I used to think that amazing burgers had to be big, thick and juicy. And then I had my first smashed patty. It had an amazingly deep charred flavor that took over my taste buds and sent my palate into foodie bliss. What was happening in my mouth?! Weren’t all the juices and flavors being smashed out?!
I did a deep dive, and learned about something called the Maillard reaction. Here’s an excerpt from a blog post on said first smashed burger ever:
When food reaches a certain temperature, the sugars start to react with amino acids in proteins. More and more molecules get involved, and start furiously mixing on the surface of the food. The chemical reactions spark new flavors, aromas, and that browning effect that’s so lusciously delicious. The Maillard reaction can be seen in toast, steak, coffee beans, and anything else that you roast, sear, char, or toast. (Click HERE and HERE for more details!)
In burgers, the Maillard reaction causes that heart-thumbing charred flavor and delightful outer crispiness. Smashing the patty increases the surface area the meat covers on the grill, which means more chemical reactions and more flavor. If you smash it just right, you won’t lose any of the juices.
An extra fun fact for fellow food nerds: As the amino acids and sugars react, they rearrange themselves into rings. The rings reflect light, which leads to that brown color.
-Katie Askegaard, 2022. (Hey I wrote it so nicely once… why write it again?)
Smashed burgers are progressively becoming more popular in NYC, so I had an idea…
An NYC smashed burger crawl!
Let’s dive in!
Stop 1: Ray’s Bar
Ray’s Bar is a dark and grungy dive bar on the Lower East Side that people are clawing to get into on Friday and Saturday nights. A little known fact is that Ray’s also has a burger menu. And it was the first stop for our NYC smashed burger crawl.
First things first, the burger is NOT a smashed burger. The patties are pretty darn thick, but they are also pretty darn tasty! They are quite thick and juicy with a solid flavor that’s undeniably fresh. The sesame seed bun is super thin, which gives the burger the chance to shine. And there’s the ideal amount of lettuce, onions, and sauce to add a crunch and zing of flavor without overwhelming the palate.
Price: $16. When we ordered, we didn’t look at a menu…. I was NOT expecting it to be so expensive. Given the thickness of the patties, a single would easily suffice- which would help lighten the financial load.
Should You Go?: I think so! The burger is super tasty and the vibes are relaxed. Throw in a beer and you’ve got the recipe for a solid afternoon/evening with friends.
Stop 2: Smashed
Stop #2 on our NYC smashed burger crawl was SMASHED. This spot specializes in, you guessed it, smashed burgers. Now, these are proper smashed patties. Nice and thin with a serious char that adds a smokey, rich flavor. There are chopped onions on top, which saves you from that awkward “onion half out of your mouth” look. It’s also topped with something called “smash sauce”, which is akin to Big Mac sauce.
The burger was good, not great. It needed an extra crunch as well as something more acidic to break up the fat and salt.
Price: $13 for a double smashed burger.
Should You Go?: Meh I’d skip it. There are much better eats around the Lower East Side. (I’d recommend getting a fried chicken sandwich instead… just saying.)
Stop 3: 7th Street Burger
The third and final stop on our NYC smashed burger crawl was 7th Street Burger. 7th Street Burger gets a lot of hype for it’s cheap burgers and casual vibes, but would it meet expectations?
Alas… it did not.
Everything about the burger was one note. The flavor was fairly salty with a hint of umami, and the texture was soggy from top to bottom. Like SMASHED, it needed a crunch and an acid.
Price: $9.5 for a double
Should You Go?: This burger might hit the spot at 1am after a few drinks. But 6pm on a Friday? Nah.
This NYC smashed burger crawl had some winners and some losers.
But hey, how can you be to mad when you’re eating a burger?!
Check out my Instagram reel for a video of the journey:
Pro Tip: There’s a smashed burger in NYC that I like MORE than any of the 3 on this list… the hot mess from Harlem Shake! It’s not too salty or greasy, and there is an amazing sauce on top that adds the perfect punch. A must try for burger lovers!
2 thoughts on “A NYC Smashed Burger Crawl”
yes but can you do this and eat all the burgers in the space of a few hours Katie??? That’s What I wanna see! 🙂
hahahah I had a friend to share them with 🙂