P. Terry's co-founder, Patrick Terry, says he would rather quietly pick up your tab than fake a bite for the camera. In an Instagram reel this week, he offered to "grab lunch with 10 different people" at whichever P. Terry's location they choose, promising to pay for the meal. The gesture landed as a low-key, neighborhood-first clapback to a louder, viral CEO moment currently making the rounds on social media.
Patrick Terry Picks Lunch Over A Camera Stunt
According to the Houston Chronicle, Terry wrote on Instagram, "By now you've seen the CEO of McDonald's trying to eat a hamburger and yes it was embarrassing, and the competition made fun of it." He said he eats P. Terry's every day and would rather share a meal than perform for a camera. The Chronicle reports the chain will reach out to 10 guests by March 16 to set up those lunches.
Built In Austin, Now A Texas Road-Trip Staple
P. Terry's opened its first spot in Austin in 2005 and calls itself an "Austin Original," serving made-to-order burgers, hand-cut fries, and hand-spun shakes, per P. Terry's. The family-owned brand has leaned on simple ingredients and a retro-style counter-service vibe as it has grown across Texas.
Where P. Terry's Is Planting New Drive-Thrus
The chain moved into Greater Houston in 2024 with locations in Richmond and Spring and is planning its first inside-the-loop Houston restaurant at 4815 Katy Freeway, according to Community Impact. Local reporting says that the in-loop spot is expected to include a double drive-thru to keep traffic moving.
On social media, the giveaway reads like a deliberately modest PR move: invite people to sit down and eat instead of turning lunch into a spectacle. For a brand built on quick, consistent burgers and familiar neighborhood lines, comping a few dozen meals is a tidy way to jump into the "burger wars" without turning the company itself into the punchline.
