I've been wanting to come here for quite some time. Sadly this place is pretty 'bad'. Grilled chicken- Very dry and devoid of any flavor at all. Probably the driest chicken I've ever eaten. Almost as if it was cooked the previous day and sat out, then re-heated. Mexican Rice- Bland, dry, and without a soul. :/ Frijoles- Probably the best thing here. Smooth and tasty. Salsa- Also very good. Flour tortillas- Very good. I ended up throwing away the rest of my chicken because I couldnt figure out what to do with it. My neighbor took one look at it and winced. My dog choked on it because it was so dry! Who actually eats here? read more

Check them out pretty good food!!! Definitely come back! Great services! And they don't take to long and was quick. Thank you again read more

El Pollo Norteño - The 2Pcs super good would recommend. Also the guacamole and chips were good too! Ooh I forgot and the Flan was also pretty good - Mexican Near Me - Anaheim, California

Came here for lunch on a Sunday afternoon. It was empty after ordering but got busy once I got my food. I ordered the Torta and 2 piece chicken plate with the charro beans and rice. The food was very flavorful. The staff is very friendly. I just wish they added more of the sides on the plate but overall great place. read more

See all

Best barbecue chicken and carne asada in OC. Beats El Pollo Loco by far. Have been going there for approx 10 years. The only complaint is that the prices keep going up. read more

It's disappointing when you spend a good amount of money here expecting quality and fresh food especially with their prices are a bit high. We were able to totally tell that the food is days old. The carne asada tastes like it is at least 2 to 3 days old. I seen the man in the back rewarming the asada in a plastic bag in the microwave. I didn't expect the meat to not be freshly cooked the day of. The rice smelled and tasted old. It's 11am on a Wednesday, I would expect to at least have fresh food. The chicken was ok. I wouldn't never go back. What a waste of food and money. I can't feed my children days old meat and rice. I hope me and my husband do not get sick. This is very disappointing. When prices are high you would think the food would live up to the expectations... read more

Amazing food! The chicken was really flavorful, beans were really tasty, Mac salad was ok, not housemade but I'm not mad. Flour tortillas aren't made on property but they were really good. The service was good, the guy who took our order was really friendly. The place is spacious and clean. read more

See all

This place is always satisfying. The chicken is always fresh, never dry. The salsas have good flavor and overall a good experience for the family. read more

Excellent food and customer service. I could smell the deliciousness down the block. They do not disappoint. Excellent...I'll be back with my crew next time. read more

El Pollo Norteño - Mexican Near Me - Anaheim, California

Great service, food was delicious. Very clean establishment. Highly recommended, wish I can add more stars

This chicken never disappoints. Very tasty!!! All their food is tasty including the Charro beans and guacamole. The three chicken meal will feed approximately 8 adult adults and four children. It's a great go to spot when you don't want to cook. We'll definitely keep coming back. read more

Great Food Chicken hase a great flavor you will ever eat. Great restaurant for families and has the best combos. read more

Absolutely delicious... This place is comparable to El pollo loco but a billion times better!! The mesquite grilled chicken is mouth watering amazing!! The beans are delicious and I can't wait to try everything on the menu. The sweet man that helped me was awesome and gave me some great suggestions. I will be back for sure read more

Date of Visit: 06/25/2025 Location: Anaheim Restaurant: El Pollo Norteño To whom it may concern, I wanted to share some honest feedback following my recent visit to your Anaheim location of El Pollo Norteño, which has long been my second favorite restaurant and one I've supported for years. When I arrived, I noticed the grills were not in use and were being cleaned. There were very few customers inside, and one of the things I've always loved about visiting El Pollo Norteño is the smell of fresh chicken being grilled--an experience that was missing this time. While I considered mentioning the inactive grills, I assumed perhaps the food had just finished cooking. However, on my drive home, I noticed there was no signature aroma of grilled chicken in the car, which was unusual and disappointing. I spent a little over $60.00 on this visit to feed my family of six, and unfortunately, the quality did not match the price. The chicken had to be reheated in the microwave, and the tortillas were very hard--even though I've been told they are delivered fresh daily. The chicken tasted dry, like it had been sitting under a heat lamp for too long. The salsa also didn't taste the same--it was watery and lacked the usual flavor we enjoy. While I was there, I overheard one of the staff behind the counter mention to a customer--possibly someone she knew--that business had dropped by 80% due to ICE raids. I sympathize with the difficult circumstances. My family has deep roots with El Pollo Norteño. My sister worked at your very first location on Grand Avenue in Santa Ana, and we even have a family connection to your business. But this isn't about that. It's about quality and consistency. As much as I'd like a refund, I'm not asking for one. I simply ask that you do better. This experience did not reflect the warmth, quality, and pride I've always associated with El Pollo Norteño. If I lived closer, I would have returned the food immediately. I'm truly disappointed. Please take this as constructive feedback from someone who genuinely wants to see your restaurant succeed and continue to be a beloved part of the community. read more

El Pollo Norteño - Mexican Near Me - Anaheim, California

I just want to say I'm disappointed on my food I got today. I got 2 chickens bowls. I expected at least some what of a good amount of chicken but on both bowls literally had like only 5 strips of chicken each. It mainly had straight up rice and beans. Paid 11 bucks and some change for both bowls. Anyways the service is good but not worth it on the portion of the chicken. Please add more chicken on the bowl. 5 stripes of chicken was a joke. read more

The food is great. The people are very nice and helpful. I recommend this place to everyone.

food was great everything was on point.. the staff was very nice and it was a great place to eat. I will definitely go again.

The costumer service is awful They confuse you w/ the prices The prices it doesn't the same when you place an order At the final, they charge more than the his flyer said. The food is really good, but the costumer service is horrible. read more

El Pollo Norteño - The prices it doesn't the same When your place an order - Mexican Near Me - Anaheim, California

Too soggy no flavor in my chicken bowl. It was my first time here and I was disappointed. The sauces did not have any flavor. read more

El Pollo Norteño - The chicken was good I ask for the chicken bowl and they added a lot of wet beans which makes the whole meal soggy. - Mexican Near Me - Anaheim, California

Really good, similar to El Pollo loco, but the prices are better and I think the food is a little better.

It was delicious and I was starving. Thanks for a good lunch meal. Quick and easy. Service was pleasant . The food stop is at a small middle corner near varsity burger. Decent food read more

Came here on our way back home after universal studios , we was wanting some TJ pollo asado type food and it did not disappoint , the chicken was on point, ordered macaroni salad and refried beans as my sides , restaurant was clean and service was good will definitely have it as a choice next time we're up there PS the farther north you go the worst the tortillas taste read more

The best chicken meals around. It reminds me of the old Pollo Loco when they first came out. Fresh and great serving sizes. Try the family packs with rice, beans, salsa and red onions. Yummy! read more

I came in while I was waiting for the bus to grab a quick drink. There was no line. The inside was clean and the bathrooms were clean. The staff was really friendly and accommodating. Thank you! read more

If you're looking for some good food you can always order from her and not get disappointed. Order here a lot and enjoy their chicken! Service is always great. read more

This is your classic Mexican chicken asada joint. The chicken marinade is super delicious, all the sides are good not great. The salsas are very spicy and tasty. The caldo de pollo is bomb, although every now and then, it comes out a bit on the salty side. The service is good enough. I order ahead and it's always ready when I get there. They speak Spanish and English. The restaurant itself is almost always clean. read more

Tiny chicken burrito with guacamole.. 11 bucks. Rip off... felt as if they made the smallest burrito they could get away with. Bummer.. I'm sure I'm not the only customer they've humiliated. read more

**This review is specifically for the restaurant in Anaheim, on Lincoln.. this service took place on Sunday, October 13, 2024, in case any actual manager reads this.. the Service here is absolutely terrible. Gave a phone order, in Spanish, and still couldn't get the order correct. After picking up the food and driving all the way back home the order was incorrect. Called to complain and explained we would not be able to return the same evening to resolve the issue, but could return the next day, they said "oh no, if you want your order fixed you NEED to return now." So inconvenient! The lady said they have no manager and then said she wouldn't give her name. When asked again she said her name was " James" in Spanish of course?! She didn't seem very truthful .. .. Very rude lady and ruined our night completely. We will no longer be returning here. Food is definitely not worth the stress. Even if you speak Spanish and order in Spanish, they still won't get your order correct. read more

What began as a family-owned chicken restaurant has developed into a chain with locations spread across Orange County. Their chicken and sides have such amazing flavor that remains authentic after all these years! I'm excited to continue trying different dishes! I do however feel that their indoor dining section could use some more light and liveliness to complement their meals. read more

Grilled chicken place, you get five stars for flavor and value. If you need quantity value, I think this place is pricey for the meals, but the burrito is probably cheaper than the high end burritos from el pollo loco or Del taco, I had the chicken burrito it was like six bucks. It had awesome flavor without salsa. The restaurant has a lot of seating, but I'm not a fan of the beverage options... I think this could become a regular spot for me because it is the closest chicken place. read more

El Pollo Norteño - Size is huge! - Mexican Near Me - Anaheim, California

Wow, what can I say? As soon as you open the front door, the smell of the amazing food hits you. This place is 100%authentic food. The customer service is amazing. You need to try it. read more

Food and price was amazing. Highly recommend. We got the family meal deal and it was a lot of food. Very yummy will return. Recommend the carnitas, weird but they were good. They weren't all dry! read more

Great tasting food here. Obviously the pollo is great but their side dishes are pretty tasty. Asada is good here too. Love that the chicken prices have not changed at all in the last few years I've been coming. Also the chicken here is a good sized bird it is not one of those tiny pathetic pollo loco chickens. Employees are polite and food is quick to come out even when there's a line. If you dine in they serve mexican beer...always a plus! read more

Don't be deterred, while it may seem like a hole in the wall this place is a gem! Food was fantastic with large portions for the price. If you're looking for some fantastic Mexican food in the area, be sure to stop by here. read more

I went at 10:15 in the morning. I waited 10 minutes. And when I got home my beans tasted very sour. Very disappointed. Plus their chicken is really expensive. $35 for 10 piece meal.. Think twice going here read more

My favorite, chicken is like no other. Charro Beans are fire too... keep up the good work and please open more locations

The food they grill outside is not compared what you eat inside, had the smallest burnt drum stick/the rice was dry/the lady at front was giving an attitude for no reason say they don't have certain drinks when i clearly see them behind her. At least check before giving a straight no. When I walked outside all the chicken from the grill was gone and see a dirty grill that's not been cleaned properly I can see why people get sick here. read more

This review is based on just the food. I didn't take pictures cause the food looked fine but these wet burritos were inedible absolutely terrible so SALTY and I like salt in fact I like when Mexican spots are salty for us white folk lol but these were so salty it could not be eaten it just couldn't. I almost feel the guy did it on purpose or something. I did use a coupon I don't know but I wasted money and had to toss the food. I'd appreciate if this was a mistake for it to be corrected so I can leave a better review cause I wanted to like this place read more

If you come here, come for the chicken plate or meals. I can't remember the last time I had a great meal, but this meal was so perfect after having a rough day. Piping hot chicken, soft potato salad, yummy charro beans, steamy tortillas, delicious pickled carrots and onions, and a surprise jalapeño that literally made me cry. read more

Horrible service chicken was literally microwaved and then put on the grill wtf!!!! I was to embarrassed to say I didn't want it. when I got home I figured I'd give it a try and of course chicken was cold and disgusting this place should close down that's how bad this experience was. Never going back again read more

El Pollo Norteño - Chicken ? - Mexican Near Me - Anaheim, California

You can smell the smoky mesquite flavor of this chicken as it roasts while you order. The service is kind, no frills, and prompt. The food is delicious and the sides are good. Big ups for going beyond chicken to serve up classic family pack of asada and carnitas. Good stuff all around. Worth the quick wait for delicious eats. read more