Fast-Casual Hawaiian Chain Enters Metro Phoenix Market
Valley of the Sun

Photo provided by Metro Phoenix Alliance.

Hawaiian Fast Casual

Mo’ Bettahs is a Hawaiian fast-casual brand eatery inspired by traditional plate lunch culture. They announced plans to expand into Metro Phoenix, along with Indianapolis and Minneapolis, as the brand accelerates national growth. The company also posted positive same-store sales for the 18th straight year, extending nearly two decades of consistent momentum.

With nearly 80 locations nationwide, Mo’ Bettahs plans continued expansion in 2026. It will follow a disciplined strategy focused on operational consistency and long-term results.

Mo’ Bettahs today announced plans to enter three new markets — Phoenix, Indianapolis and Minneapolis — as the Hawaiian-style fast-casual brand accelerates its national expansion. Additionally, the company reported positive same-store sales growth for the 18th consecutive year, marking nearly two decades of sustained momentum.

With nearly 80 restaurants nationwide, Mo’ Bettahs is poised for continued expansion in 2026, guided by a disciplined growth strategy focused on operational consistency and long-term performance.

“Eighteen consecutive years of same-store sales growth is rare in this industry, and it doesn’t happen by accident,” said Rob Ertmann, CEO of Mo’ Bettahs. “It reflects disciplined execution, the quality and authenticity of our menu, and the loyalty of our guests. As we enter these new markets, we’re scaling with focus and protecting the standards and values that have defined Mo’ Bettahs since it began in 2008.”

Founded by Hawai‘i-born brothers Kimo and Kalani Mack, who previously worked as city bus drivers on O‘ahu, Mo’ Bettahs was created to bring the flavors and traditions of the islands to the mainland. The brand serves Hawaiian barbecue favorites including teriyaki chicken, kalua pork, rice and macaroni salad – all rooted in Hawai‘i’s beloved plate lunch tradition.

“We didn’t create Mo’ Bettahs to follow a trend. It was built on the recipes and culture we grew up with, cooking alongside our parents and aunties in the backyard,” said Kimo Mack, co-founder of Mo’ Bettahs. “Bringing authentic plate lunch and Aloha to the mainland isn’t a strategy for us. It’s who we are.”

With continued corporate-led expansion and a strong development pipeline, Mo’ Bettahs remains focused on introducing more communities to its distinctive island-style cuisine.

The brand has been recognized nationally for its sustained growth and performance, earning a place on the Inc. 5000 list five times, being profiled by Forbes and The New York Times, and receiving Mergers & Acquisitions’ Middle Market Deal of the Year honor in 2025.

Sponsor Members

About Mo’ Bettahs

Founded in 2008 in Bountiful, Utah, by brothers Kimo and Kalani Mack, Mo’ Bettahs is a Hawaiian-style fast-casual restaurant brand rooted in the flavors and traditions of Hawai‘i’s plate lunch culture. Born and raised in O‘ahu, the Mack brothers built the brand around the food and hospitality they grew up with, serving island favorites such as grilled teriyaki chicken and steak, kalua pork, katsu chicken, macaroni salad and steamed rice. Today, Mo’ Bettahs operates nearly 80 corporate-owned restaurants across nine states and continues to expand through disciplined, corporate-led growth. The company partnered with Savory Fund in 2018 to support its strategic expansion and was acquired in 2023 by Blue Marlin Partners and Trive Capital, with Savory retaining a minority stake.

Share This Story...

Sponsor Members

Receive Metro Phoenix Business News in your email...
✔ Weekly Updates     ✔ Local Insights      ✔ No SPAM

Tag Cloud

Metro Phoenix Alliance Member Directory Map

Tempe-based Dutch Bros Coffee plans to acquire 51 former Salad and Go locations after the fast-casual chain filed for bankruptcy, with the ongoing cyclosporiasis outbreak contributing to its collapse. Court documents filed Tuesday in federal bankruptcy court identify a Dutch Bros-affiliated LLC as the buyer of dozens of Salad and Go restaurants in Arizona and Nevada, along with leases for additional former locations in Texas and Oklahoma. #saladandgo #dutchbros #dutchbroscoffee #tempeaz #drivethru
Salad and Go filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Monday and announced it will permanently close all of its locations, serving its final meals Wednesday. The Gilbert-founded drive-thru restaurant chain submitted voluntary bankruptcy petitions in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas in Houston.

The company said declining consumer demand, rapid expansion challenges, and rising operating costs made its business unsustainable. Salad and Go also said the Cyclospora foodborne illness outbreak in July hurt sales, even though health officials did not link the chain to the contamination. #saladandgo #gilbertaz #cyclospora #bankruptcy #chapter11
@wallethub has released its 2026 Best & Worst Places to Rent report, ranking more than 180 U.S. cities to help renters identify the nation’s top housing markets. The study places @scottsdaleazgov (No. 1), @gilbertyourtown (2), and @cityofchandler (3) at the top of the rankings, with @peoriaazcam (6), @cityofmesa (16), @glendaleaz (17), @cityofphoenixaz (19), and @tempegov (25) also earning spots among the nation’s 25 best cities for renters. #wallethub #houserental #eastvalleyaz #scottsdaleaz #metrophx
Celebrating 250 Years of Freedom! Happy Independence Day and Cheers to a great, safe weekend. #250 #4thofjuly #usa🇺🇸 #250yearsoffreedom #metrophx
The Costco Business Center in Chandler has been under construction since Q3 2025 and will potentially be ready to open next month. #costco #costcobusinesscenter #metrophx #metrophoenix #chandleraz
Since 2015, there have been 142 expansions of European companies into Maricopa and Pinal counties, according to a new report from GPEC. These projects, consisting of 111 individual companies, have resulted in over $8.1 billion in investments and created about 15,000 jobs. #maricopacounty #pinalcounty #gpec #europeaninvestment #jobopportunity #metrophx #metrophoenix #silicondesert
A new Costco Business Center broke ground in late 2025 and has steadily moved through most phases of construction. The site at Alma School and Pecos (north of Loop 202) includes a 140,000 square foot building and 15-pump gas station. The opening date is expected to be late next month. #costcobusiness #chandleraz #wholesale #costco #metrophoenix #metrophx #businessmindset
Phoenix-based DarkPulse Inc. announced a new exclusive patent license agreement. The deal is with the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, part of the U.S. Department of the Navy. The agreement gives DarkPulse exclusive rights to key LADAR and sensing technologies. The agreement supports DarkPulse Inc.’s strategy to adopt and commercialize government-developed innovations. The company will embed these technologies into its engineering, installation, and security management solutions.
#ladar #silicondesert #phoenixaz #darkpulse #metrophoenix #metrophx
Tempe-based Dutch Bros Coffee plans to acquire 51 former Salad and Go locations after the fast-casual chain filed for bankruptcy, with the ongoing cyclosporiasis outbreak contributing to its collapse. Court documents filed Tuesday in federal bankruptcy court identify a Dutch Bros-affiliated LLC as the buyer of dozens of Salad and Go restaurants in Arizona and Nevada, along with leases for additional former locations in Texas and Oklahoma. #saladandgo #dutchbros #dutchbroscoffee #tempeaz #drivethru
Salad and Go filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Monday and announced it will permanently close all of its locations, serving its final meals Wednesday. The Gilbert-founded drive-thru restaurant chain submitted voluntary bankruptcy petitions in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas in Houston.

The company said declining consumer demand, rapid expansion challenges, and rising operating costs made its business unsustainable. Salad and Go also said the Cyclospora foodborne illness outbreak in July hurt sales, even though health officials did not link the chain to the contamination. #saladandgo #gilbertaz #cyclospora #bankruptcy #chapter11
@wallethub has released its 2026 Best & Worst Places to Rent report, ranking more than 180 U.S. cities to help renters identify the nation’s top housing markets. The study places @scottsdaleazgov (No. 1), @gilbertyourtown (2), and @cityofchandler (3) at the top of the rankings, with @peoriaazcam (6), @cityofmesa (16), @glendaleaz (17), @cityofphoenixaz (19), and @tempegov (25) also earning spots among the nation’s 25 best cities for renters. #wallethub #houserental #eastvalleyaz #scottsdaleaz #metrophx
Celebrating 250 Years of Freedom! Happy Independence Day and Cheers to a great, safe weekend. #250 #4thofjuly #usa🇺🇸 #250yearsoffreedom #metrophx
The Costco Business Center in Chandler has been under construction since Q3 2025 and will potentially be ready to open next month. #costco #costcobusinesscenter #metrophx #metrophoenix #chandleraz
Since 2015, there have been 142 expansions of European companies into Maricopa and Pinal counties, according to a new report from GPEC. These projects, consisting of 111 individual companies, have resulted in over $8.1 billion in investments and created about 15,000 jobs. #maricopacounty #pinalcounty #gpec #europeaninvestment #jobopportunity #metrophx #metrophoenix #silicondesert
Metro Phoenix Alliance Member Directory Map