El Pollo Loco vs Taco Cabana: Menu Prices Compared (2026)
The short answer
Taco Cabana is the cheaper of the two. Of the 5 directly comparable items we could match across both menus, Taco Cabana is cheaper on 5 of them, by an average of $0.56 per item.
Make El Pollo Loco and Taco Cabana at Home
Whichever of the two wins on price, cooking the favorites at home beats both. These are the sauces, mixes and kitchen tools that get closest to the real thing.
Deals Worth Knowing at Both
El Pollo Loco
- Family meals are the cheapest way to eat here — the 8-piece meal works out to under $9 a person for four.
- Loco Rewards members get a free two-piece or bowl on sign-up and regular points toward free chicken.
- Tuesday specials at many locations discount tacos and family meals.
Taco Cabana
- A bean and cheese burrito at about $3.49 or a breakfast taco at $2.99 is a full snack for under $4, any time of day.
- Two chicken fajita tacos ($7.98) cost $6 less than the chicken fajita plate — order the plate only if you want the rice and beans.
- The 64 oz margarita party pack at about $22.99 holds about five regular frozen margaritas ($29.95).
El Pollo Loco vs Taco Cabana — FAQ
Is El Pollo Loco cheaper than Taco Cabana in 2026?
Taco Cabana is cheaper on most matched items — 5 of 5. Across the whole menu Taco Cabana is the lower-priced of the two, at $5.99 for a typical item against $8.49 at El Pollo Loco.
What is the price difference between El Pollo Loco and Taco Cabana?
On matched items the average difference is $0.56, or about 47% overall. El Pollo Loco averages $12.40 across 24 priced items; Taco Cabana averages $6.57 across 43.
Which has the cheaper entry price, El Pollo Loco or Taco Cabana?
El Pollo Loco starts at $2.99 (Corn Cobbette) and Taco Cabana at $2.49 (Crispy Beef Taco).
Are these prices the same at every location?
No. Both chains let franchise owners set prices, so figures move by a dollar or more between markets and run highest at airport, stadium and highway locations. Treat these as the typical U.S. price, not a quote.