Low-calorie El Pollo Loco options, ranked
El Pollo Loco publishes nutrition for 67 menu items. 33 are under 300 calories and 46 are under 500. The lightest real portion is Queso Blanco (Small) (160 calories, 7 g protein), and the lightest with at least 20 g of protein is Chopped Breast Side (120 calories, 23 g protein). Numbers are per serving from El Pollo Loco's own nutrition guide; open any item for the full breakdown.
Lightest real meals
Items of 150 calories or more with at least 15 g of protein, lightest first.
Taco al Carbón
per taco · 15g protein · 17g carbs · 5g fat
170 kcal
Chicken Breast
per 1 pc · 34g protein · 0g carbs · 8g fat
200 kcal
Chicken Thigh
per 1 pc · 21g protein · 2g carbs · 12g fat
200 kcal
Chicken Legs (2 pc)
per 2 pc · 22g protein · 0g carbs · 15g fat
220 kcal
Chicken Tortilla Soup
per bowl · 23g protein · 19g carbs · 9g fat
240 kcal
Chicken Avocado Taco
per taco · 24g protein · 17g carbs · 19g fat
330 kcal
Street Corn Salad (dressing not included)
per salad · 52g protein · 17g carbs · 14g fat
390 kcal
Mexican Caesar Salad (dressing not included)
per salad · 52g protein · 18g carbs · 17g fat
420 kcal
Classic Chicken Burrito
per burrito · 25g protein · 66g carbs · 13g fat
480 kcal
Tacos al Carbón (3 pc)
per 3 tacos · 46g protein · 50g carbs · 15g fat
510 kcal
Cheese Quesadilla (Kids)
per quesadilla · 25g protein · 37g carbs · 30g fat
530 kcal
Original Pollo Bowl®
per bowl · 41g protein · 83g carbs · 10g fat
580 kcal
Under 300 calories
Everything, including sides, sauces and drinks, lightest first.
Salsa Fresca
per serving · 0g protein · 2g carbs · 0g fat
5 kcal
Gravy (Side)
per side · 0g protein · 2g carbs · 0g fat
15 kcal
Salsa Roja
per serving · 0g protein · 2g carbs · 0g fat
15 kcal
Avocado Salsa
per serving · 0g protein · 1g carbs · 2g fat
20 kcal
Gravy (Small)
per small · 1g protein · 5g carbs · 0g fat
25 kcal
Broccoli (Small)
per small side · 2g protein · 6g carbs · 0g fat
30 kcal
Chicken Wing
per 1 pc · 10g protein · 0g carbs · 3g fat
70 kcal
Sour Cream
per serving · 1g protein · 1g carbs · 7g fat
80 kcal
Corn Tortillas (2 pc)
per 2 pc · 2g protein · 19g carbs · 1g fat
90 kcal
Mashed Potatoes with Gravy (Small)
per small side · 3g protein · 20g carbs · 2g fat
100 kcal
Chicken Leg
per 1 pc · 11g protein · 0g carbs · 7g fat
110 kcal
Guacamole (Small)
per small · 2g protein · 7g carbs · 10g fat
110 kcal
Chopped Breast Side
per side · 23g protein · 0g carbs · 3g fat
120 kcal
Coleslaw (Small)
per small side · 1g protein · 9g carbs · 10g fat
120 kcal
Pinto Beans (Small)
per small side · 9g protein · 25g carbs · 1g fat
140 kcal
Corn (Small)
per small side · 3g protein · 27g carbs · 5g fat
140 kcal
Queso Blanco (Small)
per small · 7g protein · 3g carbs · 14g fat
160 kcal
Rice (Small)
per small side · 3g protein · 33g carbs · 2g fat
160 kcal
Taco al Carbón
per taco · 15g protein · 17g carbs · 5g fat
170 kcal
Flour Tortillas (2 pc)
per 2 pc · 4g protein · 27g carbs · 5g fat
170 kcal
Tortilla Chips (Side)
per side · 2g protein · 22g carbs · 8g fat
170 kcal
Cinnamon Churro (1 pc)
per 1 pc · 1g protein · 16g carbs · 11g fat
170 kcal
Creamy Chipotle Sauce
per sauce · 0g protein · 1g carbs · 18g fat
170 kcal
Loco Side Salad (Small)
per small side · 3g protein · 8g carbs · 15g fat
180 kcal
Pollo Loco Sauce™
per sauce · 1g protein · 4g carbs · 18g fat
180 kcal
Chicken Breast
per 1 pc · 34g protein · 0g carbs · 8g fat
200 kcal
Chicken Thigh
per 1 pc · 21g protein · 2g carbs · 12g fat
200 kcal
Shredded Chicken Crunchy Taco
per taco · 14g protein · 22g carbs · 8g fat
210 kcal
Iced Coffee Cream
per drink · 11g protein · 10g carbs · 12g fat
210 kcal
Chicken Legs (2 pc)
per 2 pc · 22g protein · 0g carbs · 15g fat
220 kcal
Guacamole (Regular)
per regular · 3g protein · 15g carbs · 19g fat
220 kcal
Caramel Flan Cup
per cup · 10g protein · 27g carbs · 9g fat
230 kcal
Chicken Tortilla Soup
per bowl · 23g protein · 19g carbs · 9g fat
240 kcal
300 to 500 calories
Macaroni & Cheese (Small)
per small side · 9g protein · 24g carbs · 19g fat
310 kcal
Queso Blanco (Regular)
per regular · 14g protein · 7g carbs · 27g fat
320 kcal
Chicken Avocado Taco
per taco · 24g protein · 17g carbs · 19g fat
330 kcal
Cinnamon Churros (2 pc)
per 2 pc · 3g protein · 32g carbs · 22g fat
330 kcal
Creamy Cilantro Dressing
per dressing · 1g protein · 2g carbs · 36g fat
330 kcal
Tortilla Chips (Small)
per small · 5g protein · 43g carbs · 17g fat
340 kcal
Street Corn Salad (dressing not included)
per salad · 52g protein · 17g carbs · 14g fat
390 kcal
House Ranch (Regular)
per dressing · 2g protein · 5g carbs · 41g fat
390 kcal
Original BRC Burrito®
per burrito · 13g protein · 63g carbs · 11g fat
410 kcal
Mexican Caesar Salad (dressing not included)
per salad · 52g protein · 18g carbs · 17g fat
420 kcal
Mexican Caesar Dressing
per dressing · 3g protein · 4g carbs · 47g fat
440 kcal
Chips & Guacamole (Small)
per small · 6g protein · 51g carbs · 26g fat
450 kcal
Classic Chicken Burrito
per burrito · 25g protein · 66g carbs · 13g fat
480 kcal
Questions people ask
What is the lowest-calorie item at El Pollo Loco?
Salsa Fresca at 5 calories per serving. The lightest item that's a full portion (150 calories or more) is Queso Blanco (Small) (160 calories, 7 g protein).
How many El Pollo Loco items are under 500 calories?
46 of the 67 items El Pollo Loco publishes nutrition for, and 33 are under 300.
What's the lowest-calorie El Pollo Loco order with real protein?
Chopped Breast Side (120 calories, 23 g protein) is the lightest item with at least 20 g of protein.
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