The Counter is a high-end casual dining restaurant chain in the United States, Mexico, Ireland, Saudi Arabia, Ghana, and Japan offering custom-topped gourmet burgers with over a million possible burger and burgers-in-a-bowl combinations through a checklist-style menu. History The Counter was founded in Santa Monica, California, United States in 2003 by Jeff Weinstein. Recognition The Counter was launched into the public eye when Gayle King mentioned it on The Oprah Winfrey Show on February 24, 2006, It has also been listed as number 15 on Alan Richman's The 20 Hamburgers You Must Eat Before You Die in GQ Magazine. In the August 14, 2005 issue, Nation's Restaurant News named The Counter as one of "2008's Six Hottest Concepts." Locations At 45 units, The Counter is a mostly full-service, build-your-own burger concept. As of 2016, the company was also growing a fast-casual sister concept called BUILT Custom Burgers, with six locations in the US, one in Canada, and one in Ghana. See also List of hamburger restaurants References External links The Counter official website BUILT Custom Burgers official website 2003 establishments in California Fast casual restaurants Fast-food chains of the United States Hamburger restaurants Restaurants established in 2003