Hawaiian-Inspired Chain To Make CA Debut With 5 West Valley Locations

LOS ANGELES, CA — Hawaiian Bros Island Grill is coming to the San Fernando Valley, with plans to open five restaurants in the West Valley over the next several years.

The chain's first California location is expected to open in the West Valley in mid-to-late 2027, a spokesperson told Patch.

The expansion marks the first California development agreement for Hawaiian Bros, which has grown to more than 80 restaurants across 14 states since its founding in 2018.

The five restaurants will be operated by Ohana Island Foods Inc., a franchise group led by father-daughter team Heather Goss and Terry Jones.

Specific locations for the planned restaurants have not been announced.

Goss, a San Fernando Valley native, began her restaurant career with Jack in the Box in 2003 and became a franchise operator in 2015. She and her father currently own and operate 16 Jack in the Box and Del Taco restaurants across Ventura County, the San Fernando Valley and Pasadena.

Jones has nearly 40 years of experience in the restaurant industry.

“Having spent years building our restaurant business in the San Fernando Valley, we see a great opportunity to introduce a fresh, unique dining concept to the area,” Goss said in a statement. “Bringing Hawaiian Bros’ island-inspired food and hospitality to the community where I grew up and still live makes this opportunity especially meaningful.”

Hawaiian Bros specializes in Hawaiian-style plate lunches featuring chicken with sweet, savory or spicy sauces and smoked pork. Meals are served with steamed white rice and macaroni salad or vegetables.

The menu also includes Dole soft serve.

The chain operates kitchens without fryers, freezers or microwaves, with food prepared fresh in-house.

Grant Kreutzer, senior vice president of franchise development at Hawaiian Bros, said Goss' experience operating multiple restaurants made her a strong choice to lead the company's California expansion.

“She knows how these restaurants run from every seat, and she's opening them in the community she grew up in,” Kreutzer said. “Multi-unit franchisees based in California have been asking for Hawaiian Bros development opportunities, and we couldn't have picked a better team to introduce us there.”

The restaurant chain has plans for significant expansion nationwide, with agreements in place for more than 350 additional restaurants across 20 states and more than 75 markets.