Keto Dieters: El Pollo Loco Taco Calories Unveiled

El Pollo Loco is a Mexican-style grilled chicken chain restaurant that also serves tacos, burritos, enchiladas, and quesadillas. While Mexican food is not always keto-friendly, El Pollo Loco offers keto-approved meals, including keto tacos. The keto taco at El Pollo Loco contains 250-260 calories, 17g of fat, 18-19g of protein, 14g of total carbs, 9g of fiber, and 5g of net carbs. The taco includes chopped chicken, pico de gallo salsa, avocado, shredded lettuce, creamy cilantro dressing, and jack cheese, all inside a high-fiber/low-carb flour tortilla.

Nutritional information for El Pollo Loco's keto taco

El Pollo Loco's keto taco is a delicious and convenient option for those following a keto diet. While Mexican food is not always keto-friendly, El Pollo Loco offers several low-carb options, including their famous keto taco.

The keto taco at El Pollo Loco is a tasty and satisfying choice. It includes chopped chicken, pico de gallo salsa, avocado, shredded lettuce, creamy cilantro dressing, and jack cheese, all wrapped in a high-fiber/low-carb flour tortilla. This combination of ingredients provides a well-balanced keto meal.

In terms of nutritional value, the keto taco is a good choice for those watching their calorie intake. It contains approximately 260 calories, with 17 grams of fat, 14 grams of total carbs, 9 grams of fiber, 3 grams of sugar, and 19 grams of protein. This translates to 5 grams of net carbs, making it a suitable option for those on a keto diet.

When compared to other keto-friendly items on the El Pollo Loco menu, the keto taco fares well. For example, the keto burrito, which is also popular, contains 440 calories and 28 grams of fat. The keto taco is a more calorie-conscious option while still providing a good balance of fat, protein, and fiber.

It's important to note that while the keto taco is certified keto, some may consider it "dirty keto" due to the inclusion of the tortilla. However, with only 5 grams of net carbs, it can still fit within the macros of a well-formulated ketogenic diet.

In conclusion, El Pollo Loco's keto taco is a tasty and nutritious option for those following a keto diet. With its balanced mix of protein, fat, and fiber, it can be a convenient choice for a quick bite, especially for those who don't always have the time to cook keto meals at home.

Other keto-friendly options at El Pollo Loco

El Pollo Loco has a variety of keto-friendly options apart from the keto taco. Here are some other delicious and keto-compliant choices you can try:

Keto Burrito

The world's first keto burrito is a delicious and nutritious option. It includes chopped chicken, red cabbage, cotija cheese, creamy cilantro dressing, organic spinach, avocado slices, and pico de gallo salsa, all wrapped in a high-fiber/low-carb flour tortilla. This burrito is a good source of protein and will keep you full for a long time. The nutritional information for this burrito is as follows: 440 Calories | 28g Fat | 31g Total Carbs | 21g Fiber | 3g Sugar | 35g Protein | 10g Net Carbs.

Double Chicken Avocado Salad

This salad is a fresh and healthy choice, containing pico de gallo salsa, avocado slices, cilantro, cotija cheese, chopped chicken breast, and sour cream. You can also swap out the chicken for shrimp if you like, but it will add one additional net carb. Be sure to ask for no corn to keep it keto-friendly! The nutritional information for this salad is: 330 Calories | 15g Fat | 39g protein | 12g total carbs | 5g Fiber | 3g Sugar | 39g Protein | 7g Net Carbs.

2-Piece Chicken Meal

You can create your own keto-friendly meal by choosing a combination of chicken pieces, such as breast, thigh, wing, or leg, and selecting broccoli as your side dish. This option is perfect if you want to keep your fat count higher, as the thighs and breasts have the highest fat content. Here is the nutritional information for the different chicken pieces and the broccoli side:

• Chicken Breast with skin: 220 Calories | 9g Fat | 0g Total Carbs | 0g Fiber | 0g Sugar | 36g Protein | 0g Net Carbs
• Chicken Thigh with skin: 210 Calories | 15g Fat | 0g Total Carbs | 0g Fiber | 0g Sugar | 21g protein | 0g Net Carbs
• Chicken Wing with skin: 90 Calories | 5g Fat | 0g Total Carbs | 0g Fiber | 0g Sugar | 12g protein | 0g Net Carbs
• Chicken Leg with skin: 80 Calories | 4g Fat | 0g Total Carbs | 0g Fiber | 0g Sugar | 12g Protein | 0g Net Carbs
• Broccoli (small): 30 calories | 0g Fat | 6g Total Carbs | 2g Fiber | 0g Sugar | 12g Protein | 4g Net Carbs

Chicken Nachos

You can make your own keto-friendly nachos by ordering them without the tortilla chips and adding lettuce instead. This is a tasty and satisfying option, even without the chips. Just use a fork and dig in! The nutritional information for the chicken nachos without the chips is: 180 calories | 15g Fat | 6g Total Carbs | 2g Fiber | 2g Sugar | 5g Protein | 4g Net Carbs.

Baja Shrimp Tostada Salad

If you're craving shrimp, the Baja Shrimp Tostada Salad is a great choice. Just be sure to skip the high-carb beans, rice, and shell to keep it keto-friendly. You can also add avocado or guacamole to boost the healthy fats. The nutritional information for this salad without the shell, rice, and beans is: 240 calories | 18g fat | 6g total carbs | 1g Fiber | 2g Sugar | 14g Protein | 5g Net Carbs.

How to order keto at El Pollo Loco

El Pollo Loco offers a variety of keto-friendly options. The fast-food chain has a helpful nutrition guide that allows customers to view the carb count, calories, and other nutritional information for each item on the menu.

• Keto Taco: This taco includes chopped chicken, pico de gallo salsa, avocado, shredded lettuce, creamy cilantro dressing, and jack cheese, all wrapped in a high-fiber/low-carb flour tortilla. It contains 260 calories, 17g of fat, 14g of total carbs, 9g of fiber, 3g of sugar, and 19g of protein, with 5g of net carbs.
• Keto Burrito: The self-proclaimed "world's first keto burrito" includes chopped chicken, red cabbage, cotija cheese, creamy cilantro dressing, organic spinach, avocado slices, and pico de gallo salsa, wrapped in a high-fiber/low-carb flour tortilla. It has 440 calories, 28g of fat, 31g of total carbs, 21g of fiber, 3g of sugar, 35g of protein, and 10g of net carbs.
• Double Chicken Avocado Salad: This salad features pico de gallo salsa, avocado slices, cilantro, cotija cheese, chopped chicken breast, and sour cream. You can skip the corn to keep it keto-friendly. It has 330 calories, 15g of fat, 39g of protein, 12g of total carbs, 5g of fiber, and 3g of sugar, with 7g of net carbs.
• 2-Piece Chicken Meal: You can choose any combination of chicken breast, wing, thigh, or leg, and select broccoli as your side. For example, a chicken breast with broccoli has 220 calories, 9g of fat, 0g of total carbs, 36g of protein, and 0g of net carbs, while a chicken thigh with broccoli has 210 calories, 15g of fat, 0g of total carbs, 21g of protein, and 0g of net carbs.
• Chicken Nachos: You can make this dish keto-friendly by skipping the tortilla chips and pinto beans and adding lettuce instead. It then contains 180 calories, 15g of fat, 6g of total carbs, 2g of fiber, 2g of sugar, 5g of protein, and 4g of net carbs.
• Baja Shrimp Tostada Salad: To make this salad keto-friendly, skip the pinto beans, rice, and shell. You can also add avocado or guacamole for some extra healthy fats. It has 240 calories, 18g of fat, 6g of total carbs, 1g of fiber, 2g of sugar, 14g of protein, and 5g of 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 portion of chopped fire-grilled chicken breast. It also includes hand-sliced avocado, queso fresco, pico, and Tapatio seasoning. It has 390 calories, 16g of fat, 14g of total carbs, 5g of fiber, 4g of sugar, 50g of protein, and 9g of net carbs.
• Double Protein Mexican Caesar Pollo Fit Bowl: This bowl is also made with organic super greens and lettuce, topped with a double portion of chopped fire-grilled chicken breast, sliced radishes, hand-sliced avocado, cotija cheese, Tapatio seasoning, and a lemon wedge. It has 290 calories, 9g of fat, 7g of total carbs, 4g of fiber, 2g of sugar, 47g of protein, and 3g of net carbs.

Remember, when ordering keto, it's important to pay attention to the nutritional information and make adjustments as needed to fit your specific dietary goals.

El Pollo Loco's keto taco reviews

El Pollo Loco's keto taco has received positive reviews, with one customer, Stetson, saying they were "blown away by how good these tacos were, like really delicious!" They also noted that the keto tacos were "really filling" and that the ingredients were "so flavorful that you don't even realize you're eating a low-carb taco". Stetson added that they were not on the keto diet but would still order the tacos again.

The keto taco from El Pollo Loco contains 260 calories, 17 grams of fat, 19 grams of protein, 14 grams of total carbs, 9 grams of fiber, and 5 grams of net carbs. It is made with a high-fiber/low-carb flour tortilla filled with chopped chicken, pico de gallo salsa, avocado, shredded lettuce, creamy cilantro dressing, and jack cheese.

While the keto taco may be considered "dirty keto" by some, it is keto-certified. El Pollo Loco also offers a keto burrito, which has similar ingredients to the keto taco but with the addition of red cabbage and organic spinach, all wrapped in the same high-fiber/low-carb flour tortilla. The keto burrito has 440 calories, 28 grams of fat, 35 grams of protein, 31 grams of total carbs, 21 grams of fiber, and 10 grams of net carbs.

El Pollo Loco's keto-friendly options don't stop at the taco and burrito. They also offer a Double Chicken Avocado Salad (without the corn), a 2-Piece Chicken Meal with broccoli, Chicken Nachos (with lettuce instead of tortilla chips), a Baja Shrimp Tostada Salad (without the beans, rice, and shell), and two types of Pollo Fit Bowls—the Double Protein Avocado and the Double Protein Mexican Caesar.

El Pollo Loco's keto rewards program

El Pollo Loco's keto-friendly menu options are not just delicious but also offer great flexibility for those on a keto diet. And the good news is that El Pollo Loco has a rewards program that you can benefit from when ordering these keto-friendly options!

The Loco Rewards™ program is a great way to earn points and unlock rewards. Here's how it works:

Earning Points

• The Loco Rewards program is accessible via a mobile app, with a basic version available on their website.
• You earn 100 points for every dollar spent on qualifying in-restaurant purchases or online orders (excluding third-party delivery services).
• There are three status tiers: Pollito, Pollo, and Pollo Loco. As you move up, you earn points at an increased rate.
• You can earn points on a maximum of two transactions per day.
• Points are earned on food purchases, excluding delivery fees and costs.
• Catering orders are also eligible for points.
• Points are calculated based on pre-tax sales, not the total receipt amount.
• To earn points in-restaurant, open the app, sign in, tap "Scan," and have the cashier scan your QR code.
• For online orders, sign in to your Loco Rewards account before checking out.

Redeeming Rewards

• Rewards include free food, personalized offers, early access to select new menu items, exclusive content, and experiences.
• You can view and select your desired rewards through the mobile app or website.
• Rewards can be redeemed by scanning the barcode presented in the app before payment or by applying the eligible reward during online checkout.
• You can redeem one reward per day and per transaction, and rewards do expire.
• Some rewards examples include:
• Free Large Drink
• Two Free Churros
• Free Taco al Carbon
• Free Large Side
• Free Regular Chips & Guac
• $5 Off your purchase
• 2-Piece Leg and Thigh Meal
• Chicken Tostada Salad
• Chicken Avocado Burrito
• Double Chicken Tostada
• 3-Piece Leg and Thigh Meal
• Double Chicken Avocado Salad

Additional Benefits

• You can earn a free Original Pollo Bowl when you sign up and complete your first purchase.
• You'll also receive a birthday reward, bonus point days, and additional offers throughout the year.
• To keep the Original Pollo Bowl keto-friendly, remember to ask for no rice or pinto beans and add lettuce, cheese, avocado, and sour cream instead.
• El Pollo Loco provides a helpful nutrition guide on their menu, allowing you to view and adjust the carb count, calories, and other nutritional information for each item.

Frequently asked questions