How a Family-Owned Burger Joint Conquered Pleasant Grove With Southern Comfort and Beer Battered Fries

There's this moment that happens at Chubby's Cafe in Pleasant Grove—usually around your third or fourth bite into one of their burgers—where you look up from your plate and realize you've stopped talking mid-sentence. Your friend across the table has done the same thing. The beer battered fries sit between you in a basket, steam still rising, and suddenly you're both reaching for another one before you've even finished chewing.

"Our office ordered Chubbys and I can't wait to go back! Their beer battered fries were next level amazing and their burger is probably one of the best I've ever had!" wrote one customer who discovered what Pleasant Grove residents have known since 2010. This isn't just another burger joint. It's become what locals call "a PG icon"—the kind of place where families celebrate Friday nights, where high school kids bring their first dates, where you take out-of-town visitors to prove Utah knows how to do comfort food right.

And at the heart of it all? A family-owned operation that took a simple idea—give people a taste of Southern comfort through food they already loved—and turned it into eleven locations across Utah County and beyond.

From One Location to Utah County's Burger Empire

Back in 2010, Pleasant Grove was a quieter place. The kind of Utah Valley town where everyone knew their neighbors and new restaurants had to prove themselves meal by meal, customer by customer. That's when Chubby's Cafe opened its doors on Main Street with a mission that sounded almost too simple: "give people a chance to taste the flavor of the south through the food they were familiar with."

The family behind Chubby's—they kept it in the family from day one, family owned and operated in the truest sense—understood something crucial about Utah dining. People here appreciate quality, sure, but they also want warmth. A laid-back atmosphere where you can bring the whole crew without worrying about noise levels or whether the kids will be welcome. Fast-casual service that doesn't sacrifice flavor for speed.

They started with burgers that are "fresh and never frozen" and chicken that is "hand-breaded to order." Simple things, but done right. The kind of details you taste in every bite. By 2015, that original Pleasant Grove location had gotten so popular they needed a bigger space. Five years after opening, they'd proven the concept worked. Then came the expansion—Vineyard, Saratoga Springs, Tooele, Orem, Riverton, Payson, Heber, St. George, Springville, Herriman. Each location carrying forward that same family-owned commitment to fresh ingredients and southern-influenced flavors.

But here's what's interesting: even with eleven-plus locations now, that original Pleasant Grove spot still holds a special place. It's ranked #1 out of 35 restaurants in Pleasant Grove on multiple review platforms. Not bad for a place that started next to an Ace Hardware with a dream of bringing a little Southern hospitality to Mormon Country.

The Beer Battered Fries That Changed Everything

Let's talk about what actually sets Chubby's apart, because in Utah County you can find good burgers at a dozen places. But those beer battered fries? That's where Chubby's separated itself from the pack.

"The fries are beer battered, with great flavor, the right amount of salt, and a good crunchy exterior. The fry itself isn't too thick or too thin, and their fry sauce is a perfect pairing of flavor," one reviewer explained with the kind of detail you only get from someone who's been thinking about these fries since their last visit. Another customer was even more direct: "you can get a good burger all over town, but it's the fries put Chubby's over the top."

They're right. These aren't your standard fast-food fries or even your typical steakhouse fries. The beer batter coating gives them this incredible crispy exterior that stays crunchy even after you've drowned them in Chubby's house-made fry sauce (which, trust me, you will). Inside, the potato is perfectly cooked—fluffy, hot, with just enough substance to hold up to all that texture on the outside. "The fries, often the sidekick, are stand alone objects of delightful deliciousness. They are beer battered and just plain yummy," wrote a regular who admits to usually splitting a large order because the portions are that generous.

But those fries are just the opening act. The burgers themselves deserve the standing ovation. Chubby's uses soft potato buns that enhance rather than compete with the meat—a subtle choice that makes a huge difference. "The burgers are seasoned really well, which I'm coming to find is not a common thing, and they have great burger buns! They load up your Burger pretty good, so it can be kinda messy. Not a bad thing," wrote someone who'd clearly been disappointed by under-seasoned burgers elsewhere.

The menu runs deep with options. There's the Utah Burger, loaded with fry sauce and pastrami—a regional specialty that Chubby's nails. The Jalapeno Ranch Burger brings heat and cool in the same bite. The Philly Cheesesteak Burger takes inspiration from the East Coast and translates it through that Southern lens Chubby's does so well. And if you're feeling ambitious, there's the pastrami burger that customers keep coming back for, plus a Hawaiian BBQ option that somehow makes perfect sense once you taste it.

"I ordered the Hawaiian burger and beer battered fries with a banana cream pie shake, and I loved every bite!" wrote someone who'd heard about Chubby's from a friend and walked into a line of thirty people waiting to order. She almost turned around, but that line turned out to be a good sign. When you've got thirty people willing to wait for your burgers on a random weeknight, you're doing something right.

Beyond Burgers: Where Southern Meets Utah Valley

The genius of Chubby's isn't just that they make great burgers. It's that they understood Utah's food culture deeply enough to bridge two worlds—Southern comfort food traditions and Utah Valley preferences—in ways that feel natural rather than forced.

Take the scones. In most of America, a scone is a British teatime biscuit. In Utah, scones are fluffy fried dough served hot with honey butter, more akin to Native American fry bread or New Orleans beignets. It's a regional tradition that confuses transplants and delights locals, and Chubby's makes them right alongside their burgers and sandwiches.

"I love the Utah burger and the potato bun makes it so delicious. The beer battered fries are our go-to side because the crunch is unbeatable, but our in-laws love the scones as well," wrote one customer, perfectly capturing how Chubby's accommodates multiple generations and preferences at the same table. Some families come specifically for the scones—golden pillows of fried dough that arrive dusted with powdered sugar and served with honey butter that melts into every crevice. One kid reportedly just orders a scone as his entire meal, which honestly sounds like living your best life.

The Southern influence shows up in the sides menu too. Hushpuppies—those crispy, slightly sweet cornmeal fritters—sit alongside baked beans and coleslaw. Mac and cheese, done properly. Hand-breaded chicken strips that are actually moist inside with a coating that stays crisp. A Fried Shrimp Po'boy that brings Louisiana to Utah County. Even the sandwich menu reads like a tour through Southern and Cajun comfort food, all adapted for Utah palates without losing authenticity.

This is fast-casual dining at its best—quality ingredients, made-to-order food, friendly service, and an atmosphere that's welcoming without being stuffy. You order at the counter, grab a number, and servers bring your food to your table. It's efficient enough for a quick lunch but comfortable enough to linger over dinner with friends.

The restaurant itself has that laid-back atmosphere customers mention again and again in reviews. It can get busy—noon rush and Friday nights especially—but the energy feels good rather than frantic. "It is a bit loud, family friendly, and fun. This place always puts me in a great mood," wrote one regular who appreciates how the vibe stays upbeat even when it's packed.

A Pleasant Grove Institution That Grew Up Right

What's remarkable about Chubby's expansion is how they've maintained consistency across all those locations. The Saratoga Springs location, the Orem spot at University Mall, the St. George outpost—they all carry forward that original Pleasant Grove DNA. Same beer battered fries. Same hand-breaded chicken. Same family-owned commitment to doing things right rather than doing things fast.

"One of the best burgers in Utah! The beer battered fries are so good. We have never had a bad experience coming here. Staff is really friendly and our orders are right every time," wrote a customer who's clearly tested this consistency theory across multiple visits. That reliability matters in fast-casual dining—you want to know what you're getting, especially when you're bringing the family or meeting friends.

The staff seems genuinely invested too. Multiple reviews mention owners or managers walking around greeting tables, asking how the food is, immediately offering to remake something if it's not perfect. "The owner served us and spent time to ask how our food was. The battered fries are good enough to come back for alone," one customer remembered from their visit to the Lehi location (now closed, but that personal touch continues at other spots).

This family-owned approach has built real loyalty. Check the reviews and you'll find phrases like "family favorite," "we eat here all the time," "can't imagine anyone not loving this place." It's the kind of word-of-mouth marketing you can't buy—you have to earn it, meal after meal, fry after fry, burger after burger.

And they've done it while respecting Utah culture in subtle ways. Chubby's is closed Sundays, which matters in a state where many businesses honor that tradition. They've become part of the fabric of Utah County dining, the place you suggest when someone asks where to eat, the restaurant you mention when out-of-towners want to know what's good around here.

Planning Your Visit to Chubby's Cafe

The original Pleasant Grove location sits at 336 S Main St, right in the heart of town next to that Ace Hardware (which, according to one reviewer, is lucky to have such a popular neighbor). They're open Monday through Thursday 11am-9pm, Friday 11am-10pm, and Saturday 11am-9pm. Closed Sundays.

If Pleasant Grove doesn't work, you've got options: Vineyard, Saratoga Springs, Tooele, Orem (University Mall), Riverton, Payson, Heber, St. George, Springville, and Herriman all have locations. Check their website for specific addresses and hours, though most follow a similar schedule.

What to order on your first visit? The beer battered fries are non-negotiable—get them, get the fry sauce, thank me later. For your burger, the Utah Burger gives you that regional specialty experience, but honestly you can't go wrong. The All-American is a solid choice if you want to taste how they handle the basics. Feeling adventurous? Try the Jalapeno Ranch or the Philly Cheesesteak Burger.

And save room for scones if you can. Or don't save room and get them anyway—that's what takeout containers are for. Portions are generous enough that sharing isn't just acceptable, it's smart. A large order of beer battered fries easily feeds two, maybe three if you're not that hungry.

Parking is easier at the newer, larger Pleasant Grove location (they moved in 2015 to accommodate growth). Most locations have decent parking, though weekend prime time can fill up fast. If you're going Friday or Saturday evening, consider arriving a bit before or after the main dinner rush to avoid the longest waits.

The atmosphere works for everyone—bring the kids, bring a date, bring your coworkers for lunch. It's that rare restaurant that manages to be all things to all people without feeling generic or trying too hard.

Why Chubby's Matters to Utah's Food Scene

In a state increasingly dominated by chains and franchise operations, Chubby's Cafe represents something that matters: authentic local success built on quality and consistency. They started with one location in Pleasant Grove in 2010 and grew to eleven-plus locations not through venture capital or corporate expansion strategies, but by making food people actually wanted to eat, in an atmosphere people actually wanted to be in, at prices that felt fair.

They've proven you can honor your roots—that Southern comfort food heritage, that family-owned and operated model—while adapting to local tastes and preferences. The beer battered fries and Utah scones sitting on the same menu makes perfect sense once you understand what Chubby's actually is: a bridge between traditions, a place where different food cultures meet over shared plates and good conversations.

"We've lived in this community for over 20 years and have eaten at every local restaurant, sometimes only once, sometimes repeat customers. Chubby's is the very best burger/fries/shakes restaurant in the entire valley!" That's not just hyperbole from a loyal customer—that's recognition that Chubby's has earned its place in Utah County's dining landscape through fifteen years of doing the work, day after day, burger after burger.

Next time you're in Pleasant Grove or anywhere else in Utah County, skip the chains. Head to Chubby's, order those beer battered fries, get a burger that's been seasoned properly and served on a bun that actually enhances the experience. Grab some scones with honey butter if you're feeling truly indulgent. Sit in that laid-back atmosphere and understand why this family-owned cafe became a Utah County staple.

Your first bite will tell you everything you need to know. Your second bite will start planning your next visit.

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Chubby's Cafe - Pleasant Grove
336 S Main St, Pleasant Grove, UT 84062
(801) 785-1503
Monday-Thursday: 11am-9pm | Friday: 11am-10pm | Saturday: 11am-9pm | Sunday: Closed

Instagram: @chubbyscafeut

Other Utah Locations: Vineyard, Saratoga Springs, Tooele, Orem, Riverton, Payson, Heber, St. George, Springville, Herriman (with more locations opening in Lehi and West Point)

Visit chubbyscafe.com for full menu and all location details.