NC’s What-A-Burger vs. Texas’ Whataburger: We break down the differences, look at history
Two different burger restaurants. One similar-ish name.
For months, anticipation has been growing for Texas fast food giant Whataburger to make its way to Charlotte and Raleigh and across the state. But North Carolina is already home to another decades-old restaurant with the same-sounding name: What-A-Burger. In fact, they’re so similar the Texas chain is even suing one of the restaurants.
While they’re both known for their famous freshly cooked, made-to-order burgers, the two businesses are completely different.
So how do they compare?
Each has seen a lot of growth over the last 70 years. Here’s what to know about the two food spots that carry a rich history behind their beloved burgers:
North Carolina’s What-A-Burger
THE HISTORY: For decades, North Carolina’s What-A-Burger, founded in 1956, has been a staple spot for burger lovers.
According to Michael Bost, president of What-A-Burger Drive-Ins, Inc., the founders’ burger business started before then out of a Concord diner.
“The official use of the name for the restaurant was started in north Kannapolis … but they started selling the sandwich, as such, calling it a ‘What-A-Burger’ in 1955,” Bost, son of co-founder E.L. Bost, told CharlotteFive.
As Bost explained, that first location was called What-A-Burger #1, with each new location named with subsequent numbers up to the latest in 1984 – What-A-Burger #15 in Concord.
One of the locations — What-A-Burger #13, located in Locust and Mount Pleasant — operates separately from the others.
According to Bost, his father gave his half-brother, Marvin Bost Sr., that restaurant location.
“It started out as ownership between C.W. and my father. My father gave it to him — my half brother Marvin — the business, because he did so well with it. Marvin decided he wanted to go out on his own. He sold his half to C.W. — my father’s partner — and he had an agreement with them to go out on his own to Mount Pleasant, which he named What-A-Burger #13.”
That location — which is being sued over trademark infringement by Texas’ Whataburger— originally opened in 1969, and is now operated by Marvin Bost Sr.’s son, Zeb Bost.
Though What-A-Burger once had 15 locations, only five remain open now, mostly around Kannapolis, Mooresville and Concord,
THE MENU: Aside from its classic What-A-Burger sandwich, Bost says his restaurants offer hot dogs, fish sandwiches, BLTs, barbecue, chicken tenders, wings and more.
#1 in Kannapolis, which Bost says is owned by C.W. Bost’ family, and the What-A-Burger #13 locations, operated by Zeb Bost, also serve burgers, sandwiches, chicken tenders along with breakfast and dinner combos.
According to Bost, here’s a list of the remaining locations that are still open around the Carolinas:
What-A-Burger #1, 1510 N Cannon Blvd, Kannapolis, NC 28083
What-A-Burger #2, 34 Church St S, Concord, NC 28025
What-A-Burger #10, 926 S Main St, Kannapolis, NC 28081
What-A-Burger #11, 210 S Main St, Mooresville, NC 28115
What-A-Burger #13, 101 N Central Ave, Locust, NC 28097; 8330 W Franklin St, Mt Pleasant, NC 28124
What-A-Burger #15, 1252 Old Charlotte Rd SW, Concord, NC 28027
Texas’ Whataburger
THE HISTORY: During the “golden age of drive-ins and American automobiles,” the original Whataburger opened as a burger stand in Corpus Christi, Texas back in 1950.
“More than seven decades ago, an adventurous and determined entrepreneur named Harmon Dobson had a bold idea: to serve a burger so big that it took two hands to hold, and so good that after a single bite customers couldn’t help but exclaim, ‘What a burger!’”, the restaurant’s website says.
“It was an instant success, and Harmon began to expand the business to other markets.”
By the end of the decade, the founder had opened 21 locations, including its first-out-of-state restaurant, according to Whataburger’s site.
What started out as a streetside stand with 35 cent burgers has grown to a chain of more than 900 restaurants across 14 states — and more on the way to North Carolina in 2025.
THE MENU: Of course, the classic Whataburger is made with tomato, lettuce, pickles, diced onions and mustard on a large five-inch bun. Now, the fast food spot, known for its iconic orange and white color scheme, also offers a variety of other menu items, including chicken strips and sandwiches, breakfast foods, salads, desserts and more.
This story was originally published June 21, 2024 at 6:00 AM with the headline "NC’s What-A-Burger vs. Texas’ Whataburger: We break down the differences, look at history."
.jpg)