated water).

Mark Sawyer-Chu

We seem to have consistently poor service or food quality at this location. My wife and I were in the drive thru tonight and ordered a Spirit drink along with our dinner combo. When we drove to our destination, we tried the drink and it tasted horrible (like watered down, carbonated water).

I went on Sunday, September 21, 2025, in the evening and ordered a combo of charcoal-grilled tacos. When I got home, I realized they were spoiled. I couldn't eat them!

Unbelievable dry 3 piece chicken dinner! I just threw the chicken away!!

The worst el pollo loco experience ever. Went in drivethru. Ordered Chicken burrito and chicken tostado salad. The chicken in both was so disgusting! Burnt and dry. Had to remove it from the food! Ih course I’m not going to return it as I live 8 miles away. This is only option!! Don’t waste you time at this one. Last time I will!! $20 lunch that was total trash.

Flor Castellanos

I went on Sunday, September 21, 2025, in the evening and ordered a combo of charcoal-grilled tacos. When I got home, I realized they were spoiled. I couldn't eat them!

Julie Thole

The worst el pollo loco experience ever. Went in drivethru. Ordered Chicken burrito and chicken tostado salad. The chicken in both was so disgusting! Burnt and dry. Had to remove it from the food! Ih course I’m not going to return it as I live 8 miles away. This is only option!! Don’t waste you time at this one. Last time I will!! $20 lunch that was total trash.