Smashburgers have become all the rage in Des Moines restaurants with those thin patties flattened on a griddle with a spatula, cooked until the edges turn lacy and adorned either simply or with loads of savory condiments such as griddled onions and American cheese. Diners and restaurants across the Midwest popularized the smashburger before the Great Depression, with thin patties that cooked fast and could be stacked with cheese sandwiched in between.
In Des Moines, the smashburger finds a home as the star attraction on the menu as well as flying solo, a one-off surprise. Of course, breweries in the metro perfected their own versions to pair with their in-house brews.
Here is a look at some of the great smashburgers across the metro and where to find them.
Arcadia
The newcomer in Polk City has already landed in the top 10 for Iowa’s Best Burger, an annual competition from the Iowa Beef Industry Council, for the past two years and won the Des Moines Register’s Burger Brackets in April. Chef Mikel Nguyen uses caramelized onions, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and pickles with Arcadia sauce to dress his versions. Nguyen has a smashburger with sriracha bacon jam, provolone and Gorgonzola aioli and a patty melt, as well as a Burger of the Month where he can flex his chef muscles. Sit in the modern dining room or head out to the covered patio while you see what you think of these burgers.
Details: 1010 Tyler St., Suite 4, Polk City, 515-207-0011, arcadiapolkcity.com.
Barn Town Brewing
While beer may be the headliner, Barn Town Brewing’s smashburger deserves a spot in the conversation. The locally owned brewpub debuted in 2016 with playful, ingredient‑driven beers such as candy sours and grapefruit hazy IPAs, and a menu of comfort food that pairs well with the beers. The 55, named for the F-100 that sits on top of the bar, features two smashed beef patties topped with American cheese and the standard lettuce, tomato and red onion, slathered with special sauce. If you want to glam it up, Barn Town offers eight other varieties, from a French onion patty melt to a poutine version, as well as a black bean burger. Keep an eye on their Burger of the Month for renditions such as a lasagna burger or a Nashville Oklahoma version. This dining room gets busy, so expect a wait — whether you are inside or on the patio.
Details: 9500 University Ave., Suite 1110, West Des Moines, 515‑978‑6767, barntownbrewing.com.
Clyde’s Fine Diner
When you ask anyone what to order at Clyde’s Fine Diner in the East Village, fans mention the Caesar salad rendition of Brussel sprouts, the mojo pork sandwich and the CFD burger, a standard on the menu since the restaurant opened in 2019. Chef-owner Chris Hoffmann, a 2024 James Beard Foundation semifinalist for Best Chef: Midwest, built the restaurant’s reputation on his version of chef-driven comfort food served in a modern diner setting with a circular bar anchoring the space. The burger features two thin-pressed patties with lacy crisp edges, finished with American cheese, shaved onions and a subtly sweet diner sauce. Diners can order a gluten-free or vegan bun, or a veggie patty. Pro tip: The fries are extra and worth it.
Details: 111 E. Grand Ave., Suite 111, Des Moines, 515‑243‑5670, clydesfinediner.com.
Lachele’s Fine Foods
When Cory Wendell opened Lachele’s Fine Foods on Ingersoll Avenue in 2021, he wanted a diner, but the burgers here won over fans. The long, slender space decked out like a diner with stools at the counter, a flat-top griddle and pink and mint green walls quickly became the spot for smashburgers in Des Moines, the focus of the menu. The Ingersoll restaurant offers seven variations, from versions with barbecue sauce or Jake’s, with minced onion, pickle, Boetje’s stone ground mustard, Duke’s mayo and American cheese, while the Highland Park location offers an extended diner menu as well as burgers. Each has a special burger that changes daily. Veggie patties, vegan preparation and gluten-free options are available at both locations. Pro tip: Order the tater tots.
Details: 1312 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines, or 111 E. Sixth Ave., Des Moines, 515‑330-6876; lachelesfinefoods.com.
Lua Brewing
Scott and Whitney Selix’s Lua Brewing in Sherman Hill also focuses on beers brewed in-house, as well as a smush burger — the brewery’s version of a smashburger. It comes with two house-ground patties, fried onion, American cheese, Lua sauce and a pickle, with Impossible and rarebit versions of the burger available. Pick a table on the patio when the weather is nice or near the garage doors when they’re rolled up to taste one of these gems.
Details: 1525 High St., Des Moines, 515-630-5311, luabeer.com.
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Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or drop her a line at sstapleton@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Best smashburgers in the Des Moines metro? These are worth a road trip
Reporting by Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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