Mo' Bettahs Brings Hawaiian Plate Lunch to Burnsville — Grand Opening July 13

TLDR

Mo' Bettahs, a Hawaiian-style fast-casual chain, opens its first Minnesota spot in Burnsville on Monday, July 13.
It's at 410 County Road 42, right across from Burnsville Center.
There's a free-food celebration (July 10 and 11) — a free mini plate and drink at lunch and dinner.
A second Minnesota location is coming to Maple Grove.

Burnsville is about to get a taste of Hawaii. Mo' Bettahs, a Hawaiian-style fast-casual chain, opens its very first Minnesota restaurant here on Monday, July 13. And if you move fast, there's free food up for grabs this weekend.

New to Hawaiian plate lunch?

The plate lunch is Hawaii's ultimate comfort food. It goes back to the plantation days, when workers from all over the world shared big midday meals out in the fields. Over time that became a standard combo: a hot protein, two scoops of white rice, and a scoop of macaroni salad, all on one plate. It's filling, it's a solid value, and it's meant to be eaten with people.

At Mo' Bettahs, you pick your protein: grilled teriyaki chicken or steak, kalua pig (slow-roasted, pull-apart pork), pulehu chicken (grilled over an open flame), or katsu chicken (breaded and fried crispy). They've also got Spam musubi, which is a slice of grilled Spam on rice, wrapped in seaweed. It's a Hawaiian snack-shop classic, and yes, it's better than it sounds.

Not sure what you're looking at? Here's the quick version:

Kalua pig — pork slow-roasted for hours until it's smoky and falls apart. Think Hawaiian pulled pork.
Katsu chicken — chicken breaded and deep-fried till crispy, usually with a tangy katsu sauce.
Pulehu chicken — chicken rubbed with garlic, salt, and pepper, then grilled over flame.
Teriyaki chicken or steak — grilled and drizzled in their sweet-savory teriyaki sauce.
Spam musubi — grilled Spam on a block of rice, wrapped in seaweed.
Mac salad — creamy macaroni salad, the classic plate lunch side.

First time? Here's how to order

Pick your protein. Teriyaki chicken is the crowd favorite and a safe first pick.
Pick your plate size. A mini plate is a smaller portion; the regular plate comes with two scoops of rice and mac salad.
Swap your sides if you want. You can usually sub steamed veggies for rice or mac salad.
Grab a sauce. Their Hawaiian-style BBQ sauce pairs great with katsu chicken.

Two easy combos to start: the classic teriyaki chicken plate, or a two-protein plate so you can try kalua pig and katsu chicken in one go.

About Mo' Bettahs

Brothers Kimo and Kalani Mack grew up on Oʻahu, then opened the first Mo' Bettahs in Bountiful, Utah back in 2008. Fun fact: it started as "Mo' Bettah Steaks." But customers kept coming back for the teriyaki chicken, so the name stuck as just Mo' Bettahs. From that one shop, it's grown to more than 75 restaurants across the western U.S., in states like Utah, Idaho, Texas, and Arizona. The company told Bring Me The News earlier this year that it planned to bring two spots to the Twin Cities. Minnesota is a brand-new market for them.

Why it feels like a backyard cookout

Mo' Bettahs is built to feel like a Hawaiian family BBQ, not a tourist gift shop. The design nods to the Mack brothers' summers at their grandparents' place on Kauaʻi: plantation-style tin roofs, mounted surfboards that have actually been in Hawaiian waters, an outrigger canoe paddle, ocean photos, and the Hawaiʻi state flag. What you won't find: plastic pineapples, hula skirts, or tiki torches. They're going for the real Hawaii locals know, not the postcard version.

The values behind the food

Mo' Bettahs leans on three Hawaiian ideas the Mack brothers grew up with:

Aloha — love and warmth, the feeling they want you to walk in and out with.
ʻOhana — family. Their opening event is literally called "Friends and ʻOhana."
ʻAina — the land, and respect for where the food and culture come from.

Where it is

The restaurant sits at 410 County Road 42, tucked between Burnsville Plaza and I-35, directly across from Burnsville Center. Coming from I-35W or I-35E, take the County Road 42 exit and head toward the mall. There's a standard plaza lot out front, so parking is easy.

County Road 42 is one of the busiest retail corridors in the south metro, which is exactly why the stretch is getting a major overhaul in 2027. For a grab-a-plate-on-your-way-home kind of place, it's hard to beat the spot.

Once things settle in, hours are 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday. It's closed Sundays. You can dine in, grab takeout, or order catering.

Opening weekend at a glance

Before the official Monday opening, Mo' Bettahs is throwing a two-day "Friends and ʻOhana" celebration:

Friday, July 10 and Saturday, July 11 — free mini plate and drink, plus Spam musubi samples and swag. Lunch 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. and dinner 6–8 p.m. both days.
Founders Kimo and Kalani Mack are on site both days.
Saturday, 5:30 p.m. — ribbon cutting.
Saturday, 6–8 p.m. — block-party dinner with face painting, caricatures, a photo booth, and lawn games.
Monday, July 13 — official grand opening.

"Growing up in Hawaiʻi, sharing a meal was one of the most meaningful ways to bring people together." — Kalani Mack, Mo' Bettahs co-founder

That "come sit down and eat" energy is exactly what makes a spot like this click in a suburb full of busy families.

Bringing the kids?

Yes. It's counter-service and casual, so no stuffy sit-down vibes. The menu is easy for picky eaters (plain teriyaki chicken and rice is a win), and the opening weekend leans family-first with lawn games, a photo booth, and face painting.

Part of a south metro dining boom

Mo' Bettahs is the latest in a run of new spots landing around the south metro. If you're keeping track, we've also covered Moe's Southwest Grill coming to Apple Valley, Copperfield opening in Rosemount, and Tapestry Coffee's second Lakeville shop. The suburbs are eating good lately.

The Bottom Line

If you want the free plate, this weekend (July 10 and 11) is your window — otherwise, the doors open for real on Monday, July 13. And this is just the start for Mo' Bettahs in Minnesota. A second location is on the way in Maple Grove, so the Burnsville spot is the first of two.

FAQ

When does Mo' Bettahs actually open? The official opening is Monday, July 13. There's also a celebration this weekend, July 10 and 11, before the regular open.

Where is it exactly? 410 County Road 42 in Burnsville, between Burnsville Plaza and I-35, across from Burnsville Center.

Is the food really free this weekend? Yes — a free mini plate and drink at lunch (11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.) and dinner (6–8 p.m.) on Friday and Saturday. After that, you're paying like normal.

What should I try if I've never had Hawaiian food? Start with the teriyaki chicken plate. It's the most popular protein, and the sweet-savory sauce is an easy first taste. From there, work up to kalua pig or katsu chicken.

Do they do catering and group meals? Yes. Mo' Bettahs offers catering plus family-style ʻOhana meals and trays that feed a group. You can set it up through the Mo' Bettahs website.

Can I order online or get delivery? Yes. You can order ahead through the Mo' Bettahs app and website, and third-party delivery is available in most markets.

Are more Minnesota locations coming? Yep. A second spot is planned for Maple Grove, and the chain has said it wants to keep expanding here.