Formerly: The best and most accurate way I can describe El Pollo Loco, both in terms of food and vibe, is that it is a thinking-man's Taco Bell. Whether or not that is an insult to Taco Bell, or the supposedly rational thinking man, is up to you to determine once you step foot in the new location of the Southwestern chain. The interior of the place is so clean it makes you wonder if they have stealth ways of sterilizing; the walls, painted in colors that aren't blinding, are bright enough to get your attention.

As far as the menu goes, you have your choice of chicken meals, which consists of various pieces of chicken as well as famous Mexican side dishes such as mac and cheese, I mean mashed potatoes, I mean...coleslaw? Alright, so maybe the side dishes aren't exactly genuine Mexican cuisine, but you can get a hefty portion of Spanish rice and pinto beans, should you be in an "ole" mode.

El Pollo Loco (Spanish for "The Crazy Chicken") also serves such standards as tacos, quesadillas and burritos, but the real standout item on the menu is the Pollo Bowl, a medley of chicken breast, pinto beans, rice, cilantro and pico de gallo (a tomato-based garnish). Like it hot? Make a pit stop at El Pollo Loco's salsa bar to spice up your order.

You will save a few bucks (meals with a drink are usually around the $5-$10 range) and maybe a little bit of your time by visiting El Pollo Loco. However, you should know that there are better places to visit in the Logan Square neighborhood if you are looking for Mexican food that takes more than five minutes to prepare (El Cid, for example).

Centerstage Reviewer: Jon Graef