An American fast food chain that’s best known for its chargrilled burgers is heading over the pond and opening in the UK in a matter of days.
Carl’s Jr. announced in May 2024 that it would be launching here under the stewardship of Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG), and now the very first location has been confirmed.
The debut restaurant has set up shop in Cardiff and is officially opening its doors to the public on April 3, inside St David’s Dewi Sant – the city’s biggest shopping centre.
The space will be able to seat 70 guests and will create 30 new jobs for the local community, with the chain said to be bringing a ‘West Coast vibe tailored to British tastes’.
Those who visit the restaurant on launch day will be in for a real treat as the chain is giving away 100 free burgers to the first customers.
Set to rival the likes of Burger King and McDonald’s, the Carl’s Jr. menu will feature a selection of four ‘classic’ burgers, three premium Angus beef burgers, as well as several chicken burgers.
There will also be ice cream milkshakes, bottomless soft drinks, chicken tenders, brownies and ice cream sundaes on offer.
The new Cardiff site is just the beginning for the chain in the UK and Ireland, with an expansion plan already in place. More restaurants are expected to launch later in 2025 and into 2026, with Carl’s Jr. looking to target big cities such as Birmingham, Manchester, and London.
David Moffat, Country Manager for Carl’s Jr. UK, said: ‘Carl’s Jr. has a reputation for delivering high-quality, crave-worthy food that stands out in the burger market.
‘We are thrilled to bring Carl’s Jr. to Cardiff, marking our first location in the UK. The team at BRG has been working hard to bring the Carl’s Jr. experience to the UK, and we can’t wait to welcome our first guests soon.’
While this new restaurant will be the first taste of Carl’s Jr. for many Brits, the chain is already established outside of the US with branches across Europe in countries like France, Spain, Denmark, and Switzerland.
The chain was first established in Anaheim, California, in1941, and now has more than 4,000 locations worldwide. But what exactly do people like about it?
Online, fans have praised Carl’s Jr. for its side dishes, especially the French fries. Taking to Reddit, a user known as u/SnooCupcakes2018 claimed the fries were ‘the best’, while u/KeepItHeady posted: ‘Carl’s Jr. has top tier sides for fast food. When you compare Carl’s Jr. to other fast food chains, they pack a serious punch on the sides game.
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‘Carl’s Jr. has gone through a few different types of fries over the past few decades. At a certain point, they were “natural cut” and had skins on, and were a little bit thicker. Now, Carl’s has gone with a thinner shoestring fry, which in my opinion is top tier. Up there with McDonald’s fries for sure, although Carl’s don’t really have that added beef flavoring like McD’s. They always put the correct amount of salt on these fries and I always get fresh fries at Carl’s.’
Others couldn’t get enough of the Western Bacon burger which features a beef patty, bacon, cheddar cheese, onion rings and BBQ sauce in a sesame bun.
‘The western bacon cheeseburger is the GOAT,’ proclaimed u/CapitalPin2658, and u/Michaelskywalker agreed, saying: ‘Western bacon goes crazy.’
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This article was first published on January 14, 2025.
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