This place serves the absolute best rotisserie/grilled chicken that I've ever had. The chicken is so well seasoned with a nice crispy skin while the meat itself is moist and juicy. Even the breast meat is moist and flavorful. Don't even think about going to El Pollo Loco. Come here when you want authentic Mexican styles grilled chicken. read more

Fantastic baked chicken and the side dishes are tasty and complimentary. I have shared this chicken for my family, large gatherings and parties for the past 20+ years. Everyone loves their food. The owners and workers are always gracious and accommodating. The website makes ordering efficient. read more

Move over Pollo Loco, you can't beat the lunch special price from El Pollo Unico. For $5.96 you get a chicken breast and a wing, beans and rice, plus another choice of side order, corn or flour tortillas and a drink. The chicken is cooked perfectly and the hot salsa is on point. It's my third time coming here and I'm always happy and quite full after. Sometimes when I'm not much of a piggy I still have some leftover to take home. This is not an upscale place where you take your first date to if you want to impress but the food is really good. Come in your most comfortable self and dig in the bountiful food in front of you. Did I mention that the lunch special is available all day? Maybe, they should call it "All day special."? But who cares what it's called as long as it's really good but cheap. read more

The chicken at El Pollo Unico is absolutely delicious. The quality and taste is better than El Pollo Loco. The staff are friendly. The only two issues I have with this place is 1. They only accept cash and 2. I wish they had a larger variety of sides. Regardless if the two issues, I prefer this chicken over their competitors so they don't deter me from returning as a customer. read more

Check your salsa if possible. I got home and served everyone's plate with a nice amount of salsa over the rice and beans and it was expired :( The disappointment. I went and the Chinese lady said they make there salsas every day blah blah blah oh well pretty much. She could have been nicer read more

This place is for real. Simple and with the nicest staff. I ride in on my bicycle and got the $10 chicken special. The woman behind the counter said: "You want your drink in the bag?" I said "no. I am on my bike." She looked at me deadpan and said: "Well, you can just drink it all here." Funny. Made me feel good. Chicken is better than El Pollo Loco. Prices are reasonable too. For one or for your whole family - great tasting chicken, tortillas and salsa with great value. I am putting it in my list of favorites. Check it out yourself. read more

Today I got me some Pollo Unico from this place. Have been getting chickent there for years. Today all the sides were tasteless, the salsa was tasteless, the macaroni salad had not taste at all, it just tasted like plain pasta, the rice was flavorless, the same for the beans. Did you guys changed the cook. If you did, you need to bring him back or you'll lose clientele. Not good today sorry! read more

This place is so good that I ended up coming back and ordered more for my family. The chicken was cooked to perfection, the rice the potato salad, the macaroni salad, the beans, the hot salsa, the heated corn tortilla! Also the price is fantastic! I love this place. There is a line outside the door and the service is quick and prompt and on point! This is a restaurant run with efficiency and care. I will be back to this place again and again the next time I find myself in Pasadena! Support your mom and pops restaurants! read more

My go-to Hawaiian "huli-huli" tasting rotisserie chicken spot on the Mainland. Hawaii Kama 'Aina, be advised - go to El Pollo Unico if you miss Huli-huli! They have the best price I've found in Pasadena among stand-alone rotisserie chicken joints. A whole, moist rotisserie chicken (cut into 8 pieces) with delicious seasonings + warm tortillas & mild or hot house salsa is only $12. Up the hill at Pollos Puebla it's exactly 2x the price. It's only $7.99 at Vallarta's, but the taste is better at El Pollo Unico. Try parking in front of the little nail salon on Lake if you come during peak hours and it looks like the parking lot is full. read more

It's not the El Pollo Único you remember. Portions are smaller, prices are higher, quality is lesser and service is poorer. I went there on two separate occasions an hour before closing and they were out of chicken both times. Don't bother with this place. read more

Worst customer service, waited 30 mins and they simply ignored my order. I had to ask for a refund. Long lines and not enough staff is recuperar for disaster. Even with the use of kiosks I got tired of waiting. Do not recommend this place! Don't waste your time like I did. read more

We were really looking forward to trying this chicken on Saturday. We were very disappointed-- the chicken was very very dry like it had been cooked hours ago and reheated-and the salsa was watered down with no flavor. The rice and beans and tortillas were good.- if small business wants support they must provide quality products to spend our hard earned money . read more

When I think of cheap ghetto grub in Pasadena, I think of E-P-U. Got my masters degree here and am currently going for my PHD. $5 lunch special gets you two flame grilled citrus seasoned chicken pieces, rice, beans, corn w/ mystery butter compound, tortillas, and a drink. Ambience is minimal, there are a few dirty tables to sit, no phone for call-in orders, one smoked out video arcade game, an Autozone and Mariachi accessory shop next door. Or was it selling International phone cards? Can't remember exactly, I'm usually too busy running my arse away from the store with hot chicken in tow. Part of the experience here is the both the local clientele and crazy jammed parking lot. DO NOT attempt to park in front of the store as patrons will double park without remorse. Any spot near the 7-11 is better. On one occasion, and I wish I was kidding, some vagabond in the parking lot offered me my choice of prescription drugs he was selling in a clear plastic bag. Other times its been bootleg DVDs. And normally its just your normal Lake Ave. panhandlers. Come early ~11:30 to beat the lunch rush, bring a friend for backup, keep the car running, and enjoy your EPU education. read more

If you've never had a Ghetto Dining experience, come give this place a try guaranteed amazement, from the workers.Owner to the customers FUN times will be had!. The place is small and the layout doesn't make much sense, if you plan on dining in and are fortunate enough to score a table, ask for a towel because I guarantee it will be dirty, I can go on but let's get to the point.... FOOD. Chicken is Flame Grilled "El Pollo Loco" style and they do it very well, and for less $.... 2-pc Meal Breast & Wing - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/el-pollo-unico-pasadena?select=zLayGzrQ5pO_0W_Sowo1eQ#qTfqBdzYoTqqN7LUXGRXKQ Nice crispy skin and moist meat http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/el-pollo-unico-pasadena?select=zLayGzrQ5pO_0W_Sowo1eQ#tfSvwZLhcpMkQrDKRnAfAg delicious. Sides were Beans and Corn on the Cobb - Beans, I'm a Mexican who loves his beans, in other words I'm a Frijolero, but these were barely passable, the corn on the cobb tasted old or like it had freezer burn, just lacking flavor. Salsa - HOT - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/el-pollo-unico-pasadena?select=zLayGzrQ5pO_0W_Sowo1eQ#zLayGzrQ5pO_0W_Sowo1eQ so they claim, it was not bad/useful to help out the lousy beans. Chicken - 5-Stars Sides - 2-Stars Entertainment - Priceless Bring your CASH they don't accept Credit Cards You want just as good Chicken, Regular or Spicy Better Sides Better Parking Clean Dining Area Then go check out this place http://www.yelp.com/biz/pollos-puebla-1-pasadena#query:Pollo%20Unico read more

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This place has seriously good chicken at an amazing price. For $24, I got one and a half chicken, 3 large sides, 15 tortillas, and 3 monster sized drinks. At first glance, the food at this place looks and feels exactly like the "el pollo loco" experience. Even though there are definite parallels, the food is just better here. The chicken is moist, soft, and perfectly cooked. It has a strong lemon flavor and it's well marinated. The tortillas are really warm and their rice and potato salad are both excellent. The value is awesome and the food was great, but what will keep me from coming back is that seating is limited and most people order take out. Since I live like 25 mins away, El Pollo Loco will have to do. But if you live near Pasadena, you have no excuse....this place just has really good food for a very reasonable price! read more

Overall I like El Pollo Unico and places orders "to go" pretty often because it's pretty cheap given it ...However, the chicken is cut up and rather than served whole thus this is not the place for people looking for a rotisserie style chicken...It's a pre-marinated, pre-cooked and then re-grilled chicken. The chicken is on the super salty side as well. Review of sides: The Mexican rice is tomato-y and bouillon-y, which I personally like. The salsa is pretty good. Sometimes it can be too watery. Beans, potato salad and mac salad are average... Corn is....previously frozen corn that is an unnaturally bright shade of yellow. Service could be more pleasant and more efficient. The owner and employees aren't particularly friendly. No smiles given here. Also, there is only one cash register and the line is almost always out the door in the evenings. An extra cash register or phone in order/pick up system would help them greatly. Random note: they used to give lemons with your order, but the last few times I have gone, lemons weren't included so if you (like me) like lemony chicken, maybe you have to request it. read more

Another great eatery around the Orange Heights neighborhood. El Pollo Unico shares a lot in common with it's other El Pollo cousin... as in El Pollo Loco ... Only the chicken here taste much better with bigger portions and cheaper prices. The dining area leaves little to be desired since it accommodates about 15 people at max but most people take their food to go. The parking situation here is a joke too and it's best to find street parking. You'll be in and out faster than if you were parked in the parking lot. I've eaten here once and driven/walked by here about a half dozen times in the past week and every time I've been here, there's a line out the door with hungry people waiting to get their chicken. And it's not a big surprise, the food is really good and their daily specials make it even harder to resist coming by. Good stuff!!! read more

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Omg we love this place. It is better than pollo loco . It is very flavorful. Their sides are very tasty. Their family meals are yummy and reasonable read more

Love this place! It was right across the street from one of my interships and was my go to place when I forgot to bring lunch. I usually got the 1/2 chicken with sides for like $7 and it is more than enough to last me for 2 meals. The chicken is juicy and tender and the tortilla is fluffy. I loved the coleslaw (although I don't want to think about how bad it is for me) but I wasn't really a fan of the salsa (seemed really watery) but everything else was flavorful enough that it wasn't a problem. Don't forget your cash because they are cash only! read more

Excellent grilled check. Price is good, sides are excellent, especially the macaroni salad. Ones with tortillas, salsas the works.

The chicken at "El Pollo Unico" was like the first time I ate "El Pollo Loco" - back then it was called "The Crazy Chicken" (I think I was nine or ten - and it was in the early to mid-80s). I was hooked immediately. Nom nom nom... I would beg my mom to get food from "The Crazy Chicken", before the name changed to "El Pollo Loco". I'm not sure if it was chain back then, since it was in the early to mid 80s and I only knew of the one close to my house back then. But, it is now, and the food - ugh. So, I looked for another Mexican grilled chicken place that had the same flavor and crisp, I looked for a while too. I am a discerning eater (LOL). Yelp led me to "El Pollo Unico" and I decided to try it since it was close by. I'd driven past it so many times, but never thought to try it, since I hadn't found a good Mexican grilled chicken place, and not for lack of trying. But one day, I went in and OMG - it tastes like the chicken I had when I was young! After many disappointments at "El Pollo Loco" (which used to be my FAVORITE as kid), their chicken just doesn't taste the same anymore. You also can't see the grill in the kitchen with tons of chicken on it anymore either... So, I have a theory that they boiled the chicken (for their tortilla soup - which I really like) before grilling - so they can save time and grill space, since the chicken is already cooked. That's the chicken is now very bland and mushy. But when it's lunch rush - quick to make crispy fast. This is my own theory, but I know people that think the same... I used to work in food service in college. I'm so happy I found "El Pollo Unico" - I will be back!! read more

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This place has always been my favorite place to eat but today sadly it was a different story. I went to grab some dinner for my family and as we are about to eat our food, guess what we find? MOLD IN OUR TORTILLAS!! It seems like they just gave us a pack of tortillas without checking if it was still good. Because of this we were hesitant to eat the rest of the food so we threw everything away. Waste of money and waste of our appetite. read more

El Pollo Unico - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

I admit this place has serious potential, but they really need to hire a better janitor if they want to step it up. Food: I have a sinking suspicion that this place was founded by a disgruntled El Pollo Loco employee. Everything in this restaurant can be found at El Pollo Loco. Not an exaggeration. Even the name is reminiscent of our favorite flame broiled chicken chain. Don't believe me? Check out me and my boo's lunch combo: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/UGfEWDdhuNufrhRhuyApow?select=uMC8wAvftVr8HaV8C4v7dA. That potato salad, coleslaw, flamebroiled chicken, rice, beans, salsa, and horchata look familiar to you? Thought so. Anyway, the chicken is pretty juicy and even comes with a couple lemon wedges for an extra kick (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/UGfEWDdhuNufrhRhuyApow?select=-tnbC4liI8kG3gpCrRrKCA). It also doesn't hurt that a meal is dirt cheap here, especially considering how much food you get. Based on food alone, I think I'd give this maybe 4 stars. Atmosphere: Imagine taking an office trashcan and dumping it all over the tables. This is essentially what the dining area looks like. You're gonna find receipts, greasy used napkins, human hair, and random food particles all over the tables and the floor. There were random grease splotches all over the windows. Even worse, the apparently famous Ms. Pac-Man machine in the corner had nasty bits of decaying food particles all over the screen and controls. I would not touch that thing with a ten foot pole. Luckily the kitchen area looks pretty clean. I would strongly recommend not dining in... Service: Order at the counter. I think most people just go for the take out which is not surprising given the above description. They're pretty fast with orders and I think you can phone in for a lightning fast turnaround. Synopsis: The chicken is good, but not so much that I can ignore the appalling filth in the dining area. read more

El Pollo Unico - Chicken Plates with Coleslaw and Potato Salad Sides - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Awesome chicken and healthy with no skin but still lots of taste beans and rice yummy also

I've been coming to El Pollo Unico since it used to be in that super small hole in the wall in the "shopping center" across the street. It was nested between whatever Chief Auto Parts/Kragen/OReilly's car part place was there and the Fashion Cleaners. Businesses came and went, but El Pollo Unico remained. This place is the bombdotcom. The chicken is fingerlickin' good. It's always cooked just right. I have been here over 50 times and never has it been undercooked. I don't know how they do it. I don't know how they make it so tasty. However, you don't come here to eat there. Nope. You pick up your 1.5 chickens, with your sides (rice, beans, potato salad), you ask for your extra fresh serranos and some plates and you take it home to stuff your face in private. Cause you're not gonna want people to see you sweating from the spicy serranos and licking your fingers cause that chicken is delicious! & no, this is NOT El Pollo Loco. EPL does not come close. read more

El Pollo Unico - I brought El Pollo Unico leftovers for lunch. OHGODYES. - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

This has to be my new favorite chicken spot in SoCal. I was recommended this location my my best friend Cesar and man it did not disappoint. With the simplest menu you get the best flavored chicken you will ever have. Chicken was very juicy and beans and rice where great. The salsa is not to spicy but has tons of flavor. This is definitely a spot you bring home for dinner because it's really fairly priced and they are quick to serve. The line gets pretty long so keep that in mined, but it's definitely worth the wait. I would recommend this location to anyone read more

Ohh I loveeee this place!!!! Honestly its the best chicken place ever! You guys gotta go try the fresh chicken they cook everyday... the place is very small inside and its a hole in the wall but AMAZING. They do not accept card its cash only but its worth every penny. Customer service is great and they work very fast. I will post pictures of the place. read more

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they must have changed the cook. The chicken is tasteless and dry. The sides are horrible. The rice is just the parboiled kind with orange coloring. It has absolutely zero taste. This is not the same Pollo Unico from years past. read more

8.03 dinner special gets you half chicken (4 pieces of drumstick, wing, breast and thing), 1 container of salsa (either mild or spicy), 1 choice of side, tortilla, rice, beans, and a drink!!! That's is such an awesome deal!! The skin on the chicken is a sweeter/ more citrusy than El Pollo Loco...it's very moist, salty and juicy. I really enjoyed the potato salad, you can taste the dill and the tangyness from the mustard very nicely. Rice and beans were tasty. Parking was a bit hard but wasn't too bad. It's a very small place so if its crowded, it will be hard to sit down to eat. They are stingy with their sauce (only one per dinner meal, 0.25 extra for another one) and it's cash only. Took awhile to get my order, but when I did it was fresh and made to order! I would come back here if I didn't have to wait so long. read more

El Pollo Unico - Tiny place - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

Awful customer service! I order online and when I arrived at the restaurant food was not ready and on top of that my boyfriend kept asking if the order was ready and they just ignored him! That I have never experienced especially now that restaurant need our money more then ever. They where very rude and discriminative! My boyfriend is African American and he was completely ignored I am Hispanic and I went in there and told them exactly what I was seeing from my car and they never even apologized they made excuses! The food isn't even that great I only order from them because I didn't want to drive to West Covina and get Juan Pollo so this is what I get for being lazy! I am never coming here again and I hope this nasty places gets closed down! read more

Parking is awful. Honestly, there are like 3 other businesses in the same section all sharing a handful of parking spots. There is street parking but that can be tough to snag as well especially on Lake Ave. With that said we like to order to go so that we are in and out of there as quickly as possible. Likewise, the dining area is rather small and doesn't come seem to be the cleanest. When you go there's a chance there might be a line out the door; don't let that scare you. The line moves quickly and the food comes out just as fast. The chicken in similar to El Pollo Loco in my opinion but the sides are probably better. Overall, the appeal is the fast service, quick quality food, and great prices. Tip: CASH ONLY! read more

Grumpy owners typically mean good food. And this place has this grumpy old lady that always wears a baseball cap and likes to cup her chin with her left hand. I don't think she is really grumpy, but she just looks that way and has to deal with the throngs of people wanting some gooooood Chicken. North lake is a bit of a Chicken Mecca. Grand chicken, KFC, Popeyes, Roscoes, all fighting for y our chicken dollars. But I can say without a doubt, El pollo unico is tops. It's like El pollo loco.... but it's NOT! it's so much juicier and the skin has so much more flavor. Almost a little too salty at times. Ask for extra lemons and make sure to coat the meat before you dig in. I enjoy the beans and rice for my sides. Their soda fountain coke is pretty awesome. It has that weird old taste that you find at golf range snack shops. read more

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I live in NV and every time I come this way, I make sure to get food from here. I have not been disappointed.

Great chicken, great value. Beats KFC/Popeyes any day of the week. Love the salsa, rice and beans too. Lots of food and the price is right. Make a stop here, you won't regret it. read more

Honestly crazy how this place has literally been here for years without fail.. it's just something about their chicken along with the pico de gallo and lemons that are combined so well. Haha. BTW, this place is usually pretty damn busy, so make sure to call ahead or you'll be waiting for almost 25 mins to have your food finally ready. read more

The place is good to eat at my kids love it plus they have kiosk order so you can choose of what to order

Service is really slow. If you do an online order expect to wait an additional 30 minutes after arriving. Stay away !!! read more

The chicken is juicy, meaty and well-season. Great sides. The rice, beans, corn and potato salad are very tasty. The flour tortillas are usually undercooked and the corn tortillas are hard. Still, it's my go-to place for fast food. Beats Pollo Loco by a long shot. The website doesn't always work if you want to pre-order. Busy place around the meal hours. read more

I love their chicken , I love the flavor better than El Pollo Unico, but sometimes their service is not satisfactory. I ordered online today since they don't accept phone call orders . Thinking that it will be ready by the time I put in. When I went there I was 3 mins early and the lady told me "you said 12 noon" ok.. 12 noon it is. But, it's 12:10 already and my order is not ready yet. What happened here? I placed my order 11am and said that it will be ready in 30 mins but I adjusted it to 12 noon so I can pick it up during my break time. Anyways, when they handed me the order exactly 12:15 I asked them why it's way too late.. the lady said "we tried our best " in a non apologetic manner. Oh well. I hope this will never happen again read more

What can I say about this place, the chicken smack so hard I thought someone came and hit my mama lol, it was fresh, juicy, the beans were very well seasoned, the rice was fluffy and bursting with flavor, the salsa was perfect the corn was juicy and to mention all of that the price was on point like wanny!! read more