I stopped by Original Pollo's Fresh Homemade Foods on Shattuck in Berkeley. This spot has been around for over 35 years, so I had to finally check it out. It has that family-oriented, neighborhood café vibe--small, cozy, and welcoming. I ordered the #5 breakfast special, which comes with two eggs and a waffle, but I added an extra egg and got some toast on the side, plus a coffee. * The eggs were excellent--fresh, tasty, and cooked well. * The waffle was decent--not amazing, but good enough for a simple breakfast. * The toast was just okay, nothing special, but it did the job. * The coffee was a nice touch and rounded out the meal. The staff (just two people working when I was there) were friendly and made me feel at home even while keeping busy. They greeted everyone and made the place feel welcoming. By the time I arrived, there were already people seated, and more folks kept coming in--definitely not packed, but steady enough to show it's a local favorite. Overall, it's a nice little diner-style café that feels like part of the Berkeley community. If you're in the area and want a hearty breakfast before or after a Cal game, this is a solid choice. Two thumbs up from me. read more

Original Pollo - American Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Original Pollo offers some of the best cheap burgers and hot dogs in Berkeley! They have a commitment to providing cheap, yummy, and familiar favorites to their fan base, who love the old-style diner menu and ambiance. They proudly bring an excellent small-town diner experience to the suburbs of the Bay Area. The service here is always very polite. The friendliness of the cashier often brightens my day. read more

Original Pollo - Cheap burger and fries - American Near Me - Berkeley, California

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The Original Pollo is a great price performer. Good food for a good price. That's hard to find these days. #2 Combo of eggs, sausage/bacon and a waffle is under $13. read more

Original Pollo - The #2 Combo - American Near Me - Berkeley, California

Original Pollo's breakfast burritos are perfectly cooked and the restaurant is such a cozy, homey spot. The only downside is that the food takes a while to make, especially if it's busy. But the fact that it's so relaxed makes it a great place to chill out. You could study, catch up with friends, and more. It's quite comfortable. I definitely recommend the bacon breakfast burrito as I felt I got more protein out of it as opposed to the breakfast sausage option I got last time. It also tasted much better. read more

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This review is solely based on the breakfast burrito. I love a solid breakfast burrito and am always on the hunt for one. I've been in Berkeley for many years and can't believe I'm finally giving this place a try. It's been around for a looong time. This is a small spot and is run by the owner and maybe 1-2 other staff. I came in on a Thursday around 10:30 am and waited for about 20 minutes for my burrito. The owner takes orders and also helps prep food. He was super friendly and knew all the regulars' orders. There was only one other cook at the stove. It did take longer than I expected, but the food was piping hot and delicious. The burrito was massive and stuffed. I added sausage for an extra $2-3. I do wish there was more sausage in the burrito given the additional cost. The potatoes are home fries rather than hashbrowns, which I actually quite enjoyed. I also asked for salsa in my burrito, but you can ask for it on the side. The total came to around $13 after tax and lasted me 2.5 meals. This place is my new go to for breakfast burritos, but I would consider calling ahead of time if wanting to have a quick grab and go meal. read more

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Love, love, love this place. Their breakfast burritos ate the best. Fillowed up by their waffles. The owner is very friendly and welcomes you with a smile. They are dog friendly and handicap accessible. read more

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very simple diner type establishment great service food is yummy. It is a little bit slow because I think they only have maybe one or two people working there at a time. read more

After a LONG wait we got our take out and devoured our burritos nearby. The staff was so sweet and authentic that nothing seemed to matter. I would've liked a touch more cheese on my burrito (the problem with not eating onsite), but it was completely no problem. Thank you all for a great breakfast after a long morning or football! read more

Food: 4/5 Service: 4/5 Ambiance: 4/5 Overall vibe: - small dining room - old school feel, you can tell the building has been around awhile - chill/no frills environment Food: - was pleasantly full - overall good read more

Original Pollo - BLT Sandwich with fries - American Near Me - Berkeley, California

One of Berkeley best breakfast burrito location. People there are amazing as well very friendly. They also have good fresh orange juice.

Generous breakfast portions that are quite delicious! Affordable prices! The owner works hard and is sure to say hello read more

Food okay everything else nice would go again cause really only thing close to that hotel.

It's hard for me to recommend this place highly enough. Once when I was having some difficulty with my banks and getting money out of them, the owner here was courteous and helpful, even though I appeared to be down and out. This place, reminds me of the malt shops and drugstore counters of my youth. I can't recommend it highly enough. The food is good. The ambience is comforting, as if I were once again a child sitting on a stool, barely able to look over the counter. read more

I have--had, I guess--a complicated relationship with Pollo that is further complicated by the fact that I can't think of Pollo without also thinking of my dear late friend Brenda, who either persuaded me to come here or whom I persuaded to come here. Brenda died suddenly in 2017--it's been five years!--so when I would come here after her passing, I would think about the goofball she was and get sad and then happy and then somewhere in between. And then COVID happened, and our office moved, so the last time I came to Pollo (which was less than a block from our old office) might double as the last time I ever came to Pollo. I don't know how to organize this review, so I'll do it chronologically. I used to be afraid of this place because of its sign, but it survived and survived, and people were always in here, so I eventually tried it, I believe on my own. The typos on the menu are so numerous as to be comical. That's what Brenda and I used to laugh about the first few times we came together. The little nicknacks all over the place are cute and perfect for the atmosphere, which is probably best described as drab-but-trying. The food is pretty good. The portions aren't the largest, but they're not tiny either, and it's remarkably consistent. I don't think I ever had anything bad from here, and I've tried quite a few things. I really like their breakfasts, but I honestly never really came early enough to have breakfast before work. I would sometimes order breakfast for lunch, but in general, I don't do that, although I do like breakfast for dinner. The owner is a dear and runs the show with a steady hand, although not an iron fist. He takes to-go orders and will throw in this-and-that at times, and if they forgot something or got your order wrong, he will make it right without a fuss or a complaint. I only ate in once, and I wouldn't recommend it. It feels like a nice little diner, but the low cottage-cheese ceilings and crowded decor really make it more uncomfortable than cozy. Plus I believe they use disposable utensils and cups when you dine in, which doesn't make it feel like a place you'd want to spend much time in. They were usually playing Jeopardy! on the TV when I came to pick up my to-go orders, for some reason. I don't remember what Brenda would order from here, but I know she liked something specifically. I've held off on writing this review on purpose because the first few times I tried to write it, I was tempted to text Brenda to ask her what it was she always ordered from here. Time has dulled the pain of her leaving this world too soon, but there's a deep ache when I think back on those places and times I associate with her. I think Brenda did like the Mexican food from here--she was surprised to like it--and I like their burritos, but I tend to be obsessive about burritos specifically and generally won't order a good one (Pollo) when I can have a great one (El Burro Picante) even if that means going to the same place over and over and over. It's ridiculously close to one of the least used BART Downtown Berkeley Station entrances. In the biopic of my life, Zach Galifianakis (as me) would walk groggily up those steps to eat breakfast at Pollo before going to work. I don't know who would play Brenda in that flick. You need to be firm with the owner about not suffocating your to-go order in endless cycles of plastic bags. Conversely, if you live in a seven-bathroom mansion and need liners for all of your bathroom trashcans, just order a single item from here and tell him not to hold the plastic. You think I'm kidding, but I'm not. read more

The Breakfast burrito is awful. The burrito is packed with potatoes that are extremely undercooked, not seasoned, and hard. Also found random piece of mushroom or something. The object is hard and brown which caught me off guard. I will not be returning. The also service isn't that friendly. Please save your money read more

Original Pollo - 6. Breakfast Burrito - American Near Me - Berkeley, California

Gentleman who took my order was so kind. Great food, filling breakfast and ready very quick.

I've been here a few times. The food is always solid, the prices are reasonable, and the staff (particularly the owner) are just so friendly and helpful. It really feels like a neighborhood cafe, and is always busy but the food comes out quick. Love the patty melt and the fries. read more

It's an excellent example of diner food, but no one would confuse it with a five star restaurant food. Five star service and ambience: The owner is the soul of kindness. When I'm in there, I feel the way I felt when my father used to make breakfast for me. I am a street minister. I am quite comfortable in the worst neighborhoods imaginable. Sometimes I walk around, looking as if I were down and out. I see how I am treated when I don't present myself as middle class. Think Sherlock Holmes. Always try to blend in when you are seeking information that is supposedly secret. If I walk around in all my privilege, I am treated as if I were the king of Siam. If I show up as a bum, bum, and asked to use a bathroom, I learn how the Eunha unhoused suffer. read more

I'm a sucker for traditional neighborhood food Joints, especially establishments that don't pretend to be anything more than they are, and for what they are, do it well. Crackerbox in Carson City NV is one of those places, as is Original Pollo in Downtown Berkeley. Although the face of Downtown Berkeley has changed, with various businesses coming and going, and new building developments, Original Pollo is still here after all these years. So as Gayle and I started our morning walk our of our Hotel (first looking from breakfast), I convinced Gayle to give this place a try and to satisfy my years of curiosity about this place. This place is pretty much run by an older gentleman (and I should talk?) working the front (who is probably the owner) and an assistant working the back. That's where the bathroom is too, as you need to go outside and around (and have the assistant let you in). This place feels like a "cash only" establishment, but rest assured that plastic is also welcome here. Gayle and I took at table by the window, and watched the world go by, both outside and inside and various to-go and seated customers went in an out. The owner flowed through kitchen, table, and counter duty seamlessly as our orders were being prepared. #1 for Gayle - 2 Eggs Over Easy - 3 Sausage - Toast - Hash browns #2 for Eric - 2 Eggs Over Easy - 4 Bacon - Waffle We both thoroughly enjoyed our choices, although when a waffle is ordered, it's always too much food for me (no matter how good it is). The crispy bacon in particular was outstanding. To paraphrase another reviewer, this was a nothing fancy, simple and solid breakfast, which to me is exactly the point for places like this. And when we're back in town, we'll probably do it again. read more

Original Pollo is an old school amazing place. The food is amazing and it is one of my favorite places in Berkeley. I have had many different meals there over the years and I have never been disappointed there. Love the people that work there. It is a truly great place in Berkeley and a gem. read more

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It was as basic as basic gets, but it was good, hearty eating and sometimes that's all you need, especially if you're a Cal undergrad on a limited budget. I haven't been an undergrad since I was knee-high to a man, but Jamie W. and I were milling about the youth of Berkeley and landed here for lunch. The owner was pretty friendly and the place definitely had some regulars hanging out and chatting him up. It was a pretty straightforward menu centered around their specialties, beef gyros and chicken kabobs. If I was barely twenty and unconcerned about my metabolism, I probably would've gone for a burrito and a hot plate. But of course, we focused on the salad options. Jamie went for the $9.95 Gyros Salad (photo: http://bit.ly/39rZFOV), while I had the $9.95 Chicken Kabob Salad (photo: http://bit.ly/31Fq4pt) - both robust bowls made identically with lettuce, tomato, diced onion, and full of meat. We both got a few pita wedges with plenty of tzatziki sauce (photo: http://bit.ly/31LxYhd). It was nothing extraordinary but it was plenty satisfying for hungry undergrads like us. Oh wait, that ain't us. FOOD - 3 stars...solid meat salads, that's it AMBIANCE - 3 stars...a lot of Fingerhut tchotchkes in here SERVICE - 4 stars...friendly TOTAL - 3 stars...student-priced meaty salads RELATED - Exploring Berkeley? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2CbVh8u read more

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Foods awful. Absolutely no taste or flavor. Idk what happened to people caring about what their food taste like. If you're a five star review here you're lying or have no taste buds and probably think pepper is spicy iykyk. I should've just cooked at home. Very cute locations tho read more

Original Pollo - Bad food - American Near Me - Berkeley, California

This place has an amazing breakfast burrito. Quick and easy, and not super expensive. I come here anytime I am in the area and need a quick breakfast or lunch. They take calls so you can call in your order ahead of time for even faster pick up. 10/10 would recommend read more

This place has one of THEE BEST breakfast burritos I've ever had. The way they build it is perfect and their homemade salsa is soo damm good i regretted not asking for two. The gentleman at the register was very friendly and helpful. read more

I lived in Berkeley as a student for years and always walked by this local institution in the downtown, but never had a chance to try it out. On a recent trip, I had the chance to finally visit and try their legendary breakfast. The service was amazing, and the eggs and ham on the breakfast sandwich were cooked to order. Super delicious and filling!! read more

Came in on a Sunday morning for some takeout. I wanted to try the breakfast burrito. Meat is separate from the listed price but still okay. The burrito itself was huge. Lots of potatoes in it. They use home style potatoes vs hash browns. Each item in the filing was good but didn't feel very cohesive. The sum of the whole wasn't greater than the individual parts. Service was quick. I ordered and it was ready 15 minutes later when I drove up. I would definitely want to go back and try other items. Seems like a very friendly environment and the other customers' plates looked good. read more

Tons of food on the plate. Good selection of menu items. The breakfasts looked amazing even at 12:30 pm. The cod burrito and the chicken burrito were delicious. We waddled out of there. Going to try the burger next time. read more

I went here last week for their breakfast burrito. I read that reviews and they all said it was one of the best in Berkeley. There was plenty of parking in the nearby area even though there is construction on the same street. I walked in and ordered a chicken sausage breakfast burrito which comes with meat, egg, cheese, potato, and salsa. I got the salsa on the side and it was very much needed. It was ready in under 10 minutes and was quite sizeable for not having too many ingredients. Overall the burrito was decent. It was more on the bland side so be sure to get extra salsa and salt-n-pepper. I would have liked more cheese as well. It got the job done. For the size it really filled me up and was decent. I did notice that the table next to mind got waffles which looked amazing. I'd like to go back and try something else. read more

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Berkeley is a new place to me, so finding this place was pure accidental joy. I asked for their world famous burrito, and I loved it. They make their own salsa in house, and it was delicious. This is the definition of a "lucky find." Please go see them soon... read more

As a BART commuter, I find Pollo ideal for grabbing my lunch to go on the way to the office. Excellent burritos. Full breakfasts. Burgers. Kind service, often by the owner himself. They are happy to make accommodations like cutting my burrito into two separately wrapped pieces. I love places that have been around forever and are anchors in the community, and Pollo is definitely that. One can almost always see groups of firefighters or other city workers there in the morning, enjoying breakfast together. I decided to write here, though, because a few days ago, (June 2), I was driving through the chaos of downtown Berkeley near Pollo, and a blind man was struggling in the intersection because of some construction equipment. The owner of Pollo literally ran out of his restaurant, apron still on, cut across traffic, and gently guided the man to safety. It was quite a thing. Most people would not have taken this kind of personal risk to help a stranger. It feels good to know that my good burrito supports such an awesome person's business. Thank you Pollo owner. read more

Original Pollo - Original Pollo, right next to the downtown Berkeley northeast BART entrance. - American Near Me - Berkeley, California

Amazing cheeseburgers! My #1 burger at Berkeley. Must eat for the weekend. The environment is also good. read more

Original Pollo - Cheeseburger!!! - American Near Me - Berkeley, California

Went here for lunch and had the best service ever. Place is nice and the burgers were great overall this place is the best

Ah yes! Pollos! They have a pretty good breakfast. That I will stop in for with a friend, when in the neighborhood. But it's their Gyro that, when it calls to me. Gnaws both belly and brain. Mmmmmmm. read more

I have lived in Downtown Berkeley just a few blocks from this place since 2009. I have been sitting here reading the reviews that are already on here. I have to say that I am shocked at how people who are reviewing this place are spending most of their time nit-picking every little detail of the ambiance of this place! One reviewer here practically has written an entire novel of incredibly irrelivant minutiae and over rated harshness towards this place that most of you should take it for what it is... the ramblings of a person who likes to be extremely judgemental of every single detail of every place they go! Now, to the heart of what REALLY matters ..... the food! The portions are big for the price, so I feel I get my money's worth! The food tastes great! I ALWAYS come back whenever I can and I much prefer this place over those much larger supposed 5-star spots ANY DAY of the week, mostly because I get truly personal service and attention. I am not treated like just another body at a table and being served by a waiter who is handling 6 tables at once and does not have time to give you the personal attention your paying that $25 per meal for! So, if you want to get hung up on the ambiance then so be it! But, you should really spend most of your time and effort focused on how great the food is! And, like one reviewer said, if something comes out wrong they don't hesitate to fix it! Now, if you come to Berkeley, be sure and drop in and give this place a try! You won't regret it! read more

The owner is super nice always asking how's my day when I order food. The breakfast burrito is always super tasty and it makes my day. I have it spicy with chicken apple sausage. read more

A true Berkeley legend. The sausage burrito is the breakfast burrito in town. Savory, crispy, perfectly seasoned and just the right amount of greasy. read more

Saw this place just wandering around the city. The food was delicious, service was amazing. And the atmosphere was cool and quiet!!!

The food was always cooked to order an excellent and the service was above par. Wonderful family.

I'd say the breakfast burrito is decently solid. I got mine with bacon, and it came with scrambled eggs, cheese, potatoes, pico, and sautéed onions/bell peppers (which I wasn't expecting, but were a nice addition). It was hot and fresh, but I wish the salsa was better. read more

Original Pollo - Bacon breakfast burrito - American Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Charge too much and then the food is tasteless and burnt. They have been there for a while but the quality is not the same the pride in food is not present and the customer service is very robotic read more