John Lennon and Paul McCartney, Spongebob and Patrick, Peanut Butter and Jelly. The world is filled with memorable duos– surprising, sometimes complicated pairs that ultimately bring out the best in each other. 

Every 2 months, BFF does its part to add to the list by serving up a creative burger n’ fry Duo inspired by food trends and its cosmopolitan homeland– oooooooh Canada! From Mexican Birria to Korean gojuchang chicken, you can count on BFF to spice up your fast food routine. 

But, how does the team come up with these (strange and) genius ideas? What’s the history and future of the Duo? 

We’ve answered your questions about BFF’s bun-believable recipes 😜.

Why are Duos such an important part of the BFF menu?

BFF’s founder, Jamil Bhuya, says he grew up surrounded by every color and culture. “In my daily life, I was lucky enough to try a lot of different foods. At lunchtime, I was tasting everyone’s lunches and just in that one cafeteria there was a whole world of cuisines.” 

His experience is probably familiar to a lot of Canadians, and creating the Duos was a way of showing off the cultural mosaic that is Canada 🧑‍🎨.

Have Duos always been on the menu?

If you’re a day 1 fan of BFF, you know that some version of the Duo has been on the menu since the beginning. It started with the burger of the week (BOW). Next came the burger of the month (BOM). But here was the problem: The fries were feeling left out. 

So, BFF came up with the Duo to keep the pair together. Plus, putting all of the team’s creative and mouth-watering ideas on a single menu would’ve been difficult. The Duo gave them a chance to try out new recipes every few months, keeping things delicious and fresh for all the besties.

How does BFF come up with new Duo ideas?

Duo-spiration can strike at any moment. Case in point? Inspo for the much-loved Rick & Morty Duo came to Jamil just a couple of days before it launched. He saw a Meeseeks cookie at a local bakery and thought Damn, the show could inspire a great burger. 

Still, sometimes the search for inspo is more active. Bhuya and the team will browse social media, looking to pop culture trends and other chefs for ideas. And, when it comes to building the next Duo, looks matter. “The burger should have good height and colors and look exciting. I’m always looking for ingredients I love or am inspired by and asking– how can this make its way into a burger?” Jamil says. 

Once Jamil has decided on an idea, the next step is finding related recipes and using those as inspiration for his own. He sends a draft over to the staff and lets them experiment with ratios and flavors. The key here is that any BFF on the team should be able to understand and carry out the recipe.

Next, the team does 2-3 tastings and gives their feedback. Important questions they ask are 1) Did it taste good, 2) Was it easy to make?, 3) What’s the shelf life of the ingredients? 

After a little A/B testing, the Duo is ready to meet the world. Serving up the best burgers in Toronto and Ottawa is clearly a team effort.

What are the team’s all-time favorite duos?

The Duo-liciousness makes it hard to pick a few, but these are the first that came to mind (and are making us drool):

• Birria: This Mexican-inspired Birria Duo is back for the third time right now! Comes with: 
• Burger– Birria braised brisket, cilantro jalapeno lime aioli, pickled red onion, cheddar cheese, and a smashed AAA angus patty 
• Fries– Birria braised brisket, cilantro jalapeno lime aioli, pickled red onion, and jalapeno cheese sauce 

• KPOP: BTS fans rejoiced at this one. Came with:
• Burger– Gochujang glazed GF fried chicken thigh, pickled daikon & carrots, green onions, sesame seeds, and gochujang mayo 
• Fries– Gochujang glazed GF popcorn chicken, veggie gravy, cheese curds, pickled daikon & carrots, green onions, and sesame seeds⁠

• Po Boy Ting: A New Orleans Po Boy with a Jamaican twist. Perfect for surf ‘n’ turf lovers. Came with:
• Burger: Deep-fried jerk shrimp (GF), smashed angus beef, cheddar, island remoulade, pickled jalapeños, lettuce, and tomato
• Fries: Deep-fried jerk shrimp (GF), island remoulade, pickled jalapeños, jerk seasoning, and parsley

Real talk– can you think of another fast food spot that offers up this kind of variety? 🤔

What’s the future hold? 🔮

The BFF team is always hungry for new flavors. They’re interested in trying out an Oaxaca-inspired burger; maybe something with mole, which if you don’t know, is a sauce made from over 20 ingredients including chocolate, chili peppers, nuts, fruits, and spices. 

They also want to experiment with Argentine and Turkish cuisines. The main goal is to keep creating on-point, inspiring, drool-causing, blast-you-to-the-moon flavors. 

Come Taste the Best Burger n’ Fry Duos In Canada

What’s the best burger in Toronto or Ottawa, you ask? We’re right here 🙋. BFF is serving up international flavors in satisfying burger n’ fry duos. Come get a taste of Mexico with the Birria Duo until the end of April.

And, hey, we aren’t your typical burger restaurant. Our food helps to remove barriers and unite people from different backgrounds over memorable and nostalgic flavors. With quality ingredients and creative combos, we aim to be your (tastebuds’) BFF.  

P.S. Don’t forget to tag us in pics of your fave BFF Duos @burgersnfriesforever.