The BF and I came here for date night and also stayed for amateur comedy hour. A small dive bar in south city with friendly employees and a limited cocktail menu. The worst aspect is the ventilation which needs much work. We came out smelling so greasy and smokey. We seated ourselves and waited a minute for our waitress to assist us. She kept saying she was new, that it was like her second day or something and didn't quite know the menu. She also didn't know how to make a drink, with that being the case why are you allowed to make any cocktails. If you have a limited cocktail menu but an extensive bar selection you would think their cocktail specials were on point. Nooooo. The BF tried a margarita special and it was awful. I tried a special crafted cocktail that was cool that our waitress asked the guy bartending to specially make because she had no clue about what I was talking about. I hate going to a spot where I make drinks better than the bartenders on hand and that's your job. The BF ordered the the garlic burger and I ordered the Korean wings which NEVER came out because our waitress forgot to order them. So I shared food with the BF. The burger was extremely underwhelming, not seasoned at all. How do you specialize in burgers and mess that up. The best item we ate was the fries and the comedy show was good. I love dinner and entertainment. We are burger enthusiast and if this what your restaurant specializes in I expect to be wowed. We saw all the social media hype surrounding this place and were so excited to try them. To find out it was ALL just hype is a real let down. No we will not be returning, the burgers and service speak for themselves. read more

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Rip Tres Equis; Bienvenidos Smash Em's After much anticipation and an impromptu visit, I was finally able to check this place out. They're known for their smash burgers and seasoned fries. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get the food bc I had dinner plans, but I did stay for a couple drinks. They have a great selection of spirits and cocktail specials. My friend got a tequila sunrise, so I followed suit. The pour was quite generous, I must say, and I'm def not complaining. The drink was smooth, with the perfect amount of tequila and sweetness. The bartenders working were both friendly and sociable. The vibe was relaxed and is a great alternative when things get too crazy at the dam. While I only got drinks, I'll for sure be back. The smells alone (all good of course) will have you lingering back! read more

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This has 5 star potential for sure... Reading the reviews prepared us for most things. The bartenders are also the wait staff. You order at the bar and can sit anywhere you can find a seat. It was a super chill vibe overall, the people eating and the staff were friendly and polite. We got there about 4:40 on a Friday and it was already busy. They also do carry out so the wait staff are working over time to get everything and everyone taken care of, they were great overall. I ordered the garlic burger as a double and as is with fries (included) Overall it was good! Cooked well, seasoned and when they say garlic they mean it. My only change will be getting the sauce on the side, a little too much for me but the bun was yummy as well! The fries were good but i wish they were a little hotter since we had waited a little bit. My love got their regular burger but there was a miscommunication somewhere so it didn't come correctly. Overall they have something here! We will be back to try again read more

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I ordered to go. Place was packed and its rather small. It took 45 mind for the food but let me tell you the wait was worth it. Photos dont do the food justice when you take something home and I live 45 mins away. With that being said, there is a welcoming vibe as soon as you enter. Everyone especially the staff seem to be having a good time. The staff let everyone know about the wait time. The ladies working the bar were very friendly and engaging and zipped around creating drinks like magicians. They have many cocktail specials and brews on tap and next time Will come by early to indulge. I ordered the garlic burger. It was so juicy and flavorful. If you are a garlic lover this is the sandwich for you. The garlic aioli is tangy and rich with all the roasted garlicky flavor you could ask for. I also got the hot and smokey wings. The wings were crisp and the smoky sauce had a small kick that woke up the taste buds. It hit all those notes just right. Even the side of Kevs fries were satisying!! Impressed and can't wait to return to try other things on the menu and this time ease into the crowd and stay a while! read more

Smash Em’s Burger Bar - Hot and smoky wings - Burgers Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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Top 3 best burger in the city. So tender you could almost gum this burger. Bun is nicely toasted and the meat is great quality. Burger was piping hot and the fries were too. Fries have a super unique seasoning with a little bit of sugar but it makes the fries addicting. Service was super friendly and the atmosphere is awesome. Great music playing too. A must visit for this burger. read more

Smash Em’s Burger Bar - Double patty smash with the works - Burgers Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

One of the best smash burgers in St. Louis! We stopped in on a Sunday afternoon and managed to grab two seats at the bar. The restaurant is on the smaller side, but it has a great atmosphere. We ordered the specialty garlic burger, which comes with two smash patties, white American cheese, fried garlic, and a garlic aioli. Every bite was packed with bold, delicious flavor. The burgers are served with fries, which were perfectly crispy and generously coated in a seasoning blend that's the ideal mix of sweet and savory. The staff was friendly, attentive, and made sure we had everything we needed. Definitely a spot worth checking out if you're craving a great burger in St. Louis. read more

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If you've been to AuCheval in Chicago , they have a version of that burger here & it's a good comparison. Try it here when you're having a chi-town craving. Love that's this place is open late, typically the music is better in the evening. Tip: Be careful as you walk towards the bathroom...the floors are greasy! read more

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I kept seeing reviews for this place saying they have really good burgers, and man did they deliver! It's very much a casual inside with a bar or other tables to sit at. The bartenders were super nice and cool, I would definitely come back! read more

Smash Em’s Burger Bar - Old school - Burgers Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

Juicy & delicious smash burgers. These are so good you'll be licking your fingers after each bite. Ordered the garlic double cheeseburger and another double with the works. Both were super tasty, would easily order again. Fries are a must have order. The seasonings are doing their thing. Great spot read more

Smash Em’s Burger Bar - Burgers Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

Dive bar can order to go and or eat there... cool azz bartenders it's a small vibe there fire burgers packed with flavor fresh ingredients and love.... But if you not a burger person that's cool too cause them wings!! Or definitely winging!!! You won't be disappointed can't tell you how many times I've been and this is the only pic I have cause the burger does not last!! Service is great very personable because they are busy and the kitchen isn't very big if you're doing to go call 30 mins ahead and pack your wet wipes etc cause you will definitely want to eat your to go in the car... yes it's that good!! Only minus point and don't take to heart loved the bacon on the bacon cheese fries just not the cheese .. it was giving nacho cheese sauce vibes but the KEVS fries I will ask for time and time again !! Cause baby they are seasoned to the gods IN A GOOD WAY!!!! read more

Smash Em’s Burger Bar - Bacon cheese fries and smashed cheeseburger - Burgers Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

I heard this place had good burgers and my expectations were exceeded! Dare I say this is the best smashed burger I ever had. It was cooked perfectly and the flavor was through the roof. They make all their sauces in house and it shows. Even their house made lemonade was good so I had them add some gin to it and it fantastic. We sat at the bar and everyone was super nice and didn't mind answering a bunch of questions about their menu. read more

Smash Em’s Burger Bar - Garlic burger ... I added tomatoes, lettuce and pickles - Burgers Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

Ordered single garlic burger over the phone with a 25 minute wait. Single burger patty took about 42 minutes to come out. $14 total. On google, it says a double is $15 so it looks like it's falsely advertised. The waiter said to make it double is $4 extra. The patty is so thin I don't think it's worth it. The burger itself was thin, making it slightly burnt. The flavor was good but average. Fries were good but towards the bottom they were all the cut short pieces that are less desirable. Decent, will give them another try and hope for better. read more

Smash Em’s Burger Bar - Garlic burger, sauce on side. - Burgers Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

This has to be my number one burger spot in St. Louis. Great drinks and even better food. The service is always nice. Really like the spacious patio for bigger groups. Every time I come I get the jalapeno burger smh I just can't get enough of it and the loaded fries. The wings are amazing as well! read more

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Stopped by after a few Pokè Raids in tower Grove park. Have to say it was a cool little place. As you walk in you're greeted by the bartender and handed a menu. They have a seating at the bar, tables or outside seating on the patio. Opted for Togo so I sat a the Bar until my order was ready. I had the Creat your own Triple Cheese Bacon Burger with Bacon Cheese Fries. The wait wasn't long at all everything came out hot and fresh seasoned to perfection. The Thick cut bacon was a great addition to the fries and burger plus they do not skimp on the toppings. Thurly impressed by this spot will might take the cake as my new favorite Smash burger spot read more

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I recommend Smash Em's smashburger and fries as they are excellent and high quality and worth the price. However on a busy Friday night it took a wait of over 45 minutes once I ordered to get my food and I didn't know that it would take so long but at least was worth the wait. Also, it took me a little while to get noticed standing there to order at the corner of the bar to order but they got to me just as I was about to leave. I was disappointed they were out of onion rings but I should be back and will try them next time. Bar room was small and crowded but they had a nice porch outside. read more

Smash Em’s Burger Bar - Jalapeño Smashburger and fries. Thumbs up! - Burgers Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

I have no photos. I inhaled the burger too quickly. I got the garlic burger and oh. My. Goodness. It was so good. It's been months actually since I ate there but I have thought about that burger many times since then. It deserved an amazing review. Only thing was it took a long time to get my burger but it was worth the wait. Oh and the fries are also amazing. Seriously, this place is so good, simple, basic, and amazing. It was casual, had a nice outdoor space out back. I will be going back soon. read more

I know people have their qualms about how thick the burger is blah blah blah. But me personally? Best smash burger I've had to date, if you do like to eat get that toppings and a double so you arnt left feeling like you could of ate more (unless that's what you want). We sat outside but the food came pretty quick else wise, it's easy to order you just go up to the front and the guy at the front was really chill. It's very much bar vibes but I like it personally! read more

Omg!!! If you are looking for an amazing burger this it!! The service was good. Just a bit slow due to not having the staff but you won't mind that. The place is small but they do have a patio for mice evenings. Seems friendly like a neighborhood bar of you just wanted drinks. We will definitely go back read more

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I'd heard nothing but great things about Smash Em's, so we decided to try it out on a Friday night. There was a bit of a line, but we were able to order pretty quickly and found a table out on the patio. The interior of the restaurant is small and cozy, but they do have a lot of patio seating, and most of it is covered. They say to expect a 20-30 minute wait for your food, which is about how long we waited. I had the Garlic burger while my partner had the Au Cheval. Everything was delicious- but a few bites in we realized they had accidentally swapped the buns and aiolis on our burgers. I also think mine was missing the fried garlic. Nevertheless, it was a busy night and we were hungry, so we didn't care enough to go up to the counter. The seasoning on the fries was especially tasty- reminded me of the fries they had at Krieger's, before those all shut down. We'll be back to try some of their other options soon! read more

Smash Em’s Burger Bar - Double Garlic Burger, Kev's Fries - Burgers Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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You know what they say..... when you got a smash burger place in the back of a bar it's gonna be hella good! This place did not disappoint. I got the double smash burger with the loaded fry and yall.... The loaded fry has actual chunks of real bacon never have I ever in a restaurant had real CHUNKS of bacon on loaded fries. So get up off your couch, stop by on your way from the airport and give them a try. read more

A bar and really good burger joint with good bartender and a lively vibe. I tried the Garlic specialty burger and it was bigger than I thought since many smash burger places have really small burgers. The burger had a great flavor and the garlic aioli enhanced the flavor. Since it is a bit bigger it is a bit greasier than some other burger places. I also had the fries and definitely recommend them. They have a nice but not overpowering seasoning on them. My dining mate had the onion rings - this is the one thing I would say you can skip, they are just basic and they were really greasy. The staff was great and very quick and friendly. The bar is a full bar. I can't wait to go back. read more

Smash Em’s Burger Bar - Onion rings just basic. Get the fries instead - Burgers Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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When you get food you order at the bar and then get a number for the table. The food was so good! We got the au chevel burger , garlic burger , and onion rings. Everything was amazing . The Korean bbq sauce was so good. They have a mix of bar seating and tables with small room in the back with larger tables. The looks like a nice patio when the weather gets nicer read more

Smash Em’s Burger Bar - Au chavel - Burgers Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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Best burger I've had in a long time. Had the Burger Cheval. It was dripping with a perfectly prepared over medium egg and bacon. The burgers themselves were well seasoned and crispy on the edges. The perfect smash burger. I ordered the burger ahead of time on the phone and the burger was ready as promised when we arrived. The atmosphere is dark and pub like. Looking forward to trying an in restaurant experience. read more

Jalapeño Double Smash Burger. Staff were very welcoming and friendly! The space is tight but they have a patio. Delicious is an understatement! read more

Smash Em’s Burger Bar - Jalapeño Smash Burger w/ Fries - Burgers Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

100%.....best burger in St Louis. The flavor of both the burgers and fries were amazing. Grandson also tried the wings and loved them. Couple that with outstanding and very friendly service, made for a great Sunday stop with the grandkids. A special thanks to the young lady who served us. She took particular time with our youngest grandchild to help him pick out his meal from the menu. When I asked how he liked it, his answer: "BOMB" Can't wait to take the other kids back to give it a try. read more

The food was delicious, the bar is kind of small on the inside so it fills up fast but there's also a patio. There was only one bartender, Patrick, taking food and drink orders for the entire bar but his speed of service was still stellar ! read more

Smash Em’s Burger Bar - The tiki - Burgers Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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In the ongoing battle for STL smash burger spot supremacy, Smash Em more than stakes their claim as a Tier 1 contender for the throne. The vibes are basically that of a dive bar with the most delicious bar burgers imaginable. I was there on a very hot Saturday afternoon and was able to find a seat at the bar to grab a cold beer while i figured out my order. Went with a double garlic burger (comes with fries) and an order of Korean wings. Everything was . Had some classic hip hop playing in the background . I'm a fan read more

Smash Em’s Burger Bar - Double garlic burger with bacon, fries, a six piece of Korean BBQ wings flanked by a city wide in the background. Pretty thorough set up - Burgers Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

When you walk in you're met by a great music selection, automatically makes you feel like you want to hang out there. You seat yourself, if the bartenders aren't too busy they may swing by the table but you do order at the bar. I gotta say, with how busy they were at lunch time on a Saturday, the bartender did great, they were slammed.. with that being said the food was a long wait but honestly with the music going, good drinks, and with how tasty the food was, we didn't even mind the wait by the end of the experience. The jalapeño burger is hands down the best burger I've ever had, the garlic burger is great as well, but something about that jalapeño! I'm not someone who likes spicy/heat overly, so it's definitely tolerable for those who have low heat tolerance. They gave us free cookies at the end for our wait, honestly didn't even expect anything, we were still happy with our experience prior to them giving us this. The cookies were chocolate chip and delicious! Definitely recommend buying some! Can't wait to come back/try the wings next time! read more

Smash Em’s Burger Bar - Garlic burger, jalapeño burger, fries, cheese sauce - Burgers Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

I found the best burger in STL! They smash them perfectly and the flavor is on point. Atmosphere is laid back casual with indoor bar and patio out back. read more

Arrived for dinner around 6:30pm and the place is very busy. A table freed up so we grabbed it. They have a one page menu. I read prior reviews so I was interested in trying their garlic burger which is listed under their speciality burgers. It has two patties, white American cheese, fried garlic and a garlic aioli. For my side I went with their fries. The food arrived piping hot which is amazing. The garlic burger is packed with lots of flavors and was delicious. Hot French fries makes a big difference and their fries were hot and seasoned nicely. Kevin was our server and he was hustling the entire time. The place is like a traditional bar so don't be fooled. They don't have a parking lot so it's street parking which was pretty easy to find. read more

One of the BEST burgers I've ever had. We headed to St. Louis on a last minute road trip and are so glad we stumbled across this place. The burgers are fries were seasoned really well! Service was excellent and ranch dressing was 10/10 . read more

Smash Em’s Burger Bar - Smash em double burger and the jalapeño burger - Burgers Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

This is a pretty small place in the city. No frills here, but you're coming for the food. The smash burgers are pretty darn good here. I git a triple thinking it might be a smaller patty, but I definitely should have gotten a double or single. Of course extra cheese is a must. I got the works on the burger, but next time I will probably get it with nothing but cheese. Don't want to hide that beef flavor behind condiments. The service was good, but it gets busy. A definite do it! read more

Smash Em’s Burger Bar - Burgers Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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After reading some online reviews I decided to try this burger joint on Morganford a few blocks south of Arsenal St in TGS. Rather than wait for a table I sat at the bar and definitely needed help as I was a virgin here. I learned one person takes a drink order another may take your food order and if you're at a table one person from the dining party places the order up at the bar and I think has to pay at that time. Anyway it was not rowdy, different games on the TVs, friendly customers and staff. I had a good time and appreciate the server telling me to consider a double rather than a single burger because they are smashed pretty flat. The burgers were flat but still juicy and crispy around the edges, the way I like them. The fries were awesome, I like my fries crunchy, not brown and soggy which often happens when you request well done fries. I told my friends that I saw for lunch the next week that we needed to get together here for a meal. I grew up 4 blocks from this place and still stop in the neighborhood and will try them again. Oh, btw not a dressy place; I saw people in soccer clothes and others in jeans & a t-shirt and two couples were dressed for like the Fox. Great evening. read more

The best smash burger I have had in maybe forever!! The flavor was incredible. The meat was cooked perfectly with a crispy "lace" effect on the edges. The buns were fresh and tasty and the toppings were delicious too. I had jalapeño relish on mine and it was just right. read more

I've been looking for a good burger recently, and they did not disappoint! I got the Old School as is the fries were amazing also! My mom picked it up for me so it was to-go still 10/10 quality! I will be going back as I am not far! read more

Smash Em’s Burger Bar - The Old School burger with fries! - Burgers Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

First timer, and RETURNING. Burger was pure GOLD, wings were extra crispy without even asking. Whoever controlled the music was also in a BAG. 10/10 everything read more

Smash Em’s Burger Bar - Burgers Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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Yummiest burgers!! I got the jalapeño burger and it wasn't too spicy but well flavored. The vibe is chill. We sat out in the back and had a great experience. Will definitely be back! read more

Everything was Great, though Stacie didn't lie everything and She's a real critic. I Loved the Comedy Open Mic. plus the crowd

Maybe the best burger I've had in the city of St. Louis. I'm not exaggerating. I got the garlic specialty burger . The fries were also seasoned very well. read more

Smash Em’s Burger Bar - Garlic burger - Burgers Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

The burger was excellent. I had the au chaval single. It was excellent and egg was cooked appropriately. I would order again. Other family got the turkey burger which she said was the best she had ever had and someone had the BBQ burger which the Korean sauce was as SO good! As stated in other reviews, this is a bar atmosphere and I definitely left feeling like I smelled liked grilled burgers. read more

Smash Em’s Burger Bar - Burgers Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri