Here is the complete El Pollo Loco Gluten-Free menu. El Pollo Loco has a good amount of items that don’t contain gluten, but they don’t claim to be a gluten-free restaurant.
They prepare all of their food on the same surfaces with the same utensils so there is likely going to be some cross contamination, especially because they do also have a lot of gluten containing foods on their menu.
If you have celiac disease or a high gluten intolerance, it might be better to eat somewhere else. However, for those of you who are just looking to avoid gluten as much as possible in your diet, their gluten-free menu actually isn’t too shabby.
El Pollo Loco Gluten-Free Menu 2024
Fire-Grilled Chicken
- Fire Grilled Chicken (bone in)
- Fire Grilled Chicken Breast
- Fire Grilled Chicken Wing
- Fire Grilled Chicken Thigh
- Fire Grilled Chicken Leg
- Skinless Chicken Breast
Bowls and Salads
- Pollo Bowl®
- Ultimate Double Bowl – Chicken or Shrimp
- Grande Avocado Bowl
- Classic Salad (with dressing) – Chicken or Shrimp
- Mexican Cobb Salad (w/ dressing) – Chicken or Shrimp
- Ultimate Double Chicken Salad
Under 500 Calories
- Avocado Salad
- Grilled Chicken Salad (No Dressing)
- Fire Grilled Skinless Breast Meat
- Mini Pollo Bowl
Sides
- Corn and Red Pepper Blend
- Broccoli
- Pinto Beans
- Black Beans
- Loco Side Salad with Creamy Cilantro Dressing
- Mashed Potatoes without Gravy
- Coleslaw
Kids’ Combos
- Chicken Leg
- Mini Pollo Bowl
Snack Menu
- Taco Al Carbon
Extras/Other
- Chips and Guacamole
- Tortilla Chips
- 6” Corn Tortilla
- Creamy Cilantro Dressing
- Light Creamy Cilantro Dressing (Packet)
- Low Fat Citrus Vinaigrette
- Ranch Dressing (Packet)
- House Salsa
- Pico De Gallo
- Avocado Salsa
- Creamy Cilantro Dip Cup
- Ranch Dip Cup
- Guacamole
- Sour Cream
- Jalapeno Hot Sauce (Packet)
- Ketchup (Packet)
- Fresh Buttery Spread
- Sliced Jalapeno Peppers
Drinks
- Coca Cola
- Diet Coke
- Coke “Zero”
- Cherry Coke
- Barq’s Root Beer
- Sprite
- Hi-C Flashin’ Fruit Punch
- Fanta Orange
- Minute Maid Lemonade
- Minute Maid Light Lemonade
- Dr. Pepper
- Iced Tea, FUZE Raspberry
- Gold Peak Fresh Brewed Mango Passion Tea
- Gold Peak Fresh Brewed Unsweetened Tea
- Fresh Brewed Sweetened Tea (Texas Only)
- Horchata
- Coffee
- Water, Bottled
El Pollo Loco History
El Pollo Loco restaurant, also known as EPL, is America’s leading quick service food chain specializing in flame-grilled chicken. The company operates roughly 140 locations whereas their franchisees control around 180 restaurants. These eateries are spread across multiple states in the U.S. including California, Nevada, Texas, and Arizona. Nevertheless, most of the locations, around 80%, are based in California.
These eateries offer a variety of Mexican delicacies and side dishes such as chicken quesadillas, burritos, tacos al carbon and their own signature dish, the Pollo Bowl. EPL’s majority shareholder is a New York-based equity investment company known as American Securities Capital Partners, L.P.
The story of El Pollo Loco began in 1975 when Juan Francisco ‘Pancho’ Ochoa launched his inaugural roadside chicken stall in Guasave, Mexico. In this small township on the Mexican Pacific Coast, residents experienced the proprietor’s first dining concept. To local natives, Ochoa’s cooking style was original and soon became a massive hit.
Using a special recipe he learned from his mom, Ochoa soaked his chicken in a variety of spices, herbs and citrus juices before grilling it on moderate heat. The result was a tasty delicacy that fueled the rapid growth of the EPL brand. A few years later, Francisco, together with his partners, opened 85 restaurants in 20 cities across northern Mexico and later took a bold step, venturing into the U.S.
The company’s current CEO is Steve Sather who was appointed to the position in 2006 to manage both the parent company and its franchise operations. Sather has more than 30 years of experience in the fast food business, bringing a wealth of knowledge and business networks to the company. El Pollo Loco is a privately held company that operates as a subsidiary of Trimaran Pollo Partners. Currently, they have plans to open 20-30 new locations in Northern Texas by the end of 2019. Apart from fresh Mexican entrees, they also offer other unique blends of individual and family dishes such as warm tortillas and salsas.
Sources
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El Pollo Loco Gluten-Free Menu
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Summary
El Pollo Loco may or may not be the place you’re looking for. It really depends on if you have an allergy or sensitivity to gluten or are just trying to avoid it in your diet. They are pretty open about not claiming to be a gluten-free restaurant and that cross contamination is likely due to a shared kitchen and a lot of gluten foods floating around. However, if we’re looking at how much food they offer that is technically gluten-free, there is actually a good variety to choose from. If you aren’t allergic and just looking to avoid gluten in your food, this menu may be worth checking out.
Great to have the gluten free menu. Only problem is the location closest to our house makes mistakes every single time I order and I go inside hoping that will help. Ordered shrimp and mango bowl and got home and found no shrimp, ordered all thighs twice and got legs and thighs, ordered creamy cilantro dressing for salad but got something very spicy instead! When I’ve gone back, depending on the manager, they will sometimes apologize or just throw shrimp on if missing but if it’s a warm dish I request it be re-made. I saw them be so polite to an elderly man who was eating in but I, who had to drive back didn’t get an apology or an extra side like the man did!!! I have actually driven to a different location which seems to be farther because I enjoy the food so much and they don’t make mistakes. I have gone to the one on South and Woodruff as it’s right by the grocery store and down the street from home in Lakewood but the location on Alondra in Bellflower always gets the order right!!!
Hi there,
Thank you for providing this website! I saw that you have the rice at El Pollo Loco as gluten free, however, on their gluten free menu link it does not have rice on their list. Was this a typo or could you tell me which one is correct?
Thank you!
Hey Toni!
We’ve removed rice from the menu above. Apparently, their rice does have gluten in it or is cross-contaminated.
I have celiac and ordered the chicken tostada salad at the location in El Centro, Ca. I asked the clerk if the shell was corn and he said he thought it was but went away and checked to be sure and said yes. I am curious if this salad and the shell are gluten free, I really enjoyed it but am having a reaction.
Hey Pat,
The tostada is not gluten-free its made with a scrumptious fried flour tortilla :(
Sorry that you had a reaction….But he should have known better.
No they are flour. I used to work there and make them.