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‘Full of flavor’

Wahlburgers at Hy-Vee well received in FD

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Michael Gord, full-time employee at Wahlburgers at Hy-Vee and Market Grille Express, serves The RIng Leader burger and fries at the Fort Dodge restaurant. Wahlburgers at Hy-Vee opened Dec. 14.

Two quarter-pound patties with creamy peanut butter, bacon onion jam and government cheese make up the PBJ burger — one of over 10 signature burgers available at Wahlburgers at Hy-Vee.

It’s a favorite of Erick Bautista’s. He’s the service manager at the Fort Dodge Hy-Vee.

“I really like the peanut butter and jelly burger,” Bautista said. “It’s definitely not for a picky eater. It’s a burger full of flavor.”

Wahlburgers at Hy-Vee opened Dec. 14. It’s under the umbrella of the Market Grille Express. Mike Minkoff oversees the department. Tasha Payne is the Wahlburgers lead.

“It’s something new and exciting in town,” said Lindsey Flanigan, Fort Dodge Hy-Vee store director. “It’s a different burger menu. There’s also some unique starters like the Jenn’s chicken egg rolls. Those are my favorite item on the menu.”

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
The Ring Leader burger served with fries is one of over 10 signature burgers on the Wahlburgers at Hy-Vee menu.

Jenn’s chicken egg rolls feature caramelized onions and Swiss cheese.

“The best part is they are served with a honey garlic mayo that is really good,” Flanigan said.

Other starters include: jalapeno bacon wontons, cheese curds, crispy fried pickles, onion rings and more.

In terms of burgers, The Ring Leader, which features housemade chili, crispy fried onion rings, government cheese, housemade chili-spiced tomato and pickles, is another popular choice.

“It’s been really well received so far,” Flanigan said. “People have talked about the starters. There’s the cheese and bacon tots. It’s just fun to have something different to eat.”

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
The Wahlburgers logo is displayed on the doors entering the Market Grille Express area at the Fort Dodge Hy-Vee store. Wahlburgers at Hy-Vee is one of the newest places to eat in Fort Dodge.

Wahlburgers is a restaurant franchise founded by Chef Paul Wahlberg along with brothers Mark and Donnie Wahlberg.

Donnie and Mark Wahlberg are famous entertainers. Mark Wahlberg is a former rapper who became an award-winning actor, while Donnie Wahlberg is a founding member of the boy band New Kids on the Block.

Paul Wahlberg’s forte became cooking. And according to the Wahlburgers website, he wasn’t satisfied just cooking for his family. He wanted to open a restaurant.

The brothers opened the restaurant for friends and family to come together over delicious chef-inspired dishes served up in a casual, music-filled atmosphere.

The first franchise location opened in Toronto in 2014. In 2021, 52 locations opened.

The restaurant at Hy-Vee is one of the more recent ones to open.

It was added to the area known as the Market Grille Express, which first opened in Fort Dodge in 2017.

Flanigan said the Market Grille will remain open from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Wahlburgers menu starts at 11 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m.

Happy hour specials go from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. That includes $5 starters, Flanigan said.

To date, Hy-Vee owns and operates six full-service Wahlburgers locations, and more than 35 Wahlburgers at Hy-Vee locations.

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