I stopped by here a few days ago for the very first time while running errands. Smashburger is a new restaurant located at a small strip mall next to Starbucks in the Cabela's shopping plaza at the corner of C St. and 104th Ave. I came in around 1:30PM and the place was filled to capacity. I waited close to about 25 minutes in line before placing an order, but that was to be expected in such a popular place during the lunch rush. The seating arrangement of the tables and chairs were noticeably cramped and didn't give enough personal space for diners to eat comfortably when it gets crowded. However, the employees were very friendly upon greeting and the cashier was cheerful and upbeat when I approached the counter.
I decided to do the Create Your Own Burger by customizing it with aged cheddar, Applewood smoked bacon, lettuce, grilled onions, ketchup, and mayo on their Classic Egg Bun. For the side, an item on the menu caught my attention and that was the Smashfries (shoestring fries tossed in Italian olive oil, rosemary, and garlic....yes!). I have been reading countless reviews from fellow Yelpers down in the Lower 48 on garlic fries and this was only the second restaurant I came across in Anchorage that served seasoned fries with garlic. The wait for my order was only a few minutes, a lot shorter than the time I spent waiting in line.
The burger was absolutely delicious cooked medium with Certified Angus beef that is fresh and not frozen when made-to-order. The aged cheddar provided the perfect complement to the beef with its sharp tanginess as well as the thick-cut bacon adding an additional crunch of flavor with the toasted bun. The Smashfries were a home run with the perfect crisp as well as generous amounts of rosemary and minced garlic mixed in with the fries. There is also an option to order the Smashfries in a sweet potato version as well. Needless to say, it only took me a few minutes to devour this little piece of heaven and wash it down with a large cup of iced tea.
They have an eclectic variety of burgers on their menu which also include the Spinach, Cucumber, and Goat Cheese (tomato, onion, and balsamic vinaigrette on a multi-grain bun), the Buffalo and Blue Cheese (Frank's Red Hot Buffalo Sauce, lettuce, tomato, and mayo), Spicy Jalapeno Baja (guacamole, pepper jack, lettuce, tomato, onion, and chipotle mayo on a spicy bun), the Avocado Ranch Black Bean Burger (pepper jack, lettuce, tomato, and ranch dressing on a multi-grain bun), and the local regional favorite for the Anchorage location, the Kenai Burger (Kenai cheese, Applewood smoked bacon, haystack onions, jalapenos, and mayo on an egg bun).
All of their burger selections can be ordered with chicken instead of beef as well as items like salads, fried pickles, and Reese's Peanut Butter, Chocolate Oreo, or Butterfinger shakes also offered on their menu. There is also a rewards program called the Smashclub which will inform you of the newest burger promotions and coupons online to save a few dollars on future visits. You can also bypass the long waits in line by ordering on their website and simply picking it up at the counter. I would've given this place five-stars if it weren't for the cramped and tight seating area as well as more cash registers to split the long line to reduce waiting time. However, the quality of the food is worth the wait and this is a welcome new addition to the burger scene here in Anchorage. read more