When Turkish chef Burak Ozdemir, better known as CznBurak, opened his first Dubai restaurant in 2020, it attracted a great deal of attention.
Fuelled by his celebrity status – Ozdemir is famous for his larger-than-life grin and over-the-top culinary creations on Instagram – it wasn’t long before people were queuing up outside, despite the sprawling restaurant’s capacity to seat 600 people.
So with the chef having announced another concept – CZNBurak Burger – in The Dubai Mall, it's easy to assume it'll be much of the same.
The National got a look at the new restaurant before the launch. Here’s everything you need to know.
The interiors
It’s a far cry from his fine-dining restaurant located in Downtown Dubai. Instead, expect more of a casual American diner vibe with bright shades of red and yellow, neon signs on the walls and a counter where you can place orders and see dishes being whipped up. There’s even a neon sign that reads “Keep on Smiling”, a little tribute to the always-grinning star chef.
There are booths, as well as tables and chairs, while a fake tree in the centre takes pride of place, surrounded by a circular counter and bar stools (great for those grabbing a quick bite). There’s outdoor seating, too, with brightly coloured chairs and tables.
The restaurant is located on the lower ground level of The Dubai Mall, right next to The Hummingbird Bakery, with outdoor seating on The Dubai Fountain promenade, meaning you can enjoy stellar fountain views with your burger, although Burj Khalifa is out of sight.
The food
CZNBurak Burger is a new brand, and the selling point is its craft burgers. The signature Bu-Rock burger (Dh68) features a patty that is stuffed with cheese and topped with fried onion, mushrooms and beef bacon, a tasty melange.
While there's also a regular beef burger and cheeseburger on the menu, those looking for something a tad different should try the Koftahini burger (Dh52). The patty is infused with local herbs, and topped with tahini sauce, onion, tomato, jalapeno, crispy onion, ketchup and mustard, offering a wonderful local twist to the American staple.
For chicken lovers, there’s the Chicken "B" with batter-fried chicken (Dh45). The restaurant is also catering to the UAE’s increasing vegetarian population, with the Veggie Burger (Dh59) featuring a patty made from soya beans, and topped with tomato, lettuce, pickles and a special sauce.
Those not in the mood for burgers can always try a hot dog, or load up on starters.
On the dessert menu, there's the CZN Kunafa buns (Dh37). It’s exactly as it sounds: warm crispy kunafa between two buns.
The shakes, such as the Oreo or pistachio concoctions, will also satisfy anyone with a sweet tooth.
Ozdemir is known for a certain level of showmanship, so it’s no surprise that the restaurant is offering a giant whopper of a burger, titled The Giant Bite, which goes for Dh236. We’d expect nothing less.
