Great Chickens, great service and kind people. We always get their chicken every year when visiting CA

WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS RESTAURANT??!! Horrible service and TERRIBLE store supervision by MANAGER JEANINE (or Jeannie? - whoever the short skinny high-school aged red-head girl was)... Paid over $20 for a 3 piece meal. Added a side of beans. Did not take the tortilla option and when I asked for creamy cilantro dressing for my broccoli she tried to charge me extra!!! ZERO clue for "customer service"... I eat at El Pollo Loco's all over California every day - and this location too for years - I get the same meal every time: never been asked to pay extra and now this nickel-and-dime BS? Not to mention the place is filthy!! You can smell the bathroom from the line and every booth was unkept. I had to clean my own table off. This use to be a great EPL. Now I have to call headquarters and see if I can get some kind of compensation for this disaster of a lunch :-( Looks like I'm by far not the only one observing a problem here. UPDATE: You can see the owner responded to my review asking me to share more details using their internal comment process: I did. Three weeks later is this update: zero response; no apology; no courtesy coupon to make up for the waste of my life and money. This all just validates SOMETHING did in fact happen to this branch. It's a dump. You're likely going to have a bad experience. Enter at your own risk. read more

I'm a guest staying at the hotel next door and had checked the hours open on the web before getting in my car and heading to the drive in window and was greeted by asking me to let them know when I was ready to order. I replied by indicating I was ready, no one answered, after stating that at least three times the voice indicated they were closed, this was before 9:30 pm and the restaurant advertising they close at 10 pm. I did let the hotel know their guests should not count on getting any service instead of the bad service their reviews reflect. read more

I only stopped here because I was getting my car serviced across the street. I needed to break my 16 hour fast and didn't want to eat McDonald's. The place was empty, the staff were good, the food was TRASH and it looked like the worst school lunch. 2 pieces of grilled chicken from a hen, pinto beans that tasted and smelled like it was made with Detroit's faucet water! read more

Too bad I have to even give them 1 star . Husband having lunch yesterday, big salad with 1 small dressing . He went to counter for another dressing "Sit you need to get in to order a dressing " Are you serious. These rude employees are paid $20 a hour. Such bad service !! read more

Great catering option - Excellent customer service- while they were out of all the ingredients we needed for a larger than expected order, they pivoted quickly and had other solutions to offset the shortage on the order. The packaging was well done & all the condiments and extras were nicely packaged to go. The chicken was super tasting and just never misses. The rice, beans and tortillas were perfect. Their churros are pretty damn good. They're close second to Disneyland's churros. I highly recommend for high quality large order of food & service you can count on! Thank you! read more

I don't care that they messed up my order to begin with, stuff happens, and the boy employee apologized and was super nice! But the lady... she tried to tell me there was cheese on the bottom, I was about to check it, she took it from me, with attitude she checked for cheese, realized I was right, and threw a tiny bit of cheese on it and handed it back. Mind you I paid for extra cheese. I've never had an employee give me such attitude when they were in the wrong. Maybe she was having a bad day. Also the rice was crunchy and the chicken overcooked:/ I was looking forward to this bowl for a few days and was very disappointed Not coming back to this location :/ read more

Got the shredded chicken & cheese bowl but they forgot the cheese. 92% of the time something is missed, whether it's utensils, part of the order or ingredients. Today the cheese & the utensils were missing. Check your order BEFORE you leave. read more

El Pollo Loco - Shredded chicken & cheese bowl.... but they forgot the cheese.... 92% of the time something is missed. Check your order BEFORE you go! - Mexican Near Me - Camarillo, California

Today I ordered the double chicken tostada, which was good until I found a hair that was not mine in it. Grossed me out, threw it away, and I'm still hungry ;( Not to mention no one wants to help people at the register. I just can't give you more than 2 stars... sorry. read more

El Pollo Loco - Hair I pulled out of my salad - Mexican Near Me - Camarillo, California

Can you believe it? This restaurant actually RAN OUT OF BEANS on Sunday over the Memorial Day weekend. When I called Corporate, they were LESS THAN HELPFUL. Just repeated the same line, "thank you for letting us know". I don't know who is running that location, but they need RETRAINING. read more

No matter how dirty the tables are, no matter the amount of dents in the walls, i will still eat here no matter what Best food ever.

This El Pollo Loco is nasty. Dirty bathrooms, no toilet paper, no paper towels and overflowing trash cans. As a tired hungry traveler you'd think they would have some cleanliness to accommodate your needs. Nope, not this place. Have some pride with your business. It was also 3 pm when we came in so no lunch or dinner rush. We ordered salads and they were mediocre from the bag. Salsa bar closed, which may have been a good thing! We won't be returning to this location ever again. read more

El Pollo Loco - No toilet paper - Mexican Near Me - Camarillo, California

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If I could give this place zero stars, I would. I went on Friday around 830pm and they told me they ran out of beans, rice and mixed chicken. How do you run out of these foods? This isn't the first review that states they run out of food. People have even spoke to corporate and it seems to be a repeated problem. Comes to show that management and corporate don't take customer's complainants seriously. read more

Worst customer service i have ever received. They didnt even want to help me out! Waited over 40 minutes for 2 tacos and a salad. They even messed up mh order. Rolled their eyes at me and were rude to all the other customers. Very dissapointed! read more

Told them 4 times I would like the tortilla soup. Didn't receive the soup with meal. Maybe a language barrier.

I almost never give 1 star reviews but the people that work here really don't care about the customers and management/owner doesn't care either. We placed an order and they told us to pull up and wait for it. We waited over 15 minutes and then someone comes out and says they'll make it. ...later another lady comes out and says to cancel the order and they'll take my order inside. Once I've cancelled the order she tells me they're about to close (in 10 minutes) and they don't want to make it so they're not going to take my order even though I came well before closing and waited because they told me to. I think they were just wanted to close 30 minutes before the posted time and played me because they were lazy and inconsiderate. I worked 12 hours and came here well before closing to eat. Now everything else is closed. This is the most intentionally bad service I've received. No wonder nobody is coming here and the reviews are so bad. The doors are locked, everyone is just looking down there's plenty of people and they just don't care about the customer. The ambiance is honesty the worst in my life. I got off work and drove here and waited until everything else was closed because nobody cared and they were too lazy to do their job in the time they're being paid to do it. Intentionally making me waste my time and avoiding selling/making food. Can't speak for the food but it isn't worth this experience. I hope they go out of business because it seems like everyone else has had similar experiences. I hope the franchise knows about this and will either close the location or do something because it isn't just me. read more

I can see why this location only has two stars. Eight out of 10 times I come here later in the evening they are out of chicken El Pollo Loco chicken is great, but this location is poorly run! As I was going through the drive-through, I stated, "I predicted this" when told they were out of chicken. When I asked if the manager was there because I wanted to encourage them to improve their ordering process... the woman at the window, stated she was the shift leader and told me, "Do the survey and talk about how understaffed we are." Very unprofessional. I will be avoiding this location in the future. read more

I'm a big fan of El Pollo Loco because they offer delicious healthy food for a modest price. I stop in at various locations from time to time wherever I might be. This particular location is fairly typical for the chain. It's certainly not one of the nicest, but it's also not one of the worst. They have a reasonably good size number of tables for inside dining, but they do not offer any outside dining. They do have a drive thru. If you are arriving by car, the place is a little hard to find as it's tucked in right next to a freeway onramp, so you cannot actually enter their parking lot from Los Posas Road without first going through the Carls Jr. parking lot. read more

El Pollo Loco - the interior of a restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Camarillo, California

Unsatisfied with El Pollo loco did it again serving small amount of protein to their meals. Wish I would of took more pictures to show how thier chicken is so skinny and small when I came before. I thought I would give them a chance to see if they change thier stingy habit of giving very little food. Now I learned they have not changed. read more

El Pollo Loco - This taco really sucked oily and very dry little meat inside & the cost for each taco is ridiculous. - Mexican Near Me - Camarillo, California

I couldn't leave no stars or I would have.. I went to this location twice in a week and both times they were out of chicken. First time it was at 630 or 7. Second time it was 8. The girl told me they sometimes run out before they close. They close at 10... not sure how long they had been out but that is 2 hours of business lost. First time, I was the only car in line and waited til I gave them my order to say we don't have any chicken. Second time, I waited 4 cars with 3 behind me and they waited til I ordered to tell they don't have chicken. Then I had to wait for the car in front of me to get whatever they ordered so I could leave... I will not go back only to find out they are out of chicken!!!! Terrible management/ownership. read more

Just picked up a Pollo loco bowl but no fork or spoon to eat with. I was going back but there was no receipt. I couldn't go back until later so nothing I can do but wait to eat lunch after getting home after 6pm. So much for fresh food from El Pollo Loco and will always check the bag for utensils and receipt. read more

All orders are drive thru. Its only 7 pm, sign says dining room closes at 830 pm Please update signs read more

El Pollo Loco - Mexican Near Me - Camarillo, California

Drive thru was fast .... Food so so good as it Always is This is only my second time Ever , enjoying their healthy food ... I'll be back ! read more

They have never once gotten my order correct and the employees are rude. This place blows. Stay away

Horrible customer service! I pick up food on my way home all the time and most of the time it fine not the friendliest people but we grown to almost expect that after Covid. But recently visit and place my usual order of salad and a tortilla soup. They had my food ready super fast and I question if I had a receipt the girl like "it's in your bag" but it was not. She rudely hands me another copy. I was like ok just give it my receipt and I'll be out of your hair. Once I got home (25 mins later ) I open my bag and notice my salad didn't have dressing and my soup didn't have all the condiment and tortilla strips that made the soup. Just bland broth with pieces of chicken and salad with dry chicken. At that point I was like awwh they missed it. Tried eating the soup but just was not eatable. The salad I figured I eat it light. But it was just not satisfying. I was on a conference call that would soon would end so I figure I would call store once my phone was free. Only to get the rudes associate that once stating going back was not an option (25 mins way by now) said "you could come on a different day and we will give you the condiment for your soup and dressing. What!???? I told her to put it on what ?! She stated it's not our fault we gave you the salad and soup. Which at that point I knew I wasn't getting anywhere and this person was just not reasonable. Pollo loco should invest in more training for their associates on how to Handle everyday simple 101 customer service. I wish I could say this story ended well but I am yet to hear from management which is a concerning factor. I'll just go to snapper jacks in town same price friendlier staff. read more

This place has gotten better but WHY do they water down the creamy cilantro salad dressing? I eat at one of these chains almost weekly & order a salad 100% of the time. This is the only location I've been to that does this. read more

I went to El Pollo Loco tonight in Camarillo at approximately 7pm and there were no customers inside. The drive-thru had approximately 4 cars. As I approached the counter all 4 of the employees looked at me, avoided eye contact and Never greeted me or said a word to me like, we will be right with you- NOT A Welcoming Word! I waited to see what would happen next and...NOTHING! After standing there and no one saying a word I left! I only came in because I had activated the redeem coupon and had to be there within like 90 mins for some dumb discount! The entire staff needs to be disciplined and retrained- they are a disgrace to customer service, especially with no other customers inside the place- what a joke they have become! Camarillo Mex Alternatives include: 1. Bobbies 2. Hectors 3. Olas 4. Snapper Jacks 5. La Bodega 6. El Tapatillo 7. Taco Bell or Del Taco The Crazy Chicken is done... 3. read more

Sadly, I had forgotten how terrible this particular El Pollo Loco is. I sent my husband to pick up some lunch because I'm sick in bed. (Maybe the high fever made me forget I hate this location) Ordered a pollo bowl and AGAIN it has weird fatty chunks of chicken and what I think might be what comes off of the grill when you guys clean it at the end of the day???? Small burnt pieces of I don't know what and to add to the joy- the rice was super stale and crunchy. Oh and whatever the mystery chicken is, there is just the tiniest portion of it.(not like I would eat it) This has happened multiple times in the past and now I am convinced that this place just doesn't give a crap. Drive and extra 10 minutes and visit the one off Wendy or alittle further to the one off of Moorpark. This one truly sucks. read more

I ordered a catering meal for a party and pre paid for it the night prior. I was suppose to pick up order the next night at 5:45. I arrived, they told me they never received the order. I had my confirmation printed out that it was paid for. The manager told me there's nothing they can do. That they don't see it and they will not give me the meal or return credit card amount paid until their supervisor arrives. when I asked when the supervisor would arrive the manager said she had no idea when she would arrive.. I have a house full of guest, and have been waiting for this order to get done. I would give this El Pollo Loco location zero stars if I could. read more

The chicken tortilla soup USED to be fantastic. NOW, it's the WORST!!!! I ordered the large and had to throw it away. SAD & MAD!!!

The food Cilantro dressing was horrible. The chicken was so dry or a chicken tostada beans for too hard just about everything.

This is the third time we have gone and they have closed 30-45 mins earlier then posted.

This is absolutely the worst place. I ordered 2 double chicken bowls. That, with one drink, was $23. Which, if they gave you more than chicken wings worth of meat might be reasonable. But instead, I got about a tablespoon of chicken - double that and I got 2. A ton of rice and beans. The little baggie with chips had 11 broken chips in it. They were out of pico de gallo. The cashier shouldn't be public facing. He mumbles and when he asked me if I wanted to make it a 'meal' didn't know what that included or the extra charge. I'm sick of being ripped off by franchise operators who never visit their stores and whose policy is to hire people who may appear to be breathing. I'm not coming back. Ever. There are too many other LOCALLY OWNED restaurants that give good value than to come to one that doesn't care. Such BS. AWFUL. read more

So upset your email to complain for bad service at 399 las posas Camarillo is not in service , your worker Stephany was so rude and her attitude was completely no polite , need a correct email this can't be happen . read more

El Pollo Loco - Pollo loco - Mexican Near Me - Camarillo, California

This is a sad day. Our normally great El Pollo Loco was a disappointment. We love El Pollo Loco, so much that we look forward to it over most any restaurant when we return to our hometown of 50 years, Camarillo. The Double Pollo bowl was good, the two Breast and wing meals were not so great, one had a thigh instead of a wing, or a cornish game hen breast, both had a burned to a crisp wings , unedible , and no tortillas. I will say usually the quality level is good if not great. $31.47 . I dont post many complaints. Everyone restaurant has a bad day I suppose. read more

Get the Phone App and order online! Makes it super easy and fast. This place is clean but the service could be better. Very slow getting orders complete like other Locations read more

Where do i start? So first it's confusing going through the drive thru cause they have all the lights dimmed inside. While waiting at the window for me food. I see employees cleaning without gloves, grabbing the food bare handed after having their hands in the sanitation solution bucked, grabbing utensil, using the small to go cups as spoons to scoop food as well as not having gloves while doing it.... Get home and the food is inedible. Chicken was undercooked, rice is undercooked.. didn't even get to enjoy my food. I called multiple times and still no answer.. says it closes at 10pm. Idk just disappointed... read more

Missing a few items. Didn't want to drive back. Im just leaving this here. They didn't have any traffic so it shouldn't have been a problem on double checking the order before giving it to the customer. Edited: to add to this review their salsa containers are full of pressure and bloated. This would only mean that the condiments have spoiled. Even the taste was sour and different it wasn't fresh. I hope someone looks into this. read more

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Uncourteous staff. Not paying attention to the order. Missing order, I wish it wasn't like this, so surprise

As a loyal fan of El Pollo Loco it is with great sadness that I write this review. This store - #5773 USED to be a very good store which operated smoothly, and provided consistent service and quality - regardless of when you visited and what you ordered. This is a case of a steep decline in service on many levels beginning roughly 5-6 months ago. Fast-forward to today, business has seriously declined... to a trickle. There are many ways of measuring business operations (metrics) in the restaurant industry. The Lunchtime drive-thru wait at this store used to be 15-20 minutes (6-10 cars) minimum. It was worth the wait because the cuisine is unique. Fast-forward to July 28... there is nobody in line during lunchtime. Without mentioning names, ID numbers, etc. one of the workers shared with me that the store recently underwent a change in management. That was the beginning of the downward spiral many Customers have experienced and discussed here. My first assumption that this was a Franchisee so Corporate would have little direct control. As it turns-out this is a CORPORATE location. Clearly the new management does not understand the concept of supply & demand, ordering supplies, planning, measuring sales ~ planning demand, staffing, and ensuring consistent and correct training and service. Add to that the increased cost of labor and you have a recipe for a disaster. The issue of receipts prevailed for several weeks because one of the senior staff members did not know how to run the cash register!! The complaints below confirm the problems with the receipts/cash register operation. It was strictly a procedural problem... nothing to do with running out of paper or a software issue. My first concern was that there was skimming going on and the restaurant would not be open much longer. In-turn, every trainee was trained incorrectly. One day, while I was in line, a Manager had to correct her and show her how to PROPERLY operate the cash register (again no names mentioned)! In-turn, this same woman did not know how to process a Rewards Coupon or to process a $1 Survey Credit. Often, the change they gave back was incorrect. One time they actually gave me a $20 bill as change for a $5 Bowl!! (Naturally, I returned the money). This is the same senior staff member who told me several times that El Pollo Loco no longer serves salsa roja.... who is the loco one here? There have been times where dark meat was put into Pollo Bowls - a no no! My guess is they probably were running short of white meat on those days. I've experienced the same BS re: tortillas. Often they give you the wrong type. A couple of times they didn't ask what type of tortillas... only to find they snuck corn chips into the order. On one occasion the restaurant actually ran out of Chicken!!! That is not a mis-print; another employee shared with me how the new Manager forgot to prepare the Chicken (marinate) the night before... this was July 4th Weekend. Maybe that is why the store closed? It seems like "Management" has been taking a siesta (and collecting a pay check). As a loyal Rewards Club Member I took the next step of complaining directly to El Pollo Loco Corporate, via telephone call (15-20 minute discussion). Because this is a Corporate store (not a Franchisee) the Home Office was very disturbed to learn of my experiences. Hopefully they read the comments of other guests and make some changes ASAP from the Corporate level down! FYI, I always order the $5 Pollo Bowl Combo. El Pollo Loco's food is EPIC, and I feel really bad to see this restaurant fall apart.... I'm concerned they will be shut down soon. I read many of the negative reviews and I can only agree. I USED to visit this store 3-5 times/week so I know of what I speak. Many of the workers know me and have opened-up to me on occasion , etc. It was clear they too were frustrated with the steep decline in service ~ change in working culture. Many loyal customers have stopped patronizing the store. Likewise some delivery services warn customers about ordering from this location. It makes sense because their reputations are on the line. Several competitors (fast-food) operate nearby and their business are thriving. This is strictly a problem of terrible service and Management's incompetence - not COVID-19. read more