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    Pollofino's

    4.2 (175 reviews)
    InexpensiveMexican
    Open • 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Order Pollofino's Takeout or Delivery

    Pollofino's Photos

    POLLOFINO'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Pollofino's

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    Sarah T.

    Ordered the chicken tostada. The chicken is tasty. Staff were friendly. Love the self serve salsa bar. Looks like many locals come here as I saw a few customers pick up orders and were greeted by staff as if they knew each other quite well. Plenty of parking. There's indoor seating. It's not super fancy or nice but a decent place to get some tasty chicken.

    Combo 1
    Mark Y.

    Friendly place, not cheap but in this case you get what you pay for. This ain't a fast food place. Kind of reminds me of SB Chicken Ranch, but with a larger menu selection. I ordered Combo 1, which was one quarter bird and one quarter tri tip with rice and beans. The chicken was very good, but the tri tip was just okay. I do want to try the ribs next time.

    Chicken quesadilla
    Angela R.

    This spot is my go to when I'm in the area. The nachos are delicious! I can tell the beans are homemade and they totally remind me of how my great grandmother used to make hers. On my latest visit I tried their flying burrito with charred steak. It was filled with rice, beans, cheese, and plenty of meat! Usually burritos lack meat but not this one. I've also had their chicken quesadilla but It wasn't as good. I was expecting the chicken to have that charred flavor but it was pretty bland to me. I would order the steak instead next time. The salsas are delicious! If you want a spicy salsa then be sure to ask for it. They only give you the milder ones unless you specifically ask for hotter salsa. There is limited seating inside and a few tables outside. Customer service here is quick and to the point. Overall a good spot to pick up some quick and delicious food!

    Jerry's from the good old UCSB days in the 90's!
    William C.

    Back when I was a gaucho in the 90's Jerry's Pollofino was the bomb. It was an incredible deal, and the food was excellent. We came back with our children (all teens) to show them the campus and to reminisce about our younger life together. The place has changed a bit, and I don't know if "Jerry" is still there, but the food is fantastic. Back in the day, it was only chicken but has now expanded to include tritip and ribs. Along with those changes, the prices have increased as they should have, and I still think it's a great value for what you get. I didn't give the fifth star due to a couple of reasons. First, my meal was a combo with chicken and tritip. The chicken quarter was really small and the amount of tritip was not what I expected. Additionally, the prices as stated on yelp are vastly understated and need to be updated. For an establishment to be true to itself, weather the storms of business, and to survive for three decades is nearly a miracle, and I hope it's around in 30 more. I will be back the next time I am in town and you should visit as well!

    a coffee shop with a gold counter

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    7 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    5 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    6 months ago

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    4 months ago

    Very clean. Good service. Friendly staff. Quick ordering experience Great food. Good prices. We'll be back

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    4 months ago

    Best shrimp burrito!!! Not a very big restaurant, but we usually do takeout. Service is always good, very pleasant.

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    10 months ago

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    3 years ago

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    6 months ago

    Overpriced, but the ribs are decent. I've been enough times to feel like if you're not Mexican, the owner could carless about you.

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    9 months ago

    My favorite burrito in Goleta! Fast and friendly service and great salsa bar! Always friendly service

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    7 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    1 year ago

    They serve authentic Mexican food here. Large portions. The service was excellent. The restaurant itself is small but they have tasty food.

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Pollofinos is the BEST! Food AMAZING staff super friendly. Best ribs ever!!!!10 out of 10

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    1 year ago

    best beef ribs around by far. worth the price and friendly service. looking forward to coming again.

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    3 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Been stopping by here for years... hands down the best chicken burro in town! Always a treat, always great service!

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    4 years ago

    Adequate. Good enough. Lacking a depth of flavor. I won't be back. Workers were friendly and attentive.

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

    the chicken ain't half bad, but the steak once gave me unbearable stomach pain. be wary.

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    3 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    Page 1 of 5

    Ask the Community - Pollofino's

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    4.1(1.5k reviews)
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    born and raised santa barbara so there are certain things you learn early…read more you drive down the 101, take that turn toward isla vista, and something shifts. air changes a little. priorities adjust. time becomes more of a suggestion and then there's freebirds the original one on embarcadero del norte sitting there like it's seen everything because it has i've walked in there wearing flip flops, still sandy, hair doing whatever the ocean decided, salt drying on my face, no shower, no plan, just following the internal signal that says burrito and that's when it works best these burritos operate differently in that state. they're bigger. warmer. more correct. like the whole system is calibrated specifically for post-surf decision making line is long. always has been. mix of people who know exactly what they're doing and people about to learn something important foil everywhere. tortillas moving fast. someone at the front making a choice that will define the next hour of their life guy behind the counter was dialed. didn't catch the name but i'm pretty sure it was barron sawyer. had that calm confidence like he's built a few thousand of these and understands the assignment at a deeper level you step up and it's muscle memory rice, beans, meat, things start stacking, someone folds it like it's a practiced skill passed down over time and then you walk out sun still out. flip flops still on. burrito in hand like a completed mission you take that first bite and everything aligns for a second this place has been around 30 years and it makes sense because it isn't trying to be anything else it already figured it out five stars if you know you know

    I used to come to freebirds all the time in highschool - nearly 15 years ago- and it was the best,…read moresuper tasty and always hit the spot. I recently returned and got exactly what I used to get and was disappointed in the lack of seasoning/flavor in general. I saw someone else comment that chipotle has more flavor and I'm inclined to agree-especially when it comes to the chicken. Service is always friendly and fast and I always want to support a local business over a national chain, but I'm sad to say I don't know if I'll be returning after spending $25 for a bland experience.

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    Interior

    Pollofino's - mexican - Updated September 2026

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