A California-born burger joint known for its signature chargrilled flavors is expanding its Philadelphia footprint next year.
Habit Burger & Grill, owned by Yum! Brands, will open two new Philadelphia-area locations. The first will open at 5010 State Rd. in Drexel Hill, followed by a location at 9201 Roosevelt Blvd. in Northeast Philadelphia. The latter will take over a former KFC location, another Yum! Brands concept, alongside Taco Bell.
“Philadelphia is a great market with lots of density, lots of opportunity to grow. The more we continue to build out the brand, the more brand awareness we can get,” head of franchising and real estate Jonathan Trapesonian told Whatnow Philadelphia.
Habit Burger & Grill currently has locations in King of Prussia and Jenkintown, with its Jenkintown location recently opening in October.
The two upcoming spots will follow Habit Burger & Grill’s signature aesthetic, while the Northeast Philadelphia location will operate as a freestanding drive-thru restaurant.
“It’s not your traditional QSR [Quick Service Restaurant]. It’s definitely not a four-minute experience. Our products are cooked to order, everything is fresh, but the drive-thru becomes a very nice convenience add-on,” he said.
When searching for ideal locations for the brand, Trapesonian said the team looks for strong co-tenancy and shopping centers anchored by everyday needs.
“We look at all aspects of the trade area when trying to determine a site. We’re a lunch and dinner business. We do a lot of deliveries. We do a pretty significant digital business, so we want to make sure that we find areas of opportunity where we can hit all those potential channels,” he said.
Habit Burger & Grill serves its classic Charburger, available with multiple patties and topped with caramelized onions, lettuce, tomato, pickles and mayonnaise on a toasted bun. The menu also features creative options like the Teriyaki Pineapple Burger and Portobello Mushroom Burger.
Beyond its acclaimed burgers, guests can also choose from chicken sandwiches, salads and a variety of sides, including tempura green beans, one of Trapesonian’s go-to picks.
“They’re very unique and a little bit guilt-free because it’s a vegetable, and then it’s fried. I like to dip it in our homemade buttermilk ranch. We mix it in-house; it’s fantastic,” he said.
Trapesonian is looking forward to Habit Burger & Grill’s continued growth.
“I’m most excited about introducing our product and our brand experience to new customers in new areas. We have a mature business in California, and we have a lot of brand awareness in California, so I’d love to see that in Philadelphia and the Northeast,” Trapesonian said.
The Drexel Hill location is targeting a second-quarter 2027 opening, while the Northeast Philadelphia location is also slated to open in 2027.
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