I’m looking at the El Pollo Loco menu right now. We don’t have El Pollo Loco’s here in Richmond. We have Chicken Fiesta, which has some of the same dishes. But instead of black beans, they serve these runny red beans that always leave me disappointed. I wish they served black beans instead.
When I lived in South Florida, I was a huge fan of Pollo Tropicale.
There is one Carl’s Jr. between my office in the south part of Seattle, and my home just below the Canadian border. I’m always still full from lunch when I pass it on the way home, but I’ll get the occasional burger for breakfast on the way to work. A Super Star with Cheese is much superior to the Whoppers you can get all over the place up here.
I tried a Grand Mac once. It didn’t taste quite right. Someone in another thread said the meat/lettuce/sauce ratio is wrong. Wasn’t bad, but it didn’t taste quite like a Big Mac.
I haven’t been to an El Pollo Loco since I moved away from L.A. in 2003. I miss it. There are copycat recipes online, and I now have a gas grill. I can make good pinto beans. I’ll probably make a version of El Pollo Loco this Summer.
Love El Pollo Loco. Hands down the best fast food chicken - beats Popeye’s and KFC (which has gone way downhill over the years). Plus it’s grilled, so at least it feels healthier than fried…
This. Plus the fact that there is one on the way home from work, which makes it easy for me to stop and pick up dinner for two and lunch for the next day. In fact, that’s the plan for tomorrow. $20 Meal Deal/beans and rice with an extra side of mac & cheese.
A coworker, who’s also jonzin’ for El Pollo Loco told me that Taqueria La Estacion, about 8 miles south of here, has good pollo al carbon. I may have to go there…
El Pollo used to be great. Big portions, tasty chicken cooked over a flame and great salsa.
Now, its tiny portions and very expensive.
PSA: While Carl’s Jr. has pretty good burgers, their foray into fish sandwiches (“The REDHOOK® Beer-Battered Fish Sandwich”) is horribly unsuccessful. It doesn’t look anything like the picture. I was even charitable and tried to like them twice. The batter is thin, soggy and has no beer flavor. The tartar sauce is a distasteful mix of sweet and tart. Save your money. You’re welcome.
I sadly resume my quest for a good fast food fish burger. 