Smash burgers didn’t start in NYC, but the city has become one of the best places to eat them. The technique goes back to classic American diners, with beef pressed hard onto a flat-top so it sears instantly, forming those crispy, almost brittle edges that define the style.
These days, New York diners will see fewer toppings, tighter menus, faster execution, and a major focus on getting that meat crust right every single time. Taste the magic for yourself and discover 10 spots doing it perfectly right now across Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens.
7th Street Burger
The first location of 7th Street Burger opened in the East Village in 2021, and now the brand boasts 20locations around the city and beyond. The goal, said founders Kevin Rezvani and Paras Jain, is to be the In-N-Out of the East Coast. Whether or not they get there, the original smash burgers are still better than almost everything else.
Turns out the formula is simple, featuring thin patties smashed hard onto the griddle, American cheese melting into the edges, grilled onions, pickles, and a soft potato bun. The edges of the meat are thin enough to almost crack apart while the center still stays juicy. It’s also one of the few burgers in the city that tastes equally good at 2 p.m. and 2 a.m. Multiple locations, 7thstreetburger.com
Hamburger America
Hamburger expert George Motz has eaten over 20,000 burgers, made a documentary on the dish, wrote hamburger-focused books, and hosts the First We Feast Burger Scholar Sessions. So, it’s no surprise he opened his own burger joint in 2023, and most days, he’s literally behind the bright yellow-and-white counter flipping patties.
Start with the Classic Smash (mustard, diced onion, dill pickle, and cheese on a toasted bun), a meat-and-mustard-forward burger running diners $7.25 for a single patty. Or, go bigger and get the signature George Motz’s Fried Onion Burger, where the patty gets griddled directly on top of paper-thin onions that cook into the beef. It’s good enough that The New York Times gave it two stars, and it costs way less than most award-winning meals. 155 W. Houston St., SoHo, hamburgeramerica.com
Smashed NYC
Owner Mark Mendaros brought in his long-time friend chef Fredy Centina to turn his closed bistro into a full take-out burger operation in January 2021. It was one of those pandemic switches that worked, and NYC smash burger fans clamoured to sample from a 20-variation menu and intricate sauce program. Now, there are three locations to visit.
Once there, start with the Classic Smash on a Martin’s Roll, which features a beef patty, American cheese, griddled onions, raw onions, pickles, and house sauce. This is probably the easiest smash burger on the list to hand to someone who claims they don’t like smash burgers. And if you need to eat one or two in the process that’s okay, it’s for science. Multiple locations, smashednyc.com
Smacking Burger
While most New Yorkers aren’t driving around in a car, there’s still a good reason to visit this West Village gas station. Namely, the $7.50 smashburger. Here, the closet-sized Smacking Burger indeed gives hole-in-the-wall vibes, but in the best way.
Each burger comes with onions, American cheese, sweet pickles, ketchup, and mustard. For $11, you can get a double, or the O.K.T.O, which is smothered in horseradish sauce. Bonus, the spot is open until 2 a.m. on weekends. 51-63 8th Ave., West Village, smackingburger.com
Rolo’s
This is a sit-down restaurant, which means the smash burger here costs $20 and comes on a plate instead of wrapped in paper. That said, it’s worth it. The double patty arrives with dijonnaise pooling at the base of the bun, a long charred pepper draped over the top, and enough grease to make you feel like you earned something. Don’t forget to add the crispy potatoes “war style.” 853 Onderdonk Ave., Ridgewood, Queens, rolosnyc.com
Herbie’s Burgers
This is a small chain out of Albany that nobody in the city was talking about until it opened on Roebling Street in Williamsburg. Now, with two more locations added to the city, people have taken notice. Each of the two-ounce patties get smashed hard to create dark, lacy edges with the perfect crackle. Though thin, each patty comes out big enough to satisfy any smash burger craving. Multiple locations, herbiesburgers.com
Little Grenjai
Married couple Trevor Lombaer and Sutathip Aiemsaard started with a Thai street food cart, then a food truck, then a Hamptons pop-up, and eventually landed a permanent spot in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn. That’s where they make the Krapow Smash Burger, a beef and pork patty topped with American cheese, holy basil, lemongrass giardiniera, and spicy-sweet sauce. In essence, it’s what you get when someone applies Thai cooking instincts to a popular American dish, in the best way possible. 477 Gates Ave., Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, littlegrenjai.com
Harlem Shake
At both locations of this popular, retro-fitted burger joint, you can expect the kind of smash burgers get better and better the more lacy, meaty patties you pile on. Opened in 2013 by Jelena Pasic, the fast-casual spot features a special blend of Pat LaFrieda ground beef, and all the usual burger toppings. It’s also one of the only places in the city to get a vegetarian smash burger. 100 W. 124th St., Harlem; and 119 5th Ave., Park Slope, Brooklyn, harlemshake.com
K.O. Burger
Brought to you by the same team behind 375 Chicken ‘n Fries, K.O. Burger aims to knock you out with a delicious smash burger. The menu features a handful of options from the classic American version to one laced with truffle. Add bacon, add onions, and don’t forget the signature K.O. sauce. 1-3 Eldridge St. Store B, Chinatown; 310 W 14th St., Chelsea, koburger.com
Gotham Burger Social Club
You come here to sit at the bar and watch a cook in a cowboy hat use a paint scraper to extract your burger from the grill. The space looks like an old-timey saloon, with longhorn skulls on the walls. There’s an actual bar too, with canned cocktails and beer, which makes this the rare smash burger spot where “Friday night plans” is a reasonable description.
As for the star of the menu, you’ll find the smash burgers offer lacy-thin patties loaded with American cheese and topped with sweet onions, housemade pickles, and jalapeños. What sets GBSC apart from everyone else is the hard-toasted exterior top bun, which adds a bready crunch that snaps against the caramelized beef against-the-grain way. Founder Mike Puma started this as a pop-up in 2013, and a decade later, it has a permanent home three times over. Multiple locations, gbsc.nyc
