Juicy news

San Antonio rustles up 2 locations of popular Texas burger chain

Hat Creek will make its San Antonio debut in 2020.

Photo courtesy of Hat Creek

Hot off the opening of a second Hopdoddy Burger Bar, another Austin burger favorite has announced plans to move into Alamo City. A rep for Hat Creek Burger Company tells CultureMap that the chain will open its two San Antonio locations in 2020.

The brand, founded by University of Texas basketball player Drew Gressett, will first start flipping burgers in front of the At Home store near I-35 and Loop 1604 in summer 2020. A second location in the Stone Oak area is planned for the end of that year. Neither location has an exact address yet.

Gressett started the concept as a food truck in 2008 before expanding into a brick-and-mortar in North Austin in 2009. The chain has since added locations in Dallas, Houston, Waco, and Temple.

The eatery has a simple menu anchored by burgers like the Cowboy Hat with shredded cheddar, bacon, red onion, pickles, and barbecue sauce, and the Sombrero, with pepper jack, jalapeños, grilled onions, and Yellowbird hot sauce. Turkey and vegan patties are available in addition to beef.

The restaurant also offers chicken sandwiches and nuggets, salads, and sides like fries, tots, and fried pickles. The kid’s menu includes grilled cheese and sliders.

Unlike many similar concepts, Hat Creek also serves breakfast. San Antonians can expect tacos, sandwiches, pancakes, and platters with eggs, bacon or sausage, potatoes, and toast.

No word on interior details for the San Antonio restaurants, but Hat Creek caters to a family audience. Many locations feature custom-designed playscapes to keep children busy while their parents eat.

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Bar Culture

Ramen chain from Tokyo opens new location in San Antonio

Photo courtesy of Jinya Ramen Bar

This chain emphasizes traditional ramen.

San Antonians may not realize they have a real Japanese ramen spot in their city, and now they'll have more as Jinya Ramen Bar opens its second location in the city.

The restaurant at 7010 W Loop 1604 N. Suite 203 will open December 17. That will make 16 Texas locations for the Tokyo-based chain, which emphasizes the spread of "real ramen culture."

The first 100 guests will get a free bowl of ramen. The count starts at 11 am.

Jinya Ramen Bar bowls Jinya has a diverse menu with lots of possible add-ins.Photo courtesy of Jinya Ramen Bar

“Guests in San Antonio love big flavors and we’re happy to supply them,” said founder and CEO Tomo Takahashi in the release. “The Culebra neighborhood has become an incredible restaurant and retail destination, and we knew this community would be a great fit for our traditional ramen dishes.”

American ramen-lovers will recognize many of the ensembles featuring tonkotsu, shiyo, and miso broths with chashu (braised pork belly) or ground pork and yellow noodles. But the menu is much wider than these standard options, also featuring a vegan bowl, some bowls with chicken chashu instead of pork, shrimp or chicken wontons instead of noodles, and yuzu-flavored broth. A popular temporary menu item has also returned: The Red Garnet with vegetable broth, pork chashu, and chili garlic sauce.

Most of the ingredients listed above are offered as mix-ins (including all the proteins), plus additions like butter, fried onion, cabbage, broccolini, and more. "Tapas," rice bowls, salads, and desserts add some more variety, alongside beer, wine, sake, and just about anything else that would be available at a full bar.

According to the release, Jinya is particular about the water it uses in its broth and has a special aging process for its noodles.

Jinya Ramen Bar Culebra interior A sneak peek at the new location.Photo courtesy of Jinya Ramen Bar

Jinya Ramen Bar in Culebra will be open daily from 11 am to 10 pm.

ramen openings japanese cuisine