Food always good!! Specially their chicken tri tip. Their breakfast the best!!! Service excelente!! They make you feel like home. Their order of chicken delicious. The ambience clean, modern and family oriented. I definitely recommend this place!!! read more

El Pollo Dorado - Shrimp enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Salinas, California

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I hadn't gone to pollo dorado for about 7 to 8 years. It has changed a lot. I ordered the michoacano plate, comes with chicken and 2 cheese enchiladas. The chicken had no flavor, it tasted like if they put no seasoning on it. There was hardly any chicken on it either (mostly bones). The enchiladas had a bad taste, the enchilada sauce tasted like the canned Victoria enchilada sauce. The rice was crispy like it had been reheated more than once, not fresh or made today. The total was $23.80 with a drink, the price you would expect at a Mexican restaurant that has food with flavor. This plate should be priced at $9.99 with a sign that says "really bland buy at your own risk". I will never go there again and don't recommend it to anyone. Taco Bell is better. read more

I always order the Michoacán plate. Chicken tastes very good. Workers are friendly. They take card payments. read more

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damn ladys took a whole 30 min for a burrito and quesadillas. don't waste ur time or money here . food was cold

My partner and I were in the area and we passed el pollo dorado. We had seen in the past but usually stop at our usual spots or chain restaurants, something we're used to. This time we decided to stop here since it seemed busy inside. My partner got the michoacan plate which had 2 red cheese enchiladas and half a chicken with rice and a salad. I had the torta de milanesa. It was delicious! I do wish the torta had a little bit more mayo but I think that's just preference. It came with fries which were not oily like other places. The Michoacán plate was so good. The chicken was freshly grilled, tender and crispy on the outside. Service was fast and the there were tables for everyone. We would definitely come back and try other things from the menu! read more

Stopped here on the way back from the Monterey Zoo. We were headed to another restaurant, saw this one and decided to change plans because it was crowded and smelled good. I had a taco and flauta plate with rice, beans and a salad. My husband had the chicken plate. Food was hot, fresh, and delicious. It is an hour drive from my house, but honestly, I thought of going back the next day to try something different on the menu. I'm thinking of driving there now writing this review. Met a couple there that said this is their favorite restaurant of all time and they have tried everything on the menu and it's all good. I believe them. They have spoiled me with their fire roasted goodness, and tortillas from heaven. Rice and beans are in point as well. Sure, the restaurant itself is a little on the shabby side, but it's clean, and that's the important part. It's pretty much right off the freeway, so if you are in the area, or just want good food, GO! read more

Sing said they close at 8, internet says they close at 8. They close whenever staff wants. Last night it was 7:10 pm. They ran out of chicken???? According to the woman that answered our call as we dialed from the parking lot. read more

Excellent chicken, food is fantastic! Service is also excellent, cleanliness is superb, chicken has a hint of garlic and makes it more tastier. read more

Don't listen to the other reviews on this place. It is not good. We ordered enchiladas and a burrito and both were not good

This is my favorite chicken spot. Let me tell you a story. I alway eat here, like once a week at least. The chicken is fresh and the sides are great. Service is great too! This is hands down the best chicken in town. A tip for people is to get the half chicken for 2 people. It's enough for my wife and I to share. My wife introduced me to this place. I'm locally famous and try to get to places that are not in middle of everywhere because I'm always recognized. Anyways, I go here, thinking this is my safe spot. I leave and one of my friends was outside going in. Moral of story, this place is popular and the best in town. You will see everyone in town here because this is the spot!! read more

Tried this place for lunch today we were the only ones here except for couple of people getting food to go. It was about 2pm when we arrived. We both had chicken tacos. I had the soft one's and they were really boring. Only boiled unseasoned chicken with some shredded lettuce and a tiny sprinkle of cheese. Barely tasted like chicken but atleast it was moist. He had the tacos Dorados better than mine but still had that boiled unseasoned chicken. Atleast his had some diced tomatoes and more cheese in a fried taco shell. The rice and beans were ok. No complimentary chips and salsa here. But they do have a small salsa bar. The green salsa was good, spicy. Coke products and Agua frescas. If I were to come back I'd get something different. Overall this place is just ok. read more

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They have the best camarones a la diabla here. Shrimp consistency is a little tough but still the flavor is the best tasting camarones a la diabla I've ever had. Rice and beans, good. Chicken is good. The enchiladas, it's flavor is one of the best tasting sauces, I'm speaking about the tomato based sauce. Their other enchiladas that come with The Plaza is really good too but I like the tomato based one better. They have corn tortillas de mano.. yey! But omg, the camarones a la diabla, that sauce if I'm fortunate to get extra I put it on my rice and beans too, put it on everything i say SO GOOD! read more

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The chicken is not the same I don't know what happens with these place but food and the service is not the same. I buy a chicken for dinner and was burn really bad. read more

I love this place! Best chicken plates. Reasonably priced. Salsa bar. Food doesn't disappoint. This place really needs to clean its light fixtures though, and re-decorate. read more

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This is my favorite charbroiled chicken place, period. I just can't get here very often because I don't live nearby, but whenever I am in Salinas, this is where I go first. I discovered it by happenstance one day back in 1989, when I was working in the area, and I've been coming back ever since. The chicken is always moist and tender, and lightly seasoned. Perhaps they put a little sugar on it, because it's slightly sweet. You can get a basic half chicken, no fuss over white v. dark meat. I usually get rice for a side; it's good, better than the beans. And a big tall cup of the best pina soda anywhere. read more

Food isn't the best, cooks are dirty if a food falls they'll just pick it up cook it and serve it to the people. Lack of service and takes forever to get an order out due to them workers slacking. Can be empty and food would be out 30-1 hour. Do not recommend this place it doesn't have taste! It's not the same as before. read more

Best customer experience ever! Raquel was amazing and offered us the new quesadillas and she was right! Delicious! Thank you Raquel for our great drive through experience! read more

El pollo Dorado Great place for some good BBQ chicken. Family oriented and friendly staff. It's a family Place! read more

Hidden Gem! Yes I agree, the neighborhood seems bad, but really its not. Its just full of Mexicans, it really looks like a street in any Mexican town. If you think Mexicans are dangerous then stay away from here. I can assure you after years of eating here its safe and they know chicken! Let me say it again they know chicken! My mom used to take me to this place as a kid. And it hasn't changed. Order half a chicken, beans and some tortilla's and have fun! This is a must eat at authentic place to eat and very well priced! read more

The only reason why I'm giving this place a 4 stars is cuz the food has changed ever since the original owner passed away. Yes, the food is good, but the quality in taste has gone down; especially the pollo and refried beans. It used to so much better tasting than it is now. Even the salsas don't taste the same anymore, especially the green guacamole one and the tomato one. Very sad indeed to those of us who've been coming here since forever and remember how it used to be back in the day. I also want to add, that I see a lot of people comment on how this place is in "a bad part of town". However, to those of us that grew up around this area, it is just home and there is nothing to fear. I have never had a bad experience at or around this joint. People are usually friendly or otherwise keep to themselves, so don't believe the hype. Trust me, this chicken beats the regular KFC routine any time. read more

Still using styrofoam containers. The food is ok.

This place is worth the trek into the ghetto. Luckily my grandma has lived in said ghetto for like 45 years and I have no problem venturing here. Screw El Pollo Loco and Pollo Campero, this place has the best grilled chicken ever. In fact you can't even compare them. I am so here next major holiday that forces me to drive home to Salinas. Between this place and Smalley's I will be dying a meat related death. read more

The chicken is flavorful and delicious. Love the ranch beans. The service was quick and friendly.

While on the Job I stopped here for lunch. Ordered my food without any inconvenience, the staff were all very friendly. I got out to my car to have my lunch. I'm a plumber so I carry a lot of different things in my truck. I had some trash from a job I had just finished up. I set some of those bags down in the parking lot, after I had placed my food in the from seat, to search for some tools. I had a man come out of a gray SUV next to me and start accusing me of dumping trash. He grabs my things and tosses them back on to my truck. After that he takes pictures of my truck and stares at me for 15 minutes while I ate my food. This was my first time there, not sure if That man worked for the establishment, but I don't think I'd ever come back for anything. The chicken was very bland too. read more

Always get my order wrong and I always have to double check that they didn't miss things that I ordered. I dislike this location.

This place is located in East Salinas where I wouldn't usually venture out to. However, recently we had to drop off some stuff to my aunt-in-law who lived on the East side for 50 plus years, so we decided to stop by here for lunch. The chicken is very juicy and flavorful! Our friend who recommended this place said that it's better than el pollo loco, but I don't think you can compare the two since they are different kinds of flavor. I like that the chicken is piping hot and dripping with juice when they serve it! I took a star off because I had indigestion after eating here. If I'm ever in that part of the town again, I would stop by to get some good chicken. read more

Great food I had the milanesa torta was bomb bread could be better my girlfriend had fried fish it was huge it tasted very good. read more

El Pollo Dorado - Fish was huge - Mexican Near Me - Salinas, California

El pollo especial is very good. The service not so good. People need to learn if they are in the restaurant or serving business there is etiquette. read more

Food is so delicious i only wish they would upgrade their restaurant to bigger little more nicer location. Other then that green salsa was the best spicy had a kick! Rice & beans yumm. Best chicken in town! read more

El Pollo Dorado - Molcajete so gooood & their green chile was great! Spicy! Loved there rice & beans too - Mexican Near Me - Salinas, California

This place is quaint, friendly family owned and operated Amazing food!!!! Large portions plan one left overs. My friend took me here today, was not disappointed. The chicken was very flavorful, one of those places where no matter how full you are; you don't want to stop eating cause it's so good. Defiantly worth the drive to East side. read more

This was my 2nd time coming here first time they took 40 mins for 3 tacos de carne asada and I just went today again thinking what the heck it might be different experience this time but to my surprise, I had the same lick as last time but today I ordered 3 tacos which took around 20 mins and the place was empty af, but okay I got my tacos and went outside to my truck to eat them, I took a bite and that ish was not what I ordered they gaved me PORK tacos!!! I fkn hate pork so I went inside and polite argued for my money back but the old bitch that works in there kept telling me I wasn't going to get my money back !!??? Like wtf, fuck this place and fuck those bitches that work in the cashier and fuck the cook too for fucking up my order fkn dumb mother fucker I was hungry af. . . Sorry for the fowl language lol read more

This place is definitely located in the hood on E. Alisal. The flavors at this place are definitely worth dodging a bullet for. They usually have a couple of Taco de Oho's working if you know what i mean. And that is always nice! read more

Good tortas.. the chicken was very tasty, a bit on the dry side though. They had a green salsa that was out of this world delicious.

Wow, the Carne Asada sope was delicious, I was actually surprised at good it was. The homemade corn sope's really make this, but the carne asada was cooked to perfection to top if off perfectly. Yeah the East Alisal neighborhood is not that great, and the building looks like it has seen better days, but the the food... oh man it was good. I'll definitely be going back there! I guess the adage "Don't judge a book by it's cover is true for El Pollo Dorado" Thanks for the delicious meal! read more

I get out to eat chicken here on a pretty regular basis. I have tried other dishes, and they have been good, but the chicken is really the best. The service at the counter is friendly and helpful. The setting is very casual. Overall, it's very much worth the trek to the East side of Salinas to eat here. read more

Really pleasant service but the star is the food...their carnitas are outstanding and the carnitas quesadillas are simply awesome. They don't skimp on the meat and the price is quite reasonable (though the tacos are $3.50 each, which seems a bit high). A great place on the east side. read more

Tasty food, nice service. I've been twice recently and it was slow but worth it. I like going some place for plates full of tacos, I don't care about the sides. That said, 3.50 seems high for a taco. Am I just cheap? read more

I've been here so many times and just now am getting to writing this review. So, if you folks like Pollo Asado this is the holy grail of that heavenly, crispy, tangy salty goodness. The chicken is like no other and if youve ever had Pollo Loco this chicken is 100x that. They also have some of the best Chile Verde Ive ever had with a bit of a spicy kick to it. The regular burritos (just meat) are only 2.99 and rival the size of the so called auper burritos at neighboring establishments. The recipe for their grilled Pollo Asado is a family secret that has been passed down generations.. Definitely a must try! read more

The chicken and enchiladas are delicious! I have no complaints about the food! However, the older lady in the back needs to refine her customer service skills. I witnessed how awfully she responded to a guy who was simply inquiring about his food. She really needs to learn how to treat people. Does she not know her attitude reflects on the rest? Customer service training needs to happen for this employee. I find it pretty unprofessional that the employees/cooks are playing in the back, bringing tires into the kitchen area; and to top it of get upset at a client who inquires about his food after a 25 minute wait. If she would've spoken to me this way, she'd definitely loose her job! No one deserves to be treated this way! From what I've heard from others, this is very common. Business owner needs to put his/her employees on check! It didn't happen to me, but I found it extremely disappointing and upsetting! read more

Took 45 min to prepare a torta and 3 tacos. Really bad service. Employees were continuously talking and not working. The environment in there is stuffy and bad. To finish it off after all that wait I get my tacos and the meat is all fat. I knew there was a reason I hadn't been there again in years. Unfortunately it was the only place serving Tortas for my gf cravings. read more