Whataburger Opens First Tampa Bay Restaurant in Largo

Whataburger will open its first Tampa Bay location Thursday, Feb. 12, at 10150 Ulmerton Road in Largo. The restaurant will stay open 24 hours daily.

The grand opening starts at 11 a.m. and features giveaways. The first 100 people in line at 11a.m. will receive a Whatamerch swag bag crammed with merch items. From Feb. 12 through March 12, the chain will offer one free kids' meal when customers purchase any Whatameal.

Largo marks the first of eight planned Tampa Bay-area locations by 2027's end. Two more restaurants will open during Spring 2026 — one at W. Brandon Boulevard and N. Hilltop Road in Brandon, another at State Road 54 and Sierra Center Boulevard in Lutz.

"When we brought the Whataburger Food Truck to Tampa in 2024, the Florida heat showed up, but the energy showed up even bigger," said Debbie Stroud, CEO, in a statement, per WTSP.com. "We met people with long-held Whataburger memories and first-time fans who couldn't wait for more. We promised we'd be back, and on Feb. 12, we're proud to deliver on that promise with the opening of our Largo restaurant."

Stroud added that the company brings hot, made-fresh-to-order food plus a team rooted in hospitality. Largo is now the company's newest hometown, she said.

The Texas-based burger chain operates from San Antonio. It runs more than 1,100 restaurants across 17 states. Forty-eight locations dot Florida, mostly in the Panhandle.

The food truck visit to Tampa last year drew massive crowds. That event showed the chain just how much interest existed in the Tampa Bay market.