So, Gilbert is finally getting a taste of the islands. It’s been floating around for a bit, but Misryoum editorial desk confirmed that Mo’ Bettahs—that Hawaiian chain started by brothers back in 2008—is officially planting its flag in Arizona.
I walked by the old Carl’s Jr. spot at Power and Ray Roads the other day; you can still kind of smell the ghost of those old burgers, but soon enough, it’ll be all teriyaki chicken and macaroni salad. Maybe. Actually, it’s definitely happening, they put it on Instagram and everything. It’s a bit of a shift for that intersection, which is usually just… you know, standard suburban stuff.
Misryoum reporting notes that the chain has ballooned to nearly 80 locations across seven states since they started. That’s a lot of plate lunches. The move into the Phoenix area is part of a much bigger push, including spots in places like Indianapolis and Minneapolis. It feels like they’re trying to cover the whole map all at once. Or maybe just the spots where people are really craving that specific, heavy comfort food.
Anyway, the menu is exactly what you’d expect if you’ve been to one of their other locations. You get your rice, you get your mac salad, and then you pick your protein—kalua pork or the teriyaki chicken, which is honestly the highlight. It’s simple, it’s filling, and it’s a nice change of pace.
We don’t actually know when the doors will swing open yet. The timeline is still just a question mark, but the address is 5378 S. Power Road. I’ll be keeping an eye on the construction—I think they’re still in the early stages of gutting the place.
It’s interesting how these chains just pop up. One day it’s a burger joint, the next it’s a piece of Hawaii sitting on a concrete corner in the desert. Life moves pretty fast in the restaurant business, I guess. We’ll see how the neighborhood takes to it once the scent of grilled meat actually starts drifting across the parking lot.