Steers

Steers grew out of the Johannesburg restaurants of George Halamandres in the 1960s, a group that included the Golden Spur steakhouse in Rosebank, Seven Steers in Highlands North and Black Steer in Yeoville. It began franchising in 1983, listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in 1994, and its holding company renamed itself Famous Brands in 2001, which today also owns brands such as Wimpy in South Africa and, for a time, Gourmet Burger Kitchen in Britain.

The chain’s identity is flame-grilling: every beef patty goes over the flame, and its slogan is simply that flame-grilled tastes better. Its best-known burger is the King Steer, a double cheeseburger that Leisure Options magazine readers voted best burger year after year. Steers now has more than 700 outlets, most in South Africa and the rest across the continent, from Kenya and Nigeria to Mauritius. Halaal branches swap bacon for macon, a beef product.

More than 700 outlets, most of them in South Africa, with franchises across Africa and a few in the Middle East and Asia.

• 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, bacon and cheese.
• El Corral (Colombia, since 1983). Colombia’s own burger chain, bigger at home than any American import. Also built on beef, bacon, barbecue sauce and cheese.
• Carl's Jr. (United States, since 1941). Charbroiled burgers, onion rings inside the bun, and ads nobody forgot. Also built on beef, bacon, barbecue sauce and a special sauce.
• Farmer Boys (United States, since 1981). A Southern California drive-thru started by brothers from Cyprus. Also built on beef, bacon, a special sauce and cheese.