A tour of the best smash burgers in Madrid

Not all burgers are cooked the same. Some are born from the simple act of pressing the meat on a hot griddle until the surface browns and develops a caramelized, thin, and crispy crust. This gesture gives its name to the smash burger: a way of cooking that transforms the seemingly mundane into an intense and direct gustatory experience.

To celebrate International Burger Day, gourmet and content creator Danny Salas launches the first edition of “The 10 Best in Madrid,” a carefully curated selection of the burgers that best embody this new way of understanding a classic.

This isn’t a typical list. It’s a guide for those looking for a great meal with no room for error. A collection of places where the burger is elevated without losing its street-food soul.

1st Place: Uncle Jota’s by @krickypelton

There’s something about this burger that borders on the intangible. A perfect blend of technique and emotion. The meat is seared with surgical precision, achieving a golden crust that crunches without losing its juiciness. The brioche bun is light, almost airy, yet substantial. And then there’s the sauce: a complex, intense, smooth emulsion, which, according to Salas, might be “the best that has ever accompanied a burger.” There are no frills. It doesn’t need them.

2nd Place: The Champion Smash by Dalú

Dalú puts together his proposal like someone designing a gastronomic interior. Everything is calculated: two 100g patties that blend with the American cheddar cheese, crunchy onions that provide an architectural contrast, and a homemade bacon jam that rounds out the whole thing. The deep, slightly smoky American sauce complements the burger without stealing the show. Served on brioche buns, this burger feels like a choreography of texture and sweetness.

3rd Place: Butter Burger from Milwaukee

A Double Smash Burger that stands out for its juiciness. It includes Cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, a touch of butter that defines its name, Milwaukee sauce, pickles, and onions sautéed in more butter, offering a unique flavor profile. It’s creamy, enveloping, and comforting. What could be considered an overly rich recipe is, in fact, an exercise in sensory balance.

4th Place: Smash Burger from Chuck’s Madrid

Chuck’s arrives from New York with a commitment to American technique. Here, the meat isn’t just flattened: it’s compressed to achieve a firm exterior and a juicy center. The toppings are American cheese, pickles, fresh onions, and a sauce that’s not just a dressing, but a manifesto. Served on traditional white bread, this burger could have come from a Brooklyn diner… but with a Chamberí spirit.

5th Place: Samurai Shadow by Hype

The most disruptive on the list. Inspired by Asian flavors but without losing its American roots, the Samurai Shadow combines crispy bacon, pickled red onion, and the unmistakable The Hype sauce, which achieves a spicy punch without overpowering it. Each bite is a dialogue between acidity, fat, sweetness, and umami. Ideal for those looking for intensity without losing precision.

6th Place: Double Bacon Cheese from Distrito Burger

This burger tastes like childhood, like a summer snack. But it does so with impeccable execution. Two Spanish beef patties smashed to the point of caramelization, double-layered American cheese, crispy bacon, and a classic trio of pickles, mustard, and ketchup. A burger for those who believe tradition can still evolve.

7th Place: IT by Burnout Burger

Burnout Burger’s iconic IT consists of a double smashburger with three slices of American cheese, a tasty onion marmalade, hand-cured grilled bacon, pickles, and the secret house sauce that made it famous. It’s a smash for hedonists.

8th place: Galgo from Galgo Smash

Galgo arrives from Castilla-La Mancha to prove that geography is no longer an excuse. Recognized as the Best Burger in Castilla-La Mancha in 2024, it stands out for its double portion of bacon marinated in craft beer syrup, a touch of complexity that doesn’t overshadow the meat, always the star. The bread is lightly buttered, the double cheddar, and the Emmy sauce set it apart from everything else. It’s a proposal with roots and ambition.

9th Place: Smash Chicken by Roost Chicken

The only chicken dish on the list, and with good reason. The pre-marinade and the double smash of poultry create a surprisingly deep result. Homemade fried onions, bacon, American cheese, and a signature sauce that doesn’t try to copy beef. Here, there’s a different narrative, a different texture, a different rhythm. Perfect for those looking for an alternative without sacrificing technique.

10th place: Picanto Smash by Briochef

Spicy, intense, and delicious. This burger closes the ranking with a blend of cheeses (cheddar and Gouda) that melt generously, a slow-cooked bacon jam, and a Latin pepper sauce that adds unexpected warmth. It’s the most baroque of the ten, but every excess is measured. A burger that makes no apologies for its character.

Danny Salas’ ranking is not a passing trend, but a finely tuned compass. An invitation to rediscover a classic that, in the right hands, can move you. Because when something as mundane as a burger is treated with respect and purpose, it ceases to be simple food and once again becomes a memorable event.