Opening hours
Closed · opens 11:00 AM
| Monday | 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
| Thursday | Closed |
| Friday | 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
| Saturday | 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
| Sunday | 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
Local time in Pasadena: 12:23 AM (PST). Holiday hours may differ – call (626) 794-3033 to confirm.
Location & directions
731 N Lake AvePasadena, CA 91104
About El Pollo Unico
Looking for a Mexican restaurant in Pasadena? El Pollo Unico is at 731 N Lake Ave, Pasadena, California. It is one of 434 places to eat and drink we list in Pasadena. Expect affordable prices, around $10–20 per person.
El Pollo Unico is open 6 days a week, usually 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM (closed Thursday).
El Pollo Unico's menu features 10 dishes and drinks across 5 sections, including Dinner Special, Chicken Only, Lunch Special, Combinations, and Party Trays. Listed prices range from $9.00 to $148.00, with a typical item around $40.00. You will find options like Dinner special, 24 Piece Chicken Only, and Lunch special (breast & wing).
Service options include delivery, takeaway, and dine-in. Visitors describe the atmosphere as casual, and it is a good fit for groups and tourists. It is especially popular for lunch, dinner, and solo dining. Offerings include comfort food, healthy options, quick bite, and small plates.
Accessibility features: wheelchair-accessible car park, wheelchair-accessible entrance, wheelchair-accessible seating, and wheelchair-accessible toilet. Payment methods accepted: credit cards, debit cards, and NFC mobile payments. Parking: free of charge street parking and free parking lot. Reservations are accepted; call (626) 794-3033 to book a table.
Quick facts
- Category
- Mexican Restaurant
- Address
- 731 N Lake Ave, Pasadena, CA 91104
- Phone
- (626) 794-3033
- Price range
- $10–20 per person
- Hours
- Open 6 days a week, usually 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM (closed Thursday)
- Menu
- 10 items · $9.00–$148.00
- Listing updated
- · Suggest an edit
Popular times
Usually busiest around 7 PM on Fridays; one of the quieter times is around 3 PM on weekdays.
Based on typical visit patterns for Mexican restaurants and this venue’s opening hours.
How the hours compare
We compared El Pollo Unico’s weekday schedule with 29 other Mexican restaurants in Pasadena. On a typical weekday it opens at 11:00 AM, later than most (the typical opening time is 10:30 AM) and closes at 8:00 PM, earlier than most (typical closing time: 10:00 PM).
In total it is open about 54 hours a week, 27 hours fewer than the local median of 81. 90% of Mexican restaurants in Pasadena open on Sundays, and El Pollo Unico is one of them.
Compared with 29 other Mexican restaurants in Pasadena that list their hours in our guide.
Typical prices for Mexican restaurants in California
Based on 595 menus with 44,447 priced items from Mexican restaurants in California, the median menu item costs $12.50, and half of all items are priced between $6.49 and $17.00.
At El Pollo Unico the median listed price is $40.00, higher than the typical $12.50 for Mexican restaurants in California.
| Item | On menus | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| Guacamole | 37% | $5.99 |
| Huevos Rancheros | 34% | $14.50 |
| Chile Relleno | 33% | $9.72 |
| Quesadilla | 32% | $11.46 |
| Carne Asada | 30% | $18.97 |
| Menudo | 30% | $15.95 |
| Nachos | 29% | $12.07 |
| Burrito | 26% | $12.00 |
Calculated from 595 menus in our guide. Prices vary by location and change over time.
Photos
All photos (5)
Features & amenities
Service options
- Delivery
- Takeaway
- Dine-in
Highlights
- Fast service
Popular for
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Solo dining
Accessibility
- Wheelchair-accessible car park
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Wheelchair-accessible seating
- Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Offerings
- Comfort food
- Healthy options
- Quick bite
- Small plates
Dining options
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Table service
Amenities
- Toilet
Atmosphere
- Casual
Crowd
- Groups
- Tourists
Planning
- Usually a wait
- Accepts reservations
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
Children
- Good for kids
Parking
- Free of charge street parking
- Free parking lot
The neighborhood
Within a 10-minute walk (half a mile) of El Pollo Unico there are 11 other places to eat and drink in our guide, and 92 within one mile. By type, the places within a mile include Cafes & Coffee (18), Burgers & Fast Food (10), Mexican & Tex-Mex (8), and Japanese & Sushi (7).
Competition is strong: 8 other Mexican restaurants are within a mile and 30 within three miles. The closest is Vero's Restaurant, < 0.1 mi away.
26 places within a mile stay open until 10 PM or later on at least one night a week.
Nearest places of other kinds
- Cafes & CoffeeStarbucks< 0.1 mi
- PizzaLittle Caesars< 0.1 mi
- Burgers & Fast FoodMcDonald's< 0.1 mi
- Chicken & WingsChick-fil-A< 0.1 mi
- AmericanThe Reyn0.1 mi
What to expect at a Mexican restaurant
Mexican food is one of the most widely loved cuisines in the US, and it ranges from the taqueria with a handful of tables and a salsa bar to sit-down restaurants focused on a single region such as Oaxaca, Jalisco, Puebla or the Yucatán. Tex-Mex – with its combination plates, yellow cheese, fajitas and chili con carne – is its own distinct tradition born in Texas.
What to order
- Tacos al pastor or carne asada – the taqueria benchmark, usually on small corn tortillas
- Enchiladas or a mole dish – a good way to taste the kitchen’s sauces
- Burrito – a meal in itself, especially in California-style shops
- Tamales – often made in batches and sold out early
Good to know
- Chips and salsa are free at many sit-down restaurants but not at most taquerias.
- Weekend specials such as menudo, pozole or birria often sell out before evening.
- Ask how spicy a salsa is – heat levels vary hugely from one kitchen to the next.
Reviews
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Frequently asked questions
What are El Pollo Unico's opening hours?
Open 6 days a week, usually 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM (closed Thursday). Monday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM; Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM; Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM; Thursday: Closed; Friday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM; Saturday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM; Sunday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM.
Is El Pollo Unico open on Sunday?
Yes, El Pollo Unico is open on Sundays: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM.
Where is El Pollo Unico located?
El Pollo Unico is located at 731 N Lake Ave, Pasadena, CA 91104.
What is the phone number of El Pollo Unico?
You can call El Pollo Unico at (626) 794-3033.
Does El Pollo Unico offer delivery or takeout?
Yes, El Pollo Unico offers delivery, and takeout is available. Listed service options: delivery, takeaway, and dine-in.
How much does it cost to eat at El Pollo Unico?
The typical price range at El Pollo Unico is $10–20 per person. Menu prices range from $9.00 to $148.00.
Does El Pollo Unico take reservations?
Yes, El Pollo Unico accepts reservations.
Is El Pollo Unico wheelchair accessible?
Listed accessibility features: wheelchair-accessible car park, wheelchair-accessible entrance, wheelchair-accessible seating, and wheelchair-accessible toilet.
Is El Pollo Unico open late?
No, El Pollo Unico usually closes before 10 PM.
What else is near El Pollo Unico?
There are 92 other places to eat and drink within a mile of El Pollo Unico. Nearby options include Starbucks (< 0.1 mi), Little Caesars (< 0.1 mi), and McDonald's (< 0.1 mi).
Are there other Mexican restaurants near El Pollo Unico?
8 other Mexican restaurants within a mile. The closest is Vero's Restaurant, < 0.1 mi away.
How much do Mexican restaurants in California cost?
Based on 595 menus with 44,447 priced items from Mexican restaurants in California, the median menu item costs $12.50, and half of all items are priced between $6.49 and $17.00.
