Cathy is penning today's issue of mmm-yoso!!!, the food blog. She isn't busy. Kirk is busy. ed(from Yuma) is busy. Vicky is busy.
Hi, The other day, The Mister and I were driving along aimlessly and saw Smashburger, underneath Joe's Crab Shack. We decided to stop.
Smashburger is a nationwide franchise (but not that there is one owner per location, if you read the franchising criteria on the website) and has three locations in San Diego County- Mission Valley, La Jolla and Del Mar. Decor and motto are simple. "smash. sizzle. savor."
The menu is fairly small with choices of burgers, chicken, hot dogs and salads, which expand by size of burger (1/3 lb or 1/2 lb), grilled or crispy chicken, 4 choices of buns, multiple toppings, add ons and seven sides (which cost $1 less if ordered with a sandwich). 
You walk up, order, pay, get a number, fill a beverage container and find a table. Food is brought out in nifty metal baskets. 
On our first visit, The Mister chose a 1/2 lb All American Smashburger ($5.99). This comes with American cheese, ketchup, mustard, onion (omitted) and pickles on an egg bun. We all (should) know that smashing down a cooking burger makes it lose juice, and therefore flavor. The meat (fresh, never frozen) here is smashed and seasoned as it goes onto the grill, not after it has cooked on one side. It is juicy. It is also Angus beef. Very flavorful. 
I chose the Classic Smashchicken ($5.99) (crispy). Not greasy, not overly breaded. The chicken meat was very juicy and well flavored. This sandwich comes with lettuce, tomato, pickle and mayo on a multi-grain bun. 
Here is a photo of the sandwich buns (multi-grain and egg). Both buns were lightly toasted and had flavor.
We shared a Smashside of Haystack Onions ($1.99, because we had ordered a sandwich-$2.99 if ordered alone). Lightly breaded. Lightly fried. Very tasty.
On the bottom of the receipt, there was a survey, which gave us a code for a free smashside on our next visit. I also signed up for the smashclub, which sent me an email for a free self serve float.
They only use Haagen-Daz ice cream here. Vanilla for the self serve fountain float, also chocolate or strawberry if you want a milkshake. There is no root beer at the fountain (you can purchase bottled root beer for $1 more). 
Or try it with Coca Cola, which I haven't had in an ocean of time. This was really nice, especially in the frosted mug…
This visit, we tried the Sunset Smashsalad with grilled chicken (this is a large, ($6.99) the same bowl filled halfway with half as much chicken breast is $4.99). A full chicken breast, lightly grilled and very juicy on top of garden greens (there is spinach in there) with tomatoes, raisins, cranberries, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, blue cheese and a balsamic vinaigrette dressing.
OK. This is what it looks like under the chicken…oh that Smashside…
VeggieFrites ($3.99 or $2.99 with a sandwich order). Oh. My. Flash fried carrots, green beans and asparagus. Served with a ranch dipping sauce. So. Darn. Good. Maybe even healthy…
I decided to make a "Create Your Own" burger, (only 1/3 pound) ($4.99)(really) with my own choice of cheese (blue), toppings (lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickles, grilled onion)Smashsauce (ketchp/mustard/mayo/relish/lemon juice) on a choice of bun (torta)..PLUS
for an additional 99¢, I added on a fried egg. This burger was juicy, perfec…
Well, the torta bun was slightly torn. Yet toasted and soft and fresh. Fresh breads tear…
This is not just another burger joint. It isn't just fast food. They do serve beer and wine. The food is good. Really good. Smashfries (regular and sweet potato) are made with olive oil, garlic and rosemary. OH WAIT.
Fried pickles. Wonderful, salty, lightly crusted. A really nice side. A really fun, tasty, almost too much side… ($2.99 or $1.99 with a sandwich).
OK. If you are near a location try it. Really nice. Really good. A nice place for a lunch. Or a dinner date. Or a dinner without a date.
Smashburger 7610 Hazard Center Road San Diego 92115 (SE corner of Friars and 163) website
We recently went to one of their openings but unfortunately their burgers are just your low standard commodity beef burgers – tasteless and overcooked even after asking to do it medium rare. No big difference to other fastfood chains as McD, BK in terms of burger and meat quality. San Diego has mny much better burger options as Burger Lounge, Alchemy, Starlite, Urban Solace, Linkery etc.
Welcome to the commenting side of our blog, tfoj.I never go to an opening of any restaurant; too many things can go wrong.The burgers we have had at SB have been very juicy (I have a stained shirt to prove it; it wasn’t sauce) and flavorful.I know the meat is seasoned on the grill and we were not asked how we wanted it cooked, but I had a few bites of it plain and it did have a good flavor.I didn’t know commodity beef was sold fresh, never frozen, although I do know Angus beef is sold at McDonald’s and must be frozen. {There are reasons I have not posted on some other burger places in San Diego and I would not compare the atmosphere or price point of any of those places you mention to Smashburger.}
Hi Cathy I enjoyed the (I think called) the San Diego Burger here. My visits were all at the La Jolla location. I really like the smash fries with olive oil. Gosh, do they smash the chicken too??
It appears they do smash the chicken, Dennis. But it is not dried out when grilled nor greasy when made ‘crispy’. I haven’t been to La Jolla since forever. Oh wait…Bristol Farms. Yes I have.
Wow! Looks so yummy especially the burger with the egg. Anything with fried eggs are good!!’
I love burgers with fried eggs, FD. Used to get it that way when I was in University…/2007/11/27/road-trip-day-f/ See the bottom of this post.
OK – now I understand the Smashburger hype. Those look a long way from Booger King or even Fatburger. Sometimes ya just gotta eat chain.
Cathy – Commodity beef can also be sold fresh without being frozen. Smashburger gets theirs from a source in Chicago which is no different than beef at McD etc. The quality of the beef is simply like your average fastfood chain. Smashburger adds some interesting other stuff like shakes, salads etc. but for us a burger chain is mainly about the burger which we found surprisingly disappointing for the hype.
i’ll have to try that place next time we’re up there…that’s a strip mall i hardly go to – parking is awful at times. the last time i went there, they had clothestime there! (d’oh!)
wow, I’ve never heard of smashburger, love the menu, especially the fried stuff… fried veg stix and fried pickles! I hope they open a place up north.
Hey Cathy – Personally, if someone put two well prepared beef patties in front of me, the same 80/20 ratio, and I consumed them. I don’t think I could tell which one was commodity beef… unless it was grass fed versus corn fed. Even corn finished would be hard to tell. One thing is right, no matter how good the beef is, if you cook it to death, it’s terrible….like what we’ve had twice at Burger Lounge, who told us that “our policy is that our burgers are always cooked to medium rare” and proceeded to cook the daylights out of it.
I’m glad I could help you understand, ed. Eating here made me find -and fill- a craving. (Never heard BK called that before and am still giggling…)
Hi again, tfoj. Really? You ask where the beef is sourced for $6 burgers? That’s something I never would consider doing at a place with the menu on the wall. I eat and blog about the experience. I’m sorry you don’t like the burgers here. As you said, there are alternatives.
Hey there, cc. Yes, it was a Clothestime! I do tend to just go straight under to that parking area and don’t even bother trying to find a place on the top level. Then the car is cool when we leave.
It is a different kind of chain, fh. The limited menu still gives a plethora of possibilities. The sides are unique (and good) for a fast-food-ish place.
You’re right, Kirk. If I had a side by side, I would like one more than the other. (Maybe the commodity beef would lose, but maybe not; we all have preferences). As a plate of food in front of me, the meat to bun ratio was just right and the(unusual for me) multiple toppings were fresh and complimentary. I do enjoy medium rare though…
I might have to try this place now Cathy.
The sides alone makes me want to check it out, but here is SA there is plenty of smashed patty joints like steaks and shakes and freddy’s. I’ll just have to see how this place stacks up.
Do try it for yourself, bill. We were not expecting much and were pleasantly surprised. Maybe some of those places smash the patty because you can watch them making the food. Kind of like sitting at the counter and watching a sort order cook…
I’ve gotten several of SB’s promos but just never had the time to try them out. I’ll have to pop in the next time I’m close to one (most likely the one in La Jolla).