Portrait of Mike Puma
i. Biography
Mike Puma is the chef behind Gotham Burger Social Club in New York City, the operation he founded in 2013. In a food landscape crowded with declarations and reinventions, Puma has found clarity in focus: smash burgers, pressed thin and built for maximum sizzle, and the chopped cheese taco, a signature work that gives his cooking two unmistakable points of emphasis. The result is a profile defined not by excess, but by precision—an approach that has made his name a very specific kind of New York indulgence.
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At a Glance - Current role: chef. - Founder credit: 2013. - Specialty: smash burgers. - Signature work: chopped cheese taco.
Signature
Mike’s signature dishes include Gotham Smash and signature chopped cheese taco. Gotham Smash carries the directness and confidence that define his style, while the signature chopped cheese taco extends that same sensibility into a format that feels both familiar and distinctly his own. Together, they sketch a kitchen philosophy grounded in a few strong ideas, handled with focus and repetition until they become the whole point.
FAQ
Asked of Mike
What is Mike Puma's current role?
As of 2026, Mike Puma is Chef.
What is Mike Puma known for?
Smash burgers.
Favorite Places
Recommended by Mike
The Sunday email
Read about chefs like Mike Puma in the Sunday email.
Every Sunday we send a lead story and up to four more about the chefs, winemakers, sommeliers and hoteliers behind the restaurants, bars, wineries and hotels we cover.
Recent stories
Free. One email a week, and you can unsubscribe from any issue.