El Pollo Loco under 500 calories: 26 orders, ranked

Of the 47 single orders we track at El Pollo Loco, 26 come in at or under 500 calories — 55%. The most protein in one item under 500 is the Street Corn Salad without Dressing, 52 g for 390 calories; the most filling by protein and fiber per calorie is the Chopped Breast Side (23 g protein, 0 g fiber, 120 cal). 9 entrées fit under 500; 17 do not.

Source: El Pollo Loco nutrition guide (official) · Data refreshed September 14, 2026

• 26 orders under 500
• 52g most protein in one item
• 57g protein in a full meal
• 17 entrées over 500

As of September 2026, 26 of the 47 El Pollo Loco single orders we track come in at or under 500 calories, and the most protein in a complete El Pollo Loco meal under 500 is 57 g (A Chicken Breast, a Chicken Tortilla Soup, and a large Coca-Cola Zero Sugar).

Three complete El Pollo Loco meals under 500 calories

Under 500, the most-protein meal is built on the Chicken Breast (200 cal), which leaves 300 calories for its sides and drink. One meal-sized entrée, up to two different sides and a drink — the MinMax app's meal and the best under the cap, drink included (water only where no published drink fits; the lightest meal takes a zero-calorie drink, or water). The lightest meal is unchanged from under 400; the others use the extra 100 calories.

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Every El Pollo Loco order under 500 calories, ranked by protein

Single orders only — no desserts, kids' meals, combos, sauces or toppings — by grams of protein, then calories. The median order under 500 is 200 calories and 9 of the 26 are entrées. Figures as El Pollo Loco published them, rounded to whole numbers (how we check them).

What 500 calories buys at El Pollo Loco

Going from 400 to 500 calories adds 4 orders: Original BRC Burrito (410), Mexican Caesar Salad without Dressing (420), Classic Chicken Burrito (480) and Chips & Guacamole (Small) (490).

What doesn't fit under 500

17 of 26 El Pollo Loco entrées are over 500 calories; the lightest of them, the Tacos al Carbón (3), misses by 10 calories at 510. With more room, see El Pollo Loco under 600. Tighter budget: El Pollo Loco under 400. Closest misses: Tacos al Carbón (3) (510), Cheese Quesadilla (530) and Original Pollo Bowl (580).

More at El Pollo Loco

• El Pollo Loco calories & nutrition (63 items listed)
• El Pollo Loco under 300 calories (17 orders)
• El Pollo Loco under 400 calories (22 orders)
• El Pollo Loco under 600 calories (30 orders)
• El Pollo Loco calorie calculator (build an order under your cap)

Under 500 calories at other chains

The same cap at 3 Mexican and other chains, or the cross-chain pillar: fast food under 500 calories.

• Taco Bell under 500
• Del Taco under 500
• Tropical Smoothie Cafe under 500