It's not as bad as everyone here describes, but I will say this location for sure is not a good EPL by any stretch of the imagination. Unfriendly staff mixed with a hot, stuffy dining room make for a fairly unpleasant experience. I think the worst attribute of the location is the parking (or rather lack thereof). Entering and exiting from the TINY parking lot can be an adventure for anyone, thanks to it being right at the corner of Colorado Blvd. and Hill Ave. with PCC pedestrians who frequently cruise up and down Colorado. Food quality wise, I can't complain, but I tend to stick to what I know; Tostada salads and burritos. I think the one saving grace about this location is that the area that the food is made in is easily viewed by customers. read more

I have a friend who actually likes this place; this is the only reason I have gone a few times, to keep her company. I told her today, I am no longer willing to come here, I just can't stand it. I waited 10 minutes for an item that they didn't have ready for paying customers...chicken. I don't mean they were slow, I don't mean they ran out, they just didn't think to put enough on the grill to have it ready. If you've got ONE item your known for, don't you want to make sure you have it available at all costs? Run out of sprite or pepsi, but don't forget to put the chicken on the grill folks. With a name like pollo loco, people aren't coming there to order hamburgers. I think they stay in business because they are located across the street from a community college that keeps them afloat. The horrendous parking lot, coupled with the beggars who have no shame going to your table asking for money make this my nightmare on Colorado Blvd. Avoid this place at any and all costs. read more

A fan of the food without a doubt. I've been coming to this location for years. I've seen the remodeling go through and it gets better each time. Management is great. The employees are helpful and friendly. This food gets me full each time and it's on the healthy side, so make the right choice and rediscover good food near by PCC. The place is always kept clean. The music here is interesting. I definitely enjoy it. I highly recommend this place to you all. read more

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First off, let me start by saying that I've never felt the need to Yelp a negative review. BUT....here I go: I firmly believe this location on Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena takes TOTAL advantage of the (college) kids. I ordered 2 Chicken Avocado Quesadillas. (NOT a combo), which 1. Was COLD 2. I was charged combo pricing. I don't understand WHY there would be drastic difference in pricing from the day before. Upper management needs to step up the training. Needless to say ... You have just lost my business. read more

They took forever to get our food ready. Much longer than usual at a Pollo Loco. I wouldn't recommend coming here if you are in a rush. At least everything was cleaned the they got the order right. Hit or miss read more

The only reason I'm not giving 5 stars is because of the parking issue. This location is in a terrible spot and there is rarely a time when you don't have to drive around in circles or make up your own space to park in. The food is delicious and always consistent. Great customer service too! read more

They just can't seem to get their orders right! Because we have to order online and handed tied plastic bags there is always something missing! Today was the coleslaw and the salsa! Now that they've discontinued the Tapatio Fries I won't be returning anytime soon. read more

Good price for a group, tasty food, nice staff. We ordered the lime chicken set which came with salad, chicken and churros. Great deal and good food. read more

Called in an order with a coupon. Price quoted was wrong, had to upgrade meal to use coupon. Condiment lids weren't fitting. Everyone in line was ordering for a crowd. They called my order and failed to add the coupon item. Yikes. Never going back. Plus parking lot is filthy. read more

I've enjoyed my EPL experiences here (aside from the parking). Sometimes there is a line, which is totally to be expected across from a college campus. The food has always been flame broiled deliciousness and the staff pretty friendly, even when the line is 8 deep. Ayumi commented that this place is "weirdly designed" and I guess it could see that, because the entrance is a door about 3-4 feet wide, and it he counter is 5 feet ahead of you on your right when you enter. The "pro" of that is the line can extend towards the door, and the "con" is that if the place is busy, all entering and exiting traffic may bump a little. :-) Clean salsa bar (fresh, limitless salsa is one of the perks of EPL), clean tables, bathrooms looked good when I used them. read more

Came in today with a coupon for the Pollo Bowls and my sister ordered the "Grande Avocado Bowl" and the cashier named Ana was confused as to why we gave her a coupon. She took it and didnt look at it so when we tell her the bowl she says "so what is this (the coupon) for?" So we say "for the Grande Avocado Bowl" So she say "ugh i dontknow what im doing" Im guessing she got confused... But OMG! Her energy level was at negative 100!!! Her face looked like she was annoyed or just tired. Two stars for the food... Negative three stars for the customer service read more

I frequent this El Pollo Loco at least twice a week as it's located square between my gym and work. I would give this location 5 stars for the food quality and service, but it loses a star for two reasons: 1. Stop watering down the avocado salsa! That salsa should be a little thick and chunky. It should not be the consistency of water. I often find ice has been added to thin it out. Stop thinning out the avocado salsa and order more when you have it delivered! Of course, this means they have to actually HAVE the avocado salsa available to begin with as it seems they have already run out at least twice the last two times I was there. 2. The parking stinks, but I fault the property management for that. Seriously, there are 24 parking spots for a retail business and FOUR sit-down restaurants. It's not unusual to find cars parked in "No Parking" areas of this location. In all, good quality foods (the white meat is usually moist, not dry), avocado salsa excepted, and great, friendly service. I do recommend walking there, though. read more

The food from this El Pollo Loco is great!!! Tasty, fresh and always moist. I also appreciate the nice fast service! read more

Ordered a 500 calorie chicken and shrimp tostada. I ended up with a salad on top of a folded tortilla. Other then that service was good and restaurant was clean. read more

El Pollo Loco - Very disappointed in my chicken and shrimp tostada. It's a salad on top of a folded tortilla. - Fast Food Near Me - Pasadena, California

The customer service it's really suck specially when maria one the cashiers, she don't try to help nothing she just quite if you asking for something or she just say look the menu. read more

bring back the loco chiken nachos and the double chiken nachos!!! pleaseeeeeeeeee they are soooo tasty.

Love their chicken tostada bowl,, the service here is starting to diminish I drive to the one in South Pasadena for better service

I want to L Pollo Loco near my house the one on Colorado Boulevard I was buying salad for my wife that was sick in bed once I walked in no response for two minutes and that's supposed to be there customer service after took my order I asked for chicken salad with avocado I did not get what I ordered but I paid more than I normally share of my point here is lack of engagement with customer lack of 30 seconds respond to a customer lack of order taking... read more

El Pollo Loco - What I paid for and what I got... - Fast Food Near Me - Pasadena, California

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This is not a bad Pollo Loco what is terrible about this place is the Parking structure because you will never find any parking here! The food is the pretty good considering you will pay less then $10.00 dollars and get a three piece chicken broiled meal with rice, beans and corn tortillas..there are plenty of hot Chile sauces on the side or my favorite is their pico de gallo. I will sometime also get their Chicken Bowls with rice and beans and flour tortillas and if i really want to ruin my healthy diet i will get some churros on the side. The service is pretty quick and there are plenty of tables inside to sit and eat or if you want to take it home then you can do that too. Either way this is decent Mexican fast food for the $$$... Plus i am always getting great coupons in the mail with offers that give me discounts on meals which i can't go wrong and i get free Carnitas Tacos or buy one then get one free coupon deals so i tend to want to use them all the time i get great savings on more food items i wouldn't normally order. read more

I usually like this Pollo Loco, but they were very rude Friday evening, May 30, 2020. Their posted closing hours were 10:00 p.m. I arrived at 9:30 p.m., the door was locked, and the manager refused to let me in. He recognized me as a regular customer but told me through the door that they closed early due to the continued COVID-19 restrictions. WHY didn't they POST the NEW hours on the door? I had seen the 10 p.m. closing on an earlier visit and was counting on being able to have a late dinner on Friday. Why do they not post their new hours, as many other businesses in the area have done? TELL your customers if you are closing early. read more

Food is ok but the interior and parking sucks!! I had my car towed because i parked NEXT DOOR at Carls Jr for 15 minutes. Everyone and their mom parks in this lot and you can hardly leave the lot cuz everyone parks in spots that are not even parking spots!!!!! And now that ive had my car towed because i had to park next door... not coming back..... read more

Call before going or just don't go after dinnertime. They seem to close whenever they like (despite all posted open times).

Honestly. What kind of El Pollo runs out of avocado salsa at 7:30 and doesn't make another batch? Even when they saw my devastated face (and yes, I was devastated... sometimes I just eat the chicken so that I can smother it in green goodness). Seems like a bad training move. Two customers in a row asked for it. read more

EPL used to be a place where you could get a healthy, tasty meal for a reasonable price. Now they have jacked up there prices and filled the menu with items stuffed with fillers (uses less chicken that way). And to add insult to injury they put so much water in the "Avocado Salsa" that it drips faster than snot. It's nowhere thick enough to stick to the burrito that they threw together and tossed in your bag. At this point you're better off at KFC, $5.49 combo (with coupon) is a much better value (even if it is greasy)! read more

I placed an online order for 2 tacos al carbon combos which includes a drink. When my order came, the driver had no drink. I asked him about the drinks, I could hardly understand him. I don't think he understood what I was saying but he said "no drink",I spent 3 minutes calling El Pollo Loco, (phone rang for 2 mins. before answering, spoke to "Tom", he asked me if the order was delivered by Doordash, I said I didn't know, wouldn't he know that? then he told me I needed to call Doordash. I spent another 5 mins calling Doordash, their phone rang for a good 3 minutes, I spoke to Wilson who said Doordash doesn't accept any money for El Pollo Loloco, they only deliver, I needed to call El Pollo Loco, I told him AGAIN, Already spoke to El Loco Pollo & I was getting the runaround, he called El Loco Pollo while I waited , he came back to the phone, said he spoke to Nimo @ El Pollo Loco , I again called El Pollo Loco, spoke to Nimo who said he would refund my order, I said Thank you, appreciate it because since I spent all this time repeating myself, the food is cold, nothing to drink , not worth what I paid for the order. "Tom" needs to be trained not to lie to customers, he should have known Door Dash doesn't give refunds since I ordered directly from El Pollo Loco, I have a feeling he knew it the I called & just didn't want to be bothered. I also have a feeling that was not his real name. I'm hoping the refund will come automatically, that I don't have to call El Pollo Loco again. I will not order from El Pollo again because of the terrible "customer service". I received a survey from El Pollo Loco but when I went to the page, it says "You have already taken this survey, I had not. I'm sure they didn't want me to further give my low opinion of my experience with them, I wonder if the surveys go to corporate. By the way, if you order from elpolloloco.com, they have several combo meals for $5.00 but you pay $4.99 for delivery. If you order on doordash.com, they do not offer the $5.00 combo meals & the delivery fee is $1.99. read more

I would resort to eating my dog's food before coming back here. Why the fuck would you pay more for a smaller chicken when you can go to Pollo Unico? Pollo Loco sells bland, dry, small chickens. Not to mention the parking lot is dangerous. read more

I love this location, minus the parking situation, but that isn't their fault. They are always friendly, the chicken has flavor throughout (some locations don't marinade long enough) and they always get our order right. Yes, when it gets super busy, the tables or salsa bar can get messy but, they get right on it and take care of it. read more

I looooove me some flame grilled chicken, especially cuz the skin is amaaaazing. Since I'm on low carb, places like this really wet my seat in a way no other salad could. I'm forced to go this location because the one on Rosemead was miraculously even more disgusting, it was like the entire place was covered in maple syrup and The Lord of the Flies literally took over. I'm so not joking, I was scared for my health. First and foremost, I would like to mention the absolute hideousness that is their parking lot. It is shared with a Yoshinoya, Mongolian BBQ, pseudo Ticketmaster, and a boba shop. Even though EPL is the only one ever even slightly busy.....the parking lot is JAM PACKED, probably with students from PCC illegally parked. For being a nation wide chain, it is grossly overheated in this location. I'm quite sure it's sitting real pretty in that temperature danger zone. It's also humid like a third world nation. I think my major grip with this place is that even though they ONLY sell chicken, whenever I go, it's like ordering a well done steak in a vegan PETA restaurant. I always either get a 10 or 12 piece meal...and they NEVER have chicken on hand. And they never tell me about it at the register, either. They wait for me to pay, wait 10 minutes, and then call me up to tell me it's gonna be another 20 minutes cuz they have "no chicken". Whereas all 10 people that came up before me, leave happily with their bags in tow with 3-4 piece meals as well as family sized meals. I don't get it. Are those hundreds of carcasses laying on your flame grillers stunt doubles?! For show!!? ALL FOUR times I have been there in the last 3 months, I have been forced to wait at least 20 minutes for chicken. Yes, it's true, when they tell me it will be another 20 minutes, I could technically get a refund; but A. I've already invested 10 minutes (15 with parking and ordering) and B. I WANT MY FREAKING CHICKEN! UPDATE: One other ridiculous thing..I went in last week, yes, I know, I hate it but it's the closest one to me!! I ordered a 12 piece mixed, because there's nothing I love more in this world, than some white meat. Surly girl behind the counter....takes a split second glance over her shoulder, and says "we ain't got no white meat, it'll be 30 to 40 minutes". WTF?! I'm pretty sure I could go to the store, buy raw chicken pieces, marinade it, and grill it in that same time frame. I JUST WANT SOME CHICKEN!! (Jesus...I sound like a Tyler Perry movie). ! Dark meat it is....or as I call it "poor". Ugh. Salsa bar. I hate you, why do you only provide 1 oz. serving cups when most people, and by most people I mean me, consume one serving cup per bite? If it's cost control, I'm telling you now that I have absolutely no shame, contrary to my boyfriend's utter humiliation, in filling up 15 individual 1 oz. cups full of spicy avocado salsa. Not to mention 5 of pico de gallo, and 5 of limes/onions. Oh yeah, I'm "that girl". Which goes without saying, that's whole lotta caps and cups....which probably costs more to supply than say...oh I don't know....5 measly 5 oz. containers/caps? How about that? Where's my college cost control professor, when I need him? However, in my EPL seniority, I have found a loop hole. I recently discovered it when asking for one of their small sides containers for salsa, and the girl said that they charge for them...which I have no problem with, but she ended the sentence with "but I have these right here you can use". And what does her chubby questionable dark hands hold up? 5 oz. portion cups! Gotcha!!! Everytime...every single time I ask for those babies...and if for some reason I ever get shut down....I'm bringing an igloo cooler and a tupperware party. read more

I been there several times and the food is allways fresh and the service really friendly and the facilities clean. The parking lot does sucks. there were times that I been craving their food and when I get there there is not parking. I would not decreased a star cuz I know that is an issue out of their hands. However just want to let management know they could have more business without that issue. read more

Very kind courteous and quick service with great food! Highly recommend this Pollo loco!

I was just here for lunch. I didn't really have a high expectation when I went here. All the other franchises I have been were all filthy. Surprisingly, this place is different. The tables and floor are very clean. The people behind the counter were polite and sanitary- clean nails and have their hair up. The food is great and tasted fresh. The salsa bar was clean and refilled right away. The parking is small since they share it with other stores but for students, that's no big deal. Overall, it's great to know this place is in front of PCC. read more

Yum! Food came out quick, location was clean and food was good! The chicken was really flavorful and the sides were delicious.

I'll be honest. Parking is horrible and when you walk up to the entrance it seems a little dirty looking. BUT...the inside is immaculate, bright, several seating options with no rips/duct tape, etc. The employees have always been wonderful; friendly, professional and helpful. And the music is pretty cool! read more

Eww! Don't eat here. This is nothing like the one next to my house, this is "el pollo horror loco." It tastes quite bad, worse than other El Pollo's, and I usually end up sick from it or with an upset stomach later. read more

CUSTOMERS, EXAMINE YOUR FOOD. Am a chicken lover and El Pollo Loco was one of my favorites, for family meals, parties, and company parties. Couple of months ago, bought family meal to go, which included a large container of their delicious corn. As I was getting second helping of the corn, I saw piece of shrimp in the container. We do not eat shrimp, so none allowed into house. I sent complaint through their website, no response. I called their 800 number and talked to Carlos asking if the restaurant even sells shrimp, or was an employee eating food from outside while preparing my order. They said they will investigate, they will get back with me, I have never heard from them since. So to those who do not eat shrimp because of allergies, religious beliefs, or other personal reasons, examine your food first because they do not seem to be accountable for whatever foreign objects are in the food. All I wanted to know is how did shrimp get into that restaurant. Do they sell it too, and it fell in there by accident, or was an employee eating food from outside while preparing my order. Without their response, I do not know if I should stay away from only that particular restaurant, or the whole chain. read more

Have come back three times to pick up dinner for our Wed bible study group. Each time this wonderful place provided great healthy food and attentive service that satisfied our stomach and soul. Had ordered around in the neighborhood, by far this store provided the best quality food and service. Would like to write this review to encourage these hard-working staffs to continuously provide outstanding food and service and wish more people will benefit from ordering food at this little gem in Pasadena just like us!!! read more

The food at this location is GREAT! Nice and cozy place to eat and relax on your lunch break. The service is awesome. Everyone here is great, customer service is awesome. Teresa always going that extra mile to make customers happy. read more

It's El Pollo Loco.. if you been to one, you pretty much have been to all of them. The have been expanding their menu with beef and pork options. However, I go here for the classics... charbroiled chicken, rice, and beans. I'm still a fan of their salsas. They are simple, but they work with their menu.Rice and pico de gallo mixed together is my favorite side. read more

I haven't been here in YEARS.. It's not just what I remembered as a kid... Chicken isn't bad tasting but prefer going someplace else with the price you pay you could get something a bit better ... read more

Will usually get their el pollo bowl. Crave this stuff every so often. It's a bowl of flavors! Includes rice, black beans, chicken, and avocado. Very good portion and under 500 calories! Service can be really slow or quick. Just depends on the time you go. During prime lunch time I waited 15 minutes for my food. Parking is right out in front. Small lot shared with four businesses. You'll have to be lucky. read more