Planque X Dumbo Smashburger

Seb Myers, chef and co-owner of Planque in Haggerston, recently named the best restaurant in London by Vittles, has created a unique take on Dumbo's signature Paris smash burger combining the styles of both kitchens into one standout dish.

Originally launched over the Bank Holiday weekend, this limited-edition burger is now available for a short time at Dumbo Shoreditch until the 17th May. Expect a rich, flavour-packed burger with a gribiche-style sauce, served alongside crispy fries: a simple but elevated take on a classic smashburger.

If you miss this collab, don't worry; Dumbo's standard menu is still worth the trip (and the queue). The Shoreditch site has a tiny seating area at the back (and we do mean tiny) together with a station for ketchup, wipes and a jar of spicy little pickles that you just can't stop eating.

Dumbo's speciality is the smash burger: beef patties squashed flat onto a searingly hot griddle for maximum caramelisation and flavour. Fans of the technique say that the quick cooking time and increased surface area for browning mean a more intensely-flavoured burger, whereas others note that it is impossible to have your burger anything other than well done, and that the intense heat can cause the meat to become dry.

I was happily surprised by how juicy my burger was; obviously the sauce played its part, but the patties were still tender and delicious. The different textures were interesting; the very edges of the burgers were crispy but in a really pleasing way, like the frilly edges of a fried egg. Paired with their really good, proper skin-on fries (don't miss these), that sharp and refreshing gribiche sauce and burger cheese, it was an absolute winner.

I now need to go back for their standard cheeseburger, and their chicken nuggets, which I'm hearing good things about. Maybe I'm a smash burger girl after all.

DUMBO is open from 12pm-10.30pm, 7 days a week.

119 Bethnal Green Road

Items in this article may have been gifted to Chatting Food. No financial payment has been made to feature in this article, and entries to the feature are made independently by members of the Editorial Team. This page contains affiliate links and we may receive a small commission for purchases].

Deputy Editor, Chatting Food London: Amanda David

Amanda David is a freelance food and drinks writer specialising in London and Margate’s restaurants, bars and events, and food-focused travel. She is the author of EAT THIS NOW! on Substack, the Events Editor and a contributing writer for London Cheapo, a regular contributor to Palate Magazine and a Member of the Guild of Food Writers.

Follow Amanda on Substack and on Instagram: @LondonGAT