Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Details)		12 Months Ended
	Nov. 06, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 26, 2018 USD ($) agreement lawsuit lease
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Number of lawsuits consolidated | lawsuit		2
Payments made to plaintiff's attorneys	$ 1,391,702.50
Officers
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Number of at-will employment agreements | agreement		4
Property Lease Guarantee
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Number of leases assigned to franchisees | lease		5
Contingent lease obligations, maximum exposure		$ 2,400,000
Contingent lease obligations, maximum exposure, if discounted at estimated pre-tax cost of debt		2,000,000
Chicken Acquisition Corp
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Purchase commitments, estimated obligations		29,800,000
Impact Damages
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Value of damages awarded		4,356,600
Lost Opportunity Damages
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Value of damages awarded		4,481,206
Total Damages
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Value of damages awarded		8,837,806
Elliott Olvera, et al v. El Pollo Loco, Inc., et al
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Accrual associated with loss contingencies		16,300,000.0
Daniel Turocy, et al. and Ron Huston et al v. El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc., et al
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Accrual associated with loss contingencies		20,000,000
Janice P. Handlers-Bryman and Michael D. Bryman v. El Pollo Loco, Inc
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Accrual associated with loss contingencies		$ 0