RocoMamas

RocoMamas is a fast-casual smashburger chain from South Africa. In 2015 the Spur Corporation, the Cape Town group behind Spur Steak Ranches, Panarottis and The Hussar Grill, bought a 51% stake in it, and it has since spread through the group’s franchise network to other African countries and to India. In 2022 it opened its first two drive-throughs.

The menu is short and built around smashed patties: 150g for the standard burgers, 100g when they come doubled or tripled, finished with the house RocoMayo. Beside the burgers are pork ribs, wings, “bombs” in chilli-cheese, feta and jalapeño flavours, nachos and mac’n’cheese. The kids’ menu is called Kid Rock, and the option the chain calls its most famous lets you start from a smash patty with tomato, red onion and RocoMayo and build the rest yourself.

Restaurants across South Africa, with menus for Botswana, Eswatini, Kenya, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, the DR Congo and India.

• Pickl (United Arab Emirates, since 2019). Dubai’s homegrown smash-burger joint, with house pickles and a fiery “Jeff” spice. Also built on beef, cooked onions, cheese and a double stack.
• Burgerizzr (Saudi Arabia, since 2009). The Riyadh burger chain that grew to 120 branches on chilled, never-frozen beef. Also built on beef, cooked onions, cheese and a double stack.
• Wimpy (South Africa, since 1934). An American burger bar named after Popeye’s hamburger-loving friend, now a South African institution. Also built on beef, cooked onions and cheese.
• Herfy (Saudi Arabia, since 1981). Saudi Arabia’s home-grown burger chain since 1981, with its own bakeries and meat plant. Also built on beef, cheese and a double stack.