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El Pollo Loco — Best Bang for Your Buck

Every El Pollo Loco menu item we track, ranked by value: protein per dollar, calories per dollar, and nutrition quality. Prices are real, collected straight from the El Pollo Loco ordering system.

150menu items tracked
25with a real price
6.6gtop protein per $ (3 Tacos al Carbon Combo)
🏆 Best value: 3 Tacos al Carbon Combo 💪 Cheapest 20g+ protein: 3 Tacos al Carbon Combo ($6.99)

What's actually worth ordering at El Pollo Loco

If you're at El Pollo Loco for value, 3 Tacos al Carbon Combo is the standout on our rankings: at $6.99 it carries 46g of protein — about 6.6g of protein for every dollar, on 710 calories, for an overall value score of 88/100.

Across the 25 El Pollo Loco items we've priced, the typical order returns about 2.3g of protein per dollar — below the typical fast-food chain we track (around 3.4g). The median price here is $3.99, and the cheapest thing on the menu is Creamy Chipotle Sauce at $0.84.

The cheapest way to clear 20g of protein is 3 Tacos al Carbon Combo at $6.99. Eating with nutrition balance in mind, 3 Tacos al Carbon Combo scores highest here at 87/100. And if raw quantity is the goal, Mexican Caesar Dressing packs the most calories per dollar (468 cal/$). The full menu — every item with its real price and nutrition — is ranked below.

Full menu, ranked by value

ItemValuePriceCalProtein Protein/$Cal/$Health
3 Tacos al Carbon Combo · Other 88 $6.99 710 46g 6.6g 102 87
Original Pollo Bowl Combo · Other 82 $6.99 780 41g 5.9g 112 73
Classic Chicken Burrito Combo · Other 69 $6.99 680 25g 3.6g 97 78
BRC Burrito® · Other 65 $3.79 410 13g 3.4g 108 70
2 Churros · Other 37 $3.49 330 3g 0.9g 95 47
Creamy Cilantro Dressing · Other 36 $0.94 310 1g 1.1g 330 30
Sour Cream · Other 33 $0.89 80 1g 1.1g 90 36
Horchata · Other 24 $3.19 200 0g 0.0g 63 32
Taco al Carbon · Other — — 170 15g — — 87
Grande Avocado Chicken Bowl · Other — — 790 49g — — 86
Charro Beans, Small · Other — — 190 11g — — 85
Shredded Chicken Crunchy Taco · Other — — 210 14g — — 85
Taco al Carbon (Chicken) · Mexican — — 160 9g — — 85
Tacos al Carbon Combo (3) · Other — — 510 46g — — 85
Classic Chicken Burrito · Mexican — — 580 33g — — 83
Queso Guacamole Chicken Burrito · Other — — 790 40g — — 79
Classic Chicken Tostada · Other — — 830 41g — — 78
Double Chicken Tostada · Other — — 1,000 65g — — 78
Shredded Chicken and Cheese Pollo Bowl · Other — — 590 34g — — 78
Chicken Classic Burrito Combo · Other — — 480 25g — — 77
Double Chicken Bowl · Other — — 930 74g — — 77
The Original Pollo Bowl · Bowl — — 640 39g — — 76
Chicken Avocado Burrito · Mexican — — 720 34g — — 75
Mango Habanero Classic Chicken Tostada · Other — — 870 41g — — 75
Mango Habanero Double Chicken Tostada · Other — — 1,080 65g — — 75
Original Pollo Bowl · Other — — 580 41g — — 75
Street Corn Chicken Pollo Bowl · Other — — 600 42g — — 75
BRC Burrito (Beans, Rice & Cheese) · Mexican — — 410 14g — — 74
Chicken Tortilla Soup (Small) · Other — — 240 23g — — 74
Chicken Tostada Salad · Salad — — 840 34g — — 74
Chicken and Shrimp Tostada · Other — — 990 52g — — 74
Classic Shrimp Tostada · Other — — 820 28g — — 72
Broccoli, Small · Other — — 30 2g — — 71
Fresh Vegetables (side) · Side — — 40 2g — — 71
Chipotle Guacamole Chicken Burrito · Other — — 1,020 61g — — 70
Double Shrimp Tostada · Other — — 990 40g — — 70
Guacamole Chicken Burrito · Other — — 920 59g — — 70
Kids Original BRC Burrito · Other — — 410 13g — — 70
Mango Habanero Chicken & Shrimp Tostada · Other — — 1,080 52g — — 70
Original BRC Burrito · Other — — 410 13g — — 70
Pinto Beans (side) · Side — — 180 11g — — 70
Mango Habanero Classic Shrimp Tostada · Other — — 870 28g — — 69
Shredded Chicken Nachos · Other — — 1,090 34g — — 69
Mango Habanero Double Shrimp Tostada · Other — — 1,070 40g — — 65
Pinto Beans, Small · Other — — 140 9g — — 64
Tortilla Chips (side) · Other — — 200 2g — — 64
Tortilla Chips (small) · Other — — 380 4g — — 64
Chips & Guacamole (Small) · Other — — 490 6g — — 63
Tortilla Chips (regular) · Other — — 760 8g — — 63
Chips & Guacamole (Regular) · Other — — 980 11g — — 62
Corn Tortillas (2) · Other — — 90 2g — — 61
Double Chicken Avocado Salad (7g Net Carbs) · Other — — 350 51g — — 61
Mashed Potatoes with Gravy, Small · Other — — 100 3g — — 60
Chicken Avocado Stuffed Quesadilla · Other — — 960 54g — — 59
Chicken Quesadilla · Mexican — — 860 44g — — 59
Chicken Avocado Taco · Other — — 340 24g — — 58
French Fries (side) · Side — — 330 4g — — 58
Chicken & Shrimp Street Corn Pollo Fit Bowl · Other — — 440 42g — — 57
Double Chicken Avocado Pollo Fit Bowl · Other — — 500 58g — — 57
Flour Tortillas (2) · Other — — 190 4g — — 57
Chicken & Shrimp Avocado Pollo Fit Bowl · Other — — 490 45g — — 56
Chips & Queso Sauce (Regular) · Other — — 1,080 22g — — 56
Corn, Small · Other — — 140 3g — — 56
Double Chicken Street Corn Pollo Fit Bowl · Other — — 440 54g — — 56
Double Shrimp Avocado Pollo Fit Bowl · Other — — 490 33g — — 56
Mac & Cheese (side) · Side — — 280 9g — — 56
Chips & Queso Sauce (Small) · Other — — 540 11g — — 55
Shrimp Avocado Street Taco · Other — — 320 15g — — 54
Cinnamon Churros (2) · Other — — 300 3g — — 52
Loco Side Salad, Small · Other — — 160 3g — — 50
Churros (2 pc) · Dessert — — 300 3g — — 47
Macaroni & Cheese, Small · Other — — 310 9g — — 47
Mango Habanero Chicken Wing · Other — — 90 10g — — 47
Chicken Wing · Other — — 70 10g — — 46
Chicken Breast · Other — — 200 34g — — 44
Chicken Thigh · Other — — 200 21g — — 44
Mango Habanero Chicken Breast · Other — — 250 34g — — 44
Fire-Grilled Chicken Breast (1 pc) · Chicken — — 220 36g — — 43
Guacamole (small) · Other — — 110 2g — — 43
Chicken Leg · Other — — 110 11g — — 40
Mango Habanero Chicken Thigh · Other — — 220 21g — — 40
Guacamole (regular) · Other — — 220 3g — — 39
Mango Habanero Chicken Leg · Other — — 130 11g — — 39
Spanish Rice (side) · Side — — 220 4g — — 39
2-Piece Fire-Grilled Chicken (Leg & Thigh) · Chicken — — 330 28g — — 38
Coleslaw, Small · Other — — 130 1g — — 38
Kids Chicken Legs (2) · Other — — 220 22g — — 38
Queso Sauce · Other — — 160 7g — — 37
Rice, Small · Other — — 160 3g — — 37
Chocolate Dipping Sauce · Other — — 90 1g — — 36
Ranch Dressing (packet) · Other — — 190 1g — — 33
Horchata, Large · Other — — 260 0g — — 32
Horchata, Regular · Other — — 170 0g — — 32
Avocado Salsa · Other — — 20 0g — — 31
Creamy Cilantro Dressing Add-On · Other — — 310 1g — — 30
Double Shrimp Street Corn Pollo Fit Bowl · Other — — 430 2g — — 29
Mango Habanero Sauce · Other — — 130 0g — — 23
Caramel Dipping Sauce · Other — — 110 0g — — 20
Coca-Cola de Mexico · Other — — 150 0g — — 20
Coca-Cola, Large · Other — — 270 0g — — 20
Coca-Cola, Regular · Other — — 180 0g — — 20
Dr Pepper, Large · Other — — 250 0g — — 20
Dr Pepper, Regular · Other — — 160 0g — — 20
FUZE Sweetened Raspberry Iced Tea, Large · Other — — 170 0g — — 20
FUZE Sweetened Raspberry Iced Tea, Regular · Other — — 110 0g — — 20
Gold Peak Sweetened Iced Tea, Large · Other — — 210 0g — — 20
Gold Peak Sweetened Iced Tea, Regular · Other — — 130 0g — — 20
HI-C Flashin' Fruit Punch, Large · Other — — 250 0g — — 20
HI-C Flashin' Fruit Punch, Regular · Other — — 170 0g — — 20
Minute Maid Aguas Frescas Mango Lime, Large · Other — — 150 0g — — 20
Minute Maid Aguas Frescas Mango Lime, Regular · Other — — 100 0g — — 20
Minute Maid Aguas Frescas Strawberry Hibiscus, Large · Other — — 140 0g — — 20
Minute Maid Aguas Frescas Strawberry Hibiscus, Regular · Other — — 90 0g — — 20
Minute Maid Lemonade, Large · Other — — 270 0g — — 20
Minute Maid Lemonade, Regular · Other — — 170 0g — — 20
Minute Maid Strawberry Lemonade, Large · Other — — 260 0g — — 20
Minute Maid Strawberry Lemonade, Regular · Other — — 170 0g — — 20
Sprite, Large · Other — — 250 0g — — 20
Sprite, Regular · Other — — 160 0g — — 20
VitaminWater XXX, Large · Other — — 130 0g — — 20
VitaminWater XXX, Regular · Other — — 90 0g — — 20
$7.99 Meal Deal · Other — $7.99 890 — — 111 —
1 Churro · Other — $2.19 170 — — 78 —
2pc Chicken Leg Kids Meal · Other — $7.14 340 — — 48 —
BRC Burrito® Combo · Other — $5.99 610 — — 102 —
BRC Kids Meal · Other — $7.14 630 — — 88 —
Caramel Flan · Other — $3.49 230 — — 66 —
ChataCoffee Cream™ · Other — $4.49 290 — — 65 —
ChataCoffee™ · Other — $3.99 160 — — 40 —
Cheese Quesadilla Kids Meal · Other — $6.99 760 — — 109 —
Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Large · Other — — 0 0g — — —
Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Regular · Other — — 0 0g — — —
Creamy Chipotle Sauce · Other — $0.84 170 — — 202 —
Diet Coke, Large · Other — — 0 0g — — —
Diet Coke, Regular · Other — — 0 0g — — —
Diet Dr Pepper, Large · Other — — 0 0g — — —
Diet Dr Pepper, Regular · Other — — 0 0g — — —
Gold Peak Unsweetened Iced Tea, Large · Other — — 0 0g — — —
Gold Peak Unsweetened Iced Tea, Regular · Other — — 0 0g — — —
House Ranch Dressing · Other — $0.99 390 — — 394 —
Iced Coffee Cream · Other — $4.49 210 — — 47 —
Jalapeno Hot Sauce (packet) · Other — — 5 0g — — —
Meal For Two · Other — $16.99 1,400 — — 82 —
Mexican Caesar Dressing · Other — $0.94 440 — — 468 —
Nestle Pure Life Bottled Water · Other — — 0 0g — — —
Queso Blanco · Other — $1.59 160 — — 101 —
Salsa Fresca · Other — — 5 0g — — —
Salsa Roja · Other — — 15 0g — — —
Side of Chopped Chicken Breast · Other — $3.99 120 — — 30 —
Weekend Special - $1 Large BBQ Black Beans · Other — $1.00 330 — — 330 —
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