Main content starts here, tab to start navigating

How It All Began...

The Only Prime Burger You'll Ever Need

Morton's actually exists today because of...hamburgers! Years ago, before co-founders Arnie Morton and Klaus Fritsch really knew one another, they both worked at the Playboy Club in Montreal. The club was changing the menu, and Klaus cooked a hamburger that was sent out for Arnie to try. Arnie burst into the kitchen, demanding to know "Who cooked that hamburger?"

When Klaus stepped forward, he wasn't sure if Arnie was going to be pleased or not but was relieved to hear him say that it was the best he'd ever tasted. From that day forward, they called it the "Million-Dollar Hamburger"!

More than 4 decades later...

Morton's has grown to over 65 restaurants, but the vision is the same today as it was when we opened our first restaurant in Chicago in 1978. 

Quality. Consistency. Genuine Hospitality.

Driven by the desire to provide genuine hospitality–for our guests and our employees–we offer a setting where people truly care about one another and show it in everything they do. The high level of respect and enthusiasm that runs through our entire organization is evident in many ways, including the longevity of our staff and managers, some of whom have been with us for decades.

Morton's achievements are not limited to its four walls of the restaurants. Our culture is one that's also committed to community service, both locally and nationally.