From Neighbourhood Takeaway to National Champion
Miguel Machín Pérez is the founder and driving force behind New Machín, a visionary in the world of fast food who established the restaurant based on a takeaway and delivery model. From its beginnings at Calle Henry Dunant, 3, in the Escaleritas neighbourhood of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the establishment has maintained the essence of a ‘neighbourhood burger joint’, offering generous portions, intense flavours, and accessible prices that have built a loyal clientele. His career is marked by consistency in the quality of 100% beef and experiments with exclusive homemade sauces, which has led to over 120,000 followers on TikTok.
New Machín specialises in classic burgers, hot dogs, chips, and all kinds of fast food like the double cheddar burger combo with onion rings and loaded fries. It has been nominated in categories such as Best Restaurant on Social Media and Best in the Canary Islands, reflecting its strong digital presence and local popularity. Customers highlight its pioneering role in the wave of modern burger joints in Spain, evoking traditional shops with innovative touches like the ‘Tinky Winky’ burger. This award confirms that the best burgers come from Gran Canaria, driven by the passion of Miguel Machín and his team.
An Exclusive Interview with the Founder
Recently, I was able to interview Miguel Machín on UDRadio and took the opportunity to ask him some exclusive questions for the readers of Por Fogones. Here is everything he told us.
What does it mean for you that New Machín is among the best burger restaurants linked to Just Eat in Spain?
“It’s confirmation that from a neighbourhood like Escaleritas you can compete with anyone. For a local born as a neighbourhood burger joint to be on the national map is a source of pride for me, for the team, and for the customers who have supported us from day one,” (he becomes emotional), “it hasn’t been easy at all. We’ve been at it for 18 years now in a business I started to be self-employed and that today allows me to provide for so many families and has allowed me to be recognised nationally is something I still can’t quite grasp.”
New Machín started as a business very focused on takeaway. Is that still the heart of the project?
“Absolutely. We’ve spent over fifteen years refining the takeaway and delivery model, adjusting times, packaging, and recipes so the burger arrives home in perfect condition. The foundation is the same: ample portions, adjusted prices, and a very recognisable menu of burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, and combo meals. We’re not ‘Instagrammer’ burgers, we don’t have next-generation buns, but I assure you that when you eat a New Machín burger or hot dog, it takes you back to those flavours we’ve always had in Las Palmas.”
What do you think Just Eat values when they award you?
“On one hand, the product: 100% beef burgers, very much ‘hearty plates’, and our famous loaded fries, like the ‘papas de tío’ or the Black Trufa Potatoes. On the other hand, consistency in the delivery service and the way we communicate: being present on social media, listening to people, and turning their comments into improvements or even new combos. But allow me to correct one thing: Just Eat nominates us, afterwards it’s the public vote that positions you or removes you, and that gives more value to what we’ve achieved. It’s our customers who have led us to be considered the Best Burger Joint in all of Spain—an award not for me, but for my entire team.”
“And about social media, I could only say, ‘Y ahora qué, señores?’ (‘And now what, folks?’), that phrase that has led us to have hundreds of thousands of followers on Instagram or TikTok. Social media is an example of who we are: honest and sincere. We don’t fake or edit anything; we show the joys and sorrows of a neighbourhood business in its day-to-day.”
For someone who has never ordered from New Machín, what should they try first?
“The Tinky Winky, that classic burger that’s perfect for a Sunday when you don’t feel like cooking and fancy a good burger, no complications, but one that leaves you feeling satisfied. From there, whatever you fancy, always with our loaded fries or a hot dog with a brioche bun, frankfurter, tomato, mustard, and raw onion—my favourite without a doubt. It’s the perfect example of what we are: cheeky, generous fast food meant for sharing.”
What comes next after this recognition?
“To keep refining the menu and service. The award gives you visibility, but also more responsibility: people discover us through Just Eat and expect a complete experience from the moment they open the app until they finish the last chip on the tray. And if you add to that our new project, New Roll, on Calle Zaragoza, on the corner opposite Asadero El Puente, where we want to take kebabs to a place no one has done in the city, I need more hours in the day. If you fancy it, you can follow us on Instagram, X, and TikTok under the handle @javiers_gastro.”
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