Burger By Day

"With so many smashburger places in the city, you think we’d be tired of them by now. We’re not—especially if they’re this good. If you like the (also great) burger at Smashed, try the one at this counter-service spot in Chinatown. It comes with two thin, pressed patties with gooey american cheese and grilled onions in a soft and squishy bun. It’s bigger than what you find at similar burger joints. On the side, get some extra crispy fries, which we prefer over their tots." - will hartman, bryan kim, neha talreja, willa moore, kenny yang

"Your Order: BBD Smashburger Meal ($14.45), which comes with two adds: a drink, fries, or ice cream. A very happy meal.  The smashburgers at this counter-service Chinatown spot are bigger than average, and the standard burger comes with two thin patties. This means that you won’t finish one, immediately wish you’d gotten a double, and then consider turning around for a second—a vicious smashburger spiral, avoided. At Burger By Day, the burger is about six to nine bites, and comes with gooey american cheese, grilled onions, and a squishy bun. " - willa moore, neha talreja, will hartman, bryan kim

"This counter-service spot in Chinatown has one of the best smashburgers in the city, and the chicken sandwich is just as good. It comes with a sprawling tender piece of dark meat that’s bigger than the soft and squishy bun, and you can add a ton of free toppings (lettuce, tomatoes, and thick-cut pickles, for example) as well as things like bacon and a fried egg if you pay a little extra. The sandwich is humongous, and at $9.50, it’s the best deal on this list." - Carlo Mantuano, Kenny Yang, Neha Talreja, Bryan Kim

"With so many smashburger places opening, you think we’d be tired of them by now. We’re not. The version at this plant-filled counter-service spot in Chinatown comes with two thin pressed patties with gooey American cheese and grilled onions between a soft and squishy bun. It’s easily one of the best smashburgers in the city, and the fried chicken sandwich is just as good. All the sandwiches (including the sliders) defy expectations. They’re bigger and less expensive than what you find at similar burger joints around town. Whether you choose chicken or beef, get some extra crispy fries, which we prefer over their tots. Burger by Day has a selection of shakes, but you can also grab bubble tea from the I’Milky location that shares the same space." - Kenny Yang