Yes, Chef! Feature: Bonn Rassavong

What began as a humble pandemic-inspired garage pop-up has become one of the buzzworthy-est burger destinations in Cleveland thanks to owner/chef Bonn Rassavong.

Since firing up his first smash burger in 2020, he has transformed Doinks Burger Joint into a nationally recognized name, earning accolades from Cleveland Magazine and Scene, along with a feature on StarChefs, the James Beard-nominated national restaurant industry platform.

Bonn’s inventive culinary approach, blending classic American-style smash burgers with Southeast Asian influences, has made Doinks a standout in a crowded field. You know you’re onto something when your biggest fans give themselves a name: Doinkers.

This recent grad of the prestigious Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program is applying his new connections and skills to every aspect of growing his brand.

Q. How old were you when you started cooking? I was around 10 when I joined my mom in the kitchen. She is from Thailand and a fantastic cook. One of my favorite dishes we’d make together is still a favorite to this day, scrambled eggs in spicy soy, fish sauce and garlic with a side of sticky rice. It’s pure comfort food. My first job was in a restaurant at 15. 

Q. How many years have you been a chef? For 10 years. I’m mostly self-taught, leaving culinary school to work at Citizen Pie pizzeria, down the street from Doinks. In the end, this was a good decision, as that’s where I learned to love culinary. 

Q. Who’s the most influential chef in your life and why? Chef V (Vytaurus Sasnauskas) from Citizen Pie. He was the person who really helped me understand what culinary means. I went from just being a line chef to falling in love with food.

Q. Where did you get the name Doinks from? It was on a hysterical viral Vine video where a guy kept screaming “doinks” in a cornfield over and over. It made me and my business partner laugh so much we decided to immortalize it. 

Q. What’s the most memorable meal you’ve ever experienced and why? The first time I ever had a Neapolitan Margherita pizza, it was so delicious it made me think of food in a whole new light. 

Q. Do you have any favorite cooking shows on television? There’s a YouTube show I like called Last Meals. The host serves celebrity guests what they’d choose for their last meal on death row.

Q. Is there one food trend you wish would disappear and one you’d like to see come back? I’m not a fan of really big menus. They can intimidate and overwhelm people. And on the plus side, it would be nice to see more family-style and community-based dining make a comeback. Would love to see people sharing food and experiences instead of chasing the next “star” dish.

Doinks Burger Joint is located at 15519 Waterloo Road, Cleveland, 216-417-0211.