Portland’s Little Big Burger is Looking at San Diego

Little Big Burger, a popular Pacific Northwest chainlet, has expansion plans for San Diego. First started in Portland in 2010 by Katie Poppe and Micah Camden, who also created Blue Star Donuts, Boxer Ramen, and Son of a Biscuit, the gourmet burger outfit was sold in 2015 to Chanticleer Holdings Inc., whose portfolio also includes the Hooters chain of eateries.

The eatery’s menu is straightforward, specializing in high-quality burgers made with Northwest ingredients including Cascade Natural beef, Tillamook cheese, and Camden's Catsup. There’s a quarter-pound hamburger and cheeseburger, plus a veggie burger and truffle fries, and also “secret” options that allows diners to add on bacon or extra cheese, sub a lettuce wrap for the bun or order fries without truffle oil.

With locations throughout Oregon, Little Big Burger is in the process of opening ten new branches in Seattle and expanding to Charlotte, North Carolina; San Diego could be next. Earlier this year, the company signed a multi-unit franchise deal to open at least eight Little Big Burgers in Southern California. Hooters executive DJ Moss is part of the local franchise team that’s currently scouting for San Diego sites; Moss tells Eater that the group is looking to open 10 to 12 Little Big Burgers in the Southern California region over the next two years. They’re evaluating spots all over San Diego, from North County to La Jolla, that range from stand-alone locations to shopping malls.