Do you know the different types of burger? It's one of Brazilians' favorite foods and, not surprisingly, the burger market has only grown in recent years, innovating to suit every taste: from traditional to gourmet, from fast food to artisan.
an survey conducted by iFood highlights this trend. In 2023, the burger topped the platform's most popular items, with around 81 million orders placed. That same year, the number of small and medium-sized burger joints on the app grew 19%.
In such a hot and competitive market, you need to keep up with trends and create distinctive menus to win over customers. In this article, check out 7 types of burger and tips to innovate in your business!
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7 types of burger to innovate your menu
The burger's success can be attributed to its versatility. You can create different combinations of ingredients to build burgers that please a variety of palates.
That's why, when creating your menu, you need to consider your target audience's preferences and your burger joint's concept.
From there, you can select the types of burger that make the most sense for your business. Among the most popular are:
1. Traditional
The traditional burger is made of ground beef with simple seasonings. It's served on a classic burger bun, with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, and a slice of cheese. It can also have add-ons like bacon, calabresa sausage, fried egg, and more.
It's that basic one that just works, a safe choice to please everyone.
2. Artisan
O artisan burger won people over with the quality of its ingredients and the care in its preparation. The idea is to counter the big fast-food chains and offer a tasty, distinctive product.
The meats are carefully selected, often ground in-house, and the buns are special too. On top of that, many artisan burger joints bet on creative combinations, prioritizing seasonal or local ingredients.
3. Gourmet
The gourmet burger takes the burger concept to another level, delivering a high-quality dining experience.
They're made with premium cuts of meat, fine cheeses, special buns, exclusive sauces, and distinctive ingredients. The combination is built to balance flavors and textures, along with a mouthwatering presentation.
4. Smash
The smash burger uses a cooking technique where the patty is pressed against the hot griddle, creating a caramelized crust while keeping the inside juicy.
Usually thinner than other types of burger, it's served with simple toppings, like melted cheese and pickles, highlighting the meat's intense flavor.
5. Slider
Sliders are mini burgers, perfect for anyone who wants to try different flavors in a single meal without overdoing the quantity.
They can be made with a variety of meats and toppings, making them an excellent option for all-you-can-eat burger spreads and catering services for events and parties.
6. Vegetarian
Vegetarian options are a trend in the food service market, and burger joints are no exception.
The vegetarian burger is plant-based, using ingredients like chickpeas, beans, lentils, and mushrooms. Another option that's gaining popularity is the plant-based meat burger.
Since the vegetarian diet doesn't exclude eggs and dairy. Therefore, burgers can contain these ingredients.
7. Vegan
Unlike vegetarians, vegans don't consume any type of animal-based ingredient. So you need to exclude meats, eggs, cheeses, and other dairy products.
So you need to take extra care in selecting ingredients, offering tasty options for this audience. Tofu, mushrooms, avocado, and assorted salads are common add-ons in this type of burger.
Leia também: Meal combos: 9 ideas to boost your profits
How to build a more appealing menu?
Besides choosing types of burger suited to your audience's preferences, you also need a variety of interesting options on the menu, aiming to innovate in different ways to set yourself apart.
This is very important in a market as dynamic and competitive as the burger joint scene. Some ways to stand out are:
Selected meats
Using high-quality cuts of meat from known sources can make a big difference in the burger's flavor and juiciness.
The short rib burger, for example, has already become a classic at artisan and gourmet burger joints.
Additionally, offering different meat options, such as lamb, can attract customers who like to try different flavors.
Special preparations
The way the burger is prepared can also be a differentiator for your burger joint.
Preparation techniques like dry aging, pit smoking, or grilling, for example, create a unique flavor that can become your business's signature.
A variety of cheeses
Swapping cheddar or mozzarella for more sophisticated options, like brie, gorgonzola, or even local artisan cheeses, is a good idea to add value to your burger.
Breaded cheeses are also on the rise and are a novelty that can make the menu even more interesting and attract new customers.
Side dishes
French fries are a classic, indispensable side, but bringing in other options can also make your menu more appealing. You can jazz up the fries with seasonings, bacon, and cheese.
Onion rings, breaded cheeses, and nuggets are other types of sides that are a hit at burger joints.
Exclusive sauces
Pepper or fruit jams, barbecue sauces, smoked mayonnaise. Sauces add extra flavor to burgers and sides, and they can be addictive!
Create exclusive house sauces to win over your customers' taste buds. Try to innovate with your recipes, using special seasonings that pair with your burgers.
Count on EPOC to manage your business
Creating an appealing menu for customers is the first step to succeeding with your burger joint. Beyond that, you need to provide quality service and manage the business well. With EPOC, you have all the resources you need for that.
Our platform offers POS, multi-store ERP, self-service, digital menu, delivery integration, payments, and much more. To find out how we can help your burger joint grow, talk to our specialists!
