DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2025
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS	1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (“Holdings”) is a Delaware corporation headquartered in Costa Mesa, California. Holdings and its direct and indirect subsidiaries are collectively referred to herein as the “Company.” The Company’s activities are conducted principally through its indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, El Pollo Loco, Inc. (“EPL”), which develops, franchises, licenses and operates quick-service restaurants under the name El Pollo Loco ®. The restaurants, which are located principally in California but also in Arizona, Nevada, Texas, Colorado, Utah Louisiana, New Mexico and Washington, specialize in fire-grilling citrus-marinated chicken in a wide variety of contemporary Mexican and LA-inspired entrees, including specialty chicken burritos, chicken quesadillas, chicken tostada salads, chicken tortilla soup, variations on the Company’s Pollo Bowl®, Pollo Salads and Pollo Fit entrees. At December 31, 2025, the Company-operated 175 (132 in the greater Los Angeles area) and franchised 328 (148 in the greater Los Angeles area) El Pollo Loco restaurants. In addition, as of December 31, 2025, the Company licensed 8 restaurants in the Philippines. Holdings has no material assets or operations. Holdings and Holdings’ direct subsidiary, EPL Intermediate, Inc. (“Intermediate”), guarantee EPL’s 2022 Revolver (see Note 7 “Long-Term Debt”) on a full and unconditional basis and Intermediate has no subsidiaries other than EPL. EPL is a separate and distinct legal entity, and has no obligation to make funds available to Intermediate. EPL and Intermediate may pay dividends to Intermediate and to Holdings, respectively. The Company operates in one operating segment. All significant revenues relate to retail sales of food and beverages through either company-operated or franchised-operated restaurants.

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2025

1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (“Holdings”) is a Delaware corporation headquartered in Costa Mesa, California. Holdings and its direct and indirect subsidiaries are collectively referred to herein as the “Company.” The Company’s activities are conducted principally through its indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, El Pollo Loco, Inc. (“EPL”), which develops, franchises, licenses and operates quick-service restaurants under the name El Pollo Loco ®. The restaurants, which are located principally in California but also in Arizona, Nevada, Texas, Colorado, Utah Louisiana, New Mexico and Washington, specialize in fire-grilling citrus-marinated chicken in a wide variety of contemporary Mexican and LA-inspired entrees, including specialty chicken burritos, chicken quesadillas, chicken tostada salads, chicken tortilla soup, variations on the Company’s Pollo Bowl®, Pollo Salads and Pollo Fit entrees. At December 31, 2025, the Company-operated 175 (132 in the greater Los Angeles area) and franchised 328 (148 in the greater Los Angeles area) El Pollo Loco restaurants. In addition, as of December 31, 2025, the Company licensed 8 restaurants in the Philippines.

Holdings has no material assets or operations. Holdings and Holdings’ direct subsidiary, EPL Intermediate, Inc. (“Intermediate”), guarantee EPL’s 2022 Revolver (see Note 7 “Long-Term Debt”) on a full and unconditional basis and Intermediate has no subsidiaries other than EPL. EPL is a separate and distinct legal entity, and has no obligation to make funds available to Intermediate. EPL and Intermediate may pay dividends to Intermediate and to Holdings, respectively.

The Company operates in one operating segment. All significant revenues relate to retail sales of food and beverages through either company-operated or franchised-operated restaurants.