ABOUT

Whatever you do, don’t call them foodies — “Any foodies in our family, we just called them fat boys,” laughed Alla Saleh. “‘Oh, you like food? You’re a fat boy.’” And that is how Fat Boys Burgers first began to take shape.

 

The brainwave of three locals — Alla, his brother Naz, and their brother-in-law Ahmed Mohsen — Hell’s Kitchen’s latest culinary addition at 853 9th Avenue (previously home to NYC Deli between W55/56th St) is all about a really good burger. “Everybody loves a good burger!” Alla said. “It’s an American staple!”

Listening to the tastes of the neighborhood comes easily to Alla — he, Naz, and their eight other siblings were born and raised in Hell’s Kitchen, and he recounted how he and his brothers would play on the roofs when not helping out at the A&A Deli (started by his father and late grandfather. It’s still there as Healthy Market & Deli, at W45th and 10th). Ahmed is also a proud HK man.

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Even the logo of Fat Boys Burgers has Hell’s Kitchen pride: the roly-poly cook the staff wear on their shirts was revamped for the storefront marquee, with horns, tail and a devilish squint. While Alla does see expansion in the future, the current location is for Hell’s Kitchen, by Hell’s Kitchen, with Hell’s Kitchen on its mind.