El Pollo Loco has been offering contactless payments
since at least 2016, so they are certainly ahead of many other restaurants that have been slow to roll out this type of technology or even some that have failed to make the leap into the 21st century.
Apple Pay is a secure and convenient payment option that continues to gain popularity, especially with consumers and businesses wanting contactless options. Apple pay has 508 million users worldwide, which is still only 48% of their actual userbase, so they have room to grow, which they are doing each year.
Does El Pollo Loco Take Apple Pay?
El Pollo Loco accepts Apple Pay when ordering on their payment terminals, but not when you preorder through their mobile app or website. They accept and support Apple Pay at their cash registers and drive-throughs.
El Pollo Loco began accepting Apple Pay in 2015. You can preorder via their mobile app using a credit card or gift card, but you can’t use Apple Pay when you preorder before you go to pick up your meal. Taking Apple Pay is an excellent in-store option because it’s incredibly annoying to have to download a mobile app just to use contactless payment.
So Apple Pay can be used directly at the cash register, and at locations that have a drive-through, but not for preorders via their mobile app.
Now you know El Pollo Loco offers Apple Pay as a payment option, how do you use Apple Pay at El Pollo Loco?
How do you use Apple Pay at El Pollo Loco?
You have the option of using Apple Pay at El Pollo Loco. First, walk up to the register and order. The payment terminal can be tapped with your iPhone, and then you’re done. The payment terminal should have details attached to it on what digital wallets it accepts, which now includes Apple Pay.
The El Pollo Loco mobile app also has the ability to preorder and pay with their mobile app. So if your preference is not to stand in line and simply order and arrive when your food is ready, then this is a more convenient option. But remember that you can’t pay with Apple Pay this way. Many El Pollo Loco locations have a specific area to pick up your mobile app-purchased food.
You may not even want to get your smartphone out when ordering, so can you use your Apple Watch to pay at El Pollo Loco?
How to use Apple Pay on Apple Watch at El Pollo Loco
Apple Pay offers a way to pay without having to use your smartphone. First, walk up to the register and order. The payment terminal can be tapped not just with your iPhone, but also with your Apple Watch instead. Because your Apple Pay digital wallet is stored in your Apple Watch in the same way it is stored in your iPhone, your should be good to go.
You may not even want to get out of your car and keep the ordering process as contactless as possible, so does El Pollo Loco offer Apple Pay at their drive-through?
Does El Pollo Loco take Apple Pay for Drive Through?
El Pollo Loco accepts Apple Pay at their drive-through lanes, offering the convenience of ordering without ever getting out of your car. So this is the same experience as paying with Apple Pay at an El Pollo Loco register; you order, tap your phone in your car, and then receive your food.
If you like the idea of using Apply Pay, but you don’t have your phone available but need some El Pollo Loco, then you may wonder if you can just use their website to order and pay with Apple Pay.
Does El Pollo Loco take Apple Pay for App Orders?
El Pollo Loco allows you to order online from their website but does not accept Apple Pay as a payment method there. You can only use a credit card or gift card with their website. This missing payment option is a bit of a shame, but El Pollo Loco may be assuming that if you are an Apple Pay user, you will be using your phone to tap at the register.
If direct online orders from El Pollo Loco don’t use Apple Pay, you may wonder if third-party delivery services work with Apple Pay and El Pollo Loco.
Can you use Apple Pay for El Pollo Loco Orders on Delivery Services?
Ordering El Pollo Loco via a delivery service will allow you to use Apple Pay, including Ubereats, Doordash, and Postmates. All of these delivery services do deliver El Pollo Loco. Depending on your specific location, at least one should be an option for you.
El Pollo Loco offers a delivery service via its mobile app and website, but I wasn’t having luck with either. The mobile app and website both told me no delivery was available in a variety of places I checked. Because their mobile app and website are unreliable with ordering delivery, and because they don’t take Apple Pay through either, I would use a third-party delivery service instead. This is an excellent option to get a delivery system that works and to still use Apple Pay to order.
With all of those options specific to Apple Pay, you might want to know what other contactless payment methods El Pollo Loco accepts.
What other Contactless Payment does El Pollo Loco take?
El Pollo Loco accepts various contactless payment methods, including Google Pay, Samsung Pay, and other NFC-based payment options. They do not accept Apple Pay and Google Pay via their mobile app, but their in-store payment terminals will accept a variety of options. So if your favorite NFC payment method can be tapped on a standard tap-enabled payment terminal, then you will have success at El Pollo Loco.
El Pollo Loco is a very forward-thinking company, investing heavily in digital payment methods. But, unfortunately, not all restaurants or even all fast-food restaurants have the same mentality. So you may be wondering where else you can use Apple Pay.
Which Other Restaurants take Apple Pay?
Apple Pay can be used in a large number of fast-food restaurants, though not all. Looking at the options similar to El Pollo Loco, you may want to consider dining at:
- Chipotle has a similar mentality to El Pollo Loco and offers a variety of payment options, including Apple Pay, which can be used via their mobile app or in-store.
- Panera is another fast food restaurant offering Apple Pay to its customers. Like other restaurants, this can be done via the mobile app or even in-store.
- Qdoba Mexican Eats is another restaurant that wants the customer to make the choice of how they pay. They offer many options, including Apple Pay, available in-store when paying your bill or via their mobile app.
If all you want is El Pollo Loco and you only want to use Apple Pay, then let’s recap, how can you use Apple Pay at El Pollo Loco.
Can I Use Apple Pay at El Pollo Loco?
El Pollo Loco mostly supports using Apple Pay. You can pay in-store at the cash register or the drive-through by tapping on a payment terminal. If you want El Pollo Loco delivery with Apple Pay, you can use a delivery app like Ubereats, Doordash, and Postmates.
El Pollo Loco’s mobile app and the website don’t take Apple Pay. Once you know these details, I would not anticipate any issues in using Apple Pay at El Pollo Loco.
