Hawaiian plate lunches are about to land in the Twin Cities, as Mo' Bettahs, a Hawaiian-style fast-casual chain, readies its first Minnesota locations. The brand plans two restaurants in Burnsville and Maple Grove, with opening timelines circling this summer or early fall. The move marks the company’s first step into Minnesota while it continues a broader national expansion. ([Bring Me The News](https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-lifestyle/hawaiian-style-fast-casual-chain-to-open-first-minnesota-restaurant))
Chain announces multi-city push
Mo' Bettahs says it is entering Phoenix, Indianapolis and Minneapolis as part of a broader growth plan that the company reports has delivered positive same-store sales for 18 consecutive years. The announcement, shared in a company statement this week, also noted the brand’s nearly 80 restaurants nationwide. As reported by Utah Business, the latest push is corporate-led and aimed squarely at tightening operational consistency across markets. ([Utah Business](https://www.utahbusiness.com/press-releases/2026/04/08/mo-bettahs-announces-expansion-three-new-markets-phoenix-indianapolis-minneapolis/))
Sites, hiring and what we know
Mo' Bettahs has not released exact street addresses yet, but a company representative told Bring Me The News the new restaurants are planned for Burnsville and Maple Grove and are targeted for summer or early fall openings. Job postings for “General Manager - New Restaurant Opening” in both cities on Glassdoor and other hiring platforms suggest local recruiting is already underway. The company says exact opening dates and storefront locations are still being finalized as construction and build-outs move ahead. ([Bring Me The News](https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-lifestyle/hawaiian-style-fast-casual-chain-to-open-first-minnesota-restaurant))
What to expect on the menu
The Mo' Bettahs playbook leans into classic Hawaiian plate-lunch staples, including teriyaki chicken and steak, kalua pork, katsu chicken, steamed rice and macaroni salad, along with sides such as Spam musubi and a lineup of sweet-and-savory house sauces. The concept, founded in 2008 by brothers Kimo and Kalani Mack, has grown from a single shop in Bountiful, Utah into a fast-expanding regional brand, according to Mo' Bettahs. ([Mo' Bettahs](https://mobettahs.com/))
Why the move matters
The Minnesota expansion follows recent ownership changes, as private-equity groups including Blue Marlin Partners and Trive Capital acquired stakes in the chain and backed a corporate-led growth strategy that opens multiple markets at a time. Industry reporting and investor materials note that Mo' Bettahs now operates roughly 75–80 restaurants across several states, giving the brand enough scale to test the Midwest. See Blue Marlin Partners and coverage in Nation's Restaurant News for additional background. ([Nation's Restaurant News](https://www.nrn.com/emerging-chains/mo-bettahs-has-been-acquired-by-blue-marlin-partners-and-trive-capital))
No firm opening dates or precise storefront addresses have been announced yet; Mo' Bettahs and local landlords still need to get through permitting and build-out before any ribbon cutting. The details are pending, but we will update this story once Mo' Bettahs or city officials release confirmed dates and locations. ([Utah Business](https://www.utahbusiness.com/press-releases/2026/04/08/mo-bettahs-announces-expansion-three-new-markets-phoenix-indianapolis-minneapolis/))
