El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. Stock: price and insider trades · United States

El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. is a U.S.-based restaurant company listed on the NASDAQ under the ticker LOCO, with a business model centered on fire-grilled chicken and Mexican-inspired fast-casual dining. The company operates a clearly differentiated concept built around flame-grilled chicken, burritos, bowls, tacos, salads, quesadillas, and side items, with an emphasis on made-to-order preparation and a protein-forward menu. In a highly competitive U.S. restaurant landscape, El Pollo Loco positions itself as a specialist in fire-grilled chicken rather than a broad-line quick-service chain, which gives it a distinctive brand identity and a loyal regional customer base.

The company traces its roots to 1975, when founder Pancho Ochoa started the concept in Sinaloa, Mexico, before expanding into Los Angeles and establishing its long-term U.S. presence in 1980. Its headquarters are in Costa Mesa, California, reflecting its historical center of gravity in the U.S. Southwest. As of the end of 2025, the system included 503 domestic restaurants, made up of company-operated and franchised units, plus eight licensed locations in the Philippines. The footprint remains concentrated in the western and southern United States, including California, Arizona, Nevada, Texas, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Louisiana, and Washington. This regional strength supports brand awareness and operational familiarity, although the chain remains significantly smaller than the largest national QSR operators.