El Pollo Loco

This one-​star (which I wish could be just zero) is due to the customer service, alone, at this place. It is the most consistently horrible place I’ve ever been to; unfortunately, it’s the closest to my house, as I’m in South Reno.
However, as of last night, I vowed to just drive farther and go to the El Pollo Loco in Sparks if I’m craving their food.
So, anyway… on to the review, which I’ll preface by saying I’ve been here like 7 times total (I was an El Pollo Loco virgin prior to that):
The first 3 times of coming here, I ordered a new item that was on the top of their order board in the drive-​thru, the items that generally take up the majority of the top and have big, bold letters advertising how yummy and awesome a new item is… well, all 3 times I ordered one of those items, they informed me that they are «out of shrimp» or «out of chicken». That is pretty understandable, as this place gets really busy, but the employee/​s were incredibly rude and blunt every single time. When confronted about the price of something, or asking a question about what other options they have, they become very defensive and snappy.
All 6 visits, prior to last night’s, were similar. Finally, last night, I went inside to eat; I had my husband and two kids and we decided to just eat there. It was then that my speculations were confirmed. Every employee was a ratchet-​chola-​looking type. Now, I’m not the judgmental type, at all, but when it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then I’m going to call it as I see it. Besides, it became immediately apparent that their attitudes reflected the chola/​ratchet vibe. I slowly stated my order for the girl and in her Sofia Vergara voice, she repeated it back.
Of course, the order was wrong and they forgot a burrito, so we all sat there and waited 10 minutes for them to make one more burrito, so that we could all begin eating as a family. I forgot to mention the names. now, my name gets misspelled a LOT. It’s not the easiest name and never has one consistently used variation, generally. BUT, to spell it Ileina is laughable. What really was the cherry on the cake, was that when my husband approached the same cashier to order the forgotten burrito, she spelt his name Deiv. LMAO… I mean… these people want $ 15/​hour? Like, they’re not doing it intentionally like a Starbucks barista would… they’re as illiterate as they are rude and socially inept. Period.
I’ll be traveling to Sparks from now on.

3.5
I was an El Pollo Loco virgin. Not any more! (Waves her hands in the air like she just doesn’t care.) We had a little extra time before the movie started and decided to be real grown ups and not eat popcorn for dinner, so we swung by here first. The parking lot was really cramped — it was like a game of bumper cars, so we did the smart thing and parked a little farther out. Inside, it was very clean and it was kinda cool to see all those pieces of chicken roasting in the back. I opted for the tostada with chicken and shrimp in it for about $ 7.50. It came out looking more like a taco salad with generous slices of avocado too — very exciting. I really liked the pico gallo salsa they offered, along with the salsa verde too. The shrimp was delicious — would have liked a few more pieces. The chicken actually was a bit dry — dumping the salsa on top solved the problem. Overall, not bad for the price and I’d be interested in coming back to try more menu options.

After reading other reviews I noticed other people had the same experience I had with their chicken which was very dry. I ordered the Shrimp and Chicken tostada. They skimped on the rice which isn’t expensive. From now on I will stick with small family owned Mexican restaurants their food is more authentic and better quality?

Went and made an order, got called to let me know it was completed. I grab my order thinking everything was perfect. When I got back to work I came to find out that half of my order was missing. So I had to drive back and let them now. With a very rude attitude I was received and they didn’t do anything to apologize or to compensate the inconvenience. Very poor customer service.

I love El Pollo Loco, to me there are like Inn N Out in the Mexican Food Arena, it’s a super consistent experience and the food is delicious and fresh ever time. This location has delivered to me on multiple occasions.
One thing I love about EPL they are a serious machine, the employees are super stars, they all move fast, everything and anything is handled, you don’t see a messed up or depleted salsa bar ever, tables are quickly cleaned, floors are clean, if you walk up, they address you right away, etc.
The food here is super solid and the price is just right. My only complaint would be the $ 20 Family meal, they should allow different sides other than beans and rice, which are not that exciting to eat. Also they need to ax the chicken pizza, that was just terrible. Also on the complaint side, BRING back the FRIES, these were one of my favorites places to get fries, they were Fry Perfection!
My favorite meal is either the Double Chicken Bowl with Flour Tortillas or the 3 Piece Combo w/​2 Breast and 1 wing, no drink, mashed potatoes and gravy, and mac n cheese, with flour tortillas. I make a huge chicken taco out of the breast meat, then all the delicious salsa bar ingredients to seal the deal! Bonus, at this location, you can get 5 packs of corn or flour tortillas for $ 1.
Once and a while I rock the churros and they are incredible, cooked to order, piping hot every-​time! One day I will add the hot churro (at home) to some vanilla ice cream and add chocolate sauce over all of it.

If you love El Pollo Loco — GO TO SPARKS. This place is a zoo, unfriendly combative staff (I asked for dressing on the side) over salad dressing, the blond lady boss was so super mean to all the employees I am not surprised they take it out on the customer. The chicken was so dry and the portion was so small I was shocked but not worth going back to complain. Will NEVER eat at this one again. Beware.
Sparks is always a joy — They run a tight ship, its clean, the food is always good and they serve it with a smile. I have also NEVER had to throw out my own tray — someone always grabs for me. Sparks is it!

I love El Pollo Loco… Well most. By far the WORST El Pollo Loco I’ve ever been too. Walk in and the door is greasy, hand prints all over and looks like a kid rubbed his tough and forehead all over it. Tables filthy, and floor a mess! The place was disgusting. Signs all over the place about putting carne asada on your favorites, order the carne asada… «Oh we don’t do that any more». Ok I’ll have the crunchy tacos with chicken «oh we don’t do that anymore…» Ok, let’s start with what you do do. And apparently it’s not burritos. The burrito was barely an inch bigger than the tiny little tacos I got! Left needing a bath and still starving.

I’ve had lunch and dinner here multiple times and I can’t find a reason to complain.
Food
3 Piece Combo with Breast and Wings
One of my favorite dishes on the menu is the 3 Piece Chicken with vegetables and black beans. Even the broccoli is pretty good. The chicken tastes scrumptious with fire grilled cooked skin.
Chicken Tortilla Soup
The Chicken Tortilla Soup is another must have. Lately I’ve been enjoying it with a small side of rice and 2 to go cups of pico de Gallo all mixed together. Really makes an already filling soup a meal.
Recommendations
–+Very busy during lunch from 11 — 2pm.
–+Great place to grab a quick bite on the way out of town.
For fastest service come in from 3−5p. Right after the lunch rush and just before the dinner crowd.

Love El Pollo Loco food
So it saddens me I have to make a negative comment.
Customer services lacks and they need to make a change or I will stop going even though I love their food.
When I got back to work, I noticed i was missing a item and the $ 6.50 tostado was not worth the money I just spent. I went back to pick up my missing item and decided I wanted something worth the money I was spending. On the menu it says my new item would have lettuce, Informed the girl that I don’t want any lettuce. She says it doesn’t come with it. She tells the cook no cabbage, I had to re explain I want cabbage just no lettuce. With an attitude she says it doesn’t come with lettuce! I let it pass
Then she gives me my food, starts walking away and I asked her if I wasn’t going to get my change back since this item was cheaper. I should NEVER of had to request for my change!!!
I was pissed and asked to speak to the Manager, all she had to say was oh we are working on it. What a waste of my time.
My other co-​workers have also had bad customer services at this location. Especial in the drive thru. Hope they change soon!

I was so disappointed ! ! Ordered the chicken/​avocado salad. One small slice of avocado and chicken so dry, I almost couldn’t swallow it. Sure NOT like the picture that is advertised. Probably won’t go back.

I actually drive to this location, which is out of my way, instead of going to the new location on Virginia that is closer to me (South Reno). The food at this location is consistently good and has never given me the tummy rumbles like the new location.
Service through the drive thru is always fast and friendly (these are some nice El Pollo Loco employees!) and the food is always hot, fresh, and ready to be devoured. I love their Pollo bowls almost exclusively. The salsa is a bit of a surprise, as sometimes it truly is mild and sometimes someone gets lazy and leaves the seeds in the peppers. I like not knowing what I will get on any given visit. The coke also always tests fresh and fizzy, well, about as fresh and fizzy as corn syrup can taste (don‘t judge me!).
This is my go to place for fast food (which I don‘t eat a lot of) and it tastes like a step above the other places around that have drive thrus.
Get your pollo on!

Just left here.
I gotta say every el pollo loco ive been to usually has dried out chicken.
Today I went and was sooo surprised with the customer service. I went to drive thru and I think the girls name was dezaree.
Super friendly n great attitude.

Driving home after a long day at work and we stopped to pick up a family meal of Grilled Chicken. Sides were Black Beans and Mashed Potatoes, with Corn Tortilla. Got it all home, opened the box and found 12 pieces of dried over cooked chicken. Black beans were good, mashed were just okay. We went to bed hungry and will never visit El Polo Loco again.

I was in about two weeks ago and ordered the two piece dark meat with mac ‘n’ cheese and the new corn. I requested two thighs and it was a up-​charge. The chicken was moist and tasty, The mac ‘n’ cheese is a little bit too cheesy for my tastes, I really like the new corn, it is tender with just the right amount of bite and a great sweetness to it. The next time I go I will have to get double of the corn.
As I was waiting for my meal I saw the plate sitting waiting for the chicken, it sat for several minutes, so when I got it the mac ‘n’ cheese and corn had cooled quite a bit. Next time I will ask about it.
I will go back because the chicken and corn are good, the service is not terrible and it seems to be clean.

We did take out after a very long drive from CA. It was okay. We opted for going inside because the line for drive through was very long.
I have never been to a El Pollo Loco before. it stopped us from going to a fast food burger place so we consumed a lot less calories.

It is nice to have a fast food place where you can get some grilled checken. I have always enjoyed El Pollo Loco and am glad we have one near downtown. They also have items for under 400 calories (which is becoming more common, but still nice).

Excellent food! I get the same thing every time too. The employees get orders out quickly and there are comfortable booths to sit in.

I have not been here in years. The reason being each time I went I got dried out chicken and just got tired of it But we decided to stop and see if things had changed.
What has not hanged is the inside of the building, same old place with tight spaces. It makes me want to run out of there as quickly as I can. I do not like people standing behind me.
I ordered and the food came up straight away. I took it outside and checked the bad, to my surprise all was as it should be.
The chicken was tender and just fine, the skin was tough, not crisp. I still make a better chicken and at a much better cost, but hey this was fine.

This is probably the worst El Pollo Loco in town. I go here frequently since it is a tad closer than the one in NW Reno (but now I think I will just drive farther) because I love their chicken and how fresh everything is. No complaints on the food at all.
This place almost always keeps me waiting at the drive through and fucks up my order good. Last time I was here I got 2 kids’ meals. The teenager working there did not include the tortillas and made both drinks Coke which I didn’t request. Because I was tired, I didn’t check the food before I left. Always do that and I didn’t this time. Again not the first time that they messed up my order…
That being said most of the workers are fine but there’s a few nasty women here. It also seems a little dirty inside.
I ended up emailing El Pollo Loco just to share my experiences here. They quickly mailed me a $ 10 gift card (enough to cover the fucked up 2 kids’ meals), and some coupons which I appreciate.
In any case, sticking to the one in NW Reno.
Also (I saw this on Unilocal for either this location or the NW one), they sometimes charge extra for dressing and sometimes they don’t. It is frustrating that they charge you for extra dressing considering you just spent $ 10 or so there… When I get the little salads, they hardly put any dressing on there which is why I get extra. I’m not even someone who puts a lot of dressing on my salad.

Always fast, always fresh… always rude… I guess you have to take the good with the bad.
If I’m giving you my hard earned cash try throwing in a salutation or eye contact or perhaps a «hey thanks for helping to pay my rent this month.: