Madeleine Hull
El Pollo Loco is a fast-food chain restaurant specializing in Mexican-style grilled chicken, tacos, burritos, enchiladas, and quesadillas. While Mexican food is not always keto-friendly, El Pollo Loco offers several keto options that are both flavorful and fulfilling. The restaurant provides a helpful nutrition guide, allowing customers to view the carb count, calories, and other nutritional information for each item on the menu. This makes it easy for keto dieters to make informed choices and stay within their daily carb limit.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Can you eat at El Pollo Loco on a keto diet? | Yes |
| Keto-friendly dishes | Fire-grilled chicken, keto burrito, keto taco, keto bowls, keto salads, chicken avocado salad, cauliflower rice, chicken salad, chicken taco al carbon, chicken breast, chicken thigh, chicken wing, chicken leg, broccoli, keto-friendly cheese shell taco, chicken avocado burrito, Pollo Fit Bowls, Double Protein Avocado Pollo Fit Bowl, Double Protein Mexican Caesar Pollo Fit Bowl, Double Chicken Avocado Salad, Classic Tostada Salad, Original Pollo Bowl, Grande Avocado Chicken Bowl, chicken al carbon, chicken with avocado or guacamole, chicken with pico de gallo salsa, chicken with jack cheese, chicken with creamy cilantro dressing, chicken with avocado and cilantro lime cauliflower rice |
| Dishes to avoid | Rice, beans, tortilla wraps, taco shells, sauces, corn, tortilla strips, creamy cilantro dressing, pinto beans, Mexican rice, sweet corn, black beans, chicken with added flavorings |
| Other | El Pollo Loco has a nutrition guide that allows customers to view the nutritional value of each item and adjust the nutritional info by adding or removing ingredients |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Keto-friendly options at El Pollo Loco
El Pollo Loco is a popular fast-casual Mexican-style restaurant chain that offers a variety of keto-friendly options. The restaurant has a keto-friendly menu, including the World's First Keto Taco and the World's First Keto Burrito. Here are some keto-friendly options to consider when visiting El Pollo Loco:
Keto-Friendly Taco Options
You can order a keto taco at El Pollo Loco without the tortilla and enjoy it as a salad. The keto taco typically includes chopped chicken breast, pico de gallo, avocado slices, shredded lettuce, jack cheese, and cilantro dressing. You can also ask for no corn to keep it truly keto-friendly. If you're craving a more substantial meal, order a few tacos and mix them into a big salad.
Keto-Friendly Burrito Options
El Pollo Loco offers the World's First Keto Burrito, which features super greens, red cabbage, avocado slices, pico de gallo, chicken, cojita cheese, and a creamy cilantro dressing wrapped in a keto flour tortilla. While it is packed with vegetables, it is also the highest-sodium option on the keto menu.
Keto-Friendly Bowl Options
El Pollo Loco offers a range of keto-friendly bowls, including the Pollo Fit Bowls. The Double Chicken & Queso Fresco bowl is keto-certified and includes fire-grilled chicken breast, organic spinach, pico de gallo, black beans, queso fresco, and a lettuce and red cabbage blend. Another option is the Original Pollo Bowl, which is the healthiest option at El Pollo Loco, although it contains rice and beans.
Keto-Friendly Sides and Proteins
El Pollo Loco offers a variety of keto-friendly sides, such as steamed broccoli, cauliflower rice, and grilled chicken. You can order a side of fire-grilled chicken breast, thigh, wing, or leg, and pair it with broccoli or a keto-friendly salad.
Customization Tips
When ordering keto at El Pollo Loco, it is important to skip high-carb ingredients such as rice, beans, and tortilla wraps. You can also ask for your meat to be dry or without sauce and seasonings to avoid non-keto-friendly ingredients.
With these keto-friendly options and customization tips, you can enjoy a delicious and satisfying meal at El Pollo Loco while adhering to your keto diet.
Pickled Ginger: Keto-Friendly Superfood?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Customizable keto dishes
El Pollo Loco, a fast-food chain specializing in Mexican-style grilled chicken, has launched keto-friendly options, including the Keto Pollo Fit Bowls. While Mexican food is not typically keto-friendly, El Pollo Loco offers several customizable keto dishes. Here are some tips for ordering keto at El Pollo Loco:
- Stick with chicken: Fire-grilled chicken thighs, legs, wings, and breasts are all great low-carb options.
- Avoid high-carb ingredients: Skip the rice, beans, tortilla wraps, taco shells, and chips.
- Customize your order: Ask for no sauce, seasoning, or corn to reduce carbs further.
- Keto-friendly sides: Try steamed broccoli or cauliflower rice instead of the usual high-carb sides.
- Keto Pollo Fit Bowls: Try the Double Chicken Avocado Salad or the Mexican Cobb Salad (hold the black beans, tortilla strips, and creamy cilantro dressing).
- Keto Burrito: El Pollo Loco offers the world's first keto burrito, made with lettuce, grilled chicken, avocado, and low-carb dressing.
- Keto Tacos: Order the classic crunchy taco without the shell, or try the Chicken Taco al Carbon with chicken thigh meat, onion, and cilantro (hold the sauce).
In addition to El Pollo Loco's customizable keto dishes, there are numerous keto-friendly recipes and meal plans available online. Diet Doctor, for example, offers personalized meal plans and a variety of easy keto recipes, such as keto chicken salad, keto stir-fry, keto steak salad, and keto breakfast options. Delish also provides several keto dinner ideas, including keto breaded shrimp, keto fried chicken, keto beef stroganoff, and keto-friendly comfort foods like chicken parm and garlic butter meatballs. For those seeking a customizable keto meal plan, Strongr Fastr offers a free keto meal planner that generates a personalized list of ketogenic recipes based on individual preferences and goals.
Keto and Pepper Jack Cheese: What You Need to Know
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$25.99 $29.99
Nutritional information
El Pollo Loco is a fast-food chain restaurant specialising in Mexican-style grilled chicken, tacos, burritos, enchiladas, and quesadillas. While Mexican food is not always keto-friendly, El Pollo Loco offers several keto options. The restaurant has launched keto Pollo Fit Bowls, keto burritos, and keto tacos.
El Pollo Loco provides detailed nutritional information for each item on its keto menu, making it easy for customers to make informed choices and stick to their keto diet. Here is a breakdown of the nutritional content of some of the keto options available:
Keto Taco
The Keto Taco includes chopped chicken, pico de gallo salsa, avocado, shredded lettuce, creamy cilantro dressing, and jack cheese, all wrapped in a high-fibre, low-carb flour tortilla. Nutritional information for this taco is as follows: 260 calories, 17g fat, 14g total carbs (5g net carbs), 9g fibre, 3g sugar, and 19g protein.
Chicken Breasts, Wings, Thighs, and Legs
El Pollo Loco's famous fire-grilled chicken meals are a popular keto choice. The chicken breast with skin option contains 220 calories, 9g fat, 0g total carbs, 0g fibre, 0g sugar, 36g protein, and 0g net carbs. The chicken thigh with skin contains 210 calories, 15g fat, 0g total carbs, 0g fibre, 0g sugar, 21g protein, and 0g net carbs. The chicken wing with skin has 90 calories, 5g fat, 0g total carbs, 0g fibre, 0g sugar, 12g protein, and 0g net carbs. Finally, the chicken leg with skin provides 80 calories, 4g fat, 0g total carbs, 0g fibre, 0g sugar, 12g protein, and 0g net carbs.
Broccoli
A small side of steamed broccoli contains 30 calories, 0g fat, 6g total carbs, 2g fibre, 0g sugar, 12g protein, and 4g net carbs.
Double Protein Avocado Pollo Fit Bowl
This bowl is made with organic super greens and lettuce topped with cilantro lime cauliflower rice and a double serving of chopped fire-grilled chicken breast. It also includes hand-sliced avocado, queso fresco, pico, and Tapatio seasoning. Nutritional information for this bowl is as follows: 390 calories, 16g fat, 14g total carbs, 5g fibre, 4g sugar, 50g protein, and 9g net carbs.
Double Protein Mexican Caesar Pollo Fit Bowl
Similar to the previous bowl, this option is made with organic super greens and lettuce topped with a double portion of chopped fire-grilled chicken breast. Nutritional information: 290 Calories, 9g Fat, 7g Total Carbs, 4g Fibre, 2g Sugar, 47g Protein, and 3g Net Carbs.
Keto Burrito
The World's First Keto Burrito is a popular choice at El Pollo Loco. It contains super greens, red cabbage, avocado slices, pico de gallo salsa, grilled chicken, cotija cheese, and a low-carb, creamy cilantro dressing. Nutritional values for this burrito vary across sources. One source states it has 510 calories, 28g fat, 7g saturated fat, 32g carbohydrates, 52g protein, and 1,500mg sodium. Another source mentions 440 calories, 28g fat, 31g total carbs (10g net carbs), and 35g protein.
Double Chicken Avocado Salad
This salad is a hit among keto followers and includes chopped chicken breast, fresh avocados, and crisp lettuce topped with pico de gallo. Nutritional information: 350 calories (110 from fat), 12g fat, 7g net carbs, and 51g protein.
Classic Tostada Salad (No Shell, No Rice, No Beans)
This salad option is another keto-friendly choice at El Pollo Loco.
Original Pollo Bowl and Grande Avocado Chicken Bowl
These bowls are recommended for those seeking a balance of nutrition and taste. To make them keto-friendly, it is suggested to order them without rice, beans, and corn. The Original Pollo Bowl contains 550 calories, 9g fat, 1g carb, and 38g protein. The Grande Avocado Chicken Bowl should be ordered without rice, beans, and corn.
Baja Shrimp Street Taco
This taco option can be ordered without the tortilla and turned into a salad. Nutritional information without the tortilla: 240 calories, 16g fat, 3g total carbs, 2g net carbs, 22g protein.
Cauliflower Rice
El Pollo Loco offers cauliflower rice as a keto-friendly side dish. A small serving (4 oz.) contains 45 calories, 2g fat, 2g protein, 5g total carbs, and 3g net carbs. A large serving (10.5 oz.) has 120 calories, 6g fat, 6g protein, 14g total carbs, and 8g net carbs.
Popcorn on Keto: What You Need to Know
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Keto-friendly sides
El Pollo Loco has introduced a range of keto-friendly options, including sides, to accommodate those on a ketogenic diet. It is important to remember that while these options are keto-friendly, they may not be perfect in terms of keto macro ratios.
One side option is steamed broccoli, which is a great low-carb vegetable option. Broccoli can be ordered as a side to complement keto-friendly chicken dishes or keto salads.
Another side option is cauliflower rice, which is a wonderful substitute for rice in El Pollo Loco's bowls. The cauliflower rice is made with finely chopped cauliflower, cilantro, and lime.
Other keto-friendly sides at El Pollo Loco include avocado or guacamole, which provide healthy fats, and salad, although it is important to avoid ingredients like corn, tortilla strips, and certain dressings.
While not strictly a side, the taco at El Pollo Loco can be ordered without the shell, providing another keto-friendly option.
Oranges on Keto: What You Need to Know
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Keto dining guides
El Pollo Loco is a fast-food chain restaurant specialising in Mexican-style grilled chicken, tacos, burritos, enchiladas, and quesadillas. While Mexican food is not always keto-friendly, El Pollo Loco offers a variety of keto options that are both fulfilling and flavourful.
Keto-friendly options
El Pollo Loco has launched a line of keto-approved foods, including cauliflower rice, low-carb chicken salad, and the "world's first keto burrito". The burrito contains 440 calories, 28g fat, 31g total carbs (10g net carbs), and 35g protein. The restaurant also offers keto-friendly bowls, such as the Original Pollo Bowl and the Grande Avocado Chicken Bowl (ordered without rice, beans, and corn).
Customisable options
El Pollo Loco allows customers to customise their orders by adding or removing certain ingredients. For example, the Classic Tostada Salad can be ordered without the shell, rice, and beans to make it keto-friendly. Similarly, the Double Chicken Avocado Salad can be ordered without corn, tortilla strips, and creamy cilantro dressing.
Chicken options
El Pollo Loco's famous chicken meals are also keto-friendly. Customers can choose from fire-grilled chicken breasts, thighs, wings, or legs, and select broccoli as a side dish. The chicken taco al carbon, which contains chicken thigh meat, onion, and cilantro, can also be ordered without the taco shell for a low-carb option.
Other tips
When ordering at El Pollo Loco, it is important to skip high-carb ingredients such as rice, beans, and tortilla wraps. Most of the meat is flavoured with non-keto ingredients, so it is advisable to ask for dry meat or hold the sauce and seasonings. Additionally, be mindful of any added sauces, as these can increase the carb count.
Onion on Keto: What You Need to Know
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
El Pollo Loco is a chain restaurant that specializes in Mexican-style grilled chicken, tacos, burritos, enchiladas, and quesadillas.
Yes, El Pollo Loco has a keto-friendly menu with several low-carb options.
Some keto-friendly options at El Pollo Loco include the World's First Keto Burrito, Double Chicken Avocado Salad, Classic Chicken Salad (without corn, tortilla strips, and creamy cilantro dressing), and the Original Pollo Bowl (without pinto beans and rice).
When eating at El Pollo Loco while on a keto diet, it is best to avoid high-carb ingredients such as rice, beans, tortilla wraps, taco shells, and chips.
