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El Pollo Loco scouts Southern Oregon locations By Nick Morgan Updated: Oct 07, 2022 11:27 AM A A El Pollo Loco marinates its chicken with a proprietary recipe of citrus, garlic and spices, grills it on an open flame and hand-cuts the chicken to order. The California chain is eying an expansion to Southern Oregon. [Submitted photo] Another California fast-food favorite has its eyes on the Medford area. El Pollo Loco has inked a franchise agreement with an experienced local operator, which would bring the fire-grilled chicken chain to as many as five locations across Southern Oregon and Northern California, according to Michael Misetic, a spokesman for the Costa Mesa, California-based chain of Mexican-style grilled chicken restaurants. Southern Oregon locations being scouted are Medford and Klamath Falls, and Northern California locations include Chico and Redding, according to Misetic. The franchisee, Bunch of Pollo Inc., headed by president Amir Sahebalzamany, hopes to have its first location ready in the first half of 2023, according to Misetic, but completing five locations in the two regions could take several years. Misetic said Sahebalzamany is still in the middle of site selection, and that no lease agreement has yet been signed, but terms of the franchise agreement require franchisees to move quickly. “He has to commit to one location at the beginning of the year,” Misetic said. The chain renowned for its fire-grilled, citrus-marinated chicken currently has 485 locations in California, Arizona, Nevada, Texas, Utah and Louisiana. “This is going to mark El Pollo Loco’s first entry into Oregon,” Misetic said. “It’s an iconic brand in Southern California.” The company also is planning a four-restaurant expansion into the greater Seattle area and, overall, wants to expand its national footprint by 140 restaurants, according to recent investor releases about the expansion. Other locations where El Pollo Loco wants to ink multiunit franchise deals include Portland and parts of Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. Misetic described the Southern Oregon franchisee, Bunch of Pollo, as an “experienced franchise group” already versed in a different fire-grilled restaurant’s operations. Partners at Bunch of Pollo also own and operate “more than 70 Burger King restaurants across the region.” The chain marinates its chicken with a proprietary recipe of citrus, garlic and spices, then grills it on an open flame and hand-cuts the chicken to order. The restaurant serves a variety of Los Angeles-style Mexican food entrees, such as bowls, burritos and salads, as well as family-style chicken meals. For those who haven’t tasted it, Misetic said, there’s nothing like it. “It’s not your standard Popeyes or your Kentucky Fried,” Misetic said. “It’s definitely a healthier alternative.” Reach web editor Nick Morgan at 541-776-4471 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @MTwebeditor.