Smash’d

Today we went to a burger restaurant called Smash’d. One of Papa’s coworkers initially gave us a list of restaurant recommendations and Smash’d was rated a 10 out of 10. Smash’d is less than a 10-minute drive out of the I-35 gate of Fort Sam Houston.

We easily found a small parking lot outside of the restaurant, we probably walked 3 minutes to get there. There is also street parking available, but not much. The restaurant itself is a bit small, but they do have a full bar inside. Aside from the bar seating, there are only a few tables available inside the restaurant— however, there is a pretty large outdoor seating area. Now typically the idea of outdoor seating would disgust me, but this area is not only shaded— they have misters running to keep their patrons cool.

I ordered the Signature Smashburger with a side of fries. Papa ordered 10 wings, which included two different flavors. He chose jalapeno hot honey, and the classic hot honey. I also ordered a California Burrito for us to share. According to Papa’s coworkers, you gotta get the California Burrito. Both kids ordered the Corndog Bites.

The food came out very quickly, and service was great. I will say that the burrito was definitely worth ordering again. It was filled with crispy fries, juicy carne asada, cheese, and served with a side of spicy salsa. The wings were fried hard (the only way they should be served) and generously coated in a sweet, sticky sauce. Both sauces were great, but Papa and I both agreed that the classic hot honey was top tier. The burger was quite yummy, but next time I’d order something more exciting. It was seasoned and cooked well, and the bun was soft, fluffy, and warm. The Corndog Bites were freshly battered and crispy— they were served with a side of honey mustard that perfectly complemented the fries.

Jalapeno Hot Honey (left) and Hot Honey (right)

The margarita was good. Although I didn’t watch the bartender make it, I’d like to think they actually use fresh lime instead of a generic margarita mix. It was light, refreshing, and didn’t have a syrupy feeling to it.

Now let’s discuss the fries, because they deserve their own segment. The fries brought me immense joy because they reminded me of the ones we’d get in North Carolina at Napkins. Napkins was a grab & go restaurant at a place called Dirt Bags. It was an indoor/outdoor brewery with a bar, playground, and dog park. Dirt Bags would frequently host a variety of food trucks on site, and we went as often as we could. Back to the fries though— often referred to as ‘Psoriasis Fries’, Smash’d has the perfect extra crunchy, starch-coated, battered fries. As a lover of all thing’s potato, I’d revisit Smash’d for the fries alone!

I woke up exactly a week later in desperate need of wings. Unsure of where I wanted to get those wings, I asked my peers. I posted in the local Facebook for recommendations, and I was overwhelmed by the options! Unfortunately (not really), that craving was so intense that I couldn’t handle the thought of being adventurous by trying a new restaurant. I needed reliability, which I knew Smash’d would provide.

This time, I ordered a 10-piece wing combo— 5 Garlic Parmesan, and 5 Sriracha Honey Lime. When I tell you, I had so much joy eating the wings. I just know my grandad would be proud. Growing up, he’d always inspect our chicken to be sure we cleaned the bone. The Garlic Parmesan wings were buttery and crispy, while the Sriracha Honey Lime wings were sweet and tangy. The bleu cheese was from a bottle, as expected. I’m hoping to soon find a local place that makes bleu cheese in house.

Honey Sriracha Lime (left) and Garlic Parmesan (right)

I also ordered a Spicy Buffalo Chicken Burrito. This is a huge tortilla filled with saucy, spicy, and crispy chicken tenders with a crunchy slaw, and avocado crema. The chicken burrito reminded me of an upscale version of Cheddar’s Buffalo Chicken Wrap, which has been my go-to order for years! Don’t get me wrong, it’s a tasty wrap, but the California Burrito smashes the Buffalo Chicken Burrito.

The star of the show, however, was the Fried Pickle Spears. These pickles were seasoned and breaded well— perfectly fried to a crisp and served with ranch. I will definitely be ordering these again! Smash’d does fried pickles right!

Wayne’s Wings