Latest news with #ElPolloLoco
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
El Pollo Loco opening new restaurants in multiple western states. Here's where.
Foodies wanting to grab a Pollo Bowl, tacos, or other menu items from El Pollo Loco will soon have new restaurants in six states, including Colorado and Texas. The Mexican-style restaurant is based in California but plans to open at least 10 restaurants in 2025 in other states, an El Pollo Loco spokesperson confirmed on May 30. That includes the company's 500th restaurant, which is set for Colorado Springs, Colorado. According to the company, it's the largest system-wide expansion since 2022. According to the spokesperson, the new additions will be constructed based on the company's new store design, which was unveiled in October 2024 as El Pollo Loco neared its 50th anniversary. New restaurants will feature updated branding elements, upgraded furniture and lighting, energy-efficient hoods and HVAC. So far in 2025, El Pollo Loco has opened two new locations, both of them in California: one in Los Banos and another in Lompoc. However, the company spokesperson said most future locations opening in 2025 are set for markets outside of California, including Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Texas, and Washington. The spokesperson said the company plans to open new locations in 2026 as well, including some in nontraditional locations like airports and university campuses. Customers can expect to see locations open in 2026 or later in states like California, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and more. El Pollo Loco serves chicken that's marinated using citrus and spices, then fire-grilled over a low flame for 60 minutes, as well as hand-smashed guacamole, salsa fresca and avocado salsa using real tomatoes, cilantro, and onion, according to its website. Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: El Pollo Loco opening locations in six states this year. Here's where.
USA Today
09-06-2025
- Business
- USA Today
El Pollo Loco opening new restaurants in multiple western states. Here's where.
El Pollo Loco opening new restaurants in multiple western states. Here's where. Foodies wanting to grab a Pollo Bowl, tacos, or other menu items from El Pollo Loco will soon have new restaurants in six states, including Colorado and Texas. The Mexican-style restaurant is based in California but plans to open at least 10 restaurants in 2025 in other states, an El Pollo Loco spokesperson confirmed on May 30. That includes the company's 500th restaurant, which is set for Colorado Springs, Colorado. According to the company, it's the largest system-wide expansion since 2022. According to the spokesperson, the new additions will be constructed based on the company's new store design, which was unveiled in October 2024 as El Pollo Loco neared its 50th anniversary. New restaurants will feature updated branding elements, upgraded furniture and lighting, energy-efficient hoods and HVAC. Where is El Pollo Loco opening new locations in 2025? So far in 2025, El Pollo Loco has opened two new locations, both of them in California: one in Los Banos and another in Lompoc. However, the company spokesperson said most future locations opening in 2025 are set for markets outside of California, including Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Texas, and Washington. Where is El Pollo Loco opening restaurants in 2026 and beyond? The spokesperson said the company plans to open new locations in 2026 as well, including some in nontraditional locations like airports and university campuses. Customers can expect to see locations open in 2026 or later in states like California, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and more. El Pollo Loco serves chicken that's marinated using citrus and spices, then fire-grilled over a low flame for 60 minutes, as well as hand-smashed guacamole, salsa fresca and avocado salsa using real tomatoes, cilantro, and onion, according to its website. Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Explore how 6 restaurant chains are expanding Boise's dining landscape
Stories by Idaho Statesman journalists, with AI summarization Boise's dining scene is evolving as well-known restaurant chains expand into the area. Capriotti's Sandwich Shop has debuted in Star, introducing locals to its award-winning turkey sub, The Bobbie, and plans more locations. El Pollo Loco is set to open restaurants in Meridian and Nampa, aiming to appeal especially to California transplants craving their citrus-marinated, fire-grilled chicken. Pizza fans can look forward to Slice House by Tony Gemignani, which promises chef-driven, top-tier pies in Meridian. Meanwhile, chains like Raising Cane's and Habit Burger Grill are making moves, while others, such as Big Chicken, remain delayed. Capriotti's new Star location will offer a taste of Thanksgiving year-round with its signature sandwich, The Bobbie. | Published March 20, 2025 | Read Full Story by Ashley Fredde The hot brand opened 118 new restaurants last year. | Published April 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Michael Deeds It also won best fast-food side in the same USA Today readers' poll. | Published February 5, 2025 | Read Full Story by Michael Deeds Boise's transformation into California restaurant-chain paradise shows no sign of slowing. | Published May 30, 2025 | Read Full Story by Michael Deeds With In-N-Out now in Idaho, anything feels possible. (There's a poll with this column.) | Published April 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Michael Deeds There were 'BIG things on the horizon' for Idaho. But no restaurants have materialized. What's up? | Published May 8, 2025 | Read Full Story by Michael Deeds The brand from 13-time world pizza champion Tony Gemignani is seeing 'rapid growth.' | Published April 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Michael Deeds The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
In ‘great news' for Californians, chain plans two restaurants in Boise area
Boise's transformation into California restaurant-chain paradise shows no sign of slowing. With In-N-Out Burger fully entrenched in the area, and Wienerschnitzel having arrived, another Golden State brand is on the way. El Pollo Loco, which recently submitted a pre-application request with the city of Meridian to open a 2,000-square-foot restaurant at 3471 W. Chinden Blvd. (near the intersection with Ten Mile Road), now has plans for Nampa, too. The Mexican-style brand has leased 'over half an acre of land at Northside Boulevard and Nampa-Caldwell Boulevard,' according to a press release from Summit Commercial Real Estate Group. The address is 95 2nd St. South. Known for its 'famous citrus-marinated, fire-grilled chicken,' El Pollo Loco's Idaho moves are exciting transplants from California. When a Boise radio station posted about the Nampa lease on Facebook, enthusiastic online responses followed. In a comment that received 27 reactions, one person declared, 'I'm from California and this is great news!' 'Don't toy with me!!!' another commenter wrote. 'Their avocado salsa is insane!!! So good!!!' A 'SoCal staple,' as the chain refers to itself, El Pollo Loco was founded in 1974 — in Mexico. It now has more than 495 locations in seven states: California, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Texas, Utah and Louisiana, according to a press release. If you've eaten at Fiesta Chicken — a similar local concept in Boise — you already have a grasp of El Pollo Loco's bird-focused menu. The chain serves delicious, if not addictive, chicken — in tacos, burritos, tostadas, salads, bowls and meals. A real-estate listing indicates the Nampa restaurant is 'opening soon,' but a publicist for El Pollo Loco did not immediately respond with information about a target date. In April, Tim Welsh, El Pollo Loco's chief development officer, provided a prepared statement about the Meridian store. 'We've been working with a franchise partner to bring El Pollo Loco's signature, fire-grilled chicken to the Boise area,' he said. 'We're excited to have identified a location and are optimistic we will have our entitlements approved in the coming months. While we don't yet have an opening date for this restaurant, we look forward to being part of the Meridian community in the near future.'
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Why El Pollo Loco's rebrand invites diners to ‘Get Loco'
This story was originally published on Marketing Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Marketing Dive newsletter. El Pollo Loco this month launched a rebrand and accompanying campaign as the fast-casual grilled chicken chain continues its ongoing three-year strategy around strengthening its identity, keeping pace with culture and increasing awareness. But even as the company faces a challenging consumer environment, CMO Jill Adams said that its efforts are a brand turnaround — not a business one. 'Our business is incredibly healthy,' the executive said. "We've been in business for 50 years. How do we think about the next 50 years and the legacy we want El Pollo Loco to leave as we go into that journey?' To help build that legacy, El Pollo Loco evaluated its brand and found an opportunity to communicate more authentically about the brand's value proposition as it looks to engage consumers and find new ones while growing its footprint. Core to the brand refresh, which launched on May 15, is a new tagline, 'Let's Get Loco,' a double entendre that serves as both a call to action ('What should we have for dinner? Let's get Loco') and a play on the Spanish word for crazy. In this case, the chain wants to engage with consumers around the passions for which they 'go loco' — a message it shared in a brand manifesto video. 'It's a new tagline, but it's so much more than a tagline. It's really about celebrating the passion of others,' Adams said. 'We wanted to ensure this campaign could work very hard in terms of driving awareness and consideration, but then as people get to know the brand, there's a deeper meaning to it.' Along with the new tagline, the refresh includes updated consumer touchpoints across digital and in-store that feature new color schemes, fonts and layouts that Adams described as 'more evolution, not revolution.' New creative agency of record Innocean USA worked on the refresh and accompanying campaign. 'Our hope is to grow the business and build the brand fandom they deserve with smart, strategic work. That means offer-driven ads that stand apart and establish a unique brand voice, complemented by bold, word-of-mouth moments that get talked about and drive engagement across all platforms,' said Jason Sperling, the agency's chief creative officer, in emailed comments. On the heels of the revamp, El Pollo Loco will run two food-focused ads across TV, digital and social with paid media support. A buoyant 15-second spot pitches the chain's new salads and wraps as juicy, creamy, tangy and 'greeny,' while a separate ad takes on 'counterfeit chicken.' Beyond marketing, El Pollo Loco unveiled a new remodel and prototype for its physical locations, and has been working for the last two years on an enhanced loyalty program for its digital properties. 'This [rebrand] will feel like this natural progression of who we've always been, because of those building blocks we've laid across other pieces of the business,' Adams said. El Pollo Loco's brand refresh and growth plans come at a time of continued economic uncertainty and consumer hesitance. The chain, and its competitors in the fast-casual sector and beyond, have also faced labor and supply chain issues. During such periods, El Pollo Loco will look to meet consumers as they seek dependable, reliable comfort without sacrificing quality. 'When there is ever economic uncertainty, we still want to have those moments of affordable luxury, or a moment of escape, maybe from the everyday grind,' Adams said. 'That's the role that restaurants play, so we're really positioned so well.' Recommended Reading Why California Pizza Kitchen faked a midlife crisis with a rebrand stunt
