Hawaiian Bros Island Grill is ready to make some waves at 203 S. Wilmot Rd.
The Grand Opening is set for 11 a.m. on Monday, February 12 in the building that used to be Corner Bakery Café — right there near the Park Place Mall and across the street from Texas Roadhouse.
Hawaiian Bros, created by brothers Tyler and Cameron McNie, opened its first location in Belton, Missouri in 2018. The McNies originally come from the West Coast, but some Midwest friends from Kansas City inspired them to bring a version of their family’s Hawaiian grill restaurant here.
“The restaurant features a striking design and island vibe with a kitchen void of freezers, fryers, and microwaves,” the franchise owners said about the spot in Tucson. “The concept offers island-inspired comfort in the form of food Hawaiian plate lunches as well as sides.”
A Little History of the “Plate Lunch”
“In the 1880s as Hawaii’s pineapple and sugar plantations grew, so too did their workforce. Most of these laborers came from Asian nations with diverse culinary traditions. The workers’ lunches usually consisted of leftover meat from the night before alongside rice. By the 1950s, the plate lunch was pretty popular in Hawaii and was popping up at roadside stands. Today, the classic late lunch consists of meat, two scoops of white rice, and one scoop of macaroni salad.”
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Hawaiian Bros’ Menu
Aside from the plate lunches, there’s a Pacific Island Salad, which is the Huli Huli Chicken on fresh romaine lettuce with mandarin oranges, green onions, cilantro, and chow mein noodles served on a housemade island vinaigrette.
Oh, and for big fans of Disneyland and the beloved Dole Whip stand in front of the Enchanted Tiki Room, Hawaiian Bros is serving a Dole Soft Serve, which is dairy-free and gluten-free.
Plate Lunches
- Huli Huli Chicken – marinated teriyaki chicken
- Molokai Chicken – sweet and spicy perfectly grilled chicken with a little heat
- Honolulu Chicken – chicken infused with fresh garlic, green onions, and sesame
- Luau Pig – slow-roasted Kalua Pork seasoned with Hawaiian sea salt
- Seasoned Vegetables – a mix of veggies with a spice blend
- Kilauea Chicken – sweet and spicy grilled chicken with a lava hot kick
Sides
- Macaroni Salad
- Pineapple
- White Rice
- Seasoned Vegetables
- Spam Musubi – a combo of rice and seared Spam that’s glazed with teriyaki sauce and then wrapped in dried seaweed
Beginning Monday, February 12, the restaurant is open daily from 11 a.m. – midnight.
Hawaiian Bros Island Grill is located at 203 S. Wilmot Rd. For more information, visit hawaiianbros.com.
Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
