Smashburger

What Smashburger does

Smashburger is an American fast-casual restaurant chain founded in 2007 in Denver, Colorado by Tom Ryan, who pioneered the company's signature smash-burger technique — pressing fresh, never-frozen Certified Angus Beef onto a hot buttered griddle using custom-forged smashers to produce a caramelized, crispy crust via the Maillard reaction. The menu centers on single and double smashburgers, All-Angus Big Dogs (quarter-pound hot dogs cooked on the same griddle), chicken sandwiches and tenders, salads, sides including trademarked SmashFries, hand-spun shakes made with Haagen-Dazs ice cream, and kids meals. The company operates approximately 190 locations across 29 U.S. states and 6 countries under a hybrid company-owned and franchise model, with franchisees required to have $2M+ net worth and $500K in liquid assets.

Revenue is generated through four streams: (1) restaurant food sales from dine-in, takeout, and delivery at company-owned and franchise locations, (2) franchise development and royalty fees from new unit openings, (3) catering services with $50 minimum pickup and $100 minimum delivery orders, and (4) gift card sales in $15-$250 denominations. Distribution channels include physical restaurants, the company's own website and iOS/Android mobile app, and third-party delivery partnerships with DoorDash, Uber Eats, Postmates, and Grubhub. Customer segments span individual consumers (primary), families with children (supported by Kids Eat Free Wednesdays), and corporate/event catering clients. Smashburger is a wholly owned subsidiary of Philippines-based Jollibee Foods Corporation following a 2015 acquisition, and Jollibee announced plans in January 2026 to spin off its international business — including Smashburger — for a U.S. stock exchange listing by late 2027.

Name

Smashburger

Legal name

Smashburger IP Holder LLC

Website

https://smashburger.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Smashburger is an American fast-casual restaurant chain operating approximately 190 locations across 29 U.S. states and 6 countries, serving made-to-order smashburgers with Certified Angus Beef to individual consumers, families, and corporate catering clients as a wholly owned subsidiary of Jollibee Foods Corporation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fast-casual burger restaurant

NAICS

Limited-Service Restaurants (722513), Restaurants and Other Eating Places (7225), Special Food Services (7223)

akta.pro primary industry

Burger Fast Casual (THAFABAA)

Keywords

• Fast-casual dining
• Burger restaurant chain
• Made-to-order burgers
• Certified angus beef
• Franchise restaurant

Headquarters

HQ city

El Paso

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Restaurant Food Sales: Direct restaurant sales from dine-in, takeout, and delivery orders at company-owned and franchise locations
2. Franchise Fees: Franchise development fees from franchisees opening new Smashburger locations, with requirements of $2M+ net worth and $500K liquid assets
3. Catering Services: Corporate event and party catering with minimum $50 for pickup and $100 for delivery
4. Gift Cards: Sale of gift cards in denominations $15-$250, including e-gift cards and corporate bulk purchases

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Smashburger operates a fast-casual restaurant chain selling made-to-order smash burgers made with Certified Angus Beef that is pressed onto a hot griddle using a signature proprietary smasher to create a caramelized crispy crust. The menu also includes All-Angus Big Dogs, crispy chicken sandwiches, fresh salads, sides (SmashFries, Smash Tots, Brussels sprouts), kids meals, and hand-spun shakes made with Haagen-Dazs ice cream. Operations span company-owned and franchised restaurants in 29 U.S. states and 6 countries, supported by direct digital ordering, third-party delivery, catering, and a loyalty program.

Product overview

Smashburger is a fast-casual burger restaurant chain that operates as a single unified brand with multiple product categories. The core offerings center on smash burgers made with Certified Angus Beef (smashed-to-order on a hot griddle for a crispy caramelized crust) and All-Angus Big Dogs. The product portfolio includes complementary categories: Chicken (crispy sandwiches and tenders), Sides (Smashfries, tots, Brussels sprouts), Meal Deals (bundled combinations), Salads, Kids Meals, Hand-Spun Shakes (made with Haagen-Dazs ice cream), and Beverages. Value positioning is delivered through the $4.99 All Day, Every Day Menu and seasonal limited-time offerings under the New Great Tastes sub-brand. Supporting services include SmashRewards loyalty program, Gift Cards, Catering, and Delivery via third-party partners DoorDash, Uber Eats, Postmates, and Grubhub. The company also offers a mobile app available on iOS and Android for ordering, earning rewards, and account management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Smashburgers Signature gourmet burgers made with Certified Angus Beef, smashed to order on a hot griddle using a proprietary smasher to create a caramelized crispy crust. Available in single and double patty variations with various toppings and flavors.
• All-Angus Big Dogs Quarter-pound premium Angus beef hot dogs smash-grilled on the same griddle as smash burgers, creating a caramelized crust. Served on butter-toasted rolls with various toppings.
• Chicken Sandwiches and Tenders Crispy chicken sandwiches, chicken burgers, and chicken tenders made with fried chicken topped with fresh ingredients.
• Meal Deals Bundled meal combinations including burger, side, and drink at value pricing.
• Salads Fresh salads including Avocado Green Goddess Salad and Crispy Chicken Bacon Ranch Salad.
• Sides Side items including SmashFries, Smash Tots, French Fries, Sweet Potato Waffle Fries, Scorchin Hot Fries, Crispy Brussels Sprouts, and Chili.
• Kids Meals Portioned meals for children including Kids Hamburger, Kids Cheeseburger, and Crispy Chicken Strips, each with side and drink.
• Hand-Spun Shakes Milkshakes blended with Haagen-Dazs ice cream, available in OREO Cookies & Cream, Chocolate, Vanilla, and Strawberry flavors.
• Beverages Drinks including fountain drinks, Craft Refreshers, bottled beverages, and kids organic juice and milk options.
• $4.99 All Day, Every Day Menu Value menu featuring five everyday Smashburger favorites starting at $4.99, including hand-smashed burgers made with Certified Angus Beef, signature Chicken Smash, and quarter-pound All-Angus beef Big Dogs.
• New Great Tastes (Seasonal LTOs) Limited-time and seasonal menu offerings featuring new burger varieties and innovative flavors.
• SmashRewards Loyalty Program Loyalty rewards program allowing members to earn 10 points per dollar spent, redeem points for free food, receive $5 off first $15+ order, birthday rewards, and double points on select days.
• Gift Cards Digital and physical gift cards available in $15-$250 denominations, redeemable online, in-app, or in-store. Includes corporate bulk gift card purchases.
• Catering Services Event catering service providing Smashburger favorites for meetings, parties, and corporate events with build-your-own burger bar options.
• Delivery Service Food delivery service allowing customers to order Smashburger favorites for home or office delivery with in-store pricing and no markups, via DoorDash, Uber Eats, Postmates, and Grubhub partnerships.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ranked #1 Restaurant with best Smashburgers by Eat This Not That
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered regional, core and minor.

• Colorado RockiesregionalGTM or Marketing Partner · 21 May 2026Official Smashburger partnership with the Colorado Rockies MLB team for the 2026 season. Partnership includes promotional giveaways where fans receive a free Single All-American Smashburger or Americana Big Dog when the Rockies hit a home run (valid at Colorado locations only).
• UnderstorycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 April 2026Strategic partnership with creative agency Understory for brand storytelling, digital and social content creation, campaign development and execution, and guest engagement initiatives. Founded by Darren Allison, Understory will work to unify Smashburger's marketing ecosystem and enhance its cultural relevance across the brand's 190 locations.
• BeBurgers LLCminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 25 February 2026Franchisee operator of Smashburger locations in North Carolina, operating the newest restaurant opening in Huntersville as the brand's fourth location in the state.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Five Guys: Five Guys is the closest direct competitor to Smashburger in the premium fast-casual burger segment. Both chains emphasize made-to-order burgers with high-quality beef, fresh toppings, and a customizable format at slightly above QSR price points. Both operate primarily via company-owned and franchise locations across the US.
• Shake Shack: Shake Shack is a publicly traded premium fast-casual burger chain that directly competes with Smashburger in urban and suburban markets. Both chains focus on made-to-order burgers with premium ingredients, similar price points, and a strong digital/loyalty presence via their respective apps.
• Whataburger: Whataburger is a Texas-based fast-casual burger chain that recently accelerated national expansion. Both chains emphasize fresh beef burgers, made-to-order preparation, and franchise growth strategies. Whataburger's deeper regional roots and faster unit growth trajectory offer a direct comparison point for Smashburger's expansion plans.
• Culver's: Culver's is a privately held Midwest fast-casual chain famous for ButterBurgers and frozen custard. Comparable to Smashburger in scale (~900 locations), positioning between QSR and casual dining, and reliance on a franchise-led growth model. Both compete for the same value-conscious, quality-seeking American consumer.
• The Habit Burger Grill: The Habit is a California-based fast-casual charburger chain acquired by Yum! Brands in 2020. Direct competitor in the premium fast-casual burger space with a similar menu architecture (burgers, chicken, sides) and price points. Its ownership by a major QSR parent (Yum!) provides a parallel to Smashburger's Jollibee ownership.
• Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers: Freddy's is a fast-casual chain specializing in steakburgers and frozen custard, with a similar franchise-driven growth model and value-positioning. Comparable to Smashburger in menu structure (burgers, hot dogs, chicken, custard/shakes) and unit economics targeting middle-American markets.

Regional players

• In-N-Out Burger: In-N-Out is a privately held West Coast fast-casual burger chain with a cult following and a tightly controlled geographic footprint. While not direct national competition, both chains pursue made-to-order burgers with fresh beef and demonstrate that regional density can deliver strong unit economics, an alternative model Smashburger's national expansion could learn from.

Emerging players

• BurgerFi: BurgerFi is a smaller publicly traded fast-casual burger chain that has struggled with unit economics and same-store sales growth. Provides a cautionary comparable for Smashburger on the challenges of scaling a premium burger concept in a competitive market, while operating in overlapping geographic markets.

Broad incumbents

• Wendy's: Wendy's is a major publicly traded QSR burger chain competing with Smashburger across the value menu segment. While operating at a different price point and service model, Wendy's Biggie Deal and $5 Biggie Bundle directly compete with Smashburger's $4.99 All Day, Every Day Menu for value-conscious consumers.
• McDonald's: McDonald's is the global QSR burger leader and the dominant scale competitor across Smashburger's footprint. As Smashburger expands its value menu and digital ordering capabilities, it increasingly intersects with McDonald's core $5 value meal strategy, making McDonald's the most consequential competitor for incremental traffic.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Smashburger
• Facebookfacebook.com/smashburger
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smashburger
• Instagraminstagram.com/smashburger
• TikToktiktok.com/@smashburger

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Smashburger