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.

• 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.
• Steers (South Africa). South Africa’s flame-grilled burger chain, home of the King Steer. Also built on beef, cheese and a double stack.
• Habit Burger & Grill (United States, since 1969). The chargrilled burger Consumer Reports once called the best in America. Also built on beef, cooked onions, cheese and a double stack.
• Whataburger (United States, since 1950). A Texas institution with a burger too big for one hand. Also built on beef, cooked onions, cheese and a double stack.