El Pollo Loco — Restaurant in Garden Grove

This location is right around the corner from my house, but I would rather drive further to the one on Euclid because this one is so horrid. My husband and I came here last week and decided to go in instead of go through the drive thru and I'm glad we did. To start with the entire inside was filthy, and mind you my expectations are pretty low when it comes to cleanliness at fast food restaurants. This place though, there was garbage all over the floor; napkins, empty trays, I almost slipped in a puddle of salsa as we walked out. You could smell the restroom from the counter, where my husband and I stood for 10 minutes without being acknowledged. If the seating area wasn't bad enough, behind the counter was way worse. Food everywhere; on the ground on the counter, sliding down the wall...not to mention the guy that was preparing the chicken was doing it with his bare hands then wiping his nose after. I mean really this was bad. Needless to say we left and went to the one on Euclid and Ball which is way cleaner. STAY AWAY FROM THIS LOCATION unless you want to catch some sort of disease...

Like many places after Covid, El Pollo Loco is more expensive. Gas prices have affected food prices all across the board because gas affects shipping. The big difference is while most fast food has gotten more expensive, it also has become a shadow of their former selves in terms of food quality. Pollo Loco is one of the few fast food places ( In N Out being another) where the quality has not suffered. I ordered the Double Avocado Salad and 3 Tacos Al Carbon. Food was delicious. Place was clean. Service was bright, courteous, and performed with a smile. The only reason I did not give this location a 5 star is because I am primarily an Unsweetened Iced Tea man. You can still get that, but they don't have it offered in the machine dispenser anymore. I feel this focus on sugary drinks is antithetical to the more healthy food Pollo Loco is famous for. Also, of course, it means re-fills are trickier. Other than that, it was a good experience. Bonus: as a DJ I enjoyed the mix of music which included Peter Gabriel, Taylor Swift, Paula Cole, and...

I went at noon. Steady stream in drive-thru. Walk in, about 5. They don't really seem as short-staffed as other places. 2 cooks in the back, 1 drive-thru, 1 person up front, and 1 manager. The service is atrocious. They really push you to use the kiosk, which you can't customize. I wanted mashed potatoes with gravy on the side; can't do that. I scanned a coupon, no response. The avocado chicken burrito is $1 more expensive than the menu board. I finally order from the front counter person. She (Rita) really wants us to go away. I ask for napkins, salsa, and utensils (because thanks to California, you have to ask for all that). She gives us one and walks away. This happens at least 3 times. I don't even want my spicy avocado salsa because I'm annoyed and just want to eat my food and leave as quickly as possible.

Don't come to this location. Go elsewhere, I'm sure you'll get much better service. This location is turning me away fom the El Pollo...