Hamburgers are a staple in American cuisine, available at nearly all types of restaurants. Even those that specialize in other cuisines like Mexican, French, and Indian food. While some offer thick, juicy patties served medium-rare, the thin, pressed, and well-done smash burger has made a bold statement.
A smash burger starts with a ball of ground beef placed on a hot griddle or skillet. Once the fats start sizzling, the meat gets pushed down firmly with a spatula or a specialized press. This cooking method creates a patty with a thin, crispy exterior, all while maintaining a juicy and flavorful interior. The high heat and pressing action also triggers the Maillard reaction, enhancing the burger’s savory taste while adding a crunch.
Typically, smash burgers are served with simple toppings such as cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and maybe a special sauce, layered in a soft bun. This style became even more popular thanks to chain restaurants, including the adaptly Smashburger, which started in Denver in 2007. Independent restaurants have also found ways to differentiate themselves, using various ingredient choices ranging from bread to sauce to toppings to meat.
Jump into this magical, hand-held burger in all its glorious forms. From traditional to innovative, here are five great options around Denver.
High-End Smash Burger at Elway’s Steakhouses
Elway’s has been going through exciting changes, opening a second DIA location inside Concourse A, revamping the Downtown restaurant, and welcoming a new executive chef, David Schaumburger. With all this change, perhaps it’s time to switch it up and skip the steak for the Smashburger ($24).
Whether for lunch or dinner, the smash burger comes on a soft toasted brioche bun filled with a juicy patty, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, cheddar cheese, and a side of french fries. The Downtown location encourages you to personalize your order with avocado, bacon, and/or a fried egg, though really, anything goes. Various locations, elways.com
Indian Fusion Smash Burger at Samosa Shop
Chef Dave Hadley boasts an impressive resume, including experience under big-name chefs and restaurants in Denver, Thailand, and Aspen, and being a two-time champion on Food Network’s Chopped. However, when he launched Samosa Shop in 2020, the chef started small by offering hand-made samosas at farmers’ markets. He expanded the dishes, often creating mashups of Indian and American fare, leaning heavily on the spices he grew up with. Then last year he brought Samosa Shop to its first brick-and-mortar location inside the Honor Farm bar in LoDo.
That’s where the Lamb Kebab Smashburger ($16) comes in. The burger, which has been four years in the making, includes a halal lamb and beef patty topped with the chef’s signature zamosa sauce, fresh dill, and American cheese. Even better, Hadley said he will soon introduce house-made buns to add more flavor and give it that last, perfect touch. 1526 Blake St., Denver, samosashopco.com
French Forward Smash Burger at Bistro Vendôme
When planning to dine at a French bistro items such as escargot, steak frites, or onion soup may come to mind. But hear us out, the burger at chef Jennifer Jasinski’s 20-year-old Bistro Vendôme is worth skipping the other European delicacies. Owned by Crafted Concepts, the team behind Rioja, Ultreia, and Stoic & Genuine, the comfortable French restaurant has settled in nicely after leaving Downtown last year and settling in Park Hill.
As for the Bistro Burger ($21). While it might not sound like the right option, look around. On a recent visit many tables sported at least one, the sign we needed to try it ourselves. Composed of prime beef, cornichons, Dijon, au poivre, and Gruyère on a potato bun, it’s a study in French-American perfection. Add that to the side of frites and it’s the way to go. 2267 Kearney St., Denver, bistrovendome.com
All American Smash Burger at Atomic Cowboy
The most accessible smash burger on the list belongs to Atomic Cowboy, which houses brunch favorite Denver Biscuit Company and pizza joint Fat Sully’s all in one spot. Here the Lights Out Burger ($7.95 to $14.95) has won numerous accolades, and it’s easy to taste why.
First, the burger features a double smash patty coated with aged American cheese. Then there’s a layer of house-made pickles, onion, and special burger sauce, all on a garlic-butter toasted brioche bun. Better yet, you can tailor the meal to hunger level with one, two, or three patties, and even make it vegetarian thanks to the Impossible Burger option. Plus, with seven locations around town, from Centennial to Golden to Aurora, it’s easy to find one nearby. Various locations, theatomiccowboy.com
Dalton’s Cheeseburgs at RiNo Country Club
Don’t let the name fool you, the RiNo Country Club isn’t fancy, and neither is Dalton’s Cheeseburgs inside. Here the best order is dubbed the Cheeseburg & Fries ($14 to $17.50), and includes a glorious smash burger. The steps prove simple. First the chefs smash and sear the house-ground chuck patty on a flat top grill to create crispy laced edges. Next it’s topped with Cooper Sharp American cheese.
While the patty finishes cooking, Martin’s Famous Potato Rolls buns get dressed with Dalton’s 7 Hour Sauce™ and minced onion. One thing setting these sweet buns apart, besides the rarity of finding this brand in Colorado, is that they toast the bottom and steam the top buns providing different textures to your burger. Choose between one or two stacked patties as a base for the juicy cold brine pickles, with a veggie patty option available as well. A round of mini-golf is extra, but highly encouraged. 3763 Wynkoop St., Denver, rinocc.com
Sponsored by Buckhead Pride
