This California fast-food staple is finally on the way, Boise. Its chicken is ‘sooo good’
Much like In-N-Out Burger following California transplants to the Boise market, it’s never felt like a question of “if” for El Pollo Loco.
It’s felt like a question of when.
So here we are. Adding to the onslaught of West Coast-based chains pouring into the Treasure Valley, Mexican-style brand El Pollo Loco officially is planning to bring its “famous citrus-marinated, fire-grilled chicken” to the area.
El Pollo Loco has submitted a pre-application request with the city of Meridian to open a 2,000-square-foot restaurant at 3471 W. Chinden Blvd. It would include a drive-thru, as well as a smaller attached building for future retail or restaurant use.
Located near the Chinden intersection with Ten Mile Road, El Pollo Loco would do battle with a couple of other nearby chicken or Mexican-themed restaurants: Slim Chickens and Cafe Rio.
That competition clearly does not faze El Pollo Loco. Nor should it. This brand is a “SoCal staple,” as it refers to itself. Its chicken? “Cooked slow. Served fast.”
El Pollo Loco has more than 495 company-owned and franchised locations in California, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Texas, Utah and Louisiana, according to a press release.
If you’ve eaten at Fiesta Chicken — the similar Boise concept with two restaurants — you already have a grasp of El Pollo Loco’s bird-focused menu. Founded in Mexico in 1974, El Pollo Loco serves delicious, if not addictive, chicken — in tacos, burritos, tostadas, salads, bowls and meals.
For a quick-service chain, it has a passionate fan base. A week ago, a thread on the “AskLosAngeles” subreddit wondered, “Why is El Pollo Loco low key so good?” More than 400 replies later, the answer wasn’t simple. Other than it just is.
“The only fast-food chain I know of where you can watch employees de-boning and chopping chicken by hand,” one replier observed. ... Pollo Loco is legit.”
“Their salads are so damn good, with that creamy cilantro dressing … oooooof,” wrote another. “But their chicken is soooo good, I can never get my chicken like theirs at home.”
A publicist for El Pollo Loco did not immediately have information about a target opening date. Or whether additional Idaho locations are planned.
Either way, El Pollo Loco invading the Boise market is mouthwatering news.
“I would choose their Classic Tostada Salad as my last meal,” one Redditor proclaimed, “I love it so much.”