California-based WaBa Grill is booming. The chain, for example, reported that 25% of its locations reached an AUV of more than $1.3 million in 2023, with the top 50% surpassing $1.15 million. Additionally, WaBa Grill increased digital sales by 3% and ended the year with a run rate of nearly 29%. It added 10 units to its development pipeline and signed nine franchises. Most notably, the brand cemented an agreement to open 10 stores throughout Arizona’s Maricopa and Pima Counties over the next seven years. WaBa is on pace to open 10-plus restaurants in 2024 and is expected to hit its 200-unit milestone by year’s end.
 
Aside from unit growth, WaBa restructured product development in 2023 to allow for menu innovations, which will make a larger impact on the WaBa Grill menu in the immediate year. The brand also reopened its corporate flagship location, which serves as a pilot test location and test kitchen and features a new flat top grill, char broiler grill and state-of-the-art stove