Exhibit
99.1





EPL
Intermediate, Inc. Announces Results for the


13
Weeks and 39 Weeks Ended September 30, 2009





COSTA
MESA, CA — (BUSINESS WIRE) – November 16, 2009 - EPL Intermediate, Inc. (“El
Pollo Loco” or the “Company”), parent company of El Pollo Loco, Inc., today
reported results for its 13 weeks third quarter and 39 weeks ended September 30,
2009.  For purposes of simplicity, the Company has described its third
quarters ended September 30, 2009 and September 24, 2008 as September 30, 2009
and September 30, 2008, respectively.





El Pollo
Loco reported operating revenue for the 13-week third quarter ended September
30, 2009 of $68.5 million, which is a decrease of $6.4 million, or 8.5%, below
operating revenue for the 13-week quarter ended September 30, 2008 of $74.9
million.  Operating revenue includes sales at company-operated stores
and franchise revenue.  The decrease in company-operated restaurant
revenue was primarily attributed to a 9.1% decrease in company-operated
same-store sales for the third quarter of 2009 compared to the third quarter of
2008.  The decrease was also due to lost sales of $0.7 million from
the closure of three company-operated restaurants in 2008 and one
company-operated restaurant in 2009, partially offset by an increase in
restaurant revenue of $0.1 million from five restaurants opened in 2008 and by
$0.7 million from three restaurants opened in 2009.





Franchise
revenue decreased $0.4 million, or 9.0%, to $4.8 million for the 13 weeks ended
September 30, 2009 from $5.2 million for the 13 weeks ended September 30,
2008.  The decrease is due primarily to lower royalties and percentage
rent income, which are based on sales, resulting from an 11.0% decrease in
franchise-operated same-store sales for the 2009 period compared to the 2008
period.





Same-store
sales for the system (includes both company and franchise locations) decreased
10.1% in the third quarter of 2009.  Restaurants enter the comparable
restaurant base for same-store sales the first full week after that restaurant’s
15-month anniversary.





Commenting
on results for the third quarter of 2009, Stephen E. Carley, president and CEO
of El Pollo Loco, Inc. said, “Without a doubt we experienced our most
challenging quarter to date.  The depressed economy and disproportionately
high level of unemployment in our core markets, and in particular among
Hispanics which are a key demographic for our brand, contributed to lower
traffic frequency and average check.  Our efforts to build traffic and
average check with promotions during the third quarter did not deliver the
results we were looking for and reinforced the dramatic impact the economy is
having on consumers’ spending decisions.  We continue to be keenly focused
on striking the right balance between value and check performance.”





The
Company had a net loss for the 13 weeks ended September 30, 2009 of $5.0 million
compared to net income of $48,000 for the 13 weeks ended September 30,
2008.


1





Operating
revenue for the 39-week period ended September 30, 2009 was $211.8 million,
which was a decrease of $10.7 million, or 4.8%, from operating revenues for the
39 weeks ended September 30, 2008 of $222.5 million.




Same-store
sales for the system decreased 7.6% for the 39 weeks ended September 30,
2009.  This was comprised of a decrease of 7.2% in company-operated
same-store sales and an 8.0% decrease in franchise-operated same store sales for
the 39 weeks ended September 30, 2009.




The
company had a net loss for the 39 weeks ended September 30, 2009 of $33.5
million compared to a net loss of $6.0 million for the 39 weeks ended September
30, 2008.  The 2009 loss included an income tax expense of $23.0
million as the Company recorded a valuation allowance of $21.3 million against
its deferred tax assets in the second quarter of 2009.  The Company
had an income tax benefit of $4.1 million for the 39-week period ended September
30, 2008.




Commenting
on the remainder of the year and beyond, Carley said, “Our entire system is
focused on turning this difficult time into a defining chapter for our brand by
aligning our employees, franchisees and business partners around a brand
optimization platform that leverages our grilling expertise, focuses on
exceeding our guests’ expectations, and offers promotions that resonate with
consumers seeking fresh, healthful, tasty food for themselves and their families
during these tough economic times.”





Restaurant
count changes for the 39 weeks ended September 30, 2009 are as
follows:





Company
                                      Stores
                                    
                                    
                                    Franchised
                                      Stores
                                    
                                    
                                    TotalDecember
      31, 2008
                                    
                                    
                                    165
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    248
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    413Q1-
      Opened
                                    
                                    
                                    1
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    3
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    4Q1-
      Closed
                                    
                                    
                                    -
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    -
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    -At
      March 31, 2009
                                    
                                    
                                    166
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    251
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    417Q2-
      Opened
                                    
                                    
                                    1
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    1
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    2Q2-
      Closed
                                    
                                    
                                    -
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    (2
                                    )
                                    
                                    
                                    (2
                                    )At
      June 30, 2009
                                    
                                    
                                    167
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    250
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    417Q3-
      Opened
                                    
                                    
                                    1
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    2
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    3Q3-Purchased/Sold
                                    
                                    
                                    4
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    (4
                                    )
                                    
                                    
                                    -Q3-
      Closed
                                    
                                    
                                    (1
                                    )
                                    
                                    
                                    (4
                                    )
                                    
                                    
                                    (5
                                    )At
      September 30, 2009
                                    
                                    
                                    171
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    244
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    415




2





Addressing
the Company’s store growth, Carley said, “We anticipate fewer restaurant
openings for both the Company and our franchisees in 2010 compared to this year,
due in part to the difficulty franchisees continue to have in obtaining
financing in this challenging economy and the overall impact the economic crisis
has had on our business.  Despite these challenges, together with our
franchisees we have opened nine restaurants to date this year: four restaurants
in the first quarter, two restaurants in the second quarter, three restaurants
in the third quarter, and three additional restaurants are expected to open in
the fourth quarter of 2009.  The nine new locations are comprised of
four restaurants in California, one in Nevada, one in Illinois, one in Virginia,
and our first El Pollo Loco restaurants in the states of New Jersey and
Missouri.  Of the three stores expected to open in the fourth quarter
of 2009, one company store already opened in California, one franchise store
opened in Oregon, and another franchise store is expected to open in
California.  We also acquired four Atlanta area El Pollo Loco
restaurants in September of 2009 from our franchise group in the region, which
closed its remaining five El Pollo Loco restaurants.  We are excited
about operating these four centrally located restaurants in the Atlanta area and
look forward to exploring opportunities to expand in the market.”





System-wide
Sales




Included
above is system-wide same-store sales information. System-wide sales are a
financial measure that includes sales at all company-owned stores and
franchise-owned stores, as reported by franchisees. Management uses system-wide
sales information internally in connection with store development decisions,
planning and budgeting analyses. Management believes system-wide sales
information is useful in assessing consumer acceptance of the Company’s brand
and facilitates an understanding of financial performance as the Company’s
franchisees pay royalties and contribute to advertising pools based on a
percentage of their sales.




Safe Harbor
Statement




This news
release contains forward-looking statements, which are statements that do not
relate solely to historical fact.  They include, but are not limited
to, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results,
performance, achievements or events.  They may contain words such as
“believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “intend,” “project,” “plan,”
“will,” “should,” “may,” “could” or words or phrases of similar
meaning.  The statements reflect management's current expectations
regarding future events.  Factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking
statements include the adverse impact of economic conditions on our operating
results and financial condition, on our ability to comply with our debt
covenants and on our ability to refinance our existing debt or to obtain
additional financing; our substantial level of indebtedness; food-borne-illness
incidents; negative publicity, whether or not valid; increases in the cost of
chicken;  our dependence upon frequent deliveries of food and other
supplies; our vulnerability to changes in consumer preferences and economic
conditions; our sensitivity to events and conditions in the greater Los Angeles
area, our largest market; our ability to compete successfully with other quick
service and fast casual restaurants; our ability to expand into new markets; our
reliance on our franchisees, who have also been adversely impacted by the
economic crisis; matters relating to labor laws and the adverse impact of
related litigation, including wage and hour class actions; our ability to
support our expanding franchise system; our ability to renew leases at the end
of their term; the impact of applicable federal, state or local government
regulations; our ability to protect our name and logo and other proprietary
information; litigation we face in connection with our operations; and other
risk factors listed from time to time in the Company's reports filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.  Statements about the Company’s
past performance are not necessarily indicative of its future
results.  The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or
revise any forward-looking statement, whether as the result of new information,
future events or otherwise.


3





About the
Company





El Pollo
Loco® is the nation’s leading restaurant concept specializing in flame-grilled
chicken.  Headquartered in Costa Mesa, California, El Pollo Loco, Inc.
operates a restaurant system comprised of 171 company-operated and 244
franchised restaurants (as of September 30, 2009) located primarily in
California, with additional restaurants in Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut,
Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Texas,
Utah and Virginia.  El Pollo Loco’s menu features the Company’s
signature citrus-marinated, flame-grilled chicken in individual and family-size
meals, along with a variety of contemporary, Mexican-inspired
entrees.  Such entrees contain the Company’s signature chicken as the
central ingredient and include Pollo Bowl® entrees, pollo salads, signature
grilled burritos, tacos, and chicken tortilla soup.  Chicken meals are
served with a choice of corn or flour tortillas, freshly-prepared salsas and an
assortment of side orders.  For more information about the Company,
visit www.elpolloloco.com.





Contacts:
            Gary Campanaro
            Julie WeeksChief Financial Officer
            Vice President of CommunicationsEl Pollo Loco, Inc.
            El Pollo Loco, Inc.714.599.5155
            714.599.5150gcampanaro@elpolloloco.com
            jweeks@elpolloloco.com




4





EPL
INTERMEDIATE, INC.


(A
Wholly Owned Subsidiary of El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.)





CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)


(Amounts in thousands)








13
      Weeks Ended September 30,
                    
                    
                    39
      Weeks Ended September 30,2008
                    
                    
                    2009
                    
                    
                    2008
                    
                    
                    2009OPERATING
      REVENUE:Restaurant
      revenue
                    
                    $
                    69,653
                    
                    
                    $
                    63,740
                    
                    
                    $
                    206,806
                    
                    
                    $
                    197,444Franchise
      revenue
                    
                    
                    5,232
                    
                    
                    
                    4,764
                    
                    
                    
                    15,644
                    
                    
                    
                    14,357Total
      operating revenue
                    
                    
                    74,885
                    
                    
                    
                    68,504
                    
                    
                    
                    222,450
                    
                    
                    
                    211,801OPERATING
      EXPENSES:Product
      cost
                    
                    
                    22,711
                    
                    
                    
                    20,587
                    
                    
                    
                    66,948
                    
                    
                    
                    63,747Payroll
      and benefits
                    
                    
                    18,363
                    
                    
                    
                    16,621
                    
                    
                    
                    54,506
                    
                    
                    
                    52,391Depreciation
      and amortization
                    
                    
                    3,214
                    
                    
                    
                    3,015
                    
                    
                    
                    9,305
                    
                    
                    
                    8,651Other
      operating expenses
                    
                    
                    24,000
                    
                    
                    
                    23,544
                    
                    
                    
                    81,667
                    
                    
                    
                    74,090Total
      operating expenses
                    
                    
                    68,288
                    
                    
                    
                    63,767
                    
                    
                    
                    212,426
                    
                    
                    
                    198,879OPERATING
      INCOME
                    
                    
                    6,597
                    
                    
                    
                    4,737
                    
                    
                    
                    10,024
                    
                    
                    
                    12,922INTEREST
      EXPENSE—Net
                    
                    
                    6,107
                    
                    
                    
                    9,075
                    
                    
                    
                    19,724
                    
                    
                    
                    23,501OTHER
      EXPENSE
                    
                    
                    399
                    
                    
                    
                    -
                    
                    
                    
                    399
                    
                    
                    
                    443OTHER
      INCOME
                    
                    
                    -
                    
                    
                    
                    -
                    
                    
                    
                    -
                    
                    
                    
                    (452
                    )INCOME
      (LOSS) BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES
                    
                    
                    91
                    
                    
                    
                    (4,338
                    )
                    
                    
                    (10,099
                    )
                    
                    
                    (10,570
                    )PROVISION
      (BENEFIT) FOR INCOME TAXES
                    
                    
                    43
                    
                    
                    
                    675
                    
                    
                    
                    (4,105
                    )
                    
                    
                    22,964NET
      INCOME (LOSS)
                    
                    $
                    48
                    
                    
                    $
                    (5,013
                    )
                    
                    $
                    (5,994
                    )
                    
                    $
                    (33,534
                    )


5





13
      Weeks Ended
                
                
                39
      Weeks EndedSeptember 30,
                
                
                September 30,2008
                
                
                2009
                
                
                2008
                
                
                2009Operating
      Statement Data:Restaurant
      revenue
                
                
                100.0
                %
                
                
                100.0
                %
                
                
                100.0
                %
                
                
                100.0Product
      cost
                
                
                32.6
                
                
                
                32.3
                
                
                
                32.4
                
                
                
                32.3Payroll
      and benefits
                
                
                26.4
                
                
                
                26.1
                
                
                
                26.4
                
                
                
                26.5Depreciation
      and amortization
                
                
                4.6
                
                
                
                4.7
                
                
                
                4.5
                
                
                
                4.4Other
      operating expenses
                
                
                34.5
                
                
                
                36.9
                
                
                
                39.5
                
                
                
                37.5Operating
      income
                
                
                9.5
                
                
                
                7.4
                
                
                
                4.8
                
                
                
                6.5Interest
      expense-net
                
                
                8.8
                
                
                
                14.2
                
                
                
                9.5
                
                
                
                11.9Other
      expense
                
                
                0.6
                
                
                
                0.0
                
                
                
                0.2
                
                
                
                0.2Other
      income
                
                
                0.0
                
                
                
                0.0
                
                
                
                0.0
                
                
                
                (0.2
                )Income
      (loss) before provision for income taxes
                
                
                0.1
                
                
                
                (6.8
                )
                
                
                (4.9
                )
                
                
                (5.4
                )Provision
      (benefit) for income taxes
                
                
                0.1
                
                
                
                1.1
                
                
                
                (2.0
                )
                
                
                11.6Net
      income (loss)
                
                
                0.1
                
                
                
                (7.9
                )
                
                
                (2.9
                )
                
                
                (17.0
                )Supplementary
      Operating Statement Data:Restaurant
      other operating expense
                
                
                22.9
                
                
                
                24.7
                
                
                
                22.5
                
                
                
                23.6Franchise
      expense
                
                
                1.5
                
                
                
                1.5
                
                
                
                1.5
                
                
                
                1.5General
      and administrative expense
                
                
                10.1
                
                
                
                10.7
                
                
                
                15.5
                
                
                
                12.4Total
      other operating expenses
                
                
                34.5
                
                
                
                36.9
                
                
                
                39.5
                
                
                
                37.5




6