COMING ATTRACTIONS

Hawaiian comfort food chain to open in splashy new UTSA development

Hawaiian Bros. is opening in the new The Merc development near UTSA.

Photo by Kathy Tran

San Antonio will soon pull out some leis for a new location of Hawaiian Bros. Island Grill. The island comfort food chain is opening a new restaurant at 5746 UTSA Blvd, adding to the tenant mix at the upcoming 112-acre live-play district, The Merc, near the University of Texas at San Antonio campus.

Hawaiian Bros. specializes in traditional plate lunches, or pā mea 'ai, a sort of tropical take on Japanese bento boxes or Southern United States’ meat-and-three meals. The tradition developed in the 1800s after Hawaii’s colonization, when the state’s pineapple and sugar plantations drew immigrant laborers from across the globe.

The plates, which are now enjoyed throughout the day, are composed of a sweet and savory protein served alongside a variety of sides, usually rice and macaroni salad. Hawaiian Bros. also serves the meats in wraps and offers other island staples like Spam musubi and a take on a tiki treat, the Dole Whip.

The chain was founded far away from the tropical paradise. Siblings Cameron and Tyler McNie opened the first Hawaiian Bros. in Belton, Missouri, in 2018, drawing from 15 years of experience working in their family’s West Coast restaurants. The restaurants have rapidly expanded since, spreading out to 60 locations in 10 states.

The fast-casual restaurant first appeared in Texas in 2021, choosing Austin for its premiere. Its debut San Antonio-area cafe opened in 2022 at 7929 Pat Booker Rd in Live Oak, followed by an outpost at the Lombrano Food Hall at 427 Lobrano St. in 2024.

The Hawaiian Bros. outlet is the first whisper of the restaurant mix coming to The Merc. Park Golf, a nine-hole, par-three course outfitted with a putting punchbowl, beer garden, food trucks, and flexible green space, was announced in October 2025.

According to a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation filing, the new store will wrap up construction in late October. Construction timelines are subject to change, and the company has not yet announced an exact opening date. We will update this article with any further information.

chains utsa hawaiian food openings

BURGER BOOM

Fancy New Braunfels burger joint to debut first San Antonio restaurant

Photo courtesy of Muck & Fuss.

Muck & Fuss is known for its juicy, loaded burgers.

New Braunfels-based Muck & Fuss restaurant is stacking up a new San Antonio location. The popular gourmet burger joint says it will make its Alamo City debut at 2422 N. Loop 1604 W. this fall after construction wraps.

The project has been in the works since summer 2024, when the eatery first filed project details with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Muck & Fuss has not commented on what caused the delay, but assures fans that the 8,812-square-foot, $4.5 million buildout is now underway.

Celina and Terry Muckenfuss (get it?), the owners of New Braunfels’ Prince Solms Inn, first opened the burger spot next door to the historic hotel in 2018. Since then, it has become a favorite of the rapidly growing Hill Country town.

The pair drafted North Carolina chef and Cutthroat Kitchen alum Kris Fuller to help craft the menu of juicy burgers and beer-friendly snacks. The burgers are maximalist with toppings like bacon jam, fried green tomatoes, Alabama white sauce, and rosemary-thyme compound butter. All can be paired with a selection of equally loaded fries.

Muck & Fuss has a deep bench of craft beer.Muck & Fuss/ Facebook

It’s unclear if the San Antonio menu will be identical to the original, but a release promised that guests will be able to try 38 rotating craft beers, enjoy weekly outdoor live music, and dine on “bold, flavor-forward dishes.” There will also likely be some fried treats to pair with all the booze.

While the owners don’t have an estimated opening date just yet, they say hiring has begun, and more details will be announced in the coming weeks.

“New Braunfels is just a short drive away, and bringing Muck & Fuss to the San Antonio market has always been a dream of ours,” said Terry Muckenfuss via the release. “San Antonio is a city rooted in family and culture, and that’s exactly what we celebrate at Muck & Fuss. We’re excited to share more details as we get closer to announcing the grand opening.”

burgers new braunfels craft beer northwest side openings