Grabbing a bite with Joey Wright
Each week, we chop it up with the folks responsible for dishing up food around the area. What restaurant should we try next? Let Joey Wright know at jwright@news-gazette.com.
Fat Sandwich has been a Campustown staple since Bobby Khamayseh and his brother, Fox, hatched the idea for the late-night spot in 2008.
A wide array of stacked sandwiches and deep-fried favorites have made it a destination in the nearly two decades since.
“Our concept is that the sandwich comes with five or six toppings in one sandwich,” Khamayseh said. “Each sandwich has a few flavors in one, so it’s a great sandwich for late night.”
Fat Sandwich — which is open daily until 3 a.m. and currently located at 502 E. John St., Champaign — is set to open a second location at 60 E. Green St. later this year.
But its current location remains a draw for University of Illinois students present and past.
“People come here not just because of the food,” Khamayseh said. “They come to chill, to hang out, to party, to dance … people all around the United States know about us.
“They say ‘we went to Fat Sandwich as students, and now we come to see our memories.’”
Khamayseh is happy to work alongside his brother; Fox also owns a stake in the restaurant, which was renovated in 2018.
“The place is a lot of fun,” Khamayseh said. “It’s not like big chain restaurants where you just come and eat. You can come eat, dance, have fun. The place is crowded.”
