Los Pollos Hermanos

A fried-chicken chain that fronts Gus Fring's meth business.

Los Pollos Hermanos is a fictional fast-food restaurant chain specializing in fried chicken featured in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. In the show's universe, it serves as a front for Gus Fring's methamphetamine operations while being highly regarded by the public as a regional chain comparable to KFC.

Quick Facts

Series

Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul

First

Breaking Bad:
"Mandala" (2009)
Better Call Saul:
"Witness" (2017)

Last

Breaking Bad:
"Madrigal" (2012)
Better Call Saul:
"Point and Shoot" (2022)

Creator

Vince Gilligan; George Mastras

Located in

14 different locations
with the most notable in Albuquerque
New Mexico

Lore & Background

Founded in Mexico by Chilean nationals Gus Fring and Max Arciniega, the chain expanded across the American Southwest after Fring emigrated. Alongside the restaurant chain, Gus owned an industrial laundry in Albuquerque, Lavanderia Brillante, beneath which he had a meth superlab built to a design by the chemist Gale Boetticher. The restaurants remained clean of drug activity, operating as a subsidiary of the German conglomerate Madrigal Electromotive GmbH until Fring's death.

Reader's Guide

The fictional chain had 14 locations in the American Southwest. Its physical filming set was a series of Twisters locations in South Valley, New Mexico. The real-world brand saw a 10% revenue increase for Twisters during Breaking Bad's airing in 2013. Pop-up events occurred globally, including cities like New York and Austin, often featuring only curly fries to avoid health violations.

Fictional Origins and Criminal Operations

Los Pollos Hermanos was founded by Gus Fring and Max Arciniega in Mexico. A fictional commercial suggests recipes were inspired by Gus's uncles. The chain grew to 14 locations in the American Southwest, using trucks to smuggle meth from a cartel farm near Albuquerque. Fring kept restaurant floors drug-free. It became a subsidiary of Madrigal Electromotive GmbH before closing after Fring's death.

Real-World Filming Locations and Economic Impact

The set for the Albuquerque location was a series of Twisters locations in South Valley, New Mexico. In 2013, Twisters reported a 10% revenue increase attributed to Breaking Bad. On January 20, 2018, superfans Edward Candelaria and Marq Smith paid to renovate the filming location into Los Pollos Hermanos for one day, coinciding with Better Call Saul Season 4 filming.

Merchandise Controversies and Legal Disputes

The logo was created in 2008 by Mexican artist Humberto Puentes-Segura. Topanga Productions sold merchandise featuring the logo until Puentes-Segura sued Sony Pictures in 2016 for licensing without permission. In August 2018, Postmates offered a limited-time delivery service in Los Angeles and New York City.

Pop-Up Events and Cultural Phenomenon

Giancarlo Esposito visited the Sydney event. Netflix organized events in Rome and Milan on May 12–13. A "Breaking Bad Experience" opened in West Hollywood in late 2019. In October 2019, a location opened in Venice Beach for El Camino.