The smashed burgers trend is picking up in Dhaka. There are few places offering up some crispy-edged patties, with the newest addition to the scene being Smash 'N' Stack.
Currently serving from an outdoor cart, Smash 'N' Stack has opened up, adding another option for smashed burger enthusiasts in the city.
This place also provides a live cooking experience where customers can watch their burgers being made right in front of them.
“Smashed burgers have a distinct flavour, and as there are not many options for smashed burgers in Dhaka, I wanted to give people that experience,” stated the founder of Smash 'N' Stack, Azfar.
Food
The triple stacker smasher was the first burger we had. It was topped with three smoky smashed beef patties, caramelized onions, and cheese. The smashed patty was well cooked, layered, succulent, and meaty, with a prominent umami flavour.
While the cheese worked really well on the burger, the onions were somewhat too caramelized, resulting in a slightly overly scorched touch but, when teamed with the dynamite sauce, the burger truly stole the show. The savoury and tangy zest from the sauce balanced out the caramelized onions.
The house special dynamite sauce, both in the burger and provided on the side as a dip, is an absolute winner. We truly couldn't stop dipping the burgers in the dynamite sauce, which is tangy and savoury. This sauce is delectable and elevates the flavours to the next level.
We then got the double stacker smasher, which is similarly assembled with two patties, cheese, and caramelized onions. If you have a smaller appetite, the double stacker smasher is a better option.
The patty is equally luscious, and the caramelized onions and cheese are well matched with the addition of the dynamite sauce. These burgers are really hefty and meaty, regardless of whether you eat the double or the triple stacker.
Their loaded fries also packed a punch of flavours with meat, cheese, and sauce.
They were crisp and seasoned well, meaty and cheesy yet still simple enough to be served on the side. They were sauced to the core with plenty of meat and cheese; just remember to eat them while they are still hot.
The burger and fries were accompanied by iced caramel and iced chocolate coffee.
The iced caramel coffee was our drink of choice because, although laced with caramel, it was not overly sweet and had a well-balanced nuance between the coffee and the caramel, making it sinfully delicious.
The price range at Smash ‘N’ Stack is Tk120 to Tk295 for fries and Tk395 to Tk645 for burgers.
Ambience
Located at Naveed’s Comedy Club in Gulshan 2, Smash 'N' Stack’s founder Azfar says what sets them apart in an area crowded with food stalls is that no one else serves burgers.
“No one else is serving burgers here, and that gives us a fair chance without making it competitive, "he explained.
Challenges
The place opened in October 2024. Founder Azfar said they opened the burger cart to accommodate a smaller budget while assuring quality.
“As a student, I was attempting to stay within a budget while prioritising quality, so a full-fledged restaurant was not my first consideration,” he said.
According to Azfar, the bigger challenge for Smash 'N' Stack as a new burger joint is deciding how much consumer feedback to absorb and when to minimise it.
“Sometimes, people want us to make tiny adjustments that are easier to customize and get done, and sometimes they want us to make bigger changes to the burger. It gets difficult to decide how much of it to incorporate entirely,” he added.
Verdict
Give their triple stacker smasher a shot with the dynamite sauce; you will not be disappointed. If you like your burgers extra saucy, do not forget to dip them in the delectable dynamite sauce. You must complete your order with loaded fries and iced caramel coffee.