The Great Budapest Smash Burger Debate
During my month in Budapest I kept hearing the same argument every time people talked about burgers. Everyone had their favorite smash burger spot and everyone swore theirs was the best. One night while I was eating dinner on Liberty Bridge I met a group of friends who study in Budapest and somehow we ended up in a full debate about which smash burger place actually deserves the number one spot. It was more 4 against 2 as the majority like SMASHY, and I was in the minority with a vegan… so it was really just 4 against 1.
They told me the whole story about how Simon’s is the original spot and how the founders later split which resulted in two new burger joints opening. That meant three main players entered the scene. Simon’s, Smashy, and Buda Smash. Then there is Buddy’s which no one knows how it fits into the family tree, so it counts as the plus one.
After hearing all of this I decided I needed to re evaluate everything and try each one side by side. These are my rankings based on consistency, taste, and overall experience.
SIMON’S
BUDDY’S
SMASHY
BUDA SMASH
4. Buda Smash
Buda Smash comes in last place. The burger was warm and made directly on the spot which I really liked and for a brief moment I wanted to rank it above Smashy. But as I kept eating I found myself having to tell myself to finish it and that was the deciding factor. It was also more expensive than Smashy. Because of all that Buda Smash is number four.
Rating: 4.9 out of 10
*My phone died while I was there so I did not get a picture.
3. Smashy
This one needs a little explanation. Smashy is good, but the problem is that it is not consistent. Sometimes you get a burger with the perfect amount of sauce. Other times it is way too much where it gets overwhelming. One time I got a quarter size dollop of sauce. Sometimes it is warm. Other times it is lukewarm. If you do not eat it in within the first minute of getting the burger then it becomes cold.
The inconsistency is why it is number three. If Smashy became consistent it would move up to number two. My theory is that when Smashy first became popular they made everything to order which kept it warm and crisp. Now there is regularly a thirty minute line and they cannot keep up with the demand. A lot of the classics sit under the warmer. The house burger is the one you should get because that one is usually the freshest as all the locals tend to get this option.
The layout also slows everything down. There is one door for entering and leaving and a service window for delivery orders. Since the inside is small they only take a couple of orders at a time then wait for the line of burgers to be made. If you are not one of the first few in line your burger starts to cool down quickly.
I will say I prefer their sauce over Buddy’s.
Good day rating: 6.6 out of 10
Normal day rating: 5.2 out of 10
2. Buddy’s
Buddy’s held first place for a bit until I ate it next to Simon’s which immediately put it in second. Buddy’s burgers are hot and you can watch them make your burger right in front of you. You can choose a single or double. The single is better because the double has a little too much grease and left me feeling slightly gross.
The house sauce is more mayo based than the others. The patties are smashed well and have crispy edges which I like. I tried the banana pudding once and thought it was subpar, so don’t waste your money on that. If you want dessert for the same price you might as well get a pistachio ice cream from Burger King (highly recommend, but I heard it’s seasonal). If they added crushed vanilla wafers on top of the banana pudding before serving, then it would make it worth getting. There are wafers inside, but they tasted old and were soggy and you need the nice crunch to have a proper banana pudding.
Rating: 6.6 out of 10
1. Simon’s
Simon’s is the clear winner. It feels like a real restaurant burger. They use fresh crisp lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and pickles which no other burger spot I tried had. The crisp lettuce makes a big difference. If you get the double matty it is very filling. By the time you reach the last few bites you might need to take a deep breath before finishing.
Simon’s has self service kiosks now and cooks their burgers in batches. Because people are constantly ordering they make them in groups. The smallest batch I saw was three burgers. If you just miss a batch you will have to wait for the next one which is the only slight downside. They are the most expensive by one or two dollars but the quality is worth it.
Rating: 6.8 out of 10
Final Thoughts
Budapest has a surprisingly lively smash burger scene and people take their favorites seriously. These rankings are based on my experience after multiple visits to each spot. If you try them let me know your ranking because the debate is still very much alive.
-SK
