COMING ATTRACTIONS

Inventive New Braunfels food truck opening first brick-and-mortar

UBP Burgers is days away from opening its first drive-thru.

A New Braunfels food truck known for culinary invention is making the leap to brick-and-mortar. UBP Burgers says it is aiming to open its first restaurant at 588 Business I-35 in the last week of January.

Although the food truck got its start in 2021, its story reaches back to 2019 when owner John Evans designed and patented the Ultimate Burger Press. The plastic form has a divot in the center that presses ground meat into a doughnut-like shape that cradles toppings like cheese, cooks evenly, and achieves the caramelization of a smash burger with a much thicker patty.

In 2023, Evans opened a food truck as proof of concept of his invention. Since then, the concept has hooked a loyal Hill Country following that regularly votes it a favorite in the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung's annual "Best of New Braunfels" readers poll.

Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation project filings first leaked the news of the permanent restaurant in 2024. The original timeline estimated a 2025 opening, but the project was delayed.

Once open, UBP will serve Evans’ signature burgers, chicken sandwiches and strips, and sides like beer-battered onion rings, queso-bacon loaded tots, and seasoned crinkle fries. A rep says the restaurant will have indoor and outdoor seating and a convenient drive-thru.

While waiting for the debut, fans can order their own Ultimate Burger Press to try out the style at home. The website for the San Antonio-made tool has several recipes, including a personal-sized meatloaf. Still, in an Instagram message, Evans hedged about the exact opening date, which is pending a final inspection from the City of New Braunfels.

“Our fingers are crossed, and our team is extremely excited to have this new restaurant,” he said.

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COMING ATTRACTIONS

Buzzy Italian wrap chain debuts in San Antonio with 2 new restaurants

Piada Italian Street Food/ Facebook

Piada is known for its signature wrapped sandwiches.

Buzzy fast-casual chain Piada Italian Street Food will soon make its San Antonio-area debut with two new restaurants. The growing brand, known for its unique wrap-type sandwiches, is opening outposts at 11745 I-10 W #501 in the Huebner Oaks Center and 18430 I-35 N in Scherz Station in early 2026.

Piada was founded in Columbus, Ohio, in 2010 by Chris Doody. The entrepreneur took inspiration from the roadside family-run food carts and markets he encountered in Rimini, a seaside community in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy.

The signature dish is the piada, a thin-crust, handmade dough baked on a stone grill, filled with ingredients, then rolled into a handheld often called an “Italian taco.” Guests can get the sandwich stuffed with avocado and pancetta, bruschetta tomatoes, carbonara penne, or a Caesar blend.

The restaurant also serves a variety of pastas.Piada Italian Street Food/ Facebook

Other entrées include seasonal chopped salads, traditional pastas topped with marinara and other sauces, and “fit bowls” keyed to keto and high-protein diets. Sides range from simple mac ‘n’ cheese bowls to a Hot Pocket-style pastry filled with meatballs, sausage, or creamy spinach and artichoke.

The interiors are typically clean and modern, with concrete floors, LED lighting, white oak furniture, Carrara marble, brushed aluminum, and painted brick. Subway tiles backdrop the ordering counter, where diners can customize their order a la Chipotle.

Although the two locations have been quietly announced by Piada, the company has yet to reveal the exact opening dates. Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation filings say that the Huebner Oaks location is set to finish its buildout in March. The Scherz Station outlet was initially expected to be completed in December 2025.

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