Ono Hawaiian BBQ, Soulman’s Bar-B-Que, and Biscuit Belly lead RestaurantMagazine.com’s Top Ten stories for the week ending July 27, 2025.
1) Ono Hawaiian BBQ Says Aloha to Queen Creek, Arizona
Ono Hawaiian BBQ, a fast-casual restaurant known for its fresh, made-to-order Island-inspired dishes, announces the opening of its first Queen Creek location, with a second location coming soon. The newly built restaurant introduces the brand’s signature Hawaiian flavors to the Queen Creek community, and also features a convenient double drive-thru for guests on the go.
2) Soulman’s Turns Up the Heat in Mabank with a Record-Breaking First Year
Since opening its doors in July 2024, the Soulman’s Mabank location has quickly become a favorite dining destination for both residents and visitors. In just twelve months, the store has exceeded all expectations in sales and customer traffic, becoming one of the fastest-growing locations in the beloved Texas-born BBQ chain’s 50-year history.
3) Biscuit Belly Builds for the Future as Franchise Momentum Sets Stage for Record-Breaking 2026
With a new restaurant open in South Carolina and multiple deals in the works, Biscuit Belly’s Southern brunch franchise is gearing up for its biggest year yet.
4) Mendocino Farms to Open First Arizona Location at Scottsdale Promenade
California-based Mendocino Farms has chosen Scottsdale Promenade for its first Arizona location, marking a significant step in the popular sandwich and salad shop’s continued national expansion.
5) R&R Brands Doubles Down on Louisiana Roots with New Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux in Central
R&R Brands, the largest Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux franchisee and a rapidly growing multi-concept hospitality and entertainment company, is celebrating a major milestone with the opening of its 12th Walk-On’s restaurant in Baton Rouge on Monday, July 28.
6) Ritter’s Frozen Custard Launches Frozen Custard Week Aug. 4-8, Serving Up Five Days of Delicious Deals
From classic flavors like refreshing Strawberry and Cookies-N-Crème to fan faves like Turtle Somethin’, Fresh Banana, and Caramel Snickers Swirl, Ritters is known for its ultra-premium frozen custard concoctions, freshly prepared inhouse daily.
7) Cheba Hut Spotlights Secret Stash Favorite: Orange Widow
Cheba Hut is bringing one of its best kept secrets, The Orange Widow sub, into the spotlight with a limited-time feature of the Orange Widow – a cult-favorite from the brand’s Secret Stash menu.
8) EverSmith Brands’ Director of Franchise Development Aaron Thompson Invests in Kitchen Guard Franchise He Helped Grow
EverSmith Brands announced that Aaron Thompson, a Director of Franchise Development with the company for almost 3 years, has validated and deepened his commitment to the franchise he helped grow in an extraordinary way – by acquiring a Kitchen Guard franchise for himself in his home territory of Waco, Texas.
9) Twin Peaks Raises More Than $100,000 for Texas Flood Relief
Following widespread flooding in South and Central Texas, Twin Peaks Restaurant rallied fans and guests across the state with a two-day Dine & Donate campaign. On July 14 and 15, all Texas Twin Peaks lodges participated by donating a portion of sales to the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund.
10) Uncle Sharkii Taps Square to Power Tech-Driven Franchise Growth Across 23 Locations and Counting
Offering customizable poke bowls, boba milk teas, and more, Uncle Sharkii is scaling quickly in malls and high-traffic retail hubs. By adopting Square’s all-in-one restaurant platform, the brand is creating a digital-first franchise model that simplifies operations, empowers franchisees, and enhances the customer experience across every touchpoint.