Cape Town, South Africa
Foodie finds: the best smash burgers in Cape Town
Where to find the best smash burgers in Cape Town
Cape Town’s burger scene has levelled up – and nowhere is that more obvious than in the new wave of smash burgers. Forget fussy toppings and stacked-high gimmicks. A great smash is all about the fundamentals: a crisp-edged patty, serious beef flavour, proper seasoning, molten cheese and a soft bun that can handle it without falling apart. It’s deceptively simple but hard to nail. We set out to find the best in town, from old garages and alley counters to polished street-facing joints, chasing that perfect moment when char, fat and salt collide. Here’s the lowdown on where to find the real heavy hitters, one smashed patty at a time.
Top photography courtesy of Claire Gunn and Seebamboes
01
Brash
Brash doesn’t overthink it – two burgers, two friends, one sharp little room on Regent Road. After building a cult following with their Brashmobile food truck, Gabriel Wulfsohn and Benji Fisher planted permanent roots, swapping wheels for a slick counter and a pared-down menu. The playbook is simple: a classic smashburger with American cheese, onions, pickles, ketchup and mustard or the Mack Daddy – double patties, double everything with their house special sauce. Fries? Fine but not the headline. Inside, the music and chatter crash against the walls – do as we did and grab a counter seat on the street. You’ll get the people-watching and a little more breathing room.
Brash
90 Regent Rd
Sea Point
Cape Town
South Africa
Photography courtesy of Brash
02
Le Pickle
Le Pickle is Cape Town’s newest smash-burger sensation in De Waterkant, launched by four friends with a passion for perfecting the basics. Pieter Aucamp, Vincent Viviers, Trenton Devine and Enrico Ferigolli turned late-night braai experiments into a full-fledged restaurant, driven by a shared love for smash burgers. Combining high-quality ingredients, handmade demi-brioche buns, custom sauces and pickles, they deliver crispy-edged patties with juicy centres and next-level fries. Le Pickle offers two beef smash options – the double-patty Le Classic and the onion-smashed Le Onion with aioli, plus a standout chicken smash paired with a house-made spicy sauce and Emmental cheese. Vegetarians aren’t left out, thanks to a versatile plant-based patty that fits any burger build. Breaking from retro-diner clichés, Le Pickle’s interiors pop with bold colours, communal seating and playful branding inspired by the founders’ emphasis on fun and community.
Le Pickle
Quarter Lifestyle Village
8 Jarvis St
De Waterkant
Cape Town
South Africa
Photography courtesy of Le Pickle
03
Zuney Wagyu Burgers
Zuney Wagyu Burgers on Kloof Street is all about celebrating the rich, intense flavours of Wagyu. This spot has a simple menu, but each option is a standout. Try the Classic, Cheeseburger or the Wacon (with Wagyu bacon), each stacked with flavour-packed ingredients like Wagyu-infused onions, crisp pickles and a secret house sauce, all on a soft brioche bun. Even the fries go big on flavour, fried in Wagyu tallow for an extra hit of richness. Headed by chef Lemar Desamparado, this spot isn’t about frills or fuss – just seriously delicious burgers that let the quality of their Eastern Cape farm-raised Wagyu take centre stage.
Zuney Wagyu Burgers
69A Kloof St
Gardens
Cape Town
South Africa
Photography courtesy of Zuney Wagyu Burgers
04
Smasht
Tucked behind the leafy streets of Rondebosch, Smasht is a no-frills burger joint that’s become a local obsession. Owner Tameem Jakoet started out flipping patties in his garage, testing recipes on his family until he landed the perfect smash: crisp-edged, juicy, unapologetically simple. Now in a compact Belvedere Road space, Smasht serves just two burgers – The Classic and the Chilli Cheese – both made with grass-fed, halaal-certified beef and served on toasted brioche buns. The menu is tight, the flavours loud and the queues constant. Rondebosch, home to the University of Cape Town and a mix of students, families and academics, isn’t short on food options, but Smasht cuts through the noise with its stripped-back, high-impact approach. Grab a seat outside, dodge the chatter and let the burger do the talking.
Smasht
54 Belvedere Rd
Rondebosch
Cape Town
South Africa
Photography courtesy of Smasht
05
Smokin’ Joe’s
Smokin’ Joe’s didn’t come quietly to Cape Town. Yusuf Bassa, who built the Durban original into a cult favourite, planted the flag on Kloof Street with a menu that doesn’t hedge: double-patty smash burgers, smoked beef fillet sandwiches and triple-stack monsters built for mess and glory. The Knockout – two beef patties, American cheese, jalapeños and a secret sauce – is the move if you know what you’re doing. Everything is fresh, nothing is frozen, and the slick black-and-gold space buzzes at full tilt most nights. Grab a stool by the window, order a Trip Switch if you’re feeling reckless and see how long you can resist going back for seconds.
Smokin’ Joe’s
50 Kloof St
Gardens
Cape Town
South Africa
Photography courtesy of Smokin’ Joe’s
06
Aegir Project Brewery
Down in Noordhoek, past the surf shops and the horse paddocks, Aegir Project Brewery keeps things refreshingly unslick. It’s part brewery, part bistro, part local clubhouse where the beer’s cold, the service is loose and the food doesn’t pretend. The smash burger is the play – two BBQ-basted beef patties, sharp cheese, honey-chilli aioli, bacon and a crackle of crispy onions, all crammed into a soft milk bun baked on-site. Fries come automatically, like they should. Upstairs gets lively, downstairs stays slow. Families park strollers by the door, locals nurse pints till sunset and nobody asks if you want your burger medium rare – they just get it right.
Seebamboed
99 Harrington Str
District Six
Cape Town
South Africa
Photography courtesy of Aegir Project Brewery
07
Stud
Stud started with a simple idea – if you’re going to do burgers, do them properly. Behind it is Michael Broughton, better known for fine dining but smart enough to know that beef this good doesn’t need dressing up. Sourced from Brenaissance Wine and Stud Estate, the Boran beef gets the right treatment: smashed, stacked and barely messed with. The Stud Burger is the move – double patties, double cheese, pickles, onions, mustard, mayo, tomato sauce, all jammed into a brioche bun you can actually taste. The Jnr. keeps it tighter, the No Bull wins points for a vegan option that doesn’t feel like a side thought. No frills, no fuss, just stud-level good.
Seebamboed
99 Harrington Str
District Six
Cape Town
South Africa
Photography courtesy of Stud
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