• by Teresa Buyikian , July 1, 2025

El Pollo Loco’s latest campaign features both new food and a new sports star partnership.

The chicken chain has tapped the Los Angeles Lakers’ Dalton Knecht for its campaign introducing two new quesadillas. Knecht stars in a :15 spot, seen here, for the menu items, the Creamy Chipotle Quesadilla and the Salsa Verde Quesadilla. The spot shows Knecht chowing down on the quesadillas and marks the first time El Pollo Loco has used a sports star in its marketing efforts.

The Creamy Chipotle Quesadilla contains jack cheese, citrus-marinated fire-grilled white meat chicken in a flour tortilla with El Pollo Loco’s creamy chipotle sauce. The Salsa Verde Quesadilla also contains jack cheese and chicken in a tortilla, but is finished with the chain’s avocado salsa. Customers can add a free side of guacamole to either option. Individually the quesadillas are priced at $7.49 and $9.99 the combo meal.

The brand has also launched the Dalton Dunk Quesadilla Challenge to promote the new menu items. Loco Rewards members who purchase one of the new quesadillas on four separate visits between now and July 23 will receive a $10 off coupon.

The new ad is running online and the brand is also promoting the Dalton Dunk Quesadilla Challenge on its social platforms at Instagram, Meta and TikTok and X.

El Pollo Loco operates over 495 company-owned and franchised locations in seven western U.S. states. The brand, which was imported from Mexico and began in the U.S. in Los Angeles in 1980, also has licensed locations in the Philippines.