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

Sweet spot

Artisanal Venezuelan bakery with French flair rises in north Dallas

Courtesy photo

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A new bakery with Latin roots and European elan has debuted in north Dallas: Called Pan Pa’ Vos, it is a Venezuelan bakery at 3855 Frankford Rd., near the border with Carrollton.

Pan Pa’ Vos (which means “bread for you” in Spanish), features a unique balance of cozy neighborhood bakery and sophisticated French boulangerie.

The shop is from Jaiver Díaz, who first opened the bakery under the same name in 2017, in his hometown of Cabimas, Venezuela. Díaz later sold his shop and moved to Dallas in search of better opportunities. He continued to bake at home in Dallas and sold to neighbors and fellow Venezuelans who knew his brand from back home.

During his delivery rounds, he kept seeing this vacant space on Frankford Road, formerly home to a dry-cleaners, so he decided to open the shop to cater to the growing demand that his home bakery business was no longer able to keep up with.

Pan Pa’ Vos offers a “flour to final product,” which he says are 100 percent artisanal, additive- and preservative-free, never-frozen baked goods.

“This sets us apart,” Díaz says.

The vast menu created by Díaz includes beautiful bicolor croissants in assorted flavors including pistachio, chocolate, dulce de leche, Nutella, and strawberries and cream, for $6. They also have savory croissants such as brisket, chicken, egg, turkey, and pulled pork, for $8.

Other French offerings include mille-feuille and palmiers.

True to their Venezuelan roots, they serve cachitos, a crescent-shaped bread roll filled with ham, ham and bacon, or ham and cream cheese, and an assortment of savory empanadas.

Other popular items include New York rolls, cruffins, and doughnuts, ranging from $3 to $5, and cakes by the slice for $5, or 10-inch cakes for $35.

Pan Pa’ Vos also bakes hamburger and hot dog buns, sourdough bread and French bread for pick up.

The bakery's two-story space is designed in earthy colors for a fresh, comfortable feel, with plenty of tables and booths, and a wide window overlooking the kitchen. They offer a full coffee and tea menu to complement their pastry menu.

“Our concept is relaxing, clean and quiet,” Díaz says. “It is all about order and presentation.”

They are open daily from 7 am-9 pm.

bakeries