El Pollo Loco, a fire-grilled chicken franchise brand with more than 500 locations across 10 states, announced on September 29, 2026, three franchise development agreements targeting the New York market. The deals commit to 15 new restaurants over five years. A first corporate-operated location is scheduled to open in Queens in mid-2027, marking the brand’s first restaurant in the Northeast after more than four decades of operating exclusively in western and southwestern states.
Founded in 1975 and operating as a franchise system since the 1980s, El Pollo Loco has built its network of more than 500 locations across California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, and a handful of other western and southwestern states. The brand combines company-owned and franchised units, with a concept centered on fire-grilled chicken and Mexican-inspired menu items.
The company reported positive comparable sales for three consecutive quarters heading into the New York announcement, a trajectory management cited as the operational foundation for its eastward expansion strategy.
Three Development Agreements, Sixteen Units Committed to the New York Market
The first New York location, a corporate-operated restaurant, is scheduled to open in Queens in mid-2027. Three franchise development agreements signed with undisclosed partners commit to 15 additional units across the New York market over a five-year period. Together, the company-operated unit and the franchised locations represent an initial commitment of 16 New York restaurants.
According to Chain Store Age, the company described the agreements as part of a disciplined growth strategy informed by its recent same-store sales trajectory. The franchise development agreements cover the five boroughs and surrounding metro area, though specific territory breakdowns were not disclosed in the announcement.
Two Senior Hires Signal a Fully Resourced East Coast Strategy
To support the New York push, El Pollo Loco announced two senior leadership appointments. Damon Thomas joins as Chief Operating Officer, bringing experience from Shake Shack, where he served as a senior vice president with direct exposure to high-density urban operations including New York City.
Tara Hinkle takes the Chief Development Officer role, joining from The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, where she oversaw franchise development activity. The two hires, made alongside the development agreement announcement, position the brand to build the infrastructure needed for sustained growth outside its established western footprint.
Why New York Matters for a Western Brand’s National Ambitions
New York City is the largest restaurant market in the United States by revenue, and entry into the market has historically served as a credibility signal for franchise brands seeking multi-unit operators in other eastern regions. El Pollo Loco has operated in 10 states, all west of the Mississippi, for its entire history. The eastward move comes as the brand’s comparable sales data provides what management describes as proof of operational stability.
Brands that have made comparable geographic transitions in recent years, including Raising Cane’s in its New York and northeast expansion, have generally done so after achieving consistent unit economics in core markets. El Pollo Loco’s three consecutive positive SSS quarters appear to be the metric that anchored the timing of this announcement.
Good to know
El Pollo Loco operates a mixed model of company-owned and franchised restaurants. Prospective franchisees in the New York market would be subject to the brand’s Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), which includes territory definitions, investment ranges, and financial performance representations applicable to the specific market.
A Five-Year Development Plan and the Road to 2031
The three franchise development agreements signed in September 2026 commit the brand’s New York partners to opening 15 units over five years, a timeline that extends to approximately 2031. The first company-operated Queens restaurant will function as a proving ground for the concept in the New York environment before the franchised locations roll out. Industry observers note that entry into New York often shapes how a brand is perceived by multi-unit operators in other eastern markets.
Strong performance in a New York opening tends to attract development inquiries from franchise candidates in the Mid-Atlantic, New England, and Southeast regions, where fast-casual chicken concepts have seen sustained consumer interest. The five-year development plan will be tracked against the franchise agreement benchmarks, which typically include minimum opening schedules and performance thresholds.
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