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As I walk down University Avenue along the ASU campus I see the usual suspects; coffee houses, bookstores, and oodles of fast food joints. Today there is a new kid in town. Smashburger.

A fresh take on the classic fast food burger joint, Smashburger offers made-to-order burgers; Rosemary, olive oil, garlic fries (Smashfries); and Haagen-Dazs shakes. Every Smashburger is made when it’s ordered, so don’t come here if you are late to class; the wait from order to delivery is about five to seven minutes, and you’ll want to take your time enjoying these burgers. Smashburger takes a different approach to burger preparation – they start with a one-third or half pound ball of 100% fresh Angus beef; smash, sear, and season it on a flat grill, then serve it on a buttered-toasted artisan bun and top it with cheese, fresh produce and condiments. The result is an irregularly shaped, juicy, delicious burger.

I stopped down there today for the grand opening and tried the BBQ, Bacon, & Cheese Smashburger ($5.99) with Smashfries ($1.79), and Veggie Frites ($2.99). Right away I noticed that the Smashburger differentiates itself from other burgers with ambrosial seasonings and juiciness. Yes, this burger was juicier than Perez Hilton gossip at a Hollywood red carpet event. These guys really have the searing down to a science. A few other points of interest – the Smashfries are delicious; the whole rosemary, garlic, oil coating really works well. Points for the Veggie Frites, too. You get a nice blend of asparagus, carrots, and green beans, which are flash fried and seasoned, then served hot to your table. They offer a few other menu items including a Smashchicken sandwiches, Smashdogs, and Smashsalads (if you’re into that healthy stuff).

If Smashburger has a weakness, it’s the hours of operation. I mean, come on.. you are operating on a college campus and closing at 10 PM every night? Seriously? One thing ASU needs are more places to soak up all that alcohol after a long night on the sauce. I’ll give Smashburger a half point back for opening at 10 AM to help cure the hangover the next day. I have a feeling that a smashed, seared burger and greasy coated fries may remedy the brown bottle flu.

Overall, Smashburger is a hit and is sure to win the hearts and minds of hungry college students roaming the streets of Tempe, Arizona.

Smashburger
777 E. College Avenue
Suite 105
Tempe, AZ 85281
(480) 829-3750
www.smashburger.com

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Right now, In-N-Out Burger may be king of the hill for fast food burgers in Phoenix, but they may have some hefty competition on the horizon. According to Justin Eats, we have a few new contenders coming to town this fall: Five Guys Burgers and Fries and Smashburger.

Five Guys

The coming of Five Guys has been anticipated by many East Coast transplants for quite some time. It’s been said that the Arlington, VA based burger joint has been been compared as the east coast In-N-Out Burger. During my last trip to Pittsburgh, I was able to try a Five Guys Burger.

Like In-N-Out Burger, Five Guys keeps the menu simplistic; they offer regular and little-sized burgers, all made with fresh, never frozen angus beef with fries on the side. However, Five Guys menu is broadened by also offering hot dogs and a Cajun variation of their fries. All regular burgers are constructed with 2 beef patties, while the little burgers contain 1 beef patty. The fries are are cut from fresh potatoes daily, and then fried in 100% peanut oil. What I like about Five Guys is that they offer a large selection of additional toppings at no charge (including traditional “premium” toppings like grilled onions and grilled mushrooms). I ordered a regular bacon cheeseburger with grilled onions, mayo, and ketchup. It was a really good burger, although I think I’m still partial to In-N-Out. I really like the fries better at Five Guys though; they are cut larger, and the peanut oil really gives them a nice flavor. Another Five Guys pro: the portions are much more robust than In-N-Out Burger – the burgers are bigger and you get a larger order of fries… more bang for your buck. Five guys also offers fresh in-shell peanuts to eat while you’re waiting for your food, which is a nice touch that also helps them stand out.

But in the end it comes down to this: just like In-N-Out Burger, Five Guys has proven that if you make a good product at a fair price, you can keep your menu simple and consistent… and people will keep coming back.

According to Justin at Justin Eats, there are two confirmed locations for Five Guys, Mesa’s Dana Park Village Square, and along Mill Avenue in downtown Tempe, both expected to open by late fall of this year.

Five Guys Burgers and Fries
Various Locations
http://www.fiveguys.com

Smashburger

Another player emerging in the Phoenix fast food burger market is the Denver, CO based Smashburger. I don’t have much information on them at this time but after looking over their menu, they seem to offer a more eclectic selection of burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, salads, and sides.  The burgers come in 1/3 and 1/2 poundages, sides offered include onion rings and veggie frites, and they also have a line of milk shakes, malts, and a root beet float, courtesy of Häagen-Dazs ice creams for dessert. There is also a special menu for kids.

I’ve attached a copy of Smashburger’s press release below:

Smashburger Announces First of Thirty Arizona Locations

Fast-casual concept rolls out big expansion plans for the market

Phoenix– August 10, 2009 – Smashburger, a fast-casual restaurant named for the cooking method used to create the perfect burger, is opening its first Arizona location this fall at 777 S. College Ave, Suite 105 in Tempe.

“The fast casual segment is currently the growth leader in the restaurant industry showing positive momentum in spite of the current economic climate,” said David Doty, CEO and Owner of SunWest Restaurant Concepts, the Smashburger franchisee for Maricopa County.  “Our plans to open 30 stores over the next seven years reflect our confidence in the segment and Smashburger’s future success in the Phoenix market.”

The Tempe location marks the company’s 25th location nationwide highlighting Smashburger’s aggressive national expansion strategy, which is expected to include several hundred new stores over the next few years.

Smashburger is known for the cooking method used to create the perfect burger, Smashburgers are a one-third or half-pound ball of beef smashed on a flat grill to sear in delicious juicy flavor. To further the “better burger” experience, Smashburgers are served on a toasted artisan bun and topped with a selection of real cheeses, the freshest produce, and top-quality condiments.  Smashburger also serves up delicious Smashchicken sandwiches, Smashdogs, and Smashsalads, with sides like veggie frites and rosemary and garlic–seasoned Smashfries. Burger lovers can pair their meals with local beer, wine, Häagen-Dazs shakes, and root-beer floats.  A regional menu tailored to Arizona residents’ tastes will be featured in each restaurant as well.

Smashburger
Various Locations
http://www.smashburger.com

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