The Smokehouse

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.

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.

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.

Not sure what I was expecting when I ordered the chilli with the burger, and I wasn’t sure how I was gonna eat it when I opened the box, but it was absolutely delicious! The burger was super juicy and the chili was a great complement, I wish I could visit more often!

Had a great experience at the Smokehouse! We ordered cheeseburgers, fries, and a strawberry milkshake—and everything was absolutely delicious. The cheeseburgers were hot, juicy, and cooked to perfection over an open fire stove, which gave them that amazing smoky flavor. The fries were crispy and golden, and the milkshake was creamy and refreshing. Best of all, the service was impressively fast. Highly recommend if you’re craving a solid, satisfying meal.

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.

Apparently went there while blacking out after losing two teeth somehow. Woke up with this photo geotagged here. Returned to 1) retrace my steps, 2) confirm that the bathroom graffiti is indeed this good, and 3) see how delicious the burgers are when sober. (They’re delicious!) PS- if you suspect that you were involved in or witnessed the incident described above, please reach out to.

Food is good, wish that the cheese would melt more on the burgers though. Even if you order a small bag of fries, you’re still going to get a lot! I would recommend ordering and eating in person even though there might be of a wait rather than ordering online. They messed up my order and wouldn’t refund me since it was through a “third party.” I directly ordered from THEIR website but somehow I wouldn’t get my money back.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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

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.

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.

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.

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!

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

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!

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!

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!

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

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!

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!

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!

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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?

Food is exactly as it was 30 years ago. Only difference is this is painful to my body now.

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.

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

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!

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.

My burger had a sour taste as if what the cook it on wasn't clean or they burned something on it. Fries were cooked well but they had no taste, plain.

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.

This place has been here since I was a kid. The menu has a lot options and that seems non traditional. Definitely a place you should try if you're in the area. Their chocolate milkshakes are the best.

My family is a combination of vegetarian and meat eaters. At a small local shop like this, having something for the meat eaters is a given, but even in the Bay Area it's not a given that there will be vegetarian options. I appreciate the options and enjoyed the impossible burger while my SO enjoyed some meat. Are they the best burgers ever? No, but they are really good, they are fast (when ordering online I have yet to arrive before my order is finished), and their prices are reasonable. The worst part of getting food here is parking. They are popular and I feel sorry for people who live on their block. Having said that I have found parking on the next block over, so do yourself a favor and take a short walk.

first time trying was a pretty solid burger joint. Workers were pretty chill just took your order and you pick up at the window so minimal interaction, but that's ok. Food came out quick and there was enclosed seating and picnic tables outside, even though it was cold outside the laughter and ambiance of everyone eating made the enclosed area feel warm and inviting. For my food I hit the double cheeseburger. I like that the bun wasn't too big and I could bite the burger easily, patties were a good size and I loved all the free add ons. The caramelized onions were such a nice touch, highly recommend. The onion rings were not great to me, the batter had a weird after taste, but they were warm, had nice bite and were cooked well. I also got a taro milkshake too, yummy good drinkable thickness and not bright purple, which I like because less added coloring. Total was around $21.25 and I still had the fries and shake left over definitely ordered too much.

Smokehouse is a classic, a holdover from a simpler time of good food, excellent service, reasonable prices, in a historic roadside ambiance. Don't miss out on their excellent shakes in a ton of flavors. Smokehouse tastes like childhood, in all the best ways.

This is my favorite go-to burger place in East Bay. It's clean, casual and you have the option of outdoor seating. Unfussy & delicious.

Oldie but goodie! Classic flavors, burgers, fries, milkshakes, they even have non dairy. Always nice staff, and old school indoor and outdoor seating. Best deal in town, I just hate their pickles.

Excellent food and service -- reminds me of burger joints in my childhood, but this is actually better

Its a great grilled burgers and shakes and fries. Try the oreo shake and fries. mmmmmmmm

I forgot how awesome this place is! Lots of picnic seating tables outside. Ample seating inside. Passcode protected gender neutral restroom. One of those new fangled self-serve soda machines that did NOT have regular coke which was a bummer. Solid fries. Solid burger. This hotdog SLAPS. Great size, good quality dog. Great for kids and families and always a cute date or two happening. Highly recommend. You order kinda outside under this covered area. It's not gourmet but it's solid quality and good price.

Best grilled hot dog around. Grilled over a flame. I love Top Dog's hot dogs. But you know how a flame grilled hot dog is. I can have dairy, but they have vegan milkshake options, too. Which is great for my husband.

Well, I'll never do this again. I swung by for some burgers on my way to Patterson and didn't check my burger until I arrived. The place was buzzing with young kids on bikes with colored spokes and wheels, but that's not the issue. The issue is that they may have been so busy that I ended up with a crap-ola of a burger. The burger had the following issues: 1. Tomato, I said no tomato 2. No cherry peppers, I said I wanted them 3. Low mayo, not no mayo 4. the fries were terrible. So I ended up eating, the plain, bland, cold, not so much of a party-in-my-mouth burger. Not fun. Not good. And this has me really rethinking coming back anytime soon.

Definitely a Berkeley staple. Their hot dogs (with all the fixings including onions!) are incredible. Their burgers are great. I'm very, very picky with my onion rings -- I prefer onion rings that have that deep, beer battered taste -- and Smokehouse has my favorite onion rings. There are definitely other places with more gourmet hot dogs and burgers, but Smokehouse excels at selling tasty, affordable food in a casual space -- definitely plan to eat there in the outdoor patio space on a nice day.