El Pollo Loco Seed Oil Report Card
Based on our menu research, El Pollo Loco cooks with: soybean oil. Across the 129 menu items we analyzed, it averages 6.7g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of C (High Risk).
What oil does El Pollo Loco fry in? The full answer
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Safest Orders at El Pollo Loco
Learn this once: a salad with grilled protein and the dressing left off is nearly always the lowest seed oil order anywhere. So the list below sticks to real meals, salads included, never just a water.
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Chicken Wing (Fire-Grilled) | 0.8g |
| Chicken Taco Al Carbon | 1.3g |
| Flame-Grilled Chicken Breast | 2.0g |
| Flame-Grilled Chicken Leg | 2.0g |
| Shredded Chicken Crunchy Taco | 2.2g |
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Build my orderWhat to Avoid at El Pollo Loco
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Chips & Guacamole (Regular) | 37.8g |
| Baja Double Chicken Tostada | 30.7g |
| Chips & Queso Blanco (Regular) | 28.6g |
| Mexican Caesar Dressing | 28.2g |
| Shredded Chicken Nachos | 27.3g |
Every El Pollo Loco item, ranked
All 129 items we have for El Pollo Loco, safest first. Values are estimated grams of seed-oil PUFA per item.
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Broccoli (Small) | 0.0g |
| Aguas Frescas Mango Lime | 0.0g |
| Aguas Frescas Strawberry Hibiscus | 0.0g |
| Fountain Drink | 0.0g |
| Salsa Roja | 0.0g |
| Jalapeno Hot Sauce | 0.0g |
| House Salsa (Salsa Fresca) | 0.0g |
| Coca-Cola (Regular) | 0.0g |
| Minute Maid Lemonade (Regular) | 0.0g |
| Sprite (Large) | 0.0g |
| FUZE Sweetened Raspberry Iced Tea (Regular) | 0.0g |
| Nestle Pure Life Bottled Water | 0.0g |
| Hi-C Flashin' Fruit Punch (Regular) | 0.0g |
| Coca-Cola (Large) | 0.0g |
| Barq's Root Beer (Regular) | 0.0g |
| Gold Peak Unsweetened Iced Tea (Large) | 0.0g |
| BBQ Black Beans (Large) | 0.0g |
| Minute Maid Lemonade (Large) | 0.0g |
| BBQ Black Beans (Small) | 0.0g |
| Dr Pepper (Regular) | 0.0g |
| FUZE Sweetened Raspberry Iced Tea (Large) | 0.0g |
| Barq's Root Beer (Large) | 0.0g |
| Coca-Cola Zero Sugar (Regular) | 0.0g |
| Coca-Cola Zero Sugar (Large) | 0.0g |
| Dr Pepper (Large) | 0.0g |
| Diet Coke (Large) | 0.0g |
| Hi-C Flashin' Fruit Punch (Large) | 0.0g |
| Iced Coffee Cream | 0.0g |
| Diet Coke (Regular) | 0.0g |
| Gold Peak Unsweetened Iced Tea (Regular) | 0.0g |
| Sprite (Regular) | 0.0g |
| Broccoli (Large) | 0.2g |
| Pinto Beans | 0.3g |
| Pinto Beans (Small) | 0.3g |
| Sour Cream | 0.4g |
| Avocado Salsa | 0.5g |
| Mashed Potatoes with Gravy (Small) | 0.6g |
| Corn Tortillas (2) | 0.6g |
| Chicken Wing (Fire-Grilled) | 0.8g |
| Side of Chopped Chicken Breast | 0.8g |
| Spanish Rice (Small) | 0.9g |
| Pinto Beans (Large) | 0.9g |
| Corn Cobbette | 1.0g |
| Mashed Potatoes with Gravy (Large) | 1.2g |
| Caramel Flan | 1.2g |
| Flour Tortillas (2) | 1.2g |
| Chicken Taco Al Carbon | 1.3g |
| Queso Blanco (Small) | 1.7g |
| Flame-Grilled Chicken Breast | 2.0g |
| Flame-Grilled Chicken Leg | 2.0g |
| Spanish Rice (Large) | 2.1g |
| Shredded Chicken Crunchy Taco | 2.2g |
| Cheese Quesadilla | 2.6g |
| Queso Blanco (Regular) | 2.6g |
| Corn (Small) | 2.7g |
| Caramel AppleChata Cream | 3.0g |
| Caramel AppleChata | 3.2g |
| Flame-Grilled Chicken Thigh | 3.3g |
| Mac & Cheese (Small) | 3.3g |
| Pumpkin Pie Mini Churros (5) | 3.3g |
| BRC Burrito | 3.4g |
| BRC Kids Meal | 3.4g |
| Street Corn Double Pollo Salad | 3.5g |
| Chicken Tortilla Soup | 3.9g |
| Two Legs Kids Meal | 3.9g |
| Original Pollo Bowl | 4.0g |
| 3 Pc. Chicken Meal | 4.0g |
| Fresca Salad | 4.0g |
| CoffeeChata | 4.0g |
| 2 Pc. Breast & Wing Meal (Corn Tortillas, Pinto Beans & Rice) | 4.1g |
| Classic Chicken Burrito | 4.3g |
| Chicken Quesadilla | 5.0g |
| 4 Pc. Half Chicken Meal | 5.0g |
| Grande Avocado Chicken Bowl | 5.0g |
| CoffeeChata Cream | 5.0g |
| Churro | 5.6g |
| 2 Pc. Breast & Wing Meal (Flour Tortillas, Pinto Beans & Rice) | 5.6g |
| Mexican Caesar Double Pollo Salad | 5.8g |
| Coleslaw | 6.0g |
| Coleslaw (Small) | 6.0g |
| Double Chicken Bowl | 6.6g |
| Tortilla Chips (Side) | 6.6g |
| Chicken Avocado Burrito | 7.0g |
| Horchata (Regular) | 7.2g |
| 2 Pc. Leg & Thigh Meal (Flour Tortillas, Pinto Beans & Rice) | 7.4g |
| Chicken Avocado Taco | 7.8g |
| Loco Fries | 8.0g |
| Loco Tenders 2 Pc. | 8.2g |
| 2 Pc. Leg & Thigh Meal (Corn Tortillas, Pinto Beans & Rice) | 8.2g |
| Corn (Large) | 8.4g |
| Red Chile Chicken Tamale (1) | 8.4g |
| Loco Side Salad | 8.6g |
| Mac & Cheese (Large) | 8.6g |
| Salsa Verde Chicken Quesadilla | 8.9g |
| 8 Pc. Family Meal | 9.0g |
| Chicken Avocado Stuffed Quesadilla | 9.0g |
| Creamy Chipotle Sauce | 10.5g |
| Queso Guacamole Chicken Burrito | 10.6g |
| Pollo Loco Sauce | 10.8g |
| Cinnamon Churros | 11.3g |
| Horchata (Large) | 11.4g |
| Baja Lime Sauce | 12.0g |
| Red Chile Cheesy Enchilada Double Chicken Bowl | 12.3g |
| Red & Green Chile Cheesy Enchilada Double Chicken Bowl | 12.3g |
| Loco Tenders 3 Pc. | 12.4g |
| 12 Pc. Family Meal | 13.0g |
| Green Chile Cheesy Enchilada Double Chicken Bowl | 13.1g |
| Tortilla Chips (Small) | 13.2g |
| Queso Crunch Double Chicken Burrito Bowl | 13.8g |
| Chips & Queso Blanco (Small) | 14.1g |
| Street Corn Loaded Chicken Quesadilla | 14.7g |
| Queso Loaded Chicken Quesadilla | 16.3g |
| Loco Tenders 4 Pc. | 16.5g |
| Creamy Chipotle Chicken Quesadilla | 16.6g |
| Classic Tostada Salad | 16.8g |
| Coleslaw (Large) | 17.4g |
| Chips & Guacamole (Small) | 19.2g |
| Street Corn Double Chicken Burrito Bowl | 19.5g |
| Guacamole Chicken Burrito | 19.9g |
| Double Chicken Tostada Salad | 19.9g |
| Chipotle Guacamole Chicken Burrito | 20.3g |
| Creamy Cilantro Dressing | 20.9g |
| House Ranch Dressing | 24.6g |
| Tortilla Chips (Regular) | 26.4g |
| Shredded Chicken Nachos | 27.3g |
| Mexican Caesar Dressing | 28.2g |
| Chips & Queso Blanco (Regular) | 28.6g |
| Baja Double Chicken Tostada | 30.7g |
| Chips & Guacamole (Regular) | 37.8g |
Frequently asked
Does El Pollo Loco use seed oils?
Based on our menu research, El Pollo Loco cooks with: soybean oil. Across the 129 menu items we analyzed, it averages 6.7g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of C (High Risk).
What oil does El Pollo Loco cook with?
Our research indicates: Fire-grilled chicken uses no frying oil (citrus marinade, open flame); tortillas use palm/soybean blend; rice/beans cooked in soybean or canola oil; Loco Fries fried in soybean oil. Preparation can vary by location, so treat PUFA numbers as estimates.
Does El Pollo Loco use beef tallow?
No. Our research indicates El Pollo Loco cooks with soybean oil, not beef tallow. For chains that fry in tallow or other real fats, see Tallow Watch.
Is El Pollo Loco seed oil free?
No. Our research indicates El Pollo Loco cooks with soybean oil, which includes seed oils. See the lower-PUFA orders above for the cleanest picks.
What is the safest thing to order at El Pollo Loco?
Chicken Taco Al Carbon is the lowest-PUFA item we analyzed at El Pollo Loco, at an estimated 1.3g PUFA. See the Safest Orders list on this page for more options.
What should I avoid at El Pollo Loco?
Chips & Guacamole (Regular) is the highest-PUFA item we analyzed at El Pollo Loco, at an estimated 37.8g PUFA. Fried items and creamy, mayo-based sauces are usually the heaviest.
What are seed oils?
Seed oils — canola, soybean, sunflower, corn, and similar vegetable oils — are extracted from seeds using high heat and chemical solvents. They are very high in polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs), which are unstable at cooking temperatures and can oxidize easily. Many health-conscious eaters choose to minimize seed oils and prefer foods cooked in beef tallow, butter, coconut oil, or olive oil instead. This page shows estimated PUFA grams per menu item to help you make more informed choices. These are estimates — actual values vary by preparation and location. New to the topic? Start with what seed oils are and the complete list, or read the evidence on why people avoid them.
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See where El Pollo Loco lands on the full Seed Oil Index, or check which chains cook in real fats on Tallow Watch. Wondering about a specific dish instead? The Is It Seed Oil food guide answers it for 200+ everyday foods, and the distributor oils page covers what independent restaurants fry in.