El Pollo Loco — Restaurant in Rancho Santa Margarita

I had enjoyed El Pollo Loco for years Mainly bc they started out as a healthy alternative to chicken without the guilt of friend and offer healthy sides. However, more and more locations, including this location at Rancho Santa Margarita at corner of La Promesa(off Antonio Parkway) and Alma Aldea has become increasingly sloppy in their preparation and changing the experience from healthy to HEALTH DISASTER. El Pollo Loco was a healthy option that I could recommend for my patients who had hypertension and Diabetes bc they had lots to chose from while respecting the restrictions we put in place. However, this location seems to be POURING WHAT SEEMS LIKE POUNDS OF SALT ON THEIR CHICKEN AND MORE RECENTLY THEIR NEW MEAL PLATES OF ENCHILADAS AND THE RICE AND BEANS THAT CAME WITH IT. NOT SURE ABOUT OTHER MEALS BUT THE SAUCE IN THE ENCHILADA WAS SO SALTY THAT EATIMG IT WAS UNBEARABLE. I HAD TO POUR IT IN THE GARBAGE. I WAS ALREADY HOME AND COULD NOT TAKE IT BACK FOR A REFUND. MY BLOOD PRESSURE SHOT UP TO 160s after eating that HORRIBLE DISH. I don't have hypertension disease and I was in crisis. It was SO DISGUSTING AND HAS BEEN THE END OF MY EATING AT ANY EL POLLO LOCO. I don't think the managers are checking the meals by doing a taste test before putting it out for the public.

I WILL MAKE AN EFFORT TO CONTACT THE FRANCHISE CEO AND LET THEM KNOW MY CONCERNS. Until they fix this issue at ALL THEIR FRANCHISE LOCATIONS they are a THREAT FOR THE PUBLIC, ESPECIALLY PATIENTS WHO ARE ALREADY DEALING WITH UNCONTROLLED HYPERTENSIVE DISEASES. This can cause a PATIENT TO HAVE A STROKE. . NOT GOOD FOR PUBLIC...

I like El Pollo...their chicken can be very flavorful but it must be served immediately or it will quickly become dry and somewhat leathery...some days it's served quicker than others and the difference is noticeable. The pinto beans are ok, but not much flavor going on there...bland. The coleslaw would be excellent, is excellent, if they'd just take the time to stir in the juices that drain to the bottom of their large steel food service containers....I've asked several times that they do this for me, but they must just too busy...they don't/won't do it...really? Were it me running things I would train my staff to stir and then serve the darn coleslaw. The tortillas can get a dry hard stale edge very quickly due to the open unsealed little plastic bags they're placed in. Prices are ok. The quality can range from very good to so-so to not so hot. They need to focus more on the quality for what they charge and increase the...

DON'T BUY THE SOUP!!! THE CHICKEN IS SO DRY, LOL it doesn't make any sense that you would have really dried out Jerky like chicken inside soup they must be using day-old chicken and they use the worst driest pieces, skin and dried out chicken. They ruin their soup by putting garbage in it. You're better off going in Pavilions market and going to the deli and picking out one of their soups they always have chicken noodle as much as I love El Pollo broth for their soup, it's not worth $7 it's not even worth $2 it's just garbage. I'm so tired and irritated of having to pour another $ 7.00 down my sink. Bad for business because it keeps me from returning and buying for my family. You would think they would be proud of their soup and only put the best things...