<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
  <headerData>
    <submissionType>144</submissionType>
    <filerInfo>
      <filer>
        <filerCredentials>
          <cik>0001726173</cik>
          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
        </filerCredentials>
      </filer>
      <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



    </filerInfo>
  </headerData>
  <formData>
    <issuerInfo>
      <issuerCik>0001606366</issuerCik>
      <issuerName>El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.</issuerName>
      <secFileNumber>001-36556</secFileNumber>
      <issuerAddress>
        <com:street1>575 ANTON BLVD</com:street1>
        <com:street2>STE 1100</com:street2>
        <com:city>COSTA MESA</com:city>
        <com:stateOrCountry>CA</com:stateOrCountry>
        <com:zipCode>92626</com:zipCode>
      </issuerAddress>
      <issuerContactPhone>7145995000</issuerContactPhone>
      <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>Biglari Holdings Inc.</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <relationshipsToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>10% Stockholder</relationshipToIssuer>
      </relationshipsToIssuer>
    </issuerInfo>
    <securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
      <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <name>MS Howells &amp; Co.</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>23350 N. Pima Rd.</com:street1>
          <com:city>Scottsdale</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>AZ</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>85255</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <noOfUnitsSold>489247</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>7979618.57</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>30455298</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>07/29/2026</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>08/15/2023</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Open Market Purchases</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>N/A</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>489247</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>08/15/2023</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>N</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>The Lion Fund II, L.P.</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>19100 Ridgewood Pkwy</com:street1>
          <com:street2>Suite 1200</com:street2>
          <com:city>San Antonio</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>TX</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>78259</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>06/26/2026</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>100000</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>1675000.00</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>The Lion Fund II, L.P.</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>19100 Ridgewood Pkwy</com:street1>
          <com:street2>Suite 1200</com:street2>
          <com:city>San Antonio</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>TX</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>78259</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>06/29/2026</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>100000</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>1658000.00</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>The Lion Fund II, L.P.</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>19100 Ridgewood Pkwy</com:street1>
          <com:street2>Suite 1200</com:street2>
          <com:city>San Antonio</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>TX</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>78259</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>06/30/2026</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>22600</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>382166.00</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>The Lion Fund II, L.P.</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>19100 Ridgewood Pkwy</com:street1>
          <com:street2>Suite 1200</com:street2>
          <com:city>San Antonio</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>TX</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>78259</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>07/01/2026</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>132421</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>2286911.00</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>The Lion Fund II, L.P.</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>19100 Ridgewood Pkwy</com:street1>
          <com:street2>Suite 1200</com:street2>
          <com:city>San Antonio</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>TX</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>78259</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>07/02/2026</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>9525</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>161163.00</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>The Lion Fund II, L.P.</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>19100 Ridgewood Pkwy</com:street1>
          <com:street2>Suite 1200</com:street2>
          <com:city>San Antonio</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>TX</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>78259</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>07/13/2026</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>75000</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>1255500.00</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>The Lion Fund II, L.P.</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>19100 Ridgewood Pkwy</com:street1>
          <com:street2>Suite 1200</com:street2>
          <com:city>San Antonio</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>TX</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>78259</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>07/14/2026</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>1211</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>20260.00</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>The Lion Fund II, L.P.</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>19100 Ridgewood Pkwy</com:street1>
          <com:street2>Suite 1200</com:street2>
          <com:city>San Antonio</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>TX</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>78259</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>07/15/2026</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>6533</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>109166.00</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>The Lion Fund II, L.P.</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>19100 Ridgewood Pkwy</com:street1>
          <com:street2>Suite 1200</com:street2>
          <com:city>San Antonio</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>TX</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>78259</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>07/16/2026</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>2749</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>45908.00</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>The Lion Fund II, L.P.</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>19100 Ridgewood Pkwy</com:street1>
          <com:street2>Suite 1200</com:street2>
          <com:city>San Antonio</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>TX</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>78259</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>07/17/2026</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>11000</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>183810.00</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <remarks>This Form 144 is being filed by Biglari Holdings Inc., the ultimate parent company of Biglari Reinsurance Ltd. and First Guard Insurance Company, which are the entities selling the shares. The aggregate market value is as of the close of business on 07/28/2026. The number of securities outstanding is as of 05/01/2026. The approximate date of sale is between 07/29/2026 through 09/24/2026. The shares proposed to be sold were acquired and paid for between 08/15/2023 and 08/22/2024. A certain other affiliate of Biglari Holdings Inc. is selling shares of the Issuer and filing on a separate Form 144.</remarks>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>07/29/2026</noticeDate>
      <signature>/s/ Sardar Biglari</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
