Mexican-style fire-grilled chicken · Primarily California and the western/southwestern US
Is El Pollo Loco Open on Thanksgiving and Christmas 2026?
Thanksgiving: Some locations open · Christmas Day: Some locations open (2025 reports)
These holiday answers come from NBC's TODAY show, not El Pollo Loco. On Thanksgiving 2025, many locations, mainly in California and Nevada, were open 10 AM to 6 PM, closing four to five hours before the usual 10 PM to 11 PM. Select stores were reported open on Christmas Day 2025 and New Year's Day 2026, without hours.
- Thanksgiving (Thursday, November 26, 2026): Some locations open. NBC's TODAY show reported that many El Pollo Loco locations, mainly in California and Nevada, would be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving 2025.
- Christmas Day (Friday, December 25, 2026): Some locations open. NBC's TODAY show reported that select El Pollo Loco locations would be open on Christmas Day 2025, with the list of open stores posted on the chain's website. No hours were given.
Both answers are from 2025 reports, the latest we could confirm. We'll update them when 2026 hours are announced.
El Pollo Loco holiday hours
| Holiday | Open? | What was reported | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving Day Thursday, November 26, 2026 | Some locations open 10 a.m.–6 p.m. 2025 report | NBC's TODAY show reported that many El Pollo Loco locations, mainly in California and Nevada, would be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving 2025. | today.com |
| Christmas Day Friday, December 25, 2026 | Some locations open 2025 report | NBC's TODAY show reported that select El Pollo Loco locations would be open on Christmas Day 2025, with the list of open stores posted on the chain's website. No hours were given. | today.com |
| New Year's Day Friday, January 1, 2027 | Some locations open 2026 report | NBC's TODAY show reported that select El Pollo Loco locations would be open on New Year's Day 2026. No hours were given. | today.com |
Compare chains: restaurants open on Thanksgiving · on Christmas · on New Year's Day
El Pollo Loco holiday hours FAQ
Is El Pollo Loco open on Thanksgiving 2026?
Some locations open. NBC's TODAY show reported that many El Pollo Loco locations, mainly in California and Nevada, would be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving 2025. That is El Pollo Loco's 2025 Thanksgiving answer; it hadn't posted 2026 hours yet.
Is El Pollo Loco open on Christmas Day 2026?
Some locations open. NBC's TODAY show reported that select El Pollo Loco locations would be open on Christmas Day 2025, with the list of open stores posted on the chain's website. No hours were given. That is El Pollo Loco's 2025 Christmas Day answer; it hadn't posted 2026 hours yet.
Is El Pollo Loco open on New Year's Day 2027?
Some locations open. NBC's TODAY show reported that select El Pollo Loco locations would be open on New Year's Day 2026. No hours were given. That is El Pollo Loco's 2026 New Year's Day answer; it hadn't posted 2027 hours yet.
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