L. MACUNGIE TWP., Pa. – A fast-casual restaurant chain is expanding its footprint in the Lehigh Valley.
A new location of QDOBA Mexican Eats, a fast-casual Mexican restaurant chain with approximately 840 locations in 45 states as well as in Canada, Puerto Rico, Japan and South Korea, is coming soon to 6216 Hamilton Blvd. in Lower Macungie Township, Lehigh County.
A new location of QDOBA Mexican Eats is coming soon to 6216 Hamilton Blvd. in Lower Macungie Township, Lehigh County.
Ryan Kneller
The new QDOBA eatery will occupy a soon-to-be updated building that was previously home the Lehigh Valley’s first drive-thru Wawa location, which closed in January 2025.
The Lower Macungie QDOBA location will be operated by The Integritty Group, a restaurant management and development company led by founders Jiger Patel, Pranav Desai and Raj Mahadevia.
An exact opening date has not yet been determined, but the Hamilton Boulevard restaurant is expected to open in the second or third quarter of this year, according to Dave Horn, The Integritty Group’s vice president of operations.
The former Wawa location only served drive-thru customers, and the Lower Macungie property will soon undergo renovations that include reconfiguring the design to allow for indoor dining space.
Derek Zerfass, senior vice president of Colliers’ Allentown office, facilitated the lease and is excited for the new QDOBA restaurant to open at the property – located along a busy stretch of Hamilton Boulevard – later this year.
A new location of QDOBA Mexican Eats is coming soon to 6216 Hamilton Blvd. in Lower Macungie Township, Lehigh County.
Ryan Kneller
The restaurant site is surrounded by other popular businesses, including the Lehigh Valley’s first Raising Cane’s eatery and Movie Tavern location.
After the former drive-thru Wawa location closed in early 2025, the Colliers Allentown team fielded inquiries from several prospective tenants interested in the property, Zerfass said.
“We’re excited,” Zerfass said. “Among all of the other folks who were interested in it, [QDOBA] seemed to be a really good fit for that building and property.”
QDOBA creates freshly-made, Mexican-inspired food “crafted with contemporary flavors that guests crave,” according to a company description.
Ryan Kneller
“We believe that the most delicious flavors start with quality ingredients and thoughtful preparation, taking pride in preparing meals in our kitchens each day,” the description continues. “Whether it’s chopping crisp produce, flame-grilling steak and chicken, or making hand-crafted guacamole, we don’t take shortcuts.”
QDOBA menu highlights include burritos, bowls, quesadillas, nachos, tacos and salads.
You can choose a signature creation or “create your own masterpiece” by choosing from more than 30 ingredients.
Options include proteins such as brisket birria, grilled steak, grilled adobo chicken, Cholula hot and sweet chicken, seasoned ground beef, and slow-braised pulled pork; rice and beans such as cilantro lime rice, brown rice, black beans and pinto beans; salsa and sauces such as freshly made pico de gallo, roasted tomato salsa, chile corn salsa, citrus lime vinaigrette, salsa verde and fiery habanero salsa; and flavorful toppings such as pickled jalapenos, Mexican street corn, cotija (crumbled white cheese), shredded lettuce, sour cream, cilantro and crispy tortilla strips.
A QDOBA location operates on Schoenersville Road in Bethlehem.
Ryan Kneller
There also is a variety of chips and dips such as hand-crafted guacamole, queso diablo and three-cheese queso.
QDOBA was founded in 1995 as Zuma Fresh Mexican Grill in Denver, Colorado. The brand name changed to Z-TECA in 1997, QDOBA Mexican Grill in 1999 and QDOBA Mexican Eats in 2015.
Company milestones include opening its 600th store in 2011, opening its first international location in Canada in 2012, moving its headquarters from Denver to San Diego in 2016, rolling out 100% recyclable, strawless lids and compostable bowls in 2021 and opening its first Puerto Rican location in 2022.
Ryan Kneller
“We honor the communities we proudly serve by hosting fundraisers in over 700 local QDOBA restaurants,” a message on the business’ website reads. “We also celebrate first responders by donating QDOBA food to frontline workers. By raising funds and providing more than 5 million meals to children, our partnerships with No Kid Hungry in the US and Toonies for Tummies in Canada have helped combat childhood food insecurity.”
The Integritty Group operates more than 40 QDOBA locations across five states, along with locations of other restaurant brands including Checkers, The Greene Turtle and Dave’s Hot Chicken.
The Integritty Group also operates the Lehigh Valley’s first QDOBA location, which opened in 2012 on MacArthur Road in Whitehall Township, and long with another QDOBA location that opened in 2024 on Schoenersville Road in Bethlehem.
A QDOBA location operates on Schoenersville Road in Bethlehem.
Ryan Kneller