Salsa Roja (Fiery)
El Pollo Loco

El Pollo Loco

2200 University Ave, Riverside, United States

Lunch • Wings • Mexican • Chicken


"To begin my visit, I chose to arrive just as the restaurant opened at 10 a.m. I got there a bit early and noticed the area outside. The smell of old grease hit me as I drove into the parking lot, which was concerning. At exactly 10 a.m., I walked up to the entrance and found an older man and an employee waiting outside. The manager, or franchise owner, eventually let us in about five minutes later. Regarding the most significant issue—rude staff—I believe they've made improvements. The manager who opened the door greeted me warmly, and the employee invited me to go in first. The woman at the counter who took my order was very friendly, and I noticed at least three people from the kitchen thanking me when I picked up my food. My experience with the staff was positive overall. Another frequently mentioned complaint was a terrible smell, reminiscent of sewage. To test this, I intentionally sat near the bathroom, and I didn't find any unpleasant odors inside. The only undesirable scent was the old grease, which was only noticeable outside. I even checked the salsa bar, and it smelled fresh. Regarding pricing, while many reviews suggested they charge more, I didn’t personally verify this. I spent $11.53 on five Tapatio wings and a drink. The overall decor was somewhat dated and could use some minor repairs, but I understand that maintaining a business in California is expensive, and many restaurants operate on slim profit margins. I wasn’t bothered by the condition; it felt acceptable. However, I did note that one of the two bathrooms was out of order, and the other was locked. As for my order, it was accurate. Considering I was one of only two customers, the chances for error were minimal. During busy times, mistakes can happen, as humans work in the kitchen. It’s also the responsibility of customers to check their orders—just like you would inspect a car before buying it, you should verify your meal! As for the loud noise mentioned in reviews, yes, there was a noticeable sound, but I likely wouldn't have paid attention to it if I hadn't read those negative comments prior to my visit. This isn’t a five-star restaurant; it’s a fast food place, aptly named "The Crazy Chicken," not "The Delicate Rooster." The service was not particularly fast, but it wasn’t slow either; it took about eight minutes for me to receive my order. The chicken was fresh and properly cooked, and I genuinely enjoyed it. The interior temperature was comfortable, and as someone who tends to feel warm easily, I appreciated that. While the establishment wasn’t spotless, overall, my visit was better than I expected."

El Pollo Loco

El Pollo Loco

3750 W 5th St, 93030-6300, Oxnard, United States

Family • Mexican • Chicken • Spanish


"**Service:** 1. When we were trying to place our order, we were greeted by an attendant who spoke Spanish. We explained that we didn’t understand Spanish, and there was an awkward pause before she asked, “Well, what do you want then?” This made us feel like we were inconveniencing her by ordering in our own language. We pressed on and began to place our order in English, but she continued to respond in Spanish. Politely, we told her again that we didn’t understand, and she repeated herself in Spanish yet again. Only after our third attempt did she finally confirm our order in English. This was quite frustrating and uncomfortable! We support cultural integration, but it’s rude to ignore the language needs of existing residents. Management should ensure that bilingual staff are available to avoid offending customers. 2. We told the attendant that we planned to eat outside since we had our dog with us. When we received our order, we checked for utensils, napkins, and plates, but none were provided. We asked for those items before leaving the drive-thru, and there was another uncomfortable pause, as if we were being bothersome. She then told us to wait and shut the window. We felt dismissed. When she returned, she asked in an aggressive tone, “So what is it that you want then?” We reiterated our need for utensils so we could eat outside. Once again, she shut the window, this time with a slight slam. My partner and I exchanged looks in disbelief at how this was unfolding. She eventually came back, handed us the bag of items, and we tried to thank her, but she again slammed the window shut. The manager at this location needs to have a serious discussion with the staff about customer service. We spent $50 on our meal and felt treated terribly! There are two locations equidistant from our home—after this experience, which one do you think we’ll choose next time? Probably not this one! **Atmosphere:** The outdoor area where we ate seemed clean and suitable for dining. The lighting could have been improved, but it was adequate. The only uncomfortable aspect was the presence of a homeless person’s overstuffed shopping cart parked right by the front door. We took about 20 minutes to eat, with full visibility of the lobby dining area through the large windows. After finishing our meal, we went inside to use the restrooms. The restroom doors required a code to enter, which was annoyingly easy to guess: 12345. When we tried to go in, we noticed both restrooms were occupied. That was odd, especially since there were only two other customers inside, and they hadn’t left their tables while we were there. We speculated that perhaps homeless individuals were inside taking sponge baths or sleeping. We waited a few minutes, but no one came out..."