El Pollo Loco opens west McKinney restaurant on Custer Road

El Pollo Loco opens today, Jan. 12, 2026, at 211 N. Custer Road in west McKinney, turning a vacant fast-food spot into a new option for local diners. The chain announced the planned opening on Jan. 8 and will operate from a 2,249-square-foot building that formerly housed an Arby’s.

The new location will serve the chain’s signature flame-grilled chicken menu, including burrito bowls, tostadas and salads. Repurposing an existing restaurant footprint means the site required less new construction, shortening the timeline from announcement to opening and returning activity to a visible commercial corner on Custer Road.

For McKinney residents the immediate effects are practical: another lunch and dinner option for families, commuters and nearby office workers, and additional pickup and delivery capacity for mealtime demand. Restaurants in previously built spaces typically generate local jobs in operations, management and supply logistics; while franchise staffing levels vary, reopening a 2,249-square-foot quick-serve site generally restores several dozen hourly and salaried positions compared with a long-vacant storefront.

The opening also has implications for the local quick-serve market. Adding a national brand in west McKinney increases competition for nearby eateries and could shift foot traffic patterns along the Custer Road corridor. For property owners and local planners, the conversion signals investor confidence in demand for restaurant space without new development, which can ease permitting and infrastructure strain.

This location is part of El Pollo Loco’s broader restaurant footprint expansion, bringing national chain scale into a Collin County market that has seen steady retail and dining growth in recent years. For consumers, chain expansion often means more predictable menus, loyalty and delivery options; for local suppliers and service firms, it can mean new contract opportunities tied to food, maintenance and logistics.

Traffic and parking around the site may intensify during peak meal hours, particularly in the early weeks after opening when curiosity drives higher footfall. Residents who want to avoid lines can consider off-peak visits or pickup windows, and nearby businesses should expect a short-term uptick in nearby deliveries and rideshare activity.

The takeaway? A new flame-grilled option is now on the west McKinney map at 211 N. Custer Road — expect more dining choice, some added traffic during peak times, and renewed activity in a once-empty storefront. Our two cents? Try lunchtime later in the week for shorter lines and give local employees a warm welcome as the new spot settles into the neighborhood.