El Pollo Loco reviews

3.4

51% would recommend to a friend

(710 total reviews)
avatar

Liz Williams

58% approve of CEO

53% positive business outlook

El Pollo Loco has an employee rating of 3.4 out of 5 stars, based on 710 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The El Pollo Loco employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Restaurants & Food Service industry (3.7 stars).

Reviews by job title

710 reviews
1.0
Feb 3, 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

no reason to work there .always negative .bosses

Cons

horrible company . i worked 5 years as a restaurant manager and after 5 years later i was let go because somebody didnt like me . i was schedule for a training class they ask me to go to other room . from there the gave me final paycheck and ask me to leave . i requested if i could speak to the human resource they says you have the number call her . if you want to survive you have to know someone even you have worse numbers in the company. they have mys try shop program and some managers are doing there own shops giving 100. area leader force you to call 1800 numbers to bring the rating up ..

1.0
Jul 11, 2015

manager

Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Some Lovely co workers. Bonuses when p&l is under control. Food is great. Lovely customers when you get to know them in a a more personal level.

Cons

Double standards behavior if you are liked by senior managmt you will be ok even if you are not passing your inspections.

2.0
May 19, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

- healthy and (mostly) made from scratch whole food. they practice what they preach and the food is underrated - director level role salary at corporate is not horrible

Cons

The company is in the middle of a so-called "turnaround," but it's clear there's no clear direction from the top. Here's what you should know: Chaotic Leadership: Most of the executive team is new and it shows. There’s a noticeable lack of confidence in their decisions, leading to constant last-minute changes. This results in wasted time, money, and effort — and a lot of frustration across teams. Lack of Transparency: Major decisions, like staffing changes or project priorities, are made behind closed doors. People are suddenly hired or depart without explanation, leaving teams blindsided and unprepared. Communication is minimal and inconsistent. Rigid Return-to-Office Policy: Despite initial claims of flexibility, the company has walked back its promises. Be prepared to come into the office far more than you were led to believe — often with little notice or rationale. No Profit, Little Direction: Sales performance continues to underdeliver quarter after quarter. Earnings calls are consistently underwhelming, with leadership offering vague explanations and shifting priorities Diminishing Perks and Morale: The company has made a habit of quietly stripping away or downgrading employee perks and benefits. These changes are rarely communicated transparently, and when employees find out, it’s often too late to voice concerns. The result? Frustration, low morale, and growing resentment across teams. Instead of investing in the people who are keeping the business running, leadership continues to cut corners in all the wrong places. Proceed with caution.

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Glassdoor has 764 El Pollo Loco reviews submitted anonymously by El Pollo Loco employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if El Pollo Loco is right for you.