go loco

California chicken restaurant goes 'crazy' with 15 new Houston locations

El Pollo Loco will soon unveil its new store designs.

Courtesy of El Pollo Loco

A California-based chicken chain sees Houston as its next growth market. El Pollo Loco plans to open 15 new locations across the Houston area in the next few years, which would more than double the chain's presence in the Bayou City.

Known for its Mexican-style chicken that uses a citrus marinade and is grilled over an open flame, El Pollo Loco also serves a range of other Mexican-inspired dishes that are made with fresh ingredients. The chicken gets utilized in tacos, quesadillas, burritos, bowls, and more. A section of the menu offers options for those following keto and other low-carb diets.

“We are thrilled to continue developing our presence in Houston and bring El Pollo Loco’s signature chicken, handcrafted Mexican entrees, and assortment of healthy offerings to even more local communities,” chief development officer Brian Carmichall said in a statement. “The expansion announcement and impending unit growth is sure to appeal to the growing number of consumers looking for healthier options; consumers’ growing demand for bolder, spicier flavors; and experienced franchise owners with the desire to be part of a strong franchisee family.”

Part of the restaurant's growth will be fueled by two prototype designs that have been created to meet the growth in off-premise dining. The first doesn't offer any indoor seating; instead, it features a take-out window, a dual drive-thru, parking for curbside pick-up, and patio seating. The second has a small indoor dining area with a larger outdoor patio, dual drive-thru, and curbside pickup spaces. Both build-outs aim to take advantage of the growth in ordering via the company's app.

Expanding its presence in Houston is just one aspect of the company's growth strategy. Currently at approximately 500 company-owned and franchised restaurants in Arizona, California, Nevada, Texas, Utah, and Louisiana, El Pollo Loco plans to add 140 new stores by 2026, according to a press release.

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Teresa Gubbins contributed to this article.

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head east

Eagerly-anticipated Houston barbecue joint hosts weekend preview pop-ups

Courtesy of Eastbound Barbecue

Get a first taste of Eastbound Barbecue this weekend.

One of Houston’s most eagerly anticipated new barbecue joints is giving diners a preview of what’s to come. Eastbound Barbecue will host “Sneak Peak Weekends” every Saturday and Sunday beginning this Saturday, December 20, until the restaurant opens in early 2026.

Held at the restaurant’s location in the East End (1105 Sampson Street) from 12-4 pm (or sold out), the weekend service gives diners their first chance to try Eastbound Barbecue’s smoked meats, sides, and desserts. That includes, smoked brisket, baby back ribs, jalapeno & cheese sausage, hatch chili lasagna mac & cheese, herbed potato salad, and more. Save room for the two dessert offerings, salted caramel banana pudding and cookie butter cake.

To distinguish Eastbound’s barbecue, chefs Lopez and Granville use different seasonings than other restaurants, such as rosemary salt in the brisket rub and a miso-caramel sauce that gives its ribs a sweet and savory bite. During the preview, Eastbound’s prices are noticeably lower than many other Houston barbecue joints, with brisket priced at $29 per pound, ribs at $26 per pound, and pulled pork at $22 per pound.

As CultureMap reported in August, Eastbound unites four friends, Ryan Penn, Ryan Powell, Luis Lopez, and Jake Granville, who also held senior roles at various restaurants owned by prominent Houston chef Ronnie Killen. Since then, the four partners have finished many of the improvements they needed to make prior to opening, including closing in the patio and installing offset smokers on the property.

For Penn, leaving the Killen’s organization after almost 20 years was a difficult decision, but one he felt he had to make. “I could have worked for [Killen] forever and been happy. It was more along the lines of, if I don’t do this now, I don’t want to be 70 and wish that I had,” he said at the time.

Courtesy of Eastbound Barbecue

Get a first taste of Eastbound Barbecue this weekend.

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