Keto Dieters: El Pollo Loco Taco Carbs Unveiled

El Pollo Loco's Keto Taco is a delicious, keto-friendly option for those looking to satisfy their Mexican cuisine cravings while sticking to a low-carb diet. With only 5g of net carbs per serving, this taco is a great choice for those watching their carbohydrate intake. But what exactly is in this keto-friendly treat, and how does it taste? Let's dive in and explore the world's first Keto Taco from El Pollo Loco.

Nutritional value of El Pollo Loco Keto Taco

El Pollo Loco is a restaurant that offers keto-friendly options, including keto-certified tacos. While the keto taco may be considered "dirty keto" by some, it is a good option for those looking for a low-carb meal when eating out.

The El Pollo Loco Keto Taco contains 250-260 calories, 17-18 grams of fat, 14 grams of total carbs, 5 grams of net carbs, and 18-19 grams of protein. The 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.

The nutritional value of the keto taco can be further broken down as follows:

• Calories: 250-260
• Fat: 17-18 grams
• Total Carbs: 14 grams
• Net Carbs: 5 grams
• Sugar: 3 grams
• Fiber: 9 grams
• Protein: 18-19 grams

The keto taco is a good option for those on a keto diet as it is low in carbs and high in fat and protein. The tortilla used in the taco is specifically designed to be high in fibre and low in carbs, making it a suitable choice for those watching their carbohydrate intake.

In addition to the keto taco, El Pollo Loco offers other keto-friendly options, such as the Keto Burrito, Double Chicken Avocado Salad, and the Double Protein Avocado Pollo Fit Bowl. The restaurant also provides a nutrition guide on its website, allowing customers to view the carb count, calories, and other nutritional information for its menu items. This can be a helpful tool for those following a keto diet or watching their carbohydrate intake.

Other keto-friendly options at El Pollo Loco

El Pollo Loco's Keto Taco is a delicious, certified keto option, but the restaurant offers several other keto-friendly options to choose from. Here are some other keto-friendly meals you can enjoy at El Pollo Loco:

Keto Burrito

The world's first keto burrito, this meal includes chopped chicken, red cabbage, cotija cheese, creamy cilantro dressing, organic spinach, avocado slices, and pico de gallo salsa, all wrapped in a high-fibre/low-carb flour tortilla. It contains 440 calories, 28g of fat, 31g of total carbs, 21g of fibre, 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, and chopped chicken breast, with the option to swap the chicken for shrimp. Be sure to ask for no corn to keep it keto-friendly! The salad has 330 calories, 15g of fat, 39g of protein, 12g of total carbs, 5g of fibre, 3g of sugar, and 39g of protein, resulting in 7g of net carbs.

2-Piece Chicken Meal

You can choose any combination of chicken breast, wing, thigh, or leg, and add a side of broccoli to keep it keto-friendly. The nutritional values vary depending on your choices, but here are the values for each option:

• Chicken Breast: 220 calories, 9g fat, 0g total carbs, 0g fibre, 0g sugar, 36g protein, and 0g net carbs.
• Chicken Thigh: 210 calories, 15g fat, 0g total carbs, 0g fibre, 0g sugar, 21g protein, and 0g net carbs.
• Chicken Wing: 90 calories, 5g fat, 0g total carbs, 0g fibre, 0g sugar, 12g protein, and 0g net carbs.
• Chicken Leg: 80 calories, 4g fat, 0g total carbs, 0g fibre, 0g sugar, 12g protein, and 0g net carbs.
• Broccoli (small): 30 calories, 0g fat, 6g total carbs, 2g fibre, 0g sugar, 12g protein, and 4g net carbs.

Chicken Nachos

To make this dish keto-friendly, simply ask for no tortilla chips and no pinto beans, and add lettuce instead. This low-carb option has 180 calories, 15g of fat, 6g of total carbs, 2g of fibre, 2g of sugar, 5g of protein, and 4g of net carbs.

Baja Shrimp Tostada Salad

For a keto twist on this salad, skip the pinto beans, rice, and shell, and opt for extra lettuce and a bowl instead. If you want to boost the healthy fats, add some avocado or guacamole. The salad contains 240 calories, 18g of fat, 6g of total carbs, 1g of fibre, 2g of sugar, 14g of protein, and 5g of net carbs.

El Pollo Loco offers a helpful nutrition guide on their website, allowing you to customise your meal choices and see the adjusted carb count, calories, and other nutritional information.

El Pollo Loco's keto dining guide

El Pollo Loco has a variety of keto-friendly options, from tacos to burritos to salads and more. Here's a guide to help you navigate their keto offerings:

The World's First Keto Taco

The Keto Taco is a delicious option with only 5g of net carbs. It includes chopped chicken, pico de gallo salsa, avocado, shredded lettuce, creamy cilantro dressing, and jack cheese wrapped in a high-fiber/low-carb flour tortilla. With 250-260 calories, 17-18g of fat, 14g of total carbs, and 18-19g of protein, it's a tasty and filling choice.

The World's First Keto Burrito

This innovative burrito is another great keto option. It's packed with protein and includes ingredients like chicken, red cabbage, cheese, avocado, and salsa in a high-fiber/low-carb tortilla. While it has more total carbs than the taco at 31g, it still falls within keto guidelines with 10g of net carbs. Calorie-wise, it's higher at 440, and it contains 28g of fat and 35g of protein.

Double Chicken Avocado Salad (No Corn)

For a lighter option, the Double Chicken Avocado Salad is a refreshing choice. Be sure to ask for no corn to keep it keto-friendly. This salad has 330 calories, 12-15g of fat, 12g of total carbs, and 39g of protein. It also offers a good amount of fiber with 5g.

Fire-Grilled Chicken

If you're looking for a simple, no-fuss keto option, El Pollo Loco's fire-grilled chicken is a great choice. You can choose from breast, thigh, wing, or leg, all of which have 0g of total carbs. The breast has 220 calories and 9g of fat, while the thigh has slightly fewer calories at 210 but a higher fat content of 15g. The wing and leg are lower in calories, with 90 and 80, respectively, and have 5g and 4g of fat.

Keto-Friendly Extras

To round out your keto meal, El Pollo Loco offers several extras that won't kick you out of ketosis. Their Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice is a unique and tasty option, with only 3-8g of net carbs for a small or large serving. Other keto-friendly sides include broccoli (4g net carbs), guacamole (3g net carbs), and various salsas, such as pico de gallo and avocado salsa (2g net carbs each).

What to Avoid

While El Pollo Loco has many keto options, it's important to be mindful of certain ingredients. Stay away from high-carb items like rice, beans, and corn. Also, avoid any shells, tortillas, and chips, as these are not keto-friendly. Always check the nutrition guide and make adjustments to your order as needed.

El Pollo Loco's keto menu options

El Pollo Loco has a variety of keto-friendly options on its menu. The fast-food chain has introduced keto-certified options, including keto tacos and keto burritos, which are served in high-fibre/low-carb flour tortillas. The keto taco includes chopped chicken, pico de gallo salsa, avocado, shredded lettuce, creamy cilantro dressing, and jack cheese, with 260 calories and 5g net carbs. The keto burrito has similar ingredients, with the addition of red cabbage, and contains 440 calories and 10g net carbs.

The restaurant also offers keto-friendly bowls, such as the Double Protein Avocado Pollo Fit Bowl, which is made with organic super greens, cilantro lime cauliflower rice, and a double portion of chopped fire-grilled chicken breast. It has 390 calories and 9g net carbs. Another option is the Double Chicken Avocado Salad, which has 330 calories and 7g net carbs. However, to keep it keto-friendly, be sure to ask for no corn.

El Pollo Loco also allows customers to customise their orders by adding or removing ingredients, which adjusts the nutritional information accordingly. This feature makes it easier for those on a keto diet to find suitable options.

El Pollo Loco's keto extras

El Pollo Loco has a variety of keto-friendly extras that can be added to your meal. These extras can enhance the flavour of your dish while keeping you in ketosis. Here are some of the best keto extras that El Pollo Loco has to offer:

Guacamole

El Pollo Loco makes their guacamole fresh daily, so it's the perfect addition to your keto meal. Guacamole goes well with their fire-grilled chicken or can be used as a topping for their keto-friendly salads. It has 3g of net carbs per serving.

Bacon

Bacon is a great way to add more protein and fat to your meal. It pairs well with their chicken and guacamole, creating a delicious and satisfying keto option.

Cheese

El Pollo Loco offers several types of cheese, including jack cheese, cotija cheese, and queso fresco. Cheese is a great way to add flavour and fat to your meal. The net carb count for cheese ranges from 2g to 3g depending on the variety.

Salsa

The restaurant offers a variety of keto-friendly salsas, including pico de gallo salsa, avocado salsa, house salsa, and salsa roja. These salsas can add a burst of flavour to your meal without kicking you out of ketosis. Each of these salsas has 2g of net carbs per serving.

Creamy Cilantro Dressing

Although this dressing contains 2g of net carbs, it can be a great addition to your keto meal. It pairs well with their salads and can also be used as a dip for their fire-grilled chicken.

Sour Cream

With just 1g of net carbs, sour cream is another excellent keto-friendly extra. It can be used as a topping for their salads or as a dip for their chicken.

Broccoli

El Pollo Loco offers steamed broccoli as a side, which is an excellent low-carb option. It has 4g of net carbs, making it a great choice to accompany your keto meal.

Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice

This side dish is a fantastic keto-friendly alternative to traditional rice. It's made with finely chopped cauliflower, cilantro, and lime, and it has 3g of net carbs for a small serving and 8g for a large serving.

These keto extras can help you customise your meal and ensure that you stay within your macros while enjoying the delicious flavours that El Pollo Loco has to offer.

Frequently asked questions