The Smokehouse

The double cheeseburger was laughably small. The patties, not the buns. The patties were completely overcooked and dry. I wonder if I just got a bad batch.Because mine looked nothing like any of the pictures that other people have posted. Also, it didn't come with lettuce, tomato or anything.

We love this place! The employees are friendly and considerate. The food comes quickly, in nice durable containers so that your food does not leak on the carseat. They always think to put napkins, cutlery and straws in the bag. I love the round buzzing disc system that lets you know your order is ready. Last but not least: the food is excellent. Beautiful char on the burgers, thick fries that are salted just right, and creamy shakes. The price is well worth the product.

Driest meet I’ve ever had in my life. So bad I had to stop eating and take a picture of the burger. So dry, not juicy at all. I can tell that they made the patty, just left it there for hours and then served it to me. Absolutely not fresh at all. Gave me a horrid stomach ache after. So sad, it takes one bad batch to ruin it for so many people. I’ll make sure the word spreads and people don’t come have a bone dry burger. Just look at the picture I posted and see how dry and discolored the meat looks. Fries were also soggy for some odd reason. Quality control does not exist here.

I’ve been going to the smokehouse for decades, and it’s mostly the same as it was way back when. They don’t have the orange Julius anymore, which was great, but the burgers and hotdogs are still excellent. They add chili and cheese for no charge, and caramelized onions as well. The service can be a little iffy, and it was cold out, bring a jacket. They only have outdoor seating and while it is covered, it is still often cold. Parking can be difficult since it is on the corner of a busy street on a residential neighborhood. It’s also open late, when there is not much to choose from.

The hot dogs are ok, but the burgers are where I'd focus my food order. Additionally, the non-dairy shakes are fantastic. Fries are terrific, crispy outside, fluffy interior. They use a premium onion ring, which was perfectly fried, but unseasoned. So close to perfect!

A true staple of old Berkeley! The Smokehouse has been a local favorite since 1951 and its delicious food still hold that to be true! Thankfully we were able to get there before the rush and find a table! The shakes are so good, with free mix ins and you can even get a dairy alternative with oat milk! The burgers are perfectly cooked and dressed with the bun being the perfect amount of crunch and softness to make every bite heavenly! The pieces are super fair too! Spent less than $10 per person.

It’s rare to find a burger under $10 in the Bay, but a DOUBLE CHEESEBURGER under $10? That alone warrants this classic Berkeley joint a standing ovation. The burger was excellent, and I would have been okay paying double the price for it — patty made-to-order with fresh pickles, shredded lettuce, and crisp tomato. They go heavy on the mustard which I welcomed (but yellow sauce haters be wary). The giant soda machines in the back were a welcome respite from the Diet-Coke-only fast food restaurants everywhere (why does no one seem to stock Coke Zero?!) and the back opens up to ample indoor and outdoor seating. The only downsides were the fries — they were just okay — and the wait time was longer than I expected. Though, I suppose waiting awhile is the price we pay for a fresh, cheap burger, and I’d gladly pay the cost again. This place is undoubtedly a CLASSIC Berkeley spot and one of the few places a family could feed everyone without breaking the bank. Perhaps that’s why it’s been an East Bay staple for over 70 years — I’d highly recommend taking the extra 15 minutes to opt for Smokehouse over a trip to Jack-in-the-Box or McDonalds.

Edited review, was 5/5; check bottom for update Food is great. Nothing fancy, but if you're in the mood for a good burger and chili cheese fries then this joint hits the spot. Pretty cheap too, considering how much nearby places cost. Service isn't special but it gets the job done; you get the impression they just care about serving customers good food. The atmosphere is so-so. They're definitely going after the young person/young family vibe, aka some sports in the background with wooden tables and chairs outside and inside the restaurant. It doesn't stand out to me but I don't really care about that stuff very much anyways. Still a 5/5 for me. Here's a pic I took of my food; see how glorious it is? Update: I came back a few weeks later and some of the staff seemed to have changed. No worries. Took a minute or so for someone to attend to me. It was raining when I went in so I took a seat inside to wait for my meal. As soon as I take a few steps in my nose is assaulted with the smell of urine. Very gross, that wasn't there before. Maybe they're super busy. I wait for my meal, takes a bit longer than usual (~15m). I get the grilled chicken burger meal and it has a ton of lettuce on it... even though I asked for the opposite, no lettuce. What? I take it up to get remade and the staff is a bit confused; broken English so it seems it wasn't their first language, even still I'd think "no lettuce" would be clear at least. They remake it and I get it back after a minute or so of waiting, annoyed now but whatever. The chicken was overcooked. Not burnt, there's that at least, but cooked long enough that it's hard to rip apart the grilled chicken. Maybe it's not supposed to come with cheese but the last time I went I got cheese on it. The pee smell was overpowering enough though that I decided to just scarf down the meal and go on my way. ~30 minutes later since I walked in and it's still there...families out and about in the restaurant as well. If I had to guess it seems like their staff from before quit or got laid off, maybe switched shifts because food and service sucked. Pretty disappointed.

This place is the best! The burgers are fire, fries always hit, and the shakes are A1 . They're fast, super nice, and always get it right. Honestly, if you're craving a burger, don't waste time anywhere else. Smokehouse is the move. Best burgers, best service, best vibe, 100%

Right back here where it started from! I was a five year old and my sweet momma took me here. We enjoyed hamburgers and hotdogs all the time. The same great menu. A lot of extra toppings, like chili and extra cheese, add ons for free. I'm glad to be back home!

Waited 22 minutes for a cheeseburger on a Friday night. Lots of to go orders processed. Just not eat in. My order was for here and the place was not "packed" - moderate at best. And yet, I got a warm burger at the end of my 22 minute wait. 22 minutes for a burger is not acceptable, not in a restaurant and def not in a burger joint. Other than that, fries were great and my warm burger tasted good.

By far the best burger joint in the Bay Area! From the burgers, fish & chips, chili fries, cheese fries, chili dog and especially the milkshake, this place is a gem! Great service and lots of seating in the heart of Berkeley. It's packed throughout the day with great vibes, I would recommend this restaurant to everyone. 5/5

Omg! How can you beat the prices and flavor from this place?! They offer hot dogs, burgers, and shakes. Nothing fancy and straight to the point. You can also mix and match shake flavors at no additional charge which is always a good choice. They have outdoor and indoor seating and a small grass area if you so incline to have your own picnic. The burgers were yummy, my only wish is for the bun to be a bit more toasted so it didn't become so soggy so fast. The shakes were nice and thick! The onion rings were perfectly crispy. We can't wait to go back and try more of their menu.

I first noticed smokehouse when I drove by and saw that the building had caught on fire and it was closed a few years ago. It peaked my interest and when it reopened, I was sure to go by to try their selection. At the time I was living down the street on Ashby so it was very convenient I have had their impossible, burger, fries, cheese fries, hotdog, and milkshakes. Honestly, I love this place and see why it is packed around 6 PM on the weekends and pretty busy all throughout the day and evening on weekdays. They flame grill their burgers they are not too greasy, all the produce is fresh. Diner like style they get you in there and out pretty quick. Have a nice little outdoor seating area and an indoor seating area. I keep coming back to smokehouse even though I now live 15 minutes away. With all the burger spots around the East Bay that I could go to, 15 minutes is actually a drive and it's totally worth it.

Smokehouse is a joint I first tried when I was a wee lad (an 11 year old Oakland kid). When I moved back to Oakland years ago, I saw that their location had received a face lift and even expanded their menu offerings. When you think Smokehouse, think 1950's burger joint fare with a slight twist. This spot serves fresh burgers, milkshakes, heaps of French fries, and hotdogs amongst a few a other items. The twist is that they also have solid vegan and dairy free offerings including an impossible burger, vegan cheese, and vegan milkshakes. I stopped by a few weeks ago after a night out to cap the evening off with a late night burger. They never disappoint here and your order comes out relatively quickly. You're welcome to munch on it outside or at the benches in the back. My burger was smoky, packed with toppings, and juicy. While you can definitely get a more gourmet burger in the Bay, it's hard to beat the price point here. I'm a sucker for good value and they do not disappoint! I also have to say that their vegan shakes are great and quite affordable. If you're looking for a late night burger joint that offers causal vibes and a great way to end the night, then look no further than smokehouse.

Ordered a cheeseburger with extra onion and added grilled onion. I couldn't taste the grilled onion, but it was still good. The only issue I had was there was too much lettuce. Also, the fries were cold.

Such a cool spot to check out with friends! Food is banging and the ambiance is amazing. There's indoor and outdoor seating available. Outdoor seating is straight vibes around sunset and evening. There's a nice lawn if you wanna play corn hole or chill on the benches. They have the good soda machine and the food comes with boxes when you pick it up at the window. You can see the cooks working through the window, they're really nice! Love this place, hits everything!

My family loves us some smokehouse burgers! We don't get to go often but when we want a good burger this is our go to spot. We like the downtown Berkeley vibes in that area very welcoming. The spot it's self has a great place to hang out outdoors/indoors whichever you prefer. The service is usually pretty quick even when busy. Only comment i have is they do forget to add stuff to the burgers sometimes but an easy fix if you can get their attention at the window.

On the hunt for yummy milkshakes and found this gem. From the front, it looks like a grab and go / takeout only spot but there's actually covered seating as well! You order with someone at the front and pick up around the side. There's also a bathroom available. We ordered the banana milkshake with oreo bits! It took a while to be ready, but on our drive back to sf, we finished it and wanted another one. (Side note: we went to get another banana shake somewhere else and was disappointed). Will definitely return to Smokehouse whenever I'm in Berkeley and would be down to try their food next time too!

TLDR; absolutely classic burger stand with some nice touches Food (of 5) Cheeseburger w/usual + extra cheese - 4.5 Onion Rings w/ranch dressing - 2 Vanilla Shake w/Reeses cups mixin - 4 Service (outdoor counter) Fast, friendly efficient Ambience Old school retro feeling establishment (probably because it literally is retro). All seating is outside picnic tables, some under eaves and some in a small lawn area. It's cool that they allow tons of free extras once you pay for the base burger. The burger itself isn't new or trendy, its just a straight up delicious flame broiled burger with a decent bun and toppings. The milkshake is your typical softserve with added flavor but they also do a couple of mixins (like a DQ Blizzard) which elevates it. The onion rings were a disappointment, they were overly coated, dry and came with prepackaged Heinz ranch dressing (which wasn't great). They were deep fried nicely though with good crispy brown edges where actual onion peeked out, so hopefully the fries are better.

It's rare to find a burger under $10 in the Bay, but a DOUBLE CHEESEBURGER under $10? That alone warrants this classic Berkeley joint a standing ovation. The burger was excellent, and I would have been okay paying double the price for it -- patty made-to-order with fresh pickles, shredded lettuce, and crisp tomato. They go heavy on the mustard which I welcomed (but yellow sauce haters be wary). The giant soda machines in the back were a welcome respite from the Diet-Coke-only fast food restaurants everywhere (why does no one seem to stock Coke Zero?!) and the back opens up to ample indoor and outdoor seating. The only downsides were the fries -- they were just okay -- and the wait time was longer than I expected. Though, I suppose waiting awhile is the price we pay for a fresh, cheap burger, and I'd gladly pay the cost again. This place is undoubtedly a CLASSIC Berkeley spot and one of the few places a family could feed everyone without breaking the bank. Perhaps that's why it's been an East Bay staple for over 70 years -- I'd highly recommend taking the extra 15 minutes to opt for Smokehouse over a trip to Jack-in-the-Box or McDonalds.

Service was great and our food came out quick. They have a nice selection of tables in the back. As can be expected, street parking primarily. The burgers themselves were so flavorful. It does get really messy but still delicious. The onion rings were perfectly fried and didn't feel heavy at all. Their ratio of batter to onion was nicely balanced.

I was in the area and looked up something that was open late. Found this place on yelp. When you walk up there's a guy who takes your order. Then you can see the kitchen and people cooking. To the side there's seating. It's covered but it is outside. We ordered two hot dogs,fries, and a hamburger. The food was made fresh to order. My son really enjoyed it. I really like the hamburger. It wasn't to expensive I would definitely come back.

Ordered for pick up for dinner and this did not disappoint! This place tasted better than it looks. We arrived to notice they were pretty packed. The line was so long, they even had cars double parked with hazards on just trying to get their food. The food was sooooo good. The patties were nice & juicy. The seasoning on this was on point. I loved the grilled peppers on there. Chefs kiss. I also loved the simple cheese fries. My boyfriend loved everything but the Reese's shake. We both agree it was super bland. All the chocolate pieces kept sinking to the bottom. The Taro shake looked a little questionable at first. It looked like a cotton candy shake, but it definitely tasted like Taro. I for sure have to come back and try their other items.

I live far away from this place but every time when I go to Bay, I love to go visit it they have the best burger the best customer service. The food is excellent. The places is so clean and sharp. I love to eat there my whole family love this placeThank you for the excellent service

4.5 stars. Walked pass by this place so many times and finally decided to try it out on 4th of July with my parents. Ordered double cheese burger, fish burger, chicken sandwich, cheese fries, and onion rings. Sat outside in the patio. I'm usually not someone who frequent a burger joint but the double cheese burger here definitely won me over! It was cooked to perfection with tender meat patties and gooey cheese. The onion rings are the best I've had. So crispy and not oily at all. My parents really enjoyed their food as well and raved about the onion rings. My only gripe is that the fries aren't as good as I have hoped. They're a bit too soft and soggy. Overall it's the perfect classic American meal. I was satisfied. We'll be back! Happy 4th of July!

BEST MILKSHAKES EVER! I've tried the Strawberry (with Oreo mixed in), Banana, and Horchata flavors, and all were phenomenal! The banana one tasted like a creamy Banana Laffy Taffy. Seriously, they have the best milkshakes I've ever had--I'll definitely be trying them all! My friend loves to get the oreo milkshake with extra Oreos because oreo mix ins are free! They've been out of oat milk for a while but I'm hoping it'll be back soon. The place itself is super cute, with a very old fashioned American vibe. We usually get them to go but today we enjoyed sitting on the nice lighted outdoor patio. Also guy working the register is always super friendly and has great recommendations!

Smokehouse is an excellent, no-frills, late-night spot near the UC Berkeley campus. They have hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, milkshakes, and veggie/vegan options. They also have a long list of free toppings you can add to your sandwich. And the best part? It's super affordable! My partner and I went to Smokehouse recently because we were craving burgers. We ordered a cheeseburger with all the standard toppings, as well as caramelized onions and barbecue sauce. We also ordered two chicken sandwiches, a mango milkshake, and an order of onion rings. The cheeseburger was delicious. The flavor from all the toppings blended together perfectly, and the burger was cooked nicely. The chicken sandwiches weren't dry at all and really hit the spot. The mango smoothie was refreshing and delicious, and the onion rings were probably the best onion rings I've ever had. They were crisp, not soggy, and not soft. Great taste overall. I'm so happy we tried this place and I assume it'll become part of our rotation. Definitely try this place!

This is a really solid impossible burger! I love their outside seating which is covered, perfect for rainy days or if you have a pup. Their shakes are also amazing!

First time trying this place (via Grubhub). MEH. The cheeseburgers were like the ones your mom would make for you at home as a kid. Not worth $9 each. Especially when they didn't make our burgers correctly. Tbh, a Quarter Pounder from McDonald's is better. The milkshakes were totally runny- not thick at all. The onion rings were crunchy, but super bland. Grubhub had over 1K reviews averaging at 5-stars and I don't understand why. I won't order from this place again.

My friends that live in the East Bay brought me here to today and it's a great burger spot. They have burgers, hotdogs and chicken sandwiches and probably the most amazing part is their add ons are free! I got a cheeseburger and added on caramelized onions and a side of fries and a drink that with tip came out to $16 which isn't bad at all. There's a lot of seating both inside and outside. My food came out pretty quickly. The burger was delicious, the meat was tender and juicy! The fries were good, I did need to add salt and if there was an option for seasoned fries that would be great. They do have the option of chili fries but I felt like that would have been too heavy. I would definitely come back again and try a hot dog as well as one of their shakes which also have free add in options!

Great food, great prices. Only outdoor seating but some in shade and in sun. A good little burger joint.

Fresh food and full stomachs! I was once a Nation's fan but this is what I'm looking for when I want a burger. I loved their outdoor seating and could see this being a great summer date night place for those who want some good American food with an open space to dance or to enjoy the warm weather and cookout environment.

From the amount of times I've driven by Smokehouse & the solid reviews from East Bay friends I've received over the years, I finally had the chance to enjoy this spot on a beautiful April afternoon. It's hard for me to stray from a single cheeseburger, fries, and a milkshake, so that's exactly what I ordered! I love the old school burger joint vibes, with fun and nostalgic painted images both indoor/outdoors. With street parking located around the restaurant, it's a walk up & order type vibe, grab your receipt and pager, and wait for the buzz to go off. It's been a while since I've had that experience, but keeps you and your tummy excited as an eager customer. We chose to sit outdoors with picnic table style seating and lots of open space/grass area. Indoor seating is also nice with vibrant walls and a window to watch the grill masters in action. The fries were nice and crispy, loved the fresh potato bun, char on the burger, shredded lettuce, and of course, the bang for my buck. I chose the Oatly (oat milk, non dairy) option for my milkshake and it was bomb! Especially love when you reach the end of the milkshake and there's chunks of candy/cookie pieces...no shortage here! I've heard the chili cheese fries and hot dogs are super yum, so would love to come back and try to stray from my normal burger joint ordering. In line a customer also suggested to not forget the "free add-ons" with recommendations of the caramelized onions and cherry peppers. Again, next time! Also to note: there are vegetarian/vegan options, and def. a kiddo and doggy approved atmosphere!

Veggie burger is really good - their buns are really good. The fries are okay. The meat patties seem to be made from frozen. My friend did not like their meat burger at all.

Awesome burgers. I try to stop by every time I am in town. Just good old hamburgers with great taste.

My wife and I found this place after finding no parking at another place close by. Driving away from Cal, going south about 1/4 of a mile or so, just as you cross into South Berkeley, we saw the smoke! While there was no parking lot, we found parking. 6 or 7 in front of us when we walked up but the line vanished pdq and we were up! Flame broiling was happening before my eyes. Cheeseburgers with bacon worked well. They've got hot dogs and other things and it fresh, hot and delicious. It is not "fine dinning but they serve five star cheeseburgers and service with a smile.

The Bergers are always good here. So is everything else. I have been coming here for years and their food is always good and consistent! I have tried everything on the menu my favorite is the cheese burger and chili cheese fries yummy they are pretty famous for their milkshakes!

My new favorite burger spot in Berkeley! Friendly and quick service. Prices are great for the quality you get. A variety of burgers available to pick from. The burger size is just right. Ingredients always taste fresh. Burgers are not greasy like at other places. If I could change one thing: I prefer large slices of lettuce rather than shredded lettuce. Some of the lettuce gets wasted as it over spills out from the burger. Fries are served crispy and hot. Not oily. The self serve soda machine has multiple options to select from. A few indoor picnic style tables available. Additional tables outside.

It's a darn good burger and I'm kicking myself for not eating here again until recently. Friends took me out and yeah, even after it closed and reopened, it's still the real thing. Juicy meat well cooked. I'm giving five stars which seems a bit high. This is a five star on the fast food burger scale and not the gourmet burger scale. Let me explain. The meats was juicy and well cooked. Wish it had a tad more flavor. The bun was soft and a bit too squishy and it made a mess of itself. I don't know if they don't toast or I need to ask for toast or if they under toast. Or they just need a more solid bun. So for a gourmet burger it's a three or four. Still a burger that's solidly above any fast food place and given that most fad food places have raised their burger prices to the same as Smokehouse, I'm evaluating them on the same scale. Staff is friendly. Seating is clean and spotless if a bit utilitarian. Glad they have indoor seating but again, kind of on the sparse side. I hope they succeed and can pump more money into better decor.

Really good classic burger. Think about in-n-out burger but it's better . They are always busy so I would recommend order ahead .

Food is great and the service is fast and friendly I'm here like twice a week It has outdoor seating perfect for sunny days

The butterscotch Milkshakes was SOOOO good! It was thick and had actual butterscotch. The Large Fries were actually large! They were fresh, hot, crisp, with just the right amount of salt! The pick up was easy, the service was nice an efficient. This is a berkeley staple! So glad their food quality and customer service match again! It has been up and down over the years but they are UP now! I will definitely be back!

Driven past many times, finally paid them a visit! A very solid dive-y burger and fries. Fast service and the fries were hot! Burger was a bit wet but overall tasty. Oreo shake was delicious! Plenty of outdoor and indoor seating. Glad I tried this spot

Our go-to for Impossible burgers with gluten free buns (Udi's). It's consistently delicious and charbroiled every time. Toppings are always fresh. Fries are crispy and nicely salted with generous portion too. Burgers are packed well in sustainable boxes for delivery.

Great little Berkeley burger institution! Especially since the loss of Oscars burgers, this place is my go-to flame grilled burger joint. The burgers and fries are on point. You can really taste the flame and char on the burger! They also have a big variety of shakes, including non-dairy options! I'm hungry just thinking about it!

One of the tastiest burgers in the Bay Area was passing through and I seen it and I had to stop. It's been here since 1951. We had a cheeseburger and impossible burger both were not disappointing. Very good. My only critique was the lettuce and tomato was kind of stale like they've been sitting in a plate for a minute

I love their burgers! Besides being delicious, pricing is very fair. Try their fries too, very nice and fresh.

We've been eating here since childhood. Service is always friendly. Best to order in person. Be prepared for a wait some days. We've always liked the option to eat indoors or outside. We usually just take it home though.

Very yummy burger and fries- juicy burger patty, crispy salty fries! Nothing fancy but great for a basic burger

Food: Burgers Taste Fresh, wish it had more flavor. The Onion Rings had no flavor whats so ever mostly batter. Its a 7$ Cheese Burger and 5$ for Onion Rings, nothing to rave about, its decent at best. The Location is nice, it has a nice little grass area to eat.

To the owner of this burger joint, what was the small white eggs that I found in my onion rings. I broke it open and a cluster of white eggs were found. I brought it up to the window and asked the worker what it was and he had no clue and just offered to make me a set of new onion rings. Does anyone know what this was?

Arrived here at 1030 and I was the first customer. Place is very clean. Ordered Dbl cheeseburger, coleslaw and a medium lemonade ($10). The coleslaw was good had a bite to it(horseradish). The burger was ok. Thin patties and I tasted mainly the condiments not the meat. Lemonade was not sweet or tart just ok. This place is just ok.

Great service! Food was fresh, hot and a great value! Can't believe that was my first time there, but couldn't ignore the great reviews! Wouldn't have taken a photo but I ate it too fast!

I initially got confused what Smokehouse was and figure it to be BBQ spot, but boy was I wrong and turned out to be yet another Burger joint. But I'm not going to talk bad about the place as the Burgers and Dogs here are chargrilled which I think brings out a wonderful taste especially with Burgers. This place kind of reminded me of Doggy Diner back in the day with its simple menu and value prices. French Fries are crispy and salted just right. They even offer up lactose free shakes. I will definitely be coming back to this joint to try the chili cheese burger next time I'm in the area.

I ordered food to be delivered. The Double Chili Dog with cheese and everything on it. I was not happy with the hotdogs. The hotdogs were, skinny, dried out and cooked hard. I didn't even taste any hotdog meat. Well, The chili and fries was good. All I wanted was a good hotdog.

The offerings (and prices) have changed since I came here regularly years ago. But I'm happy to say that the changes have been for the better. Ingredients are fresh; burgers manage to be neither too dry nor too juicy; buns stand up to the toppings, without getting soggy even after carry out. That said, it tastes best sitting on the benches outside on a warm evening. In addition to the burgers, I appreciate the variety of options. We usually order the grilled chicken (which comes on the dry side but is weighed out by the mayo) and the impossible burger. The oat milk milkshakes are surprisingly good.