El Pollo Loco Secret Menu Guide 2026
Does El Pollo Loco have a secret menu? Yes, sort of. The pollo loco secret menu is not an official list, it is a set of off-menu combos regulars swear by: fish tacos with veggies, double-protein fit bowls, garlic butter fries, fresh avocado salsa, even a made-to-order grilled cheese. Here are the exact words to order them.
Is There Actually a Secret Menu at El Pollo Loco?
Not officially. There is no hidden board, no secret app tab, nothing like that. But in practice, yes, because the crew builds food to order and will make just about any combo you can describe.
That is what the pollo loco secret menu really is: a DIY menu. Regulars trade these hacks online, and some are so common that employees recognize them on sight. It works because everything starts on the flame grill. Chicken, shrimp, veggies, tortillas, they are all right there, ready to mix and match.
One warning before you walk in feeling bold. El Pollo Loco runs 500+ restaurants across 10 states, and most are franchised. So what flies at a spot in Los Angeles might get a blank stare in Houston. Ordering by description is the trick that works everywhere. More on that below.
What Are the Best Pollo Loco Secret Menu Items?
The ones regulars keep coming back to: the Double Baja Shrimp Tostada, the Smokey Mountain Black Bean Burrito, fish tacos loaded with veggies, garlic butter fries, fresh avocado salsa, and a made-to-order grilled cheese.
| Secret Pick | What You Get | What to Say | Around |
|---|---|---|---|
| Double Baja Shrimp Tostada | Crispy tostada piled with double Baja shrimp, cilantro dressing, avocado, beans, rice, cheese, lettuce, salsa fresca | “Can I get the shrimp tostada with double shrimp and avocado?” | ~$7.49 |
| Smokey Mountain Black Bean Burrito | Smoky black beans, rice and grilled chicken in a warm flour tortilla | “I’d like a black bean burrito with smoky black beans and grilled chicken” | ~$4.99 |
| Fish Tacos with Veggies | Crispy fish tacos loaded with extra veggies and lime | “Fish tacos with extra veggies and extra lime, please” | ~$3.99 |
| Garlic Butter Fries | Fries tossed in garlic butter, dangerously good | “Can you toss my fries in garlic butter?” | ~$2.49 |
| Avocado Salsa | Fresh avocado salsa, great on everything | “Can I add a side of avocado salsa?” | ~$0.99 |
| Made-to-Order Grilled Cheese | Simple grilled cheese, cooked fresh on the flat top | “Can you make me a grilled cheese sandwich?” | ~$2.79 |
| Skinless Pollo Platter | A platter of skinless flame-grilled chicken pieces | “I’d like the platter with skinless chicken, please” | ~$7.59 |
Prices are rough guides from what fans report paying, not official numbers. Your store’s prices may run a little higher or lower, and some locations charge a small upcharge for double protein. No surprise there.
How Do You Order Off-Menu Without Sounding Lost?
Order by ingredients, not by secret name. Describe the food, keep it short, and be nice about it. That is the whole game.
Saying “I’ll have the Smokey Mountain Black Bean Burrito” works at locations where the crew has heard the name. Everywhere else, “a black bean burrito with smoky beans, rice and grilled chicken” always lands. The name is the gamble. The description is the guarantee.
A few more tricks that regulars swear by. Keep drive-thru orders simple, two customizations max, because the line behind you is real. Inside the restaurant, staff are usually happy to build odd combos when it is not a rush. And the app is quietly the easiest route of all: most of these are just toggles on regular items, extra shrimp, no cheese, add avocado.
If the cashier looks confused, do not argue. Just smile and say “no worries, here’s what I want” and list the ingredients. That is how the pollo loco secret menu works in the wild: friendliness first.
Are There Healthy Options on the Secret Menu?
Honestly, some of the best ones. The fit bowls are the headliners here, and a couple of these orders are lighter than anything on the printed menu.
Lighter Off-Menu Picks
Double Pollo Fit Bowl — Double flame-grilled chicken over greens and grains, roughly 620 calories for about $6.99. Say “double chicken in the fit bowl, please.”
Street Corn Double Pollo Fit Bowl — Same base with street corn, cotija and chipotle drizzle, around 640 calories and $7.29.
Customized Salad with Avocado — Chopped greens, avocado and grilled chicken with dressing on the side, about 320 calories and $5.99.
Chickenless Pollo Burrito — Skip the chicken, load up on beans, rice and veggies, roughly 690 calories and $6.49. A solid meatless option.
Fish Taco with Veggies — Crispy fish plus a pile of veggies instead of the standard fixings, about 390 calories and $3.99.
Quick calorie wins
Ask for skinless chicken on any of these and you shave off fat without losing the fire-grilled flavor. Corn tortillas instead of flour is another easy win.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Does El Pollo Loco have an official secret menu?
No. The company has never published an official secret menu. The pollo loco secret menu is a fan-made collection of off-menu customizations that employees will happily build for you, since nearly everything is made to order.
What is the most popular El Pollo Loco secret menu item?
The Double Baja Shrimp Tostada gets the most love: a crispy tostada loaded with double Baja shrimp, cilantro dressing, avocado, beans, rice, cheese, lettuce and salsa fresca for around $7.49. Order it as “the shrimp tostada with double shrimp and avocado.”
Can I order secret menu items in the drive-thru or the app?
Yes to both, with a caveat. In the app, build the item from the closest regular menu entry and add the customizations, like extra shrimp or added avocado. At the drive-thru, keep it short: describe the ingredients in one sentence so the line keeps moving.
Do El Pollo Loco secret menu items cost extra?
Sometimes. Double protein and added avocado usually carry a small upcharge, and prices vary by location. The table above lists what fans report paying, but always check your receipt. There is no secret menu discount, if anything these cost a dollar or two more than standard items.
