**Exhibit
      99.1**




**EPL
      Intermediate, Inc. Announces Results**


**for
      the 13 Weeks and 26 Weeks Ended June 30, 2008**




COSTA
      MESA, CA — (BUSINESS WIRE) — August 11, 2008 — EPL Intermediate, Inc. (“El
      Pollo Loco” or the “Company”), parent company of El Pollo Loco, Inc., today
      reported results for its 13-week second quarter and 26 weeks ended June 25,
      2008. For simplicity of presentation, the Company has described the 13-week
      second quarters and 26-week periods ended June 27, 2007 and June 25, 2008 as
      June 30, 2007 and June 30, 2008, respectively.




El
      Pollo
      Loco reported operating revenues for the 13-week second quarter ended June
      30,
      2008 of $76.4 million, an increase of $6.7 million, or 9.6%, over operating
      revenues for the 13-week second quarter ended June 30, 2007 of $69.7 million.
      Operating revenues include sales at both company-operated stores and franchise
      revenues.




Same
      store sales for the system, which includes sales from both company-operated
      and
      franchised stores, increased 1.9% in the second quarter of fiscal 2008.
      Restaurants enter the comparable restaurant base for same-store sales the first
      full week after that restaurant’s 15-month anniversary.




Included
      in the second quarter of 2008 is an expense of $10.7 million to settle
      litigation between El Pollo Loco Mexico, S. A. de C.V. (“EPL- Mexico”) and El
      Pollo Loco, Inc.  As a result of this expense, the Company had an
      operating loss of $3.0 million in the second quarter of 2008, compared to
      operating income of $8.6 million in the second quarter of 2007. Excluding the
      settlement expense, the Company’s operating income would have decreased $0.9, or
      10.7%, to $7.7 million in the second quarter of 2008 compared to $8.6
      million in the second quarter of 2007.




In
      2004,
      EPL- Mexico sued El Pollo Loco in the U.S. District Court alleging breach of
      an
      agreement by El Pollo Loco to exploit intellectual property and to develop
      restaurants in Mexico. In January 2008, El Pollo Loco, Inc. appealed a $21.3
      million judgment in favor of EPL-Mexico. The parties agreed to settle in June
      2008. The settlement amount was paid by Chicken Acquisition Corp., the Company’s
      indirect shareholder, which was treated as a capital contribution to the
      Company. The payment to EPL-Mexico is included as a general and administrative
      expense.




Items
      impacting the comparison of operating income include:




·
            an
                increase in product cost of $2.5 million, or 12.5%, to $22.6 million
                for
                the 13 weeks ended June 30, 2008 from $20.1 million for the 13 weeks
                ended
                June 30, 2007. These costs, as a percentage of restaurant revenue,
                increased 1.0% to 32.0% during the second quarter of 2008 compared
                to
                31.0% for the second quarter of 2007. The increase is attributed
                to
                increased chicken and commodity costs, along with heavier promotional
                discounting in the current period, partially offset by the benefit
                of the
                menu price increases taken this year.




·
            an
                increase in payroll and benefits expenses of $1.4 million, or 9.0%,
                to
                $18.5 million for the 13 weeks ended June 30, 2008 from $16.9 million
                for
                the 13 weeks ended June 30, 2007. As a percentage of restaurant revenue,
                these costs remained flat at 26.1% for the 2008 and 2007 periods.





·
            an
                increase in restaurant other operating expense (which includes utilities,
                repair and maintenance, advertising, property taxes, occupancy and
                other
                operating expenses) of 1.1% as a percentage of restaurant revenue,
                resulting primarily from higher rent expense and a property tax adjustment
                in the second quarter of 2008. The increase was also due to a 0.5%
                increase in utilities as a percentage of restaurant revenue, which
                was due
                to higher gas prices in the current period.





Higher
      credit card fees of 0.1% as a percentage of restaurant revenue also contributed
      to the increase in restaurant operating expense, partially offset by a decrease
      of 0.4% in advertising expense as a percentage of restaurant revenue.
      Advertising expense each quarter may be above or below our planned annual rate
      of approximately 4%, depending on the timing of marketing promotions and the
      relative weights of media spending.





·
            an
                increase in general and administrative expense of $11.9million,
                or 187.6%, to $18.2 million for the 13 weeks ending June 30, 2008
                from
                $6.3 million for the same period of 2007. The increase is due to
                the $10.7
                million settlement expense, increased salaries and wages of $0.4
                million
                due to increased headcount, and an increase of $0.8 million in legal
                fees
                in the 2008 period, primarily attributed to the Mexico litigation.
                Excluding the settlement expense, general and administrative expense
                in
                the second quarter of 2008 increased $1.1 million, or 17.6%, representing
                10.5% of revenue compared to 9.7% of revenue in the second quarter
                of
                2007.





Interest
      expense, net of interest income, decreased $0.8 million, or 10.2%, to $6.4
      million for the second quarter of 2008 from $7.2 million for the 13 weeks ended
      June 30, 2007. Average debt balances for the second quarter of 2008 decreased
      to
      $250.5 million compared to $265.1 million for the second quarter of 2007, and
      the average interest rate decreased to 9.52% for the 2008 period compared to
      10.52% for the 2007 period.





Our
      provision for income taxes consisted of an income tax benefit of $3.9 million
      and income tax expense of $0.1 million for the 13-week periods ended June 30,
      2008 and 2007, respectively, for an effective tax rate of 41.5% for 2008 and
      6.6% for 2007.





As
      a
      result of the factors above, in particular, the $10.7 million settlement
      expense, the net loss for the second quarter of fiscal 2008 was $5.6 million,
      compared with net income of $1.4 million for the prior year quarter, or (7.9)%
      and 2.1% as a percentage of restaurant revenue, for the 13 weeks ended June
      30,
      2008 and 2007, respectively.





Operating
      revenues for the 26-week period ended June 30, 2008 were $147.6 million, which
      was an increase of $11.1 million, or 8.1%, over operating revenues for the
      26
      weeks ended June 30, 2007 of $136.5 million.




Same
      store sales for the system increased 1.8% for the 26 weeks ended June 30, 2008.


2


Excluding
      the $10.7 million settlement of the Mexico litigation, operating income for
      the
      26 weeks ended June 30, 2008 was $14.1 million, which was a decrease of $2.3
      million, or 13.9%, from operating income of $16.4 million for the 26 weeks
      ended
      June 30, 2007.




Interest
      expense, net of interest income, decreased $0.9 million, or 6.1%, to $13.6
      million for the 26 weeks ended June 30, 2008 from $14.5 million for the 26
      weeks
      ended June 30, 2007. Average debt balances for the 2008 period decreased to
      $256.0 million compared to $266.5 million for the 2007 period, and average
      interest rate decreased to 9.96% for the 2008 period compared to 10.63% for
      the
      2007 period.




The
      provision for income taxes consisted of income tax benefit of $4.1 million
      and
      income tax expense of $0.3 million for the 26 weeks ending June 30, 2008 and
      2007, respectively.




The
      net
      loss for the 26 weeks ended June 30, 2008 was $6.0 million, compared with net
      income of $1.6 million for the 26 weeks ended June 30, 2007, or (4.4)% and
      1.2%
      as a percentage of restaurant revenue, for the 26 weeks ended June 30, 2008
      and
      2007, respectively.




Commenting
      on the year to date 2008 results, Stephen E. Carley, president and CEO of El
      Pollo Loco, Inc. shared, “We continued to deliver positive system-wide sales
      growth in the second quarter of 2008, despite an increasingly competitive QSR
      environment where restaurants continue to battle for consumers struggling with
      the sustained impact of soaring gas prices, escalating food prices, and
      declining home values. In the months ahead, we will continue to provide our
      guests compelling offers that deliver a strong price/value ratio and which
      drive
      frequency and transactions.”




El
      Pollo
      Loco's store count changes for the 26 weeks ended June 30, 2008 are as follows:




**Company**
            
            **Franchised**
              **Stores**
            
            **Total**December
                26, 2007
            
            
            159
            
            
            230
            
            
            389Q1 –
                Opened
            
            
            2
            
            
            2
            
            
            4Q1
                – Closed
            
            
            —
            
            
            (2
            )
            
            (2
            )At
                March 28, 2008
            
            
            161
            
            
            230
            
            
            391Q2
                – Opened
            
            
            3
            
            
            12
            
            
            15Q2
                – Closed
            
            
            —
            
            
            —
            
            
            —At
                June 30, 2008
            
            
            164
            
            
            242
            
            
            406





El
      Pollo
      Loco currently operates restaurants in 13 states: California, Arizona, Nevada,
      Texas, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Utah, Illinois, Georgia, Virginia,
      Massachusetts and Connecticut.





“We
      are
      experiencing impressive momentum as we expand across the nation, despite adverse
      economic and liquidity conditions which have caused some franchisees to delay
      the opening of new restaurants under existing development agreements,” said Mr.
      Carley. “Together with our franchise partners, El Pollo Loco added a net of 17
      restaurants in the first half of 2008 and has since opened four additional
      units. We will continue to fuel our national expansion, both with franchised
      locations and increased emphasis on new company-owned stores, and plan to add
      several more states to our portfolio of restaurants in the coming year.”


3


The
      Company remains poised to open approximately 10 company-operated restaurants
      in
      2008 and a moderately increasing number of company-operated restaurants in
      succeeding years. El Pollo Loco franchisees are expected to open 20 to 25
      restaurants in 2008.





**System-wide
      Sales**




Included
      above are franchise and system-wide same-store sales information. System-wide
      sales is 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. Risk factors
      that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in
      the
      forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, concerns about
      food-borne illnesses; negative publicity, whether or not valid; adverse public
      perception due to the occurrence of avian flu; increases in the cost of chicken;
      our dependence upon frequent deliveries of food and other supplies; our
      sensitivity to events and conditions in the greater Los Angeles area; our
      reliance in part on our franchisees; our vulnerability to changes in consumer
      preferences and economic conditions; our ability to compete successfully with
      other quick service and fast casual restaurants; 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.





**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 164 company-operated and 242 franchised
      restaurants (as of June 30, 2008) located primarily in California, with
      additional restaurants in Arizona, Nevada, Texas, Colorado, Oregon, Washington,
      Utah, Illinois, Georgia, Virginia, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. 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 containing the Company’s signature
      chicken as the central ingredient, including its specialty Pollo Bowl® entrees,
      pollo salads, signature grilled burritos, tacos, quesadillas, Grilled Chicken
      Nachos, 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 .


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**Summary
      of Financial Information**





**EL
      INTERMEDIATE, INC.**


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





**CONDENSED
      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)**


**(Amounts
      in thousands)**





**13 Weeks Ended June 30,**
              
              **26 Weeks Ended June 30,****2007**
              
              **2008**
              
              **2007**
              
              **2008**OPERATING
                  REVENUE:Restaurant
                  revenue
              
              $
              64,975
              
              $
              70,827
              
              $
              127,424
              
              $
              137,153Franchise
                  revenue
              
              
              4,731
              
              
              5,560
              
              
              9,101
              
              
              10,412Total
                  operating revenue
              
              
              69,706
              
              
              76,387
              
              
              136,525
              
              
              147,565OPERATING
                  EXPENSES:Product
                  cost
              
              
              20,130
              
              
              22,643
              
              
              39,331
              
              
              44,237Payroll
                  and benefits
              
              
              16,936
              
              
              18,459
              
              
              33,251
              
              
              36,143Depreciation
                  and amortization
              
              
              2,899
              
              
              3,106
              
              
              5,693
              
              
              6,091Other
                  operating expenses
              
              
              21,115
              
              
              35,200
              
              
              41,826
              
              
              57,667Total
                  operating expenses
              
              
              61,080
              
              
              79,408
              
              
              120,101
              
              
              144,138OPERATING
                  INCOME (LOSS)
              
              
              8,626
              
              
              (3,021
              )
              
              16,424
              
              
              3,427INTEREST
                  EXPENSE—Net
              
              
              7,716
              
              
              6,445
              
              
              14,504
              
              
              13,617INCOME
                  (LOSS) BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES
              
              
              1,450
              
              
              (9,466
              )
              
              1,920
              
              
              (10,190
              )PROVISION
                  (BENEFIT) FOR INCOME TAXES
              
              
              96
              
              
              (3,880
              )
              
              332
              
              
              (4,148
              )NET
                  INCOME (LOSS)
              
              $
              1,354
              
              $
              (5,586
              )
              $
              1,588
              
              $
              (6,042
              )


5





**13 Weeks Ended**
              **June 30,**
            
            **26 Weeks Ended**
              **June 30,****2007**
            
            **2008**
            
            **2007**
            
            **2008****Operating
                Statement Data:**Restaurant
                revenue
            
            
            100.0
            %
            
            100.0
            %
            
            100.0
            %
            
            100.0
            %Product
                cost
            
            
            31.0
            
            
            32.0
            
            
            30.9
            
            
            32.3Payroll
                and benefits
            
            
            26.1
            
            
            26.1
            
            
            26.1
            
            
            26.4Depreciation
                and amortization
            
            
            4.5
            
            
            4.4
            
            
            4.5
            
            
            4.4Other
                operating expenses
            
            
            32.5
            
            
            49.7
            
            
            32.8
            
            
            42.0Operating
                income (loss)
            
            
            13.3
            
            
            (4.3
            )
            
            12.9
            
            
            2.5Interest
                expense
            
            
            11.0
            
            
            9.1
            
            
            11.4
            
            
            9.9Income
                (loss) before income taxes
            
            
            2.2
            
            
            (13.4
            )
            
            1.5
            
            
            (7.4
            )Net
                income (loss)
            
            
            2.1
            
            
            (7.9
            )
            
            1.2
            
            
            (4.4
            )**Supplementary
                Operating Statement Data:**Restaurant
                other operating expense
            
            
            21.5
            
            
            22.6
            
            
            21.3
            
            
            22.4Franchise
                expense
            
            
            1.3
            
            
            1.5
            
            
            1.4
            
            
            1.4General
                and administrative expense
            
            
            9.7
            
            
            25.6
            
            
            10.1
            
            
            18.2Total
                other operating expense
            
            
            32.5
            
            
            49.7
            
            
            32.8
            
            
            42.0




Contacts:
            Joe
                Stein
            Julie
                WeeksChief
                Financial Officer
            Vice
                President of CommunicationsEl
                Pollo Loco, Inc.
            El
                Pollo Loco, Inc.714.599.5155
            714.599.5150jstein@elpolloloco.com
            jweeks@elpolloloco.com


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