Elevation Burger
The Virginia chain that called itself the first organic burger joint, with fries cooked in olive oil.
About Elevation Burger
Hans Hess came up with the idea of an organic fast-casual burger restaurant in 2002 and opened the first Elevation Burger in Falls Church, Virginia, near Washington, D.C., in September 2005. Saveur magazine called it the first organic burger joint. The beef is certified organic and grass-fed, and the fries are cooked in olive oil.
It began franchising in 2008 and spread along the East Coast and into the Gulf, then went through several owners. Parent company FAT Brands filed for bankruptcy in January 2026 and sold the chain to a Kuwaiti catering company, which plans to grow it in the Middle East.
A couple of dozen restaurants in the US and the Middle East. Sold to a Kuwaiti operator in 2026.
Burger menu
Signature burgers first. Only burgers and sandwiches, no sides.Not affiliated with Elevation Burger. Trademarks and logos belong to their owners. Descriptions are my own; nutrition figures come from the chain’s published information.