Carl's Jr. Burger

Carl's Jr. is an iconic American fast-food chain that originated in Los Angeles, California, in 1941. Founded by Carl Karcher and his wife Margaret, the business began as a modest hot dog cart before expanding into a full-service drive-in restaurant known as Carl’s Drive-In Barbeque. The smaller versions of the restaurant that followed were named Carl's Jr., which eventually became the primary brand. The chain is famous for its charbroiled burgers, including the signature Famous Star and the Big Carl.

Today, the brand is owned by CKE Restaurants Holdings, which also operates the Hardee’s brand. While the brand is quintessentially American, its operations have expanded globally, with products prepared locally in various countries under regional franchises. The company is currently owned by the private equity firm Roark Capital Group, which maintains its headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee, overseeing a global network of thousands of locations.