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  <P STYLE="text-align: center; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><B>As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June&nbsp;5, 2025.</B></P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: right"><B>Registration No. 333-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</B></P>
  
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  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center"><B>UNITED STATES</B></P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B></P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center"><B>WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549</B></P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center"></P>
  
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  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center"><B>FORM S-8</B></P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center"><B>REGISTRATION STATEMENT</B></P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center"><B>UNDER</B></P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center"><B>THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</B></P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center"></P>
  
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  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 18pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>EL POLLO LOCO HOLDINGS, INC.</B></P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>(Exact name of registrant as specified in its
  charter)</B></P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"></P>
  
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  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>
  
  <TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
    <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
      <TD STYLE="border-bottom: Black 1.5pt solid; width: 49%; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt"><B>Delaware</B></FONT></TD>
      <TD STYLE="padding-bottom: 1.5pt; text-align: center; width: 2%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="border-bottom: Black 1.5pt solid; width: 49%; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt"><B>20-356182</B></FONT></TD></TR>
    <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt"><B>(State or other jurisdiction of<BR>
  incorporation or organization)</B></FONT></TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt"><B>(I.R.S. Employer<BR>
  Identification No.)</B></FONT></TD></TR>
    </TABLE>
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>3535 Harbor Blvd., Suite 100</B></P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>Costa Mesa, California 92626</B></P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip
  Code)</B></P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. Equity Incentive
  Plan</B></P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>(Full title of the plan)</B></P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"></P>
  
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  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>Anne Jollay</B></P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>Chief Legal and People Officer</B></P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.</B></P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>3535 Harbor Blvd., Suite 100</B></P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>Costa Mesa, California 92626</B></P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>(714) 599-5000</B></P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>(Name, address, and telephone number, including
  area code, of agent for service) </B></P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"></P>
  
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  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated
  filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions
  of &ldquo;large accelerated filer,&rdquo; &ldquo;accelerated filer,&rdquo; &ldquo;smaller reporting company,&rdquo; and &ldquo;emerging
  growth company&rdquo; in Rule 12b&ndash;2 of the Exchange Act.</P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>
  
  <TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
    <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
      <TD STYLE="width: 19%"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">Large accelerated filer</FONT></TD>
      <TD STYLE="width: 2%; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">&#9744;</FONT></TD>
      <TD STYLE="width: 52%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="width: 25%"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">Accelerated filer</FONT></TD>
      <TD STYLE="width: 2%; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&#9746;</FONT></TD></TR>
    <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
    <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
      <TD><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">Non-accelerated filer</FONT></TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&#9744;</FONT></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">Smaller reporting company</FONT></TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&#9744;</FONT></TD></TR>
    <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
    <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">Emerging growth company</FONT></TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&#9744;</FONT></TD></TR>
    </TABLE>
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant
  has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant
  to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. <FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&#9744;</FONT></P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>
  
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  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"></P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>
  
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  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>
  
  
  
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center"><B>EXPLANATORY NOTE</B></P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">This Registration Statement is filed by the Registrant
  to register additional securities issuable pursuant to the El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (the &ldquo;Plan&rdquo;),
  and consists of only those items required by General Instruction&nbsp;E to Form S-8. In accordance with General Instruction E of Form
  S-8, the contents of each of the Company&rsquo;s Registration Statements on Form S-8 filed with the Commission on <A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1606366/000119312518239777/d521839ds8.htm">August 6, 2018</A> (File
  No. 333-226621), <A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1606366/000160636621000060/loco-20210920xs8.htm">September&nbsp;20, 2021</A> (File No. 333-259661) and <A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1606366/000121390024047497/ea0207013-s8_elpollo.htm">May&nbsp;29, 2024</A> (File No. 333-279794) are incorporated herein by
  reference.</P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>
  
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  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center"><B>PART I</B></P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center"><B>INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE</B></P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center"><B>SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS</B></P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">The document(s) containing the information specified
  in Part I of Form S-8 will be sent or given to participants as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
  (the &ldquo;Securities Act&rdquo;).</P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>
  
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  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center"><B>PART II</B></P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center"><B>INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE </B></P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center"><B>REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8</B></P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>
  
  <P STYLE="margin: 0"> <B>Item 3.</B> <B>Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference</B></P>
  
  
  
  <P STYLE="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;</P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">The following documents of the Company filed with
  the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &ldquo;Commission&rdquo;) are incorporated herein by reference:</P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>
  
  <TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
  <TD STYLE="width: 0.5in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in">(a)</TD><TD>The Company&rsquo;s Annual Report on <A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1606366/000160636625000008/loco-20241225x10k.htm">Form 10-K</A> for its fiscal year ended December 25, 2024, filed with the Commission on March&nbsp;7,
  2025 (&ldquo;2024 Form 10-K&rdquo;);</TD></TR></TABLE>
  
  <P STYLE="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;</P>
  
  <TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
  <TD STYLE="width: 0.5in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in">(b)</TD><TD>The Company&rsquo;s Quarterly Report on <A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1606366/000160636625000030/loco-20250326x10q.htm">Form 10-Q</A> for its fiscal quarter ended March 26, 2025, filed with the Commission on May&nbsp;2,
  2025;</TD></TR></TABLE>
  
  <P STYLE="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;</P>
  
  <TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
  <TD STYLE="width: 0.5in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in">(c)</TD><TD>The Company&rsquo;s Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on <A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1606366/000121390025002842/ea0227473-8k_elpollo.htm">January&nbsp;13. 2025</A>, <A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1606366/000199937125003941/loco-8k_040625.htm">April&nbsp;7, 2025</A> and <A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1606366/000121390025051311/ea0244780-8k_elpollo.htm">June 5, 2025</A>, except as to information furnished under Items 2.02 and 7.01 thereunder; and</TD></TR></TABLE>
  
  <P STYLE="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;</P>
  
  <TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
  <TD STYLE="width: 0.5in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in">(d)</TD><TD>The description of the Company&rsquo;s Common Stock contained in its Registration Statement on <A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1606366/000134100414000622/form8a12b.htm">Form 8-A</A> filed with the Commission
  on July 22, 2014, as modified by the description of the Company&rsquo;s Common Stock contained in Exhibit 4.1 to the 2024 Form&nbsp;10-K,
  and any other amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.</TD></TR></TABLE>
  
  <P STYLE="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;</P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">All documents subsequently filed by the Company
  pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &ldquo;Exchange Act&rdquo;), prior
  to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all
  securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof
  from the date of filing of such documents; provided, however, that documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed
  in accordance with Commission rules shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement. Any statement contained
  herein or in a document, all or a portion of which is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, shall be deemed to
  be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other
  subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any
  such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or amended, to constitute a part of this Registration
  Statement.</P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>
  
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  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>
  
  <P STYLE="margin: 0"> <B>Item 8.</B> <B>Exhibits.</B></P>
  
  
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">The following exhibits are filed herewith or incorporated
  by reference as part of this Registration Statement:</P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>
  
  <TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
    <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
      <TD STYLE="border-bottom: Black 1.5pt solid; width: 9%"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt"><B><U STYLE="text-decoration: none">Exhibit No.</U></B></FONT></TD>
      <TD STYLE="padding-bottom: 1.5pt; width: 1%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="border-bottom: Black 1.5pt solid; width: 90%"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt"><B><U STYLE="text-decoration: none">Description</U></B></FONT></TD></TR>
    <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(204,238,255)">
      <TD><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">4.1</FONT></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD><A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1606366/000121390025051311/ea024478001ex3-1_elpollo.htm"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.<SUP>(1)</SUP></FONT></A></TD></TR>
    <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top; background-color: White">
      <TD><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">4.2</FONT></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt"><A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1606366/000160636624000002/loco-20240130xex3d1.htm">Amended and Restated By-Laws of El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.<SUP>(2)</SUP></A></FONT></TD></TR>
    <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(204,238,255)">
      <TD><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">5.1</FONT></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt"><A HREF="ea024477701ex5-1_elpollo.htm">Opinion of Vedder Price P.C.</A></FONT></TD></TR>
    <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top; background-color: White">
      <TD><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">23.1</FONT></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt"><A HREF="ea024477701ex23-1_elpollo.htm">Consent of BDO USA P.C.</A></FONT></TD></TR>
    <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(204,238,255)">
      <TD><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">23.2</FONT></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt"><A HREF="ea024477701ex5-1_elpollo.htm">Consent of Vedder Price P.C. (included as part of Exhibit 5.1)</A></FONT></TD></TR>
    <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top; background-color: White">
      <TD><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">99.1</FONT></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt"><A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1606366/000160636625000018/loco-20250529xdef14a.htm#AppendixB">Equity Incentive Plan, as amended<SUP>(3)</SUP></A></FONT></TD></TR>
    <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(204,238,255)">
      <TD><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">107</FONT></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt"><A HREF="ea024477701ex-fee_elpollo.htm">Filing Fee Table</A></FONT></TD></TR>
    </TABLE>
  <P STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</P>
  
  <TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; width: 100%"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top; text-align: justify">
  <TD STYLE="width: 0in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in; text-align: left">(1)</TD><TD STYLE="text-align: left">Filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company&rsquo;s Current Report on
  Form 8-K filed with the Commission on June&nbsp;5, 2025 and incorporated herein by reference.</TD>
  </TR></TABLE>
  
  <TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; width: 100%"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top; text-align: justify">
  <TD STYLE="width: 0in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in; text-align: left">(2)</TD><TD STYLE="text-align: left">Filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company&rsquo;s Current Report on
  Form 8-K filed with the Commission on February&nbsp;2, 2024 and incorporated herein by reference.</TD>
  </TR></TABLE>
  
  <TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; width: 100%"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top; text-align: justify">
  <TD STYLE="width: 0in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in; text-align: left">(3)</TD><TD STYLE="text-align: left">Included as Appendix&nbsp;B to the Company&rsquo;s Definitive
  Proxy Statement filed with the Commission on April&nbsp;17, 2025 and incorporated herein by reference.</TD>
  </TR></TABLE>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>
  
  <!-- Field: Page; Sequence: 5; Value: 1 -->
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  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>
  
  
  
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center"><B>SIGNATURES</B></P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 2.25pt 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities
  Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for
  filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized,
  in the City of Costa Mesa, State of California, on June&nbsp;5, 2025</P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>
  
  <TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
    <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD COLSPAN="2"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt"><B>EL POLLO LOCO HOLDINGS, INC.</B></FONT></TD></TR>
    <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD COLSPAN="2">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
    <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
      <TD STYLE="width: 60%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="width: 4%"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">By:</FONT></TD>
      <TD STYLE="border-bottom: Black 1.5pt solid; width: 36%"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">/s/ Elizabeth Williams</FONT></TD></TR>
    <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">Elizabeth Williams</FONT></TD></TR>
    <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">Chief Executive Officer</FONT></TD></TR>
    </TABLE>
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 4.5pt 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center"><B>POWERS OF ATTORNEY</B></P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 2.25pt 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">Each person whose signature appears below constitutes
  and appoints Elizabeth Williams and Anne Jollay, and each of them, as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full
  power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to do any
  and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which said attorneys-in-fact may deem necessary or advisable to comply
  with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the &ldquo;Securities Act&rdquo;), and any rules, regulations and requirements of the Securities
  and Exchange Commission in respect thereof, in connection with the filing under the Securities Act of one or more Registration Statements
  on Form S-8, including the power and authority to sign on the undersigned&rsquo;s behalf the accompanying Registration Statement on Form
  S-8 (in respect of El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. Equity Incentive Plan) and any and all amendments, post-effective amendments, exhibits
  thereto and other documents in connection therewith, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection
  therewith, with the Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and every
  act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or
  could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his or her substitute or substitutes,
  may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.</P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities
  Act, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated:</P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>
  
  <TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
    <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center; border-bottom: Black 1.5pt solid; white-space: nowrap; width: 35%">
      <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center"><B>Name</B></P></TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center; padding-bottom: 1.5pt; width: 1%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center; border-bottom: Black 1.5pt solid; white-space: nowrap; width: 45%">
      <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center"><B>Title</B></P></TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center; padding-bottom: 1.5pt; width: 1%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center; border-bottom: Black 1.5pt solid; white-space: nowrap; width: 18%">
      <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center"><B>Date</B></P></TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD COLSPAN="2">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD COLSPAN="2">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
    <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
      <TD STYLE="border-bottom: Black 1.5pt solid">
      <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">/s/ Elizabeth
      Williams</P>
      <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"></P></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">Chief Executive Officer and Director</FONT></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">June&nbsp;5, 2025</FONT></TD></TR>
    <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">Elizabeth Williams</FONT></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">(Principal Executive Officer)</FONT></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD COLSPAN="2">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD COLSPAN="2">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
    <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
      <TD STYLE="border-bottom: Black 1.5pt solid">
      <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">/s/ Ira Fils</P>
      <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"></P></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">Chief Financial Officer </FONT></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">June&nbsp;5, 2025</FONT></TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">Ira Fils</FONT></TD>
      <TD STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)</FONT></TD>
      <TD STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD COLSPAN="2">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD COLSPAN="2">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
    <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
      <TD STYLE="border-bottom: Black 1.5pt solid">
      <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">/s/ William
      R. Floyd</P>
      <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"></P></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">Chairperson and Director</FONT></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">June&nbsp;5, 2025</FONT></TD></TR>
    <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">William R. Floyd</FONT></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD COLSPAN="2">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD COLSPAN="2">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
    <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
      <TD STYLE="border-bottom: Black 1.5pt solid">
      <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">/s/ Douglas J.
      Babb</P>
      <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"></P></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">Director</FONT></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">June&nbsp;5, 2025</FONT></TD></TR>
    <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">Douglas J. Babb</FONT></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
    <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
    <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
      <TD STYLE="border-bottom: Black 1.5pt solid">
      <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">/s/ Samuel
      N. Borgese</P>
      <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"></P></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">Director</FONT></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">June&nbsp;5, 2025</FONT></TD></TR>
    <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">Samuel N. Borgese</FONT></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD COLSPAN="2">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD COLSPAN="2">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
    <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
      <TD STYLE="border-bottom: Black 1.5pt solid">
      <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">/s/ Mark
      Buller</P>
      <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"></P></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">Director</FONT></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">June&nbsp;5, 2025</FONT></TD></TR>
    <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">Mark Buller</FONT></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD COLSPAN="2">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD COLSPAN="2">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
    <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
      <TD STYLE="border-bottom: Black 1.5pt solid">
      <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">/s/ Nancy
      Faginas-Cody</P>
      <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"></P></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">Director</FONT></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">June&nbsp;5, 2025</FONT></TD></TR>
    <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">Nancy Faginas-Cody</FONT></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
    <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
    <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
      <TD STYLE="border-bottom: Black 1.5pt solid">
      <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">/s/
      Deborah Gonzalez</P>
      <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"></P></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">Director</FONT></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">June&nbsp;5, 2025</FONT></TD></TR>
    <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">Deborah Gonzalez</FONT></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
    <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
    <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
      <TD STYLE="border-bottom: Black 1.5pt solid; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">/s/ Joe Taylor</FONT></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">Director</FONT></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">June&nbsp;5, 2025</FONT></TD></TR>
    <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">Joe Taylor</FONT></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD STYLE="text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
    </TABLE>
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>
  
  <P STYLE="text-align: center; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt">II-3</P>
  
  <!-- Field: Rule-Page --><DIV STYLE="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; width: 100%"><DIV STYLE="font-size: 1pt; border-top: Black 1.5pt solid">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV><!-- Field: /Rule-Page -->
  
  <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>
  
  </BODY>
  </HTML>
metadata_documents: [{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "ea0244777-s8_elpollo.htm", "description": "REGISTRATION STATEMENT", "secsgml_size_bytes": 40133}]
metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.", "cik": "0001606366", "assigned-sic": "5812", "organization-name": "07 Trade & Services", "ein": "203563182", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-287800", "film-number": "251027023"}, "business-address": {"street1": "3535 HARBOR BOULEVARD", "street2": "SUITE 100", "city": "COSTA MESA", "state": "CA", "zip": "92626", "phone": "7145995000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "3535 HARBOR BOULEVARD", "street2": "SUITE 100", "city": "COSTA MESA", "state": "CA", "zip": "92626"}}
text: As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 5, 2025.
  Registration No. 333-
  UNITED STATES
  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
  WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
  FORM S-8
  REGISTRATION STATEMENT
  UNDER
  THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
  EL POLLO LOCO HOLDINGS, INC.
  (Exact name of registrant as specified in its
  charter)
  Delaware
  20-356182
  (State or other jurisdiction of
  incorporation or organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer
  Identification No.)
  3535 Harbor Blvd., Suite 100
  Costa Mesa, California 92626
  (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip
  Code)
  El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. Equity Incentive
  Plan
  (Full title of the plan)
  Anne Jollay
  Chief Legal and People Officer
  El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.
  3535 Harbor Blvd., Suite 100
  Costa Mesa, California 92626
  (714) 599-5000
  (Name, address, and telephone number, including
  area code, of agent for service)
  Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated
  filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions
  of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and "emerging
  growth company" in Rule 12b–2 of the Exchange Act.
  Large accelerated filer
  ☐
  Accelerated filer
  ☒
  Non-accelerated filer
  ☐
  Smaller reporting company
  ☐
  Emerging growth company
  ☐
  If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant
  has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant
  to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.
  ☐
  EXPLANATORY NOTE
  This Registration Statement is filed by the Registrant
  to register additional securities issuable pursuant to the El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (the "Plan"),
  and consists of only those items required by General Instruction E to Form S-8. In accordance with General Instruction E of Form
  S-8, the contents of each of the Company's Registration Statements on Form S-8 filed with the Commission on
  August 6, 2018
  (File
  No. 333-226621),
  September 20, 2021
  (File No. 333-259661) and
  May 29, 2024
  (File No. 333-279794) are incorporated herein by
  reference.
  PART I
  INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE
  SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
  The document(s) containing the information specified
  in Part I of Form S-8 will be sent or given to participants as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
  (the "Securities Act").
  1
  PART II
  INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE
  REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8
  Item 3.
  Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference
  The following documents of the Company filed with
  the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") are incorporated herein by reference:
  (a)
  The Company's Annual Report on
  Form 10-K
  for its fiscal year ended December 25, 2024, filed with the Commission on March 7,
  2025 ("2024 Form 10-K");
  (b)
  The Company's Quarterly Report on
  Form 10-Q
  for its fiscal quarter ended March 26, 2025, filed with the Commission on May 2,
  2025;
  (c)
  The Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on
  January 13. 2025
  ,
  April 7, 2025
  and
  June 5, 2025
  , except as to information furnished under Items 2.02 and 7.01 thereunder; and
  (d)
  The description of the Company's Common Stock contained in its Registration Statement on
  Form 8-A
  filed with the Commission
  on July 22, 2014, as modified by the description of the Company's Common Stock contained in Exhibit 4.1 to the 2024 Form 10-K,
  and any other amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.
  All documents subsequently filed by the Company
  pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), prior
  to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all
  securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof
  from the date of filing of such documents; provided, however, that documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed
  in accordance with Commission rules shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement. Any statement contained
  herein or in a document, all or a portion of which is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, shall be deemed to
  be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other
  subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any
  such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or amended, to constitute a part of this Registration
  Statement.
  II-
  1
  Item 8.
  Exhibits.
  The following exhibits are filed herewith or incorporated
  by reference as part of this Registration Statement:
  Exhibit No.
  Description
  4.1
  Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.
  (1)
  4.2
  Amended and Restated By-Laws of El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.
  (2)
  5.1
  Opinion of Vedder Price P.C.
  23.1
  Consent of BDO USA P.C.
  23.2
  Consent of Vedder Price P.C. (included as part of Exhibit 5.1)
  99.1
  Equity Incentive Plan, as amended
  (3)
  107
  Filing Fee Table
  (1)
  Filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Current Report on
  Form 8-K filed with the Commission on June 5, 2025 and incorporated herein by reference.
  (2)
  Filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Current Report on
  Form 8-K filed with the Commission on February 2, 2024 and incorporated herein by reference.
  (3)
  Included as Appendix B to the Company's Definitive
  Proxy Statement filed with the Commission on April 17, 2025 and incorporated herein by reference.
  II-
  2
  SIGNATURES
  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities
  Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for
  filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized,
  in the City of Costa Mesa, State of California, on June 5, 2025
  EL POLLO LOCO HOLDINGS, INC.
  By:
  /s/ Elizabeth Williams
  Elizabeth Williams
  Chief Executive Officer
  POWERS OF ATTORNEY
  Each person whose signature appears below constitutes
  and appoints Elizabeth Williams and Anne Jollay, and each of them, as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full
  power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to do any
  and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which said attorneys-in-fact may deem necessary or advisable to comply
  with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and any rules, regulations and requirements of the Securities
  and Exchange Commission in respect thereof, in connection with the filing under the Securities Act of one or more Registration Statements
  on Form S-8, including the power and authority to sign on the undersigned's behalf the accompanying Registration Statement on Form
  S-8 (in respect of El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. Equity Incentive Plan) and any and all amendments, post-effective amendments, exhibits
  thereto and other documents in connection therewith, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection
  therewith, with the Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and every
  act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or
  could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his or her substitute or substitutes,
  may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities
  Act, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
  Name
  Title
  Date
  /s/ Elizabeth
      Williams
  Chief Executive Officer and Director
  June 5, 2025
  Elizabeth Williams
  (Principal Executive Officer)
  /s/ Ira Fils
  Chief Financial Officer
  June 5, 2025
  Ira Fils
  (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
  /s/ William
      R. Floyd
  Chairperson and Director
  June 5, 2025
  William R. Floyd
  /s/ Douglas J.
      Babb
  Director
  June 5, 2025
  Douglas J. Babb
  /s/ Samuel
      N. Borgese
  Director
  June 5, 2025
  Samuel N. Borgese
  /s/ Mark
      Buller
  Director
  June 5, 2025
  Mark Buller
  /s/ Nancy
      Faginas-Cody
  Director
  June 5, 2025
  Nancy Faginas-Cody
  /s/
      Deborah Gonzalez
  Director
  June 5, 2025
  Deborah Gonzalez
  /s/ Joe Taylor
  Director
  June 5, 2025
  Joe Taylor
  II-3