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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 21, 2021.

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Registration No. 333-226621
Registration No. 333-224730

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

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POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1

TO

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO. 333-226621

REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO. 333-224730

UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

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EL POLLO LOCO HOLDINGS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

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3535 Harbor Blvd., Suite 100

Costa Mesa, California 92626

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. Equity Incentive Plan (f/k/a 2018 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan)

Non-Qualified Stock Option Award, Restricted Share Unit Award, Performance Share Unit Award

(Full title of the plan)

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Laurance Roberts

Chief Financial Officer

El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.

3535 Harbor Blvd., Suite 100

Costa Mesa, California 92626

(714) 599-5000

(Name and address of agent for service) (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

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Copies to:

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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b–2 of the Exchange Act.

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If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐

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EXPLANATORY NOTE

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This Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 (the “Amendment”) relates to the following registration statements (the “Original Registration Statements”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) by El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”):

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This Amendment is being filed by the Company in accordance with Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, solely to file a Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm attached as Exhibit 23.1 hereto. Except as described herein, this Amendment does not update, amend or modify any other information, statement or disclosure contained in the Original Registration Statements. No additional securities are to be registered, and registration fees were paid upon filing of the Original Registration Statements

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PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE

REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8

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The following exhibits are filed herewith or incorporated by reference as part of this Registration Statement:

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* Previously filed with the Original Registration Statements

⁽¹⁾ Filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on September 5, 2014 (File No. 001-36556) and incorporated herein by reference.

⁽²⁾ Filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on September 5, 2014 (File No. 001-36556) and incorporated herein by reference.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Form S-8 Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Costa Mesa, State of California, on September 21, 2021

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POWER OF ATTORNEY

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

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*Signed pursuant to a power of attorney

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By: /s/ Laurance Roberts​ ​

Laurance Roberts, as attorney-in-fact

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EXHIBIT 23.1

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Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

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El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.

Costa Mesa, California

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-8 (No. 333-226621 and No. 333-224730) of El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) of our reports dated March 15, 2021, relating to the consolidated financial statements and the effectiveness of El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting, which appear in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 30, 2020.

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/s/ BDO USA, LLP

Costa Mesa, California

September 21, 2021