El Pollo Loco — Restaurant in Oceanside

I would totally eat here way more if it was a little bit closer to be, maybe North of Oceanside BLVD, oh yeah and bring the Wendy’s next door with you too. Swap out the 8 McDonalds in Oceanside north of the 78. Yes that’s the highest concentration of McDonalds in San Diego. Smdh

I consider El Pollo Loco healthy, at least in comparison to what I get at basically every other Mexican, Taco, Tex mex place around. Pollo bowl, pico, roja, extra avo salsa. Plenty of carbs in rice and beans, consistent and decent chicken, onions, cilantro, pico. When I say extra avo green salsa I’m talking like 4 scoops, plus an extra on the side for my flour tortillas and a soda. $5 and change.

It’s no nonsense, hard to screw up. It has color contrast, texture, flavor, a hint of heat and I can shovel it into my pie hold pretty darn quickly. I mostly come here after night time bike rides when I don’t feel like getting weighed down by a burger, sandwich or my typical burrito. I love the avo salsa so much I’ll literally go to Wendy’s if they are out (and since I go close to close they won’t make a fresh batch). It kind of becomes a soupy mess, but whatever. I like it, a lot, thinking about it now as I type this. Had it lastnight and might get it again today. You have to admit that flame grilled chicken is way better than other fast food.

The service is pretty good, plenty of staff keeping it clean, recently upgraded bathroom fixtures, Reminds me of a Starbucks, but just a little better. The décor has been upgraded with some flair, color and there is plenty of seating. The only real draw back here is the parking lot, it’s small and the drive thru can block the spots. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to put a Wendy’s RIGHT NEXT to it, basically crowding the whole plaza. Now it doesn’t get that busy, but I come near close. Unlike most places that are eager to kick people out, even near close, here they are more welcoming. They have the best lids for sauce and drinks in the fast food industry, unlike Taco bell who has the worst. I know what you are thinking 5 star a fast food place, but I personally have had nothing, but wonderful experiences here and until I do it’s...

Customer service here is bad. Yesterday they put coupons in my bag. Today came back with the coupon they gave me yesterday. Ordered at the drive thru. Got to the window. $12 for 12 piece coupons the cashier says that will be $35!!! I'm said I don't understand. She told me but you ordered sides. I said then just give me chicken like the coupons say. She get s the shift leader. The shift leader then informs me the coupon is expired. I told her they just gave me the coupon yesterday from this same restaurant. She is said I understand but the coupon is expired. She literally had an unexpired coupon in her hand to place in the bag with my order. She could have said "oh sorry, maybe you can use one of these coupons."

Instead she spoke to me in a bossy tone and sent me away. This restaurant is going to lose business with this shift leader. They have another manager who handles things better. Will change review to 5 Star if restaurant acknowledges the...

I’ve been getting the Double chicken avocado salad for a couple years now but tonight was the last time I will be going there. My friend picked it up for me and she asked the guy what cotija was and he could not answer the question. Then there was barely any lettuce, cotija, pico and only 2 small slices of avocado. The worst thing is that it had seeds of some kind it which is not listed on the description of the salad and I am a person that has many food allergies. The description also states that that there is “organic super greens with lettuce” and there were only 2 tiny pieces of “super greens.” This place lacks the training that is needed by all employees, they must be able to answer questions, give them a cheat sheet to look at. Every time I go there something is usually missing from my order also, this time it was the other 1/2 of my salad which I did not appreciate. Get it together El Pollo Loco! See...