Food was really good. We got the tacos and torta. The lady taking our order was very friendly, nice and professional. Will definitely come back again. read more

We went to El Pollo Norteño in Lake Forest yesterday and had a mixed experience. We had a coupon for a 10-piece chicken meal, but when we got home and checked the order, there were only 9 pieces. That was disappointing because you expect the order to be correct, especially when you're getting a family meal. The chicken itself still tastes good -- it has that grilled flavor they're known for -- but we also noticed the side portions seem smaller than before. Not sure if it's a recent change, but it definitely stood out this time. Prices overall also feel like they've gone up quite a bit, which makes it more noticeable when portions feel a little reduced. Service was fine in person, nothing bad, but accuracy with the order is important when you're paying these prices. We've liked this place in the past, but this visit wasn't their best showing. Hopefully just an off day, but they need to pay closer attention to orders. read more

The prices here have become ridiculous. My family and I will no longer come. Good, well made food is no problem when it's expensive. Average food at sky high prices just is not ever going to be worth it. Sad to say. read more

In the the mood for some amazing fire grilled chicken look no further than El Pollo Norteno!!Delicious flavorfull chicken, they also have other meat options like carne asada and carnitas. Their potato salad is always a favorite, and they have a great lunch special that includes 2 pc chicken and 2 sides and a drink for $10 now that's a great deal! The service is awesome, the day I went the lady taking orders and working the register AND bringing out the food did such an amazing job and always with a smile on her face , she was so efficient..she deserves a raise! Small place but decent seating and love how they have a timeline on their wall of when all their stores opened and their locations. Cool place, cool people and great food! read more

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I'll keep it short..... El pollo Norteno ALWAYS gets me right. Never had a dry piece of meat ever, from the tacos to the chicken. So much better than El pollo loco. Just wish they had later hours and wish we had one in Irvine, I'd be there on a weekly basis! Staff is great, food comes out promptly, super fresh, great salsa and sides. I don't have any complaints. I wish them success so we can have them in Lake forest for many years! read more

El Pollo Norteno - Sometimes I just need one taco and their crack wings - Mexican Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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El Pollo Norteño in Lake Forest is hands down one of the top five delicious food spots around! The experience here is consistently quick and easy, making it a go-to for anyone looking for healthy meals. What I particularly love about this location is the freshness; every single time I visit, the food is perfectly prepared. The customer service is absolutely excellent, too. Every staff member I've encountered has been kind and helpful, always greeting me with a smile. They genuinely go out of their way to accommodate, making the dining experience even more enjoyable. Plus, this place is a fantastic way to get my protein fix without breaking the bank. The pricing is very affordable, which is a huge bonus. If you haven't tried El Pollo Norteño yet, you absolutely must! It's a hidden gem that never disappoints! read more

El Pollo Norteno - 3 piece-individual chicken plate - Mexican Near Me - Lake Forest, California

$29.00 for dry, burnt whole chicken. It seems like every time I go (once every other month), the price goes up. 23, 25. 27,29. I realize the cost of labor in California is a huge burden, but it gets to the point where it is not worth 30 bucks for a chicken. And after paying the $29.04, you end up with dried-up chicken because there aren't enough customers willing to pay 30 bucks for a chicken. This visit, 3/2//26, was my last; the whole chicken was smaller, dry, and burnt. read more

El Pollo Norteno - dry chicken - Mexican Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Great nachos and tortas! You get free chips and salsa by signing up for their loyalty program.

Our company had a catering event with El Pollo Norteno. The chicken bowl I had was light on flavor but with some provided condiments, it was nice. For a late morning meal, it was pleasant! Thank you so much! read more

I was in need of a whole chicken and this was convenient and a restaurant I always wanted to try. I walked in with all intentions of getting my chicken and going home and enjoying it. I asked the cashier how much for a chicken. I have to tell you, I got major sticker shock. So much so, that I did not buy my chicken. They have an extensive menu and prices overall were reasonable for other items. Therefore, I cannot comment on the food, but I can comment on the location. The restaurant has plenty of seating. Parking area is a bit small so there may be congestion during rush hour, but I went off peak and it was fine. Great branding and restaurant was clean and inviting. It is located on a convenient retail strip and ingress/egress was easy. Please come and visit the restaurant and create your own experience. read more

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Great customer service and great food. This was my first time here but I will definitely be back

I had the chicken torta and it was absolutely delicious. The torta bread was warm and toasty. It was filled with chicken, refried beans, lettuce and tomatoes. It was served with chips and a fried jalapeños. The jalapeño was spicy and I loved it How good was it? Well, I went in two days in a row. I may go back again next week! read more

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Came back again this time to try the family meal deal... Got the number 4 which is an entire chicken and 1 pound of carne asada with 2 sides (We got rice and beans) tortillas, sauces and spiced carrots... this is the way to go if you want to grab a meal everyone will enjoy on your way home E from work. Service was again great and the smell of the barbecue makes you so hungry.. read more

El Pollo Norteno - 4 piece chicken plate - Mexican Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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BEST chicken burritos & Horchata. Quick with orders & friendly staff. Highly recommend El Pollo Norteno!

One of the best chicken places! The flavor isn't just on top of the chicken but through out each piece. Prices are affordable and quality is consistent. Sometimes I daydream about how good it is. Service is quick and straight forward. There is seating inside and parking can be limited so I recommend parking in the next lot to the bowling alley. read more

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This place is fantastic Karen goes above and beyond for service answering all my questions and making sure everything is correct. Highly recommend this place to anyone. read more

I want to preface by saying that the staff are generally nice and I come here once a week because I like their food. However, with how stingy they are, I will not be coming anymore. I purchase a family meal that should be enough for 3-4 people and every time, I have to mentally prepare myself for the opposition that I will face when I ask for salsa or onions/carrots. The lady in the front will only ever give me 1 bag of onions and carrots. If I ask for 1 more, I get opposition. 1 bag is good for 1 person, see picture. If I ask for salsa, she gives me 2 and if I ask for 1 more, I get opposition. I get that times are tough and I am all for purchasing things if I need. But when purchasing a family chicken meal that has "salsa" written as part of the combo meal, you would think they would at least give enough for 1/person. Also, the salsa is only ever filled halfway so it's barely enough for 1 person, see picture. I started purchasing salsa for $1.50 because I got tired of getting so much opposition for 1 extra salsa but now I am tired of the stinginess. God forbid I ask for some green salsa or pico or limes; I will never get it. With all other Mexican places giving unlimited salsa or at least not being stingy, I will take my business elsewhere. *This doesn't apply to the young guy who works the cashier. He is awesome and will give us enough. It is only the lady who is there 90% of the time. read more

El Pollo Norteno - Half filled, tiny salsas apparently enough for 4 people - Mexican Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Heard a lot about this place and how good it is from my co workers. They have a great lunch special 4 piece chicken 2 sides and a drink. I also got some tacos to go for the wife. The food was excellent, moist tender chicken the al pastor tacos are so flavorable and the carne asada tacos were awesome. We tried both there refried beans and charro beans and rice and they tasted great as well. The young lady working the front was so sweet and gave some great suggestions. Since than i have been back a few times and they never let me down. Great to find a place that has such great food. read more

The food here is delicious! Service is always friendly and quick. I want to recognize one employee in particular. I went there yesterday and I had a problem using a coupon from "Clipp". Not at all the restaurant's fault - Like an idiot I accidentally redeemed the coupon on the Clipp site before I even got to the restaurant. No biggie - I figured I learned from my mistake. But Ana went above and beyond to try to resolve it for me, and she called me later to let me know that she had gotten the coupon redemption reversed, saving me $15.00. Thanks Ana! Your boss is lucky to have you working there! read more

Everything needs to improve! Chicken was dry and old tasting ! A disappointment !!! Honest opinion terrible!!! read more

Great food and step above el pollo loco, which is good as well. A little more expensive but only a couple dollars more. I like the burritos and 2 piece chicken plate. No complaints other than I would not consider this healthy food. Service is nice but parking can be tough during lunch time. read more

El Pollo Norteno - 2Pcs (2 Sides) - Mexican Near Me - Lake Forest, California

The chicken is very similar to El Pollo Loco. It was really juicy and tasty. The price is cheaper. They have different sauces. No salsa here. The service was fast and extremely friendly. Would recommend. read more

Went here based on the reviews and wasn't disappointed. The only thing I would say is that the chicken didn't seem like it was freshly grilled, but maybe reheated. We did go when it wasn't super busy yet, so maybe that's why. Ordered the carne asada burrito - the meat had a good grilled flavor to it. Only downside is the amount of rice to meat - personally wish there was more meat than rice. Again, the chicken was pretty good, and overall, it tasted more authentic, like a meal you'd enjoy in Mexico. Even the white meat wasn't dried out, and that's a hard thing to find these days! If you're in the mood for some good chicken, check this place out! Service was great as well! read more

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I just had a hip replacement and ordered food to be delivered via Urber Eats! The food was cold stale terrible! Chicken stone cold same with tacos! I did not get what I ordered which may be Uber eats issue but for sure the App would not add my items to the order and I went back 3 times to double check my order the restaurant said they charged me 22 bucks and the order was right but Uber eats charged 48 way beyond the service fees I called the restaurant and the girl that answered the phone was not helpful!' Over all miserable experience terrible stale food! read more

I really like their chicken here. They use mesquite or some type of charcoal that gives the chicken a good flavor. I also like the seasoning on their chicken. Admittedly, I have only tried their chicken plates but I'm willing to bet that their burritos and tacos are good. The dining area is nothing special but it's clean. The only gripe I have is that they're kinda stingy with their salsas. I almost always get the 10 piece legs and thighs and they only give me four little green sauce cups (and they're little). I usually finagle an extra one or two but I hate having to beg for sauces. As a customer who loves salsas, when I order a ten piece combo, they shouldn't make it seem like I'm freeloading when I ask for an appropriate number of sauces. read more

Just had an amazing meal at El Pollo Norteno!!My boyfriend had been there before and we happen to be close by today and he said "You have to try this place!!" From the moment I walked in I knew it was super authentic... Karen greeted us with a sweet smile and was super helpful answering all my questions. And now about the food, OMG!! My boyfriend got a chicken burrito and I got the chicken quesadilla which both were huge and filled with perfectly seasoned juicy chicken!! We also had chips, a few different types of salsa and guacamole all very very yummy!! Will DEFINITELY be back soon!! read more

Seasoned okay, tender however it was a tad dry for me and my liking. I love the pollo in Guadalajara and was looking for a spot in the OC. Again this is my review so please give them a try for yourself read more

El Pollo Norteno - Dinner...let us see how this will go down. First-time customer hubby pick up after work. At first impression does not look appealing. - Mexican Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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ABSOLUTELY THE WORST TACO I'VE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE PERIOD. I got carne asada tacos and the meat was dry/hard like it was a month old and even the tortilla was hard! Seriously...how do they even sell this kinda food??? huh??? read more

amazing food and service!! the cashier was super nice and friendly!! it was slow around 4pm but they were super nice and even brought our order to our table read more

I hadn't been to pollo Norteno for a while and now I remember why I haven't been back. The chicken was so dry and had no meat on the bones. It was such a waste of money. read more

El Pollo Norteno - Chicken - Mexican Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Carne asada was terrible! It had NO seasoning and tasted as if it was boiled . Chicken was salty . Birria is decent .

Delicious is not even doing this restaurant justice. Wonderful mesquite grilled chicken and tasty sides. This place is our new go to for family dinners. read more

Rico pollo. Excelente servicio. Es un lugar muy agradable pr tod la familia . Se los recomiendo

Love this place their food is always fresh and tasty, the customer service is always great!

Not going to lie, the delicious bbq smell had me drawn to this place. You can smell it driving along the street. I knew I had to stop by. I had no idea what to expect. This specific location has had a lot of turn over with businesses but I think this one will definitely stay! I came on a weekday to pick up lunch and it was almost impossible to get parking. You could park at the bowling alley or along the street. Huge dining area. TVs for sports. Clean establisment. Grilled chicken over mesquite charcoal. Chicken bowls, plates, family meals, by the piece, and sides. The chicken is so flavorful and juicy. I love that they give bags of pickled carrots and pickled onions. The salsas are great. The family meal is a great deal since you get chicken, 2 sides, tortillas, and salsas. The birria tacos were excellent. We got the 2 chicken plate. Comes with beans, Mexican rice, tortillas, salsas, & a grilled chile. Amazing service. Great flavors. Reasonable pricing. Generous portions. This our new El Pollo Loco. Side note: if you eat with your hands, the seasoning turns your hands orange. LOL. read more

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Great spot. First time visit today. Prices were good. The chicken had great flavor.

We came about 15 minutes before closing so they said we couldn't dine in and could only order to go (but it's crazy that all the restaurants in this area close by 8pm even on a Saturday night!). We ordered tacos and burritos, but everything was just okay. I was hopeful for the chicken, but that was also dry. It's also expensive at $3.25/taco. This place just doesn't compare to all the good taco places a little further north in Santa Ana. read more

I had lunch here with a buddy, and we were both underwhelmed. Perhaps we went in with high hopes because all the food looks amazing and the place is always packed , but both of us were not as thrilled with the food. It was good, but not great. The chicken only meal was interesting, not very much chicken on the bones and pretty dry. Tacos were good, but not great. I don't think I'll be going back here. read more

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My boyfriend heard that El Pollo Norteno has really good chicken so, we finally decided to try it out for dinner last night. We both ordered the 3 piece chicken plate with 2 sides. For our sides we got the refried beans, mac salad, and potato salad. The chicken was good. It was seasoned well, slightly dry but still good. I wish they had some type of sauce to dip it in to liven up the flavors, but that's my opinion since I love sauce. For the sides, the mac salad is on the sweeter side and was ok. I preferred the potato salad more out of the two. The refried beans were good and tasty, but it came with stale tortilla chips. Overall, El Pollo Norteno wasn't too bad. It was a cheap decent meal that filled us up. I liked how you were given an option to order online as well and I had no problems once I received my order. The employee working at the time was also friendly as well and gave me plenty of sauces with my order. read more

El Pollo Norteno - 3 piece chicken plate with refried beans and potato salad - Mexican Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Excellent food. Excellent service. The Lake Forest branch never disappoints. The chicken is juicy and their selection of sides are delicious. Highly recommend for a lunch or dinner. read more