Pollo Tropical, the fast-casual restaurant known for its citrus-marinated, flame-grilled chicken and authentic island-inspired sauces and sides, expands its presence in the Atlanta area with three new locations opening by the end of the summer. 

The restaurants will feature Pollo Tropical's new Caribbean-style design that incorporates bright island colors and details to help guests soak up the feel of a shoreside retreat while enjoying handmade, island-inspired cuisine.

• The Buford location opens Aug. 12 at 3385 Buford Drive, with a grand opening celebration from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Aug. 14.

• The Woodstock location opens Aug. 19 at 188 Molly Lane, with a grand opening celebration from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Aug. 21.

• The Marietta location opens Sept. 2 at 680 Johnson Ferry Road, with a grand opening celebration from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sept. 4.

Grand opening celebrations will feature calypso bands and spin-and-win prizes, and an interactive charity challenge where contestants will compete for first- and second-place prizes of $500 and $300 to go to their favorite charity. The first 100 guests at the festivities will be entered into a raffle for the grand prize of Free Chicken for a Year* and receive a free meal coupon, redeemable on a future visit.

"The Atlanta area has embraced our unique style of Caribbean comfort food," said Pollo Tropical Chief Operating Officer Danny Meisenheimer. "We will have 10 locations here by year's end, and we plan to continue our expansion in Georgia."

Pollo Tropical's menu centers on its signature flame-grilled chicken and also includes Mojo Roast Pork, Grilled Tropical Wings and made-from-scratch sides like rice, beans, Caribbean corn souffle and balsamic tomatoes. The Tropical Lite menu offers tasty, lighter options that range from 340 to 510 calories and are built around the core Caribbean flavors of the Pollo Tropical menu.

At Pollo Tropical, savory island spices, herbs and citrus juices are blended into rubs and marinades that enhance the flavors of its fresh dishes. The famous Saucing Island brings on the flavor – and a little heat – with 10 signature sauces including Curry Mustard, Guava BBQ, Pineapple Rum, Cilantro Garlic and Spicy Poyo-Poyo. To complement its menu, Pollo Tropical also offers a variety of island-inspired beverages, ranging from Caribbean beers to coconut water.

The 3,400-square-foot restaurants will be open from 10:30 a.m. to midnight daily, and will feature indoor and outdoor seating for more than 90 guests, with limited table service and a convenient drive-thru. Guests can receive a coupon for either a buy one, get one free small TropiChop^® or $3 off a family meal by signing up for the Pollo Reward$ loyalty program.

The restaurants are actively recruiting for all positions and plan to hire more than 120 hourly team members. Applications are being accepted at http://pollotropical.com/careers/job-postings/.

*Complete details including contest rules, odds of winning and eligibility can be found online at www.pollotropical.com/community.