Burger Joint Color Palettes

Use these burger joint color palettes to choose colors for your shop sign, logo, menu boards, burger boxes, website and social media posts.

They’re made for burger joint owners, food truck sellers, fast-food brands and anyone opening a burger spot.

Brim Burgers in Faisalabad’s interior design, colour scheme, furnishings and lighting layout was very nice to me.

The presentation of the burgers, and the taste and quality of the food as well were highlights of my experience.

The cleanliness and organization of everything also added to the overall ambiance. To me, the location was very upscale and classy.

To me, it is vital that a burger shop’s colors make the food more attractive and at the same time add a good aesthetic appearance to the restaurant or bar.

You can design any burger joint with its own unique color palette of burgers, which can be varied by adding one or more of the following: ketchup and mustard, smoky BBQ, diner retro, charcoal grill, brioche bun, fresh lettuce, cheese melt, street food neon, pickle green, kraft paper.

10 Burger Joint Color Palettes

Quick Reference Table

Good burger style: Each palette on top of each other with five layers of color.

Use for colors:Use for colors:
Ketchup & Mustard	#D62828, #F77F00, #FCBF49, #FFF3E0, #222222	Traditional, fast food burger outlets.
Smoky BBQ	#2B1B17, #5C2E1F, #A0522D, #E9C46A, #FF2E00	Burgers and grills
Diner Retro	#E63946, #F1FAEE, #A8DADC, #457B9D, #272B7F	Higher resolution version of #1D3557 (Retro diner burger spots)
Charcoal Grill	#1C1C1C, #3A3A3A, #D9480F, #F5F5F5, #FFB703	Modern smash burger bars
Brioche Bun	#E9A84C, #F3C77B, #FBEBD0, #7F4F24, #3D2623	Gourmet petting farm restaurants
Fresh Lettuce	#2D6A4F, #74C69D, #D8F3DC, #F9F7F1, #E42F84	Crispy spots (fries, potato chips, and other fried foods)
Cheese Melt	#FFC300, #FFD60A, #FFF4CC, #6B4226, #1B1B1B	Late-night burger takeaways
Street Food Neon	#111111, #FF006E, #FFBE0B, #3A86FF,	However, burger food trucks are available with #FFFFFF.
Pickle Green	#556B2F, #8F9779, #E7E5C9, #C1440E, #3B2B2B	Create burger and shake bars
Kraft Paper	#C8A97E, #E6D3B3, #F7F0E3, #4A3B2C,	A. Burger delivery and takeaway brands #B23A3A

So, which Palette is right for you?

What you need	Best pick + why
It’s a good old fashion fast food place	Ketchup & Mustard: red and yellow eyes to grab.
A BBQ or grill style spot	Smoky BBQ: smoky browns are bold and flame cooked.
	Golden bun tones feel warm and gourmet at Brioche Bun: a gold medal burger café.
	The neon pops are a highlight on every street, especially a burger food truck: neon pops.
A healthy or veggie menu will include:	Fresh Lettuce: fresh greens feel light and clean.
	A takeaway bags brand that delivers kraft browns – kraft paper.

You can play Bold Fast-Food vs Rustic Grill here.

Many burger joints are inclined to go one of two directions. Let’s see how they compare.

Bold Fast-Food

Try Ketchup & Mustard, Cheese Melt and Street Food Neon.

Best for:

• Counters for both quick-service and takeaway items.
• Food trucks and street stalls.
• Late-night burger spots
• Energy and appetite appeal brands will be the ones to look at.

Rustic Grill

Think Smoky BBQ, Brioche Bun and Kraft Paper.

Best for:

• Burger cafes that offer sit-down service and gourmet burgers.
• Restaurants that serve BBQ and flame-grilled food.BBQ, flame-grill restaurants.
• Wood, brick and warm lighting in shops
• Brands which desire to feel handmade and high quality

I recommend 1 bold red for most burger joints, the warm neutral for most places. Tasty yet not too loud.

Use these palettes to create your art.

Website

1. Use lightest colour background for your page.
2. Text and menus should be the darkest color.
3. Use one bold accent colour for buttons, such as ‘Order now’.

Signage & Packaging

1. Use a color converter to convert HEX codes to CMYK prior to printing.
2. Use one main color for your burger boxes, wrappers and shop sign.
3. Print a test box first, as there is a tendency for red and yellow to appear darker on cardboard.

Social Media

1. Choose one colour to use for deals and new burger posts.
2. Use the same 2-3 colours for text and price stickers.
3. Check your grid. It should feel more like one burger joint, than ten.

CSS Snippet

css

:root {
  --burger-dark:   #1E1E1E; /* text */
  --burger-red:    #D62828; /* buttons */
  --burger-yellow: #FCBF49; /* highlights */
  --burger-cream:  #FFF3E0; /* background */
}

This can be added to your stylesheet, and you can use the color var(--burger-red) where you’d like it.

Pro Tip

Try your colors next to the actual burger. Before making your decision, snap a picture of a new burger and fries on your box or menu design.

If the colors appear dull in relation to the food, then use a warmer or lighter color. The burger should resemble the hero.

At Brim Burgers, Faisalabad, I realized that the beauty of the burger shop was dependent on the use of colors, interior, lighting and seating.

Black, brown or charcoal complements red, golden-yellow and cream to give a luxurious and welcoming ambience.

The proper lighting will accentuate the presentation of the burgers and a clean environment and comfortable furniture will improve the customer experience.

I think that the color scheme should be used to highlight the food, and to help the brand stand out.

FAQ

Which colours are suitable for a burger joint?

Colors of red, yellow, orange and warm browns are best. They are a reminder of buns and cheese, sauces and grilled meat.

What colour should a burger joint be?

I suggest 3-4 colors: one dark, one light and one or two accents. That’s more than can get messy.

Can you use these burger joint colors?

Yes. Make use of them for your logo, website, burger boxes or menus. No credit needed.

So many burger joints use red and yellow, why?

Red is a colour that attracts attention and will make a person feel hungry. Together, they work well for food as yellow is happy and friendly.

Looking for some additional inspiration?

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