The 10 Best Smash Burgers in NYC, Ranked
The best smash burger in NYC is Nowon (9.5), a Korean-inspired East Village spot whose kimchi-laden double stack has no equal. It's followed by Gotham Burger Social Club (9.2) on the Lower East Side and Rolo's (8.9) in Ridgewood, Queens. We've scored 81+ burgers across NYC and these are the smash burgers that earned their spots through crispy edges, proper cheese melt, and genuine flavor — not hype.
Smash burgers dominate NYC right now, and for good reason: the Maillard reaction on a thin, pressed patty creates a crust that thicker burgers can't match. But not every place pressing patties flat deserves your time. Here are the ones that do.
| # | Restaurant | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nowon | 9.5 |
| 2 | Gotham | 9.2 |
| 3 | Rolo's | 8.9 |
| 4 | White Horse Tavern | 8.7 |
| 5 | The Spaniard | 8.7 |
| 6 | Smacking Burger | 8.5 |
| 7 | NADC | 8.3 |
| 8 | Do Not Disturb | 8.1 |
The Rankings
Nowon's double smash burger isn't just the best smash burger in NYC — it's Pantheon tier, period. The kimchi caramelized into the patty creates this sweet-savory-funky flavor that nothing else in the city replicates. Two perfectly crispy patties with gochujang-kissed American cheese on a sesame milk bun.
Order: Double Smash Burger with everything. Don't skip the rice cakes.
GBSC started as a pop-up and the energy still feels that way — the griddle sizzling, butter being basted, American cheese cascading. They toast the exterior of the top bun, which is a small thing that changes everything. The caramelized onions are cooked into the patty, not placed on top. That distinction matters.
Order: Double Gotham Smash with everything, plus frickles.
Rolo's uses dry-aged beef in their smash burger, which gives it a depth most smash spots can't touch. The double patty arrives dripping with dijonnaise and a mix of shiny grease that you'll want to mop up with their crispy potatoes. Worth the trip to Ridgewood.
Order: Double cheeseburger with crispy potatoes 'war style.'
A West Village institution since 1880 now serving one of the neighborhood's best smash burgers. The patties get a serious sear and the whole thing is assembled with care you don't expect from a place with this much history. It's a proper pub smash burger done at a high level.
Order: Smash burger with a draft beer. This is the move.
The Spaniard's smash burger benefits from the fact that this is primarily a cocktail bar — meaning the food has to be good enough to justify ordering it alongside $18 drinks. It is. Crispy edges, melty cheese, and a whiskey pairing that makes the whole experience better.
Order: Smash burger. Then a whiskey from their excellent shelf.
Operating out of a gas station bodega on the corner of West 4th, Smacking Burger is proof that great smash burgers don't need a fancy address. At $8, it's the best value smash burger in Manhattan. The griddle is right there — you watch them make it. Every ingredient is placed with intention.
Order: Big Smack burger. Cash or card, no pretension.
NADC's smash burger plays it a bit more refined than the spots above, fitting for its NoHo address. The patty-to-bun ratio is well calibrated and the cheese situation is handled properly. A reliable smash burger in a neighborhood that doesn't have many.
Order: Smash burger. Good lunch option in the NoHo area.
Newer entry on the scene but earning its spot quickly. Do Not Disturb's smash burger has good crisp, decent cheese melt, and a bun that doesn't fall apart — which sounds basic but too many places get wrong. Solid addition to the Nolita dining options.
Order: Smash burger. Still dialing in the rest of the menu.
On Our Radar
The Hot Mess smash burger has been getting serious attention. We haven't tried it yet but it's high on our list.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best smash burger in NYC?
Nowon in the East Village scores a 9.5 in our rankings, making it the best smash burger in NYC. Their Korean-inspired double smash with kimchi caramelized into the patty is in a class of its own.
What is the cheapest good smash burger in NYC?
Smacking Burger in the West Village at around $8 is the best value. Operating out of a gas station bodega, it scores 8.5 — Elite tier — at a fraction of the price of sit-down spots.
What is the difference between a smash burger and a regular burger?
A smash burger uses a ball of beef pressed flat on a hot griddle, creating maximum surface contact for a crispy, caramelized crust. Regular burgers are formed into thicker patties and cooked without pressing. The smash technique produces more Maillard reaction flavor per bite.
Where can I get a smash burger in the West Village?
The West Village has several excellent options: White Horse Tavern (8.7), The Spaniard (8.7), and Smacking Burger (8.5). For the best value, Smacking Burger at ~$8 can't be beat.
All scores are from the Burgerverse ranking system, based on Brotherly Burgers' reviews of 81+ NYC burgers. Scores use a 0-10 scale with decimal precision. Updated regularly.