The Ultimate Whataburger Holiday Gift Guide | Eater Houston

"Founded in Corpus Christi in the 1950s by entrepreneur Harmon Dobson, the chain’s origin story centers on Dobson’s bold idea to serve a burger so big that it took two hands to hold and so good that after a single bite customers couldn’t help but exclaim, "What a burger!". Long beloved in Texas and relied upon for "late-night burger cravings, early-morning hangovers, power outages, and everything in between," the brand’s fandom extends well beyond the drive-through into a robust retail presence via its online store. The merch leans heavily on the signature orange-and-white identity and ranges from wearable comfort — matching long-sleeved pajamas with cuffed sleeves and wide-legged bottoms, french-fry slippers, cozy socks (styles include the classic logo, honey butter biscuits, and spicy ketchup), and festive holiday sweaters — to a vast hat collection (over 30 styles, including collaborations with Staunch, ’47, and Dallas’s True Brvnd, in dad, trucker, and special-edition straw styles). Drinkware and on-the-go gear include custom tumblers of all sizes (including a collaboration with Yeti), water bottles, mugs, koozies, coasters, straw toppers, coolers, and a range of tumblers and coolers for hot or cold beverages. Game and hobby items are specific and detailed: a Mexican lotería-style kit that includes 10 tablas, 36 branded cards, and 50 markers; a 913-piece food truck kit that assembles into a miniature collector’s item; a deck of playing cards in the chain’s signature colors; and a pickleball set with four balls, two paddles, and a shoulder-strap carry bag. Family and kids’ items include a “First Words” board book to teach ordering vocabulary (priming little ones to request honey butter biscuits) and a silicone bib in bright orange with a front pocket to catch food. Golf-focused gear is precise: Titleist Velocity golf balls and wooden tees stored in an Otterbox rated waterproof to 90 feet for 30 minutes, plus the Sunday Loma Bag (holds six to eight clubs, features a built-in stand, a chilled drink pouch, and velour-lined storage pockets). Practical novelties round out the catalog, from a Dip Trip gadget to help dunk fries and chicken strips in the chain’s signature sauces to a wide array of cheeky T-shirts celebrating moms, dads, babies, teachers, graduates, and fans — making the online shop a comprehensive destination for devoted customers and gift-givers who want to keep the brand’s flavors and aesthetic close year-round." - Brittany Britto Garley