Six months after closing its last San Antonio location, Mongolian barbecue chain Genghis Grill is stirring back to life. Local franchisee Jeff Macaitis has received the brand with a new outpost in the Embassy Oaks Shopping Center at 226 W. Bitters Rd.

When the Genghis Grill at 1903 N. Loop 1604 closed in December 2025, it seemed like the franchise was pulling out of San Antonio entirely. The restaurant shuttered without warning, and the company did not issue a statement. But in March, the Instagram profile run by the Macaitis family began teasing a rebirth.

Dallas entrepreneur Jeff Sinell founded Genghis Grill in 1998 when he took over the site of an existing stir-fry restaurant. At the time, Mongolian barbecue spots were trendy, combining an all-you-can-eat experience with Japanese steakhouse showmanship.

Sinell’s chief innovation was charging by the bowl. Guests would fill an oversized bowl with proteins, noodles, vegetables, and sauces, which were then cooked on a large circular flat-top grill. With a lower price than its AYCE contemporaries, the concept soon became popular for lunch and quick dinners.

At one time, the chain had almost 100 nationwide locations. That number has been drastically reduced in recent years, with the website now listing only 13 storefronts, mostly in Texas.

Since acquiring Genghis Grill in 2023, Illinois-based Craveworthy Brands has made moves to revitalize the chain. Former Jimmy John’s CEO Gregg Majewski instituted a variety of changes, including faster cooking times and smaller restaurant footprints.

Although the build-your-own bowl format still exists, Genghis Grill’s menu is a far cry from the original format. Guests can order from a variety of chef-created bowls, many of which — like jambalaya fried rice and bacon ranch quesadillas — have nothing to do with Mongolian barbecue.

"When you look at things with a new set of eyes, and take the time to figure out what's truly necessary in a brand, and you don't have any sacred cows you're worried about because you're new, it's a lot easier to find new things than you think,” Majewski told trade site Franchise Times.