Hawaiian comfort food is about to crash the East Valley lunch routine. Mo' Bettahs, a Utah-born Hawaiian plate-lunch chain, is set to open its first Arizona restaurant in Gilbert, taking over the former Carl’s Jr. at 5378 S Power Road. The building is being converted for the brand, and no opening date has been announced.
The move surfaced in local coverage on March 31, when What Now pointed to a real-estate listing that hinted at the incoming tenant. East Valley Now later pegged the spot as the Carl’s Jr. building in the Walmart-anchored plaza at Power and Ray and reported that Mo' Bettahs will take over the freestanding drive-thru structure.
What to Expect on the Menu
Mo' Bettahs builds its meals around the classic Hawaiian plate lunch: scoops of rice and macaroni salad paired with a protein. The menu lists kālua pig, pūlehu chicken, katsu chicken, teriyaki steak and shrimp tempura, along with Spam musubi. The chain also offers family-sized ohana meals and catering services, according to the company’s menu. Mo' Bettahs leans on island-style sauces and simple sides to keep the plates feeling like a backyard barbecue spread rather than a fussy sit-down dinner.
Chain Roots and Growth
Brothers Kimo and Kalani Mack launched Mo' Bettahs in Utah in 2008, and the concept has since grown into multiple states. Ownership changes and outside investment have helped accelerate that expansion, with reporting pointing to a 2024 sale intended to fuel additional openings. Deseret News lays out the backstory on the founders, the acquisition and the company’s broader push into new markets.
Where It Fits In Gilbert
According to East Valley Now, the Power and Ray site sits in a busy Walmart-anchored strip center, and the existing freestanding building will be repurposed for Mo' Bettahs' fast-casual format. The address and former tenant match the Carl’s Jr. listing for 5378 S Power Road, which suggests the new restaurant will reuse the drive-thru footprint. Carl's Jr. identifies the same address as a former location.
Gilbert is already familiar with island-influenced comfort food, with spots such as Big Island Hawaiian BBQ on Market Street offering similar flavor profiles. Mo' Bettahs will be stepping into a market that has already shown an appetite for Hawaiian-style plates.
For now, there is no grand-opening date on the calendar, and a Gilbert location has not yet appeared on the Mo' Bettahs store pages. Keep an eye on the Mo' Bettahs website for official updates, and watch local real-estate coverage from outlets such as What Now for early word on hiring and a ribbon-cutting.
