"Opened with a grand opening celebration on Tuesday, March 25 at 1340 Shingle Creek Crossing in Brooklyn Center, this location featured food giveaways, prizes, and a chance to win free [the chain] for a year. The menu continues the chain’s longtime approach: chicken that’s marinated before going into the fryer, along with sides of yucca fries, sweet plantains, mashed potatoes, and bread rolls. The spot taps into a deep nostalgia for Central American customers — “They love the nostalgic feel,” says Blas Escarcega, vice president of franchise development, adding that “there are people that are homesick, and this allows them to kind of connect [with] back home.” The opening is part of a broader U.S. expansion (the brand marked its 100th location in Miami Gardens in April 2024) backed by a $190 million commitment from the parent company to open at least 25 new U.S. restaurants by the end of 2024 and grow the U.S. footprint to 250 stores by 2028. The company hopes to add more franchise sites in Minnesota and the Midwest as it grows. Hours: open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily." - Serena Maria Daniels