Hawaiian News

Hawaiian Bros imports comforting tropical plate lunches to Dallas

The comforting plate lunch.

Photo by Kathy Tran

Dallas is about to get a big plate of Hawaiian food with the arrival of Hawaiian Bros, a fast casual concept founded in Kansas City that specializes in authentic island comfort food including the classic Hawaiian plate lunch.

Hawaiian Bros was founded by brothers Cameron and Tyler McNie, who learned traditional recipes and cooking techniques used by native Hawaiians for generations. They opened their first location in Kansas City in 2018.

There are currently five locations in the K.C. area, plus locations in Chicago; Belton, Missouri; and Austin. North Texas is their next frontier.

They're already operating out of Revolving Kitchen, a commercial kitchen facility in Garland, but will open brick-and-mortar locations in late spring/early summer, as follows:

Hulen: 4732 Bryant Irvin Rd, Fort Worth
Denton: 2220 S Loop 288
Alliance: 2301 N Tarrant Pkwy, Fort Worth
Frisco: 11560 Dallas Pkwy.
Upper Greenville: 6011 Greenville Ave, Dallas

Eight locations in the works include Hurst, Allen, Waco, Mesquite, Addison, Richardson, Euless, and Murphy.

The food
The classic Hawaiian plate lunch is a starch-tastic experience that comes with two scoops of rice and macaroni salad, plus an entree/protein such as teriyaki chicken, teriyaki beef, or pulled pork.

At Hawaiian Bros, the menu includes:

Huli Huli Chicken – Hawaiian Bros' signature marinated teriyaki chicken
Luau Pig – slow-roasted Kalua pork seasoned with Hawaiian sea salt
Molokai Chicken – sweet and spicy grilled chicken with a little heat
Honolulu Chicken – savory chicken infused with garlic, green onions, and sesame
Macaroni Salad – classic Hawaiian side featuring a "secret blend" of spices
Spam Musubi – rice with seared spam glazed in teriyaki sauce, wrapped in seaweed

All plate lunches are available in small, classic, and large sizes.

They're also doing Dole Whip, the cult-favorite dairy-free soft-serve created by Dole in 1986. Hawaiian Bros. has the original pineapple flavor as well as an occasional rotating flavor.

Hawaiian Bros president Scott Ford says in a statement that the founders had a Hawaiian vision.

"From their first taste of Hawaiian cuisine, our founders Cameron and Tyler McNie, knew they wanted to share the flavors of Hawaii with the mainland," Ford says. "They also very purposefully centered their business around the value of Ohana —knowing the blending of community, connection and food would be the best way to honor the Hawaiian culture."

openings

Deep Ellum News

Mexican 'vibe' restaurant from California to open in Deep Ellum Dallas

Mama Por Dios

A buzzy concept from California is coming to Dallas: Mama Por Dios, a Mexican restaurant chain known for its vibe, will open its first location in Texas in Deep Ellum in the Epic development at 2525 Elm St., taking over the former La Neta space, which shuttered in May.

According to a spokesperson, the restaurant will open in early to mid-January.

Mama Por Dios was founded in Southern California in 2020 by chef Misael Guerrero, who famously got his start selling Mexican sushi out of his garage.

Since those early days, he's gone on to form a restaurant empire called Emme Group, with concepts that include Los Amores de Julia, El Rincon de Los Dolidos, and Culichi Town, a lower-priced chain known for Sinaloa-style Mexican sushi & seafood, which has a local presence: It opened a location in Mesquite in 2022.

Mama Por Dios — which translates to "Mother of God" — describes itself as modern Mexican, offering a unique blend of steakhouse, sushi bar, and seafood. The menu includes favorites like tacos and enchiladas, alongside luxe dishes like lobster with spaghetti, lobster enchiladas, and a surf & turf featuring a lobster tail balanced atop a skirt steak. Prices range from $18 for birria tacos to $48 for a bacon-wrapped filet mignon with mashed potatoes and asparagus.

But they also have a showy side that includes flamboyant presentations such as the bacon-wrapped shrimp which come strung on clothespins; or the trompito al pastor, served on a personal spit, as well as servers who walk around with shots while dancing with patrons.

There's a Gold Burger for $65 featuring Prime beef on a brioche bun garnished with 24k gold leaf, and a similarly gilded tomahawk steak for $400 that brings to mind the good old days of Salt Bae. Decor is swanky with low lighting, and there'll be a serious brunch offering on weekends.

Cocktails such as the Al Agua Pato — served in a mini bathtub with a rubber ducky — are made for Instagram. They offer margarita and mezcalita flights with flavors such as mango, tamarindo, and strawberry, and intriguing sips like Carajillo, a Spanish cocktail with Licor 43, espresso, and 43 different fruit, citrus, aromatic, and herbal ingredients.

There’s also a $20 per-person minimum spend, and the menu comes with a warning that everything is cooked to order — meaning some dishes may take 30 to 40 minutes. For many diners, waiting will surely be part of the experience.

deep-ellum tex-mex openings