We were in Escondido after a long morning of thrifting and were pretty hungry when we stumbled across this little hole-in-the-wall spot, and it turned out to be one seriously good find.
Farm to Smash specializes in smash burgers and fries, and everything is made with a focus on quality. They cook in beef tallow instead of seed oils, use avocado-based mayo and spreads, serve fresh ground beef (we literally saw them grinding it), and even bake their buns fresh. It is definitely on the pricier side, but you can honestly taste the difference in quality.
It is a small storefront with a few barstools inside, plus a patio area in the parking lot that is sectioned off with benches, so there is some seating available but it is still very casual.
Now to the best part, the food! We started with drinks and got organic agave lemonade, one plain and one strawberry. Both were super refreshing and really good, though we probably should have asked for ice.
For food, we ordered two double smash burgers: the Flamin Smash with fresh jalapeños, all-natural American cheese, pickles, and chipotle spread, and the Rodeo with bacon, all-natural American cheese, pickles, and original spread. Both were incredible. The burgers were perfectly cooked smash burgers with that great crispy edge, and the meat tasted extremely fresh with everything cooked just right. The lady at the front was also extremely friendly and kind, and she recommended the double patties as the way to go. Honestly we would have still been very happy and satisfied with a single patty.
We also got a small fry and a small loaded fry. The fries are made from fresh potatoes, cut in house daily, and fried in beef tallow, which made them crispy and flavorful. The loaded fries came topped with all-natural American cheese, bacon, grilled onions, and we chose the original spread, and they were just as good as the burgers.
The pickles were also amazing, super crisp and flavorful, and we honestly went back to ask for more. I am assuming they are made in house because they stood out that much. The ranch is also housemade, just like their other spreads, and has a dill-forward flavor that makes it stand out from typical ranch. Even though I am not usually a ranch person, this one was next level. I would have absolutely bought a larger container to take home if we were not heading out to continue thrifting.
Total came out to about $58 before tip for two lemonades, two double burgers, a small fry, a small loaded fry, and a side of ranch.
Overall, this place is a gem. It is not an everyday stop because of the price, but for an occasional post-thrifting treat, it is absolutely worth it. We will definitely be back. read more