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Built with precision for the QSR industry

The Database/MEXICAN

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
334
2019
350
2020
363
2021
375
2022
401
2023
407
2024
423
2025

SOURCE: QSR PRO ESTIMATES

02Our Coverage

5 STORIES
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
FDD Fact Sheet · 2025
FRANCHISE FEE
$40K
ROYALTY
4%
AD FUND
—
TERM
10 YRS
LIQUIDITY
$150K
NET WORTH
$700K

Segment Peers

Taco BellChipotle Mexican GrillMoe's Southwest GrillTijuana FlatsQdoba Mexican Eats
QSR Pro Advisory

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