The wait is over. Here’s when Whataburger will open in Raleigh
At long last, Whataburger has set opening dates for its first Triangle locations.
The Texas burger brand will open its first Wake County restaurant in about a month.
The tentative grand opening is scheduled for Thursday, March 26, at 489 Calvin Jones Highway in Wake Forest, according to a company spokesperson.
Two weeks later, the first Raleigh location is scheduled to open on Thursday, April 9, at 501 E. Six Forks Road.
Whataburger burst into North Carolina one year ago, bringing a Texas-sized reputation to the fast food burgersphere.
Whataburger in NC
The first locations opened near Charlotte and now total 12 statewide, with the most recent opening in Mebane late last year.
With hundreds of locations nationwide, Whataburger is one of the country’s biggest private fast food brands, known for being open 24/7, its retro-chic styling and iconic roadside-style burgers. Other favorites include chicken biscuits for breakfast, patty melts, signature sauces and quirky traditions, like table tents for orders.
The Whataburger saga began in earnest in 2024 when the brand first started filing plans in cities and towns across the state.
Wawa, Buc-ee’s join the scene
Now with only a month to go, Triangle burger fans will soon get a chance to tackle the Whataburger menu.
Whataburger joins several other obsessed-over brands moving into the Triangle, like the gas station sandwich shop Wawa, the gas station phenomenon Buc-ee’s and the return of Del Taco.
This story was originally published February 24, 2026 at 8:00 AM with the headline "The wait is over. Here’s when Whataburger will open in Raleigh."
