Cook

El Pollo Loco, Inc.; Orange (CA); On-site; USD 20,664,000 - 30,307,200; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance

Paid vacation

Employee Discount on Food

Flexible scheduling: Full-Time or Part

401(k) plan with matching

Job summary

El Pollo Loco, Inc. is hiring a Grill Master (Cook) to create a best-in-class guest experience by preparing grilled and hot foods to exacting standards. You will marinate, cook, and portion proteins, while maintaining quality and presentation according to EPL guidelines.

The role emphasizes food safety, clean work environments, and teamwork, with competitive pay, flexible scheduling (full-time or part-time), and strong growth potential within the company.

Qualifications

• Food Handler Certification obtainable upon hire and in line with EPL policy.
• Experience in customer service or food service is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, marinate, season, cook, stock and rotate chicken and other grilled proteins following company standards.
• Receive orders, cut cooked chicken, and arrange proteins for proper presentation.
• Monitor holding times for grilled proteins and take corrective actions when necessary.
• Maintain proper serving temperatures and inspect raw proteins for quality before marinating or grilling.
• Keep work area clean and sanitized, including all equipment and grills.
• Perform other duties as assigned by management to support restaurant operations.

Skills

Customer service

Food service

Job description

Job Description

Posted Wednesday, July 29, 2026 at 4:00 AM

At El Pollo Loco, we don’t just serve fire-grilled chicken — we serve careers that bring the heat. As a Grill Master, you’re not just cooking chicken; you’re igniting the El Pollo Loco experience. You’ll bring your passion, ideas, and energy to every order, following our flame-grilled standards to serve craveable flavors and unforgettable guest moments. Ready to ignite your flamin’ good career?

POSITION PURPOSE:

The Grill Master (Cook) creates "Best in Class" guest experience at El Pollo Loco by preparing grilled and hot food items, following precise Company standards for preparation and presentation.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Prepare, marinate, season, cook, stock and rotate chicken and other grilled proteins according to company standards.
• Receive orders, cut cooked chicken, and arrange proteins for proper presentation on the plate or in the applicable packaging apparatus.
• Monitor holding time for grilled proteins and take corrective actions when hold time expires or when product quality fails to meet company standards.
• Maintain and ensure that all cooked proteins are at proper serving temperature.
• Inspect chicken and other raw proteins for acceptable quality standards prior to marinating or grilling.
• Clean and sanitize the entire work area including all equipment, tools, storage containers, grills and hoods.
• Perform other duties as assigned by management to support restaurant operations.

QUALIFICATIONS – EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, LICENSE/CERTIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfactorily perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodation will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. The requirements listed below are representative of the education and/or experience required.

Certifications

Obtain Food Handler Certification promptly upon hire, adhering to EPL policy and state regulations.

Education/Work Experience:

Previous experience in customer service or food service is preferred but not required.

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive pay
• No overnight hours
• Employee discount on food
• Excellent career growth potential (we promote from within)
• Flexible Schedule: Full-Time or Part-Time hours
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance*
• Paid vacation*
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible spending accounts, Legal Insurance, and Pet Insurance*
• 401(K) plan with match and immediate vesting (must be at least 21 to participate)
• Discounts on theme parks, movie tickets, sports events, hotels and more...

* Eligibility for these benefits is based on the number of average hours worked per week within a 12-month period.

* Eligibility begins after completing at least 12 months of employment averaging 33 hours of work per week.

Why work for us?

When it comes to our people, our motto is: Let them cook. In fact, we see you as our secret ingredient. While our chicken is fire, it’s our people

Who set us ablaze. You’re the ones bringing the passion, ideas and energy–the flavor–whether cooking in the restaurant or working in the support center. That’s why we take pride in providing a place where you can express, develop and belong… all while enjoying a healthy balance. Here, fire-grilled chicken makes flamin’ good careers.

The pay range identified is the hourly or salary rate El Pollo Loco expects to pay for the posted position. This range does not include any benefits or bonus opportunities that might be available for the position based on position and eligibility criteria. Individual pay will vary based on a variety of factors including years of experience, industry experience, education, geography, etc.