Mark your calendars for June 25, 2026
COSTA MESA, Calif., June 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- El Pollo Loco, Inc., the nation's leading fire–grilled chicken restaurant chain, has heard the calls loud and clear. After years of fans asking for the return of a beloved classic, El Pollo Loco is thrilled to announce that the BBQ Black Beans are officially coming back. The smoky-sweet, fan-favorite side dish returns to the menu, for a limited time only, on Thursday, June 25, available at participating El Pollo Loco restaurants nationwide.
Inside the rollout
Why it matters
For industry operators, this is another data point in the structural change reshaping the food sector. Watch for follow-on moves from competitors and reactions from key channel partners in the coming quarters.
Mark your calendars for June 25, 2026
COSTA MESA, Calif., June 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- El Pollo Loco, Inc., the nation's leading fire–grilled chicken restaurant chain, has heard the calls loud and clear. After years of fans asking for the return of a beloved classic, El Pollo Loco is thrilled to announce that the BBQ Black Beans are officially coming back. The smoky-sweet, fan-favorite side dish returns to the menu, for a limited time only, on Thursday, June 25, available at participating El Pollo Loco restaurants nationwide.
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Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.