A Franchise Ownership Journey: From El Pollo Loco Crew Member to Multi-Unit Owner

Phong Huynh runs a successful business that spans more than 45 restaurants across four states, with four units under construction and 11 in development—but entrepreneurship wasn’t his original goal.

It began as a practical decision, born from the realization that his corporate salary wouldn’t be enough to send his children to college.

After arriving in the United States as a child expecting the stability of a foster home, Phong found himself alone on the streets of Southern California. Over time, he found work, built a career with his wife Mirna, and eventually became a franchise owner. Today, Phong is a business leader who mentors others, builds opportunities for his employees, and continues to grow his business with the same determination that made him an entrepreneur in the first place.

From Homeless Teen to Restaurant Entrepreneur

Phong arrived in the United States in 1975, at the age of seven, through a Catholic Church program for orphans. He spent several years in Minnesota before being sent to live with an adoptive family in California at the age of 12. But when he arrived at the Greyhound bus station in Los Angeles, no one came to meet him. Alone and unsure where to turn, Phong spent the next three and a half years living on the streets, finding food and safety wherever he could.

“I had no parents, but I had to survive," said Phong. "I went to junior high school to be able to take a shower and to have free lunches. I could have gone the wrong direction many times, but somehow I bounced back to the right track." 

A friend’s older brother helped him land a job cleaning grills at an El Pollo Loco. The restaurant became his shelter and his starting point. There, he met his future wife, Mirna, a cashier who also came from an immigrant family. They married young and had their first child at 21.

"The minute I had my daughter, I knew I had to survive and give her a better life," said Phong. "That became my purpose."

Phong and Mirna rose through the ranks at El Pollo Loco. Mirna focused on training and team development, while Phong became part of the company's management training program. He helped open new restaurants and rotated through multiple departments as part of his preparation for a corporate role. But despite the couple’s steady progress, a new challenge would soon take them in a different direction.

Taking the Leap to Franchise Ownership

As their three children approached college age, Phong and Mirna realized their combined corporate salaries wouldn’t be enough to fulfill their promise of covering tuition. They knew their value and how much they contributed to the company, but promotions and raises alone wouldn’t get them to where they needed to be.

In 2009, they made a bold decision to leave their jobs and pursue franchise ownership. They were well known in the El Pollo Loco community, and a franchisee invited them to partner with him on a struggling restaurant in Hemet, California. The restaurant did well, and after five years, Phong and Mirna bought out the franchisee. Corporate leadership, recognizing their success, began identifying underperforming restaurants elsewhere and offering them to Phong and Mirna to turn around. It was a win-win—and the beginning of a new chapter that would eventually lead to a thriving business portfolio and a family legacy.

Creating Opportunities Through Franchising

Mentoring Tomorrow’s Franchise Owners

Phong knows firsthand that financial support is only part of the equation. What he looks for most in a potential partner isn’t a resume or a degree; it’s trust.

“You can teach skills, but you can’t teach trust. Trust comes first—everything else follows,” he said. “Not everybody can be an owner. But if I see someone who’s ready, we do everything we can to open that door.”

The impact of Phong's philosophy is far-reaching. Several of his longtime employees have become owners through the partnership program, and many more are on track. He mentors the way he learned—by watching, listening and giving people a chance. Phong believes financial independence creates ripple effects that benefit families and communities alike.

“If I can help someone take care of their family, that’s when I know we’re doing something right,” he said. “Once you're financially sound, you become a better parent, a better citizen—and that benefits everybody."

Building a Family Business with Purpose

Despite their success, Phong and Mirna have remained grounded. They drive practical cars, prioritize their health, and spend time with their adult children—all of whom now work in the business.

Phong never wanted his kids to go into the restaurant business; he encouraged them to find their own paths. His daughter earned a degree in marketing and worked at an agency. His son became a geneticist. But, during the COVID-19 pandemic, two long-term administrative employees stopped performing their duties. Phong and Mirna were in the field working to keep restaurants running and found themselves needing help with operations and payroll.

Seeing their parents struggling, the couple’s two older children stepped in. They quit their jobs and used their computer skills to set up better systems. Within two weeks, things were running smoothly. What started as a six-month commitment turned into something more. Isabel and Justin decided to stay, and today, they’re a core part of the family business.

“They know it’s their future,” Phong said. “And it was their decision to be here. That’s why it works.” He believes that their choice to join the family business as adults—with different skill sets and more education than he and Mirna ever had—has helped preserve the closeness of their small family.

Solving a Franchise Pain Point with Smart Safe Banking

About 18 months ago, Phong became a customer of East West Bank after struggling with a major concern: the daily bank deposit runs his managers had to make. "That always worried me, even when I was a manager," he said. "You never know who’s watching."

Armored pickups weren’t an affordable option, but East West Bank helped him find a better solution with our Smart Safe service. Managers deposit cash in the Smart Safe throughout the day and receive credit for the deposits. An armored pickup happens once a week to transfer the cash to the bank.

Helping Others Reach Further

Phong doesn’t see what he’s built as the end goal: It’s a starting point for others. “We can’t help the whole world, but we can help others by giving them the kind of chances we had,” he said.

To his team, he often puts it this way: “Would you rather have the American lifestyle or the American Dream? One keeps you working your whole life. The other lets you build a legacy.”

For Phong and Mirna, the real value of their family business is in helping others live their dreams, too.