After being a rumored opening for years, El Pollo Loco is officially coming to Lubbock in the new year. Here’s what you should know before this new restaurant comes to town.
What is El Pollo Loco?
El Pollo Loco is a California-based restaurant franchise that specializes in chicken marinated in citrus and grilled over an open flame. The company got its start in Mexico in 1974, when the founder Pancho Ochoa took his family’s chicken recipe and turned it into a restaurant. The first U.S. restaurant opened in 1980 in Los Angeles and is still operating, according to elpolloloco.com.
Palmetto Assets, LLC. will be the Lubbock franchisees. The family-owned company also operates several Wienerschnitzel locations in Lubbock.
“El Pollo Loco is a much healthier version of the traditional quick service chicken,” said Katie Hughes Mallory, vice president of Palmetto Assets, LLC. “It is a traditional quick service restaurant, but with a really high quality of fresh food. I would say food quality-wise, it is definitely on par with more of a fast-casual or sit down restaurant. You’re able to get it at a really fast speed and a nice price point.”
Where will El Pollo Loco open?
The first El Pollo Loco location for Lubbock will open at the former Wienerschnitzel at 7102 Quaker Ave. It will have dine-in and drive-thru available, and add third-party delivery services soon after opening.
“We’re really excited about the growth in the market and about transforming that building,” Hughes Mallory said.
Palmetto Assets, LLC., is looking for a second location and hopes to expand further over the next 3-5 years.
When will El Pollo Loco open in Lubbock?
The first location is expected to open in the spring of 2026. It is expected to create 60 jobs. The second location will likely add between 40-50 jobs.
“We’re super excited about growing our base of employees here in Lubbock,” Hughes Mallory said.
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What is on the El Pollo Loco menu?
El Pollo Loco’s menu is full of Mexican-inspired chicken dishes, including.
Hughes Mallory’s go-to lunch order is the El Pollo Bowl, and her dinner order is the chicken on the bone.
“It seems like it’s home-cooked, but especially in today’s busy world, we don’t always have the time to make a home-cooked meal,” Hughes Mallory said. “It’s nice to have a quick, healthy alternative to that.”
All of El Pollo Loco’s sauces and dressings are made in-house daily. The Creamy Cilantro Dressing is one of the most popular items on the menu.
“I would say it is my ultimate favorite item on the menu,” Hughes Mallory said. “It’s just such a good product that I love to add it to basically everything.”
People can follow El Pollo Loco on elpolloloco.com, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok for updates and applications.
Alana Edgin writes about business for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Got a news tip? Contact her via email at aedgin@lubbockonline.com.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: El Pollo Loco Lubbock to open in 2026, here’s what makes it different
Reporting by Alana Edgin, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal / Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
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