El Pollo Loco — Restaurant in Hayward

This was my second visit to this location. The first visit, just one week before I would have given it a 5-star review. The chicken was moist and there was plenty of it in the bowl I ordered. It rivaled the Reno, NV location which is my favorite location.

This visit the chicken was dried out and there really weren't many pieces in the bowl. The amount if chicken was pathetic. I will return one more time as it may have been a bad day, but I really wish these chicken restaurants would weigh the portions out for consistency. I find the same thing happening at another Mexican restaurant that serves chicken bowls and they put the ingredients in as you walk down the line. That restaurant chain's name starts with a C.

Please get consistency or I won't return and I love the food El Pollo Loco is capable of making. Follow the recipes and please don't take shortcuts. Cutting the chicken into tiny pieces like I saw this time might increases your bottom line, but customers won't come back.

I will give it one more try and I sure hope that it is as good as it was the first time. More to...

Second time trying el pollo loco , asked for a chicken chipotle avacado burrito , no salsa , extra sour cream , no avacado , no cabbage , and the guy asked me if I wanted to add a side of chips and guac . And I said nah im good thank you tho . Then he asked me how about 2 churros , then I was like okay , cause you know I was feeling kinda generous . Tried the churro , didnt like it first bite in , it tasted sugary and not how a churro should really taste like . I wish it could have tasten any better . Dont get me wrong , the burrito was amazing , but now the churros ? See , I was good on that . So just for future reference , dont try to bribe people into spending a little less for something...

Third time here, today. On the first visit, the chicken had sat too long and dried out. The place had just opened and was crazy busy, so that's kind of understandable. After that, the chicken, sides, salsas, tortillas, and the staff have all been proper 'El Pollo Loco' amazing. That said, I've also been trying the different burritos each visit. Every single time, however, I've bitten into chicken bones inside the burrito. It's really unpleasant and off-putting. This is not a 'too busy' thing, or a food has been 'sitting too long' thing, it's a skill thing. Whoever is separating the chicken for burritos and salads at this location is not good at it, and should be moved to a...