Pollo Tropical Continues Jacksonville Expansion in 2015

Pollo Tropical Continues Jacksonville Expansion in 2015POLLO TROPICAL® CONTINUES JACKSONVILLE EXPANSION IN 2015

Miami’s iconic island-inspired chicken restaurant to celebrate grand opening of area’s fifth location in July

MIAMI (July 13, 2015)Pollo Tropical, Florida’s beloved fast-casual concept known for its citrus-marinated, flame-grilled chicken and authentic sauces and sides, will further its presence in Jacksonville with the July 22 opening of its fifth area location near Regency Square Mall at 9370 Atlantic Blvd.

The restaurant will host a grand opening celebration from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on July 24 that will include calypso bands, spin-and-win prizes and a robosurfer challenge where contestants will compete for first- and second-place prizes of $500 and $300 to go to their favorite charity. The first 100 guests at the festivities will be entered into a raffle drawing for the grand prize Free Chicken for a Year.* They will also each get a coupon for a free Create Your Own Family Meal, which includes a whole grilled chicken, choice of two sides, dinner rolls and plantains, redeemable on a future visit.

“Our new Regency-area restaurant will help us better serve the downtown Jacksonville community with a location that’s closest to the city center,” said Pollo Tropical Chief Operating Officer Danny Meisenheimer. “Our guests can visit every day to explore our menu of meal choices they feel better about eating, or enjoy the convenience of catering a wide variety of our tropical favorites in their downtown offices.”

Pollo Tropical’s menu centers on its signature flame-grilled chicken and also includes Mojo Roast Pork, Grilled Tropical Wings and made-from-scratch sides like rice, beans, yuca and sweet plantains. The Tropical Lite menu offers guests tasty, lighter options ranging from 340 to 510 calories that are built around the core Caribbean flavors of the Pollo Tropical menu.

At Pollo Tropical, savory island spices, herbs and citrus juices are blended into rubs and marinades that enhance the flavors of the fresh dishes. The famous Saucing Island® brings on the flavor – and a little heat – with 10 signature sauces including Curry Mustard, Guava BBQ, Pineapple Rum, Cilantro Garlic and Spicy Poyo-Poyo. To complement its menu, Pollo Tropical also offers a variety of island-inspired beverages, ranging from Caribbean beers to coconut water.

The 3,400-square-foot restaurant will be open from 10:30 a.m. to midnight daily, and will feature indoor and outdoor seating for more than 90 guests, with limited table service and a convenient drive-thru. Guests can receive a coupon for either a buy one, get one free small TropiChop® or $3 off a family meal by signing up for the Pollo Reward$® loyalty program.

The restaurant is actively recruiting for all positions and plans to hire more than 40 hourly team members. Applications are being accepted at http://pollotropical.com/careers/job-postings/.

*Complete details including contest rules, odds of winning and eligibility can be found online at www.pollotropical.com/community.

About Pollo Tropical

Pollo Tropical, a subsidiary of Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc., is a Caribbean-inspired fast-casual concept known for its fresh, flame-grilled chicken marinated in a proprietary blend of tropical fruit juices and spices. Other craveable island favorites include Mojo Roast Pork and made-from-scratch sides including rice, beans, yuca with garlic sauce, sweet plantains and more. Menu items like the Tropical Citrus Chicken Salad, Guava BBQ Pork Sandwich and Create Your Own TropiChops® can be customized with 10 zesty tropical signature sauces on Pollo Tropical’s famous Saucing Island®. Founded in 1988, the Miami-based company currently owns and operates more than 130 locations in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and Texas, plus five licensed restaurants on college campuses and 35 franchised locations throughout the Caribbean, Central America, South America and Puerto Rico. For more information, visit Pollo Tropical’s website at www.pollotropical.com.

About Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc.

Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc., owns, operates and franchises Pollo Tropical, Taco Cabana® and Cabana Grill® restaurant brands. The brands specialize in the operation of fast-casual, ethnic restaurants that offer distinct and unique flavors with broad appeal at a compelling value. The brands feature made-from-scratch cooking, fresh salsa bars, drive-thru service and catering. For more information about Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc., visit the corporate website at www.frgi.com.