California-based El Pollo Loco picks Kent for first Washington location

California-based, fire-grilled chicken restaurant El Pollo Loco has purchased a property on East Hill and will be coming to Kent, according to the company’s chief development officer.

“We’ve been working with a franchise partner to bring El Pollo Loco’s signature, fire-grilled chicken to the Pacific Northwest,” said Tim Welsh, El Pollo Loco chief development officer, in a Dec. 5 email. “We’re excited to have reached the phase in our development process where a location has been secured. While we don’t yet have an opening date for this restaurant, we look forward to being part of the vibrant Kent community.”

It will be El Pollo Loco’s first location in the Pacific Northwest. The Costa Mesa-based company, which began in 1975 in Mexico and came in 1980 to California, has 495 restaurants, either company owned or franchised, in seven states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, Texas, Utah and Louisiana, according to the company website.

NW Pollo Loco bought the property for a Kent location at 10120 SE 256th St., for $2.6 million on Nov. 5 from CT Properties Kent, according to King County property records. Verizon had a store on the property that is now closed. The location is next to Kent-Meridian High School and just west of Nana’s Southern Kitchen.

In 2022, El Pollo Loco announced in a press release plans for four new locations in Washington, with potential sites in Kent, Federal Way, Tacoma and Puyallup. The release also announced a franchise agreement with Jean-Paul Pirio to operate the restaurants. Pirio already operates JP’s Taproom and Grill in Kent, JP’s Tavern in Federal Way, JP’s Barroom in Renton, Time Out Ale House and Grill in Federal Way and Hy Iu Hee Hee in Gig Harbor, according to jpsbars.com.

El Pollo Loco (which in English means the crazy chicken) considers itself L.A. Mex, Southern Cal lifestyle meets Mexican heritage. The menu includes burritos, tostadas, salads, chicken meals, fire-grilled combos, tacos, bowls and other items.

“It all comes down to fresh,” according to the company website. “Fresh salsas made from scratch, fresh sliced avocados and of course, fresh, never frozen, fire-grilled chicken. Because maximum freshness means maximum flavor.”

The chain announced in October plans for their new iconic restaurant prototype showcasing an enduring, yet modern and efficient design. As the brand approaches its 50th anniversary next year, they look to create a modern legacy of curated experiences, inspired by place and punctuated by new menu innovation.

El Pollo Loco will open on the same property that used to house the Kent 6 Cinemas, which closed in 2002, according to cinematreasures.org. Tom Moyer Theatres bought the property in 1989 for $246,900 and sold it in 2015 for $432,500 to H&H Kent, which turned around and sold the property in 2017 for $2.2 million to CT Properties Kent, according to county property records.