Does El Pollo Loco pay their employees well?

According to anonymously submitted Glassdoor reviews, El Pollo Loco employees rate their compensation and benefits as 2.9 out of 5. Find out more about salaries and benefits at El Pollo Loco. This rating has been stable over the past 12 months.

How satisfied are employees working at El Pollo Loco?

55% of El Pollo Loco employees would recommend working there to a friend based on Glassdoor reviews . Employees also rated El Pollo Loco 3.3 out of 5 for work life balance, 3.2 for culture and values and 3.0 for career opportunities.

What are the top reviewed jobs at El Pollo Loco?

Cashier (281) , Sales Associate/Cashier (31) , Shift Leader (31) , Assistant Manager (19) , Cook (19) , General Manager (17) , Front End Cashier (14) , Line Cook (10) , Prep Cook (8) , Guest Service Team Member - Cashier (6) , Shift Supervisor (6) , Crew Member (5) , Manager (5) , Part Time Cashier (5) , Service Assistant (5)

What are the pros of working at El Pollo Loco according to real employee reviews?

"Some coworkers are nice" ((in 30 reviews)); "Great people that work at the general managers levels." ((in 27 reviews)); "very flexible hours if you are a student" ((in 25 reviews)); "Free food on breaks and discounts" ((in 20 reviews)); "good hours, flexible schedule, good communication, closes early" ((in 14 reviews))

What are the cons of working at El Pollo Loco according to real employee reviews?

"Bad management wouldn’t help when busy" ((in 66 reviews)); "Fast advancement but low pay" ((in 41 reviews)); "MY manager was rude and didn't care about anything." ((in 31 reviews)); "little training, lack of understanding that people have lives beyond el pollo loco, not properly compensated for overtime, lack of team work, lack of customer service from other employees including some managers" ((in 13 reviews)); "Corporate upper management will smile in your face, but will plot to terminate you." ((in 11 reviews))

What are the top reviewed El Pollo Loco locations?

Los Angeles , Las Vegas , Houston , Costa Mesa , Sacramento , Anaheim , San Diego , Fresno , Inglewood , Compton , Downey , Glendora , Santa Clarita , Ontario , Dallas , Palmdale , Corona , Riverside , Victorville , Roseville , Fort Worth , Clovis , Alhambra , Long Beach , Lynwood , Orange , Santa Ana , Torrance , Whittier , Modesto

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El Pollo Loco

El Pollo Loco reviews

3.4

55% would recommend to a friend

(712 total reviews)

Liz Williams

63% approve of CEO

57% positive business outlook

Ratings by category

3.5

Diversity & inclusion

3.3

Work/Life balance

3.2

Culture & values

3.2

Senior management

3.0

Career opportunities

2.9

Compensation and benefits

El Pollo Loco has an employee rating of 3.4 out of 5 stars, based on 712 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).

Ratings by demographic groups

Race / Ethnicity

Gender

Sexual orientation

Disability

Parent or family caregiver

Veteran status

Reviews by job title

712 reviews

2.0

Mar 12, 2026

Review on El Pollo Loco

Cashier

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Great work hours, fast pace atmosphere

Cons

New management and very strict time constraints.

3.0

Feb 13, 2026

Average Entry level Cashier Job

Cashier

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Anybody can get the job. Coworkers are friendly

Cons

People are rude and not enough people are scheduled for opening

1.0

Jan 28, 2026

Stressful and tiny pay

Server

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Good discount on food for lunch

Cons

Stressful and managers expect a lot and fast speed for tiny pay

Viewing 61 - 63 of 712 Reviews

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Jobs at El Pollo Loco

El Pollo Loco Team Member

El Pollo Loco Team Member