A healthy rice bowl brand is headed to Texas. WaBa Grill is planning 10 locations to open throughout Dallas, Denton, Collin, and Tarrant Counties over the next six years.
WaBa Grill franchisee Hilario Raygoza has exclusive territory rights to develop the brand in those four counties. Raygoza currently owns five WaBa Grill restaurants in California, and his first WaBa Grill restaurant was one of the brand’s first stores.
“I’ve been fortunate to witness firsthand WaBa Grill’s growth to almost 200 locations across California and Arizona, while always offering fresh, affordable options,” Raygoza said in a press statement. “As Texas continues to experience significant restaurant expansion, I am confident that the communities where we’ll open new WaBa Grill restaurants will quickly embrace the rice bowl chain, and it is an honor to bring a brand I believe in to a bustling market like the greater Dallas-Fort Worth region.”
WaBa Grill was founded in 2006 on the principle that healthy food made with quality ingredients should be accessible to all. Bold flavors and healthy food options are offered at WaBa Grill. Items are packed with fire-grilled proteins that include chicken, marinated ribeye steak, wild-caught salmon, jumbo shrimp, and organic tofu. Diners can add these proteins to bowls, salads, or as a plate with healthy grains and fresh vegetables.
“Everything is bigger in Texas, and we’re ready to make WaBa Grill big in the Lone Star State with this new development agreement and our longtime relationship with Hilario, who continues to be such a dedicated brand ambassador and franchise partner,” said Steven Wang, Director of Real Estate, Development & Construction at WaBa Grill. “We are extremely proud to bring our healthy rice bowl chain to the area, and we have the utmost confidence in Hilario and his talented team to make every one of our 10 new locations a Texas-size success.”
There is no word on a specific date for when the first Texas WaBa Grill might open, but Raygoza told What Now Dallas in an email that they are negotiating a lease in Irving for the first DFW restaurant. “I’m excited to bring WaBa Grill to Texas and provide the people of Texas a health food made with quality fresh ingredients at an affordable price.” He added that diners should choose WaBa Grill because they don’t have to sacrifice taste when making smart eating decisions.
Article updated to include quotes from Hilario Raygoza.
