Chicken Shops near Aliso Viejo, CA

“10 out of 10 completely. if you're looking for that chicken that just falls into pieces as you take a bite this is a spot to go to it is amazing and tender“

“What yummy delicious juicy chicken!“

“Food is always good and yummy. Love their sweet tea and kids meals are the best.“

“This location runs like a machine. The drive-thru looks chaotic at first glance, but they’ve got people outside taking orders, moving lines, and keeping everything efficient. You’ll think it’s a 20-minute wait and be out in five.

Food is exactly what you expect. Clean, consistent, and done right. Chicken sandwich is always solid, waffle fries hit, and the sauces carry more weight than people give them credit for.

As someone who works locally, I pay attention to operations, and this place is a case study. Clients ask me about places like this when they’re evaluating areas to live because it reflects how well-run a neighborhood is. Sounds small, but it matters.

Staff is polite, quick, and actually seems trained. That alone separates it from half the places out there.

You don’t go here for surprises. You go because it works every time.“

“This is literally the best fried chicken I have ever had, AND the BEST experience that I’ve ever had any establishment or anything ever. Highly recommend coming here. This is THE BEST food and the BEST SERVICE and the BEST EXPERIENCE you’ll ever get around here.“

“Outstanding experience at Dave’s Hot Chicken. Logan delivered top tier service the moment I walked in. He greeted me right away and asked what I was in the mood for. He listened, then guided me to the exact combo that fit what I wanted today. No upsell. Just good advice.

The restaurant felt clean and organized. The music was on point and created a relaxed, upbeat atmosphere. Service was fast and smooth, exactly what you want from a quick service spot.

Logan set the tone for the entire visit. Great food, great energy, great execution. I will be back.“

“I usually don’t like writing reviews, but Austin at the Dave’s Hot Chicken drive-thru in Irvine really inspired me to write one. He was honestly one of the friendliest employees I’ve ever interacted with. His enthusiasm and kindness made the whole experience feel really positive. It’s rare to have someone be that genuinely nice and energetic, especially in a quick drive-thru interaction. Austin definitely deserves recognition for making my day better.“

“I know this is very late, but I still wanted to give a shout-out to Moe at Dizzy Bird.

I stopped by on Christmas Eve with my family and placed a big order. After I paid, I realized I forgot to order fries. Moe immediately took care of me and didn’t even want me to wait or go back in line to make another payment. He just grabbed them for me right away and got me taken care of.

He was genuinely kind and didn’t make it a hassle at all. I really wanted management to know how awesome and genuine he was. Also, every time I come here, the team behind the counter is always super friendly, kind, and welcoming. This isn’t my first time here, and the service is consistently great. Definitely one of my go-to spots.“

“As others have said, tastes great, but the value isn’t there with the tiny portions. Owners, Please take a look at your portions and cogs. At the current price point, I don’t understand why a healthy serving isn’t possible. Even the soup is only half the container… come on.“

“Randomly stopped here on my way to visit my family. Tried the wrap, it's a great portion, and it was so tasty for $7. The chicken tender in it was so crispy and there was actual meat not just breading. I didn't find the white meat dry at all. Tried the mash potatoes as a side and it was good. I will def come back here when I'm in town.“

“Great food. Super nice staff. Thank you. When they say it’s spicy believe them. Dare is almost unbearable. I wouldn’t dare try the double dare. Soooo good.“

“Great service and very clean“

“My meal was very good. I ordered Nashville Hot chicken sandwich, with side of Mac and cheese. The mac and cheese was very average, but satisfying. The sandwich was wonderful. Very crunchy, well seasoned, good sauce, pickles, fresh lettuce, delicious bun. The man who gave me my order was very kind and gave me a sample.
I definitely recommend to anyone who likes chicken sandwiches.“

“Stopped by Yup Dduk in Irvine and it was definitely a solid spot. We got the Yup Dduk Tteokbokki, Yup Dduk Chicken Stew, Tuna Mayo Rice, and a Potato Cheese Corndog. The tteokbokki and chicken stew were the real standouts — full of flavor, good heat, and just the right kick to keep things interesting. The tuna mayo rice and corndog were solid sides that paired well without stealing the show. The spot itself is casual and unassuming, and the food definitely delivers. If you’re into Korean street-style dishes with bold spice and flavors that actually hit, this place is worth carving out time for.“

“Love this place there food is so clean and tasty. Best chicken spot I have been to. I have been to almost all of them from Dave’s to hotties to Breds. But this one by far is the tastiest and most juicy. If you like your chicken juicy and crispy this is the place to try. Try them out asap if you havnt yet.“

“Great food! Friendly staff! And CLEAN!!!!“

“I ordered the chicken leg meat with dipping sauces and broth. Honestly, the chicken was great on its own. I didn't care for any of the sauces. The rice was a bit salty but still good.

The setup felt a little odd. There was a loud speaker on loop reminding Uber and DoorDash drivers to pick up orders in the back. It was super annoying. I really think they would benefit from having a host instead of relying on that speaker.

That said, the place itself was cool, and I liked that you can order from several different shops all through the same kiosk.“

“This is from a month ago. But I had a great experience at Chick-fil-A because of Danny. From the moment I arrived, he was friendly, respectful, and made me feel welcome right away. He was outside in the drive-thru. Even with everything happening, he stayed calm, professional, and efficient. He took my order quickly, got everything right, and kept the line moving smoothly. I was surprised from a kid that young working so well. I will for sure be coming back again.“

“This is the first place I have found in Orange County that makes a hot chicken that is legitimately too hot to handle. And I say that as I sweat through the next 3 tenders. It's fantastic but I'll actually order something a little milder next time. Get Clucked means business.“

“The best food great Service clean restaurant always fast“

“My hangout, healthy choices and some items under $5 while earning points ���“

“Great fried chicken. Made straight after we ordered so it was hot, fresh and super crispy. The waffle was super light and crispy, a must buy. Small inside so better for take out, but nice enough to eat in if needed. Delicious, try the curry flavor!“

“This was probably the best large order pick-up experience I've had from a fast food place in the last couple years. Everything was correct, well packaged, and ready to go when I arrived. The staff were friendly, walking me through the order and helping carry it to my car. Great work!“

“Just an incredible experience at the drive-through. I wouldn’t leave a review unless this was special and they were so helpful kind polite. I hadn’t been to El Pollo Loco in a while so I had a lot of dumb questions and they helped me customize my order. We’re very quick and charming.

No issues with the food either I asked for creamy chipotle sauce on my classic chicken burrito. Highly recommend it.“

“I love this place. Good delicious wings, good fries and good beer. Sports on their big screens. I order on their simple website for pick-up and it is consistently good. I just eat a few wings (take the rest home) and drink a mango cart. All things considered, prices are reasonable.“

“Once the person at the register realized I hadn’t been helped everything was smooth sailing after that. (I do feel when 4 people around the counter there is no reason to not acknowledge someone with a hello.) However, what made it right. The person apologized. I really liked seeing the tables and seats being cleaned, the food being brought out. Plus, what I really liked in the middle of my honey packet and stick fingers they came by with hand wipes and mints. Then back and took my tray when I was done. Sending that person around with those gestures is chefs kiss. And the restrooms were clean and hand sanitizer was in clear sight.“

“Vegetarian options: The beans and rice combo with Pollo..churro * corn tortillas were excellent and so well priced ..Pls send me more coupons.. It's the only way I can afford to eat out..pls send coupons to me....Delicious .hot food if you are poor or wealthy.. Thanks so much..Amy

Parking: Very easy and reasonable parking even if you are physically disabled..“

“Good quality chicken . Love it“

“Clean store and tons of Asian products too“

“El Pollo Loco on Greenfield in Laguna Niguel is one of the best locations in our area. Isabel is the manager and we must say that we've had nothing but a wonderful experience with her, every time we've come here. One time, we were shorted during our drive-through order and we called her, and she immediately took care of it and then some! This evening we were back again and she was so kind to tell us all about their specials and to give us a coupon. She is so professional, courteous, and welcoming! If you want a good Apollo experience come to the Greenfield location, ask for Isabel, you won't be disappointed!!“

“Great service! We've been here before and like it a lot! We both got bowls with the purple rice and a side of the Korean street fries! The toppings in the bowl went so well with everything and is a good amount of food! Everything was so good and the rest of the menu with the kimchi burgers looks great! Will definitely be back to try everything on the menu“

“I ❤️ their boba! I traveled 30 min to go here!“

“I come here almost 3 times a week...really good“

“This specific location is the best Raising Cane's franchise I have visited. Neat, Clean, friendly staffand properly cooked and served fast food! Plenty of Indoor and outdoor seating available. Very efficient drive through process. This franchise is ready for real business!“

“Yesterday i came in For lunch Right before i started eating i notice two asian people Came in a Started changing the air conditioning filters A big no-noo specialy during bussines hours and with out covering the salsa bar or any other area I asked the manager to stop them, he came out talk to them and the continued any way Check my facebook photos and videos...“

“So everything was good. Workers we're nice. Didn't have to wait for the food very long at all. But only one thing that I have to put out there... the new Caramel Flan dessert, absolutely disgusting. I highly suggest getting the churos instead.“

“We will return. Great food and much cleaner than any other One we have been too.“

“Great 👍 n very patient servers! Always helpful.“

“The food was good, but the size of the chicken pieces keep shrinking and the price is inflating. I don’t like the kiosk ordering. When I go to a restaurant I want to be served. Also, the kiosk kept making beeping noises while I was eating. Very annoying.“

“We had to wait about 5 minutes for our food but it was worth the wait! The chicken was really good! I've been to other locations where the chicken was terrible. So much so that this was the last time I was going to try KFC. But I will be back to this location only!“

“It's the food you expect delivered well with friendly staff. It can get crowded and even the dual line drive through with staff walking outside gets backed up. It's a high traffic location with an outdoor patio, but I always get it to go at this location.“

“SEPTEMBER 25th, 2025:
When I first arrived, a kind gentleman held the door for me to let me in and he allowed me to place my order before his. THEN, gracefully I was greeted by Emma (I’m not sure if she’s the manager or front-line employee but either way I know that she is such a light, a kind soul, a wonderful spirit and a fantastic person!!

Much more than an El Pollo Loco employee, she’s an Angel in my humble opinion. She not only helped me to place my order for the NEW Queso Crunch Burrito Bowl, she gave me a discount coupon which granted me $3.49 off of my order! She said that’s “her favorite magic trick”: Being kind and offering her kindness to those who she serves and in her life. The warmth in her conversation and spark in her spirit truly brightened up my day and lifted my heart!!

I’ll spare her personal business, but I’m thankful that Jesus brought us together this day!

She even blessed me with more coupons to take with me and to use in the future. I hope nothing but kind and wonderful blessings for you, too, Emma! What a great gift!

Now as far as the bowl goes, I’d give it a 3.5 out of 5. It’s a nice chicken bowl with an added crunch from the tortilla strips and the seasoned rice adds a great flavor to it as well!

I do know that it’s a limited time item but I would order it again. The bowl may have earned 3.5 stars, but partnered with the Exceptional Customer Service I received from Emma on this day, it bumps my overall rating to a 6/5 stars!!

Thank you El Pollo Loco and Emma for this wonderful and blessed experience. I’m looking forward to stopping by again soon!!

AUGUST 15th, 2025:
I wish I took some photos of my food, but I ate it so fast because it was so good, I forgot! Haha

I drove up to this location at a little after 1pm and there was no one in line. I wish I would’ve gotten his name, but the guy who took my order and my payment was very sweet and kind. I ended up trying their Shredded Chicken Nacho combo with Salsa Fresca minus the Guac and a Hawaiian Punch.

I drove around to the window and as I waited for my food, the guy who took my order was busy taking another order, and (i believe) the manager came and asked “Is this her food?” to him to make sure I wasn’t waiting much longer. Thank you! (I should’ve gotten your name too haha) He handed me my food with a smile. He thanked me and I thanked him and the other guy for their help!

My gosh, I can only speak for myself when I say, those nachos were good!!!! The queso topped with the seasoned chicken, tortilla chips, salsa Fresca, pinto beans was just the quick stop meal I needed on this busy day. Not only was it good but it was filling too!

I’ll definitely order that one again. This is my second time at this location.“

“My favorite location! The staff are nice every time. Today I went with my 18month old, and Nathan carried my coffee to the table and got a high chair for me. I like that each high chair has a sanitizer wipe and table place mat ready to use. This is so appreciated with a toddler“

“This has became one of my go-to spots in Irvine when I’m craving popcorn chicken, and honestly it might be the best popcorn chicken in Irvine. The texture is perfect—super crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside—and the seasoning is really flavorful. It’s way better than typical fast-food fried chicken, which often has bland meat and thick batter. The batter here is light and crispy, and the chicken inside stays really juicy.
I also highly recommend the spicy chicken fillet, which is pretty unique compared to other fried chicken places nearby. The spice has great flavor and the chicken stays crispy and juicy. It’s one of those items that once you try it, you’ll want to order it again.
My coworker ordered the chicken sandwich and loved it too. She even said it was better than Chick-fil-A, which says a lot because she eats there all the time. According to her, the chicken was bigger, crispier, and tasted fresher.
Definitely one of the best fried chicken spots in Irvine.“

“Excellent service by the staff (Ben and Violet-so courteous and pleasant. Ben actually asked several guests if he could refill their drinks or get them anything.)

Super positive vibe here, food was good and the place was CLEAN“

“I ordered the spicy original and the soy garlic wings. The wings are fairly large (compared to Wingstop) so the 8 piece small is enough. Both flavors were really good with the spicy original being more like just a just a small kick than actually spicy.“

“Food was great. Staff even greater.

Worth noting... building may be due for a full repipe... as a result the women's restroom is pretty heavily rusted.

Sitting on the toilet (admittedly as a broader broad) feels like you're waiting for suntea in granny's rocker on the porch. Needs a new flange and to be remounted at the minimum.

So as to avoid having to do it again sooner, rather than later, consider the repiping.

Of note the manager seemed like this is one of his biggest stressers... trying to get his bosses to agree to the job, while trying to still assuage customers who go through the experience.“

“Logic is missing those days. Young kid cuts me off in line. Turns out he is only applying for a job. So instead going ahead with customers she ask the manager regarding job openings... Let's see how the food is... Usually eat at in and out because over there the always made fresh when ordered. In the past here felt like sandwiches keept warm. Food was good. Service some senior girl didn't listen asked for no salt. Fries 🍟 still full of salt :-( Ohh told her for here but everything packed up to go. Look at how much we wasted for a small sandwich... No wonder we are the most wasteful C in the world. Staff need better training!“

“The fried chicken is on point. Good crunch, taste, everything right. The fries could be good, but they’re always soggy when doing take away. Soggy already at pick up. I really wish you would stop using closed boxes, trapping all the moisture. Instead use the same type of boxes as for the chicken, so the fries stay crunchy as well.“

“Five stars, every single time! This Chick-fil-A is the best. The food is always amazing, fresh, and exactly what you expect (and crave). The restaurant is immaculately clean, which matters so much when visiting with kids, and the kids’ area is fantastic (spacious, fun, and always spotless)

Jeanne is incredibly kind and welcoming every time we visit. She goes out of her way to make our experience great, especially when I’m there with my kids, and that level of warmth doesn’t go unnoticed. She genuinely makes us feel cared for, not rushed or stressed.

This is hands down one of our favorite places to eat as a family. Great food, a clean and kid-friendly environment, and exceptional service… thank you, Jeanne, and thank you Chick-fil-A!“