At El Pollo Loco, pronounced “L Po-yo Lo-co” and Spanish for “The Crazy Chicken,” we go to crazy lengths for our signature citrus-marinated, fire-grilled chicken. First, we marinate fresh, whole chickens in a special recipe of herbs, spices, fruit juices and garlic. The whole chickens are then fire-grilled, hand-cut, and served with our chicken meals, burritos, salads, soups, tacos and quesadillas. And if that’s not enough, we apply that same passion to our handmade guacamole, salsas and dressings every day.
We’re dedicated to serving healthful, freshly prepared food hot off our open-flame grills from the skilled hands of our Grill Masters. But we’re not just dedicated to our delicious, authentic food. We’re dedicated to our customers—from our grill masters, who compete annually for the honor of being the best, to our cashiers, who want to make every customer experience count. We’re dedicated to our communities, too, whether it means volunteering in our local neighborhoods, running Fire-Grilled Fundraisers, or supporting those in need through our EPL Charities partnerships. And, of course, we’re dedicated to serving perfectly fire-grilled chicken every single day.
Gary Herrarte has been a fundamental part of the EPL team since 2002. Over the course of 12 years, Gary has gained a unique EPL experience working in various roles. Gary exemplifies the meaning of “hard work pays off” – he started as food prep crew member, was quickly promoted to Shift Leader, became an Assistant Manager and General Manager, then eventually moved up to General Training Manager. As a GTM, Gary feels privileged to help other employees learn the El Pollo Loco way and successfully move up the ranks. His favorite parts about working at El Pollo Loco are educating others about the company and getting involved in the community. Gary often lends a helping hand with EPL Charities and has served food for underprivileged children and families in Los Angeles. Gary’s continued dedication to El Pollo Loco and its neighboring communities are what make him a model employee.
In 1980, the very first American El Pollo Loco opened on Alvarado Street in Los Angeles where El Pollo Loco quickly became a local favorite. With authentically prepared flame-grilled, citrus-marinated chicken, freshly prepared ingredients and a welcoming atmosphere customers knew they had a unique dining experience unlike any other in their neighborhood. As word spread, so did our popularity and locations — establishing El Pollo Loco as a true local brand throughout California.
While a lot has changed over the past few decades, El Pollo Loco’s commitment to fresh, authentically prepared food has not. And we’re just getting started because with each day that passes, we grow more and more passionate about our food.
About this location:
Drive-thru open until closing. Dining room typically closes 1 hour prior. Check with resturant for details.