Global franchising company FAT Brands has made a deal with Green Micro Factory to relaunch its fast-casual restaurant chain Fatburger in Japan.

With the inaugural outlet scheduled to open before the end of 2025, the company plans four restaurants in Okinawa by 2030.

FAT Brands chief development officer Taylor Wiederhorn stated: “Okinawa presents a strategic opportunity for our return to Japan with its robust tourism and steady foot traffic generated by its military base presence.

“We see our debut in Okinawa as the first step in our broader growth across the country as we look to win locals over with our custom-built burgers, fat and skinny Fries, hand-scooped milkshakes and more.”

Fatburger was founded by Lovie Yancey in Los Angeles, in the US state of California, in 1952.

The brand is known for grilled, cooked-to-order burgers, a variety of fries, onion rings, turkeyburgers, hand-breaded chicken sandwiches, and hand-scooped milkshakes.

FAT Brands owns and franchises more than 2,300 units globally across a portfolio of 18 restaurant brands, including Round Table Pizza, Great American Cookies, Marble Slab Creamery, Hot Dog on a Stick and Hurricane Grill & Wings.

In July 2025, FAT Brands agreed with franchisee Whole Factor to develop up to 40 Fatburger locations in Florida by 2034.

In August, FAT Brands opened a co-branded Round Table Pizza and Fatburger restaurant in Rancho Cordova, California.