Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Smash Buddies

    4.8 (49 reviews)
    ModerateBurgers, Sandwiches
    Open 11:00 am - 11:00 pm

    Order Smash Buddies Takeout or Delivery

    Smash Buddies Photos

    SMASH BUDDIES ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Smash Buddies

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Sabrina S.

    Location/Restaurant; tucked away within Brewery District, but a must try I stumbled upon this for lunch with co-workers. Décor is retro 90's with neon. Food; Probably one of the best smash burgers I have had, and tots were cooked to order. Everything was fresh. Service; You can order on your phone, and at the check in, very easy for the lunch rush.

    Menu. Small but to the point
    Barry H.

    Update: Decided I was going to hit these guys up again today. I was greeted by Kohl when I entered. I ordered a double which had super fresh lettuce, tomatoes and onions on it. The burgers were cooked perfectly with a little crisp on the edges. Nice N Juicy. All held together with a Brioche Bun. The Tot's were nice n crispy which you get with fresh oil cooked perfectly to a nice light golden brown. One last thing, get the sauce, off chart. Made with mayo, honey, mustard , lemon juice and several other ingredients. You will definitely love it.

    Mark K.

    Stumbled on this in my quest to try all the restaurants in the area. It is tucked down a walkway, just south of Livingston and off High Street. There is street parking available, and a parking garage, but you're going to have to walk a bit to the entrance. Once inside, I swore that I had been there before. I think it used to be a Thai place. Anyway, now it is dark and somewhat barlike, but with some big windows, and it looks like they have an enclosed patio. Order at the counter or with the code on the table. Menu is pretty basic. And since they clearly specialize in smash burgers, that's what I got. Their standard, double, comes with cheese and their house sauce. Plus some regular tots, which also comes with a little bit of their house sauce. And of course you can ask for ketchup or whatever else. Wait a few minutes for them to make it; they will bring it to the table. Super friendly and efficient staff. And OMG the burger! I usually like thicker burgers, but I like a good smash burger once in a while. And this is a great one. Two thin patties, so incredibly thin around the edges that they are almost lacy. Good tasting meat, some good cheese, and their sauce. I think it is a beer-honey-mustard sauce? Anyway, it works on the burger. Also, a very good bun. The whole thing is amazing. And fair sized. Plus, the portion of tots is huge. I wasn't able to finish that. And they are excellent. I never used to think I was a tot fan, but the last couple years I have had some excellent ones in town. If they are done right, they are better than fries, honestly. They did not need the sauce; they have some seasoning on them. But the sauce and ketchup made for a nice variety. And all that (the food portion of the meal, not tax and drink and tip) was $12. An excellent $8 burger? Yes, and we need more of those. I was in and out in half an hour on a Thursday night. Canned drinks, and since I was trying new places, I tried a new thing, the Sprite Zero. I had had Coke Zero and it's not bad, so why not? And it was pretty good. Almost could pass for regular Sprite. I'll probably be back. I bet it gets busy on the weekends. It's nice to have some more variety in the area.

    Loaded Tots
    Michael B.

    If ever looking for a smash burger in downtown Columbus, this place has to be near the top of your list! From the overall service which was fantastic, to the food as a whole, this was a great experience! First off, the front of house was amazing - being our first time to Smash Buddies, he explained the menu, top options, his personal recommendations of ways to spice up even the normal menu offerings, and was extremely patient with gathering our order. They have a full bar with pints of beer being only 2.50 all day on Sunday (Don't worry wine drinkers - they have that for you as well!). Everything came out hot and fresh, and the edges of the smash patties were perfectly crisp to add that texture element everyone dreams of. The loaded tots could have been a meal on its own with the sheer amount of it - my one recommendation here would be to have the beef on top be a bit more chopped up instead of just 2 patties basically put on top of the tots. However, their yacht sauce (house made) is amazing and should be put on every single menu item no doubt! It has the main flavor profile of Chick-Fil-A sauce with a bit more sweetness to it which goes extremely well with the seasoning on the crispy tots. Would definitely suggest trying them out if ever having a craving of a burger. There is street parking around the neighboring blocks, as well as a parking garage on the same block, with the location being in between the block, not directly on high street, and there is good signage on the streets/sidewalks to direct you to the door.

    Tater Tots, the Original, and a Patty Melt. Not pictured: 2 puppy patties.
    Sarah M.

    My husband and I just stopped in here for dinner on the way back to Indy with our two dogs. The service was exemplary and the food was even better than we had hoped it would be! We saw online that they had outdoor seating, so my husband went inside first to see if they allowed dogs on their patio. He came back out and said yes, and that they said we could walk through the restaurant and onto the patio because it didn't have a gate. It had a couple areas for a few people to stand and eat or have a drink and then two big, round picnic tables. We sat at a picnic table and let the dogs stretch their legs after we ordered and waited for our food. The food came out quickly and was cooked to order. We shared the tater tots because they are a large portion size and they were so crispy and seasoned perfectly on the outside, but soft and cooked through on the inside. Perfect pairing with their special sauce and/or ketchup! I got an original double with mustard and the special sauce on side, while my husband got the patty melt. The special sauce was really tangy and had a slight reminiscence of chikfila sauce, but better and more flavorful. Both were cooked perfectly and were exactly what we needed to fuel up for our 3 hour drive back home. After they brought out our food, they told us they had "puppy patties" for dogs, so I went inside to get some napkins and order one puppy patty each for the dogs. They were super affordable (I think $2 each) and came out freshly made and super quick. The dogs loved every bite (obviously). All staff members were so nice and friendly, came out to check on us, and even cleared off our table when we were done eating. Everyone thanked us for coming in as we left and it was such a friendly atmosphere. We are so glad we stumbled across this burger joint while searching for lunch/dinner spots on Yelp and will definitely be back when we are in Columbus!

    Adam L.

    Super impressed with the flavors of Smash Buddies. I did not expect the loaded tots to be that good!

    Double and Tater Tots
    Ashley K.

    I really hope the brewery district on the S Front side comes back to life and maybe Smash Buddies can help with that. The place is super cool and the staff is super friendly. Loved the neon look against the black walls. However didn't love how you could clearly hear everyone's conversation inside the space or when no one was talking it was too quiet. It felt a bit awkward took a lot away from the "dining experience" for us. We got the party melt, a double, and some tots. I've never had a smash burger so thin and crispy. The tots were perfectly cooked. The sauce was good - very sweet and honey mustard based - but next time I will ask for it on the side for my burger because I bet it stands well without it too. Can't beat the price nor the fact that they serve beverages in a can! Great neighborhood spot, will be back for sure.

    Teriyaki burger and tots
    Tonya W.

    I would definitely recommend trying smash buddies don't set your expectations high on getting a normal burger. The name says it all smash. It's two very thin patties with cheese. image 1 is the teriyaki burger with tater tots first time having a smash burger it wasn't too bad definitely could have done without the teriyaki. the overall location, a pretty good vibe contemporary, enjoy the option of ordering directly from the table without the need for a server.

    Double Smash Burger w/onions and Tots
    Bryan P.

    I have been craving a real smash burger Oklahoma style since I started reading about them a few months ago. From Florida through Virginia and to Ohio, smash burgers weren't real smash burgers. They were more like pressed patties. Here I ordered a double with onions and tots on the side. The burger was everything I dreamed of. Smashed down, thin patties with CRISP edges! Easy to eat and so delicious, I quickly crushed it! The owners were both there and it was great to meet them. It's always fun to talk about the military with Veterans. Great atmosphere at Smash Buddies. I was there at 4pm so it was still quiet and it has a great burger joint sports bar ambience.

    All American, Tater Tots
    jazslyn s.

    Absolutely phenomenal service! The Food literally gave them two new customers for life! I was on google looking for a place to eat and I'm soooo glad I stopped in! The Ambiance was amazing as well I love how clean the place was! They did not miss!

    Tots

    See all

    Photo of Jenn B.
    72
    10
    4

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    13 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    22 hours ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of R D.
    0
    15
    0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mae S.
    1
    17
    4

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Amazing burgers, but the potato skins are very good, I could make a meal out of them.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    The food - amazing. The drinks - solid. The Yacht Shot - a soon to be local legend. Reno - Mr. 5 Star.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jayme J.
    198
    45
    181

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Great burgers, excellent tots! Just be sure to ask for an extra sauce. I have lunch at least once a week. Need I say more? Just Go!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    One of my favs in the city! Great place with great service. They always have new specials each week

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    The best burger I've ever had in my life, the yacht sauce is a must. Service is 10/10

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Erik J.
    0
    71
    55

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Erin V.
    341
    2
    1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Alex S.
    3
    457
    0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Was delicious!! And veteran owned! A bit tricky to find parking right now due to construction, but definitely a need to try place!!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Smash Buddies

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Burgers 6,852 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Warios Beef and Pork - Italian

    Warios Beef and Pork

    4.6(359 reviews)
    1.2 miArena District
    $$

    These guys make, hands down, the best sandwich in the city. When my wife and I moved to Columbus,…read morethere didn't seem to be a stand out place. Wario's changed that. The service is top notch. After finding out how much the owner takes care of his staff, it makes sense. There's a real pride back in their kitchen. It's the best. Yes it's expensive. It's worth it. Go get the Steak - Wario's Way. It'll change your life. Get the House Spuds. Sample it all. You won't go wrong.

    This pains me to write this but the food is slipping badly, today I had the Philly Wario's way and…read moreI got bland tasteless meat and cheese whiz. There was maybe 5 onions pieces the size of nickels that came pouring out of a sub that acts more of a squishy squirt gun than a sub, lately the bread is stiff and falls apart on the first bite. This sub was garbage Previously I got my favorite, the chicken caesar. The crispy chicken cutlets were so well done that they were hard to bite through and that just ripped apart the now stiff old rolls, and of course now everything is pouring out. The bread is not the same quality a year ago, in fact I saw a delivery of bread and I thought I saw everything was made in house. I'm kind of at the 1,2, strikes you're out because let's face it these aren't cheap subs and feeling ripped off while covered in your subs droppings is the worst feeling, I'm not to eager for a possible 3rd disappointment. The staff is always extremely friendly but it's an expensive sub shop, I want more than kindness.

    Photos
    Warios Beef and Pork - Interior

    Interior

    Warios Beef and Pork - Wario's Way Steak Sandwich

    Wario's Way Steak Sandwich

    Warios Beef and Pork - Cutlet  Chicken Cutlet Sandwich

    See all

    Cutlet Chicken Cutlet Sandwich

    Frenchi’s Deli

    Frenchi’s Deli

    4.7(59 reviews)
    4.4 miUniversity District

    French-owned. Family hospitality. Next-level sandwiches…read more This small deli is the definition of heart + flavor -- you can feel the love in every bite and every hello. You have to come try one of these sandwiches for yourself!

    We walked to the brand-new Short North location first, but it was inexplicably closed despite…read moreposted hours. That was frustrating. We really wanted Frenchi's, so we drove up to this OG location. No line which is great! A nice woman was working the counter. We got our sammies and brought them home. They were as solid as always, but there's some things I have to note: Frenchi himself always made our sandwiches to perfection. Toasted, hot, perfectly made. The two times we had another employee make them, they are just different. Same ingredients, but different ratios maybe? Today my husbands Eiffel came super toasty and meats/cheese heated up in a microwave (or toaster oven maybe?) My Buckeye always used to come warm, but only if Frenchi made it. Twice now, I got barely toasted and my meat wasn't warmed at all. Also, man I loveeee the house made chipotle mayo but today was just way too much sauce. Yes, I should have spoken up about what I specifically wanted, but part of my reviews need to include things like consistency. Today was fine, but not the 5 star I've come to expect. One star off for the other location being closed and not posted anywhere. One star off for inconsistent sandwiches.

    Photos
    Frenchi’s Deli - #5 Le Buckeye Combination

    #5 Le Buckeye Combination

    Frenchi’s Deli
    Frenchi’s Deli - Menu  @ColumbusFoodDude

    See all

    Menu @ColumbusFoodDude

    Dave's Cosmic Subs - #1 Original

    Dave's Cosmic Subs

    4.2(82 reviews)
    3.2 miUniversity District

    Dave's Cosmic %hit Subs... Where do you want me to start?…read more We're in town for the CBUS Blue Jackets and Door Dashed this bull %hit to our ABnB. To start, we ordered at 6:27, our Door Dasher picked up the food at 6:36, but it wasn't delivered until 8:57... Completely unacceptable. Granted the extremely late delivery wasn't the restaurant's fault (necessarily)... However, because they use Door Dash for delivery, they're ultimately responsible by proxy. Add in that the delivery driver spoke no English, tried to kick our English Staffy who ran out whilst smiling to say "hi" (if you know anything about Staffy's, you know they love people and don't have a mean bone in their body), our food was cold because it was delivered 1.5 hours late, and I was about to lose my flipping mind. Now onto the food... These were quite honestly some of the worst subs we've ever had. Subway is miles ahead of this hot garbage, and it's not remotely close. The food was $50 for two puny half filled subs, inedible coleslaw (absolutely disgusting), a pickle, and a GF cookie (that was not delivered). Now onto the really bad part... Within 30 minutes of eating this trash, both my wife and I had to run for the toilet (I'll leave it at that). Bottom line... Screw this place. PS - If I ever run into Cosmic Dave, he's going to get a piece of my mind for charging people $ for this crap.

    Really good sandwiches. Right across the street from THE Ohio state University Student Center.read more

    Photos
    Dave's Cosmic Subs
    Dave's Cosmic Subs - Dave's Peace Steak Sub

    Dave's Peace Steak Sub

    Dave's Cosmic Subs

    See all

    Catering By Scott - The Schmoozer

    Catering By Scott

    4.9(736 reviews)
    4.4 miEastmoor
    $$

    Scotty's Cafe came recommended by my wife's OSU colleague Isaac and it did not disappoint on two…read morefamily visits. First time my wife and daughter stopped before our daughter headed overseas for two years in the Peace Corps. Scotty''s is super close and convenient to the airport. Scotty learned of the imminent departure and came with cookies and treats for the long flight! And now this morning it was another airport drop off. It was my turn, dining alone but nothing about a table for one at Scotty's is lonely. The staff are immediately welcoming and every customer is every employee's charge. Four different people helped me or just checked in. The Gina breakfast combos have lots to offer for breakfast. But I was thrilled this 9:30 am to be assured the whole menu was available. I was looking for something less common and was excited to see potato latkes with sour cream and apple sauce as an option. That would have been great but then the waitress (Salome maybe) said, "Do you like corned beef?" The Schmoozer is 3 enormous latkes with thinly shaved and lightly grilled corn beef on top with an over easy egg atop that. Seriously, I can declare victory for finding something I'd never had before. Never would have found it without the nudge. Had to cut myself off with all the coffee offers. Just a great vibe. You rarely see a 4.9 rating and even more rarely that high based on so many reviews. But I understand why - like in so many things in life, it is about the people. And the joy they bring to every conversation. And I will just add, in this age when some would divide us, this dining room is filled with all manner of folks, reveling together over food in fellowship.

    As someone who considers herself a pancake connoisseur, theirs were genuinely the best ones I've…read moreever had. They have such a wonderful vanilla flavor, I could eat them plain. Their baked goods are also a must-get, especially the lemon cookies and oatmeal raisin cookies! The workers were so kind and attentive and made our first experience there absolutely amazing.

    Photos
    Catering By Scott - COVID 19  dining room

    COVID 19 dining room

    Catering By Scott - Cake of the week!! I mean no better combination than Chocolate and Peanut Butter! So here is the Buckeye cake!

    Cake of the week!! I mean no better combination than Chocolate and Peanut Butter! So here is the Buckeye cake!

    Catering By Scott - The Schmoozer, Pancakes, and the Big Breakfast.

    See all

    The Schmoozer, Pancakes, and the Big Breakfast.

    Katzinger's Delicatessen - Amazing deli options... $18 for a sandwich is not precisely a bargain but I hope flavor makes it worth ...

    Katzinger's Delicatessen

    3.7(688 reviews)
    0.2 miGerman Village
    $$

    The best sandwiches in Columbus! We come to Katzinger's at least once a month, and it never…read moredisappoints. We have a few go to's (#41 and #16), but we like to try a new one each time we go. Every single one has been great! Tonight we got #57 Franklin's Kibbetz, which has homemade mozzarella and pesto and added turkey (bottom right). We also got #5 Mimi's Melody, which has their homemade tuna salad on grilled rye (bottom left). Next we got our favorite, #41 Phil Katzinger's Club, which has their homemade chicken salad, bacon, and Honeycup mustard (top left). Finally we got #3 Ari's Open Door, which had pastrami, salami, and cream cheese (top right). The service is also amazing - the workers are kind and even gave us free bagels tonight as they were closing! Must try.

    It is St Patrick's Day so I looked for a deli with corned beef sandwiches nearby and found Katz's…read more Having lived in NYC I had high expectations for a deli with Katz in the name. Additionally, having had a Goodman's Deli mile high corned beef sandwich when I lived in Cleveland, I had even higher expectations. Their most popular sandwich is the Reuben so I went with that. Katzingers did not meet them. When I arrived to pick up my sandwich I was shocked the line wasn't out the door to place orders before they closed and the dining room had maybe 6 people in it. There were about 6 to go bags on the shelf along with mine. When I mentioned to the cashier that I was surprised it wasn't busier, she said it'll be busier tomorrow. I said the day after St Pat's? No answer. Another not good sign in my mind. When I got home, the wrapped sandwich was bigger than my hand but not very tall. The paper had areas of grease which is a good sign for this sandwich. The corned beef itself was tender but there wasn't as much of it, maybe an inch high and 1/3 of the bread had no corned beef. I also could not taste the thousand island dressing. The rye bread was toasted but pretty soggy. The crust was mostly crunchy. The bread slices were paired upside down putting a narrower side a larger side against each other. There is not enough sauerkraut and it is not very sour. I was given the choice of a dill or garlic pickle but I cannot tell you how it was because they didn't put it in the bag. I expected this sandwich to have so much meat in it, I could eat for multiple days for $18. Again, disappointed. Maybe I should've gotten the deli sized version but paying that much for a sandwich... The inside of the deli is fun and it's obvious it's been around a long time and has been well loved. I wanted to like Katzinger's but since the price and the quality don't match, I cannot.

    Photos
    Katzinger's Delicatessen - To the back dining room.?

    To the back dining room.?

    Katzinger's Delicatessen - 76. Mike and Rich Follow the Bubble Sandwich

    76. Mike and Rich Follow the Bubble Sandwich

    Katzinger's Delicatessen - 3rd Street Entry

    See all

    3rd Street Entry

    Fat Arnie's Sandwich Shop - Pork Belly Chicharron  @ColumbusFoodDude

    Fat Arnie's Sandwich Shop

    4.8(15 reviews)
    7.1 miClintonville

    Fat Arnie's is the place to be on Saturdays! The fried pork belly chicharrones are dangerously good…read morecrispy, rich, and packed with flavor. I swear I went into a full food daze while inhaling every single bite. But don't wait... these sell out fast and once they're gone, they're gone. Tucked in the back of Rafters Beer Pub is a hidden gem of a kitchen just waiting for your order. Trust me, this is one you don't want to miss.

    Mr found out about this spot earlier this week, so we made time on a Sunday afternoon to pick up…read moresome sammies to go! Couple things worth noting: it's tucked inside a neighborhood bar on Indianola. Parking can be tricky but there's more around back and just down a bit closer to Savor. Inside the bar, just head to the back inside window to order. They have a menu with some notes and updates, also. Seems chicken sandwiches will be back soon which might be the thing I try next. Also, on Saturdays, you can order a pound of chicharron for $20. A bit about costs: I think it's a bit expensive. A single empanada is $5. There are price breaks for larger quantities ordered. Italian sub and double patty burgers are each $13. The Appolonia Italian is a decent size, but the buger, even with double patty, felt small. The service is super friendly! The quality of their offerings is much higher than average. Everything tasted really good, no notes. The spicy Italian is a bit spicier than I prefer with their version of a giardiniera on it, but Mr loved it. All in all, a generous 4. I'd get it again and recommend it with my notes so you know what to expect. (Sorry I forgot a pic of the burger)

    Photos
    Fat Arnie's Sandwich Shop
    Fat Arnie's Sandwich Shop - Arnie Burger

    Arnie Burger

    Fat Arnie's Sandwich Shop - Order counter

    See all

    Order counter

    Smash Buddies - burgers - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...