In Defense of Smashburgers
Flat is where it's at
Here's what the smashburger haters get wrong: they think bigger automatically means better. But when it comes to burgers, thin patties actually do more work than their thick counterparts.
The biggest advantage of smashburgers isn't what they are — it's what they're not. They're not trying to punch you in the face with pure meat. When you bite into one of those thick, juicy monsters, that's all you get: beef, beef, and more beef. The cheese becomes background noise, pickles vanish, and you might as well skip the bun entirely. It's like eating a meatball sandwich where someone forgot about the sandwich part.
A good smashburger does the opposite. That thin patty gives you concentrated beef flavor without bulldozing everything else. You can actually taste the sharp bite of onions, the tang of pickles, the creamy hit of cheese. Each component gets to play its part instead of getting drowned out by a half-pound hunk of ground chuck.
And let's talk about that crispy crust that some people seem to love to mock. Those caramelized edges aren't just for show — they pack serious flavor through actual browning, not just the sad gray interior you get with thick patties that barely see any real heat. Maximum surface contact with the grill means maximum flavor development. It's basic cooking science.
The speed factor matters too, but not for the reasons you'd think. A kitchen that can nail a perfect smashburger in three minutes isn't cutting corners — they've mastered their technique. Compare that to places slinging thick patties that take forever and still come out uneven.
Nobody wants to unhinge their jaw for a burger, and nobody wants to feel like they need a nap after lunch. A good smashburger gives you everything you want from a burger without the commitment. You get satisfaction without the food coma.
The truth is, smashburgers aren't trying to be the biggest thing on your plate. They're built for balance, letting every ingredient contribute instead of getting steamrolled by an oversized patty. When done right, they prove that sometimes the thinnest option packs the biggest punch.