A rich-lean burner has on an upper end portion thereof: a lean flame port longitudinally extended to eject a lean fuel-air mixture which is leaner in fuel concentration than a theoretical fuel-air ratio; a blind clearance located on each lateral side of the lean flame port, the blind clearance being free from ejection of a fuel-air mixture; and a rich flame port located on lateral outside of each of the blind clearances to eject a rich fuel-air mixture which is richer in fuel concentration than the theoretical fuel-air ratio. The rich-lean burner further has a lean-flame deforming device to deform a lean flame formed by combustion of the lean fuel-air mixture ejected from the lean flame port such that the shape of one lateral side of the lean flame becomes asymmetrical with the shape of laterally opposite side of the lean flame.