After a long testing phase, El Pollo Loco’s chicken tenders became widely available on Thursday, April 23.
El Pollo Loco’s tenders are lightly breaded and seasoned with what the chain calls a Mexican-inspired spice blend. They are for sale in two-, three- and four-piece orders, priced around $5.99-$11.99 by themselves, or $11.29-$13.79 in a combo with chips and a soft drink.
There are two flavors, classic and spicy.
“It’s not overwhelming, but it’s got a little zip,” Rene Pisciotti, head of culinary innovation, said last week at a preview in Los Angeles for influencers.
The event was at a drive-thru in Little Armenia. It was staged like a gender reveal party. Festive decorations included a giant inflatable brand logo and chocolate fountains, except they were churning real dipping sauces for the tenders instead of chocolate.
Customers can choose between three sauces: House Ranch, a new Pollo Loco Sauce and a new Baja Lime Sauce.
El Pollo, based in Costa Mesa, first tested the chicken tenders at several Orange County restaurants in October. A wider test followed in March. The chain also tested a chicken sandwich, but representatives at the preview said they had no announcements to make about it.
This is not El Pollo Loco’s first experiment with chicken tenders. It tried them out a decade ago, in the fall of 2016.
Customers are pleased with this version, according to Pisciotti. He said the only change in the tenders since the October test was the addition of Baja Lime Sauce.
“Everything tested so well, we left everything the same,” he said. “We’re happy with the product.”
Information: elpolloloco.com