San Antonio may currently feel more like a swamp than a tropical paradise, but that’s not stopping one island comfort food chain from growing its Alamo City footprint. Hawaiian Bros. Island Grill is opening a new location at 1434 Austin Hwy near Terrell Heights.The growing franchise is known for i ts traditional plate lunches, a quintessential Hawaiian meal that includes a protein, rice, and a side, usually macaroni salad. The dish was popularized in the 1800s after Hawaii’s colonization, when the island’s pineapple and sugar laborers fused diverse culinary traditions.Hawaiian Bros. proteins range from sweet and spicy molokai chicken to slow-roasted kalua pork. The chain serves the meats in wraps, customizable bowls, and sliders, alongside other tropical treats like Spam musubi and its version of the Dole Whip.Although the menu is Hawaiian, the chain was founded in the landlocked town of Belton, Missouri. Siblings Cameron and Tyler McNie opened the first Hawaiian Bros. in 2018, drawing from 15 years of experience working in their family’s West Coast restaurants. The restaurants have rapidly expanded since then, spreading to 60 locations in 10 states. ...read more read less