Burger & Lobster enters Türkiye through master franchise partnership

London-based Burger & Lobster has entered Türkiye with investment from YKT Gıda, part of YKT Global. The restaurant opened at Istanbul’s Zorlu Center on 7 September, becoming the brand’s 21st location worldwide. Under the master franchise partnership for Türkiye, YKT Gıda is responsible for local investment and operations, with two more Istanbul restaurants planned over the next two years.

Zorlu Center hosts the Turkish debut

According to a report published by Ekonomist on 26 October 2026, Burger & Lobster has brought its concept pairing burgers with Atlantic lobster to Istanbul. The brand, which operates in London, Brighton and New York as well as Asian markets, has opened its first restaurant in Türkiye at Zorlu Center.

The brand describes the Istanbul restaurant as its first branch in continental Europe. The opening therefore represents not only an entry into the Turkish market but also a step in its expansion across different regions. Istanbul is seen as a strategic hub in this approach, which extends from Asia and the Middle East into Europe.

For the franchise sector, a notable aspect of the opening is the investment structure. Burger & Lobster’s arrival in Türkiye is not simply a matter of an international brand opening a restaurant under its own name; it is based on a master franchise model that divides responsibilities between the brand and a local investor. The first restaurant is the initial operating location under this partnership for Türkiye.

YKT Gıda takes responsibility for investment and operations

Under the Turkish arrangement, YKT Gıda is responsible for local investment and restaurant operations. Burger & Lobster provides its global brand identity, quality standards, training processes and sourcing expertise. The partnership thus combines local market knowledge with international restaurant experience.

This division of responsibilities shows that the agreement goes beyond permission to use the brand name. The explicit inclusion of training, quality and sourcing indicates a structure that also covers the restaurant’s day-to-day running. The local partner’s responsibility for investment and operations is central to delivering the concept in Türkiye.

For those in the franchise sector assessing this example, both partners’ contributions need to be considered together. On one side is the company investing in Türkiye and managing operations; on the other is the international partner providing the brand identity and operating standards. These complementary roles form the basis of the announced model.

It is important, however, not to equate a master franchise partnership with opportunities for independent investors to open new branches. The structure described in the report is the Turkish partnership between Burger & Lobster and YKT Gıda. Any assessment should start with the investment and operational responsibilities that have been announced.

Two more restaurants planned for Istanbul

Following the Zorlu Center opening, Istanbul remains the focus of the expansion plans. Speaking to Ekonomist, Yakut said they planned to open restaurants at two further key locations in Istanbul over the next two years. The intention is therefore to follow the first opening with additional sites in the same city.

A distinction needs to be made here between current operations and future plans: the Zorlu Center restaurant is open, while the two additional Istanbul restaurants have been announced as future targets. It would be inaccurate to count the planned restaurants as part of the operating network or to treat the expansion as a completed investment.

The announced direction suggests that the first steps in expanding the brand’s Turkish presence are intended to take place in Istanbul. Rather than a rollout across other cities, this announcement focuses on additional Istanbul locations. For the franchise sector, the concrete development to watch will be whether these plans translate into new restaurant openings.

The two-year timetable sets a timeframe for the expansion ambitions, but does not in itself mean the openings have taken place. When assessing the brand’s presence in Türkiye, it is therefore more useful to track the first operating restaurant separately from the planned locations.

The operating structure matters as much as the concept

The most visible feature of Burger & Lobster’s Turkish launch is its menu concept, bringing together burgers and Atlantic lobster. For the franchise sector, however, another important aspect is the partnership structure used to deliver that concept. Local investment, operations, training, quality standards and sourcing expertise all sit within the same agreement.

This example is a reminder that assessing an international brand’s entry into Türkiye requires more than looking at the restaurant’s name or location. The stated division of responsibilities helps clarify how each partner contributes to the business. Expansion plans, meanwhile, show the future ambitions for that structure; they are not a substitute for results already achieved.

Practical takeaway: Investors considering a similar franchise partnership should examine responsibility for investment, operations, training and sourcing alongside brand recognition, and distinguish between restaurants already open and locations planned for the future.