A Smashin' Good Burger in Johns Creek

My husband — literally a meat-and-potatoes man — eats just a select few different types of foods, one of them being a burger, so when I heard that a new burger chain called Smashburger was coming to Johns Creek, I knew we needed to check it out. (See author note at the end of this article.)

We are huge fans of In-N-Out Burger, a West Coast chain that has yet to make it east of Texas, but we are lucky if we get to eat it once a year, so we had to go in search of our favorite burger place here. We tried The Varsity, Fuddruckers, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Canyons Burger, Counter Burger and countless others.

We finally found a favorite in Fatburger several years ago after discovering it in Las Vegas and later in Cleveland, but the two Atlanta-area stores have since closed. 

Coincidentally, the Atlanta area’s first Smashburger found its home in the old Buckhead Fatburger location at 2625 Piedmont Road, NE. While I haven’t been to visit it yet since its July 7 opening, I did go visit the new Johns Creek store, located at 9775 Medlock Bridge Road, adjacent to the Target shopping center on the corner of Medlock Bridge and State Bridge roads. It opened in August.

Smashburger bills itself as a fast-casual “better burger” restaurant, but from the looks of the menu, this burger joint offers a whole lot more. There is an impressive selection of “already-built” burgers and create-your-own choices on the menu, including one with a regional recipe — the Atlanta burger (also available as a hot dog), featuring peach BBQ sauce, Wicked® Pimina cheese, grilled jalapeños and Vidalia coleslaw on an egg bun — but the restaurant also boasts grilled and crispy chicken sandwiches, fresh signature salads, Häagen-Dazs shakes and root beer floats and even beer and wine (you had my husband at Häagen-Dazs).

But what really sets Smashburger apart from the competition, says General Manager Larry Anderson, are the sides. Smashburger serves up a variety of sides — not just fries — including haystack onions, fried pickles and, for carb-counters like me, veggie frites — flash-fried asparagus spears, carrot sticks and green beans. There are still fries, however, lots of fries. You can get them simply shoe-string cut with sea salt or you can order the “smash” version — with white or sweet potato fries — tossed with rosemary, olive oil and garlic.

And don’t forget the chili cheese fries, or just a side of chili. There are so many sides from which to choose that I know I’ll choose more than one on my first visit there to eat, which will be as soon as the restaurant is open for service!

But back to the burgers. Smashburgers are 100-percent fresh-never-frozen, Certified Angus Beef smashed on a flat grill to sear in the juicy flavor. They come in three sizes: Small Smash, Smash and Big Smash and cost $3.29 to $6.99 each. In addition to the beef burgers, Smashburger sells a black bean veggie burger, for $4.99, to accommodate the meatless crowd. Prepared fresh daily, the veggie burgers are “smashed” on the grill, just like the beef burgers, says Anderson. 

To further the “better burger” experience, Smashburgers are served on a toasted artisan bun and topped with a selection of real cheeses, the freshest produce and top-quality condiments. With 15 different free sauces and toppings, six different cheeses (at 75 cents per slice) and a variety of add-ons like guacamole, garlic mushrooms and even fried egg (for 75 cents to $1.50 each), I bet you could eat a different burger each day for a year.

Another menu feature that makes Smashburger stand above the rest of the area burger places, according to Anderson, are the kids’ meals. The unique kids’ offerings differ in both size (for the kids’ smashburger and hot dog) and selection (kids-only grilled cheese and chicken strips) from the rest of the menu and come paired with fries and a beverage for $3.99.

According to Atlanta-area Franchise Owner Phil Wilkins, the Johns Creek Smashburger was built for occasions and families. “We are so happy that Smashburger has already been so well-received in the Atlanta market,” says Wilkins. “We can’t wait to introduce the restaurant to Johns Creek residents.”

Wilkins hopes residents and local businesspeople will “come in, try us out and recommend us to a third party.” He says, “We want to spread the burger love.”

Besides the burgers, says Anderson, Smashburger really prides itself on its service, with a smile. At Smashburger, customers order at the counter and take a number to a table after filling drinks at a fountain. From there, though, the staff takes over and serves the food, buses the tables and even provides drink refills if necessary. And Anderson adds that everything is fast, even though each meal is made fresh to order. (P.S. I always ask because I am never sure: Tipping, though not expected, is always appreciated at Smashburger.)

The Johns Creek Smashburger is the second of 28 Atlanta-area Smashburgers slated to open over the next seven years, with two more to come in 2011, including one on Windward Parkway. 

“We are thrilled to open our second location in the Atlanta area,” says Smashburger Chairman & CEO David Prokupek. “Johns Creek has really grown over the past couple of years, and we are honored to be a part of this great community.”

The restaurant is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Denver-based Smashburger, the country’s fastest growing fast casual “better burger” restaurant concept, is designed to be every city’s favorite place for burgers. Smashburger currently has 100 stores nationwide, and with the commitment from its franchise partners to build 463 units, Smashburger is on target to have 500 plus stores in the next few years. To learn more, visit www.smashburger.com.

Note from the author: I later had a chance to taste everything Smashburger has to offer at a sneak peek event for media like me, the night before the grand opening. After that experience, I can tell you that Smashburger will be my new go-to burger place. From burgers and fries to sides and shakes, Smashburger surpassed all my current choices (except Cheeseburger in Paradise, which I can’t compare to because it’s a full-service restaurant and bar).

I ate the Atlanta Burger and enjoyed every single bite. The combination of sweet peach BBQ sauce and spicy jalapeno peppers complemented by creamy coleslaw and savory Pimina cheese will keep me coming back for more.  My only complaint — I ordered too small of a size. I got the Small Smash, a mistake I will not repeat because the meat and topping-to-bun ratio would work better on the Smash or Big Smash (I had a good bit of bun leftover on the Small).

I also ate the sweet potato smashfries and fried pickles, some of the best I’ve had anywhere. I’d recommend both, but if you are not a huge fan of rosemary, stick to the french fries (which my husband had and were perfectly sized and spiced, in my opinion), because Smashburger uses the herb liberally.

I also tasted my daughter’s grilled cheese and my husband’s chili cheese hot dog. I would definitely order either on the days I am seeking a substitute for a burger. To top off my already decadent meal, I sampled an Oreo milkshake. As I said, you had my husband at Häagen-Dazs, and now me too. We are both eagerly anticipating the September opening of the Alpharetta Smashburger, as the Windward location is closer to our home. I think this time I’ll try the Big Smash. Bun beware!