Bowl News
Calif-based WaBa Grill rolls healthy bowls into Texas with Dallas debut
WaBa Grill, now open in Dallas. Too bad about the plastic bowls.
A healthy rice bowl chain has debuted in Dallas, marking the brand’s entry into Texas. Called WaBa Grill, it's now open at 2222 Fort Worth Ave. #120, near Hampton Road, where it's rolling out bowls with fire-grilled proteins, grains, and vegetables.
WaBa serves bowls, plates, salads, and tacos, with various protein and sauce choices.The chain is about healthy eating but also affordability, with bowls priced from $7 to $13.
It's also about growth and franchising, and claims to be approaching 200 locations in four states.
The Dallas entry is by franchisee Hilario Raygoza of Raygoza’s Management, Inc., who currently operates five WaBa Grill locations throughout Southern California. Raygoza has hopes and dreams of opening 10 restaurants in the area, but let's see how No. 1 goes, shall we.
“As a longstanding WaBa Grill franchisee, it’s an honor to introduce WaBa’s signature bowls, proteins and more to the Lone Star State,” Raygoza says in a release. “Guests have enjoyed WaBa Grill in several Western states for nearly two decades, and we’re looking forward to growing the brand legacy and becoming the go-to option for better-for-you food throughout Texas.”
The release has less to say about the food, which is never a good sign, but this story comes to the rescue with details such as the fact that WaBa Grill was founded in 2006 in California, with a goal of making healthy food with quality ingredients accessible to everyone.
The menu consists of bowls, plates, tacos, and salads. You can do a veggie version of any of those or else add a protein, since Americans are generally very very obsessed about their protein.
Protein choices include chicken, ribeye steak, salmon, shrimp, plant-based Plantspired steak, and organic tofu. You add sauces and various vegetable options.
A basic bowl has white rice with steamed broccoli, cabbage, and carrots. You can also get a "plate" version for $13 to $15 that comes with a side salad.
Tacos use a corn-flour-blend tortilla with the same choice of proteins, plus slaw, sesame dressing, and boom boom sauce. Single tacos range from $2.50 to $3.50.
There are also dumplings filled with pork, 20 for $12.50, plus miso soup, wontons, and edamame kimchi.
Alas, they use all disposable plastic plates and plastic utensils, even if you're dining in. It's no worse than Salad and Go or any of the numerous drive-through coffee chains, or any of the crappy Swig-style drink chains. What's cheap today will cost the planet down the road, but nobody's thinking about that right now.
