The Miami Smashburger Power Rankings

Cowy is currently making our favorite smashburgers in Miami. Yes, the patties are as thin and crisp as eyebrow culture in the ’50s, but that’s only half the reason these eclipse every other flat burger in the city. They’re also remarkable because they’re pumped with thoughtful ingredients that just work, like chunky bacon jam, goat cheese, and crisp twigs of sweet potato. And for the smashburger simpletons, they have one loaded with good ol’ pickles.

Somehow, this tastes even more spectacular than it looks. The two patties seem like they were pounded with a sledgehammer, then put to rest under an american cheese blanket. And the addition of tangy Louie's "bang" sauce is the best $2 you'll ever spend. The only downside to Louie’s smashburger is that it isn’t always available (even when you come during their normal hours). But you can always call ahead and ask if they’re open before making the drive to Miami Beach, only to leave hungry and sad.

We bet whoever built The Gibson Room’s double smashburger is the kind of person who thinks too much about whether a sandwich should be cut straight or diagonally. It has more structural integrity than the Hoover Dam. The lettuce is shredded so it doesn’t yank around with every bite. A fancy 1000 island sauce holds it all in place, while the gooey cheese glues the top bun to the rest of the burger. But the most impressive thing about it is how juicy the patties are for a crispy smashburger.

The food at Babe’s is all quality and zero flashiness. This is why their smashburger just looks like a very normal burger. It’s smashed—but not as thin as most—because you still want to taste the patty they grind fresh themselves (this place is also a butcher shop). And that beef is lovely, accentuated by american cheese, Sriracha mayo, housemade pickles, and not a single other unnecessary item. Simplicity is refreshing in the smashburger universe.

The burgers from USBS are one of our favorites in the city. A big reason for this is their exquisite, spongy housemade buns, which absorb the cheese sauce so, when you take a bite, it almost eats like a cream-filled donut. The only reason they’re not higher in this ranking is due to inconsistent smashing. We’ve had versions with patties that are paper-thin, and we’ve had versions that don’t look like a smashburger much at all. This might have something to do with a delivery error (that’s a mail joke). But even on their least-smashed days, this is still one of Miami’s best burgers.

If you’ve ever had the burgers at Apocalypse BBQ, the ones at their Tuesday pop-up are closely related—quite literally (Lala is the owner’s wife). The patties are the same 5oz brisket/short rib blend that Apocalypse serves Wednesday through Sunday. But Lala’s doesn’t just smash their patty, they smash the entire burger, buns and all. With its smushed potato buns and cheese oozing out the side, it looks like a dump truck rolled over this thing. We like the Lala smash, with american cheese, grilled onions, sweet house pickles, and a tangy Mediterranean spice sauce.

Part of the charm of this smashburger is the unexpectedness of it. Your friends will be confused when you bring them to this random South Beach hotel bar. But when the strong martinis and surprisingly good smashburger arrive, they will be impressed by your knowledge of excellent hidden burgers in random bars. This burger is straightforward but really well-executed—caramelized onions, pickles, american cheese, finely shredded lettuce, and two smashed patties seared hard on a sesame seed bun. Get a side of crispy waffle fries and the house sauce. They don’t say what’s in it, but it’s spicier than most secret burger sauces, and goes well with a dirty martini.

It might not make frequent appearances in our smashburger dreams, but there is nothing wrong with Gramp’s Getaway’s smashburger. Like a tourist who forgot to reapply sunscreen, the bun arrives toasted (even with a little char on top too). Inside are two properly smashed (but not-too-thin) patties stacked on top of each other and slightly melted cheese. With pickles, mustard, and a waterfront view, it'll satisfy a smashburger craving just fine.

Celia’s just opened in Wynwood this month, and comes from the Dante's HiFi team (it's right next door too). Celia’s smashburger is refreshingly simple. The one burger option, offered as a single or double, comes with american cheese, pickles, onions, and a pink sauce that’s reminiscent of 1000 island dressing—all between toasted brioche potato buns. While it won’t be the smashburger you journal about, it’s still a good late-night bite after a few hours of head bobbing at Dante’s.

The Food Truck Store is a burger impressionist. Their menu consists of reproductions of various regional American burgers, and the best—their Oklahoma fried onion burger—is a smashburger. It's a good impression: cheesy, packed with charred onions, and cheaper than a plane ticket to Oklahoma to try the original. You may not come to this casual spot (which is not actually a food truck) for originality, but it’s a sincere form of flattery you’ll happily finish.

Skinny Louie’s has the longest lines of anywhere on this guide. But despite the deluge of influencer hype that’s trying to tell you otherwise, this isn’t Miami’s best smashburger. The edges of the patties aren’t as crispy as we’d like, and the burgers are so greasy that bun sogginess is an issue even if you’re eating there. This just isn’t worth waiting in line for at all—and especially not now that Cowy Burger is waiting for you across the street.