All their chicken is flame broiled. Whole chickens are butterflied in half and marinated then flame broiled. Quite tasty when fresh. They have a salsa bar and other menu items include usual Mexican items such as quesadillas, tacos, salads, bowls with meat, rice and beans, etc. All with or without chicken.
My tastes are a bit pedestrian, but I really enjoy the Crazy Chicken. It is simple, grilled chicken without a lot of extras calories and fat.
Come on...that's the English translation for "El Pollo Loco". We as Americans do like to make things even more confusing. And for your knowledge, there is somewhat of a version in Florida and the NY Tri-state called Pollo Tropical, but more Cuban-inspired than Mexican.
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El Pollo Loco is the only fast food I would ever consider. Flame-broiled and nicely marinated, the stuff is actually really good IF you hit a good franchise. It's also darn cheap. Though I'd never dine under the arches, and can't abide KFC, I get hungry for the crazy chicken every few weeks and pig-out.
the stuff is actually really good IF you hit a good franchise.
That may be my problem. I used to really love the stuff, but the last 3 times at 2 different locations it was awful. (dry chicken, stale tortillas, bland salsa...) I kind of gave up on it. On the other hand, Pollo Tropical as mentioned above is the worst chicken I've ever eaten, or I should say - tried to eat - in a restaurant in my life.
El Pollo Loco is the only fast food I would ever consider. Flame-broiled and nicely marinated, the stuff is actually really good IF you hit a good franchise. It's also darn cheap. Though I'd never dine under the arches, and can't abide KFC, I get hungry for the crazy chicken every few weeks and pig-out.
Not even Popeye's? IMHO, that is one of the big benefits of transiting IAH.
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I've been going to Pollo Loco for at least 15 years (maybe 20?). They were here in Phoenix a long time ago, and I went often. Then there was some sort of franchise/corp shakeup, and they all disappeared. Then they came back about 4-5 years ago.
They're my favorite flame broiled chicken. Never had a bad batch. They used to have really good black beans, but then they pulled them. I prefer their med hot green salsa (guacamole maybe?).
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gaucho100K
ah... el Pollo Loco knock-off...????
I initially thought so too, but El Pollo Loco cooks their chicken by flame broiling and Juan Pollo does it rotisserie-style. I find Juan Pollo's chicken to be a bit more moist.
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El Pollo Loco is "okay" def better than fried chicken at KFC. When in Southern California (More specific to East and West LA) Juan Pollo is much better (okay 5x better) and more of a made from scratch style of food. If flyinhawaiian didn't mention it first, I would have.
Also in Los Angeles/SF Valley and North Orange County...For something in the same category of rotisserie chicken, but Lebanese style, Zankou Chicken!!! will blow most of the other places off the charts. All of the side dishes are Middle Eastern, thus you must enjoy hummus, mutabbal/babaganoj, tabouleh, pita, and especially GARLIC!!! I encourage everybody to try it if you come to LA. Keep in mind this is casual dining just like the other chicken places mentioned.
There's No Comparison!
