Dukkan Burger is an innovative restaurant that offers burgers unlike any other. Flavors from across the globe inspire their recipes, and even modern classics are infused with local spices for a unique twist. If you’re looking for exciting dishes such as a shawarma spiced burger with maabooch aioli or saffron pancakes, then this is definitely a place you won’t want to miss.

Dukkans, or small supply stores, historically played a strong role in neighborhoods, as they were the community gathering spots where people could meet, buy supplies, and bond. The first thing you notice upon entering Dukkan Burger is the strong influence this local heritage plays into their décor.

There are spices hanging from the ceiling, warmly glowing lights made out of milk jugs, and pantry items embellished with their funky logo. They have customized wooden menus, and the trendy chairs are made from refurbished crates. Given the creative juxtaposition of old and new decorations, their logo of an Arab man in traditional clothing sporting modern sunglasses makes perfect sense.

Dukkan Burger’s seating is very open and arranged to replicate the open seating of a diwaniyah. When you’re seated, you’re immediately offered a small cup of Arabic gahwa and a sweet plump date. The modern music slowly pumping in the background creates a comfortable ambiance, and you’re given time to appreciate the contemporary artwork as you sip your gahwa. With their brightly colored walls, wooden barrels, and traditional Arab trinkets, the atmosphere truly sustains the notion of cherishing cultural heritage.

When I looked over their wooden menus, I noticed that they have completely original dishes with ingredients that varied from the typical burger joint. I ordered a Vimto shake and an Orange Basil Mojito, which is a special Dukkan soda. Their handcrafted drinks come in empty milk jugs balanced on a crate, adorned with attractive labels boasting your name. The Vimto shake was sweet and comforting like strawberry milk. The Mojito was simply phenomenal; it was an explosion of fresh flavors. The orange, basil, and lime were infused together in perfect harmony.

After the shakes, I tried the Dukkan platter, which the chef described as “Arabia on a plate.” It featured a combination of succulent Arabic breakfast items: freshly fried falafels, a delicate dollop of hummus, flavorful labneh, hot lablabi (Tunisian chickpea soup), as well as peppered eggs with tomatoes, parsley and onions.

Their saffron pancakes were also deliciously thick, topped with a sweet cream, and lightly dusted with powdered sugar without being overwhelmingly sweet.

I asked what other unique fusion breakfast dishes they had, and I was immediately offered the Kanafa French Toast. It was a fluffy milk loaf, lightly grilled, topped with kanafa, ishta, a tower of whipped cream, and pistachios. Although it looked like a dessert, it wasn’t cloyingly sweet; it was the perfect breakfast dish to pair with a hot cup of tea.

After breakfast, I had to try two of their most popular appetizers. The Aftershock was an incredible dish of crispy shrimps in a creamy, tangy sauce that leaves you with a spicy aftertaste, perfectly balanced with strings of curled veggies on top.

The Cola Barbeque Beef Tips were tasty morsels of smoky grilled meat, wrapped in juicy beef bacon and dipped in homemade cola barbecue sauce. The bite-sized tips can be plucked up with toothpicks and melt-in-your-mouth with deep flavor.

For a true treat to your taste buds, I suggest you try the classic Dukkan burger. It is heavily influenced by the delicious flavor profiles of kebab and shawarma, but it stands alone as a spectacular burger. The beef itself is 1st grade Black Angus shipped specially from Australia, and the potato buns are infused with zaatar. The inside of the burger features melted kashkaval cheese, sumac tossed onions, parsley, and dukkan sauce. When paired with their special maabooch aioli, it was addictively flavorful and truly the star of this restaurant. They also have a South West chicken sandwich that is out of this world. It’s a soft sandwich of lightly buttermilk fried chicken, melted American cheddar, pickles, fresh lettuce, special sauce, as well as fried onion rings to add a wonderful crunch.

I ended the fantastic feast with Date Tiramisu, which came in an individual glass jar. Once you pop open the lid, you’re hit with the delightful scent of dates and rich sweet cream. The layers of toffee, mascarpone, and date sauce were perfectly creamy and just light enough to end your meal with a sweet satisfaction.

As I finally finished the last of my remarkable meal, I complimented the chef and asked if it was difficult to keep churning out creative cuisine. “It can be a hard job,” the chef admitted, “but the people are my strength. When I see return customers, they fuel my passion to work harder and create more dishes.” After that experience, I will definitely be a regular customer at Dukkan Burger!

Dukkan Burger is located at 83rd Street, Bneid Al Qar, next to Le Royal Hotel. Their hours of operation are from 8:00am to 11:00pm. For more information, please call 180 0011 or go to their Facebook and Instagram @Dukkan_Burger or visit www.dukkan-burger.com.