IRVINE, Calif. – El Pollo Loco’s signature BBQ Black Beans are back and healthier than ever, and to the delight of hundreds of fans awaiting their return, they are now served both as a side dish and as a featured ingredient in two new entrees -- the BBQ Black Bean Pollo Bowl and the BBQ Black Bean Classic Chicken Burrito.

El Pollo Loco temporarily removed BBQ Black Beans from its menu in late 2005 to eliminate saturated and trans fat from the recipe.  The newly reformulated BBQ Black Beans contain 0 grams of saturated fat per serving and are also trans fat free.

“We knew that our BBQ Black Beans had a strong following, but we were amazed by the volume of letters and calls we received from fans pleading for their return,” said Karen Eadon, Chief Marketing Officer for El Pollo Loco.  “We followed a meticulous reformulation to ensure that our new healthier BBQ Black Beans deliver the distinctively smoky flavor people love, and we are thrilled to bring them back in two new entrees.” 

The new BBQ Black Bean Pollo Bowl combines El Pollo Loco’s citrus-marinated, flame-grilled chicken breast with BBQ Black Beans, Spanish rice, onion, cilantro and Pico de Gallo salsa.  The new BBQ Black Bean Classic Chicken Burrito combines the BBQ Black Beans with the citrus-marinated, flame-grilled chicken, Spanish rice, and Jack and Cheddar cheeses, all wrapped in a warm flour tortilla.  BBQ Black Bean entrees can be personalized with any combination of salsas from El Pollo Loco’s salsa bar.  Four varieties are prepared fresh every day including avocado salsa, spicy chipotle, house and Pico de Gallo.

ABOUT EL POLLO LOCO

El Pollo Loco currently operates 364 restaurants (211 franchised locations and 153 company-owned restaurants) located in California, Arizona, Nevada, Texas, Colorado, Illinois and Connecticut.  Headquartered in Irvine, California, El Pollo Loco, Inc. is a privately held company owned by Trimaran Capital Partners and company management. 

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