Hawaiian Bros Island Grill, a fast-casual chain with its roots in the Midwest, is lining up a spot in Downtown Atlanta. A recent permit filing points to 112 Courtland St. as the address for the new restaurant, which would give the brand its second Georgia storefront.
Right now, anyone in the state who wants a plate from Hawaiian Bros has to head to Decatur, home of the company's only Georgia location so far. The Courtland Street filing would change that, adding a second Georgia option for fans of the brand's island-style plates and giving downtown its own Hawaiian Bros counter.
The brand dates to 2018 and builds its menu around Hawaiian-inspired meals served in a fast-casual format. Signature items include Huli Huli Chicken, Molokai Chicken and Luau Pig, and the lineup also features a Pacific Island Salad. Most of its restaurants are still clustered in the Midwest, so a downtown Atlanta address stands out on the company's map.
The brand's growth in the Southeast also has an experienced franchise operator attached. Late last year, the Nashville-based franchise group MRCO announced a 34-unit agreement to develop Hawaiian Bros restaurants across West Central Georgia, North Carolina and North Alabama. MRCO is no newcomer to franchising: the company has been in the business for 45 years and runs close to 90 Taco Bell restaurants around the Southeast.
Timing is the open question. MRCO originally targeted 2026 for its first openings, but the permitting record suggests the rollout is more likely to begin the following year. No opening date has been announced for the Courtland Street location.
What Now Atlanta has contacted the Hawaiian Bros team for more information about the downtown project. downtownATL will share updates on the Courtland Street restaurant as plans firm up.
Original reporting by Emily McGinn for What Now Atlanta.