I ate at Fatburger and discovered why it's one of the most underrated chains in fast food
I scootered to a Fatburger restaurant in West Hollywood. At first glance, I thought it was closed.
The paint was faded and peeling, and the lights were dim or off.
Inside, the restaurant had a charming retro interior with neon lettering and vibrant colors.
But even though I arrived at around 1 p.m., the place was pretty empty.
Fatburger serves three things: burgers, fried sides, and milkshakes. Fatburger was also one of the first chains to embrace the Impossible burger.
Fatburger claims that all of its food is cooked from fresh, not frozen ingredients.
As I waited for my food, I wandered the restaurant. This sign answered Fatburger's greatest mystery: its name.
The sign reads: "In 1952, Lovie Yancey created something unique. A culture. A phenomenon, if you will. She created the biggest, juiciest hamburgers anyone had ever seen. So obviously there was only one name for them — Fatburger."
The sign also states that Fatburger founder Lovie Yancey loved music (and musicians). As a result, Fatburger was the choice hangout for stars like Ray Charles and Redd Foxx.
Source: Fatburger website
Finally, my meal arrived: an original Fatburger with all the fixings, a side of fries, and a cup of lemonade. Before tax, the total cost of my meal was $10.50.
The original Fatburger is a third-pounder patty in a bun with the works — lettuce, tomato, cheese, pickles, onion, mayo, mustard, and relish.
This wasn't my first time at Fatburger — I'd eaten there a few times as a child — but I didn't remember much about my meals there.
I was stunned by the beautiful deep brown layer of caramelization on my patty.
Holy fat. This burger earned the "fat" in its name.
An outer layer of crisp gave way to a tender patty that oozed with meaty juice.
Mustard? Tangy. Pickles? Crunchy. Lovie Yancey set out to make the perfect burger, and she did it.
The "fat" in Fatburger might also refer to the amount of grease on your hands after you touch one.
A sip of Minute Maid lemonade and then it was on to the next part of my meal:
The fries.
Like my burger, these were fresh and piping hot.
These fries were a huge step up from In-N-Out's sad cardboard, and they were significantly better than McDonald's fries.
Every burger needs a sidekick, and these fries were the perfect partner-in-crime.
As I sank my teeth into my mouthwatering meal, I found myself wondering why Fatburger wasn't more popular.
The food was much, much better than the food at your standard fast-food joint.
Plus, prominent musicians like Kanye West and athletes like Magic Johnson played a large role in investing in and expanding the chain throughout its history.
The only thing that I didn't feel great about was the name. My suspicion is that Fatburger's branding is dragging the chain down.
Using the word "fat" prominently in branding seems like a risky move especially considering the last decade's shift towards an increased focus on healthy eating.
In a world full of farm-to-table burgers and Big Macs, Fatburger falls somewhere in the shrinking niche between.
Is the demand for old-fashioned, gut-busting burgers shrinking along with the Boomer generation and America's middle class?
I suppose everything — even the burger — evolves over time.
But a dang good burger is still a dang good burger.
I'm not sure why Fatburger doesn't get the hype it deserves.
I think people are afraid of the "Fat". But they shouldn't be.
A burger is always going to be bad for you. But that's not the point of a burger, which isn't an everyday meal.
A good burger should simply taste good. And Fatburgers taste really, really good.
So why isn't Fatburger a bigger deal? Maybe it's the name. It's certainly not the burgers.
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