El Pollo Loco — Restaurant in Los Angeles

Judging from all the reviews the staff seems to be the problem, but I've never had an issue with them.... well the exception always being the cook who works on the chicken. They have this glare on you the moment you order something that isn't too their liking.

I come here often, and sometimes the customers are the rude ones more often than not, especially those with animals. Homeless people are also a problem as they tend to defecate outside the location, which immediately prompts me to get something else, but I feel that is a problem facing a lot of places in Los Angeles.

The quality of the chicken really is a gamble. It's either good or not. If it's good, the chicken is cooked properly and you can actually taste the flavors in the chicken. If the Chicken is bad, it's either burnt that all you taste is the charred surface or is either too hard to enjoy.

The time of opening does tend to be inconsistent and often times I find myself going in at 11AM to make sure it's open, and right before the lunch time rush, when the lines get long.

Actually as I write this, one of the workers there, a cashier, didn't seem to know how to count as he almost gave me less money that what was indicated...

This is the OG Pollo Loco, the FIRST ONE! Just like the Original Tommy's Burgers (which is not too far away) if you are gonna indulge in Pollo Loco, well, there is no better place to do so!

Granted, it may not be or look like one of their newer franchise restaurants, but you gotta go where it all started to get the most authentic taste.

It is located in a part of LA not yet (totally) gentrified so you are gonna get some homeless and shady characters outside but I've never had a problem with them.

The food itself it's good and decent portions, and the place is clean as they're constantly making sure it looks good and the salad bar is replenished after the rushes of chicken...

Every time we go to Pollo Loco tables, floor are filthy and sauce counter dirty. On August 27, 2018, all the tables were dirty. One table needed to be wiped, so I cleaned it and sat down. A male customer came asked them to clean the tables they did, but it was still dirty he made a face cleaned the food off his seat and sat down. He wanted chile, so he went to the counter go grossed out (his own words) and told the worker, “I just lost my appetite it’s so gross and threw his plate away. The worker came out clean somewhat. Use a scrubber to clean tables, wiped the food off the seat maintain chile counter cleans and floors clean at least pick up paper napkins...