Chicken Dinner

Long-awaited chicken chain finally feeds Dallas-Fort Worth with multiple locations

El Pollo Loco is a popular chicken chain from the West Coast.

Photo courtesy of El Pollo Loco

People go crazy for the flame-grilled chicken at the El Pollo Loco chain, hailing from the West Coast. It finally arrives in Dallas-Fort Worth in September, with the first two stores opening in Allen and Bedford.

El Pollo Loco is noted for its Mexican-style chicken with a citrus marinade, and for entrées using fresh ingredients inspired by Mexican recipes. With more than 435 company-owned and franchised restaurants in Arizona, California, Nevada, Texas, and Utah, El Pollo Loco is now expanding its presence in Houston and Dallas.

Located at 386 E. Stacy Rd., the Allen spot marks the first company-owned restaurant in DFW. The Bedford store is at 1900 Central Dr. and marks the first franchised restaurant, from Chicken Time Holdings, LLC, an affiliate of Dallas-based Henry Investment Group.

"We have been very vocal about our attraction to Texas and are thrilled to expand our presence into Dallas-Fort Worth," says El Pollo Loco president and CEO Steve Sather.

The menu includes family chicken meals, burritos, tacos, quesadillas, and salads, prepared with the speed and convenience of a quick-serve restaurant. The chicken is marinated fresh daily in a recipe of herbs, spices, fruit juices, and garlic before being fire-grilled and hand-cut. Guacamole, salsas, and dressings are prepared fresh daily.

The Allen and Bedford stores will be followed by five more branches around DFW:

1245 W. Pipeline Rd., Hurst
2125 N. Highway 360, Grand Prairie
2834 W. University Dr., Denton
9544 Forest Ln., Dallas
8817 North Freeway, Fort Worth

The company will also be featuring a new design at all locations, highlighting an authentic, Mexican-inspired atmosphere with warm textures, rustic elements, and a focus on freshness. The restaurants will incorporate brick, raw metals, concrete flooring, and street art, as well as fun posters, pops of color, and graphic tiles that reflect the company's roots.

The Dallas expansion comes on the heels of Pollo Loco's entrance into the Houston area, where it currently has 12 restaurants and continues to grow. The Allen and Bedford restaurants are scheduled to open on September 10.

openings

New on Knox

Dallas' Knox Street lands all-day restaurant with coveted Katy Trail patio

A rendering of the Main House, to debut in 2027.

Rendering Courtesy of the Main House.

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A new all-day restaurant and patio is joining the vibrant Knox Street culinary scene: Called The Main House, it will take over the former Mashburn space at 3333 Knox St., Ste 145, at the corner of the Katy Trail.

According to a release, it is slated to open in 2027.

The Main House comes from Western Addition Restaurant Group, the company behind Preston Center Plaza hot spot il Bracco (nominated for 2026 Tastemaker Award for Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year) and Bobbie's Airway Grill at Preston-Royal. Owners Robert Quick and Matt Gottlieb bring years of culinary experience from their time at Hillstone Restaurant Group (Hillstone, R+D Kitchen, Houston’s).

The Main House joins a wave of highly anticipated openings on Knox Street, including Théa Mediterranean Rooftop and Sant Ambroeus.

Its location will be the first big draw: The restaurant will feature a patio opening directly onto the Katy Trail, beckoning walkers, cyclists, and diners looking for an outdoor seat.

Its hours will be the second big draw: The all-day Main House will serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner - the first Western Addition spot to offer breakfast.

The menu will include:

Entrée salads
Sandwiches on house-made bread
In-house butchered proteins
Shareable dishes
Breakfast specialties

The restaurant's design was inspired by classic family retreats such as beach houses, lake houses, and ranches, the release says. Interiors by Dallas-based MMaison Interiors will feature large windows and natural materials intended to seamlessly connect indoor and outdoor dining.

“The Main House is about creating a place people can return to again and again, a true gathering place,” said Robert Quick, founder, CEO, and chief culinary officer of Western Addition, in a statement. “More than ever, restaurants are spaces where people come together. At its best, hospitality invites us to slow down, share a table and engage in meaningful conversation and connection. There is a natural conviviality in these beloved family homes, a sense of belonging, and that is what the Main House is built around.”

Additional details, including an opening date and full menu, will be announced closer to the restaurant's 2027 debut, owners say.

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