Get ready Dallas...Loco is coming! That's right the nation's leading fire-grilled chicken restaurant chain plans to open a total of 20-30 restaurants in the DFW market by the end of 2019. The first two locations will open in early September. 

I had the pleasure of sampling items from the new DFW Tasting Menu in honor of El Pollo Loco's DFW expansion. I am incredibly excited about their multitude of tasty menu offerings. Here's a rundown of what you can expect.

Bone-In Chicken

If you're a fan of marinated, fired-grilled chicken then you'll love the Bone-In Chicken from El Pollo Loco. The chicken is fire-grilled over an open flame for about an hour by the restaurants Grill Masters. This chicken was flavorful, juicy, and moist. My chicken was accompanied by the following sides:

• Steamed Fresh Broccoli
• Tortillas- Corn & Flour
• Charro Beans- Pinto beans with chopped bacon, and slow simmered in a pork flavored broth
• Rice- Slow simmered long gran rice blended with traditional Mexican seasonings

Interestingly, I'm not a fan of beans, but the Charro Beans were pretty tasty. I loved the rice and the Mexican seasonings were not overpowering. 

Chicken Fajita Burrito

This burrito tasted like pure magic wrapped inside of a flour tortilla. Ok, technically it wasn't magic but the fire-grilled chicken, bell peppers, onions, sour cream, black beans, jack cheese, and rice sure tasted like it! 

Chicken Avocado Stuffed Quesadilla

This overtstuffed flour tortilla is one of my favorite items on the menu. Its packed with seasoned chicken, jack cheese, pico de gallo, cabbage, avocado, and El Pollo Loco's signature creamy cilantro dressing. All of the ingredients seemed to work together as a team to provide some incredible flavors. If you're a fan of quesadillas like me, then this quesadilla is a must order. 

Pollo Bowl

Are you intimidated by burritos? If so, El Pollo Loco's got you covered. I always tend to flock towards burrito bowls as they can be a little easier to eat. Plus, I'm not super big on tortillas. The Pollo Bowl is filled with fire-grilled chicken, rice, diced onions, cilantro, pico de gallo, and charro beans. It packs the same punch as the Chicken Fajita Burrito but is served in a convenient bowl. 

Shrimp Avocado Taco

I'm a lover of shrimp and avocado. Therefore, I got pretty excited when I saw the Shrimp Avocado Taco on the tasting menu. Flame-grilled and chipotle shrimp, cabbage, pico de gallo, jack cheese, avocado, are filled inside an artisan yellow corn tortilla. These ingredients are topped with El Pollo Loco's siganture creamy cilantro dressing. I was surprised by how well seasoned and large the shrimp were in this taco. 

Churros

You haven't lived life until the fullest, until you've tried a churro from El Pollo Loco. I'm pretty sure that I closed my eyes after tasting the first bite. El Pollo Loco's famous churros are dusted in cinnamon sugar and served warm. Make sure you order one during your next visit. 

You can join in on welcoming El Pollo Loco to the DFW by attending one of their grand opening events. Make sure you stop by one of their grand opening events scheduled on September 10th at the following locations:

386 E. Stacy Road,  Allen, TX

1900 Central Drive, Bedford TX