Braum’s VS Whataburger, The Quiet Oklahoma Burger Battle

If you grew up in Oklahoma, you probably have a soft spot for Braum’s. It’s one of those places that has always just… been there. Across the big cities, sure, but especially in the smaller towns. It's the burger spot you’d swing through after school, grab a bag of burgers, maybe a shake if you weren’t broke that week. It never felt fancy, but it always felt familiar.

But lately, it seems there’s a brand new orange and white sign going up in every small town across this state. Honestly, Whataburger is expanding like they discovered a new oil field. Towns that barely had a stoplight are suddenly getting two drive-thru lanes and a dining room full of people asking whether the spicy ketchup really is that good.

It's A Burgers VS Burgers Thing

Because in Oklahoma, you don’t just add another fast food place without bumping into somebody else’s turf. Braum’s has been the small town anchor for decades. If a community was big enough for a grocery store and a football field, odds are there was a Braum’s sitting on the edge of town. You needed milk or a burger or both, that was the spot. Simple as that.

Are Braum's burgers as good as they used to be? No. In fact, that's an almost universal opinion among people who grew up eating Braum's. Those 1/3lb burgers just hit different... but we keep eating them as we're all creatures of comfort and habit.

Whataburger rolling into these same towns kind of shakes up the ecosystem. Suddenly there’s a choice. And Oklahomans love a choice. You can almost feel the quiet town rivalry starting up. Whose fries hit better. Whose drive-thru is faster. Whose burger actually tastes like a burger and not something steaming in a warmer.

And depending on who you talk to, the loyalty runs deep. Braum’s fans will tell you the burgers taste more like the backyard grilling you grew up with. Whataburger folks say the late night runs and custom add-ons make it unbeatable. Some people swear the Braum’s crinkle fries are the official taste of childhood. Others claim the Whataburger Honey BBQ Chicken Strip Sandwich should qualify as its own food group.

The New Rivalry, And How Locals Are Picking Sides

The real kicker is that both chains are now chasing the exact same prize, the Oklahoma small-town crowd. The folks who don’t mind waiting a few extra minutes if the food hits right. The families grabbing dinner after a game. The tired shift workers looking for something warm at 11 p.m. You can feel both brands leaning in, hoping to become the go-to spot.

I'd wager that if you asked around, it'd be about 50/50. Personally, old Braum's was hands-down better than Whataburger... but the new Braum's burgers are really hit-or-miss. They're either the best burger in the world at that particular time, or they're dried out and overcooked, which could make even the saltiest Whataburger seem more appealing.

No matter who “wins” the battle of the burgers, the only real loser is anyone trying to start a diet on Monday.

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