Guarantee obligations maximum net exposure.

No definition available.

Name:	loco_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumNetExposure
Namespace Prefix:	loco_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Lease expiration year.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	loco_LeaseExpirationYear
Namespace Prefix:	loco_
Data Type:	xbrli:gYearItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of employment agreements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	loco_NumberOfEmploymentAgreements
Namespace Prefix:	loco_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of leases.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	loco_NumberOfLeases
Namespace Prefix:	loco_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) the guarantor could be required to make under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees before reduction for potential recoveries under recourse or collateralization provisions.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 460
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (b)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124440162&loc=d3e12069-110248

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount awarded to other party in judgment or settlement of litigation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationSettlementAmountAwardedToOtherParty
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of litigation expense, including but not limited to legal, forensic, accounting, and investigative fees.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationSettlementExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherCommitmentsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of cash inflow for proceeds from settlement of insurance claim, classified as investing activities. Excludes insurance settlement classified as operating activities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 21B
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123570139&loc=SL94080549-108585

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 12
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123570139&loc=d3e3179-108585

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Minimum amount of purchase arrangement in which the entity has agreed to expend funds to procure goods or services from a supplier.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PurchaseObligation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	srt_TitleOfIndividualAxis=srt_OfficerMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis=us-gaap_PropertyLeaseGuaranteeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentByCategoryOfItemPurchasedAxis=loco_ChickenMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_LitigationCaseAxis=loco_DiepActionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Details)			3 Months Ended
	Dec. 29, 2021 USD ($)	Sep. 10, 2021 USD ($)	Mar. 30, 2022 USD ($) lease agreement
Officers
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Number of at-will employment agreements \| agreement			2
Property Lease Guarantee
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Number of leases assigned to franchisees \| lease			4
Latest lease expiration year			2036
Contingent lease obligations, maximum exposure			$ 2,600,000
Contingent lease obligations, maximum exposure, if discounted at estimated pre-tax cost of debt			2,300,000
Chicken Acquisition Corp
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Purchase commitments, estimated obligations			$ 30,400,000
Diep action
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Proposed settlement payment		$ 625,000
Litigation Settlement, Expense		$ 156,250
Insurance proceeds	$ 469,000