A burger and fries from Fat Phill's

The chain is said to have ‘the best’ burgers in Amsterdam (Fat Phill’s)

We’ve seen an influx of American and Canadian fast food chains setting up shop here lately – from Dave’s Hot Chicken to Carl’s Jr and Chick-fil-A.

But in a surprising twist, it’s a burger joint from The Netherlands that you could soon see popping up all over the UK and Ireland.

Fat Phill’s, which is said to be home to Amsterdam’s ‘best burger’, quietly launched in Clapham Junction in London at the end of 2024, serving up smash burgers, American-style sandwiches, loaded fries, and mac and cheese.

The Dutch chain, also known as Fat Phill’s Diner, has gone on to open a second London site in Wood Green and has confirmed more are coming in London and beyond in 2026.

Chief operating officer, Natalie Van Der Laan, revealed at the recent Propel Franchisor Showcase that the plan is to open up to five new sites in the UK next year. She claimed ‘several locations’ were already in the pipeline, with some in the regions.

XX fast food chain just opened in London (Fat Phill's) https://www.instagram.com/fatphillsdineruk/

The Big Belly Burger (Picture: Fat Phill’s)

Fat Phill’s is still relatively new, having only been founded in 2019 by Armin Vahabian, but it’s already got 18 locations across the Netherlands. 

It’s been brought over here by Freshly Baked Ltd, the franchisor behind pretzel joint Auntie Anne’s UK, and as part of this deal, there are plans to develop up to 100 sites nationwide by 2035.

The brand has also confirmed it’s also ‘set to rock Europe’, and as well as a UK and Ireland expansion, the team is in talks in Germany and Belgium.

What’s on the menu at Fat Phill’s?

The menu is all about the burgers, and the theme is very much the bigger the better, with customers able to triple any of the items as they please.

Perhaps the largest item on the menu is the Big Belly – a quadruple cheeseburger served with crispy bacon. However, it’s the signature Double Cheeseburger that the chain is best known for.

There’s also a Tamale Burger for those who like it hot, which features a Double Cheeseburger, glazed onion, grilled jalapeños, spicy mayo, and mustard.

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But if you prefer chicken to beef, there are also a few chicken options made using Nashville Hot chicken. 

Other items on the menu include the Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich, which sees thinly sliced ribeye steak topped with cheese, onions, jalapenos, and Phill’s secret sauce. There are also loaded or layered fries, Buffalo Wings, a selection of sauces such as Ranch and Truffle Mayo, and milkshakes in flavours like pistachio.

American sandwiches from Fat Phill's

They also serve a range of American sandwiches (Picture: Fat Phill’s)
What do customers say about the food at Fat Phill’s?

Online, the chain has garnered numerous rave reviews, with people branding the food ‘amazing’, ‘delicious’, and ‘insane’.

Food blogger By Row claimed the chain is better than competitors like McDonald’s, writing: ‘I can confidently say that this restaurant beats out McDonald’s and KFC any day of the week.’

While many said they make the ‘best’ burgers. On Reddit, u/Dependent_Monitor215 posted: ‘Fat Phill’s Diner has the BEST burgers in Amsterdam. I’ve ordered from everywhere. Trust me on this one.’

The current London branch has drummed up some great reviews, garnering 4.7 stars on Google.

Are you keen to try Fat Phill’s?

Matt Gough gave five stars, saying: ‘Fantastic food! We tried the meaty burger, the Nashville fried chicken burger, loaded fries, and mozzarella sticks. All amazing. Deffo recommend checking this place out if you need some fried goodness!’

And Minemar2 Martinez shared: ‘Delicious burgers, the flavor of the meat is unique, everything is very fresh and super smashed. The quality and quantity are excellent.’

FaithsStardust added: ‘Just had one of their Nashville hot burgers at their launch….demolished it in seconds, yummy! The Greeter serving the food was lovely too. It’s nice that McDonald’s in Clapham Junction finally has a competitor.’

A version of this article was first published on January 1, 2025.

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