Great location and excellent service! I love their veggie burger and salads and that you can modify any menu item just how you like it. My husband loves the burgers, the kids meals are also very generous, good fries. Food came out quickly and presented nicely, prices are fair for portion size and quality, one of our favorite burger chains.
(4)
Jeff K.
I hate to admit it, but I love burgers and Smash Burger is not my favorite. This is my first time to Smash Burger and I live close so I was hoping it would be great! I was starved so I ordered the "Big Burger". So when the server brings the burgers out, (My wife joined me) and we couldn't tell which was bigger I knew we had problems. The server really couldn't tell either and on top of that when we all agreed which one was bigger it was on my wife's bun (gluten free, yuck). So we were left to swapping buns at the table as the server wasn't quick to offer a solution. The ambiance inside is decent and the outside patio seating is great, but the burgers are just above OK bordering pretty good but they need to just put a second patty on it if their going to call it "Big". I want to taste the meat and cheese above all else! I had the Smash Fries as well. (Italian Olive Oil, Rosemary and Garlic) My wife liked them more than I did. Sorry to say I won't be yearning to go back like I do with 5 Guys and Rider's Club.
(3)
Bob P.
Well alright! The burger was cooked great, right temperature and fixins were just right too. I ordered over the web, and my order was on time. Only thing I could see (smell) wrong is the strong smell of sewage. I think it is the common grease trap that they and next door Chipotle share. Needs to be cleaned out more often. I wouldn't be able to sit there and eat my food, with that stank.
(5)
Sarah D.
The service here is soooooooooooooo slow. I literally had to wait 30 minutes for one hamburger and some fries when there were only maybe one or two people ahead of me. Then when I went back to order a side of fries, it took them ANOTHER 30 min. The food is not worth the wait unless you've got time to kill and don't care how long it takes to get your food.
(1)
Amanda J.
I wish I had taken a picture of my burger to post because it was so pitiful. My husband and I are gluten free, so we asked for a lettuce wrapped burger (which many places like In-and-Out do well with some nice crispy lettuce). There were two pathetic pieces of wilted lettuce thrown on either side of a thin, tasteless burger along with a couple tomato slices. We actually both laughed when we opened the containers. Their smash fries were pretty tasty the other time I got them, but this time they were soggy. I will not be going here again.
(1)
Diego S.
The Food was good the hamburger over cook and greasy, the fries are incredible. Over all a ok place if you are in a hurry.
(3)
Sarah M.
This place is awful. Please don't waste your time. I'm a very easy to please person and this was just horrible. Food: Chicken sandwich- tasted like fake frozen chicken. It actually grosses me out thinking about it. Bacon burger was just ok. My boyfriend said it tasted like Wendy's. Fries were given to use cold and old. We went at 1:30 and I'm assuming because it was after the big lunch rush they didn't feel the need to make us fresh fries. They must have been sitting out for over an hour. We ordered the garlic Rosemary fries but we just got regular. Service- horrible. The girl at the register with the short hair cut hates her job and its visible. Please quit if you don't want to be there. She had low energy and wasn't welcoming. As we were about to order she answered the phone and took a phone order. I have always thought you should serve the person in front of you not the person the phone. Shame on the owners and management for for not staffing correctly or being present. This place was ran by 4 people under the age of 21. The young boy who cleaned the tables and took the orders together was a mess. He was sweet and tried hard but needs to be trained. He was overwhelmed by everything it seemed. The kitchen seems not to care either. All this starts from the ownership. You can tell they don't care because there are no responses on the yelp page. For 2 sandwiches (no add ons) 1 French fry ( served cold and plain) and 1 soda you will pay $20. You will be more satisfied going to Carl's and paying $10. This place is trying to be trendy and charge more but the food isn't good. I'm actually angry I chose to go. I hope this place goes out of business and maybe we will get a good burger place like Umami in the area. At least Umami serves good quality food at the right temperature for the price they charge. I won't ever go again.
(1)
Sheri Ellen S.
It's not worth the Hoopla! Despite the reviews both, negative and positive - my son and I decided to go to our local new Smashburger, here in San Clemente to see for ourselves. I spent $20 on 2 bacon and cheese burgers with an order of fries and one drink. Certainly, it was not worth it. With the name like Smashburger, you would think that it would have a smashing great taste. But, the burger meat lacked in original flavor. The burgers came open faced - my son's burger had 3 slices of bacon that looked fresh and good. The bacon on my burger was all shriveled and all fat. Side by side, it just wasn't fair. Like the reviews that we read, it's true. The Smashfries were saturated in oil. There were pools of oil on the tips of each fry. They were equivalent to a large dew drip on a leaf after a heavy, hard rain - a drip that wouldn't let go. It just hung there. It was not worth the money, especially while writing this review - I have had to run to the bathroom twice(flushing $ down the drain literally) and I still have a stomach ache. I'd rather go to Burger Junkies or Biggies's Burgers! Get more for your money, taste, and quality! On a side note, we were there on a Saturday mid-afternoon and they ran out of America's favorite cheese! American cheese. Really? Who runs out of American cheese?
(2)
George K.
This is my favorite location. Great friendly staff and amazing preparation of their food. Had the mushroom Swiss with truffle butter today. simply amazing. Washed it down with a Stone Smoked Porter.
(5)
Maya M.
Let me start by saying I'm a huge fan Smashburger and I hate that I'm wasting my time writing this, but I had to say something about our terrible experience. We ordered 2 Truffle Mushroom Swiss Chicken burgers, a salad and an order of smash fries. Our salad came out with no dressing and after a few requests from the passing employees, we were able to get some dressing. Our burgers came next. Just a dry bun, chicken, onion and cheese. I immediately knew something was wrong as this is the only thing I ever order at Smashburger. I flagged down an employee and told him both our burgers were missing the truffle mayo, the arugula, and the mushroom. Being new, he said he had no idea what was supposed to come on it and I kindly explained they were both missing a few of their ingredients. He went to the kitchen window and they gave him a plate of arugula to bring to us. I explained it was also missing the truffle mayo and mushroom, hence the name. He looked confused, and my husband suggested rather than bringing out the ingredients one by one, why not take the burgers and fix them. He obliged, but we sat near the window and overheard him telling the cook that "we didn't want to put together the burgers ourselves" and were asking for them to do it. God forbid we burden them with making the burgers we ordered. The smashfries came out next. I looked at them and couldn't believe how much oil was in them, again hesitating to say anything because we were now labeled as difficult customers, we pointed out to the server that our fries were literally swimming in oil (see pic). We were told that it was normal for them to use that much olive oil, but again I've had smashfries before and have never seen them like this. So we were stuck with oily soggy fries. Our burgers came out once again. This time missing grilled onions and the cheese was not melted. So again we had to tell them that both burgers were now missing onions. The server went to the window and we heard a back and forth convo about how "we wanted onions now" , discussion about what was supposed to be on the burger, etc as if we were wrong and were being difficult. I was so infuriated by the attitude of both people that I actually got up and went to the front to reread the description and confirm the ingredients. I read them the ingredients aloud and told them we were just asking for what we ordered...didn't think that was too much to ask. I was appalled by the attitude of the woman in the kitchen who seemed irritated and kept talking to me as if I'd ordered incorrectly. I read it right from the menu and the ingredients were clearly stated. Come to find out she in fact is the manager, Lucy. Wow, could've fooled me...I've never seen a manager behave in such a way. After all was said and done, on the 3rd try we finally got what we ordered, but there was never any apology, an admittance that they screwed up the order, nothing, just an attitude like we'd done something wrong. My husband mentioned something about yelp as we were finishing and low and behold a random server came up offering a coupon for 2 free burgers next time. We kindly declined as we knew we would not be returning again. A free burger does not excuse terrible customer service or poorly prepared food. Thanks but no thanks.
(1)
Phil H.
Never going back. Called in a to go order. Arrived to pick it up and was informed it would be a few minutes....no problem....don't mind waiting. There were only two tables occupied at the restaurant, so they weren't busy. It took fifteen minutes for the order to be ready...again....no problem. I live 8 blocks from the restaurant....it takes four minutes to drive to my house. I arrived home and the food was cold. ....stone cold. The food quality, accuracy of orders and food temp have been very inconsistent since this restaurant opened several months ago. Too many other great burger places in SC for me to continue rolling the dice at this place. Never going back. Nuff said.
(1)
Chaundra V.
We went after a soccer game. The kids enjoyed their burgers and my salad was pretty good but the many gnats that clung to the walls was a real turn off. Not sure I will go back.
(2)
Mark P.
Badly managed. Tried phoning order in. They don't answer. Called repeatedly. Placed online order. Order included two bacon cheese burgers. Got home and discovered bacon cheese burgers had no bacon. Food was so-so. Complained to corporate - no answer. Liked this place, at first, but the novelty wore off fast. If you want a burger in San Clemente go to Biggie Burger on El Camino Real. Better prices, better food.
(2)
Krissy F.
I like smashburger. I ordered the jalapeño burger. It was really good. I also got the Buffalo fries and they were awesome. The staff seemed friendly and we got our food fast.
(3)
Toni L.
Hmmm k. To start, I have been to a Smashburger before. I know why people are hating. The food is great, the portions suck! The prices are similar to Whole Foods. SO I ordered off the kids menu because I wanted chicken tenders - I asked if I could get a larger portion because I was super hungry - the response "Sure but it will be $2" more - then the lady turned around & screamed "ONE EXTRA CHICKEN TENDER" - excuse me? One extra? So I'm paying $2 for one extra chicken strip? Ok whatever. Anyway, there was 4 of us total. Everyone else ordered burgers. Boyfriend ordered his with fries, my dad, mom & I ordered ours with yummy onion rings. So it took awhile to get the food...whatever. So my parents get theirs first, then a few minutes later, my boyfriend gets his, but he's missing his french fries. Then after what seems forever, I finally get mine. How many chicken tenders did I get? TWO!!! & the smallest stack of onion rings. After getting their attention, they apologized because there was a new person working there, and we got the rest of our food. Bottom line? If you want an overpriced fast food place, go here. The total was $40 for 4 people which is ridiculous.
(3)
Genevieve S.
It was just "alright". I got the BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger and was pretty disappointed. It looked like something I could get at Carl's Jr. Also, DO NOT get the buffalo French fries. Everything thing about it was terrible. On a lighter note, my boyfriend got the Local Chicken sandwich and it was pretty good.
(2)
Sid S.
Try the McDonalds nearby for better quality burgers. This one is in a weird twilight zone. Crap burgers, SLOW service and dirty restrooms. I've seen better $ joints in TJ ... Worst smashburger outlet. I'm never going to visit one.
(1)
Vito T.
Good burger, clean & nice experience. Long wait when I went in. Burger & fries were a bit pricey.
(3)
Young J.
Excellent burger spot! I was in here in Saturday and ordered an Avocado Club. Hands down, BEST burger in California! I was so enthralled by the miraculous taste of this well-crafted, perfectly grilled club sandwich that I requested the name of the chef on duty. PARKER - I salute you sir! I returned to this fine dining establishment tonight to let my tastebuds relive the glorious experience of Saturday's once-in-a-lifetime happenstance. Unfortunately, I arrived after Parker had retired for the night...my burger was commendable. However, I still crave the incredible sensations that were laid upon my palette my first time here. I will be back to SMASH another day to recapture the magic!! PS The cashier LAUREN was extremely polite and helpful. I watched her get berated by an overbearing and frankly, quite rude soccer mom over a SPOON! The nerve of this woman! I almost backhanded her with the force of Thor's hammer myself!! However, LAUREN handled the incident with class and grace, then proceeded, unflustered, to take care of the other customers, myself included. Another victorious triumph for justice in the face of evil, virtue in the shadow of communism, and unsightly hairs plucked from the scabby nose of terror. Inspired by the relentless pursuit of liberty at this local burger joint, I tried to hit on the two cute girls next to me. It didn't go over well. Ladies if youre reading this I enjoy my eggs sunny side up in the mornings. Call me
(5)
Tallie S.
The food is great when they get the order correct. We've been there five times and every time its wrong. They ignore phone calls and we've witnessed them picking up the ringing phone then hang back up without answering. Our orders are always extremely simple and they are ALWAYS completely messed up, causing us to drive back over there. We are never compensated. I will start going back to Habit. There they get the food right each time!
(1)
tina b.
I really like their online ordering process. The truffle mayo is amazing with mushrooms :) I thought the skinny Smash Fries were fair, perhaps next time I will try the sweet potato fries or buffalo fries. The only thing is that sometimes parking is an issue with the san clemente location because it is so close to the high school. Sometimes you just want to run in and run out without spending 10mins waiting for a spot in the small parking lot.
(5)
Scott T.
I ordered the BBQ bacon and cheddar burger. It was amazing. Egg buns are the best. So amazing, in fact, that I write this review after my third visit for the same order. The staff is the let down; it doesn't seem any of them have been trained in any aspect of customer service or good housekeeping. The kid wiping tables and taking out the trash made two shakes without washing his hands. Inexcusable.
(3)
Thomas M.
I had a good experience going here. I had the bacon cheeseburger with fries. The burger was well cooked and tasty and the fries were crisp and fresh. The service was also pretty swift.
(3)
Suzi S.
I'mma comin' back. I got the Original and it was perfect. It was messy and flavorful and I can't want to stuff my face with another one. Unfortunately, I can't give this place the fifth star because the fries and haystack were salty to a point they were inedible. I'll be forgiving and say it was a one-time mistake and cross my fingers that the next order of fries don't disappoint.
(4)
David D.
Soggy burger, very good chicken sandwich, but outside tables were so cluttered and filthy we spent several minutes clearing and cleaning, as did our neighbors at the next table. Also, because no place is provided to stack used stuff, all unoccupied tables were stacked with dirty dishes. The girl who brought our food seemed of the mindset that it was not her job to clear, clean or be anything but surly, so it made us suspicious about the cleanliness of the food prep area also.
(2)
Forrest P.
Employee dropped my food in front of me, laughed, and didn't apologize. She just picked the food up and handed it to me as if everything was OK. This was about 7:02 PM on 9 November 2014.
(1)
Christine M.
The burgers are salty and greasy. The fries have no flavor. The haystack onions are greasy and limp. The chicken is pretty good. The real problem is the service. Went there last week with my husband and son. The wait was long. Ordered fries, but was charged for and received vegie fries which are not what I wanted and more expensive... and this place is expensive enough to begin with. When I pointed out the mistake the server took my burger and the vegie fries away. I then waited as my son finished eating. My husband insisted on waiting with me so his food was ice cold by the time they finally came back with my food which only happened after I asked about it twice. Tonight I went in to get food for my son after practice. Burger, fries and chocolate shake. The food was done in a little over 5 minutes. I heard the server tell another server the order was waiting for a shake. The shakes are individually hand made and can take some time, but should never take more than 10 minutes. I waited another 25 minutes. I finally got up to ask what the problem was and the server actually lied to me saying she had called my name three times. She had not even called my name once as there would have been no point in calling my name because the shake still wasn't ready. She hands me the food which has been sitting under the warmer and a few minutes later I finally get the shake. The shake that costs $4.29 and they only fill the cup 2/3 of the way. I will not be going back.
(1)
Stacey H.
Sweet lord the service here sucks! To be perfectly honest though, it's not the staffs fault but is a severe problem with management. The staff appears to be all school kids who CLEARLY were never trained properly. The food here is quite tasty and even addictive. However, there are many better places to go for a gourmet burger. Try Poche Burger or Riders Club.
(3)
Doug P.
Man, has this place gone down hill !! Had to repeat my order 3 times to the blond bimbo at the front counter. She asked me my name the same amount. Aren't you listening ? No, my name isn't Dog, it's Doug ... Good Burger tho ......
(3)
Paul M.
Just tried to call in an order and they don't answer the phone, it just rings and rings. Not happy with smash burger....
(1)
Meghan S.
Smashburger's food is DELICIOUS. The milkshakes and smashfries are absolutely to die for. However, this particular location's service is HORRIBLE. I've been to this location numerous times and each time I've waited FOREVER for my food (I once waited 13 minutes for a single milkshake), my order's been screwed up numerous times, and I've witnessed the employees making food for themselves/co-workers before making food for waiting customers. Extremely disappointing.
(2)
Garrett W.
I was so disappointed with the service at the San Clemente Smashburger. IT TOOK 15 MINUTES FOR 1 BURGER! When I got the burger, it was disgusting. It was slipped everywhere on the tray and the cheese wasn't even melted. I like other smashburgers, like the one at the Mission Viejo Mall and Aliso Viejo, but the people at the San Clemente one do not care at all. I have had bad experiences at this place three times now. I will never go back to this one.
(1)
Don B.
A few people seem to have problems with this place, but during our two recent visits, we have not experienced any. Burgers and chicken sandwiches are very good, french fries are terrific, even the salads were great. Food was served fresh, hot food was hot, cold food was cold... Service was friendly and prompt, place was very clean. Ice cold mugs for beer is a nice touch. Prices are reasonable for what you get. I can recommend Smash Burger.
(4)
Rachel E.
It was a nice surprise to have a burger that had so much flavor and juiciness, plus to walk away paying less than $35 for 4 in my party!
(4)
Steph G.
Be prepared to wait. Both the line and production times can be long. Be patient. These things will work out at new location. Hot, freshly made burgers. Smash fries a little greasy. Opt for regular fries. Those were thin and crisp. Regular sized burger thin. Served in soft egg bun. Seems a bit pricey once you add fries and drink and extra topping. May actual prefer Schwack or Burger Junkies...even Habit. Outdoor and indoor seating. Welcome to San Clemente.
(3)
Sandra S.
Great burger and awesome fries, love the chicken sandwich too! Went in today with my husband and Jessica was ready to help us. Great food, friendly help and not a very long wait. She gave me a glass of water while we waited. We will be back soon.
(5)
Bob L.
The hype was much better than the meal. A little seasoning on the burger might have helped a bit. Fries and onion straws good, but for $24.00, I'd rather go to Biggie Burger or Burger Junkie. More adult supervision would probably be a plus!
(2)
Callie B.
Good food, bad service. I've been here a few times and love the black bean burger but the service seems to get worse and worse every time. I was the only one in line and had to wait while the cashier was distracted by one of the other girls stocking the drinks up front and their conversation seemed more important than the customer. The cashier still seemed distracted and forgot to give me my cups for the drinks. While waiting for my food I noticed the workers neglect customers to talk to their friends instead. I understand some of these girls are young but there should still be a level of professionalism. I still like smash burger but the service ruins the experience.
(2)
Peter T.
Smashburger is a smashing disappointment. Here's a tip to the owners - open a food franchise because you're passionate about the food, the business, and the locals, not because you tried this place in Colorado and thought it'd make you rich by opening one in San Clemente. This place is horrible and it's ran by teenagers. Even the cooks in the back are teens. Needless to say, the service was friendly, but that's about as far as it goes. I waited at the register for about 5 minutes, I was about to leave before a young girl came around from the back. I ordered up the "big" bacon cheeseburger, "haystack" onions, and a large drink. It came out to a little over $13, which is pretty steep for a large chain, but I decided I'd go ahead and try this place out anyway. I placed my order to go, when I got back home I noticed no bacon on my burger, it also looked like someone sat on it, is this why they call it Smashburger? It was too late to head back down, so I ate it anyway. I think they should call this place bland burger instead, and instead of the option for "regular" and "big", it should just read as "grease" and "greasier" as this is exactly what it was. Now, I'm into a nice juicy burger, but there's a huge difference between a flavorful juicy burger and a bland smash up of grease and meat. The "haystack" onions were more like a greasy, salty, mess covered onion. It certainly wasn't onion rings. If you're into a good burger place that has the same price, passionate owners that ACTUALLY WORK THERE and is a hell of a lot better, keep your business local and enjoy Riders Club instead.
(1)
Jackie A.
The food is amazing but I expected the service to be better and not take as long! The employees are very nice and equips you to your needs. I love smash burger!
(4)
Elyse V.
Took my friend here for the first time and received the most amazing service from Lauren. She was slammed with customers but kept composed with a smile on her face the entire time. I will always come back and hopefully will see Lauren's smiling face and amazing service. Cannot say enough about the food and how good it taste! I'm a fan for sure!
(4)
Robert S.
Trust me. I'm an Elite. Dang, there a lot of haters here... but funny how they all have 2-3 reviews in total (aka fake accounts). I'm going to have to play my Elite card and give this place a proper review. I came here last night with my wifey because of a special event at Smashburger. The restaurant is tucked away by Albertson's, with ample parking and an outdoor patio area. The restaurant itself is new and very clean. We got to sample a number of their sides, sandwiches, and shakes including: Classic Smash; BBQ Bacon & Cheddar Burger; Truffle Mushroom Swiss, Spicy Veggie Black Bean, Classic Chicken, Avocado Club Chicken, sweet potato fries, French fries, fries veggies, PBJ Shake and Oreo Shake. Here's what I thought of each item: - French Fries - Light, Crispy, and made by Angels. - Sweet Potato Fries - Perfectly cooked and battered in crack. I seriously could not stop eating these. - Fried Veggies - I like to call these oxymoron fries. They're supposed to be healthy because they're veggies but it's covered in oil. Not a fan, but good substitute for someone that has food allergies. - Classic Smash - For non-adventurous people... this is your burger. Very well made and perfectly defines a true American Burger. - BBQ, Bacon, & Cheddar Burger - Wife's favorite. She's usually not a "western" style burger, so it says a lot. Crispy onion strings, generous strips of bacon, with a dab of BBQ sauce and served on an egg bun. Fan-f-in'-tastic. - Truffle Mushroom Swiss - My personal favorite. Small mountain of mushrooms with Swiss cheese, baby arugula, drizzled with truffle oil and served on an egg bun. My mouth is watering. - Spicy Veggie Black Bean - I took a bit of this and it kicked me in my gonads. It's spicy! It's definitely very different from other vegetarian burgers; if you like bean dip, you will like this one. - Classic Chicken - *Yawn* boring... it's another sandwich for the non-adventurous foodie. It's tender slab of chicken breast, with classic condiments (lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles and mayo) on a multi-grain bun. Personally, I think it would taste better with the egg bun. - Avocado Club Chicken - This sandwich reminds me of a time when I went to a night club and and was stopped immediately by a gorgeous brunette and a bomb-shell blonde because they both wanted a piece of this chiseled stud. Okay, most of that never happened. But my point is, the chicken breast to bacon ratio is pretty much 1 to 1 and they're both fighting for you're attention. Amazing combination of favors, but seriously ditch the multi-grain and put it on an egg bun. - PBJ Shake - I wasn't so sure about this, but the shake was actually pretty good. It kind of tasted like a strawberry shake though. - Oreo Shake - Pretty standard on what you might expect. Delicious though! You might have noticed I've been hyping up the egg bun. Nothing wrong with the multi-grain bun, but the egg bun... it's freakin' awesome. Super soft, but strong enough to hold the condiments together. If tempurpedic mattresses came in egg buns, I would sleep on it. Overall, I had a great experience at Smashburger. The owner personally brought the meal over to me and introduced himself. Great people, clean restaurant, and delicious food! Will be back! My street creds: I first got into cooking & food when I was in college. After being rejected by numerous girls and getting zero action, I decided it was time for a change. I needed a new makeover to boost my geeky image. I applied for a cooking position at a Mediterranean-Italian Restaurant near my home and learned to cook all sorts of dishes. I never became a professional chef, but I continue to enjoy & love food. 9 years later and 55 lbs heavier, I have a new passion for traveling and trying different foods around the world.
(5)
Greg A.
This place was definitely worth the wait! Juicy, Flavorful burgers that are fresh, not frozen A++! Some say its pricey, but it's worth every penny. The staff are up beat and friendly and the location is very welcoming with both int/ext seating. I highly recommend it to all. The place just opened, so give them a break with a little wait time if its busy, I assure you it's worth the stand by!
(5)
James G.
Mitch and Kaitlyn know how to take care of their customers. Had a screwup the last time I was here and called to let them know. It was an off night will a full staff of trainees at the time, and it showed. This next visit, they comped the whole order as a sign of good will. Customer service at its finest.
(5)
Star A.
Absolutely am in love with this place! My favorite is the BBQ, Bacon, and cheddar smash chicken. The fries are to die for! The service is definitely top quality.
(5)
Kate V.
Two things: Slow service and greasy burgers. The people who work there are always very nice, but the food seems to take longer than it should. If I'm eating there, I prepare to wait a good 20 minutes for my food. It's also a little more expensive than I would like for a burger joint! On top of the fact that the burgers seem to be loaded with grease to the point where I have to dab my burger wit a napkin before taking a bite. Their onion rings are outstanding, and the burgers are okay, but I would like to wait a little less AND pay a little less!
I like smash burger. However, my most recent experience was poor. Waited on hold for 10 mins to place an order. Hung up. Tried calling twice & no one picked up the phone. Walked in to see they were not busy. I got "sorry" and they comp my burger.
(2)
Anthony H.
unfriendly staff, placed an order to go. There were no fries due to negligence in the kitchen someone forgot to turn on the deep fryer. When we waited for fries, they forgot to put fries in one of our orders and the rest of the orders barely had any fries in them. I wish i checked my order before i left and am now very disappointed. Go to a different burger place this place sucks. do yourself a favor and just go to riders... ride or die!!
(1)
Wil H.
The short of it, poor service, good food, but this location is Filthy. I was afraid I would get sick from eating here. We won't be going back. The long of it, we tried this out a few days ago around 7pm on a weeknight. It was not busy and the parties there were finished eating and were clearing out. We walked in and our order was promptly taken by a nice girl who I assume was the shift lead or manager on duty. We ordered an original big burger, avacado club burger, sweet potato "smash" fries and oreo shake. They were out of oreos so we just drank water. The total was a few cents short of 20 bucks. The problems started when they handed me the table number which was sticky to the touch, but I tried to roll with it since I was going to wash my hands before I ate anyway. We go to a booth which we just saw an employee clear the baskets from, however they failed to wipe the table down which looked like it had several days worth of spills and food crumbs left on the seats. We looked at the adjacent tables and they all seemed in the same condition or worse so I ended up getting napkins dipped in water to wipe the table down. I visit the bathroom to wash my hands and nearly half of the entire floor is covered in what I hope was water. After I returned to my table I took a look around and found that everything from the stainless steel kitchen door to the tile floors were covered in grime. Also, there was a drink spill near the table closest to the counter which I was tempted to clean up for safety but I hesitated because I wanted to see if any of the employees took care of it (for the record, it was another customer who ended up cleaning the spill after it sat there for nearly twenty minutes). After a few minutes we both received our burgers but no fries which we had to ask for but by the time we received the fries we were almost done with our burgers. All the food tasted good but I don't think I could really enjoy it because I was grossed out by all of the filth. We promptly finished eating and one of the employees took our baskets. In my opinion this location had not had the most basic everyday cleaning in several days. Maybe they are not trained up, maybe they are lazy, but it was clear that there were people standing around when there was work to do. I was going to complain on site but after eating we just wanted to get out of there. So after having a day to think about it I wrote in to their customer service department via the Smashburger website but unfortunately I did not receive any feedback and felt I needed to save some people the time and risk of getting sick. If they don't clean the dining area, imagine what the kitchen looks like.
(1)
Joe W.
Meh. Don't get me wrong the food is good BUT it's not particularly spectacular.. Normally, that's okay but for their prices I do expect something spectacular. Or at least more filling. Bottom line - Overpriced for the quantity and quality of the food.
(2)
Sara N.
This place is so fresh, tasty, and easy! This has become one of my new fave places to grab a fresh, delicious burger for lunch. The bun is absolutely scrumptious. The special sauce they use is really light and adds a great flavor to the burgers.
(4)
Tsuni S.
Smashburger is a long awaited quality burger restaurant in San Clemente. You get what you pay for and nothing of high quality and of fresh fare is ever fast --- so don't expect the low quality burger chain menu or lighting fast turn over of garbage food here. If you believe Smash is too expensive, there is only one alternative, go back to the national chain frozen, toxic waste selection at McCarls or one of those bearish establishments. They have indoor and outdoor seating, which is great. If wait times are a bother for you, call your order in ahead of time for pick-up (I think you can also text in orders?) They have great burger buns, but I prefer to ask for the whole wheat vs. the egg. The OC classic chicken burger is REALLY great. The Baja burger is great and just the classic burger is one of the best you can get anywhere in South County with the exception of Houston's. They have Haagan Daz shakes and nail the french fries. The fries are as close to shoestring fries as you can get --- tossed with rosemary, salt and pepper and cooked close to perfection. We will be back. Keep it up Smashburger!
(3)
Mark H.
Went Saturday night, ghost town. Poor service, poor quality, no one cares
(1)
Maryann S.
Yesterday my husband and I tried this out. We each had a regular burger with sweet potato fries and 2 fountain drinks. Not long after I became SICK AS A DOG. Not going back.
(1)
Allison A.
Okay, I gave them three tries. The first time I went, I ordered 2 burgers, and an order of fries to go - I was halfway to my car and realized that they only gave me one burger. Second time - they got our burgers wrong - they reversed the order (one smashburger no pickles, no tomatoes on wheat; one smashburger no onions, no tomatoes, extra pickles on egg) and they switched the toppings and the sides! Not a huge deal as I was with my mother and we just picked the toppings off and changed them - but for people that don't like other people touching their food, this would be an issue. Third time (today) - I ordered the harvest salad with chicken. Again... I was IN THE CAR and realized they didn't put the chicken on my salad. So, I had to park, go back in and get the chicken. On top of that, the salad was very disappointing. It was hardly a salad at all. The bowl was half full. It was definitely not worth the $8 I spent on it. The management seems poor as well - we arrived during just as the lunch rush was coming in from the high school across the street. The line was 20 people deep before they thought about opening the second register. And, the two gals working (one came from the back and the other was working the food distribution line) debated for about one or 2 minutes on who should take over the register. No one seems to really know what their job is. These things should be delegated ahead of time - before the lunch hour, perhaps. Their burgers are good - but their delivery and staffing are very hit and miss. And, this place isn't cheap! When I want a burger and fries... I'll head to Burger Junkie down the street.
(1)
Jordyn S.
Two stars cause the foods good but thats the only good thing. Everytime I've gone I've had terrible service an its always to go. The ladies who take your order dont smile let alone look happy to be a work. I'd rather just go down the street a little more and eat at burger junkies they have great food and they acknowledge your existence.
(2)
Mae C.
I arrived to eat within an half hour of their closing time, which is slightly rude, but I was in need of nourishment! They gladly served me, the food was ready unbelievably fast, and they were extremely accommodating. They even unlocked the patio furniture so that we could dine outside if we wanted to, even though they knew they would have to re lock them whenever we ended up leaving. I ordered the jalapeño Baja burger with sweet potato fries. Both item were delicious. The burger was packed full with flavor, the meat was juicy, and I really enjoy the bun...although I'm not sure what kind it was. The fries were just enough crunchy with soft delicious middles. This was my first time at smash burger, but I definitely intend to go back. The only slight hiccup is that this establishment is not a cheap option.
(4)
Shelby M.
This place is amazing. Friendly service, food was fast and fresh. I got the OC Burger, I hate Swiss cheese and portobello mushrooms but I gave it a try anyways, annnnd it was amazing. The smash fries had just a perfect hint of rosemary. For sure a new favorite.
(5)
Dorothy B.
Smash burger San Clemente when they first opened was awesome, now approx. a year later is in a sad state of affairs, from filthy unkept bathrooms, dining area, and employees that look like they dont know what to do next as they stand around chatting it up about what they are going to do at night. This is/will be my last visit to the San Clemente Smash Burger.
(1)
Brian D.
My wife and I tried it right after it opened and BOTH got sick from the burgers! Need I say more.
(1)
Alyssa F.
I have been meaning to write a review of this place, I tried it about a month or so ago. I had never been to a smash burger, and was welcomed very warmly by the staff, I believe the person that was helping us was Brittan, She was so Kind, helped us through the menu and gave us the best recommendations. We loved the verity and the food was great. She is quite the asset, she was so kind to everyone else who walked in after us, providing the same service again and again. Thank you.
(5)
Sandy F.
2 Stars for the egg bun and fries, but the chicken is extremely salty! It is very small portions, but I must mention again that the salty flavor is overwhelming! This coming from someone who loves savory and salty snacks! They must buy saline pumped meat to keep it moist. Not a fan. And smashing burgers just goes against all culinary rules.
(2)
Christa L.
I so wanted to like this place. I must say the "seasoning/flavors" were good but there was sooo much grease in EVERYTHING that I felt sick eating it and wreaked of grease and onion for several hours after. I also felt that $31 for 3 people to eat burgers in a semi fast food environment was too pricey. I won't be back. Good Luck SC with this one! The Habit has it beat by a mile!!
(1)
Brett P.
This is the worst burger i've ever eaten in my entire life it was oily greasy and the yolk bun maybe want to throw up I tried twice thinking that it would be good but the second time it was as good as the first disgusting I will never eat there my entire life again I also went to the one in Mission Viejo at the mall and it was pretty bad also not as bad as the actual one and cycle money.
(1)
Eric T.
First time eating at Smash burger. I thought it was a great burger; fresh meat, fresh produce, and a tasty bun. Smash fries were also crispy and not too salty. Gourmet burger at a fair price!! Other friends have eaten here and had nothing but good things to say about the quality and taste. Not sure why there are so many bad reviews.
(4)
John A.
The burger was ok. The fries were very greasy. The water cups are filthy and the restaurant is dirty so my guess is the kitchen is dirty. This was our last try at this place.
(1)
Katie A.
We went here opening weekend, got a milk shake that wasn't completely melted asked for a new one and it was the same way!!! Was told its because the ice cream was melted and there was nothing they could do. Burgers aren't anything special, proxy for what you get
(2)
Christopher C.
Great Classic style burgers. I will absolutely recommend this place to friends. The Smash Style Fries are my all time favorite. The service was great and the restaurant was clean. I'm not sure why there are so many negative reviews but Smashburger just made it on my list of regular restaurants to take my family to.
(5)
Andrew A.
Burgers are good and we eat here often, but don't expect service. Managers don't acknowledge you, registers are often unmanned even when there is a long line, and when you get your order, it is often wrong. I have never seen the owner talk to a customer.
(2)
Carrie B.
Finally tried smashburger and my boyfriend and I both loved it. I had the avocado bacon burger and he had the BBQ bacon cheeseburger. Both were a great size and juicy. I was surprised how much flavor my burger had. The smash fries were also good. I'm defiantly going to go back and try the Baja spicy burger and maybe a milkshake!! Price was $18 for two burgers and one French fry but it was worth it. It was busy as we were there at 6pm but it took only around 10 minutes to get our food. Well be back for sure.
(5)
marshall s.
Burgers good, one visit frie and rings ok, next time just puddles of grease on plate.
(2)
Stephanie B.
I love the food here- and love grabbing a burger as long as its during "off" hours. If you go in anytime after 3- be prepared. The service is slow, unfriendly, and you'll have to ask multiple times and send your food back to get the order correct.
(4)
Jeff K.
Food is tasty but the service is terrible. At least this time drinks came before good was gone. Can't figure out how they can be this slow with such a limited menu.
(2)
Dianne M.
Went there for the 1st time. Sat. Night 5:30 Pm. Only one person taking orders. She has to call for help disbursing orders that were ready. My burger with spinach, cucumbers and goat cheese was dry and no goat cheese. My husbands bacon, cheese, had no lettuce. My husband had a strawberry shake that he said was very good. Not sure if we will go back?
(3)
Lori S.
My friend and I came for a Burger & Beer lunch after having dieted all week in anticipation......only to order and find out there is NO BEER. It's on the menu, they just don't have any. Doncha hate it when a new restaurant opens and they are not really prepared to open? So we had water with our burgers......the burger was excellent though. We both had the OC burger; juicy and flavorful. 5 stars for the burger; 2 stars subtracted for NO BEER.
(3)
C V.
This Smasburger is so new that I checked in for the Oceanside location. Odd. Good food, busy, and a little slow.
(4)
Mari E.
Not sure why the low reviews, it's great burgers, tried the chicken avocado smash and it was delicious! Ask for the fried pickles, not on the menu but they will make them...yum!
(4)
B A.
Good burger. Nothing more. Was expecting a bit more because I heard others talk it up. Tasted like a $6 burger from carls jr. The fries are ok. They are just too small, and feel like you have 100's of small piece to consume. Overpriced. About $10 for burger and fries.
(3)
Paul M.
We like it! There is no quality burger joint in San Clemente, and while I enjoy Five Guys, sometimes I just don't want to drive to Dana Point for a burger, so we welcomed Smashburger. The menu fits our needs, the food is good, and the staff are very friendly.
(5)
Madeline J.
Never again. Came here a week or so ago. Ordered a lettuce "wrapped" BBQ bacon burger and haystack onions to go. Order came up pretty quick even though it was packed. When I got home (2 min away) and opened the burger box I was greeted buy a 2in by 2in piece of "lettuce" on top of my burger. It was that garnish type tough lettuce too, think kale texture. Um is this a joke? I preceded to pick up said burger and that's when I saw it...the green, so-greasy-it-was-translucent, disgusting excuse for a piece of lettuce they put on the bottom of the burger...wtf. That is not a lettuce wrap. If you cant make it a real wrap (think In n' Out or The Habit) just don't make it an option. So disappointed. The meat lacked flavor and as I mentioned was so greasy that it literally disintegrated the tough as kale lettuce. Hello. Haystack onions were strings of greasy yuck as well. Sorry Smashburger, that was my first and last time.
(1)
Heather R.
Ridiculious Wait! 30 minutes for 3 burgers. Then we finally get our food and its greasy and salty. Yuck! The ketchup and mustard containers both had mold inside the lids. Disgusting. I do not recommend at all!
(1)
Jennifer M.
Fantastic burger. Just tried Smashburger for the first time today. I had the small classic burger with the Smashburger fries. Wow! The burger was so flavorful and fresh tasting. The fries were so yummy. The services was great. We will definitely be making this our number one pic over other newly opened burger places in the neighborhood!
(5)
Michelle S.
Do not go to this place, especially if you are in a hurry! It took over 20 minutes for my husband and I to get our order. When our chicken sandwich, avocado burger and fries did eventually come, it was completely dissapointing. The avocado on my husbands burger was brown, not the fresh quality we were looking for. Also, when he picked up the burger to eat it, the meat crumbled apart so he had to use a fork and knife. The chicken sandwich was meh and the fries were just okay. Definitely not worth the wait or calories! Go to The Habit instead!
(1)
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Address :806 Avenida Pico,Ste E
San Clemente, CA, 92673
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Drive-Thru : No Caters : No
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Nijole T.
Great location and excellent service! I love their veggie burger and salads and that you can modify any menu item just how you like it. My husband loves the burgers, the kids meals are also very generous, good fries. Food came out quickly and presented nicely, prices are fair for portion size and quality, one of our favorite burger chains.
(4)Jeff K.
I hate to admit it, but I love burgers and Smash Burger is not my favorite. This is my first time to Smash Burger and I live close so I was hoping it would be great! I was starved so I ordered the "Big Burger". So when the server brings the burgers out, (My wife joined me) and we couldn't tell which was bigger I knew we had problems. The server really couldn't tell either and on top of that when we all agreed which one was bigger it was on my wife's bun (gluten free, yuck). So we were left to swapping buns at the table as the server wasn't quick to offer a solution. The ambiance inside is decent and the outside patio seating is great, but the burgers are just above OK bordering pretty good but they need to just put a second patty on it if their going to call it "Big". I want to taste the meat and cheese above all else! I had the Smash Fries as well. (Italian Olive Oil, Rosemary and Garlic) My wife liked them more than I did. Sorry to say I won't be yearning to go back like I do with 5 Guys and Rider's Club.
(3)Bob P.
Well alright! The burger was cooked great, right temperature and fixins were just right too. I ordered over the web, and my order was on time. Only thing I could see (smell) wrong is the strong smell of sewage. I think it is the common grease trap that they and next door Chipotle share. Needs to be cleaned out more often. I wouldn't be able to sit there and eat my food, with that stank.
(5)Sarah D.
The service here is soooooooooooooo slow. I literally had to wait 30 minutes for one hamburger and some fries when there were only maybe one or two people ahead of me. Then when I went back to order a side of fries, it took them ANOTHER 30 min. The food is not worth the wait unless you've got time to kill and don't care how long it takes to get your food.
(1)Amanda J.
I wish I had taken a picture of my burger to post because it was so pitiful. My husband and I are gluten free, so we asked for a lettuce wrapped burger (which many places like In-and-Out do well with some nice crispy lettuce). There were two pathetic pieces of wilted lettuce thrown on either side of a thin, tasteless burger along with a couple tomato slices. We actually both laughed when we opened the containers. Their smash fries were pretty tasty the other time I got them, but this time they were soggy. I will not be going here again.
(1)Diego S.
The Food was good the hamburger over cook and greasy, the fries are incredible. Over all a ok place if you are in a hurry.
(3)Sarah M.
This place is awful. Please don't waste your time. I'm a very easy to please person and this was just horrible. Food: Chicken sandwich- tasted like fake frozen chicken. It actually grosses me out thinking about it. Bacon burger was just ok. My boyfriend said it tasted like Wendy's. Fries were given to use cold and old. We went at 1:30 and I'm assuming because it was after the big lunch rush they didn't feel the need to make us fresh fries. They must have been sitting out for over an hour. We ordered the garlic Rosemary fries but we just got regular. Service- horrible. The girl at the register with the short hair cut hates her job and its visible. Please quit if you don't want to be there. She had low energy and wasn't welcoming. As we were about to order she answered the phone and took a phone order. I have always thought you should serve the person in front of you not the person the phone. Shame on the owners and management for for not staffing correctly or being present. This place was ran by 4 people under the age of 21. The young boy who cleaned the tables and took the orders together was a mess. He was sweet and tried hard but needs to be trained. He was overwhelmed by everything it seemed. The kitchen seems not to care either. All this starts from the ownership. You can tell they don't care because there are no responses on the yelp page. For 2 sandwiches (no add ons) 1 French fry ( served cold and plain) and 1 soda you will pay $20. You will be more satisfied going to Carl's and paying $10. This place is trying to be trendy and charge more but the food isn't good. I'm actually angry I chose to go. I hope this place goes out of business and maybe we will get a good burger place like Umami in the area. At least Umami serves good quality food at the right temperature for the price they charge. I won't ever go again.
(1)Sheri Ellen S.
It's not worth the Hoopla! Despite the reviews both, negative and positive - my son and I decided to go to our local new Smashburger, here in San Clemente to see for ourselves. I spent $20 on 2 bacon and cheese burgers with an order of fries and one drink. Certainly, it was not worth it. With the name like Smashburger, you would think that it would have a smashing great taste. But, the burger meat lacked in original flavor. The burgers came open faced - my son's burger had 3 slices of bacon that looked fresh and good. The bacon on my burger was all shriveled and all fat. Side by side, it just wasn't fair. Like the reviews that we read, it's true. The Smashfries were saturated in oil. There were pools of oil on the tips of each fry. They were equivalent to a large dew drip on a leaf after a heavy, hard rain - a drip that wouldn't let go. It just hung there. It was not worth the money, especially while writing this review - I have had to run to the bathroom twice(flushing $ down the drain literally) and I still have a stomach ache. I'd rather go to Burger Junkies or Biggies's Burgers! Get more for your money, taste, and quality! On a side note, we were there on a Saturday mid-afternoon and they ran out of America's favorite cheese! American cheese. Really? Who runs out of American cheese?
(2)George K.
This is my favorite location. Great friendly staff and amazing preparation of their food. Had the mushroom Swiss with truffle butter today. simply amazing. Washed it down with a Stone Smoked Porter.
(5)Maya M.
Let me start by saying I'm a huge fan Smashburger and I hate that I'm wasting my time writing this, but I had to say something about our terrible experience. We ordered 2 Truffle Mushroom Swiss Chicken burgers, a salad and an order of smash fries. Our salad came out with no dressing and after a few requests from the passing employees, we were able to get some dressing. Our burgers came next. Just a dry bun, chicken, onion and cheese. I immediately knew something was wrong as this is the only thing I ever order at Smashburger. I flagged down an employee and told him both our burgers were missing the truffle mayo, the arugula, and the mushroom. Being new, he said he had no idea what was supposed to come on it and I kindly explained they were both missing a few of their ingredients. He went to the kitchen window and they gave him a plate of arugula to bring to us. I explained it was also missing the truffle mayo and mushroom, hence the name. He looked confused, and my husband suggested rather than bringing out the ingredients one by one, why not take the burgers and fix them. He obliged, but we sat near the window and overheard him telling the cook that "we didn't want to put together the burgers ourselves" and were asking for them to do it. God forbid we burden them with making the burgers we ordered. The smashfries came out next. I looked at them and couldn't believe how much oil was in them, again hesitating to say anything because we were now labeled as difficult customers, we pointed out to the server that our fries were literally swimming in oil (see pic). We were told that it was normal for them to use that much olive oil, but again I've had smashfries before and have never seen them like this. So we were stuck with oily soggy fries. Our burgers came out once again. This time missing grilled onions and the cheese was not melted. So again we had to tell them that both burgers were now missing onions. The server went to the window and we heard a back and forth convo about how "we wanted onions now" , discussion about what was supposed to be on the burger, etc as if we were wrong and were being difficult. I was so infuriated by the attitude of both people that I actually got up and went to the front to reread the description and confirm the ingredients. I read them the ingredients aloud and told them we were just asking for what we ordered...didn't think that was too much to ask. I was appalled by the attitude of the woman in the kitchen who seemed irritated and kept talking to me as if I'd ordered incorrectly. I read it right from the menu and the ingredients were clearly stated. Come to find out she in fact is the manager, Lucy. Wow, could've fooled me...I've never seen a manager behave in such a way. After all was said and done, on the 3rd try we finally got what we ordered, but there was never any apology, an admittance that they screwed up the order, nothing, just an attitude like we'd done something wrong. My husband mentioned something about yelp as we were finishing and low and behold a random server came up offering a coupon for 2 free burgers next time. We kindly declined as we knew we would not be returning again. A free burger does not excuse terrible customer service or poorly prepared food. Thanks but no thanks.
(1)Phil H.
Never going back. Called in a to go order. Arrived to pick it up and was informed it would be a few minutes....no problem....don't mind waiting. There were only two tables occupied at the restaurant, so they weren't busy. It took fifteen minutes for the order to be ready...again....no problem. I live 8 blocks from the restaurant....it takes four minutes to drive to my house. I arrived home and the food was cold. ....stone cold. The food quality, accuracy of orders and food temp have been very inconsistent since this restaurant opened several months ago. Too many other great burger places in SC for me to continue rolling the dice at this place. Never going back. Nuff said.
(1)Chaundra V.
We went after a soccer game. The kids enjoyed their burgers and my salad was pretty good but the many gnats that clung to the walls was a real turn off. Not sure I will go back.
(2)Mark P.
Badly managed. Tried phoning order in. They don't answer. Called repeatedly. Placed online order. Order included two bacon cheese burgers. Got home and discovered bacon cheese burgers had no bacon. Food was so-so. Complained to corporate - no answer. Liked this place, at first, but the novelty wore off fast. If you want a burger in San Clemente go to Biggie Burger on El Camino Real. Better prices, better food.
(2)Krissy F.
I like smashburger. I ordered the jalapeño burger. It was really good. I also got the Buffalo fries and they were awesome. The staff seemed friendly and we got our food fast.
(3)Toni L.
Hmmm k. To start, I have been to a Smashburger before. I know why people are hating. The food is great, the portions suck! The prices are similar to Whole Foods. SO I ordered off the kids menu because I wanted chicken tenders - I asked if I could get a larger portion because I was super hungry - the response "Sure but it will be $2" more - then the lady turned around & screamed "ONE EXTRA CHICKEN TENDER" - excuse me? One extra? So I'm paying $2 for one extra chicken strip? Ok whatever. Anyway, there was 4 of us total. Everyone else ordered burgers. Boyfriend ordered his with fries, my dad, mom & I ordered ours with yummy onion rings. So it took awhile to get the food...whatever. So my parents get theirs first, then a few minutes later, my boyfriend gets his, but he's missing his french fries. Then after what seems forever, I finally get mine. How many chicken tenders did I get? TWO!!! & the smallest stack of onion rings. After getting their attention, they apologized because there was a new person working there, and we got the rest of our food. Bottom line? If you want an overpriced fast food place, go here. The total was $40 for 4 people which is ridiculous.
(3)Genevieve S.
It was just "alright". I got the BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger and was pretty disappointed. It looked like something I could get at Carl's Jr. Also, DO NOT get the buffalo French fries. Everything thing about it was terrible. On a lighter note, my boyfriend got the Local Chicken sandwich and it was pretty good.
(2)Sid S.
Try the McDonalds nearby for better quality burgers. This one is in a weird twilight zone. Crap burgers, SLOW service and dirty restrooms. I've seen better $ joints in TJ ... Worst smashburger outlet. I'm never going to visit one.
(1)Vito T.
Good burger, clean & nice experience. Long wait when I went in. Burger & fries were a bit pricey.
(3)Young J.
Excellent burger spot! I was in here in Saturday and ordered an Avocado Club. Hands down, BEST burger in California! I was so enthralled by the miraculous taste of this well-crafted, perfectly grilled club sandwich that I requested the name of the chef on duty. PARKER - I salute you sir! I returned to this fine dining establishment tonight to let my tastebuds relive the glorious experience of Saturday's once-in-a-lifetime happenstance. Unfortunately, I arrived after Parker had retired for the night...my burger was commendable. However, I still crave the incredible sensations that were laid upon my palette my first time here. I will be back to SMASH another day to recapture the magic!! PS The cashier LAUREN was extremely polite and helpful. I watched her get berated by an overbearing and frankly, quite rude soccer mom over a SPOON! The nerve of this woman! I almost backhanded her with the force of Thor's hammer myself!! However, LAUREN handled the incident with class and grace, then proceeded, unflustered, to take care of the other customers, myself included. Another victorious triumph for justice in the face of evil, virtue in the shadow of communism, and unsightly hairs plucked from the scabby nose of terror. Inspired by the relentless pursuit of liberty at this local burger joint, I tried to hit on the two cute girls next to me. It didn't go over well. Ladies if youre reading this I enjoy my eggs sunny side up in the mornings. Call me
(5)Tallie S.
The food is great when they get the order correct. We've been there five times and every time its wrong. They ignore phone calls and we've witnessed them picking up the ringing phone then hang back up without answering. Our orders are always extremely simple and they are ALWAYS completely messed up, causing us to drive back over there. We are never compensated. I will start going back to Habit. There they get the food right each time!
(1)tina b.
I really like their online ordering process. The truffle mayo is amazing with mushrooms :) I thought the skinny Smash Fries were fair, perhaps next time I will try the sweet potato fries or buffalo fries. The only thing is that sometimes parking is an issue with the san clemente location because it is so close to the high school. Sometimes you just want to run in and run out without spending 10mins waiting for a spot in the small parking lot.
(5)Scott T.
I ordered the BBQ bacon and cheddar burger. It was amazing. Egg buns are the best. So amazing, in fact, that I write this review after my third visit for the same order. The staff is the let down; it doesn't seem any of them have been trained in any aspect of customer service or good housekeeping. The kid wiping tables and taking out the trash made two shakes without washing his hands. Inexcusable.
(3)Thomas M.
I had a good experience going here. I had the bacon cheeseburger with fries. The burger was well cooked and tasty and the fries were crisp and fresh. The service was also pretty swift.
(3)Suzi S.
I'mma comin' back. I got the Original and it was perfect. It was messy and flavorful and I can't want to stuff my face with another one. Unfortunately, I can't give this place the fifth star because the fries and haystack were salty to a point they were inedible. I'll be forgiving and say it was a one-time mistake and cross my fingers that the next order of fries don't disappoint.
(4)David D.
Soggy burger, very good chicken sandwich, but outside tables were so cluttered and filthy we spent several minutes clearing and cleaning, as did our neighbors at the next table. Also, because no place is provided to stack used stuff, all unoccupied tables were stacked with dirty dishes. The girl who brought our food seemed of the mindset that it was not her job to clear, clean or be anything but surly, so it made us suspicious about the cleanliness of the food prep area also.
(2)Forrest P.
Employee dropped my food in front of me, laughed, and didn't apologize. She just picked the food up and handed it to me as if everything was OK. This was about 7:02 PM on 9 November 2014.
(1)Christine M.
The burgers are salty and greasy. The fries have no flavor. The haystack onions are greasy and limp. The chicken is pretty good. The real problem is the service. Went there last week with my husband and son. The wait was long. Ordered fries, but was charged for and received vegie fries which are not what I wanted and more expensive... and this place is expensive enough to begin with. When I pointed out the mistake the server took my burger and the vegie fries away. I then waited as my son finished eating. My husband insisted on waiting with me so his food was ice cold by the time they finally came back with my food which only happened after I asked about it twice. Tonight I went in to get food for my son after practice. Burger, fries and chocolate shake. The food was done in a little over 5 minutes. I heard the server tell another server the order was waiting for a shake. The shakes are individually hand made and can take some time, but should never take more than 10 minutes. I waited another 25 minutes. I finally got up to ask what the problem was and the server actually lied to me saying she had called my name three times. She had not even called my name once as there would have been no point in calling my name because the shake still wasn't ready. She hands me the food which has been sitting under the warmer and a few minutes later I finally get the shake. The shake that costs $4.29 and they only fill the cup 2/3 of the way. I will not be going back.
(1)Stacey H.
Sweet lord the service here sucks! To be perfectly honest though, it's not the staffs fault but is a severe problem with management. The staff appears to be all school kids who CLEARLY were never trained properly. The food here is quite tasty and even addictive. However, there are many better places to go for a gourmet burger. Try Poche Burger or Riders Club.
(3)Doug P.
Man, has this place gone down hill !! Had to repeat my order 3 times to the blond bimbo at the front counter. She asked me my name the same amount. Aren't you listening ? No, my name isn't Dog, it's Doug ... Good Burger tho ......
(3)Paul M.
Just tried to call in an order and they don't answer the phone, it just rings and rings. Not happy with smash burger....
(1)Meghan S.
Smashburger's food is DELICIOUS. The milkshakes and smashfries are absolutely to die for. However, this particular location's service is HORRIBLE. I've been to this location numerous times and each time I've waited FOREVER for my food (I once waited 13 minutes for a single milkshake), my order's been screwed up numerous times, and I've witnessed the employees making food for themselves/co-workers before making food for waiting customers. Extremely disappointing.
(2)Garrett W.
I was so disappointed with the service at the San Clemente Smashburger. IT TOOK 15 MINUTES FOR 1 BURGER! When I got the burger, it was disgusting. It was slipped everywhere on the tray and the cheese wasn't even melted. I like other smashburgers, like the one at the Mission Viejo Mall and Aliso Viejo, but the people at the San Clemente one do not care at all. I have had bad experiences at this place three times now. I will never go back to this one.
(1)Don B.
A few people seem to have problems with this place, but during our two recent visits, we have not experienced any. Burgers and chicken sandwiches are very good, french fries are terrific, even the salads were great. Food was served fresh, hot food was hot, cold food was cold... Service was friendly and prompt, place was very clean. Ice cold mugs for beer is a nice touch. Prices are reasonable for what you get. I can recommend Smash Burger.
(4)Rachel E.
It was a nice surprise to have a burger that had so much flavor and juiciness, plus to walk away paying less than $35 for 4 in my party!
(4)Steph G.
Be prepared to wait. Both the line and production times can be long. Be patient. These things will work out at new location. Hot, freshly made burgers. Smash fries a little greasy. Opt for regular fries. Those were thin and crisp. Regular sized burger thin. Served in soft egg bun. Seems a bit pricey once you add fries and drink and extra topping. May actual prefer Schwack or Burger Junkies...even Habit. Outdoor and indoor seating. Welcome to San Clemente.
(3)Sandra S.
Great burger and awesome fries, love the chicken sandwich too! Went in today with my husband and Jessica was ready to help us. Great food, friendly help and not a very long wait. She gave me a glass of water while we waited. We will be back soon.
(5)Bob L.
The hype was much better than the meal. A little seasoning on the burger might have helped a bit. Fries and onion straws good, but for $24.00, I'd rather go to Biggie Burger or Burger Junkie. More adult supervision would probably be a plus!
(2)Callie B.
Good food, bad service. I've been here a few times and love the black bean burger but the service seems to get worse and worse every time. I was the only one in line and had to wait while the cashier was distracted by one of the other girls stocking the drinks up front and their conversation seemed more important than the customer. The cashier still seemed distracted and forgot to give me my cups for the drinks. While waiting for my food I noticed the workers neglect customers to talk to their friends instead. I understand some of these girls are young but there should still be a level of professionalism. I still like smash burger but the service ruins the experience.
(2)Peter T.
Smashburger is a smashing disappointment. Here's a tip to the owners - open a food franchise because you're passionate about the food, the business, and the locals, not because you tried this place in Colorado and thought it'd make you rich by opening one in San Clemente. This place is horrible and it's ran by teenagers. Even the cooks in the back are teens. Needless to say, the service was friendly, but that's about as far as it goes. I waited at the register for about 5 minutes, I was about to leave before a young girl came around from the back. I ordered up the "big" bacon cheeseburger, "haystack" onions, and a large drink. It came out to a little over $13, which is pretty steep for a large chain, but I decided I'd go ahead and try this place out anyway. I placed my order to go, when I got back home I noticed no bacon on my burger, it also looked like someone sat on it, is this why they call it Smashburger? It was too late to head back down, so I ate it anyway. I think they should call this place bland burger instead, and instead of the option for "regular" and "big", it should just read as "grease" and "greasier" as this is exactly what it was. Now, I'm into a nice juicy burger, but there's a huge difference between a flavorful juicy burger and a bland smash up of grease and meat. The "haystack" onions were more like a greasy, salty, mess covered onion. It certainly wasn't onion rings. If you're into a good burger place that has the same price, passionate owners that ACTUALLY WORK THERE and is a hell of a lot better, keep your business local and enjoy Riders Club instead.
(1)Jackie A.
The food is amazing but I expected the service to be better and not take as long! The employees are very nice and equips you to your needs. I love smash burger!
(4)Elyse V.
Took my friend here for the first time and received the most amazing service from Lauren. She was slammed with customers but kept composed with a smile on her face the entire time. I will always come back and hopefully will see Lauren's smiling face and amazing service. Cannot say enough about the food and how good it taste! I'm a fan for sure!
(4)Robert S.
Trust me. I'm an Elite. Dang, there a lot of haters here... but funny how they all have 2-3 reviews in total (aka fake accounts). I'm going to have to play my Elite card and give this place a proper review. I came here last night with my wifey because of a special event at Smashburger. The restaurant is tucked away by Albertson's, with ample parking and an outdoor patio area. The restaurant itself is new and very clean. We got to sample a number of their sides, sandwiches, and shakes including: Classic Smash; BBQ Bacon & Cheddar Burger; Truffle Mushroom Swiss, Spicy Veggie Black Bean, Classic Chicken, Avocado Club Chicken, sweet potato fries, French fries, fries veggies, PBJ Shake and Oreo Shake. Here's what I thought of each item: - French Fries - Light, Crispy, and made by Angels. - Sweet Potato Fries - Perfectly cooked and battered in crack. I seriously could not stop eating these. - Fried Veggies - I like to call these oxymoron fries. They're supposed to be healthy because they're veggies but it's covered in oil. Not a fan, but good substitute for someone that has food allergies. - Classic Smash - For non-adventurous people... this is your burger. Very well made and perfectly defines a true American Burger. - BBQ, Bacon, & Cheddar Burger - Wife's favorite. She's usually not a "western" style burger, so it says a lot. Crispy onion strings, generous strips of bacon, with a dab of BBQ sauce and served on an egg bun. Fan-f-in'-tastic. - Truffle Mushroom Swiss - My personal favorite. Small mountain of mushrooms with Swiss cheese, baby arugula, drizzled with truffle oil and served on an egg bun. My mouth is watering. - Spicy Veggie Black Bean - I took a bit of this and it kicked me in my gonads. It's spicy! It's definitely very different from other vegetarian burgers; if you like bean dip, you will like this one. - Classic Chicken - *Yawn* boring... it's another sandwich for the non-adventurous foodie. It's tender slab of chicken breast, with classic condiments (lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles and mayo) on a multi-grain bun. Personally, I think it would taste better with the egg bun. - Avocado Club Chicken - This sandwich reminds me of a time when I went to a night club and and was stopped immediately by a gorgeous brunette and a bomb-shell blonde because they both wanted a piece of this chiseled stud. Okay, most of that never happened. But my point is, the chicken breast to bacon ratio is pretty much 1 to 1 and they're both fighting for you're attention. Amazing combination of favors, but seriously ditch the multi-grain and put it on an egg bun. - PBJ Shake - I wasn't so sure about this, but the shake was actually pretty good. It kind of tasted like a strawberry shake though. - Oreo Shake - Pretty standard on what you might expect. Delicious though! You might have noticed I've been hyping up the egg bun. Nothing wrong with the multi-grain bun, but the egg bun... it's freakin' awesome. Super soft, but strong enough to hold the condiments together. If tempurpedic mattresses came in egg buns, I would sleep on it. Overall, I had a great experience at Smashburger. The owner personally brought the meal over to me and introduced himself. Great people, clean restaurant, and delicious food! Will be back! My street creds: I first got into cooking & food when I was in college. After being rejected by numerous girls and getting zero action, I decided it was time for a change. I needed a new makeover to boost my geeky image. I applied for a cooking position at a Mediterranean-Italian Restaurant near my home and learned to cook all sorts of dishes. I never became a professional chef, but I continue to enjoy & love food. 9 years later and 55 lbs heavier, I have a new passion for traveling and trying different foods around the world.
(5)Greg A.
This place was definitely worth the wait! Juicy, Flavorful burgers that are fresh, not frozen A++! Some say its pricey, but it's worth every penny. The staff are up beat and friendly and the location is very welcoming with both int/ext seating. I highly recommend it to all. The place just opened, so give them a break with a little wait time if its busy, I assure you it's worth the stand by!
(5)James G.
Mitch and Kaitlyn know how to take care of their customers. Had a screwup the last time I was here and called to let them know. It was an off night will a full staff of trainees at the time, and it showed. This next visit, they comped the whole order as a sign of good will. Customer service at its finest.
(5)Star A.
Absolutely am in love with this place! My favorite is the BBQ, Bacon, and cheddar smash chicken. The fries are to die for! The service is definitely top quality.
(5)Kate V.
Two things: Slow service and greasy burgers. The people who work there are always very nice, but the food seems to take longer than it should. If I'm eating there, I prepare to wait a good 20 minutes for my food. It's also a little more expensive than I would like for a burger joint! On top of the fact that the burgers seem to be loaded with grease to the point where I have to dab my burger wit a napkin before taking a bite. Their onion rings are outstanding, and the burgers are okay, but I would like to wait a little less AND pay a little less!
(2)Pam P.
OMG - the best burger I've had in a long time! Ordered the o.c. burger, asked them to hold the Swiss and make it as rare as they could. It was AMAZING. So juicy it was dripping. Good quantity of crisp, tangy arugula. Sautéed mushrooms. Bun not thick and doughy, but nice and light and airy. I'm coming back tomorrow lol.
(5)Doug S.
I like smash burger. However, my most recent experience was poor. Waited on hold for 10 mins to place an order. Hung up. Tried calling twice & no one picked up the phone. Walked in to see they were not busy. I got "sorry" and they comp my burger.
(2)Anthony H.
unfriendly staff, placed an order to go. There were no fries due to negligence in the kitchen someone forgot to turn on the deep fryer. When we waited for fries, they forgot to put fries in one of our orders and the rest of the orders barely had any fries in them. I wish i checked my order before i left and am now very disappointed. Go to a different burger place this place sucks. do yourself a favor and just go to riders... ride or die!!
(1)Wil H.
The short of it, poor service, good food, but this location is Filthy. I was afraid I would get sick from eating here. We won't be going back. The long of it, we tried this out a few days ago around 7pm on a weeknight. It was not busy and the parties there were finished eating and were clearing out. We walked in and our order was promptly taken by a nice girl who I assume was the shift lead or manager on duty. We ordered an original big burger, avacado club burger, sweet potato "smash" fries and oreo shake. They were out of oreos so we just drank water. The total was a few cents short of 20 bucks. The problems started when they handed me the table number which was sticky to the touch, but I tried to roll with it since I was going to wash my hands before I ate anyway. We go to a booth which we just saw an employee clear the baskets from, however they failed to wipe the table down which looked like it had several days worth of spills and food crumbs left on the seats. We looked at the adjacent tables and they all seemed in the same condition or worse so I ended up getting napkins dipped in water to wipe the table down. I visit the bathroom to wash my hands and nearly half of the entire floor is covered in what I hope was water. After I returned to my table I took a look around and found that everything from the stainless steel kitchen door to the tile floors were covered in grime. Also, there was a drink spill near the table closest to the counter which I was tempted to clean up for safety but I hesitated because I wanted to see if any of the employees took care of it (for the record, it was another customer who ended up cleaning the spill after it sat there for nearly twenty minutes). After a few minutes we both received our burgers but no fries which we had to ask for but by the time we received the fries we were almost done with our burgers. All the food tasted good but I don't think I could really enjoy it because I was grossed out by all of the filth. We promptly finished eating and one of the employees took our baskets. In my opinion this location had not had the most basic everyday cleaning in several days. Maybe they are not trained up, maybe they are lazy, but it was clear that there were people standing around when there was work to do. I was going to complain on site but after eating we just wanted to get out of there. So after having a day to think about it I wrote in to their customer service department via the Smashburger website but unfortunately I did not receive any feedback and felt I needed to save some people the time and risk of getting sick. If they don't clean the dining area, imagine what the kitchen looks like.
(1)Joe W.
Meh. Don't get me wrong the food is good BUT it's not particularly spectacular.. Normally, that's okay but for their prices I do expect something spectacular. Or at least more filling. Bottom line - Overpriced for the quantity and quality of the food.
(2)Sara N.
This place is so fresh, tasty, and easy! This has become one of my new fave places to grab a fresh, delicious burger for lunch. The bun is absolutely scrumptious. The special sauce they use is really light and adds a great flavor to the burgers.
(4)Tsuni S.
Smashburger is a long awaited quality burger restaurant in San Clemente. You get what you pay for and nothing of high quality and of fresh fare is ever fast --- so don't expect the low quality burger chain menu or lighting fast turn over of garbage food here. If you believe Smash is too expensive, there is only one alternative, go back to the national chain frozen, toxic waste selection at McCarls or one of those bearish establishments. They have indoor and outdoor seating, which is great. If wait times are a bother for you, call your order in ahead of time for pick-up (I think you can also text in orders?) They have great burger buns, but I prefer to ask for the whole wheat vs. the egg. The OC classic chicken burger is REALLY great. The Baja burger is great and just the classic burger is one of the best you can get anywhere in South County with the exception of Houston's. They have Haagan Daz shakes and nail the french fries. The fries are as close to shoestring fries as you can get --- tossed with rosemary, salt and pepper and cooked close to perfection. We will be back. Keep it up Smashburger!
(3)Mark H.
Went Saturday night, ghost town. Poor service, poor quality, no one cares
(1)Maryann S.
Yesterday my husband and I tried this out. We each had a regular burger with sweet potato fries and 2 fountain drinks. Not long after I became SICK AS A DOG. Not going back.
(1)Allison A.
Okay, I gave them three tries. The first time I went, I ordered 2 burgers, and an order of fries to go - I was halfway to my car and realized that they only gave me one burger. Second time - they got our burgers wrong - they reversed the order (one smashburger no pickles, no tomatoes on wheat; one smashburger no onions, no tomatoes, extra pickles on egg) and they switched the toppings and the sides! Not a huge deal as I was with my mother and we just picked the toppings off and changed them - but for people that don't like other people touching their food, this would be an issue. Third time (today) - I ordered the harvest salad with chicken. Again... I was IN THE CAR and realized they didn't put the chicken on my salad. So, I had to park, go back in and get the chicken. On top of that, the salad was very disappointing. It was hardly a salad at all. The bowl was half full. It was definitely not worth the $8 I spent on it. The management seems poor as well - we arrived during just as the lunch rush was coming in from the high school across the street. The line was 20 people deep before they thought about opening the second register. And, the two gals working (one came from the back and the other was working the food distribution line) debated for about one or 2 minutes on who should take over the register. No one seems to really know what their job is. These things should be delegated ahead of time - before the lunch hour, perhaps. Their burgers are good - but their delivery and staffing are very hit and miss. And, this place isn't cheap! When I want a burger and fries... I'll head to Burger Junkie down the street.
(1)Jordyn S.
Two stars cause the foods good but thats the only good thing. Everytime I've gone I've had terrible service an its always to go. The ladies who take your order dont smile let alone look happy to be a work. I'd rather just go down the street a little more and eat at burger junkies they have great food and they acknowledge your existence.
(2)Mae C.
I arrived to eat within an half hour of their closing time, which is slightly rude, but I was in need of nourishment! They gladly served me, the food was ready unbelievably fast, and they were extremely accommodating. They even unlocked the patio furniture so that we could dine outside if we wanted to, even though they knew they would have to re lock them whenever we ended up leaving. I ordered the jalapeño Baja burger with sweet potato fries. Both item were delicious. The burger was packed full with flavor, the meat was juicy, and I really enjoy the bun...although I'm not sure what kind it was. The fries were just enough crunchy with soft delicious middles. This was my first time at smash burger, but I definitely intend to go back. The only slight hiccup is that this establishment is not a cheap option.
(4)Shelby M.
This place is amazing. Friendly service, food was fast and fresh. I got the OC Burger, I hate Swiss cheese and portobello mushrooms but I gave it a try anyways, annnnd it was amazing. The smash fries had just a perfect hint of rosemary. For sure a new favorite.
(5)Dorothy B.
Smash burger San Clemente when they first opened was awesome, now approx. a year later is in a sad state of affairs, from filthy unkept bathrooms, dining area, and employees that look like they dont know what to do next as they stand around chatting it up about what they are going to do at night. This is/will be my last visit to the San Clemente Smash Burger.
(1)Brian D.
My wife and I tried it right after it opened and BOTH got sick from the burgers! Need I say more.
(1)Alyssa F.
I have been meaning to write a review of this place, I tried it about a month or so ago. I had never been to a smash burger, and was welcomed very warmly by the staff, I believe the person that was helping us was Brittan, She was so Kind, helped us through the menu and gave us the best recommendations. We loved the verity and the food was great. She is quite the asset, she was so kind to everyone else who walked in after us, providing the same service again and again. Thank you.
(5)Sandy F.
2 Stars for the egg bun and fries, but the chicken is extremely salty! It is very small portions, but I must mention again that the salty flavor is overwhelming! This coming from someone who loves savory and salty snacks! They must buy saline pumped meat to keep it moist. Not a fan. And smashing burgers just goes against all culinary rules.
(2)Christa L.
I so wanted to like this place. I must say the "seasoning/flavors" were good but there was sooo much grease in EVERYTHING that I felt sick eating it and wreaked of grease and onion for several hours after. I also felt that $31 for 3 people to eat burgers in a semi fast food environment was too pricey. I won't be back. Good Luck SC with this one! The Habit has it beat by a mile!!
(1)Brett P.
This is the worst burger i've ever eaten in my entire life it was oily greasy and the yolk bun maybe want to throw up I tried twice thinking that it would be good but the second time it was as good as the first disgusting I will never eat there my entire life again I also went to the one in Mission Viejo at the mall and it was pretty bad also not as bad as the actual one and cycle money.
(1)Eric T.
First time eating at Smash burger. I thought it was a great burger; fresh meat, fresh produce, and a tasty bun. Smash fries were also crispy and not too salty. Gourmet burger at a fair price!! Other friends have eaten here and had nothing but good things to say about the quality and taste. Not sure why there are so many bad reviews.
(4)John A.
The burger was ok. The fries were very greasy. The water cups are filthy and the restaurant is dirty so my guess is the kitchen is dirty. This was our last try at this place.
(1)Katie A.
We went here opening weekend, got a milk shake that wasn't completely melted asked for a new one and it was the same way!!! Was told its because the ice cream was melted and there was nothing they could do. Burgers aren't anything special, proxy for what you get
(2)Christopher C.
Great Classic style burgers. I will absolutely recommend this place to friends. The Smash Style Fries are my all time favorite. The service was great and the restaurant was clean. I'm not sure why there are so many negative reviews but Smashburger just made it on my list of regular restaurants to take my family to.
(5)Andrew A.
Burgers are good and we eat here often, but don't expect service. Managers don't acknowledge you, registers are often unmanned even when there is a long line, and when you get your order, it is often wrong. I have never seen the owner talk to a customer.
(2)Carrie B.
Finally tried smashburger and my boyfriend and I both loved it. I had the avocado bacon burger and he had the BBQ bacon cheeseburger. Both were a great size and juicy. I was surprised how much flavor my burger had. The smash fries were also good. I'm defiantly going to go back and try the Baja spicy burger and maybe a milkshake!! Price was $18 for two burgers and one French fry but it was worth it. It was busy as we were there at 6pm but it took only around 10 minutes to get our food. Well be back for sure.
(5)marshall s.
Burgers good, one visit frie and rings ok, next time just puddles of grease on plate.
(2)Stephanie B.
I love the food here- and love grabbing a burger as long as its during "off" hours. If you go in anytime after 3- be prepared. The service is slow, unfriendly, and you'll have to ask multiple times and send your food back to get the order correct.
(4)Jeff K.
Food is tasty but the service is terrible. At least this time drinks came before good was gone. Can't figure out how they can be this slow with such a limited menu.
(2)Dianne M.
Went there for the 1st time. Sat. Night 5:30 Pm. Only one person taking orders. She has to call for help disbursing orders that were ready. My burger with spinach, cucumbers and goat cheese was dry and no goat cheese. My husbands bacon, cheese, had no lettuce. My husband had a strawberry shake that he said was very good. Not sure if we will go back?
(3)Lori S.
My friend and I came for a Burger & Beer lunch after having dieted all week in anticipation......only to order and find out there is NO BEER. It's on the menu, they just don't have any. Doncha hate it when a new restaurant opens and they are not really prepared to open? So we had water with our burgers......the burger was excellent though. We both had the OC burger; juicy and flavorful. 5 stars for the burger; 2 stars subtracted for NO BEER.
(3)C V.
This Smasburger is so new that I checked in for the Oceanside location. Odd. Good food, busy, and a little slow.
(4)Mari E.
Not sure why the low reviews, it's great burgers, tried the chicken avocado smash and it was delicious! Ask for the fried pickles, not on the menu but they will make them...yum!
(4)B A.
Good burger. Nothing more. Was expecting a bit more because I heard others talk it up. Tasted like a $6 burger from carls jr. The fries are ok. They are just too small, and feel like you have 100's of small piece to consume. Overpriced. About $10 for burger and fries.
(3)Paul M.
We like it! There is no quality burger joint in San Clemente, and while I enjoy Five Guys, sometimes I just don't want to drive to Dana Point for a burger, so we welcomed Smashburger. The menu fits our needs, the food is good, and the staff are very friendly.
(5)Madeline J.
Never again. Came here a week or so ago. Ordered a lettuce "wrapped" BBQ bacon burger and haystack onions to go. Order came up pretty quick even though it was packed. When I got home (2 min away) and opened the burger box I was greeted buy a 2in by 2in piece of "lettuce" on top of my burger. It was that garnish type tough lettuce too, think kale texture. Um is this a joke? I preceded to pick up said burger and that's when I saw it...the green, so-greasy-it-was-translucent, disgusting excuse for a piece of lettuce they put on the bottom of the burger...wtf. That is not a lettuce wrap. If you cant make it a real wrap (think In n' Out or The Habit) just don't make it an option. So disappointed. The meat lacked flavor and as I mentioned was so greasy that it literally disintegrated the tough as kale lettuce. Hello. Haystack onions were strings of greasy yuck as well. Sorry Smashburger, that was my first and last time.
(1)Heather R.
Ridiculious Wait! 30 minutes for 3 burgers. Then we finally get our food and its greasy and salty. Yuck! The ketchup and mustard containers both had mold inside the lids. Disgusting. I do not recommend at all!
(1)Jennifer M.
Fantastic burger. Just tried Smashburger for the first time today. I had the small classic burger with the Smashburger fries. Wow! The burger was so flavorful and fresh tasting. The fries were so yummy. The services was great. We will definitely be making this our number one pic over other newly opened burger places in the neighborhood!
(5)Michelle S.
Do not go to this place, especially if you are in a hurry! It took over 20 minutes for my husband and I to get our order. When our chicken sandwich, avocado burger and fries did eventually come, it was completely dissapointing. The avocado on my husbands burger was brown, not the fresh quality we were looking for. Also, when he picked up the burger to eat it, the meat crumbled apart so he had to use a fork and knife. The chicken sandwich was meh and the fries were just okay. Definitely not worth the wait or calories! Go to The Habit instead!
(1)