Does El Pollo Loco Take Apple Pay? Find Out Now!
El Pollo Loco is an American fast-casual restaurant chain that specializes in Mexican-style grilled chicken. There are currently 487 locations in the Southwestern United States. I’ve been asking the same question about El Pollo Loco for the past few days, but I couldn’t find an answer. Does El Pollo Loco take Apple Pay? I finally got the answer. And now I’m sharing it with you.
Apple Pay: A Modern, Contactless Payment Method
Do you own an iPhone or Apple Watch? Using Apple Pay, you can use your Apple devices to pay at stores, through apps, and on the web. It’s a secure, contactless, and easy way to make your payments. Gone are the days of waiting for change at the register or using a credit card reader that thousands of cards have been inside. Instead, replace your card with Apple Pay’s digital wallet. Continue reading to learn more about how you can use Apple Pay to make your life easier at El Pollo Loco!
Answered: Does El Pollo Loco Take Apple Pay?
Yes, El Pollo Loco has taken Apple Pay as a payment method since 2015. So next time you’re in the mood for some Mexican-style grilled chicken or a quick meal, use Apple Pay to pay with your phone at El Pollo Loco.
Does El Pollo Loco take Apple Pay at the drive-thru?
Yes, El Pollo Loco takes Apple Pay at the drive-thru. All you need to do is hand your iPhone to the cashier when it’s time to pay. Apple Pay is a convenient and safe way to for your food inside El Pollo Loco or at the drive-thru.
You might be interested to know that the drive-thru accounts for 70% of El Pollo Loco’s sales, so if the drive-thru has a long line, try ordering inside the store.
Is Apple Pay Accepted Everywhere?
Currently, Apple Pay works at more than 2.5 million retail locations in the US, covering 85% of all US merchants. Stores that accept Apple Pay include many top merchants, grocery stores, restaurants, big-box locations, pharmacies, and apps from some of America’s most popular brands. That said, 15% of stores, including Walmart, still don’t accept Apple Pay. Unfortunately, even though Apple Pay and contactless cards are the easiest way for shoppers to pay, there are still holdouts. How do you know if your favorite stores take Apple Pay?
How do I know where Apple Pay is accepted?
Finding out if a store accepts Apple Pay can be a challenge. You could ask the cashier or search online, but either way, it’s still a hassle. Luckily, Apple makes it easy to find out if a store accepts Apple Pay. To find out if a store takes Apple Pay, open the Apple Maps app on your iPhone. Next, search for the store location and scroll down to the “Useful to Know” section below the store’s website address. If you see the Apple Pay logo or a checkmark next to “Accepts Apple Pay,” then you know that the store accepts Apple Pay!
What fast food places take Apple Pay?
Americans love to use Apple Pay, but not every restaurant accepts it as a payment method. Besides El Pollo Loco, here are some other fast food places that take Apple Pay: Au Bon Pain, Baskin Robbins, Chick-fil-a, Chili’s, Chipotle, Dunkin Donuts, Firehouse Subs, Fuddruckers, In-In-Out, Jamba Juice, Jack in the Box locations, Jersey Mike’s Subs, Johnny Rockets, KFC, McDonald’s, Panera Bread, Peet’s Coffee, Pizza Hut, Popeyes, Qdoba, Rubio’s, Starbucks, Subway, Taco Bell, Whataburger, and White Castle.
How Do You Use Apple Pay At El Pollo Loco?
Ready to pay for your food at El Pollo Loco using Apple Pay? First, have you set up Apple Pay on your iPhone or Apple Watch? If you have already set it up, skip to the next section; otherwise, read on.
How to set up Apple Pay on your iPhone or Apple Watch
To set up Apple Pay on your iPhone, go to the ‘Settings’ section and select ‘Wallet & Apple Pay’. Next, select ‘Add Card’. Press ‘Continue’ and select the payment type you want to use. Add your credit card details by either holding your iPhone over your credit card until it successfully reads your credit card numbers, or you can enter the credit card details manually.
Next, agree to Apple’s terms and conditions and complete any required credit card verification steps. After this, your card will be in your Apple Wallet and ready to use using Apple Pay.
To set up Apple Pay on your Apple Watch, you will need to use your paired iPhone. Using your paired iPhone, open your ‘Apple Watch’ app. Next, tap ‘Wallet & Apple Pay’. Now, tap ‘Add Card’ and follow the instructions to add your preferred credit card to your Apple Watch’s Apple Pay.
Note: Some retailers limit how much you can spend using a contactless payment method like Apple Pay. Generally, a payment over this limit will still go through, but the clerk will either check your ID or ask for a signature. Rarely, you’ll be asked to pay with a physical credit card or cash.
How to use Apple Pay at El Pollo Loco with your iPhone
If you’re using an iPhone to pay with Apple Pay, follow these steps:
- First, double-click on your iPhone’s right side button.
- Next, look at your iPhone’s screen if you’re using Face ID, put your finger on the home sensor if you’re using Touch ID, or enter your passcode.
- Finally, hold your iPhone over the contactless payment reader. Keep holding it until you hear a ping, see a green checkmark on the payment reader, or see a checkmark plus the word ‘Done’ on your iPhone’s screen. That’s it!
How to use Apple Pay at El Pollo Loco using your Apple Watch
- First, double-tap the side button on the right of the dial.
- Next, enter your passcode if prompted.
- Finally, hold your Apple Watch over the contactless payment reader until the payment is complete. That’s it!
What Forms of Payment Does El Pollo Loco Accept?
El Pollo Loco accepts the following forms of payment: Visa cards, Mastercards, Discover cards, American Express cards, debit cards, El Pollo Loco gift cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, and cash.
How do you check your El Pollo Loco gift card balance?
You can check your El Pollo Loco gift card balance online using their ‘Check Your Balance’ tool. Type in your account number, PIN, and tap ‘Check Balance’.
Can you pay for El Pollo Loco with PayPal?
No, you can’t pay for your El Pollo Loco order with PayPal.
Does El Pollo Loco accept checks?
No, El Pollo Loco does not accept checks as a form of payment.
Does El Pollo Loco take Near Field Communication (NFC) payments?
El Pollo Loco takes three NFC payment options: Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay. Near Field Communication (NFC) technology enables contactless payments such as digital wallets on smartphones and tap-to-pay credit and debit cards. The most popular mobile contactless payment system that uses NFC technology is Apple Pay.
Does El Pollo Loco take EBT?
Yes, El Pollo Loco accepts EBT cards as a payment method at select Arizona and California stores. To see if your El Pollo Loco location takes your SNAP EBT benefits, check out their Calfresh EBT list of stores.
Does El Pollo Loco Have an App?
El Pollo Loco’s Loco Rewards app lets you order delivery, curbside, or in-store pick up from your iPhone. You’ll earn rewards on every order, you won’t have to wait in line, and you can use exclusive coupons. As a bonus, when you sign up for Loco Rewards, you’ll also get free chips & guacamole.
Does El Pollo Loco Have Delivery?
El Pollo Loco offers delivery via the Loco Rewards app or through DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub, and Postmates.
Frequently Asked El Pollo Loco Questions
People often have specific questions about El Pollo Loco. Here are the answers to some of the most common questions people ask.
Why is it called El Pollo Loco?
El Polo Loco means “The Crazy Chicken” in Spanish which makes sense since they’re known for their citrus-marinated, fire-grilled chicken meals.
Do El Pollo Loco rewards expire?
Yes, El Poco Loco rewards expire. You can check your account to view your current rewards and their expiration dates.
Does El Pollo Loco have a senior discount?
El Pollo Loco has a 10% senior discount available to customers aged 60 years or older. The maximum senior discount is limited to $1, so if your order is more than $10, you’ll only save $1.
Is El Pollo Loco only in California?
El Pollo Loco operates 487 restaurants in Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, and Louisiana.
Does Pollo Loco have a secret menu?
Yes, El Pollo Loco has a secret menu featuring the Smokey Mountain Black Bean Burrito, Fish Tacos, Skinless Chicken, Chicken Tortilla Soup without the tortilla, and any menu item can be made ‘carb-free. Carb-free means hold the tortilla.
What is the healthiest thing to eat at El Pollo Loco
The healthiest thing to eat at El Pollo Loco is the Chicken Black Bean Bowl. It’s made with black beans, rice, broccoli, avocado, salsa sauces, and fire-grilled chicken. It has 450 calories, which you can reduce even further by asking them to hold the chicken.