What’s on offer?
Fat Phill’s is a Dutch-born burger franchise that opened in Temple Bar, Dublin, in May, bringing with it the kind of American-style fast food that’s built for the algorithm: smashed Irish beef burgers, Philly cheesesteak, and loaded sides dripping with sauce and social media clout. It’s maximalist by design – oversized, indulgent and engineered to overwhelm both appetite and restraint. Think late-night TikTok fodder in greaseproof wrappers and cheese-streaked trays.
The set-up is fully self-service. You order from touchscreen kiosks on the ground floor. You get a number and either wait for takeaway or head downstairs to eat. The upstairs space is minimal, with a couple of bar stools for solo pit-stoppers, but most of the seating is downstairs.
The ordering system is slick and visually geared towards maximum spend. Combos, sides and sauces are displayed in bright tiles, and every page ends with a “Why Not Add” prompt. There’s no such thing as a value meal – by the time you’ve added fries, a dipping pot, and a drink, you’re well into €20-plus territory.
The decor follows suit: a clean black facade with neon signage. Downstairs, reached by a graffiti-covered stairwell, the main diningroom channels low-lit industrial – black banquettes, parquet floors, exposed pipes and a glowing FP sign against graffitied brickwork. It’s just polished enough to look intentional but raw enough to feel underground.
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What did we order?
Double Cheeseburger Combo, cheese burger and fries; Philly Cheesesteak Combo, cheesesteak and fries; and Nashville Hot Chicken.
How was the service?
Order via touchscreen.
Was the food nice?
The double cheeseburger was solid: thick patties with a decent sear, still a touch pink in the middle. The sauce was a Big Mac-style number – sweet, orangey, gloopy – but it worked with the lettuce and bun. Not the best char on a smash burger, but the crispy edge bits hit the spot.
The Philly cheesesteak was better – tender strips of beef with onions and a gloopy cheddar sauce, plus jalapeños to cut through the richness. It’s not Philadelphia-authentic, but it’s satisfying, salty, and does exactly what it promises.
The Nashville hot chicken was the least convincing: crispy and juicy enough, but light on heat. Most of the kick came from the vinegary buffalo sauce. The slaw and pickles did their job, but it felt like a chicken sandwich.
What about the packaging?
Everything is packaged in cardboard or wrapped in paper. Recyclable.
What did it cost?
€50.20 for dinner for three people: Double Cheeseburger Combo, cheese burger and fries, €19.25; Philly Cheesesteak Combo, cheesesteak and fries, €20.95; and Nashville Hot Chicken, €10.
Where does it deliver?
Eat-in or takeaway only, open daily, Sun-Thur, 11am-11.30pm; Fri-Sat, 11am-12.30am.
Would I order it again?
Yes, but I wouldn’t be ranking it among the top burgers in Dublin.
