The number of renewal options for a lessee's operating lease.

No definition available.

Name:	loco_LesseeOperatingLeaseNumberOfRenewalOptions
Namespace Prefix:	loco_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number Of Finance Leases

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	loco_NumberOfFinanceLeases
Namespace Prefix:	loco_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of leases.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	loco_NumberOfLeases
Namespace Prefix:	loco_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of Restaurants with lease modification

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	loco_NumberOfRestaurantWithLeaseModification
Namespace Prefix:	loco_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 7A
-Subparagraph (c)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478964/842-20-50-7A

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478964/842-20-50-3

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LesseeLeaseDescriptionLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Indicates (true false) whether lessee has option to extend operating lease.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478964/842-20-50-3

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LesseeOperatingLeaseExistenceOfOptionToExtend
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:booleanItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Indicates (true false) whether lessee provided residual value guarantee for operating lease.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(4)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478964/842-20-50-3

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LesseeOperatingLeaseExistenceOfResidualValueGuarantee
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:booleanItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Term of lessee's operating lease renewal, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478964/842-20-50-3

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LesseeOperatingLeaseRenewalTerm
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Term of lessee's operating lease, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LesseeOperatingLeaseTermOfContract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of loss from impairment of right-of-use asset from operating lease.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 25
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (c)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479365/842-20-25-6

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingLeaseImpairmentLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of increase in right-of-use asset obtained in exchange for operating lease liability.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 53
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479589/842-20-55-53

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (g)(2)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478964/842-20-50-4

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RightOfUseAssetObtainedInExchangeForOperatingLeaseLiability
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationByCategoryOfItemPurchasedAxis=us-gaap_OperatingLeaseLeaseNotYetCommencedMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=loco_EquipmentLeaseMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=loco_PropertyLeaseModificationsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=loco_FacilityLeasesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

LEASES (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
LEASES (Details) $ in Thousands	Jun. 25, 2025 USD ($) restaurant lease	Jun. 26, 2024 USD ($) restaurant	Jun. 25, 2025 USD ($) lease restaurant item	Jun. 26, 2024 USD ($) restaurant
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Initial lease term	20 years		20 years
Existence of residual value guarantee			false
Number of renewable options \| item			4
Renewal term	5 years		5 years
Lessee, Operating Lease, Existence of Option to Extend [true false]			true
Right-of-Use Asset Obtained in Exchange for Operating Lease Liability			$ 7,085	$ 8,099
Operating lease, impairment charges	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	0
Operating Lease, Lease Not yet Commenced
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Number of operating leases \| lease	2		2
Equipment Leases
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Number of finance leases \| lease	24		24
Right-of-Use Asset Obtained in Exchange for Operating Lease Liability			$ 15	$ 1,233
Property lease modification
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Number of Restaurants with lease modification \| restaurant	7	4	9	12
Right-of-Use Asset Obtained in Exchange for Operating Lease Liability	$ 5,700	$ 1,800	$ 7,100	$ 8,100
Facility Leases
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Number of finance leases \| lease	1		1