Killer Burger
Killer Burger is an American hamburger restaurant chain founded in Portland, Oregon.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Killer Burger is an American restaurant chain specializing in hamburgers. The business was founded by Thomas “TJ” Southard in Portland, Oregon, and developed as a regional restaurant brand with locations in the Pacific Northwest and Texas. Its footprint has included restaurants in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, as well as non-traditional venues located inside or associated with major sports facilities. Examples include locations at Portland’s Moda Center and Providence Park, giving the brand a presence beyond conventional neighborhood storefronts and connecting it with sports and event traffic. The company’s core offer is the burger restaurant format. Public descriptions identify Killer Burger primarily as a hamburger chain rather than as a diversified food-service group. The brand’s business model includes company-operated or centrally managed locations alongside franchised restaurants. Former National Football League and University of Oregon football player LaMichael James owns three Killer Burger franchises, located in Lake Oswego, Eugene, and Beaverton, Oregon. This franchise activity illustrates the brand’s use of local operators and sports-connected ownership while retaining the Killer Burger identity. Killer Burger’s geographic base remains the Pacific Northwest, particularly Oregon. The chain had 19 locations across Oregon, Idaho, and Washington as of April 2022. Its network subsequently changed: the Killer Burger restaurant on Northwest 23rd Avenue in Portland closed in 2023. The company also expanded into Texas, opening its first two Texas restaurants in San Antonio beginning in 2024 and adding a Houston location in 2026. As of 2026, the chain therefore had three Texas restaurants, extending its operating territory beyond its original Northwest concentration. John Dikos is identified as the company’s chief executive officer. No public information in the supplied reference material establishes a founding year, corporate parent, stock-market listing, or a wider international operating network. Killer Burger remains a regional United States restaurant brand rather than a globally distributed consumer brand. Its public profile has been reinforced by local recognition: it won the Best Burger category in Willamette Week’s 2022 Best of Portland readers’ poll and placed second in the publication’s Best Catering Service category that year. It was also a runner-up for Best Burger in 2024. The brand’s positioning is consequently rooted in casual dining and quick-service hamburger retail, with a strong Portland and Pacific Northwest identity, selected sports-venue locations, and a growing franchise and multi-state presence. Its documented expansion into Texas represents the clearest recent geographic development, while local awards and franchise ownership have helped maintain visibility in its home market.
History
Killer Burger was established by Thomas “TJ” Southard in Portland, Oregon. The available reference material does not specify the year of establishment, but the company developed as a regional hamburger restaurant chain centered on Oregon and the wider Pacific Northwest. Its growth has included both standard restaurants and non-traditional sites associated with major sports and entertainment venues. Locations at Portland’s Moda Center and Providence Park gave the brand access to event audiences in addition to ordinary neighborhood and commercial traffic. By April 2022, Killer Burger had 19 locations in Oregon, Idaho, and Washington. This footprint reflected the chain’s principal regional market and its concentration in the Pacific Northwest. The company has also used franchising. LaMichael James, a former National Football League and University of Oregon player, owns three Killer Burger franchises in Oregon: one in Lake Oswego, one in Eugene, and one in Beaverton. His involvement links the chain to a recognizable local sports figure, although the supplied material does not identify him as a corporate executive or overall owner of the brand. The chain’s restaurant network has not been static. Its Northwest 23rd Avenue restaurant in Portland closed in 2023. At the same time, Killer Burger began extending its reach into Texas. The first two Texas restaurants opened in San Antonio beginning in 2024. A Houston location followed in 2026, bringing the number of Texas restaurants to three as of that year. The Texas openings represent the brand’s documented move beyond its original Northwest operating base. John Dikos is identified as Killer Burger’s chief executive officer. The supplied sources do not provide a complete chronology of leadership, ownership structure, financing, or corporate organization. They also do not establish a publicly traded parent company, stock listing, or international operations. On the available evidence, Killer Burger is an active, privately held United States restaurant brand. Local recognition has been an important part of the chain’s public record. In Willamette Week’s 2022 Best of Portland readers’ poll, Killer Burger won the Best Burger category and ranked second for Best Catering Service. In the 2024 poll, it was a runner-up in Best Burger. These results provide evidence of continuing recognition in its Portland home market, while the Texas expansion indicates an effort to broaden the brand’s geographic presence. The documented history therefore combines Portland origin, Pacific Northwest regional development, sports-venue placement, franchise participation, local awards, and measured expansion into Texas.
- 2026
Houston restaurant opens
[1]A Houston location opened, bringing the chain's Texas restaurant count to three.
- 2024
Texas expansion begins
[1]The company opened its first two Texas restaurants in San Antonio.
- 2024
Best Burger runner-up
[1]Killer Burger was a runner-up in Willamette Week's Best Burger category.
- 2023
Northwest 23rd location closes
[1]Killer Burger closed its restaurant on Northwest 23rd Avenue in Portland.
- 2022
Regional network reaches 19 locations
[1]Killer Burger was reported to have 19 restaurants across Oregon, Idaho, and Washington, including venues at Moda Center and Providence Park.
- 2022
Best of Portland recognition
[1]The brand won Best Burger and placed second in Best Catering Service in Willamette Week's annual readers' poll.
Products and positioning
A regional American hamburger restaurant chain with Portland roots, Pacific Northwest recognition, sports-venue locations, and a growing franchise and multi-state footprint.
Hamburgers
Killer Burger hamburgers
Killer Burger's central product category is the hamburger, sold through a casual restaurant chain format. The available reference material identifies the brand as a hamburger restaurant chain but does not provide a reliable menu listing or sufficient detail about individual recipes, toppings, sides, beverages, or meal configurations.
Brand decisions
2024
Expansion into TexasStrategyBackground
Killer Burger had established its documented restaurant base in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho before entering Texas.
Action taken
The chain opened its first two Texas restaurants in San Antonio.
Aftermath
The Texas presence grew to three restaurants after a Houston location opened in 2026.
Recent events
- 2026
Killer Burger reaches three Texas restaurants[1]
Other
A Houston restaurant opened in 2026, bringing the chain's Texas total to three after the earlier San Antonio openings.
- 2024
Killer Burger expands into Texas[1]
Other
The chain opened its first two Texas restaurants in San Antonio, beginning its expansion outside its established Pacific Northwest market.
- 2024
Killer Burger is a Best Burger runner-up in 2024[1]
Other
Killer Burger placed second in Willamette Week's Best Burger category in the 2024 Best of Portland readers' poll.
- 2023
Killer Burger closes its Northwest 23rd Avenue Portland location[1]
Other
The Killer Burger restaurant on Northwest 23rd Avenue in Portland closed.
- 2022
Killer Burger wins Best Burger in Willamette Week's 2022 Best of Portland poll[1]
Other
Killer Burger won the Best Burger category in Willamette Week's annual readers' poll and placed second in Best Catering Service.
- 2022
Killer Burger operates 19 locations across three Northwestern states[1]
Other
The chain was reported to have 19 restaurants in Oregon, Idaho, and Washington, including locations at Portland's Moda Center and Providence Park.
Sources1 sources
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