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

The length of a stay order.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	loco_LossContingencyStayPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	loco_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
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:	instant

- Definition

Number of leases.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- 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://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 460
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (b)(1)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482425/460-10-50-4

+ Details

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

- Definition

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

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationSettlementAmountAwardedFromOtherParty
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 12
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482740/230-10-45-12

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 21B
-SubTopic 10
-Topic 230
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482740/230-10-45-21B

+ 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_DiepV.SatherMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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Period Type:

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES - Additional Information (Details) $ in Thousands			12 Months Ended
	May 21, 2021 USD ($)	Mar. 17, 2017	Dec. 27, 2023 USD ($) lease agreement	Dec. 29, 2021 USD ($)
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Insurance proceeds			$ 163
Officers
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Number of at-will employment agreements \| agreement			2
Property Lease Guarantee
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Number of leases assigned to franchisees \| lease			3
Latest lease expiration year			2038
Contingent lease obligations, maximum exposure			$ 3,800
Contingent lease obligations, maximum exposure, if discounted at estimated pre-tax cost of debt			2,600
Chicken Acquisition Corp
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Purchase commitments, estimated obligations			$ 31,300
Diep v. Sather
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Stay order length		5 months
Litigation amount awarded	$ 625,000
Legal settlements	$ 156,250
Insurance proceeds				$ 469,000