Longtime Restaurateur Signs 4-Unit Deal with El Pollo Loco

Jean-Paul Pirio has spent more than two decades in the restaurant industry and owns five restaurants and bars throughout the south Puget Sound. Now he’s signed a multi-unit development deal with fire-grilled chicken brand El Pollo Loco to open 4 locations in the Seattle area.

“Restaurants are all I’ve done my whole life. My first job ever was restaurants. All I’ve ever known was waiting tables, busing tables,” said Pirio. “When I began researching different franchise opportunities, I was looking for a unique concept with a rich tradition that had the ability to bring people together around food, family, and culture. I found the perfect match with El Pollo Loco and can’t wait to introduce local customers to the brand’s signature chicken, handcrafted Mexican entrees, and assortment of healthy offerings.”

Pirio’s looking at potential locations in Federal Way, Kent, Tacoma, and Puyallup areas. His El Pollo Loco restaurants will feature a new prototype design to meet the demands of the company’s off-premise business. There will be a dining room that potentially opens up to a patio area, as well as a drive-thru and designated curbside pick-up parking.