After a false start in the mid-2010s, Shark Tank-famous food truck Cousins Maine Lobster is back on the San Antonio scene. The traveling seafood concept will make its Alamo City comeback August 23 at Bentley’s Beer Garden, located at 802 N. Alamo Street near downtown.
Cousins made its San Antonio debut in 2016, quickly adding a second truck. It’s unclear when it abandoned its San Antonio fleet, but there have only been occasional sightings at special events since late 2018. The brand teased its return in the Spring, but did not share specifics.
Now, a trio of the chain’s most experienced franchisees is making sure Cousins has a regular schedule. Jimmy Shoshani, Sarah Khan, and Ahmer Khan, the brand’s longest tenured operators, helped launch the Las Vegas market in 2014 and are expanding to other states, like Oklahoma.
“It’s been incredibly rewarding to grow Cousins Maine Lobster here in our home state of Texas and see the amazing response in each market — including most recently in Oklahoma City,” said Ahmer Khan, via a release. “San Antonio felt like a natural next step with its vibrant energy and dynamic food scene.”
Cousins Jim Tselikis and Sabin Lomac launched the food truck in 2012 after reminiscing about the foods they enjoyed growing up in Portland, Maine. Later that year, the pair pitched their unique food truck model on the hit ABC reality show Shark Tank. Barbara Corcoran invested $55,000 in the company, which helped it quickly grow.
Tselikis and Lomac’s charismatic appearances also lent them some celebrity. In 2021, Food Network tapped them to host their own show, the short-lived Food Truck Rehab.
Cousins is mainly known for serving two classic lobster roll styles — Maine and Connecticut. The chilled Maine variety is dressed with mayo and lemon, while the warm Connecticut is drizzled with drawn butter. The trucks also dish out a variety of seafood, from New England favorites like lobster bisque and clam chowder to fusion dishes like lobster tacos and grilled cheese.
The Bentley’s grand opening will be from noon-10 pm on August 23, but the Cousins truck will not have a permanent home. Fans can check out where it will be parked through a weekly schedule posted on Facebook.