Mexican grill plans to open Richmond Highway location

A new Tex-Mex restaurant is coming to the former El Pollo Primero location in Hybla Valley.

El Fresco, a fast-casual grill featuring “real fresh Mexican food,” currently has locations in Chantilly and Centreville, and plans to expand in the near future to Sterling and Alexandria. A store employee at the Chantilly location confirmed their future Richmond Highway presence but said they are still working with Fairfax County on some administrative matters and are unsure of the opening date.

Besides serving breakfast all day, El Fresco offers a wide variety of standard Mexican fare, including “favorites” like fajitas, carne asada con camaron, plato de pescado, arroz con pollo and a carne asada plate. According to their website, the food is prepared fresh, from scratch, every day. Dine-in, catering, pick-up and delivery services are all available.

In recent months, contractors have been spiffing up the building, located at 7324 Richmond Highway, which used to be home to a Peruvian-style chicken restaurant and, in bygone days, a Red Barn restaurant. Online real estate records show the 1,800 square-foot property was sold for $1.365 million in October 2022.