Chicken and Taco Loco Bar & Grill — Restaurant in Florida

We had a deeply disappointing experience at Chicken Taco Loco in Brandon, FL that needs to be shared especially for families with autistic children or anyone expecting respectful service.

My grandma made a reservation and we arrived with my two autistic siblings, both of whom have sensory processing disorders and very specific dietary needs. My mom ordered them chicken tenders and fries, but unfortunately, they couldn’t tolerate the food. To avoid a meltdown and ensure they had something to eat, my mo. quickly went across the street to grab them pizza something familiar and safe for them.

At no point during the reservation process, on their website, on the door, or on their menu did it say outside food was not allowed. We were seated and respectful. But instead of handling the situation with compassion or professionalism, a woman claiming to be the “manager” approached us with a condescending, nasty attitude, scolding us and saying bringing outside food was a “code violation.”

Not only is this not true we confirmed that there is no Florida law banning outside food; it’s simply an internal policy but if it is their policy, it should be clearly posted. We were not warned, just humiliated. The way it was handled showed zero empathy, especially toward neurodivergent children.

We also spoke to the “owner” who offered no accountability, no apology, and no transparency. No one at this establishment seemed concerned with customer care, inclusion, or even basic kindness.

This place is absolutely NOT autistic-friendly. If you’re looking for a welcoming environment with quality food and staff who treat families with respect, I highly recommend Gran Agave down the road. Much better service, authentic food, and a truly family-friendly atmosphere.

We will never return to Chicken Taco Loco, and I hope they reconsider how they treat people especially...

We had a very disappointing experience at Chicken Taco Loco in Brandon, FL. We made a reservation and arrived with our two autistic children who have severe sensory processing disorders and very limited diets. We ordered chicken tenders and fries for them, but unfortunately, they couldn’t tolerate the food. Wanting to ensure they still had something to eat, I quickly went across the street to get them pizza something they’re comfortable with. While the reat of our party ordered food.

At no point on their website, the menu, or signage does it state that outside food is prohibited. Despite this, we were approached by a manager with an extremely rude and condescending attitude, claiming that bringing outside food was a “code violation.” Not only is this false (we verified that there is no Florida law supporting this), but the entire approach lacked compassion, especially for a situation involving children with special needs. She went as far as to say she wouldn’t take the food away because they had already started eating it as if that were ever an option.

When we spoke with the supposed owner, there was zero accountability, no empathy, and no effort to de-escalate the situation or take ownership of their poor handling. If this is an internal policy, it should be clearly communicated to guests especially in a family-oriented setting.

If you’re looking for real Mexican food and a welcoming environment for families with children of all abilities, I strongly recommend Gran Agave. Their food is far superior, and their staff understands how to treat all guests with respect.

Sadly, it’s clear that Chicken Taco Loco is not autism-friendly, nor do they prioritize customer service or...

I tried to reserve a table for Oct 30, 2022, to celebrate my 60th birthday. I called on Sat Oct 29 and was told they don't take reservations, but they would hold a table for me if I called the next day. I did call and said I needed a table for 10 people for 6:30, they said OK. Then at 6 pm, they called me and said the kitchen is closing at 7 pm. What? The site says 10 PM. Well, it was too late to change plans, so we went. The waiter was super nice. We waited until our whole party was there and made our orders. five of us ordered mixed fajitas. My friend got his first. Huge shrimp with tails and a lot of steak and chicken. I got mine last. The whole plate was nothing but green peppers and onions. The shrimp were tiny salad size shrimps, and they were overcooked. More like burnt. The steak pieces were so tiny, like they took a small piece of steak and cut it into even tinier pieces. And the peppers were so big, like they were trying to hide the fact that there was nothing else on the plate. One of my friends was drinking a coke and when they refilled her cup, there was a dead fly in it. The waiter apologized then made a joke about it. They were rushing us to get out because they were all in costumes and were planning to leave early to attend a Halloween party. I usually go to this restaurant at least twice a month and I have always brought a lot of people with me. But they ruined my experience here. I guess they don't care about customers anymore. Just themselves. This is the third Mexican restaurant to occupy this space. When is the fourth one coming because I can't see them staying in business when they act like...