Czn Burak Gurme set to open first UK restaurant in Bradford

Burak Özdemir, known as Smiley Bae and CZN Burak, has a following of 72 million on TikTok and 48.9 million on Instagram.

His restaurants and XXL pita breads have attracted the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, Will Smith, and social media sensation Hasbullah.

Now the UK’s first ever franchise of CZN Burak Gurme will open on Great Horton Road.

Burak Özdemir, known as Smiley Bae and CZN Burak, pictured with actor Will Smith and social media star Hasbullah (Image: UGC)

Inspired by authentic flavours of the Middle East, the menu includes breakfast and dinner options.

Dishes range from Shakshuka and Mihlama to Cig Kofte and Muhamara.

The 200-seater restaurant will be designed in the same way as CZN Burak Gurme in the Dubai Mall.

Bradford’s CZN Burak Gurme will open towards the end of summer, revealed Faheem Yaqoob, director of CZN Burak Gurme.

CZN Burak Gurme first opened across the Middle East and Central Asia.

Chef Burak Özdemir, known as Smiley Bae and CZN Burak, at one of his Dubai restaurants (Image: Czn Burak PR)

The director said: “We’re the ones bringing them into the UK market. 

“We’re sponsoring and bringing over Turkish people such as chefs, managers. It’s going to be a very authentic feel.

“The chef’s going to be Turkish, the managers going to be Turkish, and the food is going to be made in house. The bread is going to be freshly made here as well.

The Bradford restaurant will feature the same decor as CZN Burak Gurme in the Dubai Mall (Image: Czn Burak PR)

“We’re planning on doing breakfast to start off with then in the evenings the dinner.

“At the same time we’re going to be doing fire shows, the shows will be with the set dishes. 

“It’s going to be like you see on social media in Dubai and Turkey."

Describing what customers can expect, he said: "It’s going to be trying authentic dishes coming from the Middle East and authentic from Turkey itself. They’re going to get the full Turkish vibes, instead of going to Turkey you’re experiencing that in Bradford.”

Born in Hatay, CZN Burak started his culinary career aged 13 by working at his father’s restaurant, Zeytindalı Restaurant, in Istanbul.

CZN Burak, pictured (Image: CZN Burak PR)

He became a TikTok star through joyful videos of the chef staring at the camera, chopping vegetables, and cooking in nature.

The chef’s Czn Burak Gurme website reads: “The young audience with fast consumption habits and daily social media use is always in need of an interesting and new consumption product. 

“Among the young people that make up a sizable section of our demographic, Gourmet is most popular with those who know how to have fun, have refined tastes, and seek out what’s fresh and best.”