After writing about restaurants for years on Newsbreak, I believe that Floridians love retro burger joints. When I wrote about the possibility of a Cook Out with its “cult following” in Florida, readers were very interested. Whataburger is similar, in that it is also said to have a “cult following.” Florida has around 45 Whataburgers – mostly in the northern part of the state. That’s about to change as Tampa and Bradenton are reportedly getting new stores.
About Whataburger: This eatery began in the 1950s in Texas. Today, each burger is still made to order with fresh, never-frozen beef served on a toasted five-inch bun. There are over 800 stores today, but Florida has less than fifty.
The chain is well-received in Florida. For example, a store in Gulf Breeze earns 4.5 out of 5 stars on TripAdvisor. Many noted the flavor and size of the burgers. A reviewer named Tina wrote:
“My husband grew up in Texas where Whataburger is very popular. We don’t have them here in TN, yet anyways… I believe he could eat that every day when we visit the area. He loves their double burger. I have to say their fries are tasty with the gravy.”