Big Smoke Burger

Big Smoke Burger is a Canadian hamburger restaurant chain headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. The business was founded by Mustafa Yusuf in November 2007 under the name Craft Burger. Its early concept centered on made-to-order burgers and a customizable fast-casual format. The company later adopted the Big Smoke Burger name in 2011 after Yusuf was unable to obtain a trademark for the original Craft Burger name. “Big Smoke” references a long-standing nickname for Toronto, linking the brand to the city in which it was founded and based. The rebranding established the identity used by the chain as it pursued growth beyond its original Canadian base. Big Smoke Burger’s offer has been associated with burgers assembled to customer preference, smoky flavor cues, fries, and poutine. The brand’s positioning sits between conventional quick-service hamburger restaurants and a more customized fast-casual burger experience. Available reference material does not provide a complete menu history, detailed ingredient specifications, or a definitive account of all locations and franchise arrangements, so those details are not expanded here. Big Smoke Burger began international expansion in 2013, entering both the Middle East and the United States. Its first United States restaurant opened in Glendale, Colorado, in June 2013, followed by a New York City location in July 2014. The United States operation did not become a lasting market: both American locations had closed by 2017, after the brand’s burger-and-poutine proposition failed to gain sufficient traction there. Big Smoke Burger subsequently exited the United States. The company’s ownership changed materially in September 2015, when Canadian multi-brand restaurant operator MTY Food Group acquired 60% of Big Smoke Burger for a reported C$3 million. Founder Mustafa Yusuf retained the remaining 40% at the time and continued with the business as its senior vice president. The transaction occurred when the chain reportedly had 12 locations: nine in Canada and three in the United Arab Emirates; four of the Canadian restaurants were corporately owned. The reference material does not establish whether the ownership percentages or Yusuf’s executive role later changed. As of June 2025, the chain was reported to have 12 locations worldwide. Its documented footprint therefore remained considerably smaller than that of large multinational burger chains, despite the use of an international expansion strategy. Big Smoke Burger is best understood as a Toronto-originated Canadian restaurant brand with a limited international presence, a history of rebranding, and strategic integration into the MTY Food Group portfolio. Current store counts, exact market distribution, corporate ownership details after the 2015 transaction, and the status of individual locations should be verified against current company or regulatory records.

Big Smoke Burger originated in Toronto in November 2007, when Mustafa Yusuf established a burger business called Craft Burger. The original concept was built around a made-to-order burger experience in which customers could customize their meals. This format distinguished the business from more standardized quick-service hamburger restaurants while retaining the speed and accessibility associated with counter-service dining. In 2011, the company changed its name to Big Smoke Burger. The immediate reason was practical: Yusuf was unable to secure a trademark for Craft Burger. The replacement name also gave the business a distinct Toronto association, since “Big Smoke” has been used as a nickname for Toronto. The rebrand created the identity under which the company pursued subsequent expansion. The chain began looking outside Canada in 2013. Its international development included activity in the Middle East and the United States. The first American restaurant opened in Glendale, Colorado, in June 2013. A second United States location followed in New York City in July 2014. These locations represented an attempt to transfer the brand’s burger-and-poutine proposition into markets with established burger competition and different consumer expectations. The American experiment was ultimately unsuccessful. Both United States restaurants had closed by 2017, and Big Smoke Burger subsequently withdrew from the country. The available account states that the sale of burgers and poutine did not gain sufficient traction south of the St. Lawrence River, but it does not provide detailed financial or operational results for the closures. The brand continued to have a presence in Canada and the United Arab Emirates. A major corporate turning point came in September 2015, when MTY Food Group purchased a 60% interest in Big Smoke Burger for a reported C$3 million. At the time of the transaction, the chain reportedly had 12 locations, including nine in Canada and three in the United Arab Emirates. Four of the Canadian restaurants were corporately owned. Yusuf retained a 40% interest and remained involved in the business as senior vice president, preserving founder participation after MTY became the majority owner. The acquisition placed Big Smoke Burger within MTY Food Group’s broader portfolio of restaurant concepts. The reference material does not describe subsequent changes to the chain’s operating model, franchise structure, menu, or ownership percentages. It also does not identify a later chief executive or provide a complete chronology of openings and closures. As of June 2025, Big Smoke Burger was reported to have 12 locations worldwide. Its documented history is therefore one of Canadian establishment, Toronto-centered rebranding, selective international expansion, withdrawal from the United States, and continued operation under majority ownership by MTY Food Group.

• 2025

  Worldwide footprint reported at 12 locations

  [1]Big Smoke Burgeren.wikipedia.org

  As of June, reference material reported 12 Big Smoke Burger locations worldwide.

• 2017

  United States operations close

  [1]Big Smoke Burgeren.wikipedia.org

  The Colorado and New York locations had closed by this year, ending the chain’s United States presence.

• 2015

  MTY Food Group takes majority stake

  [1]Big Smoke Burgeren.wikipedia.org

  MTY Food Group acquired 60% of Big Smoke Burger for a reported C$3 million, while Yusuf retained 40%.

• 2014

  New York City location opens

  [1]Big Smoke Burgeren.wikipedia.org

  The chain opened a second United States restaurant in New York City in July.

• 2013

  International expansion begins

  [1]Big Smoke Burgeren.wikipedia.org

  The company began expanding beyond Canada into the Middle East and United States.

• 2013

  First United States restaurant opens

  [1]Big Smoke Burgeren.wikipedia.org

  Big Smoke Burger opened its first United States location in Glendale, Colorado, in June.

• 2011

  Rebranded as Big Smoke Burger

  [1]Big Smoke Burgeren.wikipedia.org

  The company adopted the Big Smoke Burger name after it could not obtain a trademark for Craft Burger.

• 2007

  Business founded as Craft Burger

  [1]Big Smoke Burgeren.wikipedia.org

  Mustafa Yusuf founded the Toronto burger business in November 2007 under the name Craft Burger.

Fast-casual burger restaurant brand emphasizing made-to-order customization, smoky flavor cues, and Canadian menu associations such as poutine.

• Burgers

  Customizable burgers

  The brand’s central offering is the made-to-order burger. Customers can customize the composition of the meal, supporting the chain’s fast-casual positioning. Available reference material identifies customization and smoky flavor as defining characteristics but does not provide a complete historical menu or ingredient list.

• Sides

  Fries

  Fries are identified as part of the chain’s typical restaurant offer and accompany its burger meals. The available sources do not establish a definitive range of preparation styles, toppings, or current availability by market.

• Canadian-style side dish

  Poutine

  Poutine is associated with Big Smoke Burger’s Canadian menu identity and was specifically mentioned in accounts of the chain’s United States expansion. The sources do not provide a complete description of the recipe or confirm uniform availability across all current locations.

• Beverages

  Milkshakes

  Milkshakes are listed among the brand’s typical products. No source material supplied for this dossier specifies the flavor range, formulation, or whether the item is offered at every location.

• 2017

  Withdraw from the United StatesStrategy

  Background

  The Glendale and New York City restaurants did not achieve sufficient traction, according to the available account.

  Action taken

  Both United States locations closed by 2017, and the chain discontinued its United States operations.

  Aftermath

  Big Smoke Burger continued as a Canadian-led brand with operations reported in Canada and the United Arab Emirates.

  Source

• 2015

  Sell majority stake to MTY Food GroupM&A

  Background

  Big Smoke Burger reportedly had 12 locations when MTY Food Group pursued an ownership interest.

  Action taken

  MTY Food Group acquired 60% of the company for a reported C$3 million. Mustafa Yusuf retained 40% and remained involved as senior vice president.

  Aftermath

  Big Smoke Burger became part of MTY Food Group’s restaurant portfolio while retaining founder participation.

  Reported acquisition price. C$3 million (September 2015)

  Source

• 2013

  Enter Middle Eastern and United States marketsStrategy

  Background

  After establishing its Canadian identity, Big Smoke Burger pursued growth outside Canada.

  Action taken

  The company expanded into the Middle East and the United States, opening its first American restaurant in Glendale, Colorado.

  Aftermath

  The Middle Eastern presence continued to be documented, while the United States locations later closed and the brand exited that market.

  Source

• 2011

  Rename Craft Burger as Big Smoke BurgerStrategy

  Background

  The founder was unable to obtain a trademark for the original Craft Burger name. The company also sought a name connected to Toronto, its home city.

  Action taken

  The business adopted Big Smoke Burger, using a reference to Toronto’s nickname as its new brand identity.

  Aftermath

  The new name became the basis for the chain’s Canadian operations and later international expansion.

  Source

1. 1Big Smoke Burgeren.wikipedia.org