El Pollo Loco

El Pollo Loco El Pollo Loco is a Mexican and chicken restaurant located in Houston, TX. Offering authentic and fresh food that's cooked to perfection on their signature open-flame grills, El Pollo Loco takes pride in serving their specialty citrus-marinated, fire-grilled pollo. From handmade guacamole to salsas and dressings, every dish is made with dedication and care. Founded in 1980, the restaurant has grown into more than 480 locations across 6 states while still holding onto their tradition of slow-cooked fire-grilled chicken served fast and cut-to-order.

Recent social media posts

09/03/2026

Grilled chicken this good deserves its own holiday. So, we made it official! And for the FIRST EVER National Grilled Chicken Day on September 9th, we’re giving you a FREE 2 Piece Leg and Thigh Meal with the purchase of ANY drink with Loco Rewards.

Sign up before you show up! 🔥

 

Valid 9/9/26 only. Free 2pc Leg & Thigh Meal w/ purchase of an a la carte drink, for Loco Rewards members. Excludes combos & delivery apps.  Limit 1 per person. Tax extra. Valid at participating locations/channels only. While supplies last. For full terms and conditions see elpolloloco.com/offers.

things are looking up this week☀️
09/02/2026

things are looking up this week☀️

09/01/2026

National Chicken Month just got more Loco.

Welcome to the Loco Hall of Flame. Stay tuned for contests, prizes, offers, merch, and more, all month long!

08/31/2026

Get a FREE 2 Piece Leg & Thigh Meal with the purchase of ANY drink with Loco Rewards on National Grilled Chicken Day, Wed., Sept 9!! 🔥🍗

Valid 9/9/26 only. Free 2pc Leg & Thigh Meal w/ purchase of an a la carte drink, for Loco Rewards members. Excludes combos & delivery apps.  Limit 1 per person. Tax extra. Valid at participating locations/channels only. While supplies last. For full terms and conditions see elpolloloco.com/offers.

08/27/2026

☕️ GIVEAWAY ALERT ☕️

Need a little pick-me-up? We got you! Our new ChataCoffee drinks are the perfect caffeinated sweet treat. So, we’re giving away a lotta chata!

20 lucky winners will score a $20 EPL gift card to fund their next much-needed ChataCoffee break for the back-to-school season. How to enter:

• Follow El Pollo Loco
• Tag your coffee date in the comments
• Share this post in your Stories (we’ll check)
 


Your Instagram profile must be public. Sweepstakes ends on Sunday, August 30, 2026, at 8 PM PT. Void where prohibited. No purchase necessary. Winners will be contacted via DM from the verified El Pollo Loco Instagram Account. See full terms in the link in our bio.

I love you but…
08/25/2026

I love you but…

sorry guys… can’t hangout today 🤷
08/24/2026

sorry guys… can’t hangout today 🤷

08/20/2026

the love of ur life is just around the corner👀

08/19/2026

tbh i’m here for the cilantro dressing🤤

life is just so beautiful and full of joy
08/18/2026

life is just so beautiful and full of joy

u won’t believe what’s at the end🫣
08/17/2026

u won’t believe what’s at the end🫣

08/17/2026

“Imagine pairing Trader Joe's dip with El Pollo Loco’s quesadillas. New life hack unlocked?”

let’s go.

Street Corn Loaded Quesadilla X Everything and the Elote dip.

Article by PARADE Magazine

Benefiting Houston Food Bank & Kids’ Meals
02/18/2025

Benefiting Houston Food Bank & Kids’ Meals

BIG GAME SUNDAY SPECIAL "FREE CHICKEN NACHOS"With the purchase of any family meal.
02/09/2024

BIG GAME SUNDAY SPECIAL "FREE CHICKEN NACHOS"
With the purchase of any family meal.

Our chicken is freshly marinated daily and cooked slowly over an open flame. Visit our San Antonio and Houston, Texas lo...
12/05/2023

Our chicken is freshly marinated daily and cooked slowly over an open flame. Visit our San Antonio and Houston, Texas locations to get 25% off with the purchase of a family meal. Offer only available after 5 pm.

We offer our delicious chicken tortilla soup FREE by purchasing a family meal. To redeem this offer,  mention this post ...
12/05/2023

We offer our delicious chicken tortilla soup FREE by purchasing a family meal. To redeem this offer, mention this post to our cashiers in any of the San Antonio and Houston, Texas locations.

Home is where the tamales are!
12/13/2019

Home is where the tamales are!

Traditions are best shared around the table. Enjoy our Holiday Family Dinner tonight, available at 5321 S Rice Ave.
12/11/2019

Traditions are best shared around the table. Enjoy our Holiday Family Dinner tonight, available at 5321 S Rice Ave.

Your favorite holiday tradition just got better. Stop by 5321 S Rice Ave and pick up one of our Holiday Tamale Bowls tod...
12/09/2019

Your favorite holiday tradition just got better. Stop by 5321 S Rice Ave and pick up one of our Holiday Tamale Bowls today!

Slow simmered holiday tradition. Our new Chicken Pozole Verde soup is here for a limited time!
12/06/2019

Slow simmered holiday tradition. Our new Chicken Pozole Verde soup is here for a limited time!

'Tis the season for tradition. Pick up one of our Holiday Tamale Bowls today!
11/26/2019

'Tis the season for tradition. Pick up one of our Holiday Tamale Bowls today!

Your weekend plans just got more delicious. Order online and get our famous fire-grilled chicken delivered right to your...
11/24/2019

Your weekend plans just got more delicious. Order online and get our famous fire-grilled chicken delivered right to your door!

Address

5321 S Rice Avenue
Houston, TX
77081

To get to S Rice Avenue in Houston by public transport, you can take the METRORail and exit at the Reliant Park Station. From there, it's a short walk to S Rice Avenue where you'll find several restaurants.

If driving, you can take the I-610 loop and exit at South Post Oak Road. From there, turn onto S Rice Avenue where you can look for parking options near any of the restaurants.

For those who prefer to walk, it's a 15-20 minute walk from the NRG Stadium or NRG Center to S Rice Avenue where you can find multiple dining options including Mexican and chicken restaurants.

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 10pm
Tuesday 10am - 10pm
Wednesday 10am - 10pm
Thursday 10am - 10pm
Friday 10am - 10pm
Saturday 10am - 10pm
Sunday 10am - 10pm

Telephone

+17136686428

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when El Pollo Loco posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to El Pollo Loco:

Share

What people say

Mexican restaurants are known for their delicious and authentic food, and El Pollo Loco on S Rice Avenue in Houston is no exception. What sets this restaurant apart is their dedication to using only the freshest ingredients and traditional cooking methods.

At El Pollo Loco, everything starts with whole chickens that are marinated in a special recipe of herbs, spices, fruit juices, and garlic. The chicken is then expertly fire-grilled on their signature open-flame grills to perfection. This results in juicy and flavorful chicken that is cut-to-order for your favorite Mexican entrees.

But it's not just the chicken that's exceptional at El Pollo Loco. They also put the same dedication and care into their handmade guacamole, salsas, and dressings every day. You can taste the freshness in every bite.

Founded in 1980, El Pollo Loco has grown into more than 480 restaurants across six states. Their famous fire-grilled chicken has become a cultural benchmark in Los Angeles and beyond.

If you're looking for authentic Mexican food that's cooked slow but served fast, then El Pollo Loco on S Rice Avenue in Houston is definitely worth a visit. Their commitment to quality ingredients and traditional cooking methods will keep you coming back again and again.