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FRANCHISE RESALES

Buy a WaBa Grill Franchise

WaBa Grill is a fast-casual restaurant brand founded in Southern California in 2004 and franchising since 2006. It specializes in Asian-inspired, grilled-to-order rice bowls, plates and salads built around fresh proteins such as never-frozen chicken, marinated ribeye, wild-caught salmon, shrimp and organic tofu, finished with its signature WaBa Sauce.

A defining feature is the kitchen itself: food is grilled over an open fire with no fryers, microwaves, heat lamps or artificial additives. This keeps the menu health-forward and the back-of-house footprint simpler than many traditional quick-service kitchens, positioning the brand for consumers seeking convenient, better-for-you meals.

The network has grown to roughly 190 locations, concentrated in California and the wider West Coast, with expansion underway into markets such as Arizona, Nevada and Texas. WaBa Grill operates as a privately held, CEO-led company and competes in the healthy fast-casual segment as one of the larger rice-bowl-focused chains in the United States.

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Why buy a WaBa Grill Franchise?

For buyers drawn to food service, a WaBa Grill franchise offers an established position in the healthy fast-casual category, a recognizable brand across the West Coast, and a streamlined operating model. Because the kitchen runs without fryers, ovens or oil, equipment and ventilation demands are lighter than many quick-service formats, which can simplify day-to-day operations.

The menu is built around a focused set of customizable bowls, plates and salads, supporting consistent execution and tighter inventory control. Franchisees gain defined brand standards, established supplier sourcing for proteins and ingredients, and corporate marketing within a category that has stayed resilient as consumers prioritize fresher, lower-fat options.

WaBa Grill Franchise Costs & Information

Based on 2023 data reported in the 2024 FDD

  • Brand Profile

    • Year Founded

      2006

    • Franchising Since

      2008

    • New Startup Cost

      $341,000 – $577,000

    • Avg. Resale Price

      Contact us for details

  • Franchise Fees

    • Initial franchise Fee

      $35,000

      for new territories

    • Transfer Fee

      $5,000

      no fee for transfer to 100%-owned holding entity

    • Royalty Fee

      5%

      of Gross Sales

    • Marketing Fee

      3%

      of Gross Sales; currently 3%, up to 4%

  • Unit Performance

    • Total Units *

      191

    • New Units Opened *

      1

    • Units Transferred *

      8

    • Avg. Unit revenue *

      $891,062

    * Based on 2023 data reported in the 2024 FDD

WaBa Grill – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    WaBa Grill provides incoming franchisees with structured initial training of 15 hours of classroom instruction and 74 hours of on-the-job training, backed by ongoing operational guidance and marketing support once a unit is trading. Franchisees follow established systems for the grill-based kitchen, menu execution and supplier sourcing. Resale buyers should confirm with WaBa Grill what transfer training is provided to incoming ownership and existing staff, and what system access carries over when a unit changes hands.

  2. Ideal Owner

    WaBa Grill suits hands-on, operations-led owners who are comfortable running a fast-paced restaurant, recruiting and scheduling hourly staff, and holding food-safety and service standards. Restaurant or service-industry experience is treated as a benefit rather than a requirement, and the franchisor expects a full-time, locally engaged operator. Owners who enjoy customer service, community presence and consistent daily execution tend to fit the brand's quality- and health-focused positioning better than passive or absentee investors.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    WaBa Grill has been named to Entrepreneur's Franchise 500, the industry's best-known franchise ranking, and is regarded as one of the larger healthy rice-bowl chains in the United States, with a loyal following across California and Arizona. The brand has reported consistent sales growth as it expands beyond its West Coast base. For resale buyers, brand-level recognition should be weighed alongside the reputation of the specific location, including its local reviews, repeat customers and community standing.

  4. Industry / Market

    WaBa Grill competes in the US fast-casual restaurant segment, one of the fastest-growing parts of the dining market, with well over $100 billion in annual sales. Demand is supported by consumers trading up from traditional fast food toward fresher, customizable, better-for-you meals, a shift that has held through varied economic conditions. Grill-based, health-forward concepts are well placed within this trend, though local demand depends on trade-area demographics, daypart traffic and nearby competition that resale buyers should assess.

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