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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Julie Weeks
714-599-5150
El Pollo Loco
jweeks@elpolloloco.com

02/02/2009 El Pollo Loco® Debuts in New Jersey with North Bergen Location February 2009 Opening Marks First of 15 El Pollo Loco Restaurants Planned for Garden State

COSTA MESA, CA – February 2, 2009 – New Jersey has a brand new flame, and North Bergen is the first town to “ignite” it! Following much anticipation around its arrival, El Pollo Loco, a popular West Coast franchise whose claim to fame is its fresh, natural citrus-marinated, flame-grilled chicken, will open its doors at 10 a.m. on Monday, February 2, 2009 in North Bergen. It will be the first El Pollo Loco in the state of New Jersey.

To mark the milestone, a special ribbon cutting and grill lighting ceremony will be held at the restaurant at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 4, 2009 with the restaurant’s executive general manager, Steve Clarke, local dignitaries and city officials, including North Bergen Mayor Nicholas J. Sacco.

The North Bergen location is the first of at least 15 El Pollo Loco restaurants planned for northern and central New Jersey, and Long Island, NY, led by seasoned restaurateur Edward Doherty with his team at Doherty Enterprises. The company is actively pursuing additional sites in these areas. A respected leader in restaurant franchising, Doherty Enterprises operates more than 80 restaurants, comprised of five respected brands.

El Pollo Loco, Inc. is a leading franchise of more than 410 fast casual restaurants that first gained notoriety in the west, and now around the country, for its mouthwatering citrus-marinated, flame-grilled chicken served with warm tortillas, assortment of delicious sides and fresh salsas, along with a wide variety of fresh, contemporary Mexican-influenced entrees.

The North Bergen El Pollo Loco restaurant, located at 2100 88th Street in the future Wal-Mart Shopping Center at 88th and Tonnelle Avenue, is approximately 3,100 square feet and offers bright, comfortable seating for approximately 70 guests. The restaurant employs 55 new hires from the local community and is open seven days a week, from 10:00 a.m. to midnight. Drive-thru service is offered, along with dine-in and take-out service. Catering for special events and celebrations is also available.

New Jersey’s first El Pollo Loco features the company’s fresh new building design. The impressive exterior evokes contemporary Mexican design with multiple textures, geometric shapes, natural wood and Aztec design elements. The dramatic interior highlights El Pollo Loco’s fresh, citrus-marinated chicken as it cooks on the grill and features an open dining area with flexible seating that encourages customers to relax and enjoy the unique El Pollo Loco dining experience. A focal point of the new dining room is a circular, self serve salsa bar approachable from all sides so guests can easily customize their menu selections with any combination of El Pollo Loco’s signature salsas. All are prepared fresh every day.

“We are thrilled to kick off El Pollo Loco’s expansion in New Jersey with our first restaurant here in North Bergen,” said Doherty. “New Jersey natives who have experienced El Pollo Loco while traveling west are excited to enjoy the mouthwatering taste of our citrus-marinated, flame-grilled chicken here locally. And for those who have never tried El Pollo Loco, it will be love at first bite. Our region is primed and ready for the delicious taste of El Pollo Loco.”

Founded in Guasave, Mexico in 1975, El Pollo Loco, pronounced “L Po-yo Lo-co” and Spanish for “The Crazy Chicken,” opened its first U.S. restaurant in 1980 and is famous for the unique
preparation of its award-winning “pollo”-- fresh chicken marinated in a special recipe of herbs,
spices and citrus juices passed down from the founding family. The marinated chicken is then flame-grilled, hand cut and served hot off the grill with warm tortillas, freshly prepared salsas, and a wide assortment of side dishes. Rounding out the menu are fresh flavorful entrées inspired by the kitchens of Mexico, including signature, grilled burritos, Pollo Bowl® entrees, Pollo Salads, tacos, quesadillas, Chicken Tortilla Soup and more.

About El Pollo Loco
El Pollo Loco, Inc. is the nation’s leading restaurant concept specializing in flame-grilled chicken. Headquartered in Costa Mesa, California, El Pollo Loco currently operates 416 restaurants (248 franchised locations and 168 company-owned locations). The restaurants are located in California, Arizona, Nevada, Texas, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Illinois, Georgia, Virginia, Connecticut, Massachusetts and now New Jersey. The menu features El Pollo Loco’s signature citrus-marinated, flame-grilled chicken in individual and family-size meals, along with a variety of contemporary, Mexican-inspired entrees, including its specialty Pollo Bowl® entrees, pollo salads, signature grilled burritos, tacos, quesadillas and Chicken Tortilla Soup. El Pollo Loco is a privately held company owned by Trimaran Capital Partners and Company management. For more information, visit www.elpolloloco.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements, which are statements that do not relate solely to historical fact. They include, but are not limited to, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance, achievements or events. They may contain words such as “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “intend,” “project,” “plan,” “will,” “should,” “may,” “could” or words or phrases of similar meaning. The statements reflect management's current expectations regarding future events. Risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, concerns about food-borne illnesses; the current liquidity crisis, which could impair our ability to obtain or refinance debt financing; negative publicity, whether or not valid; adverse public perception due to the occurrence of avian flu; increases in the cost of chicken; our dependence upon frequent deliveries of food and other supplies; our sensitivity to events and conditions in the greater Los Angeles area; our reliance in part on our franchisees; our vulnerability to changes in consumer preferences and economic conditions; our ability to compete successfully with other quick service and fast casual restaurants; and other risk factors listed from time to time in reports filed by the Company's parent, EPL Intermediate, Inc., with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements about the Company’s past performance are not necessarily indicative of its future results. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as the result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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