South Austin diners who mourned the loss of Hao Hao’s longtime spot on West William Cannon may not have to trek to Round Rock or Georgetown forever. Fresh permitting paperwork suggests the Chinese-and-Vietnamese favorite is gearing up for a return to Austin’s city limits, this time tucked into the Shops at Arbor Trails shopping center rather than a standalone building.
According to What Now, owner Binh Tran has filed a TDLR request to “perform building, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, HVAC and painting works inside an existing building to create a restaurant” at 4301 W William Cannon Dr, Suite B108. The document pegs the project at an estimated $480,000, with construction proposed from May 1 through Aug. 1. What Now reports that Tran was not immediately available for comment on the plans.
Where It Would Sit
The Shops at Arbor Trails complex at 4301 W. William Cannon Drive lists Hao Hao on its tenant roll under “Hao‑Hao Chinese & Vietnamese Cuisine” and shows roughly 2,800 square feet reserved for the concept, signaling that a lease is in motion. The retail center is anchored by Whole Foods and Costco, a high-traffic hub that puts the restaurant in front of daily grocery runs and a dense cluster of nearby neighborhoods.
Property materials from InvenTrust Properties indicate the Arbor Trails slot as an active space for the brand.
From South Austin To A Shopping Center
The original South Austin Hao Hao at 1901 W William Cannon Dr closed in late 2024 after roughly 35 years in business, as reported by MySA. That closure left fans leaning on the suburban locations for their fix of pho, noodle dishes, and American-Chinese standards.
The Round Rock restaurant continues to list its address and hours on the Hao Hao site at haohaoroundrock.com. The Georgetown/Leander storefront likewise posts its 19392 Ronald W. Reagan Blvd address on its own page, haohaoleander.com, keeping regulars updated on where to go in the meantime.
Timeline And What To Watch
If the construction schedule in the filing holds, interior work would run from May 1 through Aug. 1. That would leave late summer for inspections and city health approvals before any grand opening can land on the calendar.
What Now notes that Tran was not immediately available for comment, so public clues will likely arrive first through updated leasing materials and TDLR project logs. Those will be the key places to watch for confirmation on build-out progress, an official opening date, and any early hints at how closely the menu will mirror the old South Austin lineup.
For longtime Hao Hao devotees, a Shops at Arbor Trails outpost would trade a freestanding South Austin building for a busy big-box shopping center setting, but it would also put familiar pho bowls and combo plates back within city reach. This story will be updated as soon as owners or leasing representatives confirm an opening timeline and menu details.
