A new fast-casual restaurant serving halal versions of Mexican staples is preparing to open in the former Chang's Garden space at 1244 Storrs Road, bringing Zabiha halal meats and build-your-own bowls to a storefront where construction had begun by April. The business, now branded GuacPoint, was first announced under the name Guac N Grill.
From Guac N Grill to GuacPoint
The Storrs restaurant is still coming soon, according to The Connecticut Scoop. The concept traces back to reporting from the Daily Campus in April, which placed the restaurant at 1244 Storrs Road and noted that construction had already begun on the storefront under its original name, Guac N Grill.
That earlier report also gave some background on the people behind the counter. The Daily Campus wrote that the founders had built up two decades of experience working in Mexican restaurants before saving enough to open their first restaurant in Storrs, a detail that frames GuacPoint less as a pop-up experiment and more as the payoff of a long-running career in the industry.
What's on the Menu
GuacPoint describes itself as serving halal versions of popular Mexican cuisine, with a menu built around fresh bowls, tacos and quesadillas. On its website, the chain lists dunked birria tacos, loaded fries and build-your-own bowls among its offerings, all promised at what it calls fast-casual speed with real flavor.
The halal angle sits at the center of GuacPoint's pitch. The company states on its site that every meat on its menu is 100% Zabiha halal certified at every location, and that dishes are crafted with fresh, antibiotic-free produce alongside those halal meats. Those are claims made by the business itself, with no independent certification documentation included in the available reporting.
Hartford on the Horizon
Beyond Storrs, GuacPoint is reportedly planning a second Connecticut location in Hartford at 115 Main Street, a space formerly occupied by Rooster's Chicken & Waffles.
For now, GuacPoint is directing customers to its own website for menu details and more information, and says it will share opening dates, future locations and menu highlights on social media. GuacPoint is preparing to open its Storrs Road storefront as it seeks a foothold well beyond Storrs.
