

Circa-1950 fast-food chain for counter-serve burgers, some stacked with multiple patties.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 1510 N Cannon Blvd, Kannapolis, NC 28083
Phone: (704) 932-9051
Website: http://www.what-a-burger1.com/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Order: Order online
Photo Gallery
Related Web Results
What-A-Burger #1: Home
Whataburger | Order Online with Curbside and Delivery
What-A-Burger 1 | Kannapolis NC – Facebook
Reviews
We saw a review of this place on YouTube and decided to try it out because it’s “sorta” on our way through NC. “Sorta…” means the exit is off 85 but the restaurant is 8.5 miles off the exit. That said, we would do it again. And that should tell you mostly what you need to know because it’s not super convenient to get to, but it is worth it. It also says a lot that this place was PACKED!
Founded in 1955 in Kannapolis, NC, I see some similarities to what the big chain Whataburger USED to be. Which got me thinking that someone copy-catted someone. I had to know so I looked it up and saw Whataburger was founded in 1950, five years before this business…. I can only assume the founders of this restaurant visited Texas, tried that famous burger restaurant and brought the idea back to NC with them. And I’m not mad about that because, where the “famous” Whataburger has dropped the ball and failed, What-A-Burger has continued to succeed when it comes to quality. As a matter of fact, if I closed my eyes and took a bite of the What-A-Cheeseburger…. It instantly reminds me of my childhood days in Texas. The bread was fresh, the lettuce crispy, the tomato juicy, the cheese not old or congealed and the patty was fresh, juicy and had that amazing true grilled taste.
We also tried the hotdog. Coming standard with chili, slaw, onions, we added mustard. And while I loved the What-A-Cheeseburger a lot, I was surprised to find (because I don’t generally care for hotdogs) that the hotdog was my favorite item. The chili had a great flavor. The slaw was creamy and crisp, the onions were also crisp, and again the bun was very fresh. The hotdog itself had good flavor and snap to it.
We did have a few minor negatives. The fries had no seasoning on them and the onion rings were just okay. Not bad by any means but not stellar. Neither of these are a dealbreaker for us, though. I saw after ordering that they have curly fries so maybe next time we’ll give those a try.
The drink selection is definitely quirky but I like quirky. While they serve some Pepsi products, they do not sell Mountain Dew. Their Pepsi lineup is limited to Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, and Starry. They also offer Patio Red Cherry (I don’t know what that is) SunDrop, and Cheerwine; along with what they call, “The Witch Doctor.” I got that and while I’m not sure what’s all in it, I loved it! Definitely different and I’d get it again. Sweet and unsweetened tea are also offered.
The staff were friendly and helpful and while waiting for our food, I struck up a conversation with an elderly man who said he’s been coming here for as long as they’ve been here.
Building is a bit dated, but I like that about it. It adds to the experience. They are both a drive in and a dine in place with the old carhop order stations, which again, I thought was pretty awesome.
Overall, our experience here was great. This place has almost no social media presence, which while it makes finding an updated menu a challenge, I’d rather them keep putting the focus on their great food, rather than pandering to the masses.
8/10… would absolutely come back.
I have eaten inside and in the car. They make sure we have napkins straws salt and that the order is correct!!!
I love the Ranch and chocolate milkshakes!!
But The grilled chicken and the BLT are my top 2 favorite items.
If you’re looking for a delicious, nostalgic place to eat, give What-A-Burger a visit!
Their fried fish platter was amazing for frozen food products! Kudos to the Cook! Their fried items were cooked absolutely perfect! “These are the best fries in the world!” My daughter exclaimed! Crinkle cut with a little crunch! YUMMMM! Tarter sauce is sweet… I like it! Coleslaw is light and creamy.
The only thing I found disappointing is their burgers! Their main dish? They’re smash burgers it seems and super thin… my husband said they’re decent, but you can tell from the photos that the burger just isn’t worth the price you pay…(even if it’s only 6 bucks!)
They should remodel… what a Lil paint would do!