If you live in North Florida, you’re likely very familiar with the taste, smell and iconic orange and white branding of Whataburger.
The Texas-based fast food restaurant has exploded to popularity since it opened in Corpus Christi in 1950, and now boasts a cult following with more than 1,000 locations in 16 different states. But in Florida, Whataburger is only plentiful in the northern half of the state.
Now, Whataburger locations are starting to pop up in Southwest Florida, too. In 2024, plans began for a Whataburger in Sarasota, Florida, which is expected to open some time in 2026. And another planned for Bradenton.
Here’s what we know about the new Whataburger locations and how many Whataburgers are in Florida.
What state is Whataburger most popular in? What is Whataburger known for?
Whataburger is, unsurprisingly, most popular in its home state of Texas. According to ScrapeHero, 766 of Whataburger’s 1,157 locations nationwide are in Texas – that’s 66% of the Whataburger locations in the U.S.
If you don’t know, Whataburger is known for its Texas-sized burgers, that can be upgraded to double or triple meat, or sized down to a Jr. patty, which is about the size of a regular McDonald’s burger patty.
Other iconic items on the Whataburger menu that keep fast food fans coming back for more include patty melts on buttered Texas toast and the Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit, which is one of the most sought-after items on the restaurant’s breakfast menu.
Whataburger has also popped up in pop culture, earning frequent cameos in the animated series “King of the Hill,” which is set in Texas. In the original show and the recent revival season, the “King of the Hill” characters are often seen chowing down on the restaurant’s burgers. If you’re curious, Hank Hill’s go-to Whataburger order is a double meat burger.
You can find the full menu on the Whataburger website.
How many Whataburgers are in Florida?
Florida has the third-most Whataburger locations, behind Texas and Oklahoma. There are 47 Whataburger locations in Florida, according to the Whataburger location finder and ScrapeHero.
When the new locations open in Sarasota and Bradenton, there will be 49 in the Sunshine State. Almost all of the Whataburger locations in Florida are in North Florida, with the most concentrated in Jacksonville, where there are nine locations.
Here’s a list of Whataburger locations in Florida, according to the restaurant’s locations map:
New Whataburger locations coming to Sarasota, Bradenton, Florida
Two new Whataburger locations are slated for the Gulf Coast of Florida, coming to Bradenton and Sarasota.
In October 2024, Whataburger confirmed that its location in Sarasota will open at 4001 S. Tamiami Trail some time in 2026.
More recently, developers for the Seaflower Village Center in Bradenton, Florida, confirmed that Whataburger ie expected to be one of the tenants in the shopping center, which is slated to open in 2026 as well.
“Although the press release did not provide a specific opening date for the new Whataburger, it stated that the SeaFlower Village Center project is scheduled for completion in fourth quarter 2026,” According to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
“Other tenants with lease agreements include fellow eateries Dutch Bros. Coffee, Pecan Jacks, Playa Bowls and Potbelly Sandwich Works — which recently opened its own debut Sarasota area location — as well as other businesses such as Publix, PacDental, Club Pilates, Well Groomed Pets, and Glitz Nail Salon and Boutique.”
Contributing: Jimmy Geurts, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: How many Whataburgers are in Florida? Here’s where 2 new locations are coming
Reporting by Lianna Norman, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
