Calling it the “tastiest comeback story ever,” a Los Angeles-based restaurant chain that went bust more than a decade ago is getting ready to make its return.
Koo Koo Roo, a fast-casual chicken restaurant founded in L.A in the late 1980s, will be coming back from the dead for the this year’s ChainFest — a “gourmet” food festival that celebrates chain restaurants.
Koo Koo Roo will join Chili’s, Red Robin and Panda Express, among other participating restaurant groups, for the Oct. 5 food festival in downtown L.A.
“Fans of the brand will be able to indulge in revered OG classics, such as the signature flame-kissed Koo Koo Roo chicken recipe, sandwiches, salads + famed sides –– from the infamous Mac & Cheese to Roasted Garlic Potatoes –– as well as a crop of new innovations,” the company announced in a news release.
But the revived restaurant chain confirms it won’t be a one-off appearance. It plans to open a brick-and-mortar location in 2025.
It’ll be the first time Koo Koo Roo occupies a permanent place in its hometown since it closed its last restaurant in 2014.
Real estate developer Daniel Farasat, serving as the restaurant’s CEO, says the relaunch of Koo Koo Roo is a “love letter to L.A.” and the families and fans who grew up with it in the 1990s and early 2000s.
“We have so much respect for the brand and what it means to our city. We’re bringing Koo Koo Roo back to its origins with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients that pack flavor, while always honoring the original recipes and mission,” Farasat said. “Not only will we be tapping great L.A. talent to ramp up for this second coming, we’ll be collaborating with the community. We want to make L.A. proud.”
The company says it will spend the next year working with chefs and setting up pop-up shops across the city to showcase new and old favorite menu items prior to an eventual grand opening at a physical location.
In the meantime, fans can follow Koo Koo Roo on social media for the latest updates. They can also get their hands on Koo Koo Roo foods for the first time in over a decade at Skylight ROW in downtown L.A. when ChainFest takes place in later this year.
