Archives El Pollo Loco feels the heat El Pollo Loco feels the heatIt has struggled during some economic downturns and weathered competition from fast-casual chains like Rubio’s, Chipotle and Panera Bread, The Times reported in 2011. El Pollo Loco may be just the right combination of price and differentiation from fast-food burgers at a time when consumers are looking to save. El Pollo Loco, which went public on Nasdaq in 2014, reported on Thursday that its fourth-quarter comparable restaurant sales rose more than 2% from a year earlier. Next on the menu to give new consumers an easy-to-grasp introduction to the company’s take on chicken: chicken tenders and a chicken sandwich are expected later this year. El Pollo Loco had 503 locations — the majority in California — as of the end of last year.

Source: Los Angeles Times March 14, 2026 14:58 UTC