El Pollo Loco's core menu and what sets it apart
El Pollo Loco is a Mexican fast-casual chain built around flame-grilled chicken marinated in a proprietary blend of citrus and spices. The restaurant operates more than 500 locations across the United States, with the largest concentration in California, Arizona, Nevada, and Texas. Unlike typical fast-food chains, El Pollo Loco cooks whole chickens in an open flame visible from the ordering counter, and most locations allow you to watch the cooking process.
The menu centers on chicken as the primary protein, but you can substitute other proteins on most items. The chain offers burritos, tacos, tostadas, salads, and bowls, along with sides like Mexican rice, black beans, and grilled vegetables. Prices vary by location but typically range from $8 to $16 for entrees. The restaurant also serves breakfast items at some locations, including breakfast burritos and quesadillas.
Key Takeaways
- El Pollo Loco's signature item is flame-grilled chicken marinated in citrus and spices, available as a standalone plate or built into burritos, tacos, and bowls.
- A single serving of their grilled chicken contains roughly 180 to 220 calories and 35 to 40 grams of protein, depending on portion size.
- Most menu items can be customized with different proteins, rice options, and bean varieties, and the chain publishes full nutrition information on its website and in-restaurant.
- El Pollo Loco locations vary in menu offerings and hours; some serve breakfast while others do not, so checking your local restaurant's hours before visiting is necessary.
Chicken plates and how to order them
The Pollo Bowl and Pollo Plate are the foundation of the menu. Both come with flame-grilled chicken, your choice of two sides, and a tortilla. The plate version includes a larger portion of chicken and sides on a platter; the bowl version combines everything in one container. A standard chicken plate contains approximately 500 to 650 calories before you add any toppings or sauces.
You choose your sides from options like cilantro lime rice, black beans, pinto beans, grilled vegetables, corn, and sometimes seasonal items. The restaurant also offers a Half Chicken plate if you want more protein than the standard serving. Prices for chicken plates typically start around $9 and go up to $14 depending on size and location.
El Pollo Loco seasons the chicken with their house marinade before grilling, so the meat arrives already flavored. You can request additional sauce on the side—the chain offers salsa verde, pico de gallo, and a creamy cilantro lime dressing—but the chicken does not require sauce to taste complete.
Burritos, tacos, and other handheld options
The Chicken Burrito wraps grilled chicken with rice, beans, cheese, and pico de gallo in a flour tortilla. A standard burrito contains 450 to 550 calories. El Pollo Loco also offers specialty burritos like the Burrito al Carbón, which includes charred chicken, and the Chipotle Chicken Burrito, which adds chipotle sauce. Prices range from $7 to $11.
Tacos come as either soft flour or corn tortillas, typically filled with chicken, onion, and cilantro. A single taco contains roughly 150 to 200 calories. The chain sells tacos individually or in sets of three or four. You can also order Tostadas, which are crispy corn tortillas topped with chicken, lettuce, tomato, cheese, and sour cream—these run 250 to 350 calories each.
All of these items allow substitutions. You can replace chicken with carnitas (pulled pork), carne asada (grilled steak), or shrimp at most locations, though prices increase by $2 to $4. Vegetarian options include cheese quesadillas and bean burritos, though these are less central to the menu.
Salads and lighter options
El Pollo Loco's salads come in two sizes and are built around a bed of mixed greens topped with grilled chicken, pico de gallo, corn, black beans, cheese, tortilla strips, and your choice of dressing. A standard chicken salad contains 350 to 450 calories before dressing; the dressing itself adds 100 to 200 calories depending on which you choose. The cilantro lime dressing and ranch are the most common options.
The Tostada Salad serves the same ingredients in a crispy tortilla bowl instead of on a plate. This version runs higher in calories—roughly 500 to 650—because of the fried tortilla shell. You can request the shell on the side if you want to control how much you eat.
Salads are one of the few menu items where you can easily see the full ingredient list before ordering, since most locations build them to order in front of you. If you have allergies or dietary restrictions, this visibility makes it easier to confirm what you are getting.
Sides, drinks, and desserts
Beyond the main entrees, El Pollo Loco sells sides individually. Cilantro lime rice, black beans, pinto beans, and grilled vegetables are available as standalone orders, typically priced $2 to $4 each. The chain also offers Mexican street corn (elote), which is grilled corn coated with a creamy sauce, cotija cheese, and chili powder—this runs about 200 calories and costs $4 to $6 depending on location.
Beverages include soft drinks, bottled water, horchata (a rice-based drink), and fresh-squeezed lemonade at some locations. Most drinks are priced $2 to $4. Desserts are limited; the chain typically offers churros, flan, and sometimes seasonal items like tres leches cake. Churros contain roughly 200 to 250 calories and cost $3 to $5.
El Pollo Loco does not serve alcohol at most locations, though a few franchises in certain states have beer and wine licenses. Check your local restaurant's menu to confirm what beverages are available.
Nutrition information and dietary considerations
El Pollo Loco publishes complete nutrition facts for all menu items on its website and provides printed nutrition guides at most locations. The information includes calories, fat, protein, carbohydrates, sodium, and allergen warnings. You can also ask staff at the counter for a nutrition sheet before ordering.
The flame-grilled chicken itself is relatively high in protein and moderate in fat compared to fried chicken at other chains. A 4-ounce serving contains about 180 calories and 35 grams of protein. However, many menu items are high in sodium—a single burrito can contain 800 to 1,200 milligrams of sodium, which is roughly half the daily recommended limit for many adults.
If you have a gluten allergy, El Pollo Loco offers corn tortillas and can build bowls or salads without flour tortillas. However, cross-contamination is possible in the kitchen, so inform staff of your allergy before ordering. The chain does not have a dedicated gluten-free preparation area at most locations. Dairy is present in cheese, sour cream, and some dressings, so those items can be removed or substituted with guacamole or salsa.
How to customize your order and save money
El Pollo Loco's menu is highly customizable. You can swap proteins, change rice and bean varieties, add or remove toppings, and request sauces on the side. Most customizations do not cost extra unless you upgrade to a premium protein like carne asada or shrimp. Building a bowl instead of ordering a burrito sometimes costs less and gives you more control over portions.
The chain occasionally runs promotions through its mobile app and email list, including discounts on specific items or combo deals. Prices vary significantly by location—a chicken plate in Los Angeles may cost $2 to $3 more than the same item in a smaller market. Checking your local restaurant's website or calling ahead can help you understand pricing before you visit.
Ordering water instead of a paid beverage and skipping the churro dessert are straightforward ways to reduce your bill. Asking for extra salsa, pico de gallo, or cilantro at no charge can add flavor without increasing calories or cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does El Pollo Loco have vegetarian options?
Yes, though the menu is chicken-focused. You can order cheese quesadillas, bean burritos, or salads and bowls with beans as the protein instead of chicken. Most locations also offer grilled vegetables as a side. Call your local restaurant to confirm all vegetarian options, since menus vary by location.
Can I see the chicken being cooked?
Most El Pollo Loco locations have an open flame grill visible from the ordering area, so you can watch the cooking process. However, visibility varies by restaurant layout. If this is important to you, ask staff when you arrive or call ahead to confirm your location has an open kitchen setup.
What is the difference between a bowl and a plate?
A plate serves the chicken and sides on a platter with a tortilla on the side. A bowl combines everything in one container. Plates typically include a larger portion of chicken. Both come with the same sides and price, so the choice is mostly about how you prefer to eat.
Is the chicken already cooked when I order, or do I wait?
El Pollo Loco cooks chicken throughout the day, so some is usually ready when you order. During busy times, you may wait a few minutes for fresh chicken to come off the grill. This is normal and part of the fast-casual model—the wait is usually under five minutes.
Can I get nutrition information before I order?
Yes. El Pollo Loco posts nutrition facts on its website, provides printed guides at most locations, and staff can answer questions about ingredients and calories. Ask for a nutrition sheet at the counter or check the company website before you visit.