Business Description. Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc. ("Fiesta Restaurant Group" or "Fiesta") owns, operates and franchises Pollo Tropical restaurants through its wholly-owned subsidiaries Pollo Operations, Inc., and Pollo Franchise, Inc., (collectively "Pollo Tropical"). Fiesta owned, operated and franchised Taco Cabana restaurants through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Taco Cabana, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively "Taco Cabana") through August 15, 2021. Unless the context otherwise requires, Fiesta and its subsidiaries are collectively referred to as the "Company." At January 2, 2022, the Company owned and operated 138 Pollo Tropical® restaurants located in Florida and franchised a total of 31 Pollo Tropical restaurants. The franchised Pollo Tropical restaurants include 17 in Puerto Rico, two in Panama, one in Guyana, two in Ecuador, one in the Bahamas, one in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and five on college campuses in Florida, and locations at one hospital and one sports and entertainment stadium in Florida.

Discontinued Operations. On July 1, 2021, the Company entered into a stock purchase agreement for the sale of Taco Cabana, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively "Taco Cabana"). On August 16, 2021, the Company completed the sale of Taco Cabana. The Company has classified the revenues, costs and expenses and income taxes attributable to the Taco Cabana business segment, together with certain costs related to the transaction, within income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax, on the consolidated statements of operations for all periods presented. See Note 2—Dispositions. Unless otherwise noted, amounts and disclosures throughout these notes to the consolidated financial statements relate to the Company's continuing operations.

Use of Estimates. The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP") requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements. Estimates also affect the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting periods. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include: insurance liabilities, evaluation for impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets, lease accounting matters, and deferred income tax assets. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Due to the uncertainty associated with the unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact it will have on the Company's operations and future cash flows, it is reasonably possible that the estimates of future cash flows used in impairment assessments will change in the near term and the effect of the change could be material.

Concentrations of Risk. Food and supplies are ordered from approved suppliers and are shipped to the restaurants via distributors. Performance Food Group, Inc. is the primary distributor of food and beverage products and supplies for Pollo Tropical. In the years ended January 2, 2022 and January 3, 2021, Performance Food Group, Inc. accounted for approximately 96% and 98%, respectively, of the food and supplies delivered to restaurants. The Company's limited distributor relationships could have an adverse effect on the Company's operations.

Property and Equipment. The Company capitalizes all direct costs incurred to construct and substantially improve its restaurants. These costs are depreciated and charged to expense based upon their property classification when placed in service. Property and equipment is recorded at cost. Application development stage costs for significant internally developed software

Leasehold improvements, including new buildings constructed on leased land, are depreciated over the shorter of their estimated useful lives or the underlying lease term. In circumstances where an economic penalty would be presumed by the non-exercise of one or more renewal options under the lease, the Company includes those renewal option periods when determining the lease term for depreciation purposes. For significant leasehold improvements made during the latter part of the lease term, the Company amortizes those improvements over the shorter of their useful life or an extended lease term. The extended lease term would consider the exercise of renewal options if the value of the improvements would imply that an economic penalty would be incurred without the renewal of the option. Building costs incurred for new restaurants on leased land are depreciated over the lease term, which is generally a 20-year period.

Goodwill. Goodwill represents the excess purchase price and related costs over the value assigned to the net tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired by Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc. ("Carrols"), Fiesta's former parent company, from the acquisition of Pollo Tropical in 1998. Goodwill is not amortized but is assessed for impairment at least annually as of the last day of the fiscal year or more frequently if impairment indicators exist. See Note 5—Goodwill.

Long-Lived Assets. The Company assesses the recoverability of property and equipment and definite-lived intangible assets, including right-of-use ("ROU") lease assets, by determining whether the carrying value of these assets can be recovered over their respective remaining lives through undiscounted future operating cash flows. Impairment is reviewed whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of these assets may not be fully recoverable. See Note 6—Impairment of Long-Lived Assets.

Deferred Financing Costs. Financing costs incurred and the original issue discount recognized in obtaining revolving credit facilities are capitalized and included within other assets on the consolidated balance sheets and are amortized over the life of the related credit facility as interest expense on a straight-line basis. Financing costs incurred and original issue discount recognized in obtaining long-term debt are capitalized and amortized over the term of the associated debt agreement as interest expense using the effective interest method. These financing costs and the original issue discount are presented as a reduction from the carrying amount of the related long-term debt balance on the consolidated balance sheets.

Leases. The Company assesses whether an agreement contains a lease at inception. All leases are reviewed for finance or operating classification once control is obtained. The majority of the Company's leases are operating leases. Operating leases are included within operating lease ROU assets, other current liabilities, and operating lease liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. Finance leases are included within property and equipment, net, current portion of long-term debt, and long-term debt, net of current portion, on the consolidated balance sheets.

ROU assets represent the Company's right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. The operating lease ROU asset also includes any lease payments made in advance and is reduced by lease incentives received. As most leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate at commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. Lease terms include options to extend the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. The Company assumes options are reasonably certain to be exercised when such options are required to achieve a minimum 20-year lease term for new restaurant properties and when it incurs significant leasehold improvement costs near the end of a lease term. The Company uses judgment and available data to allocate consideration in a contract when it leases land and a building. The Company also uses judgment in determining its incremental borrowing rate, which includes selecting a yield curve based on a synthetic credit rating determined using a valuation model. Lease expense for lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term unless the related ROU asset has been adjusted for an impairment charge.

The Company recorded an initial adjustment, on a consolidated basis, to the opening balance of retained earnings of $14.0 million associated with previously deferred gains on sale-leaseback transactions and impairment of operating lease right-of-use assets as of the date of adoption. This adjustment consisted of $18.6 million in deferred gains on sale-leaseback transactions, net of a related deferred tax asset of $4.3 million and $0.2 million in impairment charges, net of tax. Gains or losses (adjusted for any off-market terms) from sale-leaseback transactions are recognized immediately.

Income Taxes. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are based on the difference between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities as measured by the tax rates that are anticipated to be in effect when those differences reverse. The deferred tax provision generally represents the net change in deferred tax assets and liabilities during the period. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the results of operations in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is established when it is necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to amounts for which realization is more likely than not. The Company recognizes the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position.

Pre-opening Costs. The Company's pre-opening costs are generally incurred beginning four to six months prior to a restaurant opening and generally include restaurant employee wages and related expenses, travel expenditures, recruiting, training, promotional costs associated with the restaurant opening and rent, including any non-cash rent expense recognized during the construction period.

Insurance. The Company is insured for workers' compensation, general liability and medical insurance claims under policies where it pays all claims, subject to stop-loss limitations both for individual claims and for general liability, medical insurance and certain workers' compensation claims in the aggregate. Losses are accrued based upon estimates of the aggregate liability for claims based on the Company's experience and certain actuarial methods used to measure such estimates. The Company does not discount any of its self-insurance obligations.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date under current market conditions. In determining fair value, the accounting standards establish a three-level hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value as follows: Level 1 inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities; Level 2 inputs are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, including quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities; and Level 3 inputs are unobservable and reflect management's own assumptions. The following methods were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate the fair value:

•Term Loan Borrowings. The fair value of outstanding term loan borrowings under the Company's new senior credit facility, which is considered Level 2, is based on current LIBOR rates. The fair value of the Company's new senior credit facility was approximately $74.4 million at January 3, 2021. The carrying value of Company's new senior credit facility was $71.5 million at January 3, 2021. There were no outstanding term loan borrowings as of January 2, 2022 as the Company fully repaid the outstanding term loan borrowings on August 16, 2021.

Revenue Recognition. Revenue is recognized upon transfer of promised products or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company received in exchange for those products or services. Revenues from the Company's owned and operated restaurants are recognized when payment is tendered at the time of sale. Franchise royalty revenues are based on a percent of gross sales and are recorded as income when earned. Initial franchise fees and area development fees associated with new franchise agreements are not distinct from the continuing rights and services offered by the Company during the term of the related franchise agreements and are recognized as income over the term of the related franchise agreements. A portion of the initial franchise fee is allocated to training services and is recognized as revenue when the Company completes the training services.

Gift Cards. The Company sells gift cards to its customers in its restaurants and through select third parties. The Company recognizes revenue from gift cards upon redemption by the customer. For unredeemed gift cards that the Company expects to be entitled to breakage, the Company recognizes expected breakage as revenue in proportion to the pattern of redemption by the customers. The gift cards have no stated expiration dates. Revenues from unredeemed gift cards and gift card liabilities, which are recorded in other current liabilities, are not material to the Company's financial statements.

Loyalty Program. The Company's loyalty program for Pollo Tropical (My Pollo™) allows eligible customers who enroll in the program to earn points for every dollar spent. After accumulating a certain number of points, the customer earns a reward that can be used for future purchases at Pollo Tropical. Earned rewards expire 90 days after they are issued. Earned points that have not been converted to rewards do not currently expire.

The Company defers revenue associated with the estimated standalone selling price of points earned by customers as each point is earned, net of points the Company does not expect to be redeemed. The estimated standalone selling price of each point earned is based on the estimated value of the reward which is expected to be redeemed.

Loyalty revenue is recognized when a customer redeems an earned reward. For unredeemed rewards that the Company expects to be entitled to breakage, the Company recognizes expected breakage as revenue in proportion to the pattern of redemption of the rewards by the customers. The costs associated with rewards are recorded when they are redeemed and are included within cost of sales on the consolidated statements of operations. Deferred revenue associated with the rewards is included within other current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.

Guidance Adopted in 2021. In December 2019, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740) ("ASU No. 2019-12"), which is a part of the Simplification Initiative being undertaken by the FASB to reduce complexity of accounting standards. The amendments in this update simplify the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions, the most notable for the Company being the exception to the general methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period when the year-to-date loss exceeds the anticipated loss for the full year. The Company adopted this new accounting standard on January 4, 2021, and will apply it prospectively in each period after the date of adoption. The impact of the standard is largely dependent on interim and anticipated profit or loss in a given period, however the Company does not expect ASU No. 2019-12 to have a significant impact on its financial statements.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements. In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848) ("ASU No. 2020-04"), which provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. The amendments in this update are effective as of March 12, 2020, through December 31, 2022. As of January 2, 2022, the Company's only exposure to LIBOR rates was the undrawn $10.0 million revolving credit facility under its new senior credit facility. Upon cessation of the LIBOR, the new senior credit facility would use a benchmark replacement rate. According to ASU No. 2020-04, modifications of contracts within the scope of Topic 470 Debt should be accounted for by prospectively adjusting the effective interest rate. The Company does not expect ASU No. 2020-04 to have a significant impact on its financial statements.

In July 2021, the FASB issued ASU No. 2021-05 Leases (Topic 842): Lessors – Certain Leases with Variable Lease Payments, which contains amendments that require lessors to classify and account for a lease with variable lease payments that do not depend on a reference index or a rate as an operating lease if both of the following criteria are met: (1) The lease would have been classified as a sales-type lease or a direct financing lease in accordance with the classification criteria in paragraphs 842-10-25-2 through 25-3, and (2) the lessor would have otherwise recognized a day-one loss. As of January 2, 2022, the Company does not act as the lessor of any lease contracts with variable lease payments that meet the criteria noted above. The Company does not expect the ASU to have a significant impact on its financial statements.