Next Level Burger
| Next Level Burger | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 2014 |
Next Level Burger is a restaurant chain. Based in Bend, Oregon, the restaurant serves plant-based fast food.[1]
The business acquired Veggie Grill.[2][3] Next Level and Veggie Grill are the largest wholly owned plant-based chains in the U.S.[4]
Matthew de Gruyter is a co-founder and the chief executive officer.[1]
Description
[edit]Next Level Burger serves plant-based fast food. The menu includes burgers, French fries, and milkshakes with a coconut or soy milk base.[5][6] Burger options include the All-American, which has tempeh bacon, cheddar or Swiss-style "cheese", and egg-free mayonnaise, as well as the Brunch Burger,[7] the Sausage Bacon, and the Signature, which has a patty made from umami mushroom and quinoa, avocado, and mayonnaise with garlic and thyme. Next Level has also served a Chili Chz Dog, salads, and sandwiches.[6] Among milkshake varieties are Cookies N' Cream and Mint Chocolate Chip.[8]
History and locations
[edit]
Next Level Burger was established by Matt and Cierra de Gruyter in 2014.[9][5] As of 2022, there were nine locations. In addition to Oregon, the business operates in the U.S. states of California, Colorado, New York, Texas, and Washington.[1]
In Portland, Oregon, the restaurant on Hawthorne Boulevard in southeast Portland opened in 2015.[10] The West Burnside Street location opened in April 2022,[11] then closed in May 2025 citing ongoing security concerns. Next Level also operates in Lake Oswego, Oregon.[12]
In Washington, a Next Level location opened in Seattle's Roosevelt neighborhood in 2017.[13] As of October 2018, Next Level was slated to open in the city's Ballard neighborhood in December.[14][15]
In 2018, Next Level announced plans to open in the flagship location of Whole Foods Market in Austin, Texas.[16][17]
In New York, Next Level operates in Fort Greene, Brooklyn.[18][19]
In California, Next Level has operated in Concord.[20] The first location in San Francisco opened in August 2018.[21]
Colorado's first restaurant opened in Denver in 2022.[22]
Reception
[edit]In a 2016 review for Willamette Week, Martin Cizmar complimented the chocolate shake with a coconut milk base and the pumpkin spice shake with a soybase. He wrote that the chili cheese fries "was exactly the sort of comforting, classic junk-food dish I could imagine vegans searching out". After trying four of Next Level's six burger patty options across three visits, Cizmar said "none managed to transcend the supermarket Gardenburger". He opined, "The house's soy-based burger patty is dry and cooked cleanly, in a manner that leaves you without much to remember it by."[23]
See also
[edit]
- Fast-food restaurant
- List of restaurant chains in the United States
- List of vegetarian and vegan restaurants
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Next Level Burger gets $20 million investment to reach goal of 1,000 units". www.nrn.com. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
- ^ "Next Level Burger proves meat isn't necessary for a quality burger". www.nrn.com. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
- ^ "Next Level Burger Acquires Veggie Grill". VegOut. Archived from the original on 2025-03-19. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
- ^ Coley, Ben (2024-08-30). "Next Level Burger and Veggie Grill Announce New Menu Items". QSR Magazine. Archived from the original on 2025-03-16. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
- ^ a b "Next Level Burger proves meat isn't necessary for a quality burger". www.nrn.com. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
- ^ a b Nelson, Sean. "Restaurant Review: Meat Is Murder, but Next Level Burger Is Just Killer". The Stranger. Archived from the original on 2024-01-06. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
- ^ "Next Level Burger to Introduce the Brunch Burger featuring JUST Egg". QSR Magazine. 2023-04-27. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
- ^ "8 Spots for Vegan Milkshakes in NYC". VegOut. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
- ^ Wong, Janey (2022-09-16). "Next Level Burger Has Raised $20 Million in Its Bid for Nationwide Expansion". Eater Portland. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
- ^ "Bend-Based Next Level Burger Is Now Open on Hawthorne". Portland Monthly. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
- ^ "Next Level Burger goes west with new Burnside location". Portland Business Journal. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
- ^ "Next Level Burger closes downtown Portland location over security concerns". kgw.com. 2025-05-21. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
- ^ Hill, Megan (2017-08-03). "Vegan Superstar Next Level Burger Opens in Roosevelt Whole Foods August 25". Eater Seattle. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
- ^ Walker, Meghan (2022-10-13). "Vegan fast-food restaurant Next Level Burger is coming to Ballard". My Ballard. Archived from the original on 2024-03-02. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
- ^ "Next Level Burger Is Opening Soon in Seattle's Ballard Neighborhood". VegOut. Archived from the original on 2025-01-25. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
- ^ Russell, Erin (2018-07-17). "Whole Foods' Vegan Burger Restaurant Is Coming to Austin". Eater Austin. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
- ^ Russell, Erin (2018-10-05). "Vegan Burger Restaurant Opens in Whole Foods Market Very Soon". Eater Austin. Archived from the original on 2024-03-01. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
- ^ "5 Vegan Burger Joints to Try in NYC". VegOut. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
- ^ Carlin, Shannon (2019-11-04). "The 5 Best Meatless Burgers in NYC". Thrillist. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
- ^ Pershan, Caleb (2018-08-07). "Vegan Burger Chain From Oregon Arrives in Potrero This Month". Eater SF. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
- ^ Fritsche, Sarah (2018-08-22). "A plant-based burger chain is opening in Whole Foods San Francisco". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2023-03-23. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
- ^ "Plant-based burger chain owner expanding to hometown of Denver". The Denver Post. 2022-02-09. Archived from the original on 2023-02-12. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
- ^ "Next Level Burger Vegan Fast Food: Reviewed - Willamette Week". 2016-01-23. Archived from the original on 2016-01-23. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
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External links
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Media related to Next Level Burger at Wikimedia Commons
