Zula Burger opens in Spitalfields with a Wagyu burger of its own

Zula Burger, the Istanbul brand with a chef's pedigree and a street food streak, is bringing a second London restaurant to Spitalfields. It opens on 1 November, close to Spitalfields Market, and joins the Marble Arch site as the brand's London pair.

A burger made for the neighbourhood

The headline newcomer is the Spitalfields Wagyu Burger, developed specifically for this restaurant. According to Restaurant Online and Hospitality & Catering News, it combines a Wagyu beef patty with double cheddar, French mayonnaise, sambal, black pepper, gherkin and onion, all in a house-baked brioche bun.

The established lineup comes along too:

• The Basic: cheddar, caramelised onion, pickle relish and truffle mayonnaise.
• The B.I.G.: two patties, cheddar, caramelised onion, pickle relish, truffle mayonnaise and mustard sauce.
• The Fake Mac: shredded lettuce and Mac sauce.

The brioche buns are baked in-house daily, the beef comes from British supplier Aubrey Allen, and the sauces are made in-house.

Fast service, chef-led thinking

Hospitality & Catering News reports that the Spitalfields site introduces a fast-service format designed around its location, while keeping the brand's chef-led approach. The compact layout is aimed mainly at takeaway trade, particularly office workers and visitors to the area, with bar seating also available.

Founder Cihan Kıpçak puts the philosophy simply. "A great burger is all about balance. Every ingredient matters, and none should overpower another," he says. He adds that it begins with the bun: "bread is so simple, but it needs to be treated with the same care as the beef or sauce."

A new look

The opening also brings a refreshed visual identity, developed with designer Annabel Colterjohn. Expect metallic finishes, warm natural wood and the brand's signature vermillion orange, plus a streamlined ordering counter.

Managing director Kaan Yildirim says the move places the brand's burgers "into a new format and a design that fully embraces East London's edge." He also describes the plan as bringing Zula "right next to one of the city's most iconic markets and into the heart of East London's thriving burger scene."

Who is behind it

Kıpçak founded Zula Burger in Istanbul in 2017, starting from a backstreet restaurant. It has since grown to locations across Istanbul, Bodrum and London, with six sites in Istanbul. The name comes from the Turkish word for "hidden corner", according to Hospitality & Catering News.

The concept blends fine-dining technique with street food, drawing on Kıpçak's time in Michelin-starred restaurants. He developed the original idea while executive chef at Spago Istanbul.

During 2026 the brand has also run a guest chef series, with Elliot Hashtroudi, Lorcan Spiteri, Eric Wan, Rahel Stephanie and Ana Ortiz each creating limited-edition burgers.

Know before you go

• Where: near Spitalfields Market, East London (full street address not yet given in the reports).
• Opens: 1 November.
• Format: ordering counter, takeaway-focused, with bar seating.

Sources: Restaurant Online, Hospitality & Catering News