El Pollo Loco Opens on Ellison NW as West Side Restaurant Jobs Grow
Published: September 25, 2026 | By LocalJobPage Team
ALBUQUERQUE, NM — El Pollo Loco's second Albuquerque restaurant is open for business at 3811 Ellison Dr. NW, and it is one of two West Side restaurant projects putting real kitchen and front-counter jobs on the map. The franchise group behind it told the Albuquerque Journal the Ellison store would need 50 to 70 employees, and a homegrown Mexican seafood restaurant just announced up to 60 more jobs a few miles away on Coors.
If you live in Taylor Ranch, Paradise Hills or across the line in Rio Rancho, the next restaurant job may be closer than the Big I.
Need work now? Jump straight to the West Side restaurant job links →
📍 At a Glance
| Business | El Pollo Loco (fire-grilled chicken) |
| Opened | Wednesday, September 16, 2026 |
| Address | 3811 Ellison Dr. NW, Albuquerque, NM 87114 |
| Hours | Daily, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. |
| Concept | Dine-in, drive-thru, takeout and catering |
| Owners | Franchisee Ashim Chopra, CB Pollo NM 1 |
| Industry | Quick-service restaurant |
| New jobs | 50 to 70, per the franchisee's estimate to the Albuquerque Journal |
El Pollo Loco Lands on Ellison NW
The new store took over a former Carl's Jr. building near Chick-fil-A and Cavender's after a full renovation this summer. It opened September 16 and scheduled its grand opening celebration, complete with a ribbon cutting with the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, for Friday, September 25.
This is the brand's second Albuquerque location after the Juan Tabo Boulevard NE store in the Northeast Heights, and the franchise group isn't done. Chopra's group signed agreements for nine El Pollo Loco units in 2023, and the Journal reported this summer that a third Albuquerque store is planned for a former Carl's Jr. on Central Avenue, with permits still pending at the time. No opening date or headcount has been announced for that one, so keep an eye out rather than counting on it.
"We've been truly encouraged by the response El Pollo Loco has received in Albuquerque," Chopra said in the company's opening announcement.
💼 The Jobs on Ellison
A drive-thru restaurant open 12 hours a day, seven days a week, needs people on every shift: grill cooks, prep cooks, cashiers, drive-thru crew, shift leads and managers. The 50 to 70 figure was the franchisee's estimate before opening, so some of those seats have likely been filled since.
Apply through El Pollo Loco's official careers page, or stop in during a slow stretch in the mid-afternoon and ask for a manager. The store's phone number is (505) 585-3550.
Lindo Mexico Plans Up to 60 Jobs on Coors
The bigger West Side hire is further out. Lindo Mexico Grill & Seafood, the family-owned restaurant founded by Sergio and Azucena Valles, plans an 8,200-square-foot third location at 3937 Coors NW in the Oxbow Center. The Journal reported that construction is set to start in October 2026 with completion expected in December 2027, and that the new restaurant will add up to 60 jobs. The company already employs 96 people across its two current restaurants.
The family is also planning a remodel of its Central Avenue restaurant from November 2026 through March 2027. No hiring timeline for the Coors location has been announced, so this one is about getting your resume ready, not applying tomorrow. Servers, bartenders and line cooks with seafood experience should watch for postings as the building goes up.
🔎 Start Your West Side Restaurant Job Search
Working close to home on the West Side beats a daily trip across the river on Montaño or Paseo del Norte. Pay varies by role and experience, and the address where you work decides your minimum wage, so check where a job is located before you compare offers.
Start here:
- El Pollo Loco jobs in Albuquerque
- Restaurant jobs in Albuquerque
- Line cook jobs
- Cashier jobs
- Drive-thru jobs
- Shift manager jobs
- Restaurant manager jobs
- Server jobs
- Bartender jobs
FAQ
Where is the new El Pollo Loco in Albuquerque?
It is at 3811 Ellison Dr. NW, Albuquerque, NM 87114, in a former Carl's Jr. building on the West Side. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Is the Ellison El Pollo Loco still hiring?
The franchisee estimated 50 to 70 employees before opening. Some positions have likely been filled since the September 16 opening, so check the official careers page or ask a manager in person for current openings.
When will Lindo Mexico open on Coors?
Construction is expected to begin in October 2026, with completion expected in December 2027. No hiring date has been announced.
How many jobs will Lindo Mexico add?
Up to 60, according to the company's plans as reported by the Albuquerque Journal. It currently employs 96 people at its two existing restaurants.
Get Hired Closer to Home
Create a free LocalJobPage profile so West Side employers can find you, and explore Albuquerque career paths in the Career Center.
Employers: Opening or staffing up on the West Side? Post your jobs on LocalJobPage and reach Albuquerque job seekers where they live.
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Next time you're running errands off Ellison or heading up Coors, look around: the West Side is hiring.
