Monster Smash Burgers

Monster Smash Burgers is on some of the notable lists of best burgers in the Van/Port area, including Oregon Live and EATER. I grew up loving the Universal Monster movies, so the decor is fun for me. This cart might be playful in its theme but they're dead serious about their burgers. Not much to choose from for toppings though. Only cheese, pickles and sauce. It's all about the smash patties and the bun. Both are exceptional. The cart is behind Belmont Station, so there's beer and seating available. If you're a smash burger purest, this is the joint for you. Check out my profile for more great eateries and craft cocktail bars. ✌🏼

Best smash burger in Portland? I think so, they get a great crust on the burger patties and the homemade pickles really set it off. Fries are good too, basic, nice and crispy.

Smashingly good burgers in a spooktacular setting!! We loved the tap room (we don't drink, but the number of brews on tap is worth remarking about) with additional drink options in the cooler room attached. There is something for everyone here! We'll definitely be back for more of this delicious graveyard smash!! 🧟‍♀️☠️🍔

This is definitely the place to go if you want an amazing Smash Burger!! Patties are cooked perfectly with crispy edges, fries perfectly seasoned and the garlic aioli is to die for. The owner Rico is a super friendly guy. You won't be disappointed if you stop by and try this place out.

I almost don’t want to write a review of this cart because I don’t a want it to get too busy but this is low key one of my favorite burgers in town. It’s just a burger but in the best way possible. And the vegan and beef burgers are equally as good. And they are the first place I’ve ever ordered fries from where they given you so many fires I can’t finish them. This is one of my go to spots when I’ve been disappointed by other places around town and I know I just need a burger and fries and a cider to soothe my soul. Just don’t tell too many other people about it.

My recent visit to Monster Smash left me with mixed feelings. While it's great to see another smash burger joint in Portland, the overall experience fell short of expectations. The burger and fries were decent. The patties were cooked well and the fries were crispy and satisfying. However, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing. The flavors seemed somewhat muted, and there was a noticeable lack of toppings to add that extra kick. One of the main disappointments was the thinness of the patties. While smash burgers are known for their thin patties, these seemed to border on too thin, resulting in a lack of substantial bite and texture.

I have eaten at Monster Smash about 7 times. The most recent time is my last. The burgers and fries were good enough when there were few patrons. We went to have dinner on Saturday evening during peak time. It took 90 minutes. We got our order ‘to go’ since all tables were taken. Two of the three burgers were so burned and dry that they were inedible. The cook was cranky to the point of being mean to the person taking orders. We could hear the fracas. We won’t go back. Definitely not worth $55 for three burgers and fries.

I’m pretty easy with getting a 5 star rating based on food alone I would give this a 5 star rating, but there’s a weird thing about inner Portland where quality of food doesn’t match customer service. You don’t have to go above and beyond but you have to at least pretend you want to take my order. I’ve traveled quite a bit and seems like this is true more the northwest where you can get great food and expect to be treated like annoyance to the place.

The service was good and we got our food without a long wait. In general, our burgers were good. But we prefer our burgers with a thick, juicy, meaty feel. The burgers here have very thin, dry, crispy patties. If this is the style you like, you might really enjoy Monster Smash Burgers. Compared to other smashed burgers, we did like the crispiness of the patties here rather than other places that have thinner, greasy ones. A burger is pretty filling here. We also got an order of fries, which were crispy and hot.

I was cruising in the cab, for some culinary art When my eyes beheld a classic Cart Bobby "Boris" Pickett, began to rise And suddenly to my surprise I did the dash, I ran to Monster Smash The Monster Smash, it was a Burger bash I did the Smash, spending cold, hard cash I did the Smash, I did the Monster Smash The Laurel Hurst, turns South East To Belmont Station where the Vampires feast Hungry Hounds howl at the moon Sando, Salad, Bisque and spoon They did the dash, they ran to Monster Smash The Monster Smash, French Fries in a flash They did the Smash, hear them snarl and gnash They did the Smash, they did the Monster Smash

Amazing burgers & fries! Cute patio to enjoy your food & right next to a bar for a nice cold beer. Food came out pretty fast and was very fresh! Excited to come back.

As always, monster hit us with great crispy taste of his burgers - simply good. The beyond is exactly that and the OG with meat is perfectly made. Depending on how busy they are it can take a while - or it's really fast. Either way it's always worth the wait. In addition to a good crispy smashed burger paddy the monster sauce is a good companion together with the delicious slices of Pickels. Yumm! Stop by and be happy Ps since it's in the back of the Belmont station you have plenty of seating - and some drinks!

My recent visit to Monster Smash left me with mixed feelings. While it's great to see another smash burger joint in Portland, the overall experience fell short of expectations. The burger and fries were decent. The patties were cooked well and the fries were crispy and satisfying. However, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing. The flavors seemed somewhat muted, and there was a noticeable lack of toppings to add that extra kick. One of the main disappointments was the thinness of the patties. While smash burgers are known for their thin patties, these seemed to border on too thin, resulting in a lack of substantial bite and texture.

Small and amazing! I had the vegan smash and side fires and it was perfect! It's really hard trying to find the perfect smash that is vegan and this is it!

So I'd like to start by saying I usually am not a huge fan of impossible/beyond or any plant based burgers but Monster Smash has changed my mind. I haven't eaten meat in 8 years and I almost didn't believe this burger was vegan! The bun was perfect, the cheese melted beautifully, the sauce was incredible and the house made pickles were the cherry on top! The fries were seasoned with sea salt and a crispy delight. When you order they do let you know that the fries are a large serving and they are not wrong. The fries can definitely be shared between 2 people. The service was great and quick! They told us our order would be ready in 15 minutes and it was ready in 10. There is seating if you want to eat there and they're connected to a craft beer place! It was 14$ for the vegan burger which is fair because the serving size is pretty large. 4.50$ for the fries which can be shared between 2 people. I will be definitely be returning the next time my husband is craving a burger!

We were craving a delicious hamburger so we took to yelp and found Monster Smash Burgers. I am sooooooooo freaking happy we did! These were some of the best burgers we have ever had! The meat was absolutely perfect (cooked and taste), the cheese was sooooo melty and also perfect, it was a perfect bun to meat ratio, and the monster sauce was the perfect addition. Now, comes the show stopper, BREAD AND BUTTER PICKLES! When I bit into that slightly sweet, slight salty little treat I was in heaven. I'm already planning our next visit! I forgot to mention the fries!! They are by no means a by stander in this meal. They equally stole the show. Perfectly crunchy, yet soft seasoned perfectly with a side of garlic aioli. Nothin' betta.

We ordered two smash burgers, one plain, and large fries. Burgers were good, fries very salty. The outdoor seating area is nice with covered and not covered tables. It's right next to a liquor store and bar which has great variety's! Free water was also provided in the seating area. I'm glad we tried it, food was good and the service was great too!

Really good burger crunchy texture but bread was close to expired, kind of dry. Would be better with lettuce tomato etc. (which isnt an option here). solid 4 star spot for burger

This is my go to smash burger place now. I love the atmosphere in the dining area. and the bottle shop next-door. You can get a beer to go with your burger or a few while you're waiting. Although they are pretty quick with the burgers. My husband and I had OG Smashburger's today and an order of fries. We always enjoy it and I will continue to come back. I really love the Crispy, Lacey, meat and cheese and oh my goodness they're homemade pickles. Yum Next time I definitely want to try the beet salad. This place is dog and kid friendly because of the seating area. Come over here to Belmont station and check out the monster Smashburger truck.

On our trip to Portland this was one of the best places we decided to eat at! The burgers were honestly amazing and the cherry on top was the garlic sauce/aioli dip that came with the fries. The food was relatively quick and the way it was decorated was one of my favorite things about their food truck. Service was great and i wish they had a Monster Smash in California

I came back to give them a second try . The fries are 100000x better . The garlic aioli paired amazing with fries as well . The smash burger was insanely salty that is the bad thing and ruins what would be a good smash burger . Good quality beef and good amount of cheese .

In a world of smash burgers. This one is average and expensive for what it is. $12.00 for just a plain burger. Meh!

Burgers are great but they don't offer onions; Raw or Caramelized. Their house pickles are great! Just wish they offered onions, lettuce, and tomatoes. Would be a fantastic burger!!! Especially with their special sauce. At $12 up from $10. Rather go to Stumptown. Sorry, not sorry.

When suckin' down high gravity beers , Hey !!!! Just stumble down the stairs and take a while to figure out the frickin' outside door, and hit up this non descript food cart. I got the double patty OG smash burger. I'll pass on the vegan. I didn't get fries because..........I'm watching my carbs. Salad? Not for me. Then , I got another beer.

I've tried to eat here multiple times they are always packed or sold out. So I took this as a sign they must be great so I kept trying & was hyped up when I was able to try again last night. I felt unwelcome by the gentleman working the window. I asked a question & he seemed PISSED that I didn't understand there was only 1 burger. Seemed even more upset I asked about the fry size. He handed my fiancé his food like "here u go get out here" type vibe. I have worked food and bartended for years myself so I normally never leave reviews like this but I really felt disrespected. The food was ok it wasn't good enough for me to ever return. My fiance ended up saving his burger n fries for our pups and we went somewhere else. The setting was cool tho and I liked the eating area.

Very Yummy and very smashed lol I loved the taste, but I think I will stick with un -smashed burgers :)

excellent burgers and fries fir a food cart. beer is also good at the attached business

Goodness! This place is good. We at first thought the price point was a bit high for smash burgers, but wow, these are actually big and filling burgers. Well worth the $10. The cart was easy to find and had plenty of parking. It wasn't too long of a wait either, even with a steady flow of people coming through. We were going to order two fries, but the owner mentioned you actually get a lot of fries in one order. So even though we can eat a truckload of fries, we headed his advice--and we're so glad we did. It was enough for TWO platefuls when we got home. More than enough fries to share and a great bargain. They were tasty fries too. Crispy without being hard and soft on the inside. We weren't sure if it would be enough to fill us up, but it was plenty. For $25 we had a great and inexpensive meal for date night. We're glad we checked it out, and we'll be back if we're in the area and hungry for a great burger!

These burgers are killer! And as the name acurately describes, they are smashed so that the outside gets super caramelized adding tons of flavor. Melted cheese and lots of tangy sauce completes the burger. They are large and also quite messy! In a good way. Maybe not first date food! If you are eating there, grab lots of napkins, you'll need them. The order of fries is enough for 2 or three people. They are very thin cut and extra crispy. For me, they had too much salt but they were still delicious. This food truck is located in Stark behind Belmont Station, a beer and bottle shop, so you can enjoy an adult beverage with your burger. It's not visbale from a main road so If I hadn't read about them, then attended a Yelp Elite event there, I would never know they existed. This part of SE Stark is not a common thoroughfare so Smash Burger is definitely a "hidden" gem. There is plenty of indoor and outdoor seating or you can take your burger to go. I prefer my burger hot, right off the grill, so I eat it there. Next time I will save half for the next day as they are quite large and it was too much for me at one sitting. But every bite tasted so good that I kept going. Oh, and they have a vegan option so something for everyone! Super friendly service, too. Stop by, support them, and enjoy a tasty burger and side of fries That will have you craving it again and again

In from out of town and the kid wanted a burger so we ended up here. Was not worth the hour wait at all. Burger was crispy and had no flavor, the fries were over cooked and not great for either. Just kinda like a burned backyard burger and boring fries if that's what ya want.

Tucked behind Belmont station, this little food cart packs a punch of comforting flavors in a simple menu. I was fortunate enough to visit during a YEE for a free burger, so I grabbed a classic smash burger, without sauce, an order of fries, and the special grilled turkey sandwich filled with spinach, cheese and some other meats. I ordered my food promptly (I appreciate simple menus where ordering is focused on doing a few things, really well) and then took my buzzer into Belmont station to look for some new cider and beer finds while waiting for my meal. The gentleman working at Belmont Station's retail shop wasn't super helpful with the questions I had, albiet he was very nice about his answers. But, this isn't about them. The main star of my first time trying Monster Smash Burgers, was THE FRIES! Wowsa. So tasty, so cripsy and so fresh. I was not expecting to like the fries as much as I did, but they had the crispy outer texture I love in other fries that are slightly over cooked, with the chewy inner fry of an almost under-cooked fry I also love. It was the best of both worlds! Salty, crispy, chewy, oh my! The classic smash burger was tasty, but it was actually my first burger of this kind so I wasn't sure what to expect. I got it without sauce since my food was to go and I was driving to the west side. My burger was crispy and cheesey, butter bun. No complaints! Whenever on the east side, in this part of town, I'll be stopping in for another bite and to enjoy the seating either indoor or out. Thanks, Monster Smash Burgers!

Some burger places throw any old veggie patty on a bun and call it day. Others don't even think to include options for non-meat eaters at all. Monster Smash, in contrast, spent months perfecting both the patty and the cheese on this VEGAN burger! It's not cheap for two patties smashed onto a tasty crisp bun, topped by melty cheese, but if my description isn't clueing you in it's also delicious. (They also have a meat version, of course, which I assume is just as good.) I've heard that the other menu items (fries and salads and soups) are actually really good here too, even though it's primarily a smash burger place, so I'm interested in trying those when I come back. Plus it's next to Belmont Station so you can grab some beers for here or for to go. There is some seating indoors and a little more outdoors but it's more of a grab-and-go type place.

A limited menu but a real home run on every item we tried. The OG smash burger was truly exceptional. Simple but perfectly executed & delicious. The fries are a large portion & again, perfectly crisp, salty & delicious. What's ketchup for? Came with a very nice aioli. And the wedge salad (what?) was an excellent flavor bomb with everything else. I'm a fair home-cook & I can't think of anything I could do to improve the meal. Even the portions are spot on. I will return!!

So good! Boyfriend and i ventured up to portland for some shopping and wanted to find a small business and this did NOT disappoint! simple menu but the flavors are all there! The garlic aioli is Sooo good, put it on your burger and thank me later! Will be stopping here again on future portland adventures. Sorry i don't have a pic to post but it was too good to put down.

My new favorite spot for a smash burger. I was lucky enough to discover Monster Smash Burger through a Yelp Elite Event about a year ago and have never stopped thinking about this place since. Simple and straightforward menu but that's all you really need. The smash burger is just *chef's kiss* and needs no further explanation. And I love their fries with garlic aioli. Grab a seat right outside or indoors if you want to. We also ordered a beer + cider from the upstairs Belmont Station to enjoy with our meal.

Tucked in the back of Belmont Station on 45th and Stark is a food truck that makes good old-fashioned beef cheeseburgers. I'd hate to live in that neighborhood because I'd always be a-cravin' for a burger. Two thin beef patties fried to a crispy doneness topped with melty cheese reminds me of home fried burgers of long ago days. No frozen pre-shaped patties here. For those with alternative life style diets, a plant-based burger with plant-based cheese is also on the super-limited menu. The beef cheeseburger is definitely quality over quantity (maybe a third pounder at best), but this is the place to be if you're wanting an old school burger. Excellent cute small indoor/outdoor dining area with about 10 picnic tables for apropos social distance eating behind the Belmont Station building.

The best smash burger in PNW! Love the salad and sandwich as well. Rico is always creating culinary masterpieces! This food cart is attached to Belmont Station and has over 30 beers and ciders on tap! A burger and beer dream location!

Service was terrible. Chef was rude, food was soggy and tasted like food you'd get served in a school cafeteria. Neighborhood was shady, smelled like pot. Me and my husband will not be dining here ever again.

Drove a bit out of the way for a smash yesterday, definitely worth it. It was a Saturday night around 5:30, the truck is located behind a bar/liquor store. They do have some outdoor seating attached. We placed an order of 2 smashes and a fry to share. We needed drinks too, however they do not have any drinks available, you have to go into the store for that. The meals were made lightening fast, amazingly short wait time. The use of brioche buns was different than I've found on most smashes. The 2-patty burgers come with a smash sauce and pickles with cheese. The burgers are a nice size, but quite greasy...however the flavor and crispness of the patties were outstanding. The brioche texture helps the burger stay together well. Personally I would've loved some onion and lettuce on mine, but the taste was still yummy. The fries were cooked perfectly, one order plenty for two people. I wasn't a fan of their aioli dipping sauce, not much to it for me. They should definitely use their smash sauce for fry sauce too. I'll be sure to ask for some next time I go. Definitely a fine smash...I would go out of my way for a Monster smash again.

Small children look away... The BEST füçķi*g burger I've had in a really long time! Will be recommending, will be back!!!

Sign says open, employees standing inside trailer ignoring people standing outside. One guy popped out of the trailer after 10 minutes of this. I ask "are you open" he ignores me and pops back into his trailer. Wtf is wrong with you?

Holy YUM!! This place was . This was my first time trying a smash burger and it did not disappoint. The "smash" technique made the meat and cheese a little more crispy and a LOT more delicious. My boyfriend brings this place up to me constantly because he loved it so much. The fries were equally as tasty as the burger and a seriously huge portion, could easily split between 2-3 people. Great spot and awesome that you can enjoy some beers next door while you're eating!!

Horrible burgers. Save your money and burn your own burgers at home. I expected so much more from a place that only serves 3 items. I guess that's their standard. Horrible

After waiting a half hour you will receive a burnt burger. If you go back again you will also have to wait for quite a while....for a burnt burger.

Really good food but expect a wait and unfriendly staff. We waited 40 minutes for 3 burgers and 1 fry.....

Simple and delicious! Easy access to seating and beers/ciders entrance attached to seating.

Awesome burgers! That melty American cheese And great service. Plus you can get drinks from Belmont Station.

Great burger cart and super simple. Probably would get more business if they offered more as my daughter doesn't eat beef or certain meats. Chicken or fish option would be great. Way better than mid city smash by a mile!

Rico the owner is so sweet and I love supporting this spot. Super happy for him to see a second cart now at My Oh My bar. The fries & aioli are perfection and the bun and pickles and meat skirt always satisfy!

Dry as hell. Won't return. Excellent fries though. I allow myself one burger a month and it's a damn shame I wasted it on this.

This place has my new (and maybe only?) favorite burgers! I can't imagine wanting a burger from anywhere else after trying these. I got the OG smash burger and it's honestly one of the best burgers (maybe even the best) I've ever had. The crispy edges and the homemade pickles were so good. Since the pickles are homemade they aren't too acidic so they're actually really good. I usually take pickles off my burgers but happily ate these ones. The sauce on the burger was also great. I can tell I'll be here a lot. On a side note I'm glad there's no onions or lettuce on these because even though once upon a time I liked those toppings on burgers I realized it wasn't that great because of the soggy texture they would get. It's kind of nice enjoying a burger without asking for any modifications I must say. The fries were decent but next time I'm definitely going to request no salt because I found them really salty.

Monster Smash Burgers was a huge hit with our whole crew. The food was bomb! The best smash burger I have ever had, so crispy so tasty. I have been thinking about it ever since my last bite. Going to get back there for a cold beer and another burger as soon as I can.

I want another one right now! I loved how crispy the burger patties were. Their Smashburger sauce sealed the deal for me! On top of how great the smash burger was, a single serving of fries was massive! Will definitely be back!

Smash burgers are definitely becoming a sensation in Portland right now.... and with so many new places popping up, let me just tell you one thing: Monster Smash Burgers is doing it 100% RIGHT! The bun is incredibly soft and just melts right into the burger itself. The patty is CRISPY on the edges like a smash burger should be! And the cheese just binds it all together. They also make their own pickles, which are to die for. And to top off an excellent burger, their fries and garlic aioli are nothing short of amazing. Such a great experience and some bomb food! The owner was there as well and was SO nice. Will be coming back again and again!

We got the vegan smash burger and it was really delicious! Added on the $5 fries and it was the perfect amount to split with my friend while we tried some ciders. Will definitely come back! Bonus for the polite worker, great experience and recommend.

Great burger even greater fries!!! I love the garlic aioli sauce they give with the fries! Super yumm!

This place is quickly becoming one of my favorite places to hit up for a smashie. Such a great atmosphere and super friendly staff. I eat a lot of burgers and this one is the burger I crave the most. Everything about it is perfect. Hopefully at some point the hours and days open will expand but until then hit it up Thursday thru Sunday. Thx for the great burgers and service @2burgerboyz