Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 30, 2015	Feb. 29, 2016	Jul. 01, 2015
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 30, 2015
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Trading Symbol	LOCO
Entity Registrant Name	El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0001606366
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-30
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		38,284,435
Entity Public Float			$ 440

Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 6,101	$ 11,499
Restricted cash	125	125
Accounts and other receivables, net	6,186	5,759
Inventories	1,899	1,900
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	2,656	5,108
Income tax receivable		102
Deferred tax assets	21,656	19,490
Total current assets	38,623	43,983
Property and equipment owned, net	102,421	82,090
Property held under capital lease, net	89	128
Goodwill	248,674	248,674
Trademarks	61,888	61,888
Other intangible assets, net	638	778
Deferred tax assets	6,891	15,566
Other assets	1,804	2,199
Total assets	461,028	455,306
Current liabilities:
Current portion of obligations under capital leases	177	208
Accounts payable	11,046	5,528
Accrued salaries and vacation	6,693	7,970
Accrued insurance	5,021	3,818
Accrued income taxes payable	67
Accrued interest	245	208
Accrued advertising	204	832
Other accrued expenses and current liabilities	16,126	13,013
Total current liabilities	39,579	31,577
Revolver loan	123,000	165,000
Obligations under capital leases, net of current portion	461	638
Deferred taxes, net of current portion	8,740
Other intangible liabilities, net	1,248	1,544
Other noncurrent liabilities	43,367	46,147
Total liabilities	$ 216,395	$ 244,906
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ Equity
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value—100,000,000 shares authorized; none issued or outstanding
Common stock, $0.01 par value—200,000,000 shares authorized; 38,284,435 and 37,420,450 shares issued and outstanding	$ 383	$ 374
Additional paid-in capital	369,635	359,465
Accumulated deficit	(125,385)	(149,439)
Total stockholders’ equity	244,633	210,400
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ 461,028	$ 455,306

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	Dec. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Statement Of Financial Position [Abstract]
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized	100,000,000	100,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	0	0
Common stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	200,000,000	200,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	38,284,435	37,420,450
Common stock, shares outstanding	38,284,435	37,420,450

Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 25, 2013
Revenue
Company-operated restaurant revenue	$ 332,040	$ 322,516	$ 294,327
Franchise revenue	23,017	22,345	20,400
Total revenue	355,057	344,861	314,727
Cost of operations
Food and paper costs	105,917	102,611	93,589
Labor and related expenses	84,231	80,646	75,669
Occupancy and other operating expenses	69,977	68,538	63,150
Company restaurant expenses	260,125	251,795	232,408
General and administrative expenses	28,997	29,519	25,506
Franchise expenses	3,456	3,704	3,841
Depreciation and amortization	13,092	11,538	10,213
Loss on disposal of assets	471	646	868
Asset impairment and close-store reserves	92	1,033	(101)
Total expenses	306,233	298,235	272,735
Gain on disposition of restaurants		2,658	400
Income from operations	48,824	49,284	42,392
Interest expense—net of interest income of $49, $63, and $94 for the years ended December 30, 2015, December 31, 2014, and December 25, 2013, respectively	3,707	18,062	36,334
Early extinguishment of debt		9,718	21,530
Secondary offering expense	50	667
Income tax receivable agreement expense	156	41,382
Income (loss) before (provision) benefit for income taxes	44,911	(20,545)	(15,472)
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	(20,857)	63,008	(1,401)
Net income (loss )	$ 24,054	$ 42,463	$ (16,873)
Net income (loss) per share:
Basic	$ 0.63	$ 1.32	$ (0.59)
Diluted	$ 0.62	$ 1.24	$ (0.59)
Weighted average shares used in computing net income (loss) per share:
Basic	37,949,316	32,285,484	28,712,622
Diluted	39,039,558	34,346,241	28,712,622

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Deficit [Member]
Beginning balance, value at Dec. 26, 2012	$ 64,587	$ 287	$ 239,329	$ (175,029)
Beginning balance, shares at Dec. 26, 2012		28,712,622
Stock based compensation	822		822
Net income (loss)	(16,873)			(16,873)
Ending balance, value at Dec. 25, 2013	48,536	$ 287	240,151	(191,902)
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 25, 2013		28,712,622
Stock based compensation	1,093		1,093
Issuance of common stock for initial public offering, net of offering costs	112,300	$ 82	112,218
Issuance of common stock for initial public offering, net of offering costs, shares		8,214,286
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options, value	$ 2,043	$ 5	2,038
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options, shares	496,944	493,542
Excess income tax benefit related to share-based compensation plans	$ 3,965		3,965
Net income (loss)	42,463			42,463
Ending balance, value at Dec. 31, 2014	210,400	$ 374	359,465	(149,439)
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2014		37,420,450
Stock based compensation	539		539
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options, value	$ 4,220	$ 9	4,211
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options, shares	863,247	863,985
Excess income tax benefit related to share-based compensation plans	$ 5,420		5,420
Net income (loss)	24,054			24,054
Ending balance, value at Dec. 30, 2015	$ 244,633	$ 383	$ 369,635	$ (125,385)
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 30, 2015		38,284,435

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 25, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income (loss)	$ 24,054	$ 42,463	$ (16,873)
Adjustments to reconcile changes in net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	13,092	11,538	10,213
Loss on early extinguishment of debt		9,718	21,530
Stock-based compensation expense	539	1,093	822
Interest accretion		290	3,753
Income tax receivable agreement expense	156	41,382
Gain on disposition of restaurants		(2,658)	(400)
Loss on disposal of assets	471	646	868
Impairment of property and equipment	181	293	27
Close-store reserves	(89)	740	(128)
Amortization of deferred financing costs	304	1,302	2,007
Amortization of favorable and unfavorable leases, net	(156)	(227)	(213)
Excess income tax benefit related to share-based compensation plans	(5,420)	(3,965)
Deferred income taxes, net	15,249	(67,001)	1,371
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts and other receivables, net	(427)	147	(1,319)
Inventories	1	(245)	33
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	2,452	(3,065)	(123)
Income taxes receivable/payable	5,589	3,836	5
Other assets	91	247	95
Accounts payable	2,317	(8,023)	1,294
Accrued salaries and vacation	(1,311)	(651)	595
Accrued insurance	1,203	221	444
Other accrued expenses and liabilities	(325)	(1,996)	(4,301)
Net cash provided by operating activities	57,971	26,085	19,700
Cash flows from investing activities
Proceeds from disposition of assets		5,435	35
Purchase of property and equipment	(30,835)	(26,836)	(13,822)
Net cash flows used in investing activities	(30,835)	(21,401)	(13,787)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from borrowings on revolver and term loans		165,000	288,050
Revolver loan payments	(42,000)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock for initial public offering, net of expenses		112,300
Proceeds from issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options	4,254	2,070
Payment of call premium on notes		(1,526)	(7,913)
Payment of obligations under capital leases	(208)	(268)	(229)
Repayments on senior secured notes		(290,000)	(282,196)
Deferred financing costs for Revolver		(1,526)	(8,097)
Excess income tax benefit related to share-based compensation plans	5,420	3,965
Amendment fee		(215)
Net cash flows used in financing activities	(32,534)	(10,200)	(10,385)
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(5,398)	(5,516)	(4,472)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	11,499	17,015	21,487
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	6,101	11,499	17,015
Supplemental cash flow information
Cash paid for interest, net of capitalized interest	3,487	20,224	34,427
Cash paid during the year for income taxes, net	18	156	26
Noncash investing and financing activity
Unpaid purchase of property and equipment	3,201	1,235	$ 1,139
Cashless stock option exercise	$ 34	$ 27

Description of Business	12 Months Ended
Description of Business	Dec. 30, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Description of Business	1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (“Holdings”) is a Delaware corporation headquartered in Costa Mesa, California. Holdings and its direct and indirect subsidiaries are collectively known as the “Company.” The Company’s activities are conducted principally through its indirect subsidiary, El Pollo Loco, Inc. (“EPL”), which develops, franchises, licenses and operates quick-service restaurants under the name El Pollo Loco ®. The restaurants, which are located principally in California but also in Arizona, Nevada, Texas, and Utah, specialize in flame-grilled chicken in a wide variety of contemporary Mexican-influenced entrees, including specialty chicken burritos, chicken quesadillas, chicken tortilla soup, Pollo Bowls and Pollo Salads. At December 30, 2015, the Company operated 186 (137 in the greater Los Angeles area) and franchised 247 (138 in the greater Los Angeles area) El Pollo Loco restaurants. In addition, the Company currently licenses two restaurants in the Philippines . The Company’s largest stockholder is Trimaran Pollo Partners, L.L.C. (“LLC,” which is controlled by affiliates of Trimaran Capital, L.L.C.). LLC acquired Chicken Acquisition Corp. (“CAC”), a predecessor of Holdings, on November 17, 2005 (the “Acquisition”) and has a 43.7% ownership interest as of December 30, 2015. LLC’s only material asset is its investment in Holdings. On April 22, 2014, CAC, its wholly owned subsidiary, Chicken Subsidiary Corp (“CSC”) and CSC’s wholly owned subsidiary, the former El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (“Old Holdings”) entered into the following reorganization transactions: (i) Old Holdings merged with and into CSC with CSC continuing as the surviving corporation; (ii) CSC merged with and into CAC with CAC continuing as the surviving corporation and (iii) CAC renamed itself El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. Holdings has no material assets or operations. Holdings and Holdings’ direct subsidiary, EPL Intermediate, Inc. (“Intermediate”), guarantee EPL’s 2014 Revolver (see Note 6) on a full and unconditional basis and Intermediate has no subsidiaries other than EPL. EPL is a separate and distinct legal entity, and has no obligation to make funds available to Intermediate. EPL and Intermediate may pay dividends to Intermediate and to Holdings, respectively. Under the 2014 Revolver, Holdings may not make certain payments such as cash dividends, except that it may, inter alia, (i) pay up to $1 million per year to repurchase or redeem qualified equity interests of Holdings held by past or present officers, directors, or employees (or their estates) of the Company upon death, disability, or termination of employment, (ii) pay under its income tax receivable agreement (the “TRA”), and, (iii) so long as no default or event of default has occurred and is continuing, (a) make non-cash repurchases of equity interests in connection with the exercise of stock options by directors and officers, provided that those equity interests represent a portion of the consideration of the exercise price of those stock options, (b) pay up to $2.5 million per year pursuant to stock option plans, employment agreements, or incentive plans, (c) make up to $5 million in other restricted payments per year, and (d) make other restricted payments, provided that such payments would not cause, in each case, on a pro forma basis, (x) its lease-adjusted consolidated leverage ratio to equal or exceed 4.25 times and (y) its consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio to be less than 1.75 times. The Company operates in one operating segment. All significant revenues relate to retail sales of food and beverages to the general public through either company or franchised restaurants.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2015

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Liquidity

The Company’s principal liquidity requirements are to service its debt and meet capital expenditure needs. At December 30, 2015, the Company’s total debt (including capital lease liabilities) was $123.6 million. The Company’s ability to make payments on its indebtedness and to fund planned capital expenditures will depend on available cash and its ability to generate adequate cash flows in the future, which, to a certain extent, is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors that are beyond the Company’s control. Based on current operations, the Company believes that its cash flows from operations, available cash of $6.1 million at December 30, 2015 and available borrowings under the 2014 Revolver (which availability was $69.8 million at December 30, 2015) will be adequate to meet the Company’s liquidity needs for the next 12 months.

Basis of Presentation

The Company uses a 52- or 53-week fiscal year ending on the last Wednesday of the calendar year. In a 52-week fiscal year, each quarter includes 13 weeks of operations; in a 53-week fiscal year, the first, second and third quarters each include 13 weeks of operations and the fourth quarter includes 14 weeks of operations. Every six or seven years a 53-week fiscal year occurs. Fiscal 2014 was a 53-week year, ended on December 31, 2014. Fiscal 2015 and 2013 were 52-week years, ended December 30, 2015 and December 25, 2013, respectively.

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Holdings and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and revenue and expenses during the period reported. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates. The Company’s significant estimates include estimates for impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and property and equipment, insurance reserves, lease termination liabilities, stock-based compensation, income tax receivable agreement liability, and income tax valuation allowances.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly-liquid instruments with a maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents.

Restricted Cash

The Company’s restricted cash represents cash collateral to one commercial bank for Company credit cards.

Subsequent Events

Subsequent to December 30, 2015, the Company and a franchisee each completed one new store opening.

The Company evaluated subsequent events that have occurred after December 30, 2015, and determined that there were no other events or transactions occurring during this reporting period that require recognition or disclosure in the consolidated financial statements.

Concentration of Risk

Cash and cash equivalents are maintained at financial institutions and, at times, balances may exceed federally-insured limits. The Company has never experienced any losses related to these balances.

The Company had two suppliers for which amounts due at December 30, 2015 totaled 12% and 11% of the Company’s accounts payable. At December 31, 2014, no amounts due to suppliers exceeded 10% of the Company’s accounts payable. Purchases from the Company’s largest supplier totaled 36% of the Company’s purchases for fiscal 2015, 2014, and 2013. Purchases from the Company’s second largest supplier did not exceed 10% for fiscal 2015, 2014 and 2013. In fiscal 2015, 2014, and 2013, Company-operated and franchised restaurants in the greater Los Angeles area generated, in the aggregate, approximately 79%, 80%, and 80%, respectively, of total revenue.

Accounts and Other Receivables, Net

Accounts and other receivables consist primarily of royalties, advertising and sublease rent and related amounts receivable from franchisees which are due on a monthly basis that may differ from the Company’s month-end dates as well as credit/debit card receivables. The need for an allowance for doubtful accounts is reviewed on a specific identification basis based upon past due balances and the financial strength of the obligor. Bad debt expense was immaterial for the years ended December 30, 2015, December 31, 2014, and December 25, 2013.

Inventories

Inventories consist principally of food, beverages and paper supplies and are valued at the lower of average cost or market.

Property and Equipment Owned, Net

Property and equipment is stated at cost and is depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Leasehold improvements and property held under capital leases are amortized over the shorter of their estimated useful lives or the remaining lease terms. For leases with renewal periods at the Company’s option, the Company generally uses the original lease term, excluding the option periods, to determine estimated useful lives; if failure to exercise a renewal option imposes an economic penalty on the Company, such that management determines at the inception of the lease that renewal is reasonably assured, the Company may include the renewal option period in the determination of appropriate estimated useful lives.

The estimated useful service lives are as follows:

Buildings		20 years
Land improvements		3—30 years
Building improvements		3—10 years
Restaurant equipment		3—10 years
Other equipment		2—10 years
Leasehold improvements		Shorter of useful life or lease term

The Company capitalizes certain directly attributable costs in conjunction with site selection that relate to specific sites for planned future restaurants. The Company also capitalizes certain directly attributable costs, including interest, in conjunction with constructing new restaurants. These costs are included in property and amortized over the shorter of the life of the related buildings and leasehold improvements or the lease term. Costs related to abandoned sites and other site selection costs that cannot be identified with specific restaurants are charged to general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.The Company capitalized internal costs related to site selection and construction activities of $1.1 million during the year ended December 30, 2015. Internal costs related to site selection and construction activities were immaterial during the years ended December 31, 2014 and December 25, 2013. Capitalized internal interest costs related to site selection and construction activities were immaterial during the years ended December 30, 2015, December 31, 2014, and December 25, 2013.

Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets

The Company’s indefinite-lived intangible assets consist of trademarks. Goodwill represents the excess of cost over fair value of net identified assets acquired in business combinations accounted for under the purchase method. Goodwill resulted from the Acquisition and from the acquisition of certain franchise locations.

Upon the sale of a restaurant, we decrement goodwill. The amount of goodwill that we include in the cost basis of the asset sold is determined based on the relative fair value of the portion of the reporting unit disposed compared to the fair value of the reporting unit retained.

We perform annual impairment tests for goodwill during the fourth fiscal quarter of each year, or more frequently if impairment indicators arise.

We review goodwill for impairment utilizing either a qualitative assessment or a two-step process. If we decide that it is appropriate to perform a qualitative assessment and conclude that the fair value of a reporting unit more likely than not exceeds its carrying value, no further evaluation is necessary. If we perform the two-step process, the first step of the goodwill impairment test is used to identify potential impairment by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount, including goodwill. If the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, goodwill of the reporting unit is considered not impaired and the second step of the impairment test is unnecessary. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the second step is performed to measure the amount of impairment by comparing the carrying amount of the goodwill to a determination of the implied value of the goodwill. If the carrying amount of goodwill is greater than the implied value, an impairment charge is recognized for the difference.

We perform annual impairment tests for indefinite-lived intangible assets during the fourth fiscal quarter of each year, or more frequently if impairment indicators arise. An impairment test consists of either a qualitative assessment or a comparison of the fair value of an intangible asset with its carrying amount. The excess of the carrying amount of an intangible asset over its fair value is its impairment loss.

The assumptions used in the estimate of fair value are generally consistent with the past performance of the Company’s reporting unit and are also consistent with the projections and assumptions that are used in current operating plans. These assumptions are subject to change as a result of changing economic and competitive conditions.

No impairment was recorded during the years ended December 30, 2015, December 31, 2014, or December 25, 2013.

Other Intangibles, Net—Definite Lived

Definite lived intangible assets consist of the value allocated to the Company’s favorable and unfavorable leasehold interests that resulted from the Acquisition.

Favorable leasehold interest represents the asset in excess of the approximate fair market value of the leases assumed as of November 17, 2005, the date of the Acquisition. The amount is being reduced over the remaining life of the leases. This amount is shown as other intangible assets, net, on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

Unfavorable leasehold interest liability represents the liability in excess of the approximate fair market value of the leases assumed as of November 17, 2005, the date of the Acquisition. The amount is being reduced over the remaining life of the leases. This amount is shown as other intangible liabilities, net, on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

Intangible assets and liabilities with a definite life are amortized using the straight-line method over the remaining useful lives as follows:

Favorable leasehold interests		1 to 18 years (remaining lease term)
Unfavorable leasehold interests		1 to 20 years (remaining lease term)

Deferred Financing Fees

Deferred financing fees are capitalized and amortized over the period of the loan on a straight-line basis, which approximates the effective interest method. Included in other assets are fees (net of accumulated amortization) of $1.2 million and $1.5 million as of December 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. Amortization expense for deferred financing costs was $0.3 million, $1.3 million and $2.0 million for the years ended December 30, 2015, December 31, 2014, and December 25, 2013, respectively, and is reflected as a component of interest expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. In conjunction with the October 11, 2013, refinancing of the Company’s debt, $8.1 million of unamortized deferred financing costs related to the prior debt were written off. In conjunction with the 2014 repayment and refinancing of the Company’s debt, $6.6 million of unamortized deferred financing costs related to the 2013 Credit Agreements were written off (see Notes 6 and 7).

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company reviews its long-lived assets for impairment on a restaurant-by-restaurant basis whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of certain assets may not be recoverable. If the Company concludes that the carrying value of certain assets will not be recovered based on expected undiscounted future cash flows, an impairment write-down is recorded to reduce the assets to their estimated fair value. The Company recorded non-cash impairment charges of $181,000, $293,000 and $27,000 for the years ended December 30, 2015, December 31, 2014, and December 25, 2013, respectively.

Insurance Reserves

The Company is responsible for workers’ compensation, general and health insurance claims up to a specified aggregate stop loss amount. The Company maintains a reserve for estimated claims both reported and incurred but not reported, based on historical claims experience and other assumptions. At December 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company had accrued $5,021,000 and $3,818,000, respectively, and such amounts are reflected as accrued insurance in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The expense for such reserves for the years ended December 30, 2015, December 31, 2014, and December 25, 2013 totaled $8,363,000, $6,124,000, and $6,912,000, respectively. These amounts are included in labor and related expenses and general and administrative expenses on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

Restaurant and Franchise Revenue

Revenues from the operation of company-operated restaurants are recognized as food and beverage products are delivered to customers and payment is tendered at the time of sale. The Company presents sales net of sales-related taxes and promotional allowances. Promotional allowances amounted to approximately $7.4 million, $7.2 million and $5.7 million during the years ended December 30, 2015, December 31, 2014, and December 25, 2013, respectively. Franchise revenue consists of franchise royalties, initial franchise fees, license fees due from franchisees, IT support services and rental income for leases and subleases to franchisees. Franchise royalties are based upon a percentage of net sales of the franchisee and are recorded as income as such sales are earned by the franchisees. Initial franchise and license fees are recognized when all material obligations have been performed and conditions have been satisfied, typically when operations of the franchised restaurant have commenced. Initial franchise fees recognized during the years ended December 30, 2015, December 31, 2014, and December 25, 2013, totaled $790,000, $631,000, and $521,000, respectively. The Company recognizes renewal fees when a renewal agreement with a franchisee becomes effective.

Advertising Costs

Advertising expense is recorded as the obligation to contribute to the advertising fund is created, generally when the associated revenue is recognized. Advertising expense, which is a component of occupancy and other operating expenses, was $13.9 million, $13.5 million and $11.9 million for the years ended December 30, 2015, December 31, 2014, and December 25, 2013, respectively, and is net of $18.5 million, $17.6 million and $15.8 million, respectively, funded by the franchisees’ advertising fees.

Franchisees pay a monthly fee to the Company that ranges from 4% to 5% of their restaurants’ net sales as reimbursement for advertising, public relations and promotional services the Company provides. Fees received in advance of provided services are included in other accrued expenses and current liabilities and were $204,000 and $832,000 at December 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. Pursuant to Intermediate’s Franchise Disclosure Document, company-operated restaurants contribute to the advertising fund on the same basis as franchised restaurants. At December 30, 2015, the Company was obligated to spend an additional $79,000 in future periods to comply with this requirement.

Production costs of commercials, programming and other marketing activities are charged to the advertising funds when the advertising is first used for its intended purpose, and the costs of advertising are charged to operations as incurred. Total contributions and other marketing expenses are included in general, and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

Preopening Costs

Preopening costs incurred in connection with the opening of new restaurants are expensed as incurred. Preopening costs, which are included in general and administrative expenses on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations, were $1.5 million, $1.2 million and $0.2 million for the years ended December 30, 2015, December 31, 2014, and December 25, 2013, respectively.

Franchise Area Development Fees

The Company receives area development fees from franchisees when they execute multi-unit area development agreements. The Company does not recognize revenue from the agreements until the related restaurants open or at the time the development agreements expire, if the required units are not opened. Unrecognized area development fees totaled $856,000 and $486,000 at December 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively, and are included in other accrued expenses and current liabilities and other noncurrent liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. As of December 30, 2015, the Company had executed development agreements that represent commitments to open 17 franchised restaurants at various dates through 2016.

Gift Cards

The Company sells gift cards to its customers in the restaurants and through selected third parties. The gift cards sold to customers have no stated expiration dates and are subject to actual and/or potential escheatment rights in several of the jurisdictions in which the Company operates. The Company recognizes income from gift cards when redeemed by the customer.

Operating Leases

Rent expense for the Company’s operating leases, which generally have escalating rents over the term of the lease, is recorded on a straight-line basis over the expected lease term. The lease term begins when the Company has the right to control the use of the leased property, which is typically before rent payments are due under the terms of the lease. Rent expense is included in occupancy and other operating expenses on the consolidated statements of operations. The difference between rent expense and rent paid is recorded as deferred rent, which is included in other noncurrent liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Percentage rent expenses are recorded based on estimated sales or gross margin for respective restaurants over the contingency period.

Any leasehold improvements that are funded by lessor incentives under operating leases are recorded as leasehold improvements and amortized over the expected lease term. Such incentives are also recorded as deferred rent and amortized as reductions to rent expense over the expected lease term.

Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes, income taxes payable and deferred income taxes is determined using the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on temporary differences between the financial carrying amounts and the tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect in the years in which the temporary differences are expected to reverse. On a periodic basis, the Company assesses the probability that its net deferred tax assets, if any, will be recovered. If after evaluating all of the positive and negative evidence, a conclusion is made that it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the net deferred tax assets will not be recovered, a valuation allowance is provided by a charge to tax expense to reserve the portion of the deferred tax assets which are not expected to be realized.

The Company reviews its filing positions for all open tax years in all U.S. federal and state jurisdictions where the Company is required to file.

When there are uncertainties related to potential income tax benefits, in order to qualify for recognition, the position the Company takes has to have at least a “more likely than not” chance of being sustained (based on the position’s technical merits) upon challenge by the respective authorities. The term “more likely than not” means a likelihood of more than 50 percent. Otherwise, the Company may not recognize any of the potential tax benefit associated with the position. The Company recognizes a benefit for a tax position that meets the “more likely than not” criterion as the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized upon its effective resolution. Unrecognized tax benefits involve management’s judgment regarding the likelihood of the benefit being sustained. The final resolution of uncertain tax positions could result in adjustments to recorded amounts and may affect our results of operations, financial position and cash flows.

The Company’s policy is to recognize interest and/or penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense. The Company had no accrual for interest or penalties at December 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively, and has not recognized interest and/or penalties during the years ended December 30, 2015, December 31, 2014, and December 25, 2013, respectively, since there are no material unrecognized tax benefits. Management believes no material change to the amount of unrecognized tax benefits will occur within in the next 12 months.

On July 30, 2014, the Company entered into an Income Tax Receivable Agreement (the “TRA”). The TRA calls for the Company to pay to its pre-IPO stockholders 85% of the savings in cash that the Company realizes in its taxes as a result of utilizing its net operating losses and other tax attributes attributable to preceding periods. In connection with the TRA, the Company had amended its first lien credit agreement (the “First Lien Credit Agreement”) to permit dividend payments to the Company by its subsidiaries in amounts up to $11 million per fiscal year, not to exceed $33 million in the aggregate, while the First Lien Credit Agreement was outstanding. In fiscal 2014, the Company incurred a charge of approximately $41 million relating to the present value of its total expected TRA payments. As of December 30, 2015, the Company had accrued expenses and current liabilities of $7.6 million and other noncurrent liabilities of $33.9 million relating to expected TRA payments included on the consolidated balance sheet.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value are classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:

·	Level 1: Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.

·	Level 2: Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations whose inputs or significant value drivers are observable.

·	Level 3: Unobservable inputs used when little or no market data is available.

As of December 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company had no assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis, except for one interest rate cap at December 30, 2015 and two interest rate caps at December 31, 2014 (which are Level 3 assets), which are not material.

Certain assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. In other words, the instruments are not measured at fair value on an ongoing basis but are subject to fair value adjustments only in certain circumstances (for example, when there is evidence of impairment). During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, we determined that a portion of our goodwill should be decremented for the sale of the San Antonio restaurants. We also determined that a restaurant location was impaired and wrote down the underlying fixed assets. This determination was based on the projected discounted cash flows related to the restaurant. Based on these analyses, we wrote off $0.7 million and $0.2 million, respectively. During the fiscal year ended December 25, 2013, we determined that a portion of our goodwill should be decremented for an eminent domain purchase by the State of California. This determination was based on the projected discounted cash flows related to the restaurant. Based on this analysis, we wrote off $0.6 million. These valuations represent Level 3 measurements in the fair value hierarchy.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and certain accrued expenses approximate fair value due to their short-term maturities. The recorded value of other notes payable and senior secured notes payable approximates fair value, based on borrowing rates currently available to the Company for loans with similar terms and remaining maturities (Level 3 measurement). The recorded value of the TRA approximates fair value, based on borrowing rates currently available to the Company for debts with similar terms and remaining maturities (Level 3 measurement).

Stock Based Compensation

Accounting literature requires the recognition of compensation expense using a fair-value based method for costs related to all share-based payments including stock options and stock issued under the Company’s employee stock plans. The guidance also requires companies to estimate the fair value of share-based payment awards on the date of grant using an option-pricing model. The cost is recognized on a straight-line basis over the period during which an employee is required to provide service, usually the vesting period. For options that are based on a performance requirement, the cost is recognized on an accelerated basis over the period in which the performance criteria relate.

Earnings per Share

Earnings per share (“EPS”) is calculated using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during each period. Diluted EPS assumes the conversion, exercise or issuance of all potential common stock equivalents unless the effect is to reduce a loss or increase the income per share. For purposes of this calculation, options are considered to be common stock equivalents and are only included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share when their effect is dilutive. The shares used to compute basic and diluted net income (loss) per share represent the weighted-average common shares outstanding.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-02, “Leases.” The new standard establishes a right-of-use (ROU) model that requires a lessee to record a ROU asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. A modified retrospective transition approach is required for lessees for capital and operating leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements, with certain practical expedients available. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the pending adoption of the new standard on the consolidated financial statements.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, "Financial Instruments – Overall: Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities." The pronouncement requires equity investments (except those accounted for under the equity method of accounting, or those that result in consolidation of the investee) to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income, requires public business entities to use the exit price notion when measuring the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes, requires separate presentation of financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset, and eliminates the requirement for public business entities to disclose the method(s) and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value that is required to be disclosed for financial instruments measured at amortized cost. These changes become effective for the Company's fiscal year beginning December_28, 2017 and interim periods within that fiscal year. The impact of this expected adoption of ASU 2016-01 is being evaluated by the Company.

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-17, “Income Taxes” which requires that deferred tax liabilities and assets be classified as noncurrent in a classified balance sheet. Prior to the issuance of the standard, deferred tax liabilities and assets were required to be separately classified into a current amount and a noncurrent amount in the balance sheet. The new accounting guidance represents a change in accounting principle and the standard is required to be adopted in annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. After the adoption of this ASU all deferred tax assets and liabilities will be classified as noncurrent on the consolidated balance sheet.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, “Inventory (Topic 330).” The pronouncement was issued to simplify the measurement of inventory and changes the measurement from lower of cost or market to lower of cost and net realizable value. This pronouncement is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The adoption of ASU 2015-11 is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, “Interest – Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs”. This update requires debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying value of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. The recognition and measurement guidance for debt issuance costs were not affected by this update. The pronouncement is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015 and interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of ASU 2015-03 is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-12, “Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718).” The pronouncement was issued to clarify the accounting for share-based payments when the terms of an award provide that a performance target could be achieved after the requisite service period. The pronouncement is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The adoption of ASU 2014-12 is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASU 2014-09)”, which supersedes nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under GAAP. The core principle of ASU 2014-09 is to recognize revenues when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 defines a five-step process to achieve this core principle and, in doing so, more judgment and estimates may be required within the revenue recognition process than are required under existing GAAP.

The revised revenue standard is effective for public entities for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods therein, using either of the following transition methods: (i) a full retrospective approach reflecting the application of the standard in each prior reporting period with the option to elect certain practical expedients, or (ii) a retrospective approach with the cumulative effect of initially adopting ASU 2014-09 recognized at the date of adoption (which includes additional footnote disclosures). The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the Company’s pending adoption of ASU 2014-09 on the Company’s financial statements and has not yet determined the method by which it will adopt the standard in fiscal 2018.

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, Going Concern (“ASU 2014-15”). ASU 2014-15 provides GAAP guidance on management’s responsibility in evaluating whether there is substantial doubt about a company’s ability to continue as a going concern and about related footnote disclosures. For each reporting period, management will be required to evaluate whether there are conditions or events that raise substantial doubt about a company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year from the date the financial statements are issued. The standard will be effective for annual periods ending after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early application is permitted for annual or interim reporting periods for which the financial statements have not previously been issued. Upon adoption the Company will use the guidance in ASU 2014-15 to assess going concern.

Franchise Development Option Agreement with Related Party

On July 11, 2014, EPL and Trimaran Pollo Partners, L.L.C. (“LLC”) entered into a Franchise Development Option Agreement relating to development of our restaurants in the New York–Newark, NY–NJ–CT–PA Combined Statistical Area (the “Territory”). EPL granted LLC the exclusive option to develop and open 15 restaurants in the Territory over five years (the “Initial Option”), and, provided that the Initial Option is exercised, the exclusive option to develop and open up to an additional 100 restaurants in the Territory over ten years. The Franchise Development Option Agreement terminates (i) ten years after execution, or (ii) if the Initial Option is exercised, five years after that exercise. LLC may only exercise the Initial Option if EPL first determines to begin development of company-operated restaurants in the Territory or support the development of the Territory. We have no current intention to begin development in the Territory.

Property and Equipment

12 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2015

Property Plant And Equipment [Abstract]

Property and Equipment

3. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

The costs and related accumulated depreciation and amortization of major classes of property are as follows (in thousands):

	December 30, 2015			December 31, 2014
Land	$	12,323		$	12,323
Buildings and improvements		111,349			92,834
Other property and equipment		58,525			49,890
Construction in progress		4,717			2,353
		186,914			157,400
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization		(84,493	)		(75,310	)
	$	102,421		$	82,090

Depreciation expense was $13.1 million, $11.5 million and $10.2 million for the years ended December 30, 2015, December 31, 2014, and December 25, 2013, respectively. Gross value of assets under capital leases for buildings and improvements was $1,559,200 and $1,800,800 at December 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. Accumulated depreciation for assets under capital leases was $1,470,000 and $1,673,000 for the years ended December 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. For the year ended December 30, 2015, capital expenditures related to restaurant remodeling and new restaurant expenditures totaled $23.7 million, which consisted of $6.3 million and $17.4 million, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2014, capital expenditures related to restaurant remodeling and new restaurant expenditures totaled $23.7 million, which consisted of $7.4 million and $16.3 million, respectively.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets and Liabilities

12 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2015

Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets and Liabilities

4. GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

Changes in goodwill consist of the following (in thousands):

	December 30, 2015		December 31, 2014
Balance at beginning of year	$	248,674	$	249,324
Restaurant disposition		—		(650	)
Balance at end of year	$	248,674	$	248,674

On September 24, 2014, we completed an agreement to sell six company-operated restaurants in the greater San Antonio area to AA Pollo, Inc., resulting in cash proceeds of $5.4 million. Goodwill was decremented by $650,000, based on a calculation of the fair value of the restaurants sold relative to the fair value of the portion of the reporting unit retained. We recognized a net gain of $2.7 million on this transaction, which is recorded as a gain on disposition of restaurants in the accompanying statement of operations. These six restaurants are now franchised. There have been no impairment losses to goodwill life to date.

Domestic trademarks consist of the following (in thousands):

	December 30, 2015			December 31, 2014
Beginning balance	$	120,700		$	120,700
Accumulated impairment charges		(58,812	)		(58,812	)
Ending balance	$	61,888		$	61,888

Other intangible assets subject to amortization consist of the following (in thousands):

	December 30, 2015			December 31, 2014
Favorable leasehold interest	$	6,038		$	6,038
Less: accumulated amortization		(5,400	)		(5,260	)
Total favorable leasehold interest, net	$	638		$	778
Unfavorable leasehold interest	$	(9,156	)	$	(9,156	)
Less: accumulated amortization		7,908			7,612
Unfavorable leasehold interest liability, net	$	(1,248	)	$	(1,544	)

The estimated net amortization credits (net liability) for the Company’s favorable and unfavorable leasehold interests for each of the five succeeding fiscal years and thereafter is as follows (in thousands):

For the Years Ending	Favorable Leasehold Interest		Unfavorable Leasehold Interest
December 28, 2016	$	130	$	(228	)
December 27, 2017		106		(225	)
December 26, 2018		97		(144	)
December 25, 2019		94		(136	)
December 30, 2020		85		(123	)
Thereafter		126		(392	)
Total	$	638	$	(1,248	)

The aggregate amortization expense for the years ended December 30, 2015, December 31, 2014, and December 25, 2013 was $156,000, $227,000, and $213,000, respectively. The remaining weighted average amortization periods of the favorable leasehold interest and the unfavorable leasehold liability are four years and nine years respectively.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the aggregate amount of goodwill and a description of intangible assets, which may include (a) for amortizable intangible assets (also referred to as finite-lived intangible assets), the carrying amount, the amount of any significant residual value, and the weighted-average amortization period, (b) for intangible assets not subject to amortization (also referred to as indefinite-lived intangible assets), the carrying amount, and (c) the amount of research and development assets acquired and written off in the period, including the line item in the income statement in which the amounts written off are aggregated, if not readily apparent from the income statement. Also discloses (a) for amortizable intangibles assets in total and by major class, the gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization, the total amortization expense for the period, and the estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the five succeeding fiscal years, (b) for intangible assets not subject to amortization the carrying amount in total and by major class, and (c) for goodwill, in total and for each reportable segment, the changes in the carrying amount of goodwill during the period (including the aggregate amount of goodwill acquired, the aggregate amount of impairment losses recognized, and the amount of goodwill included in the gain (loss) on disposal of a reporting unit). If any part of goodwill has not been allocated to a reportable segment, discloses the unallocated amount and the reasons for not allocating. For each impairment loss recognized related to an intangible asset (excluding goodwill), discloses: (a) a description of the impaired intangible asset and the facts and circumstances leading to the impairment, (b) the amount of the impairment loss and the method for determining fair value, (c) the caption in the income statement or the statement of activities in which the impairment loss is aggregated, and (d) the segment in which the impaired intangible asset is reported. For each goodwill impairment loss recognized, discloses: (a) a description of the facts and circumstances leading to the impairment, (b) the amount of the impairment loss and the method of determining the fair value of the associated reporting unit, and (c) if a recognized impairment loss is an estimate not finalized and the reasons why the estimate is not final. May also disclose the nature and amount of any significant adjustments made to a previous estimate of an impairment loss.

+ References + Details

Leases

12 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2015

Leases [Abstract]

Leases

5. LEASES

The Company’s operations utilize property, facilities, equipment and vehicles owned by the Company or leased from others. Buildings and facilities leased from others are primarily for restaurants and support facilities. Restaurants are operated under lease arrangements that generally provide for a fixed base rent and, in some instances, contingent rent based on a percentage of gross operating profit or net revenues in excess of a defined amount. Initial terms of land and restaurant building leases generally have terms of 20 years, exclusive of options to renew. Leases of equipment primarily consist of restaurant equipment, computer systems and vehicles. The Company subleases facilities to certain franchisees and other non-related parties which are recorded on a straight-line basis.

Information regarding the Company’s future lease obligations at December 30, 2015 is as follows (in thousands):

	Capital Leases					Operating Leases
For the Years Ending	Minimum Lease Payments			Minimum Sublease Income		Minimum Lease Payments		Minimum Sublease Income
December 28, 2016	$	259		$	72	$	21,588	$	1,075
December 27, 2017		199			28		22,078		1,025
December 26, 2018		172			—		20,755		864
December 25, 2019		95			—		19,359		671
December 30, 2020		54			—		17,834		389
Thereafter		100			—		145,568		1,651
Total	$	879		$	100	$	247,182	$	5,675
Less: imputed interest (11.0% to 14.8%)		(241	)
Present value of capital lease obligations		638
Less: current maturities		(177	)
Noncurrent portion	$	461

Net rent expense is as follows (in thousands):

For the Years Ended	December 30, 2015			December 31, 2014			December 25, 2013
Base rent	$	19,944		$	19,067		$	18,732
Contingent rent		96			350			491
Less: sublease Income		(2,620	)		(3,572	)		(3,602	)
Net rent expense	$	17,420		$	15,845		$	15,621

Base rent and contingent rent are included in occupancy and other operating expenses, while sublease income is included in franchise revenue in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. Sublease income includes contingent rental income of $1.1 million, $1.6 million, and $1.7 million for fiscal 2015, 2014, and 2013, respectively.

The Company is a lessor for certain property, facilities and equipment owned by the Company and leased to others, principally franchisees, under noncancelable leases with initial terms ranging from three to nine years. The lease agreements generally provide for a fixed base rent and, in some instances, contingent rent based on a percentage of gross operating profit or net revenues. Total rental income included in franchise revenue in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations for leased property was $424,000, $401,000 and $377,000 for fiscal 2015, 2014, and 2013, respectively.

Minimum future rental income for company-operated properties under noncancelable operating leases, which is recorded on a straight-line basis, in effect as of December 30, 2015, is as follows (in thousands):

For the Years Ending
December 28, 2016	$	224
December 27, 2017		210
December 26, 2018		210
December 25, 2019		120
December 30, 2020		124
Thereafter		616
Total future minimum rental income	$	1,504

Credit Agreements	12 Months Ended
Credit Agreements	Dec. 30, 2015
Credit Agreements	6. NEW CREDIT AGREEMENTS On December 11, 2014, the Company refinanced its debt, with EPL, Intermediate, and Holdings entering into a credit agreement with Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, swingline lender, and letter of credit issuer, the lenders party thereto, and the other parties thereto, which provides for a $200 million five-year senior secured revolving facility (the “2014 Revolver”). The 2014 Revolver includes a sub limit of $15 million for letters of credit and a sub limit of $15 million for swingline loans. At December 30, 2015, $7.2 million of letters of credit were outstanding and $69.8 million was available to borrow under the revolving line of credit. The 2014 Revolver will mature on or about December 11, 2019. Borrowings under the 2014 Revolver (other than any swingline loans) bear interest, at the borrower’s option, at rates based upon either LIBOR or a base rate, plus, for each rate, a margin determined in accordance with a lease-adjusted consolidated leverage ratio-based pricing grid. The base rate is calculated as the highest of (a) the federal funds rate plus 0.50%, (b) the prime rate of Bank of America, or (c) LIBOR plus 1.00%. For LIBOR loans, the margin is in the range of 1.75% to 2.50%, and for base rate loans the margin is in the range of 0.75% and 1.50%. The margin was initially set at 2.00% for LIBOR loans and at 1.00% for base rate loans until the delivery of financial statements and a compliance certificate for the first quarter of 2015. The interest rate range was 1.94% to 2.63% during fiscal 2015 and was 2.02% at December 30, 2015. The 2014 Revolver includes a number of negative and financial covenants, including, among others, the following (all subject to certain exceptions): a maximum lease-adjusted consolidated leverage ratio covenant, a minimum consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio, and limitations on indebtedness, liens, investments, asset sales, mergers, consolidations, liquidations, dissolutions, restricted payments, and negative pledges. The 2014 Revolver also includes certain customary affirmative covenants and events of default. The Company was in compliance with all such covenants at December 30, 2015. See Note 1 for restrictions on the payment of dividends under the 2014 Revolver. Transaction Costs Transaction costs of $1.5 million were incurred in connection with the December 11, 2014 refinancing and were capitalized and are included in other assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the related amortization is reflected as a component of interest expense, net, in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. Maturities There are no required principal payments prior to maturity for the 2014 Revolver.
Prior Credit Agreements [Member]
Credit Agreements	7. PRIOR CREDIT AGREEMENTS On October 11, 2013, the Company refinanced its debt, with EPL entering into (i) a new first lien credit agreement (the “2013 First Lien Credit Agreement”) that included a $190 million senior secured term loan (the “2013 First Lien Term Loan”) and a senior secured revolving credit facility of $15 million (the “2013 Revolver”) that, in each case, was to mature in October 2018, and (ii) a new second lien credit agreement (the “2013 Second Lien Credit Agreement” and, together with the 2013 First Lien Credit Agreement, the “2013 Credit Agreements”) that included a $100 million second lien term loan (the “2013 Second Lien Term Loan” and, together with the 2013 First Lien Term Loan, the “2013 Term Loans”) that was to mature in April 2019. The proceeds received from the 2013 Term Loans on October 11, 2013, plus $14.4 million of cash on hand, were used to pay off the senior secured first lien credit facility due July 2017 and 17% second priority senior secured notes due January 2018 (collectively, the “2011 Financing Agreements”) and to pay fees and expenses in connection therewith. The 2013 Credit Agreements were executed with Intermediate as guarantor, Jefferies Finance LLC as administrative agent, collateral agent, and a lender, and, solely with respect to the 2013 First Lien Credit Agreement, General Electric Capital Corporation as issuing bank, swing line lender, and a lender, and GE Capital Bank as a lender. First Lien Credit Agreement Loans under the 2013 First Lien Credit Agreement bore interest at an Alternate Base Rate or LIBOR, at EPL’s option, plus an applicable margin. The applicable margin rate under the 2013 First Lien Credit Agreement was 4.25% with respect to LIBOR loans and 3.25% with respect to Alternate Base Rate loans with a 1.00% floor with respect to the LIBOR rate. Interest was due on loan amounts under Alternate Base Rate elections on a monthly basis and on loan amounts bearing interest based on LIBOR at the end of each interest period in effect, provided that with respect to LIBOR interest periods longer than three months, interest was payable at three-month intervals. The 2013 First Lien Term Loan was issued at a discount of $950,000, and this discount was being accreted over the term of the loan, using the effective interest method. The unamortized discount at December 25, 2013 was $910,000. The 2013 First Lien Term Loan required that quarterly principal payments of 0.25% be made commencing March 26, 2014. Obligations under the 2013 First Lien Credit Agreement were secured by a first priority lien on substantially all of EPL’s and Intermediate’s assets. The 2013 Revolver provided for a $15 million revolving line of credit. At December 25, 2013, $7.3 million of letters of credit were outstanding and $7.7 million was available to borrow under the revolving line of credit. In conjunction with the December 11, 2014, refinancing of EPL’s debt, the 2013 First Lien Term Loan was repaid in full, resulting in an expense of $3.9 million related to the remaining unamortized deferred finance costs and the write off of $0.7 million of unamortized discount. These costs were expensed and were reflected in loss on early extinguishment of debt in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. Second Lien Credit Agreement Loans under the 2013 Second Lien Credit Agreement bore interest at an Alternate Base Rate or LIBOR, at EPL’s option, plus an applicable margin. The applicable margin rate under the 2013 Second Lien Credit Agreement was 8.50% with respect to LIBOR loans and 7.50% with respect to Alternate Base Rate loans with a 1.00% floor with respect to the LIBOR rate. Interest was due on loan amounts under Alternate Base Rate elections on a monthly basis and on loan amounts bearing interest based on LIBOR at the end of each interest period in effect, provided that with respect to LIBOR interest periods longer than three months, interest was payable at three-month intervals. The 2013 Second Lien Term Loan was issued at a discount of $1.0 million, and this discount was being accreted over the term of the loan, using the effective interest method. The unamortized discount at December 25, 2013 was $962,000. The 2013 Second Lien Term Loan and the related guarantees were secured by a second-priority lien on substantially all of the assets and equity interests of EPL and Intermediate, subject to certain exceptions, which were also used to secure the 2013 First Lien Term Loan on a first-priority basis. In conjunction with the Company’s IPO, the 2013 Second Lien Term Loan was repaid in full. In conjunction with the repayment of the 2013 Second Lien Term Loan, the Company incurred call premiums of $1.5 million. In addition, the Company expensed $2.7 million of the remaining unamortized deferred finance costs and wrote off $0.9 million of unamortized discount. These costs were expensed and were reflected in loss on early extinguishment of debt in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. Transaction Costs Transaction costs of $8.1 million were incurred in connection with the October 11, 2013 refinancing and were capitalized and were included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheet , and the related amortization is reflected as a component of interest expense, net in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. 2011 Prior Credit Agreement On July 14, 2011 the Company entered into a credit agreement (“Prior Credit Agreement”) that included a $170 million Senior Secured Term Loan (the “Prior Term Loan”) that was due to mature in July 2017 and a senior secured revolving credit facility of $12.5 million (the “Prior Revolver,” and together with the Term Loan, the “Prior Senior Credit Facility”) that was due to mature in July 2016. EPL also issued $105 million of 17% second priority senior secured notes due January 2018 (“2018 Notes”). The Prior Credit Agreement was executed with Intermediate as guarantor. The Senior Credit Facility was secured by a first priority lien on substantially all of EPL’s and Intermediate’s assets. In conjunction with the October 11, 2013 refinancing of EPL’s debt, call premiums of $3.3 million were incurred in connection with the repurchase of the Prior Senior Credit Facility. In addition, the Company expensed $5.1 million of the remaining unamortized deferred finance costs and wrote off $3.2 million of unamortized discount, associated with the Prior Senior Credit Facility. These costs were expensed and are reflected in loss on early extinguishment of debt in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. Second Priority Senior Secured Notes (“2018 Notes”) The 2018 Notes bore cash interest of 12.5% per annum, which was due semi-annually in January and July of each year, which commenced on January 1, 2012. An additional 4.5% non-cash interest amount accrued on the 2018 Notes, which was added to the principal amount of the 2018 Notes on each interest payment date. The 2018 Notes were issued at a discount of $3.2 million, and this discount was accreted over the term of the notes, using the effective interest rate method. The 2018 Notes were unconditionally guaranteed by Intermediate and each existing and subsequently acquired wholly-owned domestic subsidiary of EPL. The 2018 Notes were due to mature on January 10, 2018. In conjunction with the October 11, 2013 refinancing of EPL’s debt, call premiums of $4.6 million were incurred in connection with the repurchase of the 2018 Notes. In addition, the Company expensed $3.2 million of the remaining unamortized deferred finance costs and wrote off $2.0 million of the remaining unamortized discount associated with the Prior Senior Credit Facility. These costs were expensed and are reflected in loss on early extinguishment of debt in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. Hedging Arrangements In connection with our credit agreements, we entered into two interest rate caps with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. The first interest rate cap was for a notional amount of $30 million, with a cap rate of 3.00% based on 1 month USD LIBOR, which terminated on December 1, 2015. The second interest rate cap is for a notional amount of $120 million, with a cap rate of 3.00% based on 1 month USD LIBOR, terminating on December 1, 2016. The fair value of these instruments is not material at December 30, 2015.

Other Accrued Expenses and Current Liabilities

12 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2015

Payables And Accruals [Abstract]

Other Accrued Expenses and Current Liabilities

8. OTHER ACCRUED EXPENSES AND CURRENT LIABILITIES

Other accrued expenses and current liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):

	December 30, 2015		December 31, 2014
Accrued sales and property taxes	$	3,480	$	3,918
Income tax receivable agreement payable		7,609		4,170
Gift card liability		1,810		1,535
Other		3,227		3,390
Total other accrued expenses and current liabilities	$	16,126	$	13,013

Other Noncurrent Liabilities

12 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2015

Payables And Accruals [Abstract]

Other Noncurrent Liabilities

9. OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES

Other noncurrent liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):

	December 30, 2015		December 31, 2014
Deferred rent	$	6,611	$	6,204
Income tax receivable agreement payable		33,930		37,213
Other		2,826		2,730
Total noncurrent liabilities	$	43,367	$	46,147

Income Taxes

12 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2015

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

10. INCOME TAXES

The provision for income taxes is based on the following components (in thousands):

For the Years Ended	December 30, 2015		December 31, 2014			December 25, 2013
Current income taxes:
Federal	$	—	$	(1	)	$	—
State		188		29			30
Total current		188		28			30
Deferred income taxes:
Federal		8,871		(44,137	)		1,037
State		6,378		(22,864	)		334
Total deferred		15,249		(67,001	)		1,371
Charge in lieu of tax (attributable to stock options)		5,420		3,965			—
Tax provision for income taxes	$	20,857	$	(63,008	)	$	1,401

The provision for income taxes differs from the amount computed by applying the federal income tax rate as follows:

For the Years Ended	December 30, 2015			December 31, 2014			December 25, 2013
Statutory federal income tax rate of 35% applied to earnings before income taxes and extraordinary items		35.0	%		35.0	%		35.0	%
State tax benefit (net of federal benefit)		5.1			(5.7	)		5.4
State tax credits		(0.6	)		32.7			—
TRA expense		0.1			(70.6	)		—
Change in valuation allowance		6.5			317.4			(43.4	)
Other		0.3			(1.7	)		(6.5	)
Total		46.4	%		307.1	%		(9.5	)%

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recorded for differences between the financial statement and tax basis of the assets and liabilities that will result in taxable or deductible amounts in the future based on enacted laws and rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.

The Company has evaluated the available evidence supporting the realization of its gross deferred tax assets. After evaluating all of the positive and negative evidence, including the Company’s continued income from operations and the reduction in interest expense resulting from the 2014 and 2013 refinancing of debt and from the Company’s IPO and resultant payoff of the 2013 Second Lien Term Loan, the Company concluded that it is more likely than not that its deferred tax assets will be realized. As a result, in fiscal 2014, the Company released its valuation allowance of approximately $65 million, which was recorded as a benefit to income taxes. In fiscal 2015, the Company recorded a $2.9 million valuation allowance against our deferred tax asset resulting from certain tax credits that may not be realizable prior to the time the credits expire.

On July 30, 2014, the Company entered into the TRA. The TRA calls for the Company to pay its pre-IPO stockholders 85% of the cash savings that the Company realizes in its taxes as a result of utilizing its NOLs and other tax attributes attributable to preceding periods. In fiscal 2014, the Company incurred a charge of approximately $41 million related to the present value of its total expected TRA payments. The TRA charge of $41 million is a permanent add-back to the Company’s taxable income and resulted in approximately $14 million of tax expense in fiscal 2014 and $0.1 million of tax expense in fiscal 2015.

In fiscal 2014, the Company applied for California Enterprise Zone (“EZ”) credits, resulting in approximately $10.3 million of California tax credits and approximately $6.7 million of additional deferred tax assets and tax benefits.

The Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):

	December 30, 2015			December 31, 2014
Deferred assets:
Capital leases	$	273		$	362
Accrued vacation		583			652
Accrued legal		216			421
Deferred rent		3,758			3,348
Accrued workers’ compensation		1,778			1,626
Enterprise zone and other credits		11,433			10,815
Net operating losses		45,081			50,912
Fixed assets		—			4,621
Other		2,293			3,995
Total deferred tax assets		65,415			76,752
Valuation allowance		(2,920	)		—
Net deferred tax assets		62,495			76,752
Deferred liabilities:
Goodwill		(8,557	)		(8,272	)
Trademark		(26,525	)		(26,488	)
Prepaid expense		(761	)		(649	)
Fixed asset		(1,758	)		—
Other		(5,087	)		(6,287	)
Deferred tax liabilities		(42,688	)		(41,696	)
Net deferred tax asset	$	19,807		$	35,056

The deferred tax amounts mentioned above have been classified on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as follows (in thousands):

	December 30, 2015			December 31, 2014
Current:
Assets (liabilities)	$	21,656		$	19,490
Noncurrent:
Assets (liabilities)		(1,849	)		15,566
	$	19,807		$	35,056

As of December 30, 2015, the Company has federal and state NOL carryforwards of approximately $105.2 million and $93.6 million, respectively, which expire beginning in 2028 and 2025, respectively. The Company also has state enterprise zone credits of approximately $11.0 million, which expire in 2023, and federal and state alternative minimum tax ("AMT") credits of approximately $0.4 million, which carry forward indefinitely. In fiscal 2014, the Company completed a section 382 analysis and determined that all of the Company's NOL carryforwards and other tax attributes are subject to limitation under section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”) and similar state law provisions. However, that limitation did not impact the Company's 2015 or 2015 year tax liability.

The Company has elected to utilize the tax-law-ordering approach with respect to excess share-based compensation deductions. Under this approach, the utilization of excess tax deductions associated with share-based awards is dictated by provisions in the tax law that identify the sequence in which such benefits are utilized for tax purposes. In fiscal 2015 and 2014, the Company recognized excess tax deductions of approximately $15.0 million and $9.9 million, respectively. The associated windfall tax benefits of approximately $5.4 million and $4.0 million, respectively, were recorded in additional paid-in-capital ("APIC") pursuant to the tax-law-ordering approach.

Recently enacted tax laws may also affect the tax provision on the Company's consolidated financial statements. The state of California passed a new law which mandates the use of a single sales factor apportionment formula for tax year beginning on or after January 1, 2013. As a result, our state deferred tax assets were revalued during the year ended December 25, 2013 in order to account for the change in tax law. As of December 30, 2015, there was a $2.9 million valuation allowance against the state deferred tax asset.

As of December 30, 2015, December 31, 2014, and December 25, 2013, the Company had no accrual for unrecognized tax benefits. Consequently, no interest or penalties have been accrued by the Company. The Company believes that no significant changes to the amount of unrecognized tax benefits will occur within the next twelve months.

The Company is subject to taxation in the United States and in various state jurisdictions. The Company is no longer subject to U.S. examination for years before 2012 by the federal taxing authority, and for years before 2011 by state taxing authorities.

Employee Benefit Plans	12 Months Ended
Employee Benefit Plans	Dec. 30, 2015
Postemployment Benefits [Abstract]
Employee Benefit Plans	11. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS The Company sponsors a defined contribution employee benefit plan that permits its employees, subject to certain eligibility requirements, to contribute up to 25% of their qualified compensation to the plan. The Company matches 100% of the employees’ contributions of the first 3% of the employees’ annual qualified compensation, and 50% of the employees’ contributions of the next 2% of the employees’ annual qualified compensation. The Company’s matching contribution immediately fully vests. The Company’s contributions to the plan for the years ended December 30, 2015, December 31, 2014, and December 25, 2013 were $539,000, $503,000, and $447,000 respectively.

Stock-Based Compensation

12 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2015

Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]

Stock-Based Compensation

12. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

As of December 30, 2015, options to purchase 2,151,214 shares of common stock of the Company were outstanding. Included in the December 30, 2015 amount are 1,728,964 options that are fully vested. The remaining options vest over time or upon the Company’s attaining annual financial goals. However, the compensation committee of the board of directors, as administrator of the Company’s 2014 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan, has the power to accelerate the vesting schedule of stock-based compensation, and, generally, in the event of an employee termination in connection with a change in control of the Company, any unvested portion of an award under the plan shall become fully vested. In fiscal 2013 and 2012, the Company granted 535,238 and 2,126,677 options with an exercise price of $5.84, which was greater than the fair value of the common stock on the date of grant (premium options). As of December 30, 2015, 1,739,367 premium options remain outstanding. In fiscal 2014 and 2013, the Company granted 229,048 and 267,619 options with an exercise price equal to the fair value of the common stock on the date of grant. Of the total options granted in fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012, 50% are performance based and vest according to whether certain financial targets are met, and the remaining 50% vest over four or three years. As of December 30, 2015, 411,847 of these options remained outstanding. No options were granted in fiscal 2015. The options generally expire 10 years from the date of grant. Changes in stock options for the years ended December 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, are as follows:

	Shares			Weighted-Average Exercise Price
Outstanding—December 25, 2013		3,338,096		$	5.31
Grants		229,048			15.55
Exercised		(496,944	)		4.20
Forfeited, cancelled or expired		(24	)		5.31
Outstanding—December 31, 2014		3,070,176			6.25
Grants		—			—
Exercised		(863,247	)		4.93
Forfeited, cancelled or expired		(55,715	)		17.25
Outstanding—December 30, 2015		2,151,214		$	6.50
Vested and expected to vest at December 30, 2015		2,146,360		$	6.50
Exercisable at December 30, 2015		1,728,964		$	6.12

Stock options at December 30, 2015 are summarized as follows:

Range of Exercise Prices	Number Outstanding		Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life (in Years)		Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Number Exercisable		Weighted-Average Exercise Price
$4.09		209,788		7.52	$	4.09		109,438	$	4.09
5.84		1,739,367		6.58		5.84		1,538,657		5.84
12.72		32,386		0.75		12.72		32,386		12.72
15.00		169,673		8.57		15.00		48,483		15.00
$4.09 - $15.00		2,151,214		6.74	$	6.50		1,728,964	$	6.12

The intrinsic value of options outstanding and options exercisable, calculated as the difference between the market value as of December 30, 2015 and the exercise price, are $13.7 million and $11.5 million, respectively. The intrinsic value of options exercised, calculated as the difference between the market value on the date of exercise and the exercise price, was $14.9 million, $11.5 million and $0 for fiscal years 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Options are accounted for as follows:

Employee Options

The Company expenses the estimated fair value of employee stock options and similar awards based on the grant-date fair value of the award. For options that are based on a service requirement, the cost is recognized on a straight-line basis over the period during which an employee is required to provide service, usually the vesting period. The options granted in fiscal 2012 had a three year vesting period while the options granted in fiscal 2013 and 2014 had a four year vesting period. For options that are based on a performance requirement, the cost is recognized over the period which the performance criteria relate. The Company has authorized 4,402,240 shares of common stock for issuance in connection with stock options. As of December 30, 2015, 882,594 shares were available for grant. In order to meet the fair value measurement objective, the Company utilizes the Black–Scholes option-pricing model to value compensation expense for share-based awards and has developed estimates of various inputs including forfeiture rate, expected term life, expected volatility, and risk-free interest rate. The forfeiture rate is based on historical rates and reduces the compensation expense recognized. The expected term of options granted is derived from the simplified method. The risk-free interest rate is based on the implied yield on a U.S. Treasury security with constant maturity with a remaining term equal to the expected term of the Company’s employee stock options. Expected volatility is based on the comparative industry entity data. The Company does not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future and therefore uses an expected dividend yield of zero for option valuation. The volatility factor was determined based on four publicly-traded companies which are in the same market category as the Company. The peer companies were selected based on similarity of market capitalization, size and certain operating characteristics. The calculated volatility was established by taking the historical daily closing values prior to grant date, over a period equal to the expected term, for each of the peer companies.

The weighted-average estimated fair value of employee stock options granted during the year ended December 31, 2014 was $6.23 per share using the Black–Scholes model with the following weighted-average assumptions used to value the option grants: expected volatility of 32.4% to 41.0%, expected life of 5.75 years, risk-free interest rate of 1.70% to 1.72%, and expected dividends of 0%.

The weighted-average estimated fair value of employee stock options granted during the year ended December 25, 2013 was $1.40 per share using the Black–Scholes model with the following weighted-average assumptions used to value the option grants: expected volatility of 40.6%, expected life of 6.25 years, risk-free interest rates of 1.15% to 1.99%, and expected dividends of 0%.

During the years ended December 30, 2015, December 31, 2014 and December 25, 2013, the Company recognized share-based compensation expense of $0.5 million, $1.1 million and $822,000, respectively. These expenses were included in general and administrative expenses consistent with the salary expense for the related optionees in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

As of December 30, 2015, there was total unrecognized compensation expense of $0.9 million related to unvested stock options which the Company expects to recognize over a weighted average period of 2.1 years.

Restricted Stock

In fiscal 2015, we granted three of our directors restricted stock grants for 2,636 shares each. In fiscal 2014, we granted two of our directors restricted stock grants for 3,333 shares each. Restricted stock grants were equivalent to $50,000 divided by the stock’s value on the date of grant, which in fiscal 2015 was deemed to be the preceding day’s closing price and in fiscal 2014 was deemed to be our public offering price. These grants vest based on continued service over three years. We base the amount of unearned compensation recorded on the market value of the shares on the date of issuance. In fiscal 2015 and 2014, the Company recognized share-based compensation expense of $98,000 and $32,000, respectively. This expense was included in general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. As of December 30, 2015, there was total unrecognized compensation expense of $250,000 related to unvested restricted shares, which the Company expects to recognize over a weighted-average period of 2.1 years.

Changes in restricted shares for the years ended December 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, are as follows:

	Shares			Weighted-Average Fair Value
Unvested shares at December 25, 2013		—		$	—
Granted		6,666			34.56
Released		—			—
Forfeited, cancelled, or expired		—			—
Unvested shares at December 31, 2014		6,666			34.56
Granted		7,908			18.97
Released		(2,222	)		34.56
Forfeited, cancelled, or expired		—			—
Unvested shares at December 30, 2015		12,352		$	24.58

Net Income (Loss) Per Share

12 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2015

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Net Income (Loss) Per Share

13. NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE

Basic net income (loss) per share is calculated using the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the years ended December 30, 2015, December 31, 2014, and December 25, 2013. Diluted net income (loss) per share is calculated using the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding and potentially dilutive during the period, using the treasury stock method.

Below are our basic and diluted net income (loss) per share data for the periods indicated, which are in thousands except for per share data.

For the Years Ended	December 30, 2015		December 31, 2014		December 25, 2013
Numerator:
Net income (loss)	$	24,054	$	42,463	$	(16,873	)
Denominator:
Weighted-average shares outstanding—Basic		37,949,316		32,285,484		28,712,622
Weighted-average shares outstanding—Diluted		39,039,558		34,346,241		28,712,622
Net income (loss) per share—Basic	$	0.63	$	1.32	$	(0.59	)
Net income (loss) per share—Diluted	$	0.62	$	1.24	$	(0.59	)
Anti-dilutive securities not considered in diluted EPS calculation		214,411		5,865		1,709,748

For the year ended December 25, 2013, potentially dilutive securities, which consist of options to purchase 1,709,748 shares of common stock at prices ranging from $1.81 to $12.72 were not included in the computation of diluted net loss per share because such inclusion would be antidilutive.

Below is a reconciliation of basic and diluted share counts.

For the Years Ended	December 30, 2015		December 31, 2014		December 25, 2013
Weighted-average shares outstanding—Basic		37,949,316		32,285,484		28,712,622
Dilutive effect of stock options and restricted shares		1,090,242		2,060,757		—
Weighted-average shares outstanding—Diluted		39,039,558		34,346,241		28,712,622

Commitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
Commitments and Contingencies	Dec. 30, 2015
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	14. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Legal Matters On or about February 24, 2014, a former employee filed a class action in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Orange, against EPL on behalf of all putative class members (all hourly employees from 2010 to the present) alleging certain violations of California labor laws, including failure to pay overtime compensation, failure to provide meal periods and rest breaks, and failure to provide itemized wage statements. The putative lead plaintiff’s requested remedies include compensatory and punitive damages, injunctive relief, disgorgement of profits, and reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. No specific amount of damages sought was specified in the complaint. We have executed a Memorandum of Understanding outlining an agreement in principle between the parties to settle the claims on a classwide basis. The parties are working to memorialize the settlement and secure the required court approval. Daniel Turocy, et al. v. El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc., et al. (Case No. 8:15-cv-01343) was filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California on August 24, 2015, and Ron Huston, et al. v. El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc., et al. (Case No. 8:15-cv-01710) was filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California on October 22, 2015. The two lawsuits have been consolidated, with co-lead plaintiffs and class counsel. A consolidated complaint was filed on January 29, 2016 on behalf of co-lead plaintiffs and others similarly situated, alleging violations of federal securities laws in connection with Holdings common stock purchased or otherwise acquired and the purchase of call options or the sale of put options, between May 1, 2015 and August 13, 2015 (the “Class Period”). The named defendants are Holdings; Stephen J. Sather, Laurance Roberts, and Edward J. Valle (collectively, the “Individual Defendants”); and Trimaran Pollo Partners, L.L.C., Trimaran Capital Partners, and Freeman Spogli & Co. (collectively, the “Controlling Shareholder Defendants”). Among other things, Plaintiffs allege that, in 2014 and early 2015, Holdings suffered losses due to rising labor costs in California and, in an attempt to mitigate the effects of such rising costs, removed a $5 value option from our menu, which resulted in a decrease in value-conscious store traffic. Plaintiffs further allege that during the Class Period, Holdings and the Individual Defendants made a series of materially false and misleading statements that concealed the effect that these factors were having on store sales growth, resulting in Holdings stock continuing to be traded at artificially inflated prices. As a result, Plaintiffs and other members of the putative class allegedly suffered damages in connection with their purchase of Holdings’ stock during the Class Period. In addition, Plaintiffs allege that the Individual Defendants and Controlling Shareholder Defendants had direct involvement in, and responsibility over, the operations of Holdings, and are presumed to have had, among other things, the power to control or influence the transactions giving rise to the alleged securities law violations. In both cases, Plaintiffs seek an unspecified amount of damages, as well as costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees). Defendants intend to vigorously defend against the claims asserted. In addition, on September 16, 2015, the Company and certain of its officers and directors received an informal, non-public inquiry from the SEC requesting voluntary production of documents and information. All parties are cooperating fully with the SEC's request. On or about November 5, 2015, a purported EPL shareholder filed a derivative complaint on behalf of the Company in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware against certain EPL officers and, directors and Trimaran Pollo Partners, L.L.C. The derivative complaint alleges that these defendants breached their fiduciary duties to EPL and were unjustly enriched when they sold shares of EPL at artificially inflated prices due to alleged misrepresentations and omissions regarding EPL’s comparable store sales in the second quarter of 2015. The EPL shareholder’s requested remedies include an award of compensatory damages to EPL, as well as a court order to improve corporate governance by putting forward for stockholder vote certain resolutions for amendments to EPL’s Bylaws or Certificate of Incorporation. We are also involved in various other claims and legal actions that arise in the ordinary course of business. We do not believe that the ultimate resolution of these other actions will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, liquidity, or capital resources. A significant increase in the number of claims, or an increase in amounts owing under successful claims, could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. Purchasing Commitments The Company has long-term beverage supply agreements with certain major beverage vendors. Pursuant to the terms of these arrangements, marketing rebates are provided to the Company and its franchisees from the beverage vendors based upon the dollar volume of purchases for system-wide restaurants which will vary according to their demand for beverage syrup and fluctuations in the market rates for beverage syrup. These contracts have terms extending into 2017 with an estimated Company obligation totaling $13.9 million. At December 30, 2015, the Company’s total estimated commitment to purchase chicken was $4.2 million. Contingent Lease Obligations As a result of assigning the Company’s interest in obligations under real estate leases in connection with the sale of Company-operated restaurants to some of the Company’s franchisees, the Company is contingently liable on four lease agreements. These leases have various terms, the latest of which expires in 2022. As of December 30, 2015, the potential amount of undiscounted payments the Company could be required to make in the event of non-payment by the primary lessee was $1,360,000. The present value of these potential payments discounted at the Company’s estimated pre-tax cost of debt at December 30, 2015 was $1,240,000. The Company’s franchisees are primarily liable on the leases. The Company has cross-default provisions with these franchisees that would put them in default of their franchise agreements in the event of non-payment under the leases. The Company believes that these cross-default provisions reduce the risk that payments will be required to be made under these leases. Accordingly, no liability has been recorded in the Company’s consolidated financial statements related to these contingent liabilities. Employment Agreements The Company has employment agreements with four of the officers of the Company on an at will basis. These agreements provide for minimum salary levels, possible annual adjustments for cost-of-living changes, and incentive bonuses that are payable under certain business conditions. Indemnification Agreements The Company has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its current directors and executive officers. These agreements require the Company to indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law against liabilities that may arise by reason of their service to the Company and to advance expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified. The Company also intends to enter into indemnification agreements with future directors and executive officers.

Related Party Transactions	12 Months Ended
Related Party Transactions	Dec. 30, 2015
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Related Party Transactions	15. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS Trimaran Pollo Partners, L.L.C. (“LLC”), owns approximately 43.7% of the Company’s outstanding common stock. This large position means that LLC and its majority owners—predecessors and affiliates of, and certain funds managed by, Trimaran Capital Partners and Freeman Spogli & Co. (collectively, “Trimaran” and “Freeman Spogli,” respectively)—possess significant influence when stockholders vote on matters such as election of directors, mergers, consolidations and acquisitions, the sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, decisions affecting the Company’s capital structure, amendments to the Company’s certificate of incorporation or by-laws, and the Company’s winding up and dissolution. So long as LLC maintains at least 40% ownership, (i) any member of the board of directors may be removed at any time without cause by affirmative vote of a majority of the Company’s common stock, and (ii) stockholders representing 40% or greater ownership may cause special stockholder meetings to be called. On November 18, 2005, the Company entered into a Monitoring and Management Services Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Trimaran Fund Management, L.L.C. (“Fund Management”), an affiliate of Trimaran and of certain directors, which provided for annual fees of $500,000 and reasonable expenses. This Agreement was amended on December 26, 2007 to add an affiliate of Freeman Spogli, Freeman Spogli & Co. V, L.P., as a party sharing in the fees payable under the Agreement. During the years ended December 31, 2014, and December 25, 2013, $343,000 and $624,000, respectively, were paid pursuant to this Agreement. These amounts were included in general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. The Agreement terminated as of the Company’s IPO.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for related party transactions. Examples of related party transactions include transactions between (a) a parent company and its subsidiary; (b) subsidiaries of a common parent; (c) and entity and its principal owners; and (d) affiliates.

+ References + Details

Stock Split, Authorization of Additional Shares, and Initial Public Offering	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2015
Equity [Abstract]
Stock Split, Authorization of Additional Shares, and Initial Public Offering	16. STOCK SPLIT, AUTHORIZATION OF ADDITIONAL SHARES, AND INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING On July 14, 2014, Holdings amended its certificate of incorporation to increase the number of shares that Holdings is authorized to issue to 200 million shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share. The amendment of the certificate of incorporation effected an internal recapitalization pursuant to which Holdings effected an 8.56381-for-1 stock split on its outstanding common stock. Accordingly, all common share and per share amounts in the consolidated financial statements and these notes thereto have been adjusted to reflect the 8.56381-for-1 stock split as though it occurred at the beginning of the initial period presented. On July 24, 2014, Holdings amended and restated its certificate of incorporation to, among other things, increase its authorized share count to 300,000,000 shares of stock, including 200,000,000 shares of common stock and 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock, each par value $0.01 per share. On July 30, 2014, Holdings completed its initial public offering of 8,214,286 shares of common stock at a price to the public of $15.00 per share (the “IPO”), including 1,071,429 shares sold to the underwriters pursuant to their option to purchase additional shares. After underwriting discounts, commissions, and fees and expenses of IPO offering and distribution, as set forth in our registration statement for the IPO on Form S-1, the Company received net IPO proceeds of approximately $112.3 million. The Company used these proceeds primarily to repay in whole a $100 million second lien term loan (the “Second Lien Term Loan”).

- Definition

The entire disclosure for shareholders' equity comprised of portions attributable to the parent entity and noncontrolling interest, including other comprehensive income. Includes, but is not limited to, balances of common stock, preferred stock, additional paid-in capital, other capital and retained earnings, accumulated balance for each classification of other comprehensive income and amount of comprehensive income.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(d),(e))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21484-112644

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 4.E)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27010918&loc=d3e74512-122707

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21488-112644

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.29-31)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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+ Details

Quarterly Results of Operations

12 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2015

Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]

Quarterly Results of Operations

17. QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

The following table sets forth a summary of our unaudited quarterly operating results for each of the last eight quarters in the period ended December 30, 2015. We have derived this data from our unaudited consolidated interim financial statements that, in our opinion, have been prepared on substantially the same basis as the audited financial statements contained elsewhere in this report and include all normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the financial information for the periods presented. These unaudited quarterly results should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this report. The operating results in any quarter are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any future period.

QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)

	2015									2014
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except share data)	Dec.		Sept.		July			Apr.		Dec.				Sept.				June			Mar.
Selected Financial Data
Total revenue ($)		86,307		88,870		89,454			90,426		89,973				86,557				86,904			81,427
Income from Operations ($)		9,748		12,527		13,582			12,967		11,311				13,621				12,842			11,510
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		4,576		6,505		5,062			4,714		(2,606	)			(61,389	)	⁽³⁾		570			417
Net income (loss) ($)		5,367		4,666		7,230			6,791		4,575		⁽²⁾⁽⁴⁾		25,849		⁽²⁾⁽³⁾		6,569	⁽²⁾		5,470	⁽²⁾
Per Share Data ⁽⁵⁾ :
Net income (loss) per share
Basic		0.14		0.12		0.19			0.18		0.12				0.76				0.23			0.19
Diluted		0.14		0.12		0.18			0.17		0.12				0.70				0.21			0.18
Weighted average shares used in computing net income (loss) per share
Basic		38,284,435		38,275,317		37,812,767			37,424,745		37,149,379				34,221,829				28,715,485			28,712,622
Diluted		38,965,248		39,107,241		39,085,206			38,921,884		39,691,650				36,821,095				30,372,281			30,157,316
Selected Operating Data
Number of restaurants (at period end)
Company-operated		186		175		174			173		172				166				168			168
Franchised		247		245		244			243		243				239				233			233
System-wide		433		420		418			416		415				405				401			401
Average unit volume (AUV) (company-operated) ⁽¹⁾		1,826		1,928		1,952			1,963		1,839				1,893				1,927			1,813
Comparable restaurant sales growth (%)
Company-operated	1.0			0.0		(0.5	)		3.5		6.4				6.4				5.0			5.4
Franchised	2.4			1.1		2.6			6.2		8.6				9.1				5.9			8.3
System-wide	1.8			0.6		1.3			5.1		7.6				7.9				5.4			7.2
Restaurant contribution margin (%)		21.5		21.2		21.6			23.3		22.3				20.7				22.6			22.1

(1)	AUVs consist of average annualized sales of all company-owned restaurants over the fiscal quarter.

(2)	Repayment of the 2013 Second Lien Term Loan with a portion of the proceeds of our IPO resulted in lower interest rates on our indebtedness, which has contributed to lower interest expense and higher net income in subsequent periods.

(3)	In the thirteen weeks ended September 24, 2014, we released our valuation allowance of approximately $65 million, and incurred a TRA charge of approximately $41 million.

(4)

In the fourteen weeks ended December 31, 2014, we refinanced the 2013 First Lien Credit Agreement with the 2014 Revolver, which resulted in lower interest rates on our indebtedness, contributing to lower interest expense and higher net income. In connection with the 2014 Refinancing, the 2013 First Lien Term Loan was repaid in full, resulting in a one-time charge to our consolidated statement of operations of $4.6 million, reflecting expenses related to the write-off of deferred financing costs and unamortized discounts.

(5)	Due to the use of weighted average shares outstanding for each quarter of computing earnings per share, the sum of the quarterly per share amounts may not equal the per share amount for the year.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2015

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Liquidity

Basis of Presentation

Principles of Consolidation

Use of Estimates

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly-liquid instruments with a maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents.

Restricted Cash

The Company’s restricted cash represents cash collateral to one commercial bank for Company credit cards.

Subsequent Events

Subsequent to December 30, 2015, the Company and a franchisee each completed one new store opening.

Concentration of Risk

Cash and cash equivalents are maintained at financial institutions and, at times, balances may exceed federally-insured limits. The Company has never experienced any losses related to these balances.

Accounts and Other Receivables, Net

Inventories

Inventories consist principally of food, beverages and paper supplies and are valued at the lower of average cost or market.

Property and Equipment Owned, Net

The estimated useful service lives are as follows:

Buildings		20 years
Land improvements		3—30 years
Building improvements		3—10 years
Restaurant equipment		3—10 years
Other equipment		2—10 years
Leasehold improvements		Shorter of useful life or lease term

Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets

We perform annual impairment tests for goodwill during the fourth fiscal quarter of each year, or more frequently if impairment indicators arise.

No impairment was recorded during the years ended December 30, 2015, December 31, 2014, or December 25, 2013.

Other Intangibles, Net-Definite Lived

Other Intangibles, Net—Definite Lived

Definite lived intangible assets consist of the value allocated to the Company’s favorable and unfavorable leasehold interests that resulted from the Acquisition.

Intangible assets and liabilities with a definite life are amortized using the straight-line method over the remaining useful lives as follows:

Favorable leasehold interests		1 to 18 years (remaining lease term)
Unfavorable leasehold interests		1 to 20 years (remaining lease term)

Deferred Financing Fees

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Insurance Reserves

Restaurant and Franchise Revenue

Advertising Costs

Preopening Costs

Franchise Area Development Fees

Gift Cards

Operating Leases

Income Taxes

The Company reviews its filing positions for all open tax years in all U.S. federal and state jurisdictions where the Company is required to file.

Fair Value Measurements

·	Level 1: Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.

·	Level 2: Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations whose inputs or significant value drivers are observable.

·	Level 3: Unobservable inputs used when little or no market data is available.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Stock Based Compensation

Earnings per Share

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Franchise Development Option Agreement with Related Party

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2015

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary of Estimated Useful Service Lives

The estimated useful service lives are as follows:

Buildings		20 years
Land improvements		3—30 years
Building improvements		3—10 years
Restaurant equipment		3—10 years
Other equipment		2—10 years
Leasehold improvements		Shorter of useful life or lease term

Intangible Assets and Liabilities Remaining Useful Lives

Intangible assets and liabilities with a definite life are amortized using the straight-line method over the remaining useful lives as follows:

Favorable leasehold interests		1 to 18 years (remaining lease term)
Unfavorable leasehold interests		1 to 20 years (remaining lease term)

Property and Equipment (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2015

Property Plant And Equipment [Abstract]

Schedule of Costs and Related Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization of Major Classes of Property

The costs and related accumulated depreciation and amortization of major classes of property are as follows (in thousands):

	December 30, 2015			December 31, 2014
Land	$	12,323		$	12,323
Buildings and improvements		111,349			92,834
Other property and equipment		58,525			49,890
Construction in progress		4,717			2,353
		186,914			157,400
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization		(84,493	)		(75,310	)
	$	102,421		$	82,090

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets and Liabilities (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2015

Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Change in Goodwill

Changes in goodwill consist of the following (in thousands):

	December 30, 2015		December 31, 2014
Balance at beginning of year	$	248,674	$	249,324
Restaurant disposition		—		(650	)
Balance at end of year	$	248,674	$	248,674

Schedule of Domestic Trademarks

Domestic trademarks consist of the following (in thousands):

	December 30, 2015			December 31, 2014
Beginning balance	$	120,700		$	120,700
Accumulated impairment charges		(58,812	)		(58,812	)
Ending balance	$	61,888		$	61,888

Schedule of Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization

Other intangible assets subject to amortization consist of the following (in thousands):

	December 30, 2015			December 31, 2014
Favorable leasehold interest	$	6,038		$	6,038
Less: accumulated amortization		(5,400	)		(5,260	)
Total favorable leasehold interest, net	$	638		$	778
Unfavorable leasehold interest	$	(9,156	)	$	(9,156	)
Less: accumulated amortization		7,908			7,612
Unfavorable leasehold interest liability, net	$	(1,248	)	$	(1,544	)

Schedule of Estimated Net Amortization

For the Years Ending	Favorable Leasehold Interest		Unfavorable Leasehold Interest
December 28, 2016	$	130	$	(228	)
December 27, 2017		106		(225	)
December 26, 2018		97		(144	)
December 25, 2019		94		(136	)
December 30, 2020		85		(123	)
Thereafter		126		(392	)
Total	$	638	$	(1,248	)

Leases (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2015

Leases [Abstract]

Schedule of Future Lease Obligation

Information regarding the Company’s future lease obligations at December 30, 2015 is as follows (in thousands):

	Capital Leases					Operating Leases
For the Years Ending	Minimum Lease Payments			Minimum Sublease Income		Minimum Lease Payments		Minimum Sublease Income
December 28, 2016	$	259		$	72	$	21,588	$	1,075
December 27, 2017		199			28		22,078		1,025
December 26, 2018		172			—		20,755		864
December 25, 2019		95			—		19,359		671
December 30, 2020		54			—		17,834		389
Thereafter		100			—		145,568		1,651
Total	$	879		$	100	$	247,182	$	5,675
Less: imputed interest (11.0% to 14.8%)		(241	)
Present value of capital lease obligations		638
Less: current maturities		(177	)
Noncurrent portion	$	461

Schedule of Net Rent Expense

Net rent expense is as follows (in thousands):

For the Years Ended	December 30, 2015			December 31, 2014			December 25, 2013
Base rent	$	19,944		$	19,067		$	18,732
Contingent rent		96			350			491
Less: sublease Income		(2,620	)		(3,572	)		(3,602	)
Net rent expense	$	17,420		$	15,845		$	15,621

Schedule of Minimum Future Rental Income

For the Years Ending
December 28, 2016	$	224
December 27, 2017		210
December 26, 2018		210
December 25, 2019		120
December 30, 2020		124
Thereafter		616
Total future minimum rental income	$	1,504

Other Accrued Expenses and Current Liabilities (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2015

Payables And Accruals [Abstract]

Schedule of Other Accrued Expenses and Current Liabilities

Other accrued expenses and current liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):

	December 30, 2015		December 31, 2014
Accrued sales and property taxes	$	3,480	$	3,918
Income tax receivable agreement payable		7,609		4,170
Gift card liability		1,810		1,535
Other		3,227		3,390
Total other accrued expenses and current liabilities	$	16,126	$	13,013

Other Noncurrent Liabilities (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2015

Payables And Accruals [Abstract]

Schedule of Other Noncurrent Liabilities

Other noncurrent liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):

	December 30, 2015		December 31, 2014
Deferred rent	$	6,611	$	6,204
Income tax receivable agreement payable		33,930		37,213
Other		2,826		2,730
Total noncurrent liabilities	$	43,367	$	46,147

Income Taxes (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2015

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Provision of Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes is based on the following components (in thousands):

For the Years Ended	December 30, 2015		December 31, 2014			December 25, 2013
Current income taxes:
Federal	$	—	$	(1	)	$	—
State		188		29			30
Total current		188		28			30
Deferred income taxes:
Federal		8,871		(44,137	)		1,037
State		6,378		(22,864	)		334
Total deferred		15,249		(67,001	)		1,371
Charge in lieu of tax (attributable to stock options)		5,420		3,965			—
Tax provision for income taxes	$	20,857	$	(63,008	)	$	1,401

Schedule of Effective Income Tax rate

The provision for income taxes differs from the amount computed by applying the federal income tax rate as follows:

For the Years Ended	December 30, 2015			December 31, 2014			December 25, 2013
Statutory federal income tax rate of 35% applied to earnings before income taxes and extraordinary items		35.0	%		35.0	%		35.0	%
State tax benefit (net of federal benefit)		5.1			(5.7	)		5.4
State tax credits		(0.6	)		32.7			—
TRA expense		0.1			(70.6	)		—
Change in valuation allowance		6.5			317.4			(43.4	)
Other		0.3			(1.7	)		(6.5	)
Total		46.4	%		307.1	%		(9.5	)%

Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities

The Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):

	December 30, 2015			December 31, 2014
Deferred assets:
Capital leases	$	273		$	362
Accrued vacation		583			652
Accrued legal		216			421
Deferred rent		3,758			3,348
Accrued workers’ compensation		1,778			1,626
Enterprise zone and other credits		11,433			10,815
Net operating losses		45,081			50,912
Fixed assets		—			4,621
Other		2,293			3,995
Total deferred tax assets		65,415			76,752
Valuation allowance		(2,920	)		—
Net deferred tax assets		62,495			76,752
Deferred liabilities:
Goodwill		(8,557	)		(8,272	)
Trademark		(26,525	)		(26,488	)
Prepaid expense		(761	)		(649	)
Fixed asset		(1,758	)		—
Other		(5,087	)		(6,287	)
Deferred tax liabilities		(42,688	)		(41,696	)
Net deferred tax asset	$	19,807		$	35,056

Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities Classification on Balance Sheet

The deferred tax amounts mentioned above have been classified on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as follows (in thousands):

	December 30, 2015			December 31, 2014
Current:
Assets (liabilities)	$	21,656		$	19,490
Noncurrent:
Assets (liabilities)		(1,849	)		15,566
	$	19,807		$	35,056

Stock-Based Compensation (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2015

Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]

Stock Option Activity

Changes in stock options for the years ended December 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, are as follows:

	Shares			Weighted-Average Exercise Price
Outstanding—December 25, 2013		3,338,096		$	5.31
Grants		229,048			15.55
Exercised		(496,944	)		4.20
Forfeited, cancelled or expired		(24	)		5.31
Outstanding—December 31, 2014		3,070,176			6.25
Grants		—			—
Exercised		(863,247	)		4.93
Forfeited, cancelled or expired		(55,715	)		17.25
Outstanding—December 30, 2015		2,151,214		$	6.50
Vested and expected to vest at December 30, 2015		2,146,360		$	6.50
Exercisable at December 30, 2015		1,728,964		$	6.12

Stock Options By Range of Exercise Prices

Stock options at December 30, 2015 are summarized as follows:

Range of Exercise Prices	Number Outstanding		Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life (in Years)		Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Number Exercisable		Weighted-Average Exercise Price
$4.09		209,788		7.52	$	4.09		109,438	$	4.09
5.84		1,739,367		6.58		5.84		1,538,657		5.84
12.72		32,386		0.75		12.72		32,386		12.72
15.00		169,673		8.57		15.00		48,483		15.00
$4.09 - $15.00		2,151,214		6.74	$	6.50		1,728,964	$	6.12

Schedule of Changes in Restricted Shares

Changes in restricted shares for the years ended December 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, are as follows:

	Shares			Weighted-Average Fair Value
Unvested shares at December 25, 2013		—		$	—
Granted		6,666			34.56
Released		—			—
Forfeited, cancelled, or expired		—			—
Unvested shares at December 31, 2014		6,666			34.56
Granted		7,908			18.97
Released		(2,222	)		34.56
Forfeited, cancelled, or expired		—			—
Unvested shares at December 30, 2015		12,352		$	24.58

Net Income (Loss) Per Share (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2015

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Computation of Basic and Diluted Net Loss per Share

Below are our basic and diluted net income (loss) per share data for the periods indicated, which are in thousands except for per share data.

For the Years Ended	December 30, 2015		December 31, 2014		December 25, 2013
Numerator:
Net income (loss)	$	24,054	$	42,463	$	(16,873	)
Denominator:
Weighted-average shares outstanding—Basic		37,949,316		32,285,484		28,712,622
Weighted-average shares outstanding—Diluted		39,039,558		34,346,241		28,712,622
Net income (loss) per share—Basic	$	0.63	$	1.32	$	(0.59	)
Net income (loss) per share—Diluted	$	0.62	$	1.24	$	(0.59	)
Anti-dilutive securities not considered in diluted EPS calculation		214,411		5,865		1,709,748

Schedule of Reconciliation of Basic and Diluted Share Counts

Below is a reconciliation of basic and diluted share counts.

For the Years Ended	December 30, 2015		December 31, 2014		December 25, 2013
Weighted-average shares outstanding—Basic		37,949,316		32,285,484		28,712,622
Dilutive effect of stock options and restricted shares		1,090,242		2,060,757		—
Weighted-average shares outstanding—Diluted		39,039,558		34,346,241		28,712,622

Quarterly Results of Operations (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2015

Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Quarterly Financial Information

QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)

	2015									2014
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except share data)	Dec.		Sept.		July			Apr.		Dec.				Sept.				June			Mar.
Selected Financial Data
Total revenue ($)		86,307		88,870		89,454			90,426		89,973				86,557				86,904			81,427
Income from Operations ($)		9,748		12,527		13,582			12,967		11,311				13,621				12,842			11,510
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		4,576		6,505		5,062			4,714		(2,606	)			(61,389	)	⁽³⁾		570			417
Net income (loss) ($)		5,367		4,666		7,230			6,791		4,575		⁽²⁾⁽⁴⁾		25,849		⁽²⁾⁽³⁾		6,569	⁽²⁾		5,470	⁽²⁾
Per Share Data ⁽⁵⁾ :
Net income (loss) per share
Basic		0.14		0.12		0.19			0.18		0.12				0.76				0.23			0.19
Diluted		0.14		0.12		0.18			0.17		0.12				0.70				0.21			0.18
Weighted average shares used in computing net income (loss) per share
Basic		38,284,435		38,275,317		37,812,767			37,424,745		37,149,379				34,221,829				28,715,485			28,712,622
Diluted		38,965,248		39,107,241		39,085,206			38,921,884		39,691,650				36,821,095				30,372,281			30,157,316
Selected Operating Data
Number of restaurants (at period end)
Company-operated		186		175		174			173		172				166				168			168
Franchised		247		245		244			243		243				239				233			233
System-wide		433		420		418			416		415				405				401			401
Average unit volume (AUV) (company-operated) ⁽¹⁾		1,826		1,928		1,952			1,963		1,839				1,893				1,927			1,813
Comparable restaurant sales growth (%)
Company-operated	1.0			0.0		(0.5	)		3.5		6.4				6.4				5.0			5.4
Franchised	2.4			1.1		2.6			6.2		8.6				9.1				5.9			8.3
System-wide	1.8			0.6		1.3			5.1		7.6				7.9				5.4			7.2
Restaurant contribution margin (%)		21.5		21.2		21.6			23.3		22.3				20.7				22.6			22.1

(1)	AUVs consist of average annualized sales of all company-owned restaurants over the fiscal quarter.

(2)	Repayment of the 2013 Second Lien Term Loan with a portion of the proceeds of our IPO resulted in lower interest rates on our indebtedness, which has contributed to lower interest expense and higher net income in subsequent periods.

(3)	In the thirteen weeks ended September 24, 2014, we released our valuation allowance of approximately $65 million, and incurred a TRA charge of approximately $41 million.

(4)

(5)	Due to the use of weighted average shares outstanding for each quarter of computing earnings per share, the sum of the quarterly per share amounts may not equal the per share amount for the year.

Description of Business - Additional Information (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2015 Restaurants Segment	Sep. 30, 2015 Restaurants	Jul. 01, 2015 Restaurants	Apr. 01, 2015 Restaurants	Dec. 31, 2014 Restaurants	Sep. 24, 2014 Restaurants	Jun. 25, 2014 Restaurants	Mar. 26, 2014 Restaurants
Description Of Business [Line Items]
Number of restaurants						6
Date of reorganization	Apr. 22, 2014
Reorganization terms	(“Old Holdings”) entered into the following reorganization transactions: (i) Old Holdings merged with and into CSC with CSC continuing as the surviving corporation; (ii) CSC merged with and into CAC with CAC continuing as the surviving corporation and (iii) CAC renamed itself El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.
Restricted dividend payments, description	Under the 2014 Revolver, Holdings may not make certain payments such as cash dividends, except that it may, inter alia, (i) pay up to $1 million per year to repurchase or redeem qualified equity interests of Holdings held by past or present officers, directors, or employees (or their estates) of the Company upon death, disability, or termination of employment, (ii) pay under its income tax receivable agreement (the “TRA”), and, (iii) so long as no default or event of default has occurred and is continuing, (a) make non-cash repurchases of equity interests in connection with the exercise of stock options by directors and officers, provided that those equity interests represent a portion of the consideration of the exercise price of those stock options, (b) pay up to $2.5 million per year pursuant to stock option plans, employment agreements, or incentive plans, (c) make up to $5 million in other restricted payments per year, and (d) make other restricted payments, provided that such payments would not cause, in each case, on a pro forma basis, (x) its lease-adjusted consolidated leverage ratio to equal or exceed 4.25 times and (y) its consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio to be less than 1.75 times.
Number of operating segments \| Segment	1
Chicken Acquisition Corp [Member]
Description Of Business [Line Items]
Ownership interest	43.70%
Philippines [Member]
Description Of Business [Line Items]
Number of restaurants	2
Entity Operated Units [Member]
Description Of Business [Line Items]
Number of restaurants	186	175	174	173	172	166	168	168
Entity Operated Units [Member] \| The Greater Los Angeles Area [Member]
Description Of Business [Line Items]
Number of restaurants	137
Franchised Units [Member]
Description Of Business [Line Items]
Number of restaurants	247	245	244	243	243	239	233	233
Franchised Units [Member] \| The Greater Los Angeles Area [Member]
Description Of Business [Line Items]
Number of restaurants	138

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail)				3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 24, 2014 USD ($) Restaurants	Jul. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Jul. 11, 2014 Restaurant	Sep. 24, 2014 USD ($) Restaurants	Dec. 30, 2015 USD ($) Restaurants Supplier	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) Restaurants Supplier	Dec. 25, 2013 USD ($)	Mar. 11, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015 Restaurants	Jul. 01, 2015 Restaurants	Apr. 01, 2015 Restaurants	Jun. 25, 2014 Restaurants	Mar. 26, 2014 Restaurants	Dec. 26, 2012 USD ($)
Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Total amount of outstanding debt					$ 123,600,000
Cash available					6,101,000	$ 11,499,000	$ 17,015,000							$ 21,487,000
Capitalized internal cost					1,100,000
Asset impairment charges					181,000	293,000	27,000
Amortization expense for deferred financing costs					304,000	1,302,000	2,007,000
Accrued insurance					5,021,000	3,818,000
Expense for payroll and benefits reserves					8,363,000	6,124,000	6,912,000
Promotional allowances amount					7,400,000	7,200,000	5,700,000
Initial franchise revenue					790,000	631,000	521,000
Advertising expense					13,900,000	13,500,000	11,900,000
Accrued advertising					204,000	832,000
Unrecognized tax benefits, accrual of interest or penalties					0	0
Unrecognized tax benefits, interest or penalties expenses					0	0
Percentage of cash savings in taxes realized as a result of utilizing net operating losses payable to pre-IPO stockholders		85.00%
Charge relating to present value of total expected TRA payments				$ 41,000,000	156,000	41,382,000
Write off of goodwill	$ 650,000				$ 0	650,000
Number of restaurants to develop and open under agreement \| Restaurants	6			6
Initial Option [Member] \| Trimaran Fund Management, LLC [Member]
Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of restaurants to develop and open under agreement \| Restaurant			15
Number of years available under plan			5 years
Additional Option [Member] \| Trimaran Fund Management, LLC [Member]
Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of restaurants to develop and open under agreement \| Restaurant			100
Number of years available under plan			10 years
Franchise Development Agreement [Member] \| Trimaran Fund Management, LLC [Member]
Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Related party agreement, termination period			10 years
Related party agreement, termination description					The Franchise Development Option Agreement terminates (i) ten years after execution, or (ii) if the Initial Option is exercised, five years after that exercise.
Level 3 Measurements [Member]
Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Write off of goodwill						700,000	600,000
Write off of underlying fixed assets						200,000
Area Development Fees [Member]
Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Unrecognized area development fees					$ 856,000	486,000
Minimum [Member]
Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of monthly franchise fee					4.00%
Maximum [Member]
Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of monthly franchise fee					5.00%
Franchised Units [Member]
Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Advertising revenue					$ 18,500,000	$ 17,600,000	15,800,000
Number of restaurants to develop and open under agreement \| Restaurants	239			239	247	243			245	244	243	233	233
Interest Expense [Member]
Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Amortization expense for deferred financing costs					$ 300,000	$ 1,300,000	2,000,000
General and Administrative Expense [Member]
Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Preopening costs					1,500,000	1,200,000	200,000
Other Assets [Member]
Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Deferred financing fees net of accumulated amortization					1,200,000	1,500,000
Additional [Member]
Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Accrued advertising					79,000
Other Current Liabilities [Member]
Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Charge relating to present value of total expected TRA payments					7,600,000
Other Noncurrent Liabilities [Member]
Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Charge relating to present value of total expected TRA payments					33,900,000
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Member]
Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Asset impairment charges					$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Supplier Concentration Risk [Member]
Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of suppliers \| Supplier					2	0
Supplier One [Member] \| Accounts Payable [Member] \| Supplier Concentration Risk [Member]
Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of concentration					12.00%
Supplier Two [Member] \| Accounts Payable [Member] \| Supplier Concentration Risk [Member]
Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of concentration					11.00%
Largest Supplier One [Member] \| Purchased [Member] \| Supplier Concentration Risk [Member]
Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of concentration					36.00%	36.00%	36.00%
The Greater Los Angeles Area [Member] \| Franchised Units [Member]
Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of restaurants to develop and open under agreement \| Restaurants					138
The Greater Los Angeles Area [Member] \| Revenue [Member] \| Geographic Concentration Risk [Member]
Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of concentration					79.00%	80.00%	80.00%
Parent [Member] \| SubsequentEvent [Member]
Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of new stores opened								1
Franchisee [Member] \| SubsequentEvent [Member]
Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of new stores opened								1
2013 First Lien Credit Agreement [Member]
Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Write off of unamortized deferred finance costs					$ 8,100,000
2013 First Lien Credit Agreement [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Dividends receivable from subsidiaries per fiscal year		$ 33,000,000
Total dividends receivable from subsidiaries		$ 11,000,000
2013 First Lien Credit Agreement [Member] \| Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Amount of borrowings available					69,800,000		$ 7,700,000
2013 Credit Agreement [Member]
Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Write off of unamortized deferred finance costs					$ 6,600,000

Summary of Estimated Useful Service Lives (Detail)	12 Months Ended
Summary of Estimated Useful Service Lives (Detail)	Dec. 30, 2015
Building [Member]
Property Plant And Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful service lives	20 years
Land Improvements [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Property Plant And Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful service lives	3 years
Land Improvements [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Property Plant And Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful service lives	30 years
Building and Improvements [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Property Plant And Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful service lives	3 years
Building and Improvements [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Property Plant And Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful service lives	10 years
Restaurant Equipment [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Property Plant And Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful service lives	3 years
Restaurant Equipment [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Property Plant And Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful service lives	10 years
Other Equipment [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Property Plant And Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful service lives	2 years
Other Equipment [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Property Plant And Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful service lives	10 years
Leasehold Improvements [Member]
Property Plant And Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful service lives	Shorter of useful life or lease term

Intangible Assets and Liabilities Remaining Useful Lives (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2015
Minimum [Member] \| Favorable Leasehold Interest [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite live intangible asset, useful life	1 year
Minimum [Member] \| Unfavorable Leasehold Interest [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite live intangible asset, useful life	1 year
Maximum [Member] \| Favorable Leasehold Interest [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite live intangible asset, useful life	18 years
Maximum [Member] \| Unfavorable Leasehold Interest [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite live intangible asset, useful life	20 years

Property and Equipment - Schedule of Costs and Related Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization of Major Classes of Property (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Property Plant And Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	$ 186,914	$ 157,400
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization	(84,493)	(75,310)
Property and equipment, net	102,421	82,090
Land [Member]
Property Plant And Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	12,323	12,323
Buildings and Improvements [Member]
Property Plant And Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	111,349	92,834
Other Property and Equipment [Member]
Property Plant And Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	58,525	49,890
Construction in Progress [Member]
Property Plant And Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	$ 4,717	$ 2,353

Property and Equipment - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 25, 2013
Property Plant And Equipment [Abstract]
Depreciation expense	$ 13,100,000	$ 11,500,000	$ 10,200,000
Gross value of assets under capital leases for buildings and improvements	1,559,200	1,800,800
Accumulated depreciation of assets under capital leases	1,470,000	1,673,000
Capital expenditures	23,700,000	23,700,000
Capital expenditures for restaurant remodeling	6,300,000	7,400,000
Capital expenditures for new restaurants	$ 17,400,000	$ 16,300,000

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets and Liabilities - Schedule of Goodwill (Detail) - USD ($)		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 24, 2014	Dec. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Balance at beginning of year		$ 248,674,000	$ 249,324,000
Restaurant disposition	$ (650,000)	0	(650,000)
Balance at end of year		$ 248,674,000	$ 248,674,000

Goodwill and Other Intangible assets and Liabilities - Additional Information (Detail)		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 24, 2014 USD ($) Restaurants	Dec. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 25, 2013 USD ($)
Schedule Of Intangible Assets And Goodwill [Line Items]
Proceeds from sale of restaurant	$ 5,400,000
Restaurant disposition, decrease in goodwill	650,000	$ 0	$ 650,000
Gain on disposition of restaurant	$ 2,700,000		2,658,000	$ 400,000
Number of restaurants \| Restaurants	6
Impairment losses to goodwill		0
Amortization expense		$ 156,000	$ 227,000	$ 213,000
Favorable Leasehold Interest [Member]
Schedule Of Intangible Assets And Goodwill [Line Items]
Intangible asset subject to amortization, weighted average amortization period		4 years
Unfavorable Leasehold Interest [Member]
Schedule Of Intangible Assets And Goodwill [Line Items]
Intangible asset subject to amortization, weighted average amortization period		9 years

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets and Liabilities - Schedule of Domestic Trademarks (Detail) - Trademarks [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Beginning balance	$ 120,700	$ 120,700
Accumulated impairment charges	(58,812)	(58,812)
Ending balance	$ 61,888	$ 61,888

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets and Liabilities - Schedule of Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Favorable Leasehold Interest [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Favorable leasehold interest	$ 6,038	$ 6,038
Less: accumulated amortization	(5,400)	(5,260)
Total	638	778
Unfavorable Leasehold Interest [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Unfavorable leasehold interest	(9,156)	(9,156)
Less: accumulated amortization	7,908	7,612
Total	$ (1,248)	$ (1,544)

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets and Liabilities - Schedule of Estimated Net Amortization (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Favorable Leasehold Interest [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
December 28, 2016	$ 130
December 27, 2017	106
December 26, 2018	97
December 25, 2019	94
December 30, 2020	85
Thereafter	126
Total	638	$ 778
Unfavorable Leasehold Interest [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
December 28, 2016	(228)
December 27, 2017	(225)
December 26, 2018	(144)
December 25, 2019	(136)
December 30, 2020	(123)
Thereafter	(392)
Total	$ (1,248)	$ (1,544)

Leases - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
Leases - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)	Dec. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 25, 2013
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Initial term of lease	20 years
Sublease income, contingent rental income	$ 1,100,000	$ 1,600,000	$ 1,700,000
Franchise revenue	$ 23,017,000	22,345,000	20,400,000
Minimum [Member]
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Lessor, term of contract	3 years
Maximum [Member]
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Lessor, term of contract	9 years
Rental Income [Member]
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Franchise revenue	$ 424,000	$ 401,000	$ 377,000

Leases - Schedule of Future Leases Obligations (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Future Lease Payments Due [Line Items]
December 28, 2016	$ 259
December 27, 2017	199
December 26, 2018	172
December 25, 2019	95
December 30, 2020	54
Thereafter	100
Total	879
Less: imputed interest (11.0% to 14.8%)	(241)
Present value of capital lease obligations	638
Less: current maturities	(177)	$ (208)
Noncurrent portion	461	$ 638
Capital lease, minimum sublease rental	100
December 28, 2016	21,588
December 27, 2017	22,078
December 26, 2018	20,755
December 25, 2019	19,359
December 30, 2020	17,834
Thereafter	145,568
Total	247,182
Operating lease, minimum sublease rental	5,675
December 28, 2016 [Member]
Future Lease Payments Due [Line Items]
Capital lease, minimum sublease rental	72
Operating lease, minimum sublease rental	1,075
December 27, 2017 [Member]
Future Lease Payments Due [Line Items]
Capital lease, minimum sublease rental	28
Operating lease, minimum sublease rental	1,025
December 26, 2018 [Member]
Future Lease Payments Due [Line Items]
Operating lease, minimum sublease rental	864
December 25, 2019 [Member]
Future Lease Payments Due [Line Items]
Operating lease, minimum sublease rental	671
December 30, 2020 [Member]
Future Lease Payments Due [Line Items]
Operating lease, minimum sublease rental	389
Thereafter [Member]
Future Lease Payments Due [Line Items]
Operating lease, minimum sublease rental	$ 1,651

Leases - Schedule of Rent Expense (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 25, 2013
Leases [Abstract]
Base rent	$ 19,944	$ 19,067	$ 18,732
Contingent rent	96	350	491
Less: sublease Income	(2,620)	(3,572)	(3,602)
Net rent expense	$ 17,420	$ 15,845	$ 15,621

- Definition

The increases or decreases in lease payments that result from changes occurring after the inception of the lease in the factors (other than the passage of time) on which lease payments are based, except that any escalation of minimum lease payments relating to increases in construction or acquisition cost of the leased property or for increases in some measure of cost or value during the construction or preconstruction period, are excluded from contingent rentals. Contingent rentals also may include amounts for which the triggering events have not yet occurred or the specified targets for which have not yet been achieved (such as sales based percentage rent), but which events are considered probable of occurring or which specified targets are considered probable of being achieved.

+ References + Details

Leases - Schedule of Minimum Future Rental Income Under Non-Cancelable Operating Lease (Detail) $ in Thousands	Dec. 30, 2015 USD ($)
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Operating lease, minimum sublease rental	$ 5,675
Company Operated Properties [Member]
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Operating lease, minimum sublease rental	1,504
December 28, 2016 [Member]
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Operating lease, minimum sublease rental	1,075
December 28, 2016 [Member] \| Company Operated Properties [Member]
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Operating lease, minimum sublease rental	224
December 27, 2017 [Member]
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Operating lease, minimum sublease rental	1,025
December 27, 2017 [Member] \| Company Operated Properties [Member]
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Operating lease, minimum sublease rental	210
December 26, 2018 [Member]
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Operating lease, minimum sublease rental	864
December 26, 2018 [Member] \| Company Operated Properties [Member]
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Operating lease, minimum sublease rental	210
December 25, 2019 [Member]
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Operating lease, minimum sublease rental	671
December 25, 2019 [Member] \| Company Operated Properties [Member]
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Operating lease, minimum sublease rental	120
December 30, 2020 [Member]
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Operating lease, minimum sublease rental	389
December 30, 2020 [Member] \| Company Operated Properties [Member]
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Operating lease, minimum sublease rental	124
Thereafter [Member]
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Operating lease, minimum sublease rental	1,651
Thereafter [Member] \| Company Operated Properties [Member]
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Operating lease, minimum sublease rental	$ 616

New Credit Agreements - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 11, 2014	Dec. 30, 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Revolving credit facility maturity period		Dec. 11, 2019
Debt instrument basis percentage		1.00%
Debt instrument, interest rate		2.02%
Interest rate description		(a) the federal funds rate plus 0.50%, (b) the prime rate of Bank of America, or (c) LIBOR plus 1.00%. For LIBOR loans, the margin is in the range of 1.75% to 2.50%, and for base rate loans the margin is in the range of 0.75% and 1.50%. The margin was initially set at 2.00% for LIBOR loans and at 1.00% for base rate loans until the delivery of financial statements and a compliance certificate for the first quarter of 2015. The interest rate range was 1.94% to 2.63% during fiscal 2015 and was 2.02% at December 30, 2015.
Transaction costs	$ 1,500,000
Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal payments prior to maturity		$ 0
Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate		1.94%
Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate		2.63%
Federal Funds Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument basis percentage		0.50%
Base Rate [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument basis percentage		0.75%
Base Rate [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument basis percentage		1.50%
Initial Margin Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument basis percentage		2.00%
LIBOR [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument basis percentage		1.00%
LIBOR [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument basis percentage		1.75%
LIBOR [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument basis percentage		2.50%
2014 Credit Agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior secured revolving facility	200,000,000
Letters of credit outstanding		$ 7,200,000
Amount of borrowings available		$ 69,800,000
Swing Line Loans [Member] \| 2014 Credit Agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Sub limit of revolving facility	15,000,000
Letter of Credit [Member] \| 2014 Credit Agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Sub limit of revolving facility	$ 15,000,000

Prior Credit Agreements - Additional Information (Detail)				12 Months Ended
	Dec. 11, 2014 USD ($)	Oct. 11, 2013 USD ($)	Jul. 14, 2011 USD ($)	Dec. 30, 2015 USD ($) Agreement	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 25, 2013 USD ($)	Jul. 30, 2014 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Applicable margin for lien credit agreement				1.00%
Call premium					$ 1,526,000	$ 7,913,000
Debt maturity date				Dec. 11, 2019
Variable rate basis				(a) the federal funds rate plus 0.50%, (b) the prime rate of Bank of America, or (c) LIBOR plus 1.00%. For LIBOR loans, the margin is in the range of 1.75% to 2.50%, and for base rate loans the margin is in the range of 0.75% and 1.50%. The margin was initially set at 2.00% for LIBOR loans and at 1.00% for base rate loans until the delivery of financial statements and a compliance certificate for the first quarter of 2015. The interest rate range was 1.94% to 2.63% during fiscal 2015 and was 2.02% at December 30, 2015.
LIBOR [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Applicable margin for lien credit agreement				1.00%
Senior Secured Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior secured term loan							$ 100,000,000
Second Priority Senior Secured Notes Due January 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt maturity		2018-01
Senior Secured Notes Due Two Thousands Seventeen [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt maturity		2017-07
2013 First Lien Credit Agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit agreement				A new first lien credit agreement (the “2013 First Lien Credit Agreement”) that included a $190 million senior secured term loan (the “2013 First Lien Term Loan”) and a senior secured revolving credit facility of $15 million (the “2013 Revolver”) that, in each case, was to mature in October 2018
Repayment of secured debt using company fund		$ 14,400,000
Debt maturity		2018-10
Debt, unamortized discount		$ 950,000				910,000
Interest payment intervals				Three-month intervals
Write off of the remaining unamortized deferred finance costs				$ 8,100,000
2013 First Lien Credit Agreement [Member] \| LIBOR [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Applicable margin for lien credit agreement		4.25%
Floor rate on term loan		1.00%
2013 First Lien Credit Agreement [Member] \| Base Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Applicable margin for lien credit agreement		3.25%
2013 First Lien Credit Agreement [Member] \| Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior secured term loan		$ 15,000,000
Revolving line of credit						15,000,000
Amount of borrowings available				$ 69,800,000		7,700,000
Letters of credit outstanding						7,300,000
2013 First Lien Credit Agreement [Member] \| Senior Secured Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior secured term loan		$ 190,000,000
2013 First Lien Credit Agreement [Member] \| Second Priority Senior Secured Notes Due January 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, stated percentage		17.00%
2013 First Lien Credit Agreement [Member] \| First Lien Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percentage of quarterly principal payment		0.25%
Second Lien Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit agreement				A new second lien credit agreement (the “2013 Second Lien Credit Agreement” and, together with the 2013 First Lien Credit Agreement, the “2013 Credit Agreements”) that included a $100 million second lien term loan (the “2013 Second Lien Term Loan” and, together with the 2013 First Lien Term Loan, the “2013 Term Loans”) that was to mature in April 2019.
Second Lien Facility [Member] \| Senior Secured Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior secured term loan		$ 100,000,000
Prior Credit Agreements [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Write off of the remaining unamortized deferred finance costs		3,200,000
Write off of the unamortized discount		2,000,000
Call premium		4,600,000
Prior Credit Agreements [Member] \| Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior secured term loan			$ 12,500,000
Debt maturity			2016-07
Prior Credit Agreements [Member] \| Senior Secured Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior secured term loan			$ 170,000,000
Debt maturity			2017-07
Write off of the remaining unamortized deferred finance costs	$ 3,900,000	5,100,000
Write off of the unamortized discount	$ 700,000	3,200,000
Call premium		3,300,000
Prior Credit Agreements [Member] \| Second Priority Senior Secured Notes Due January 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior secured term loan			$ 105,000,000
Debt instrument, stated percentage			17.00%
Debt maturity			2018-01
Debt, unamortized discount			$ 3,200,000
Write off of the remaining unamortized deferred finance costs		2,700,000
Write off of the unamortized discount		900,000
Call premium		1,500,000
Debt maturity date			Jan. 10, 2018
Prior Credit Agreements [Member] \| Second Priority Senior Secured Notes Due January 2018 [Member] \| Cash Interest [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, stated percentage			12.50%
Prior Credit Agreements [Member] \| Second Priority Senior Secured Notes Due January 2018 [Member] \| Paid In Kind Interest [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, stated percentage			4.50%
2013 Second Lien Credit Agreement [Member] \| Other Assets [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Transaction cost		$ 8,100,000
2013 Second Lien Credit Agreement [Member] \| LIBOR [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Applicable margin for lien credit agreement		8.50%
Floor rate on term loan		1.00%
2013 Second Lien Credit Agreement [Member] \| Base Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Applicable margin for lien credit agreement		7.50%
2013 Second Lien Credit Agreement [Member] \| Second Lien Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt, unamortized discount		$ 1,000,000				$ 962,000
First Interest Rate Cap [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of interest rate cap agreements \| Agreement				2
Notional Amount				$ 30,000,000
Interest rate cap				3.00%
Termination date				Dec. 01, 2015
Variable rate basis				1 month USD LIBOR
Second Interest Rate Cap [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notional Amount				$ 120,000,000
Interest rate cap				3.00%
Termination date				Dec. 01, 2016
Variable rate basis				1 month USD LIBOR

Other Accrued Expenses and Current Liabilities - Schedule of Other Accrued Expenses and Current Liabilities (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Other Liabilities Disclosure [Abstract]
Accrued sales and property taxes	$ 3,480	$ 3,918
Income tax receivable agreement payable	7,609	4,170
Gift card liability	1,810	1,535
Other	3,227	3,390
Total other accrued expenses and current liabilities	$ 16,126	$ 13,013

Other Noncurrent Liabilities - Schedule of Other Noncurrent Liabilities (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Other Liabilities Noncurrent [Abstract]
Deferred rent	$ 6,611	$ 6,204
Income tax receivable agreement payable	33,930	37,213
Other	2,826	2,730
Total noncurrent liabilities	$ 43,367	$ 46,147

Income Taxes - Schedule of Provision of Income Taxes (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jul. 01, 2015	Apr. 01, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 24, 2014	Jun. 25, 2014	Mar. 26, 2014	Dec. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 25, 2013
Current income taxes:
Federal										$ (1)
State									$ 188	29	$ 30
Total current									188	28	30
Deferred income taxes:
Federal									8,871	(44,137)	1,037
State									6,378	(22,864)	334
Total deferred									15,249	(67,001)	1,371
Charge in lieu of tax (attributable to stock options)									5,420	3,965
Tax provision for income taxes	$ 4,576	$ 6,505	$ 5,062	$ 4,714	$ (2,606)	$ (61,389)	$ 570	$ 417	$ 20,857	$ (63,008)	$ 1,401

Income Taxes - Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 25, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Statutory federal income tax rate of 35% applied to earnings before income taxes and extraordinary items	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
State tax benefit (net of federal benefit)	5.10%	(5.70%)	5.40%
State tax credits	(0.60%)	32.70%
TRA expense	0.10%	(70.60%)
Change in valuation allowance	6.50%	317.40%	(43.40%)
Other	0.30%	(1.70%)	(6.50%)
Total	46.40%	307.10%	(9.50%)

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 30, 2014	Sep. 24, 2014	Dec. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 25, 2013
Investments Owned Federal Income Tax Note [Line Items]
Valuation allowance released		$ 65,000,000	$ 2,920,000	$ 65,000,000
Percentage of cash savings in taxes realized as a result of utilizing net operating losses payable to pre-IPO stockholders	85.00%
Charge relating to present value of total expected TRA payments		$ 41,000,000	156,000	41,382,000
TRA tax expense			$ 100,000	14,000,000
Additional deferred tax assets and tax benefits				6,700,000
Operating loss carryforward, expiration			Expire beginning in 2028 and 2025, respectively.
State enterprise zone credits			$ 11,000,000
State enterprise zone credits, expiration year			2023
Alternative minimum tax credits			$ 400,000
Excess tax deduction amount			15,000,000	9,900,000
Windfall tax benefit			5,420,000	3,965,000
Unrecognized tax benefits			0	0	$ 0
Unrecognized tax benefits interest accrued			0	0	0
Unrecognized tax benefits penalties accrued			0	0	$ 0
Federal [Member]
Investments Owned Federal Income Tax Note [Line Items]
Net operating loss carryforwards			105,200,000
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]
Investments Owned Federal Income Tax Note [Line Items]
Valuation allowance released			2,920,000
Net operating loss carryforwards			$ 93,600,000
California [Member]
Investments Owned Federal Income Tax Note [Line Items]
Tax credit amount				$ 10,300,000

Income Taxes - Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 24, 2014
Deferred assets:
Capital leases	$ 273	$ 362
Accrued vacation	583	652
Accrued legal	216	421
Deferred rent	3,758	3,348
Accrued workers’ compensation	1,778	1,626
Enterprise zone and other credits	11,433	10,815
Net operating losses	45,081	50,912
Fixed assets		4,621
Other	2,293	3,995
Total deferred tax assets	65,415	76,752
Valuation allowance	(2,920)	(65,000)	$ (65,000)
Net deferred tax assets	62,495	76,752
Deferred liabilities:
Goodwill	(8,557)	(8,272)
Trademark	(26,525)	(26,488)
Prepaid expense	(761)	(649)
Fixed asset	(1,758)
Other	(5,087)	(6,287)
Deferred tax liabilities	(42,688)	(41,696)
Net deferred tax asset	$ 19,807	$ 35,056

Income Taxes - Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities - Current Non Current Classification (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Current Liabilities	$ 21,656	$ 19,490
Noncurrent Liabilities	(1,849)	15,566
Net deferred tax asset	$ 19,807	$ 35,056

Employee Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 25, 2013
Defined Contribution Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Qualified compensation of employees that may be contributed, maximum	25.00%
Benefit contribution	$ 539,000	$ 503,000	$ 447,000
First 3% of Annual Qualified Compensation [Member]
Defined Contribution Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Percentage of employees' annual qualified compensation matched	3.00%
Employer's matching contribution	100.00%
Next 2 % of Annual Qualified Compensation [Member]
Defined Contribution Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Percentage of employees' annual qualified compensation matched	2.00%
Employer's matching contribution	50.00%

Stock-Based Compensation - Additional Information (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2015 USD ($) Director shares	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) Director $ / shares shares	Dec. 25, 2013 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Dec. 26, 2012 $ / shares shares
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Common stock, options outstanding	2,151,214	3,070,176	3,338,096
Common stock, options vested	1,728,964
Options to purchase common stock granted	0	229,048
Stock options exercise price \| $ / shares		$ 15.55
Options expiration period	10 years
Aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding \| $	$ 13,700,000
Aggregate intrinsic value of options exercisable \| $	11,500,000
Intrinsic value of options exercised \| $	14,900,000	$ 11,500,000	$ 0
Stock-based compensation expense \| $	539,000	$ 1,093,000	$ 822,000
Unrecognized compensation expense \| $	$ 900,000
Unrecognized compensation expense, recognition period	2 years 1 month 6 days
Exercise price of $5.84 [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Options to purchase common stock granted			535,238	2,126,677
Stock options exercise price \| $ / shares			$ 5.84	$ 5.84
Exercise price equal to the fair value of the common stock on the date of grant [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Options to purchase common stock granted		229,048	267,619
Premium Options [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Common stock, options outstanding	1,739,367
Stock Options [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Common stock, options outstanding	411,847
Options granted, percent		50.00%	50.00%	50.00%
Options granted, description	Of the total options granted in fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012, 50% are performance based and vest according to whether certain financial targets are met, and the remaining 50% vest over four or three years.
Option vesting period		4 years	4 years	3 years
Authorized number of common stock for issuance, shares	4,402,240
Number of share available for grant	882,594
Weighted average grant date fair Value \| $ / shares		$ 6.23	$ 1.40
Expected volatility, Minimum		32.40%
Expected volatility, Maximum		41.00%
Expected life		5 years 9 months	6 years 3 months
Risk-free interest rates, Minimum		1.70%	1.15%
Risk-free interest rates, Maximum		1.72%	1.99%
Expected dividends		0.00%	0.00%
Expected volatility			40.60%
Restricted Stock [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense \| $	$ 98,000	$ 32,000
Unrecognized compensation expense \| $	$ 250,000
Unrecognized compensation expense, recognition period	2 years 1 month 6 days
Number of directors granted shares \| Director	3	2
Restricted Stock [Member] \| Directors [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Option vesting period	3 years
Restricted shares granted	2,636	3,333
Value of restricted grants \| $	$ 50,000	$ 50,000

Changes in Stock Options (Detail) - $ / shares	12 Months Ended
Changes in Stock Options (Detail) - $ / shares	Dec. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Shares
Outstanding-beginning balance	3,070,176	3,338,096
Grants	0	229,048
Exercised	(863,247)	(496,944)
Forfeited, cancelled or expired	(55,715)	(24)
Outstanding-ending balance	2,151,214	3,070,176
Vested and expected to vest at December 30, 2015	2,146,360
Exercisable at December 30, 2015	1,728,964
Weighted-Average Exercise Price
Outstanding-beginning balance	$ 6.25	$ 5.31
Grants		15.55
Exercised	4.93	4.20
Forfeited, cancelled or expired	17.25	5.31
Outstanding-ending balance	6.50	$ 6.25
Vested and expected to vest at December 30, 2015	6.50
Exercisable at December 30, 2015	$ 6.12

Summary of Stock Options (Detail)	12 Months Ended
Summary of Stock Options (Detail)	Dec. 30, 2015 $ / shares shares
$ 4.09 [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Range of Exercise price	$ 4.09
Number Outstanding \| shares	209,788
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	7 years 6 months 7 days
Weighted-Average Exercise Price	$ 4.09
Number Exercisable \| shares	109,438
Weighted-Average Exercise Price	$ 4.09
$5.84 [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Range of Exercise price	$ 5.84
Number Outstanding \| shares	1,739,367
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	6 years 6 months 29 days
Weighted-Average Exercise Price	$ 5.84
Number Exercisable \| shares	1,538,657
Weighted-Average Exercise Price	$ 5.84
$12.72 [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Range of Exercise price	$ 12.72
Number Outstanding \| shares	32,386
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	9 months
Weighted-Average Exercise Price	$ 12.72
Number Exercisable \| shares	32,386
Weighted-Average Exercise Price	$ 12.72
$15.00 [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Range of Exercise price	$ 15.00
Number Outstanding \| shares	169,673
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	8 years 6 months 26 days
Weighted-Average Exercise Price	$ 15.00
Number Exercisable \| shares	48,483
Weighted-Average Exercise Price	$ 15.00
$4.09 - 15.00 [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Range of Exercise price, minimum	4.09
Range of Exercise price, maximum	$ 15.00
Number Outstanding \| shares	2,151,214
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	6 years 8 months 27 days
Weighted-Average Exercise Price	$ 6.50
Number Exercisable \| shares	1,728,964
Weighted-Average Exercise Price	$ 6.12

Schedule of Changes in Restricted Shares (Detail) - Restricted Stock [Member] - $ / shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unvested shares, Beginning balance	6,666
Granted, Shares	7,908	6,666
Released, Shares	(2,222)
Unvested shares, Ending balance	12,352	6,666
Unvested shares Weighted-Average Fair Value, Beginning balance	$ 34.56
Granted, Weighted-Average Fair Value	18.97	$ 34.56
Released, Weighted-Average Fair Value	34.56
Unvested shares Weighted-Average Fair Value, Ending balance	$ 24.58	$ 34.56

Net Income (Loss) Per Share - Computation of Basic and Diluted Net Loss per Share (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jul. 01, 2015	Apr. 01, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 24, 2014	Jun. 25, 2014	Mar. 26, 2014	Dec. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 25, 2013
Numerator:
Net income (loss)	$ 5,367	$ 4,666	$ 7,230	$ 6,791	$ 4,575	$ 25,849	$ 6,569	$ 5,470	$ 24,054	$ 42,463	$ (16,873)
Denominator:
Weighted-average shares outstanding—Basic	38,284,435	38,275,317	37,812,767	37,424,745	37,149,379	34,221,829	28,715,485	28,712,622	37,949,316	32,285,484	28,712,622
Weighted-average shares outstanding—Diluted	38,965,248	39,107,241	39,085,206	38,921,884	39,691,650	36,821,095	30,372,281	30,157,316	39,039,558	34,346,241	28,712,622
Net income (loss) per share—Basic	$ 0.14	$ 0.12	$ 0.19	$ 0.18	$ 0.12	$ 0.76	$ 0.23	$ 0.19	$ 0.63	$ 1.32	$ (0.59)
Net income (loss) per share—Diluted	$ 0.14	$ 0.12	$ 0.18	$ 0.17	$ 0.12	$ 0.70	$ 0.21	$ 0.18	$ 0.62	$ 1.24	$ (0.59)
Anti-dilutive securities not considered in diluted EPS calculation									214,411	5,865	1,709,748

- Definition

The amount of net income (loss) for the period per each share of common stock or unit outstanding during the reporting period.

+ References + Details

- Definition

The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent.

+ References + Details

Net Income (Loss) Per Share - Additional Information (Detail) - $ / shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 25, 2013
Dilutive Securities Included And Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Anti-dilutive securities not considered in diluted EPS calculation	214,411	5,865	1,709,748
Equity Option [Member]
Dilutive Securities Included And Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Anti-dilutive securities not considered in diluted EPS calculation			1,709,748
Equity Option [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Dilutive Securities Included And Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Share Price			$ 1.81
Equity Option [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Dilutive Securities Included And Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Share Price			$ 12.72

Net Income (Loss) Per Share - Schedule of Reconciliation of Basic and Diluted Share Counts (Detail) - shares	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jul. 01, 2015	Apr. 01, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 24, 2014	Jun. 25, 2014	Mar. 26, 2014	Dec. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 25, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Weighted-average shares outstanding—Basic	38,284,435	38,275,317	37,812,767	37,424,745	37,149,379	34,221,829	28,715,485	28,712,622	37,949,316	32,285,484	28,712,622
Dilutive effect of stock options and restricted shares									1,090,242	2,060,757
Weighted-average shares outstanding—Diluted	38,965,248	39,107,241	39,085,206	38,921,884	39,691,650	36,821,095	30,372,281	30,157,316	39,039,558	34,346,241	28,712,622

Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2015 USD ($) Agreement Lawsuit Lease
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Date of class action filed in court	On or about February 24, 2014
Number of lawsuits consolidated \| Lawsuit	2
Call option value reduced from menu	$ 5
Officers [Member]
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Number of at-will employment agreements \| Agreement	4
Property Lease Guarantee [Member]
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Number of leases assigned to franchisees \| Lease	4
Latest lease expiration year	2022
Contingent lease obligations, maximum exposure	$ 1,360,000
Contingent lease obligations, maximum exposure, if discounted at estimated pre-tax cost of debt	1,240,000
Beverage [Member]
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Purchase commitments, estimated obligations	13,900,000
Chicken Acquisition Corp [Member]
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Purchase commitments, estimated obligations	$ 4,200,000

Related Party Transactions - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)		12 Months Ended
	Nov. 18, 2005	Dec. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 25, 2013
Trimaran Pollo Partners, LLC [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Company's outstanding common stock owned by Trimaran Pollo Partners, L.L.C.		43.70%
Ownership description		So long as LLC maintains at least 40% ownership, (i) any member of the board of directors may be removed at any time without cause by affirmative vote of a majority of the Company’s common stock, and (ii) stockholders representing 40% or greater ownership may cause special stockholder meetings to be called.
Trimaran Pollo Partners, LLC [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Outstanding membership interest, percentage		40.00%
Ownership percentage by stockholders		40.00%
Trimaran Fund Management, LLC [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Date of agreement		Nov. 18, 2005
Annual fees	$ 500,000
General and administrative expenses paid			$ 343,000	$ 624,000

Stock Split, Authorization of Additional Shares, and Initial Public Offering - Additional Information (Detail) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions			12 Months Ended
	Jul. 30, 2014 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Jul. 14, 2014 $ / shares shares	Dec. 30, 2015 $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2014 $ / shares shares	Jul. 24, 2014 $ / shares shares
Shareholders Equity [Line Items]
Common stock , authorized		200,000,000	200,000,000	200,000,000	200,000,000
Common stock, par value \| $ / shares		$ 0.01	$ 0.01	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Stock split note			8.56381-for-1
Stock split ratio		8.56381
Increase in authorized shares					300,000,000
Preferred stock, authorized			100,000,000	100,000,000	100,000,000
Preferred stock, par value \| $ / shares			$ 0.01	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Senior Secured Term Loan [Member]
Shareholders Equity [Line Items]
Repayment of debt \| $	$ 100.0
IPO [Member]
Shareholders Equity [Line Items]
Shares issued in in initial public offering	8,214,286
Shares issued, price per share \| $ / shares	$ 15.00
Net proceeds from initial public offering \| $	$ 112.3
Underwriters [Member]
Shareholders Equity [Line Items]
Shares issued in in initial public offering	1,071,429

Quarterly Financial Information - Schedule of Quarterly Financial Information (Detail) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2015 USD ($) Restaurants $ / shares $ / Restaurant shares	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) Restaurants $ / shares $ / Restaurant shares	Jul. 01, 2015 USD ($) Restaurants $ / shares $ / Restaurant shares	Apr. 01, 2015 USD ($) Restaurants $ / shares $ / Restaurant shares	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) Restaurants $ / shares $ / Restaurant shares	Sep. 24, 2014 USD ($) Restaurants $ / shares $ / Restaurant shares	Jun. 25, 2014 USD ($) Restaurants $ / shares $ / Restaurant shares	Mar. 26, 2014 USD ($) Restaurants $ / shares $ / Restaurant shares	Dec. 30, 2015 USD ($) Restaurants $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) Restaurants $ / shares shares	Dec. 25, 2013 USD ($) $ / shares shares
Selected Financial Data
Total revenue \| $	$ 86,307	$ 88,870	$ 89,454	$ 90,426	$ 89,973	$ 86,557	$ 86,904	$ 81,427	$ 355,057	$ 344,861	$ 314,727
Income from Operations \| $	9,748	12,527	13,582	12,967	11,311	13,621	12,842	11,510
Provision (benefit) for income taxes \| $	4,576	6,505	5,062	4,714	(2,606)	(61,389)	570	417	20,857	(63,008)	1,401
Net income (loss) \| $	$ 5,367	$ 4,666	$ 7,230	$ 6,791	$ 4,575	$ 25,849	$ 6,569	$ 5,470	$ 24,054	$ 42,463	$ (16,873)
Net income (loss) per share
Basic \| $ / shares	$ 0.14	$ 0.12	$ 0.19	$ 0.18	$ 0.12	$ 0.76	$ 0.23	$ 0.19	$ 0.63	$ 1.32	$ (0.59)
Diluted \| $ / shares	$ 0.14	$ 0.12	$ 0.18	$ 0.17	$ 0.12	$ 0.70	$ 0.21	$ 0.18	$ 0.62	$ 1.24	$ (0.59)
Denominator:
Basic \| shares	38,284,435	38,275,317	37,812,767	37,424,745	37,149,379	34,221,829	28,715,485	28,712,622	37,949,316	32,285,484	28,712,622
Diluted \| shares	38,965,248	39,107,241	39,085,206	38,921,884	39,691,650	36,821,095	30,372,281	30,157,316	39,039,558	34,346,241	28,712,622
Selected Operating Data
Company-operated \| Restaurants						6
Average unit volume (AUV) (company-operated) \| $ / Restaurant	1,826	1,928	1,952	1,963	1,839	1,893	1,927	1,813
Comparable restaurant sales growth
Restaurant contribution margin	21.50%	21.20%	21.60%	23.30%	22.30%	20.70%	22.60%	22.10%
Entity Operated Units [Member]
Selected Operating Data
Company-operated \| Restaurants	186	175	174	173	172	166	168	168	186	172
Comparable restaurant sales growth
Company-operated	1.00%	0.00%	(0.50%)	3.50%	6.40%	6.40%	5.00%	5.40%
Franchised Units [Member]
Selected Operating Data
Company-operated \| Restaurants	247	245	244	243	243	239	233	233	247	243
Comparable restaurant sales growth
Company-operated	2.40%	1.10%	2.60%	6.20%	8.60%	9.10%	5.90%	8.30%
System Wide [Member]
Selected Operating Data
Company-operated \| Restaurants	433	420	418	416	415	405	401	401	433	415
Comparable restaurant sales growth
Company-operated	1.80%	0.60%	1.30%	5.10%	7.60%	7.90%	5.40%	7.20%

Quarterly Financial Information - Schedule of Quarterly Financial Information (Parenthetical) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 24, 2014	Dec. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Valuation allowance released	$ 65,000	$ 2,920	$ 65,000
Charge relating to present value of total expected TRA payments	$ 41,000	$ 156	41,382
Consolidated statement of operations, reflecting call premiums on retired debt obligations and expense related to unamortized deferred financing cost and unamortized discounts.			$ 4,600

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity (Parenthetical) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Statement Of Stockholders Equity [Abstract]
Issuance of common stock for initial public offering, offering cost	$ 10,914

Leases - Schedule of Future Leases Obligations (Parenthetical) (Detail)	Dec. 30, 2015
Minimum [Member]
Future Lease Payments Due [Line Items]
Imputed interest rate	11.00%
Maximum [Member]
Future Lease Payments Due [Line Items]
Imputed interest rate	14.80%