SAN JOSE — Should the city approve its proposals, a restaurant chain that offers Guatemalan cuisine is eyeing two new San Jose sites in what would mark an expansion of its Bay Area footprint.

Pollo Campero has proposed construction of a brand-new restaurant at 375 N. Capitol Ave., city planning documents show. It would be developed on a portion of a surface parking lot of an existing shopping center near the interchange of Interstate 680 and McKee Road. The dining establishment would total about 2,600 square feet and provide drive-thru services.

The other potential new site at 1690 Tully Road would convert a former Carl’s Jr. totaling 2,800 square feet, according to planning documents. Near the interchange of U.S. Highway 101 and Tully Road, the project would raise the height of the ceiling and create an array of interior upgrades.

The architectural company working with Pollo Campero said the restaurants are poised to benefit the neighborhood.

The 1690 Tully site would activate an empty building and the 375 N. Capitol site consists of a shopping center whose anchors are Sprouts Farmers Market and Grocery Outlet. It’s also next to a light-rail line.

“We believe the site’s proximity to both the freeway and mass transit makes it an appropriate and strategic location for drive-through service,” Gabriela Marks, an architect with Marks Architects, said of the 375 N. Capitol property. “Additionally, the project aims to help revitalize the surrounding shopping center and contribute new energy to the area.”

Pollo Campero was founded in Guatemala in 1971, Marks stated in a project letter submitted to San Jose planners. The restaurant chain operates in 20 states and Washington, D.C., according to its website.

“In 1971 in Guatemala, we started Pollo Campero, a unique food experience that’s full of life and seasoned with a little zest,” the fast-food restaurant chain states. “But it’s not just any food. We’re talking about marinated-to-the-bone, slow-down-and-enjoy-every-bite food.”

Pollo Campero has 29 locations in California and four in the Bay Area. The Bay Area sites include what the restaurant chain calls “digital kitchens,” with locations in San Jose and Oakland that offer only takeout and deliveries. The other sites are two restaurants in San Francisco.

The restaurant chain has received city approval to open a restaurant in San Pablo at 13222 San Pablo Ave. This new East Bay location could be open sometime this year.