Dumbo and his smash burgers, still a must in Paris

Behind its minimalist facade, the interior is just as minimalist: American sound blaring from the speakers, a few high chairs and a large stainless steel counter on which sits a (very short) menu that sets the tone: cheeseburger (€10), veggie burger (€13), fries (€4). That's all there is to it.

Behind Dumbo are two street-food enthusiasts , Charles Ganem and Samuel Nataf. In 2019, when the idea for Dumbo was first hatched in their minds, they didn't want to open yet another classic burger joint in the capital, but rather to bring back to Paris a special cooking technique that had come straight from the United States and was relatively unknown in France at the time: the smash burger.

It's a burger made with a patty of meat crushed on a hot plancha to make it thin and crispy while retaining its juiciness and flavor - a technique that makes use of the famous Maillard reaction. Since then, Dumbo has met with great success, opening no fewer than four Parisian outlets: the first in Pigalle, followed by Strasbourg Saint-Denis, Oberkampf and Le Marais.

7 years after their arrival in the City of Light, Dumbo's smash burgers continue to put a distance between themselves and most Parisian smash burgers. The recipe is as simple as it was researched: two smashed steaks weighing 65g each, American cheese, minced raw onions, homemade pickles, mustard and ketchup, all wrapped in a fluffy, toasted potato bun.

For the vegetarian smash burger, fans are well treated, since the meat dupe (a mixture of seeds, vegetables and soy) does its job perfectly and grills just as well on the plancha as its meaty counterpart. Note that both preparations are smashed on the same plancha, but far apart from each other.

Inside this veggie smash, two faux-steaks, melting American cheese, sliced raw onions and iceberg lettuce, homemade pickles and a jealously guarded secret sauce. Once again, the burger is melt-in-your-mouth without being too fatty, the'meat' as crispy as the real thing, the whole thing is spicy and tasty, to be accompanied by crispy, not too salty fries.

Unlike Pigalle, the Oberkampf address has high chairs for sitting and eating around the counter, a real plus, and the team is particularly friendly.

So, the next time you're tempted to grab a burger at the McDonald's a dozen meters away, reconsider spending - almost - the same price for a quality smash burger at Dumbo's, prepared in the minute and devoured in the process!

Where to eat a smash burger in Paris? Our best addresses
It's been THE street-food trend in Paris for a few years now: the smash burger is making its way onto the menus of all the best burger spots, to our great delight. Here are the best addresses! [Read more]

This test was conducted as part of a professional invitation. If your experience differs from ours, please let us know.

Dumbo and his smash burgers, still a must in Paris

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