Neat Burger’s first US address is in the SoHo neighbourhood of Manhattan in New York City.

Vegan food chain Neat Burger has opened its first US location.

It is the first of 30 new outlets planned in the near future.

Neat Burger was first launched in the UK in 2019 by co-founders Lewis Hamilton and Zack Bishti.  The fast food chain has since grown to six outlets in London and one in the United Arab Emirates.

The seven-time F1 world champion took to Instagram to announce and encourage his 32.3 million followers to visit the plant-based eatery.

““[We’re] now open in New York City. Come by and say hi!” he wrote.

‘Plant-powered energy’

Neat Burger serves typical fast-food options made vegan, including plant-based cheese burgers, chicken burgers, hot dogs, mac and cheese, tater tots, and milkshakes, along with kids’ meals.

It is famous for vegan burgers, fries, shakes, and its own vegan crispy Filet-No-Fish sandwich.

For its grand opening, it offered free burgers to the first 100 guests, which reportedly drew hundreds of guests thronging to celebrate the occasion.

The fast food chain wrote on Instagram: “We can’t get over the plant-powered energy of today!

“So many (literally hundreds) of you came to celebrate our grand opening.

“It means the absolute world that you’re joining the mission to make plant-based food more accessible and delicious than ever before!

“Our clean, green burger dream is truly becoming a reality.”

Neat Burger growth trajectory in the US

The company has major expansion goals for the future in line with its vision is to make alternative-proteins an everyday staple as increasing numbers of consumers look to adopt a vegan and flexitarian lifestyle.

Its expansion in the US is supported by its strategic investor, actor and environmental activist Leonardo DiCaprio, who joined the company in 2022.

Neat Burger has also roped in leading names in the US food market, such as Vincent Herbert, Jeffrey S. Fried, and Henrik Fjordbak, to help the brand get a strong foothold in its new setting.

In an earlier release, the chain revealed that apart from its fast food menu, it would introduce a healthier vegan meat option to American consumers using plant-based ingredients, including quinoa, chickpeas, and mung beans.

“By 2040, we see a world where alternative proteins have replaced animal proteins completely,”  Tomasso Chiabra, a founder of Neat Meat, the parent company of Neat Burger, said.

“Neat is leading the charge in the development of these alternatives that not only satisfy the needs of conscious consumers, but that also deliver on flavour. We’re here to prove that the easiest choice can also be the best choice for the planet.”

Additionally, the company plans to have over 1,000 corporately owned, franchised, and delivery-only kitchens by 2030.

Neat Burger Nolita is located at 25 Cleveland Place, New York, and will be open seven days a week from 10.30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

• Read: Beyond Meat wins prestigious award for best new product innovation

Share this story: Lewis Hamilton-backed vegan burger chain opens first US location in New York.