El Pollo Loco — Restaurant in Brea

So I've had multiple issues with this restaurant. How does a place that sells chicken, run out of chicken? Well this place can. I walk in to get dinner and am told that they are currently out of chicken and it will be a while before more is cooked. So I leave. But the final straw was my last visit. First there is only one entrance into this place, so whoever it was washing out the trash cans thought that was the ideal place to perform that task. So I had to step through dirty trash water. Then I go to pull the handle on the door, and it's broken and I almost punch myself in the face. And of course they had no sign saying be careful or just having the door propped open. So I get inside and order my food to go. When I get home and start eating, I realized that they gave me the incorrect order. I do not like certain items and ordered a burrito that does not contain them at all. So I ended up throwing away my dinner. When I write to corporate about my experience I did not receive a reply at all not even the "we are very sorry, we'll try to do better." Nothing. I will no longer do business with this location or this company and have been telling people to go elsewhere. I've worked in the refuse industry, trash cans are absolutely disgusting, and having customers enter your restaurant walking through where someone is cleaning them out seems like a health and safety violation to me. Avoid this place...

If your job involves serving the public, you absolutely must do two things:

Let them know that you see them. Tell them when they will be helped, even if you are very very busy.

What you don't do is TOTALLY IGNORE THEM.

I went to to this restaurant hoping for a peaceful, reasonably priced meal. Instead I got frustration with a side of sarcasm from the staff.

I waited several minutes for anyone to even acknowledge me before I spoke up. That's when the real fun began. The employee argued with me instead of telling me when I could place my order. I walked out.

I happily paid more at another restaurant for fast and friendly service.

I know these times are challenging and it's hard to keep fully staffed, but do not open your dining room if you cannot provide a reasonable level of courtesy and service for your customers.

Part 2 - Frustration and Annoyance

I got an automated response from Pollo Loco: "We want to make this right."

Let's just say...I'm not convinced. There was a link that led to a " Contract Us" page that didn't work.

Also automated responses are not a terribly sincere form of communication.

Guys, just give it up. I can read...

I've given this location several attempts but after tonight I'm done. Will drive the extra distance to go to the one in Yorba Linda. In the past the problem has been ordering curbside and having to sit around for 5 or 10 minutes before finally having to go in to get my order but the last few times I've gone there that's improved. This time I did curbside it brought my food out in a timely manner but had the back tied so tight I had to cut it open with scissors when I got home only to find out that they didn't include the dressing for my wife's salad so I had to drive all the way back to the store to get her the dressing and when I told the associate that they left it out of the bag she opened the refrigerator handed to me and turned around and said nothing. No I'm sorry or oh my gosh nothing just handed to me and went back to her business. Don't waste your time going to this location as their customer service...