Hawaiian-style plate lunches may be the next big thing in Ohio’s drive-thru lanes. Kansas City-born Hawaiian Bros Island Grill is scouting sites and franchise partners across Northeast Ohio, naming Cleveland-Akron-Canton, Columbus, Cincinnati and Dayton as target markets. The chain says it plans to identify operators and choose sites within about six to twelve months, with early openings likely to favor drive-thru-first prototypes and second-generation conversions.
Franchise push puts Ohio in the crosshairs
As reported by Cleveland.com, Hawaiian Bros is actively recruiting multi-unit franchisees to expand across Northeast Ohio. Senior vice president of franchise development Grant Kreutzer told the outlet that Ohio “checks target market criteria” for the brand and that the company already has development agreements in place for hundreds of additional locations nationwide.
Plate lunches built for speed
The concept leans on a compact plate-lunch menu built for repetition and volume: grilled proteins like the popular huli huli chicken paired with steamed rice and macaroni salad, plus Dole Soft Serve® for dessert. According to Hawaiian Bros, drive-thru windows average about 30 seconds, and the operation keeps SKUs low to maintain speed and consistency.
Development deals show the chain’s momentum
Industry outlets have tracked a string of multi-unit development agreements as the brand expands beyond its Midwest roots. QSR Magazine recently covered a six-unit deal for Las Vegas. The company has also promoted its growth on social channels, noting “70+ restaurants across 14 states” and “280+ units under signed development agreements” in a company LinkedIn post. Local reporting and permit trackers, including coverage by Hoodline on six new valley spots, show openings via both conversions and ground-up builds.
What Ohio locations could look like
Per Cleveland.com, Hawaiian Bros is offering a few standard footprints: a 2,100-square-foot drive-thru prototype, a 1,600-square-foot option on a roughly half-acre lot, and a 1,500-square-foot format without a drive-thru. The chain says more than half its sites are second-generation conversions. That flexibility makes former fast-food pads and small pad sites in suburban retail strips likely early targets for the brand in Ohio.
What operators and neighbors should watch for
Operators interested in the brand can find application and development information on the company’s franchise page, which outlines training support and prototype options. For residents, the telltale signs will be permit filings, job postings and updates on the chain’s locations map as deals firm up. Hawaiian Bros says it hopes to firm sites and partners within the coming year.
