Restaurants & Food Service · Chicken & Wings
El Pollo Loco Franchises for Sale
A quick-service restaurant built around Mexican-style fire-grilled chicken, usually a freestanding drive-thru box. A mature, West Coast-concentrated system with a large company-owned base.
Brand Performance Snapshot
Franchised and company-owned unit counts for 2023 through 2025, as reported in the franchisor's FDD.
Existing El Pollo Loco Franchises for Sale
Operating El Pollo Loco territories listed for sale by their owners or brokers, reviewed before publishing.
Existing territories come up for sale as owners retire or relocate. Tell us where you're looking and we'll email you when an El Pollo Loco resale is verified and published.
El Pollo Loco Franchise Model Overview
El Pollo Loco restaurants are quick-service outlets serving fire-grilled chicken and Mexican-inspired bowls, burritos and sides, mostly from freestanding buildings of 1,900 to 2,800 square feet with a drive-thru and 20 to 40 seats. The parent is publicly traded and operates roughly a third of the system itself, concentrated in California and Nevada, while franchised units sit mainly in California, Texas and Arizona; the average restaurant has been open more than 20 years. A ground-up build is a seven-figure project once site work, building, kitchen and required technology packages are counted, and combined royalty and advertising take 10 percent of net sales. Each owner must appoint a full-time Designated Operator who completes a 50-day training program, and every restaurant needs at least four trained managers. The system is flat at about 500 units. Transfers require a remodel to current standards, a fee, buyer approval and a right of first refusal; transfers rose to 21 in 2025.
Ideal owner profile
Investment Snapshot
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Brand information on this page — including unit counts, fees, and investment ranges — was compiled by Verified Franchise Resales from the brand's most recent Franchise Disclosure Document and has not been independently verified. Verified Franchise Resales is an independent marketplace and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by El Pollo Loco. Prospective buyers should obtain and review the current FDD, consult qualified legal and financial advisors, and confirm all terms before responding. This page is for informational purposes only and is not an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy a franchise; offers are made only through the FDD in applicable jurisdictions. Read VFR’s Terms of Use before responding to any franchise.