Guides · BB52 Burgers

Burger school

Pastrami Burger vs Classic Burger: What's the Difference?

Sliced, smoked brisket instead of a ground patty — a different cut, a different process, a different burger entirely.

Short answer

Pastrami burger vs classic burger comes down to the meat: a classic burger uses a ground beef patty seared on a grill or griddle, while a pastrami burger uses sliced, house-smoked beef brisket instead — smokier, more textured, and closer to a deli sandwich than a traditional burger.

Pastrami and a classic burger patty start from completely different places. One is ground meat, formed and seared fresh. The other is a whole cut, cured and smoked over time, then sliced.

Pastrami Burger vs Classic Burger: How the Process Differs

  • Classic patty — ground beef, formed loosely, seared hot and fast for a crust via the Maillard reaction.
  • Pastrami — a whole brisket, cured, seasoned, and smoked low and slow over hours, then sliced thin or thick for serving.

The result is a completely different texture: a classic patty is uniform and juicy throughout, while pastrami has that distinct sliced, slightly chewy, deeply smoky character that comes from hours of low-temperature cooking.

Why it needs different toppings

Pastrami's smoky, salty intensity calls for something sharp to cut through it — mustard rather than a sweeter secret sauce, and a simple pickle rather than a loaded topping stack. A classic burger has more room to carry richer sauces and more toppings without getting overwhelming.

On the BB52 menu

The Pastrami Burger — 160g house-smoked beef brisket, homemade mustard sauce, cucumber pickles, pretzel bun. See the full menu →

See the MenuFind a Location

Frequently asked

What's the difference between a pastrami burger and a classic burger?
A classic burger uses a ground beef patty seared on a grill or griddle. A pastrami burger uses sliced, house-smoked beef brisket instead — smokier, more textured, and closer to a deli sandwich than a traditional burger.
Does BB52 have a pastrami burger?
Yes — the Pastrami Burger, made with 160g of house-smoked beef brisket, homemade mustard sauce, cucumber pickles, on a pretzel bun.
Privacy Preferences

We use cookies to enhance your experience and optimize our website’s performance. By continuing to browse, you agree to our use of cookies. These help us improve functionality, analyze usage, and deliver better services.

We use cookies to enhance your experience and optimize our website’s performance. By continuing to browse, you agree to our use of cookies. These help us improve functionality, analyze usage, and deliver better services.