Best chicken or carne asada I've ever had! And the price is right. For $15 you will have a feast! I live this place. The staff is always super friendly and your food come super quick. Great local gem. read more

My wife and I were visiting a wedding venue in Monterey for our daughter and found El Pollo Rey via yelp and so glad we did. Absolutely fantastic char broiled chicken, salsa and sides. Excellent value and we will definitely be back on our next trip to the Monterey area to try the carne asada. Small restaurant but clean and enough tables for 6-8 parties of 4. Definitely recommend and worth the short drive from hwy 1. read more

Chicken, tortillas, beans, guacamole, and chips were excellent. The salsa was the bomb. rice was ok. good price, good service- great find while staying at the embassy suites read more

Best hole in the wall chicken joint in seaside. I can feed my family if 4 for about $30 and it's good homemade tasting food!

Closed when supposed to be open :( Update yelp next time so I don't waste time driving out of my way Probably won't be able to come back and change my review ever since I spend very little time in seaside. read more

Being a tourist, I always try to find good local food. Roasted chicken is a favorite of everyone that is with me. This place was great. The chicken was spiced and flavorful. The chips and salsas and picked onions was a great start to our meal. The rice and beans were flavorful and paired well with the chicken. If I was a local to the area I would definitely order take out weekly from this place. read more

For $20 you can get a whole fire roasted chicken, charro-style pinto beans, excellent Mexican rice, and corn tortillas. A great quick meal.

I've been here quite a few times and each time is far from a disappointment. The chicken is of good quality and it's very fresh. I ordered a half size of chicken and it came with a grilled white onion, a grilled jalapeño, salsa, some red onion, and a few tortilla shells to go along with the chicken. The price came to around $10 which is really good for the amount of chicken I received. The service is quick and easy and the atmosphere is decent. read more

El Pollo Rey - 1/2 Chicken - Mexican Near Me - Seaside, California

Excellent food! I ordered online and had contactless delivery. It was at my door in 30 minutes, just like it was advertised. The food was excellent and I love the grilled onions and jalapenos. read more

So good!! Eat there now you won't regret it! Excellent food and service. I like the little roasted jalapeño they include; be careful it's a little spicy! read more

Looking for a place to eat since we're from Gilroy, this place was very good my husband had the chicken plate and the chicken was very good, I had the carne asada plate, it was also good and great portions read more

The chicken was great. Flavorful and juicy. The grilled onions and jalapeños that come with are a great touch. We also ordered the rice and charro beans and both were great. Thought the salsas and guac tasted really fresh as well. Would definitely order from here again and am hoping to find a similar place back home. read more

I had a great experience at this place. The place is very well kept and clean. The food was delicious. The chicken was cooked to perfection. It was moist and the skin was crispy and tasteful. We also got the Asada Burrito. The portion was big and the onions were grilled divinely. The salsa added a great kick to it. Overall, the experience was great. Add to it the friendliness of the crew and you got yourself one great, and highly recommended food stop for any time of the day. read more

El Pollo Rey - Mexican Near Me - Seaside, California

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Love coming here every time i visit the area. so much delicious food for a great price! i adore the charro beans

This spot used to be my favorite, now every time I call they have the worse customer service they sound like they don't want to take your order plus their burritos have bones in them! Sad because it was my favorite local spot! read more

88 reviews, averaging just under 5 stars! This place has got to be good! And it is. It's good, but so is the chicken off my BBQ. It's definitely not the "greatest" grilled chicken. It's average grilled chicken. Average. Greatest = 5 Stars. Average = 3. Salsa is very good, pickled onions are an unexpected treat. Prices are good, but always get the half chicken rather than the quarter chicken. Only $2 more. The staff was efficient and friendly. But 5 star? C'mon, Yelpers, let's get real... read more

Yummmy!! El Pollo Rey did NOT disappoint. Simple small neighborhood place in a little business street front building. The chicken was delicious, freshly made and warm. Love the grilled onions and ordered a side to have plenty . The chips are even made with the nice thick tortilla they serve warm with the half chicken dish. The half chicken with two sides was enough to share. I would return in a flash to have the chicken again. PS. Would be a great take out for a family get together! read more

My boyfriend and I decided to skip our usual "haunts" and try out a new restaurant. So with the use of my trusty Yelp app I came across this place. Upon entering the restaurant, you are cheerily welcomed by a friendly young man behind a large counter. The counter provides a barrier between the dining area and their kitchen workspace and encompasses about half of the restaurant. You can actually see them busily working and churning out that tasty chicken. You place your order at the counter and the items you order are brought to your table by the same young man who took your order. At the time of our visit, there were only three people working. The young man that takes your order is not only the cashier but is also your server. While another gentleman and a lady in a hairnet prepare and cook the food at the open kitchen's mesquite charcoal grill located behind the counter. They have a very basic menu with few choices. Which I personally like because I find that too many choices usually equates to more chances of error and less focus on their staple menu items. As their restaurant name clearly states you can easily guess that the star menu item is: chicken (a.k.a pollo). We ordered the half of a chicken meal that comes with big quarters of grilled chicken, a small cup or rice and beans, a half char grilled onion, a couple char grilled jalapeno peppers, pickled red onions, salsa, and a small stack of tortillas. We ordered an extra stack of corn tortillas and an extra half char grilled onion as recommended by fellow Yelpers. As we waited for our order to arrive we were given a bowl of tortilla chips and salsa that were made from scratch. Unfortunately when the small container of salsa was handed to us, a stray hair was also served. I absolutely hate hair in food so that was pretty gross but at least the salsa had a lid on it. When our food arrived, it didn't look like much but charred, grilled chicken cut in quarters on a plate, small, plastic containers of rice and beans, with a half onion char grilled, and a couple charred jalapeno peppers thrown in on the side. However all it took was just one bite of the chicken and we automatically realized why this place has such high reviews! The chicken was savory and tender with a natural, smoky barbecue flavor. The mesquite charcoal grill and seasonings on the chicken are spot on and the bursts of flavors of all the items and sides, when combined, compliment one another. I'm not a huge fan of onions but somehow they have managed to make a char grilled, onion sweet! The flavors are rich and savory. Pure, unadulterated, smoked deliciousness! You can make a few kickass chicken tacos! By the looks of the food alone, you assume it's not enough food to feed two people. But a half an order of chicken could easily feed at least three people. We even ended up bringing leftover food home! The service was exemplary with the young man cheerily checking up on us regularly and readily providing us with what we needed. The restaurant itself is small, casual, and very homey. You receive food and hospitality that is as welcoming as if you were walking into their home! The price is right too. Very reasonable and affordable. We will definitely be back! As the age old saying goes, "Looks can be deceiving". This is true regarding the amount of food you receive to the solid, flavor profile of their menu. Moral of this story is: Although a restaurant and the food served doesn't initially look like a gourmet, five star dining experience at first glance, give it a chance. You might be surprised as we were when visiting this hidden gem! read more

El Pollo Rey - Cactus table centerpiece. - Mexican Near Me - Seaside, California

Can't go wrong , this tiny hole in the wall gem! Delicious roasted chicken, so moist and fresh. They also do carne Asada, did not try. They also have fresh guacamole. The beans were bland and not so tasty. Give it a try, good place to have a down. To earth casual lunch. read more

Simply amazing food and service. I will be going back. I had the burrito with their hot red sauce. Superb!

Awesome, fresh and healthy chicken with the perfect amount of seasoning. There guacamole is really good also. Fast and friendly. read more

Ordered the whole Chicken and Asada Burrito such great flavor!!! Reminds me of authentic pollo asado in Mexico.

I originally came here about two weeks after they opened. It's pretty exciting to have a real pollo al carbon place in town. We have a few places in Salinas that serve "chicken," but it's absolutely not the same thing, and we had nothing on the Peninsula that neared this. Since then though, I've continued coming back, and the food quality seems to have actually gotten better. Aside from the mesquite flavor we used to get in Tucson, at Pollo Feliz (a Sinaloan chain), this is probably the best example of this style of chicken I've had. It sits on a strip of nondescript eateries. The sort of places you would pass and ask, "Is that place open?" Seaside is a bit of a treasure trove in this manner, and it often takes some trial and error to find who does what well. El Pollo Rey doesn't really leave that open: it's grilled chicken or grilled beef. Then it's just a matter of your sides and your tortillas. There's very little left to chance and I think that helps them. The interior is grungy but clean. The kitchen is mostly just a long grill, totally open, so you can see all the action. There are maybe 8 tables total, with one prime spot by the window. You order at the register and then just wait to pick it up. They have just meats but also combos, that include rice and beans. The fridge offers some typical Mexican desserts and a few soda offerings in bottle. Everything comes in disposable containers. I've only had the chicken, as it's hard for me to get past it. It's just got a great flavor and is always so perfectly seasoned and cooked. I could eat it at least twice a week. Prices are very reasonable. It's about $10 for a full meal with a lot of food, but much cheaper if you order more to share. read more

Everything was good but that rice is absolutely amazing, it's simple but so savory without being salty or fatty I have no idea how to describe it other than it's worth going for on its own read more

Our first meal in Monterey. So delicious and a lot of food. The whole chicken can definitely feed a family of four with two younger children. read more

The hotel bartender recommended El Pollo Rey and it was a good call. The chicken had a good char but it wasn't dry. Really good flavor and the plates come with a grilled onion and jalapeno...Really liked their refried beans too. read more

El Pollo Rey - Chicken burrito - Mexican Near Me - Seaside, California

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This place is the bomb. Chicken is always cooked perfectly, tortillas are hot, and grilled onion is great! The cashier is friendly and prices are right. Once they even stayed open a little late for us because we ordered near closing. They are awesome! Thanks y'all! read more

This spot specializes in Mexican style grilled chicken from the state of Sinaloa. As the son of an authentic Sinaloense, this place is legit! El Pollo Rey simply leaves any El Pollo Loco franchise to shame. This is as authentic as it gets. I almost felt like I was grilling back in my father's home state. The onions, the guacamole, the chicken... all of it was amazing! 5 stars since the very nice owners are also from Sinaloa. I have taken other people here before and they were impressed. Do yourself a favor and stop by the next time you go to Seaside! read more

Just simple menu, Whole Grilled Chicken 1/2 Grilled Chicken 1/4 Grilled Chicken and or with Rice and beans, torts, Grilled Jalapenos Pound of Grilled Carne Asada 1/2 lb. Grilled Carne Asada With or with out Beans and rice Perfect for any get together. When you walk in El Polo Rey it smells soooooooo good, eat in, or take out. Come smell what's for dinner, we did! read more

I had been on a quest to find the best place for rotisserie/bbq chicken and I found the place. I've been here three times so far and all three visits have been consistently good. Getting here is now easier because Broadway is open (both directions) and it's just east of Fremont with plenty of street parking. There's no complicated menu, just the two meats and plenty of sides. I've always opted for a whole chicken with the tortillas and salsas. That's plenty to feed four grown adults with some awesome bbq chicken tacos. I like to take my order home and reheat the tortillas on the comal and I add cheese to tortilla and crisp it a bit, pulled chicken, and their kick ass salsa. That's all you need to make this man happy ! I highly recommend this place for solid bbq chicken a las brasas. read more

Great food, friendly service. Chicken is great, charro beans are great, everything is great. One note: Corn tortillas come standard with whole chicken orders, so if you want flour tortillas you need to ask. If you're looking for a hipster hangout or fancy decor, this is not the place for you. If you're looking for great food at reasonable prices this is the place for you. read more

Delicious and reasonably priced!! You can't beat it!! Food is delicious I love the chicken. The staff is very friendly:) Always fresh. Try it for yourself and see what you think. read more

Love their awesome chicken. Charred perfectly and moist. I got the half chicken that came w tortilla, pickled onions, grilled onion, salsa, Spanish rice and beans. Friendly staff too. read more

El Pollo Rey - Mexican Near Me - Seaside, California

love this place but my disabled fiancé just found bones in her burrito she or a child could of choked not cool

Bomb ass chicken! The price is fair and the service is great. Yes you could BBQ at home, but who has the time after a long day at work, this is great food fast! read more

El Pollo Rey - Mexican Near Me - Seaside, California

Really great spot. Highly highly recommended! I do a Togo order every time I am in town. read more

Their pollo asado and nopal salad are the best I've had in the area. Every time I go, it's the same high quality and delicious food. During the Shelter in Place we called ahead and the food is just as delicious as when there wasn't a pandemic. The chicken is flavored so good and it will keep you wanting more!! read more

Been going here on my lunch working here in seaside and I got to say it's gotta be the best Mexican cuisine spot on the Monterey bay. Pollo asado super burrito is delicious and they serve it with a grilled onion and grilled chili pepper. Hands down best spot in town read more

Great spot, bomb chicken, beans tortillas n everything! Must try it! U won't regret it

Awesome chicken and sides. Clean restaurant And friendly service. Rolled in with my wife and three kids and we all Enjoyed it. read more