Gyro Republic, a Houston halal fast-casual chain, plans nine Texas openings in Austin, San Antonio, Dallas

Expansion plan targets three major Texas metros

Gyro Republic, a Houston-based fast-casual restaurant serving halal food, has announced plans to open nine additional locations across Texas in 2026. The expansion blueprint calls for five restaurants in Austin, three in San Antonio and one in Dallas, shifting the company from a Houston-area footprint toward a multi-market presence.

The move comes as fast-casual concepts continue to compete on speed, customization and consistency. Gyro Republic’s menu is built around made-to-order bowls and wraps, including a signature “gyrito,” positioning the brand in a segment where scale and operational repetition can determine whether a regional chain becomes a statewide player.

Current footprint: seven Houston-area locations plus a ghost kitchen

Before the planned 2026 openings, Gyro Republic operates seven locations in the greater Houston area and a ghost kitchen. Its current restaurants are concentrated largely in suburban markets, including Katy, Missouri City, Pearland, Richmond, Spring and Sugar Land. Several of those suburban outposts were launched in summer 2024, indicating the company’s recent focus on rapid unit growth close to its home base before moving into additional cities.

Leadership hires signal brand-building priorities

Alongside the expansion announcement, Gyro Republic confirmed it has hired Chuck McAulay as chief marketing officer. The company said the role will include leading a “comprehensive brand refresh,” a step commonly associated with standardizing customer experience and sharpening market identity ahead of growth into new regions.

Growth strategy includes franchise and operator recruitment

Gyro Republic also said it is actively seeking operators and entrepreneurs as part of the Texas rollout. That recruitment effort indicates the expansion is designed to be supported by outside partners, a model often used to accelerate development across multiple markets while increasing the need for consistent training, supply chains and brand standards.

• Planned new locations (2026): 5 in Austin, 3 in San Antonio, 1 in Dallas

• Current operations: 7 locations in greater Houston plus a ghost kitchen

• Operational focus: fast-casual halal menu centered on customizable bowls and wraps

Gyro Republic framed the 2026 openings as a major scaling step for a brand built around choice, quality and street-food influences.

If the nine-store plan is executed on schedule, the company’s Texas presence would shift from a single-region base to a three-metro network, creating a larger platform for future development beyond Houston.