Document:

EX-10.26

 Exhibit 10.26 

FORM OF NON-OFFICER DIRECTOR 

RESTRICTED SHARE AGREEMENT 

UNDER EL POLLO LOCO HOLDINGS, INC. 

2014 OMNIBUS EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN 

This Award Agreement (this “Restricted Share Agreement”), dated as of
            , 20            (the “Date of Grant”), is made by and between El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the “Company”) and [            ] (the “Non-Officer Director”). Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the El Pollo
Loco Holdings, Inc. 2014 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (as amended from time to time, the “Plan”). Where the context permits, references to the Company shall include any successor to the Company. 

1. Grant of Restricted Shares. The Company hereby grants to the Non-Officer Director
            Shares (such shares, the “Restricted Shares”), subject to all of the terms and conditions of this Restricted Share Agreement and the Plan. 

2. Lapse of Restrictions. 

(a) Vesting. 
 (i)
General. Except as otherwise set forth in this Section 2(a), the restrictions on Transfer (as defined in Section 6(a) hereof) set forth in Section 2(b) hereof shall lapse with respect 1/3 of the Restricted Shares on each of the
first three anniversaries of the Date of Grant (each anniversary of the Date of Grant, a “Vesting Date”), subject to the continued service of the Non-Officer Director for the Company from the date hereof through the applicable Vesting
Date, and provided that the Non-Officer Director has not given notice of resignation as of such Vesting Date. 
 (ii) Following Certain
Terminations of Service. Subject to the next sentence, upon termination of the Non-Officer Director’s service for the Company for any reason (including the death or Disability of the Non-Officer Director), any Restricted Shares in respect
of which the restrictions on Transfer described in this Section 2 shall not already have lapsed shall be immediately forfeited and neither the Non-Officer Director nor any of the Non-Officer Director’s successors, heirs, assigns, or
personal representatives shall thereafter have any further rights or interests in such Restricted Shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing: 

(x) in the event that the Non-Officer Director’s service for the Company is terminated without Cause, then 100% of the Restricted Shares
that are not vested as of the date of such termination shall immediately vest on the date of such termination of service, and the restrictions on Transfer of such Restricted Shares set out in Section 2(b) shall lapse; provided that if such
termination occurs prior to a Change in Control, then such vesting will be subject to the Non-Officer Director’s execution of a separation agreement prepared by the Company (or any Subsidiary of Affiliate) which includes, inter alia, a
general release of claims; and 

  
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 (y) in the event that the Non-Officer Director’s service with the Company is terminated as
a result of the death or Disability of the Non-Officer Director, then 100% of the Restricted Shares that are not vested as of the date of such termination shall immediately vest, and the restrictions on Transfer of such Restricted Shares set out in
Section 2(b) shall lapse. 
 (b) Restrictions. Until the restrictions on Transfer of the Restricted Shares lapse as provided in
Section 2(a) hereof, or as otherwise provided in the Plan, no Transfer of the Restricted Shares or any of the Non-Officer Director’s rights with respect to the Restricted Shares, whether voluntary or involuntary, by operation of law or
otherwise, shall be permitted. Unless the Administrator determines otherwise, upon any attempt to Transfer Restricted Shares or any rights in respect of Restricted Shares, before the lapse of such restrictions, such Restricted Shares, and all of the
rights related thereto, shall be immediately forfeited. 
 3. Adjustments. Pursuant to Section 5 of the Plan, in the event of a
Change in Capitalization, the Administrator shall make such equitable changes or adjustments to the number and kind of securities or other property (including cash) issued or issuable in respect of outstanding Restricted Shares. 

4. Certain Changes. The Administrator may accelerate the date on which the restrictions on transfer set forth in Section 2(b)
hereof shall lapse or otherwise adjust any of the terms of the Restricted Shares; provided that, subject to Section 5 of the Plan, no action under this Section shall adversely affect the Non-Officer Director’s rights hereunder. 

5. Notices. All notices and other communications under this Restricted Share Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given by
facsimile or first class mail, certified or registered with return receipt requested, and shall be deemed to have been duly given three days after mailing or 24 hours after transmission by facsimile to the respective parties, as follows:
(i) if to the Company, addressed to the Company in care of its Vice President, Legal at the principal executive office of the Company and (ii) if to the Non-Officer Director, using the contact information on file with the Company. Either
party hereto may change such party’s address for notices by notice duly given pursuant hereto. 
 6. Protections Against Violations
of Agreement. 
 (a) Until such time as the Restricted Shares are fully vested in accordance with Section 2(a) hereof, no purported
sale, assignment, mortgage, hypothecation, transfer, charge, pledge, encumbrance, gift, transfer in trust (voting or other) or other disposition of, or creation of a security interest in or lien on, any of the Restricted Shares or any agreement or
commitment to do any of the foregoing (each a “Transfer”) by any holder thereof in violation of the provisions of this Restricted Share Agreement will be valid, except with the prior written consent of the Administrator (such consent shall
be granted or withheld in the sole discretion of the Administrator). 
 (b) In addition to Section 2(b), any purported Transfer of
Restricted Shares or any economic benefit or interest therein in violation of this Restricted Share 

  
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Agreement shall be null and void ab initio, and shall not create any obligation or liability of the Company, and any person purportedly acquiring any Restricted Shares or any economic
benefit or interest therein transferred in violation of this Restricted Share Agreement shall not be entitled to be recognized as a holder of such Shares. 

7. Taxes. 
 (a) The
Non-Officer Director understands that he or she (and not the Company) shall be responsible for any tax liability that may arise as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Restricted Share Agreement. The Company shall not be required to
withhold any amounts in respect of any such taxes. The Non-Officer Director shall promptly notify the Company of any election made pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code. 

(b) A form of such election is attached hereto as Exhibit A. 

THE NON-OFFICER DIRECTOR ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT IS THE NON-OFFICER DIRECTOR’S SOLE RESPONSIBILITY AND NOT THE
COMPANY’S TO FILE TIMELY THE ELECTION UNDER SECTION 83(b) OF THE CODE, EVEN IF THE NON-OFFICER DIRECTOR REQUESTS THE COMPANY OR ITS REPRESENTATIVE TO MAKE THIS FILING ON THE NON-OFFICER DIRECTOR’S BEHALF. 

(c) The Non-Officer Director acknowledges that the tax laws and regulations applicable to the Restricted Shares and the disposition of the
Restricted Shares following vesting are complex and subject to change, and it is the sole responsibility of the Non-Officer Director to obtain his or her own advice as to the tax treatment of the terms of this Restricted Share Agreement. 

BY SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT, THE NON-OFFICER DIRECTOR REPRESENTS THAT HE OR SHE HAS REVIEWED WITH HIS OR HER OWN TAX ADVISORS
THE FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND FOREIGN TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT AND THAT HE OR SHE IS RELYING SOLELY ON SUCH ADVISORS AND NOT ON ANY STATEMENTS OR REPRESENTATIONS OF THE COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS AGENTS. THE
NON-OFFICER DIRECTOR UNDERSTANDS AND AGREES THAT HE OR SHE (AND NOT THE COMPANY) SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY TAX LIABILITY THAT MAY ARISE AS A RESULT OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT. 

8. Failure to Enforce Not a Waiver. The failure of the Company to enforce at any time any provision of this Restricted Share Agreement
shall in no way be construed to be a waiver of such provision or of any other provision hereof. 
 9. Confidentiality. 

  
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 (a) The Non-Officer Director acknowledges that during the period of his service with the Company
he shall have access to the Company’s Confidential Information (as defined below). All books of account, records, systems, correspondence, documents, and any and all other data, in whatever form, concerning or containing any reference to the
works and business of the Company or its affiliated companies shall belong to the Company and shall be given up to the Company whenever the Company requires the Non-Officer Director to do so. The Non-Officer Director agrees that the Non-Officer
Director shall not at any time during the term of the Non-Officer Director’s service or thereafter, without the Company’s prior written consent, disclose to any person (individual or entity) any information or any trade secrets, plans or
other information or data, in whatever form, (including, without limitation, (a) any financing strategies and practices, pricing information and methods, training and operational procedures, advertising, marketing, and sales information or
methodologies or financial information and (b) any Proprietary Information (as defined below)), concerning the Company’s or any of its affiliated companies’ or customers’ practices, businesses, procedures, systems, plans or
policies (collectively, “Confidential Information”), nor shall the Non-Officer Director utilize any such Confidential Information in any way or communicate with or contact any such customer other than in connection with the Non-Officer
Director’s service by the Company. The Non-Officer Director hereby confirms that all Confidential Information constitutes the Company’s exclusive property, and that all of the restrictions on the Non-Officer Director’s activities
contained in this Agreement and such other nondisclosure policies of the Company are required for the Company’s reasonable protection. Confidential Information shall not include any information that has otherwise been disclosed to the public
not in violation of this Agreement. This confidentiality provision shall survive the termination of this Restricted Share Agreement and shall not be limited by any other confidentiality agreements entered into with the Company or any of its
affiliates. 
 (b) With respect to any Confidential Information that constitutes a “trade secret” pursuant to applicable law, the
restrictions described above shall remain in force for so long as the particular information remains a trade secret or for the two year period immediately following termination of the Non-Officer Director’s service for any reason, whichever is
longer. With respect to any Confidential Information that does not constitute a “trade secret” pursuant to applicable law, the restrictions described above shall remain in force during the Non-Officer Director’s service and for the
two year period immediately following termination of Non-Officer Director’s service for any reason. 
 (c) The Non-Officer Director
agrees that the Non-Officer Director shall promptly disclose to the Company in writing all information and inventions generated, conceived or first reduced to practice by him alone or in conjunction with others, during or after working hours, while
in the employ of the Company (all of which is collectively referred to in this Agreement as “Proprietary Information”); provided, however, that such Proprietary Information shall not include (a) any information that has otherwise been
disclosed to the public not in violation of this Agreement and (b) general business knowledge and work skills of the Non-Officer Director, even if developed or improved by the Non-Officer Director while in the employ of the Company. All such
Proprietary Information shall be the exclusive property of the Company and is hereby assigned by the Non-Officer Director to the Company. The Non-Officer Director’s obligation relative to the disclosure to the Company of such Proprietary
Information 

  
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anticipated in this Section shall continue beyond the Non-Officer Director’s termination of service and the Non-Officer Director shall, at the Company’s expense, give the Company all
assistance it reasonably requires to perfect, protect and use its right to the Proprietary Information. 
 10. Governing Law. This
Award Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and to be performed therein. Any suit, action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement, or any
judgment entered by any court in respect of any thereof, shall be brought in any court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Delaware, and the Company and the Non-Officer Director hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts for
the purpose of any such suit, action, proceeding or judgment. The Non-Officer Director and the Company hereby irrevocably waive (i) any objections which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any suit, action or proceeding
arising out of or relating to this Agreement brought in any court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Delaware, (ii) any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in any inconvenient forum
and (iii) any right to a jury trial. 
 11. Incorporation of Plan. The Plan is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part
hereof, and the Restricted Shares and this Restricted Share Agreement shall be subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan and this Restricted Share Agreement. 

12. Amendments; Construction. The Administrator may amend the terms of this Restricted Share Agreement prospectively or retroactively
at any time, but no such amendment shall impair the rights of the Non-Officer Director hereunder without his or her consent. To the extent the terms of Section 9 above conflict with any prior agreement between the parties related to such
subject matter, the terms of Section 9 shall supersede such conflicting terms and control. Headings to Sections of this Restricted Share Agreement are intended for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Restricted Share Agreement
and shall have no affect on the interpretation hereof. 
 13. Survival of Terms. This Restricted Share Agreement shall apply to and
bind the Non-Officer Director and the Company and their respective permitted assignees and transferees, heirs, legatees, executors, administrators and legal successors. 

14. Rights as a Shareholder. During the period until the restrictions on Transfer of the Restricted Share lapse as provided in
Section 2(a) hereof, the Non-Officer Director shall have all the rights of a shareholder with respect to the Restricted Shares save only the right to Transfer the Restricted Shares. Accordingly, the Non-Officer Director shall have the right to
vote the Restricted Shares and to receive any ordinary dividends paid to or made with respect to the Restricted Shares. 
 15. Agreement
Not a Contract for Services. Neither the Plan, the granting of the Restricted Shares, this Restricted Share Agreement nor any other action taken pursuant to the Plan shall constitute or be evidence of any agreement or understanding, express or
implied, that the Non-Officer Director has a right to continue to provide services as an officer, director, 

  
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employee, consultant or advisor of the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate for any period of time or at any specific rate of compensation. 

16. Authority of the Administrator; Disputes. The Administrator shall have full authority to interpret and construe the terms of the
Plan and this Restricted Share Agreement. The determination of the Administrator as to any such matter of interpretation or construction shall be final, binding and conclusive. 

17. Severability. Should any provision of this Restricted Share Agreement be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be
unenforceable, or enforceable only if modified, such holding shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this Restricted Share Agreement, the balance of which shall continue to be binding upon the parties hereto with any such modification (if
any) to become a part hereof and treated as though contained in this original Non-Officer Director Restricted Share Agreement. 
 18.
Acceptance. The Non-Officer Director hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and this Restricted Share Agreement. The Non-Officer Director has read and understands the terms and provisions of the Plan and this Restricted Share
Agreement, and accepts the Restricted Shares subject to all the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Restricted Share Agreement. The Non-Officer Director hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations
of the Administrator upon any questions arising under this Restricted Share Agreement. 
 [Signature Page Follows] 

  
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 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered this Restricted Share
Agreement on the day and year first above written. 
  

			
	EL POLLO LOCO HOLDINGS, INC.
		
	By	 	  

		
	Name	 	  

		
	Title	 	  

	
	[NAME OF NON-OFFICER DIRECTOR]
	
	  

  
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 EXHIBIT A 

ELECTION UNDER SECTION 83(b) 

  
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 Exhibit 10.27 

DIRECTOR AND OFFICER INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT 

AGREEMENT, dated as of
                    , 2014 (this “Agreement”), between El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and
                                         
        (“Indemnitee”). 
 WHEREAS, it is essential to the Company to retain and attract as
directors and officers the most capable persons available; 
 WHEREAS, Indemnitee is a director and/or officer of the Company; 

WHEREAS, both the Company and Indemnitee recognize the increased risk of litigation and other claims being asserted against directors and
officers of public companies in today’s environment; 
 WHEREAS, the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation,
as amended from time to time (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) and Amended and Restated By-Laws, as amended from time to time (the “By-Laws”) require the Company to indemnify and advance expenses to its directors and officers
to the fullest extent permitted by law and Indemnitee has been serving and continues to serve as a director and/or officer of the Company in part in reliance on such Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws; 

WHEREAS, uncertainties as to the availability of indemnification created by recent court decisions may increase the risk that the Company will
be unable to retain and attract as directors and officers the most capable persons available; 
 WHEREAS, the board of directors of the
Company (the “Board”) has determined that the inability of the Company to retain and attract as directors and officers the most capable persons would be detrimental to the interests of the Company and that the Company therefore should seek
to assure such persons that indemnification and insurance coverage will be available in the future; and 
 WHEREAS, in recognition of
Indemnitee’s need for protection against personal liability, and in part to provide Indemnitee with specific contractual assurance that the protection promised by the Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws will be available to Indemnitee
(regardless of, among other things, any amendment to or revocation of such Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws or change in the composition of the Board or acquisition transaction relating to the Company), the Company wishes to provide in this
Agreement for the indemnification of and the advancing of expenses to Indemnitee to the fullest extent (whether partial or complete) permitted by law and as set forth in this Agreement, and to the extent insurance is maintained, for the coverage of
Indemnitee under the directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy of the Company. 
 NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of
the premises and of Indemnitee’s agreement to serve the Company as a director and/or officer directly or, at its request, of another enterprise, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows: 

  
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 1. Certain Definitions. In addition to terms defined elsewhere herein, the following terms
have the following meanings when used in this Agreement: 
  

	 	(a)	Change in Control: shall be deemed to have occurred if (i) any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange
Act”)), other than (A) Trimaran Capital Partners, Freeman Spogli & Co. and their respective affiliates, (B) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or (C) a
corporation or other entity owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of shares of common stock of the Company, is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined
in Rule 13d-3 under said Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 20% or more of the total voting power represented by the Company’s then-outstanding Voting Securities, or (ii) during any period of two
consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board and any new director whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds
(2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof, or
(iii) the stockholders of the Company approve a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other entity other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the Voting Securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto
continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into Voting Securities of the surviving entity) at least 80% of the total voting power represented by the Voting Securities of the Company or such surviving entity
outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation, or the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of (in one transaction or a series of
transactions) all or substantially all of the Company’s assets. 

  

	 	(b)	Claim: means any threatened, asserted, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other, including any arbitration or other alternative dispute
resolution mechanism, or any appeal of any kind thereof, or any inquiry or investigation, whether instituted by (or in the right of) the Company or any governmental agency or any other person or entity, in which Indemnitee was, is, may be or will be
involved as a party, witness or otherwise. 

  

	 	(c)	ERISA: means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. 

  

	 	(d)	 Expenses: include attorneys’ fees and all other direct or indirect costs, expenses and obligations, including judgments, fines, penalties,
interest, 

  
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appeal bonds, amounts paid in settlement with the approval of the Company, and counsel fees and disbursements (including, without limitation, experts’ fees, court costs, retainers, appeal
bond premiums, transcript fees, duplicating, printing and binding costs, as well as telecommunications, postage and courier charges) paid or incurred in connection with investigating, prosecuting, defending, settling, arbitrating, being a witness in
or participating in (including on appeal), or preparing to investigate, prosecute, defend, settle, arbitrate, be a witness in or participate in, any Claim relating to any Indemnifiable Event, and shall include (without limitation) all
attorneys’ fees and all other expenses incurred by or on behalf of an Indemnitee in connection with preparing and submitting any requests or statements for indemnification, advancement or any other right provided by this Agreement (including,
without limitation, such fees or expenses incurred in connection with legal proceedings contemplated by Section 2(d) hereof). 

  

	 	(e)	Indemnifiable Amounts: means (i) any and all liabilities, Expenses, damages, judgments, fines, penalties, ERISA excise taxes and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other
charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such liabilities, Expenses, damages, judgments, fines, penalties, ERISA excise taxes or amounts paid in settlement) arising out of or resulting from any Claim relating to an Indemnifiable
Event, (ii) any liability pursuant to a loan guaranty or otherwise, for any indebtedness of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, including, without limitation, any indebtedness which the Company or any subsidiary of the Company has
assumed or taken subject to, and (iii) any liabilities which an Indemnitee incurs as a result of acting on behalf of the Company (whether as a fiduciary or otherwise) in connection with the operation, administration or maintenance of an
employee benefit plan or any related trust or funding mechanism (whether such liabilities are in the form of excise taxes assessed by the United States Internal Revenue Service, penalties assessed by the United States Department of Labor,
restitutions to such a plan or trust or other funding mechanism or to a participant or beneficiary of such plan, trust or other funding mechanism, or otherwise). 

  

	 	(f)	 Indemnifiable Event: means any event or occurrence, whether occurring before, on or after the date of this Agreement, related to the fact that
Indemnitee is or was (or agreed to serve as) a director and/or officer or fiduciary of the Company, or is or was serving (or agreed to serve) at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, manager, member, partner, tax matter
partner, trustee, agent, fiduciary or in a similar capacity, of or for another company, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, employee benefit plan, trust or other entity or enterprise, or by reason of anything done or
not done by Indemnitee in any such capacity (in all cases whether or not Indemnitee is acting or serving in any such capacity or has such status at the time any Indemnifiable 

  
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Amount is incurred for which indemnification, advancement or any other right can be provided by this Agreement). The term “Company,” where the context requires when used in this
Agreement, may be construed to include such other company, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, employee benefit plan, trust or other entity or enterprise. 

 

	 	(g)	Indemnitee-Related Entity: means any company, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other entity or enterprise (other than the Company or any other
company, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other entity or enterprise Indemnitee has agreed, on behalf of the Company or at the Company’s request, to serve as a director,
officer, employee or agent and which service is covered by the indemnity described in this Agreement) from whom an Indemnitee may be entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses with respect to which, in whole or in part, the Company may
also have an indemnification or advancement obligation. 

  

	 	(h)	Independent Legal Counsel: means an attorney or firm of attorneys (following a Change in Control, selected in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 hereof) who or which is experienced in matters of
corporate law and who or which shall not have otherwise performed services for the Company or Indemnitee on any matter material to such party within the last three years (other than with respect to matters concerning the rights of Indemnitee under
this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnity agreements). 

  

	 	(i)	Jointly Indemnifiable Claim: means any Claim for which Indemnitee may be entitled to indemnification from both an Indemnitee-Related Entity and the Company pursuant to applicable laws, any indemnification
agreements or the certificate of incorporation, by-laws, partnership agreement, operating agreement, certificate of formation, certificate of limited partnership or comparable organizational documents of the Company or an Indemnitee-Related Entity.

  

	 	(j)	Reviewing Party: means any appropriate person or body consisting of a member or members of the Board or any other person or body appointed by the Board who or which is not a party to the particular Claim for
which Indemnitee is seeking indemnification, or Independent Legal Counsel. 

  

	 	(k)	Voting Securities: means any securities of the Company which vote generally in the election of directors. 

  
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 2. Basic Indemnification Arrangement; Advancement of Expenses. 

 

	 	(a)	In the event Indemnitee was, is or becomes a party to or witness or other participant in, or is threatened to be made a party to or witness or other participant in, a Claim by reason of (or arising in part out of) an
Indemnifiable Event, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee, or cause Indemnitee to be indemnified, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as soon as practicable but in any event no later than thirty (30) days after written demand is
presented to the Company, and hold Indemnitee harmless against any and all Indemnifiable Amounts. 

  

	 	(b)	If so requested by Indemnitee, the Company shall advance, or cause to be advanced promptly (and in any event within five (5) business days of such request), any and all Expenses incurred by Indemnitee (an
“Expense Advance”). The Company shall, in accordance with such request (but without duplication), either (i) pay, or cause to be paid, such Expenses on behalf of Indemnitee or (ii) reimburse, or cause the reimbursement of,
Indemnitee for such Expenses. Subject to Section 2(d), Indemnitee’s right to an Expense Advance is absolute and shall not be subject to any prior determination by the Reviewing Party that Indemnitee has satisfied any applicable standard of
conduct for indemnification. 

  

	 	(c)	Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Indemnitee shall not be entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses pursuant to this Agreement in connection with any Claim initiated by Indemnitee
unless (i) the Company has joined in or the Board has authorized or consented to the initiation of such Claim or (ii) the Claim is one to enforce Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement. 

 

	 	(d)	 Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the indemnification obligations of the Company under Section 2(a) shall be subject to the condition that
the Reviewing Party shall not have determined (in a written legal opinion, in any case in which the Independent Legal Counsel is involved as required by Section 3 hereof) that Indemnitee would not be permitted to be indemnified under applicable
law and (ii) the obligation of the Company to make an Expense Advance pursuant to Section 2(b) shall be subject to the condition that, if, when and to the extent that the Reviewing Party determines (in a written legal opinion, in any case
in which the Independent Legal Counsel is involved as required by Section 3 hereof) that Indemnitee would not be permitted to be so indemnified under applicable law, the Company shall be entitled to be reimbursed by Indemnitee (who hereby
agrees to reimburse the Company) for all such amounts theretofore paid (it being understood and agreed that the foregoing agreement by Indemnitee shall be deemed to satisfy any requirement that Indemnitee provide the Company with an undertaking to
repay any Expense Advance if it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under applicable law); provided, however, 

  
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that if Indemnitee has commenced or thereafter commences legal proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction to secure a determination that Indemnitee should be indemnified under applicable
law, any determination made by the Reviewing Party that Indemnitee would not be permitted to be indemnified under applicable law shall not be binding and Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the Company for any Expense Advance until a final
judicial determination is made that Indemnitee is not permitted to be indemnified under applicable law (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed). Indemnitee’s undertaking to repay such Expense Advances shall be
unsecured and interest-free. If there has not been a Change in Control, the Reviewing Party shall be selected by the Board, and if there has been such a Change in Control, the Reviewing Party shall be the Independent Legal Counsel referred to in
Section 3 hereof. If there has been no determination by the Reviewing Party within thirty (30) days after written demand is presented to the Company or if the Reviewing Party determines that Indemnitee would not be permitted to be
indemnified in whole or in part under applicable law, Indemnitee shall have the right to commence litigation in any court in the State of Delaware having subject matter jurisdiction thereof and in which venue is proper seeking an initial
determination by the court or challenging any such determination by the Reviewing Party or any aspect thereof, including the legal or factual bases therefor, and the Company hereby consents to service of process and to appear in any such proceeding.
Any determination by the Reviewing Party otherwise shall be conclusive and binding on the Company and Indemnitee. 

 3.
Change in Control. The Company agrees that if there is a Change in Control then with respect to all matters thereafter arising concerning the rights of Indemnitee to indemnity payments and Expense Advances under this Agreement or any
provision of the Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws now or hereafter in effect, the Company shall seek legal advice only from Independent Legal Counsel selected by Indemnitee and approved by the Company (which approval shall not be unreasonably
delayed, conditioned or withheld). Such counsel, among other things, shall render its written opinion to the Company and Indemnitee as to whether and to what extent Indemnitee would be permitted to be indemnified under applicable law. The Company
agrees to pay the reasonable fees of the Independent Legal Counsel and to indemnify fully such counsel against any and all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its
engagement pursuant hereto. 
 4. Indemnification for Additional Expenses. The Company shall indemnify, or cause the indemnification
of, Indemnitee against any and all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall advance such Expenses to Indemnitee subject to and in accordance with Section 2(b), which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any action brought by
Indemnitee for (i) indemnification or an Expense Advance by the Company under this Agreement or any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws now or hereafter in effect or (ii) recovery under any directors’ and
officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, Expense 

  
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Advance or insurance recovery, as the case may be; provided that Indemnitee shall be required to reimburse such Expenses in the event that a final judicial determination is made (as to which all
rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed) that such action brought by Indemnitee, or the defense by Indemnitee of an action brought by the Company or any other person, as applicable, was frivolous or in bad faith. 

5. Partial Indemnity, Etc. If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some
or a portion of the Expenses or other Indemnifiable Amounts in respect of a Claim but not, however, for all of the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion thereof to which Indemnitee is entitled.
Moreover, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any or all Claims relating in whole or in part to an Indemnifiable Event or in defense of any
issue or matter therein, including dismissal without prejudice, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses incurred in connection therewith. 

6. Burden of Proof, Etc. In connection with any determination by the Reviewing Party or otherwise as to whether Indemnitee is entitled
to be indemnified hereunder, the Reviewing Party, a court, any finder of fact or any other relevant person shall presume that Indemnitee has satisfied the applicable standard of conduct and is entitled to indemnification, and the burden of proof
shall be on the Company (or any other person or entity disputing such conclusions) to establish, by clear and convincing evidence, that Indemnitee is not so entitled. 

7. Reliance as Safe Harbor. For purposes of this Agreement, and without creating any presumption as to a lack of good faith if the
following circumstances do not exist, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company if Indemnitee’s actions or omissions to act
were taken in good faith reliance upon the records of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, including its financial statements, or upon information, opinions, reports or statements furnished to Indemnitee by the officers or employees of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries in the course of their duties, or by committees of the Board, or by any other person (including legal counsel, accountants and financial advisors) as to matters Indemnitee reasonably believed at the time were
within such other person’s professional or expert competence and who had been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Company. In addition, the knowledge and actions, or failures to act, of any director, officer, agent or employee
of the Company shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnity hereunder. 
 8. No Other
Presumptions. For purposes of this Agreement, the termination of any Claim by judgment, order, settlement (whether with or without court approval) or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere, or its equivalent, shall not create a
presumption that Indemnitee did not meet any particular standard of conduct or did not have any particular belief or that a court has determined that indemnification is not permitted by applicable law. In addition, neither the failure of the
Reviewing Party to have made a determination as to whether Indemnitee met any particular standard of conduct or had any particular belief, nor an actual determination by the Reviewing Party that Indemnitee did not meet any particular standard of
conduct or did not have any particular belief, prior to the commencement of legal proceedings by Indemnitee to secure a 

  
 7 

 
judicial determination that Indemnitee should be indemnified under applicable law, shall be a defense to Indemnitee’s claim or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not meet any
particular standard of conduct or did not have any particular belief. 
 9. Nonexclusivity, Etc. The rights of Indemnitee hereunder
shall be in addition to any other rights Indemnitee may have under the Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws, the Delaware General Corporation Law or otherwise. To the extent that a change in applicable law (whether by statute or judicial
decision) permits greater indemnification by agreement than would be afforded as of the date hereof under the Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws or this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this
Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change. To the extent that there is a conflict or inconsistency among the terms of this Agreement, the Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws, it is the intent of the parties hereto that
Indemnitee shall enjoy the greatest benefits regardless of whether contained herein or in the Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws. No agreement or amendment or alteration of the Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws or of any agreement, other
than of this Agreement pursuant to the terms hereof, shall adversely affect the rights provided to Indemnitee under this Agreement. No change in applicable law shall have the effect of reducing the benefits available to Indemnitee hereunder. 

10. Liability Insurance. To the extent that the Company maintains insurance policies providing directors’ and officers’
liability insurance, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policies in accordance with their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for the Company’s directors and officers. If the Company has such insurance policies in effect at
the time that the Company receives from Indemnitee any notice of the commencement of an action, suit or proceeding, the Company shall give prompt notice of the commencement of such action, suit or proceeding to its insurers thereunder in accordance
with the procedures set forth therein. The Company shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable actions to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of any such proceeding in accordance with the terms
of such policies. 
 11. Period of Limitations. No legal action shall be brought and no claim or cause of action shall be asserted by
or in the right of the Company against Indemnitee, Indemnitee’s spouse, heirs, executors or personal or legal representatives after the expiration of two (2) years from the date of accrual of such claim or cause of action, and any claim or
cause of action of or on behalf of the Company shall be extinguished and deemed released unless asserted by the timely filing of a legal action within that two-year period; provided, however, that if any shorter period of limitations is otherwise
applicable to such a claim or cause of action, such shorter period shall govern. 
 12. Amendments, Etc. No supplement, modification
or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by both of the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to, or shall, constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof (whether
or not similar), nor shall such a waiver constitute a continuing waiver. 
 13. Subrogation. Subject to Section 14 hereof, in
the event of payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers reasonably required and shall do everything

  
 8 

 
that may be reasonably necessary to secure such rights, including the execution of such documents necessary to enable the Company effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights. The Company
shall pay or reimburse all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with such subrogation. 
 14. Jointly
Indemnifiable Claims. Given that certain Jointly Indemnifiable Claims may arise due to the relationships between an Indemnitee-Related Entity and the Company and the service of Indemnitee as a director and/or officer of the Company at the
request of that Indemnitee-Related Entity, the Company acknowledges and agrees that the Company shall be fully and primarily responsible for the payment to Indemnitee in respect of indemnification and advancement of expenses in connection with any
such Jointly Indemnifiable Claim, pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, irrespective of any right of recovery Indemnitee may have from the Indemnitee-Related Entity. Under no circumstance shall the Company be entitled to
any right of subrogation or contribution by the Indemnitee-Related Entity, and no right of recovery Indemnitee may have from the Indemnitee-Related Entity shall reduce or otherwise alter the rights of Indemnitee or the obligations of the Company
hereunder. In the event that any Indemnitee-Related Entity shall make any payment to Indemnitee in respect of indemnification or advancement of Expenses with respect to any Jointly Indemnifiable Claim, the Company agrees that such payment or
advancement shall not extinguish or affect in any way the rights of Indemnitee under this Agreement and further agrees that the Indemnitee-Related Entity making such payment shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of
recovery of Indemnitee against the Company. Every Indemnitee-Related Entity shall be a third-party beneficiary with respect to this Section 14, entitled to enforce this Section 14 against the Company as though such Indemnitee-Related
Entity were a party to this Agreement. 
 15. No Duplication of Payments. Subject to Section 14 hereof, the Company shall not be
liable under this Agreement to make any payment in connection with any Claim made against Indemnitee to the extent that Indemnitee has otherwise actually received payment of such amount otherwise indemnifiable hereunder, whether under any insurance
policy, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws, or otherwise. 
 16. Defense of Claims. The Company shall be
entitled to participate in the defense of any Claim relating to an Indemnifiable Event or to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to Indemnitee; provided that if Indemnitee believes, after consultation with counsel
selected by Indemnitee, that (i) the use of counsel chosen by the Company to represent Indemnitee would present such counsel with an actual or potential conflict of interest, (ii) the named parties in any such Claim (including any
impleaded parties) include both the Company, or any subsidiary of the Company, and Indemnitee, and Indemnitee concludes that there may be one or more legal defenses available to him or her that are different from or in addition to those available to
the Company or such subsidiary, or (iii) any such representation by such counsel would be precluded under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, then Indemnitee shall be entitled to retain separate counsel (but not
more than one law firm plus, if applicable, local counsel in respect of any particular Claim) at the Company’s expense. The Company shall not be liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement for any amounts paid in settlement of any Claim relating
to an Indemnifiable Event effected without the Company’s prior written consent. The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of Indemnitee, effect any settlement of any Claim relating to an Indemnifiable Event to which

  
 9 

 
Indemnitee is, was or could have been a party unless such settlement solely involves the payment of money and includes a complete and unconditional release of Indemnitee from all liability on all
claims that are the subject matter of such Claim. Neither the Company nor Indemnitee shall unreasonably withhold, condition or delay its or his or her consent to any proposed settlement; provided that Indemnitee may withhold consent to any
settlement that does not provide a complete and unconditional release of Indemnitee. In no event shall Indemnitee be required to waive, prejudice or limit attorney-client privilege or work-product protection or other applicable privilege or
protection. 
 17. No Adverse Settlement. The Company shall not seek, nor shall it agree to, consent to, support, or agree not to
contest any settlement or other resolution of, any Claim, claim, action, proceeding, demand, investigation or other matter that has the actual or purported effect of extinguishing, limiting or impairing Indemnitee’s rights hereunder, including,
without limitation, any entry of a bar order or other order, decree or stipulation, pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 78u-4 (the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act) or any similar foreign, federal or state statute, regulation, rule or law. 

18. Binding Effect, Etc. This Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and
their respective successors (including any direct or indirect successor or continuing company by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company), assigns, spouses, heirs,
executors and personal and legal representatives. The Company shall require and cause any successor (whether direct or indirect and whether by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of
the Company, by written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Indemnitee and his or her counsel, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to
perform if no such succession had taken place. This Agreement shall continue in effect regardless of whether Indemnitee continues to serve as an officer and/or director of the Company or of any other entity or enterprise at the Company’s
request. 
 19. Security. To the extent requested by Indemnitee and approved by the Board, the Company may at any time and from time
to time provide security to Indemnitee for the obligations of the Company hereunder through an irrevocable bank line of credit, a funded trust or other collateral or by other means. Any such security, once provided to Indemnitee, may not be revoked
or released without the prior written consent of such Indemnitee. 
 20. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held to
be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever, (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, all portions of any paragraph of this Agreement
containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that are not themselves invalid, illegal or unenforceable) will not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and (ii) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions
of this Agreement (including, without limitation, all portions of any paragraph of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) will be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the
provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable and to give effect to the terms of this Agreement. 

  
 10 

 21. Specific Performance, Etc. The parties recognize that if any provision
of this Agreement is violated by the Company, Indemnitee may be without an adequate remedy at law. Accordingly, in the event of any such violation, Indemnitee shall be entitled, if Indemnitee so elects, to institute proceedings, either in law or at
equity, to obtain damages, enforce specific performance, enjoin that violation, or obtain any relief or any combination of the foregoing as Indemnitee may elect to pursue. 

22. Notices. Any notice, request, consent or other communication hereunder to any party shall be deemed to be
sufficient if contained in a written document delivered in person or sent by facsimile, nationally recognized overnight courier or personal delivery, addressed to such party at the address or addresses indicated below. Such a communication shall be
sent instead to such other address as may designated from time to time in writing by a party to the other party. 
  

	 	(a)	If to the Company, to: 

  

	 	    	El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. 

	 	    	3535 Harbor Blvd., Suite 100 

	 	    	Costa Mesa, California 92626 

	 	    	Attention: Edye Austin, Vice President—Legal 

	 	    	Telephone Number: (714) 599-5093 

	 	    	Fax Number: (714) 599-5593 

  

	 	    	with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to: 

  

	 	    	Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP 

	 	    	Four Times Square 

	 	    	New York, New York 10036 

	 	    	Attention: Richard B. Aftanas, Esq. 

	 	    	Telephone Number: (212) 735-3000 

	 	    	Fax Number: (212) 735-2000 

  

	 	(b)	If to Indemnitee, to the address set forth below his or her signature hereto. 

 All such notices, requests,
consents and other communications shall be deemed to have been given or made if and when received (including by overnight courier) by the parties at the aforementioned addresses, with confirmation received, to the facsimile numbers specified above
(or at such other address or facsimile number for a party as shall be specified by like notice). Any notice delivered by any party hereto to any other party hereto shall also be delivered to each other party hereto simultaneously with delivery to
the first party receiving such notice. 
 23. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall for
all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of
this Agreement. 

  
 11 

 24. Headings. The headings of the sections and paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted
for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction or interpretation hereof. 
  

25. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware
applicable to contracts made and to be performed in such state without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of laws. 

  
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 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above
written. 
  

			
	EL POLLO LOCO HOLDINGS, INC.
		
	By:	 	 
		 	Name:
		 	Title:
		
	 	 	 
	[Name]
	Indemnitee
	
	Indemnitee’s Address:
		
	 	 	 
		
	 	 	 
		
	 	 	 
		 	
		 	
		 	
		 	
		 	
		 	
		 	
		 	
		 	

 [Director and Officer Indemnification Agreement]

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