El Pollo Loco Expands In Southwest Riverside County

FRENCH VALLEY, CA — The fast-food restaurant El Pollo Loco announced last fall that it was eyeing "significant expansion" in 2025. Though it's still early in the year, the eatery is already celebrating a new location in Southwest Riverside County.

The latest local store opening takes place at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 8, at 35926 Winchester Road in French Valley. In celebratory fashion, the restaurant will host a 10:30 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony, music from KOLA radio between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., and a prize wheel with giveaways. Additionally, the first 100 in-store customers who stop by will win "Free Chicken for a Year" (a free 2-piece leg-and-thigh meal per month for a year).

The new store opening marks the eighth El Pollo Loco location in Southwest Riverside County.

On Oct. 29, the Costa Mesa-headquartered national chain announced it planned to open its 500th location by the end of 2024 and would continue expansion in 2025.

"The brand is also eyeing previously untapped markets such as Boise, El Paso, Kansas City, and Seattle-Tacoma for growth in 2025," according to the company announcement. "Stay tuned for more exciting developments from El Pollo Loco as it looks to expand its presence nationally."

The El Pollo Loco brand is celebrating 50 years in 2025. To commemorate the longevity, the company announced a new restaurant design featuring an updated color palette, store footprint and use of materials.

The latest design follows the 2024 hire of Tim Welsh as El Pollo Loco's chief development officer. Welsh, a registered architect, joined El Pollo Loco with over 25 years of experience in restaurant and retail design.

"Throughout his career, Welsh has led growth strategies, franchise sales, prototype development, remodel programs, and facilities maintenance," according to the company.

When El Pollo Loco CEO Liz Williams announced the company's third-quarter earnings on Oct. 31, she said the eatery is poised to become "the national fire-grilled chicken brand."

"As we look ahead," she said, "we are pleased with what we have accomplished thus far to develop a strong foundation, and we are well positioned to ignite further growth in 2025 and beyond."