Friends-turned-business partners Majed Mansour and Wissem Ben Ammar built Junk Burger on a simple premise developed during the pandemic: Strip the burger back to essentials.
Involved in the restaurant industry since 2013, the Franco-Tunisian duo took the plunge and opened their own burger joint after experimenting with food during COVID-19.
Junk opened in Paris in 2021 and, following success there, the brand expanded into 17 locations across France and the UK — including a central London outpost that went viral on social media this summer. Now, the first branch in this region has opened in Dubai.
Mansour and Ben Ammar said the secret to their burgers was simplicity and consistency.
“We focused on quality, flavor, consistency and a clear identity,” they told Arab News. “We never tried to please everyone; our goal was simply to deliver direct, unapologetic pleasure — the experience of a perfectly executed smash burger.”
In Dubai’s busy food scene, Mansour and Ben Ammar said Junk was able to stand out due to its unique and focused menu.
“At Junk, there aren’t dozens of options: just one burger, available in different patty sizes, with fries and our signature panko. This focus allows us to guarantee unmatched consistency and quality,” they explained.
“Dubai is one of the most exciting, vibrant and ambitious food destinations in the world. It’s a city that embraces bold concepts, attracts people from everywhere and rewards ideas that dare to stand out.”
The two have plans to expand Junk further in the region, with their eyes on Riyadh, Abu Dhabi and Doha.
In addition to their burger emporium, they also co-founded Puffy, a cookie spot that aims to satisfy the sweet tooth.
“Puffy was born from the desire to offer something comforting and unique — big, gooey cookies paired with great coffee; a warm, generous experience,” they said.
