El Pollo Loco — Restaurant in Los Angeles

Well, where do I begin? -As soon as I enter the restaurant, there's a FUNKY nasty smell. It's the smell that ruins your appetite. The staff blames the smell to the outside of the restaurant. But, there's no Funky smell on the outside. -The staff hands out the bathroom key to customers sometimes with a napkin or not. -So today is Tuesday 7-23-19 I went to get a pollo bowl but since I have digestive issues, my food has to be well cooked. I asked Maria Cruz (manager) if she could COOK the chicken a bit longer.

She responded: "I don't do extras for any customer". I almost left the place to go to the one in West Hills, but, I was running late. I really didn't appreciate the manager's attitude. I was also there last Sunday and Kim (manager) was very helpful in cooking my chicken a bit more.

It's a good feeling when people go the extra mile to make your day much better.

Maria Cruz needs to be more understanding with customers.

Going back to the FUNKY smell, you gotta do something about it. The smell is in the inside where the food is. I hope the FUNKY smell doesn't CONTAMINATE the food.

I also noticed that the responses from the so called "owner" are all the same. Like the owner doesn't take the time to respond on different issues.

-Last month I was also there getting food and this man came in with his teen son who had to PEE so bad. The kid was in tears, he couldn't hold his PEE any longer. The same lady Maria Cruz told the man that he needed to buy something in order to use the bathroom.

So I told her, let him in the bathroom, pretend that he's with me. I just spent $15.00 hello?

Finally she did. What a nasty service.

I'm done going there. Disgusting place, Disgusting FUNKY smell and rude store...

Note: I've been here two more times since my original visit and I rate everything the same. It's nice and quiet on a weekday mid-afternoon.

My ratings are all based on comparisons to similar fast food and fast casual places. The staff is friendly and easy to order with. I've eaten here several times both ordering ahead in the app and ordering at the counter. Both are fairly quick. There's two separate dining AREAS, one next to beverage dispenser and order counter and another one is on the far Northside along the sidewalk and Ventura Boulevard, so it provides a nice view of passing people and cars.

There's plenty of parking on two sides of the restaurant including space for curbside pickup near the front door and on the side of the building where there is an outdoor entrance to the bathroom there are several blue handicap spaces.

While I've had family meals in the past with several pieces of chicken and sides, my in-store visits at this location have only been for the double chicken with avocado tostada bowl, which I love, since it has a little bit of everything in it and it's made fresh. And of course you can...

THE BATHROOM IS OUTSIDE. SOMETIMES THE CHICKEN IS A LITTLE UNDER COOKED. NOT ALL STAFF ARE GOOD PEOPLE. THIS IS A FRANCHISE NOT A COORPORATE STORE. THEY HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO DISCRIMINATE AGAIN HOMELESS PEOPLE AND TAKE PUBLIC COMPLAINT OVER THE INDIVIDUAL WITHOUT ALLOWANCE TO DEFEND SELF. THE MENU IS GREAT. THE DINNING IS CLEAN,INDOORS. THEY ARE FAST AND USUALLY GET ORDERS RIGHT. PLENTY OF PARKING HOWEVER HAS NO SIDEWALK ADA ACCESS.YOU MUST ENTER THREW THE PARKING LOT SIDE. THERE IS A DOUBLE DOOR FOR WIDE CHAIRS AND GOOD ADA SEATING. THEIR SALSA BAR IS USUALLY FRESH AND MAINTAINED. THE KIDS MENU IS GOOD BUT FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO GET A THIGH OR BREAST INSTEAD OF TWO LEGS. THEY HAVE NO BREAKFAST MENU. THE PACKAGING IS NOT ALWAYS SAFE AS THE CHICKEN MELTS HOLES IN THE PLATE ON DINE-IN, THE SIDES LOOK SLOPPED ON AND MIX WITH THE OTHER FOODS. IN TAKE-OUT THEY ARE NOT PACKAGED FOR HEAT RETENTION NOR RAPID CHILL UNDER FOODBORNE ILLNESS SUGGESTIONS. THE GRILL MASTERS AT THIS LOCATION ARE GREAT THOUGH. GREAT HOURS...