El Pollo Loco - Menu

2200 University Ave, Riverside, United States

🛍 Lunch, Wings, Mexican, Chicken

4 💬 5115 Reviews
El Pollo Loco

Phone: +19516827543

Address: 2200 University Ave, Riverside, United States

City: Riverside

Menu Dishes: 30

Reviews: 5115

"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."

Full menu - 30 options

All prices are estimates on menu.

Main Dishes, Sides & Extras

Bowls

Salads

Tacos

Sandwiches

Pollo Fit Bowls

Family Chicken

Toast

Chicken Wings

Main Courses

Spanish

Egg Dishes

Dessert

Soups

Pasta

Nachos

Under 500 Calories

Tostada Salads

Epic Burritos

Katy Katy

I really loved the tortilla soup, and I'm coming back for more tonight! I just wish there was a way to get extra chips.

Address

Show Map

Reviews

Davis
Davis

The food was fresh and the portion sizes were generous. We thoroughly enjoyed the salads, burritos, chicken, and tacos – everything was delicious!


Terry
Terry

The food we got was awesome but they forgot our Chicken Taco al Carbon and Macaroni Cheese so even though our Double Chicken Tostada Salad apos;s were great we paid for more and didn apos;t get it.


Alexandro
Alexandro

The food was great, the restaurant itself was very hot, I think the AC was working, I visited a 100-degree weather day and I decided to dive. When I left the outside, it was cooler than in the restaurant. I hope the AC was fixed. View menu


Logan
Logan

They had the order ready quickly, and it was right, but I was never recognized by an employee, and the smell inside was abusive. The food was good for what it was, but I was a little bit more careful than normal when eating this time.


Cesar's
Cesar's

Very impress. Usually at other places the avocado burrito seems like smaller but here was at the perfect size. The taste was very good and the personal very friendly. I think the boss needs to give them a raise. ; #Fotorider #cesarsphotography#knightrider #KITT


Jerry
Jerry

I'm very impressed! Usually, at other places, avocado burritos seem smaller, but here it was the perfect size. The flavor was excellent, and the staff was very friendly. I think the owner should give them a raise! #Fotorider #cesarsphotography #knightrider #KITT View menu


Mike
Mike

I have to start by saying that the chicken nachos paired perfectly with the beer! The beans were especially delicious. As for the other items, they’re best saved for the next day. Unlike burgers, the rest of the food reheats really well, and I know that from past experience.


Ajay
Ajay

The below review is based on my opinions while visiting this business on 03/24/2022 at 12:10pm. This place is a complete madhouse. Got in here at 12:10pm. Finally got to place my order at 12:20pm. Got my food at 12:45pm. From what I saw they had 4employees working. Thank you for showing up to work. This review is not on the employees working there. The franchisee needs towork harder to find more employees to work here please. Customers were just standing everywhere waiting for the food. I wassurprised that they charged me $4 for for two small plastic packets of guacamole. Each packet probably has about two 1-1.5tablespoons of guacamole. By the time I got my food the ice in my drink was melte...


Wolfgang
Wolfgang

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 th... View menu

Riverside

Riverside

Riverside, California, has a rich history and cultural diversity, offering vibrant Mexican cuisine with tacos and burritos, alongside American classics like burgers and craft beer.

Categories

  • Lunch Satisfy your midday cravings with our delicious lunch menu. From fresh salads and hearty sandwiches to savory soups and vibrant bowls, each dish is crafted to give you the perfect midday boost.
  • Wings Savor our juicy, tender wings, tossed in your choice of mouth-watering sauces and served with crisp celery and cooling ranch or blue cheese dressing for the perfect flavor combination. View menu
  • Mexican Authentic Mexican flavors await you with sizzling fajitas, savory tacos, zesty enchiladas, and fresh guacamole, all crafted with rich, traditional spices and served with vibrant sides. Enjoy a fiesta on your plate!
  • Chicken Succulent and savory, our chicken dishes are crafted with tender meat, flavorful seasonings, and diverse culinary inspirations. Enjoy a delectable variety that's sure to satisfy every palate.

Amenities

  • Takeout
  • Delivery
  • menu

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Menu • Cafés • Steak • Salads • Burgers


"The Habit hamburger chain is pretty above the average fastfood place. Speaking of fast food, this place was not! I am going to likely account for the slower service and preparation due to fact that I straggled in pretty late and not too far from closing time. I noticed several of the young staff standing around behind the counter and in the prep area mostly unproductive and doing nothing but loudly talking and gossipping about others amongst themselves. The conversation seemed somewhat tacky, but no big deal. They were having fun. Meanwhile all this personnel standing around and my order is not being prepared. I see maybe 3 employees actually keeping busy . The one that took my order, another person cleaning the dining area and another bagging up orders for a food delivery service that was coming in to pickup the order. Finally, someone does something and drops some fries in the basket. At this point I distracted myself with my phone. After about five minutes a few more last minute patrons drop in and line up behind the counter while the same group of kids behind the counter mostly disperse back to work but continue to chat back n forth about teenage chit chat. I think that must of been about the time my burger probably hit the grill. My Burger was good and tasty no complaints, but my fries were not so good. They were lukewarm and kinda soggy. I think that they didn't cook in hot enough oil and were removed from the fryer wayyy before my burger was finished being prepared. Like I said, a lot of younger staff and right before closing. With such large staff only two or three seemed to be doing all the work. It seemed like time took forever before my puck ever buzzed for pickup. ALSO THIS LOCATION DOESNT HAVE THE GINGER INFUSED FRUIT JUICE DRINK. Was it replaced by the Mango? I chose the berry lemonade and it was fairly watered down. I mostly am really knit picking , as I enjoy having this as a choice for a place to get an above average burger at a decent price for what ya get!"