El Pollo Loco

LOCO · EST. 1980 · Costa Mesa, California

+ CompareFDD notes
US UNITS423+3.9% YOY
GLOBAL UNITS490
AUV (US)$1.7M
INVESTMENT RANGE$475K–$2M
FRANCHISED %90%

01The Read

Mexican-style grilled chicken chain with citrus-marinated chicken

FIG 1 — US UNIT COUNT, 2019–2025

SOURCE: QSR PRO ESTIMATES

02Our Coverage

El Pollo Loco Beats Q4 Estimates, Outlines 18-20 New Openings and 65-75 Remodels for 2026Mar 24, 2026The 2026 Chicken Sandwich Wars: Why Every Major QSR Chain Is Doubling Down on PoultryMar 24, 2026El Pollo Loco's Breakout Moment: How a Regional Chicken Chain Is Finally Expanding Beyond CaliforniaMar 20, 2026California's $20 Fast Food Wage: Two Years of Data, Zero Simple AnswersMar 19, 2026The Minimum Wage Patchwork: How QSR Operators Navigate 50 Different State Laws and What California's $20 Floor ChangedMar 18, 2026
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