A popular burger chain looks to expand to Charlotte. Here’s the menu

Another chain known for burgers is eyeing North Carolina for expansion.

Fat Patty’s is looking to bring new franchises to the Charlotte, Raleigh and Durham areas.

“As we continue to grow beyond our roots, we’re thrilled to bring Fat Patty’s to new audiences in a thriving state like North Carolina,” Sean Oatney, the chief development officer at Fat Patty’s, said in a news release. “Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham are dynamic cities full of food lovers and community pride, which is everything we look for in a great market. We’re excited to find the right franchise partners who share our passion for people, great food and hometown hospitality.”

Founded in West Virginia in 2007, the self-described “home away from home” restaurant and bar Fat Patty’s has since grown to five locations across West Virginia and Kentucky, with another in development in New Jersey. The chain started franchising in 2022 and has said it hopes to expand in the South and the East Coast.

As the chain has just recently announced it is looking for franchisees in North Carolina, no specific locations or projected openings have been shared.

Burger chains in NC

Fat Patty’s is the latest burger outsider to make its way into the Tar Heel State, where loyal fans frequent well-established Cook Outs and Char-Grills.

• Texas-based Whataburger has entered North Carolina, starting in the Charlotte area, but has plans to open Triangle locations starting in 2026.
• Shake Shack, based in New York, brought its burgers and crinkle fries to North Carolina in 2018.

Fat Patty’s menu

So what can Triangle eaters expect to find at Fat Patty’s? An eclectic mix.

Starting with starters, aka “munchies,” Fat Patty’s serves pretzels with a choice of beer cheese or poblano queso, potato chips with pimento cheese, egg rolls stuffed with chicken, black beans, corn and cheese, loaded potato boats, and a lot of fried foods: mozzarella sticks, onions, green tomatoes, mushrooms and bacon cheddar fries.

There are a few nachos and quesadillas available, along with salads, chicken wings, chicken and traditional sandwiches (think French dip, Italian, club) and pizza.

The focus of the menu, though, is the burgers, which they call “Patties,” made with a half-pound of fresh beef and served on brioche buns.

Sure, there’s the plain Jane staples, but Fat Patty also offers a variety of specialty burgers. Here are a few examples:

• The restaurant leans into Cowboy Culture with the Lasso Patty, which is topped with grilled ham, bacon, barbecue sauce, cheddar jack cheese, lettuce, tomato and red onion.
• One Cowboy themed burger is not enough. Hence the Cowboy Patty, which is topped with shaved sirloin, sauteed mushrooms, provolone cheese, mozzarella, A1, lettuce, tomato and red onion.
• The Big Dill Patty has fried pickles, along with bacon, fried onions, pepper jack cheese and chipotle ranch, and it’s served on a pretzel bun.
• Fat Patty’s also serves the Jammin’ Patty, made with bourbon bacon jam, beer cheese, fried onions and garlic aioli.
• The Sweet Popper Patty combines two grill staples, the burger and the jalapeño popper. It’s made with cream cheese and sauteed jalapeños, plus lettuce, tomato, onion and — dare we say, unexpected — raspberry sauce.
  
  

Finish off the meal with an ice cream sundae, molten chocolate cake or dessert pretzel a la mode, topped with cinnamon, sugar, caramel and whipped cream.

This story was originally published May 16, 2025 at 2:27 PM.

Renee Umsted

The News & Observer

202-383-6008

Renee Umsted is The News & Observer’s Affordability Reporter. She writes about what it costs to live in the Triangle, with a consumer-focused approach. She has a degree in journalism from TCU.