There’s just something about a smash burger that blows all other hamburgers out of the water.
A crispy, golden-brown crust with caramelized edges surrounds the patty, providing the perfect, audible crunch as you take a bite.
You’re then met with a juicy, tender inside that just oozes flavor. Despite its thinness, it's still somehow packed with all the savory goodness that you want from a classic hamburger.
There's nothing tough or dry about a good smash burger patty. They're also not the overly juicy burgers that slip and slide everywhere, leaving you with a soggy bun. There's no half-melted Kraft cheese singles or wilted toppings: just an ideal meal that puts everything else to shame.
Now imagine that and elevate it.
That’s the kind of burgers BŌS Burger is serving up.
Here, they aren’t using the typical angus beef. Their patties are rich, buttery and melt in your mouth as you take in the rest of the flavors: these are Kobe American wagyu burgers.
American style wagyu burgers are all the rage, and the delicious trend has made its way to Tucson thanks to places like BŌS Burger and Kaiju Burger.
Akiko Senda, left, and Michael McCormack are the owners of BŌS Burger inside the MSA Annex, 267 South Avenida del Convento, Tucson, Ariz., Jan. 21, 2026.
After Beaut Burger closed at the MSA Annex, 267 South Avenida del Convento, couple Akiko Senda and Michael McCormack saw it as a perfect opening for their new concept. McCormack, who owns Kukai, and Senda, who owns Bloom Maven, still wanted burgers, but with a Japanese-inspired twist.
“We just wanted to get good quality burgers out there,” Senda said.
To make their new venture a hit, they needed Japanese cows.
Wagyu is a type of beef that comes from specific Japanese cattle breeds. This particular beef is popular thanks to its luxurious flavors. It’s rich, tender, and has a unique fattiness to it that makes it melt in your mouth.
The couple were able to find a cattle ranch that brought cows from Japan to raise here in the United States, which makes their beef American wagyu.
With the cows covered, the space at the back of the MSA Annex, began to get a retro makeover. Pops of cherry red can be found all over the area, matching perfectly with the tables full of chocolate milkshakes and unwrapped burgers. It’s like you stepped into a classic 50’s diner that’s chic.
David Jakobeit, a chef at BŌS Burger calls out a prepared lunch order, MSA Annex, 267 South Avenida del Convento, Tucson, Ariz., Jan. 21, 2026.
The couple and BŌS Burger’s chef, Daniel Montijo, bounced around ideas and came up with a menu centered around their luscious beef patties. They have a classic smash burger, that comes with all the usual fixings like American cheese, fresh onion, lettuce and tomato.
They also have a fried onion burger with thinly sliced caramelized onions that get cooked into the burger patty. Of course, you can also order a side of fries to go along with your meal.
I decided to try their green chile burger, which came with roasted hatch green chiles, American cheese, and their house-made Dijon aioli.
The burger itself was heavenly. It had the perfect crispy outside that is a necessity for a good smash burger. When you get to the center of the burger, it’s like you’ve hit gold.
Its center has a buttery, juicy texture that exudes a savory, rich flavor. It’s not too oily or overwhelmingly greasy, you still feel like you can down another instead of feeling too full or bloated after a few bites.
My favorite part had to be the cheese. The American cheese is melted perfectly, encompassing the whole patty so you get a creamy kick with every bite. Mixed with the subtle spiciness of the green chile, you have a burger that’ll make you wish you had gotten a double.
Don’t forget to wash it down with one of their chocolate shakes- it’s the ideal companion to the flavor bomb you just scarfed down.
“People will call Michael and say, ‘I can't stop thinking about that burger, we need to go back.’” Senda said.
Over in Downtown Tucson, you can also find Rafael Del Cuesta smashing wagyu style patties onto the grill in Brick Box Brewery, 220 E. Broadway.
Del Cuesta, who also ran Katsu House at the brewery, decided it was time for a new chapter, and opened up Kaiju Burger. Here, he is serving up American wagyu smash burgers, striving to be the best in town.
The smashburger comes with American cheese, carmelized onions, Kaiju sauce, house-made pickles and can be topped with a jalapeno pepper that’s marinated in soy sauce and lime.
I ordered my own burger, and before I knew it, a checkered green tray was placed in front of me, carrying a huge smash burger, oozing Kaiju sauce from its sides. (Kaiju sauce is a mixture of Japanese mayo, ketchup, mustard and other spices.)
The smash burger here comes with American cheese, caramelized onions, Kaiju sauce, house-made pickles, and can be topped with soy sauce and lime marinated jalapeno pepper.
The patty was rich and silky, with the sweet onions adding an extra layer of flavor. The slightly spicy Kaiju sauce and fresh pickles really elevated the burger, intertwining the Japanese-inspired flavors with classic American toppings.
Their shoestring fries were also to die for. They were crispy, fluffy, and tossed in nori so it's got some good saltiness to it. (I’d suggest pairing it with Brick Box’s root beer, SO good!)
Sometimes angus beef just can’t get the job done. That’s when you have to turn to Japanese cows to get that perfect smash burger.
The poblano burger, left, with poblano chili and fried onions, and a classic cheeseburger, with tomato and grilled onion, on the menu at Truland Burgers, 4821 E. Grant Road.
Craving a smashburger now? Check out these local places!
Another great thing about Tucson, is that there is no smash burger shortage here! Below are some other places in town that are cooking up delicious, mouthwatering smash burgers.
Cowpig/Coop
When you see the bright blue food truck covered in Looney Tunes-esque farm animals, you better run to get in line. Cowpig, and their crispy, juicy smash burgers have become a local favorite, with many hunting down the truck to get their fix. They have all kinds of smash burgers on their menu including their Cowmelt, a smash burger sandwiched between Texas toast, complete with fixings like green chiles, caramelized onions, bacon, Swiss cheese and CowPig sauce.
If you’re craving a burger and can’t find their truck, don’t worry! Their brick-and-mortar chicken location Coop, 429 N. Fourth Ave., also sells their beloved smash burgers.
Daddyburger
Since 2023, Daddyburger has been slinging burgers and gelato in the popular Fourth Avenue bar and food court, Boxyard, 238 N. Fourth Ave. All of their ‘daddyburgers’ are made with 100% angus beef and served with gooey American cheese, caramelized onions and their signature ‘daddysauce.’ They also have a beyond meat version of their popular smash burgers that comes with vegan cheese.
Redbird Scratch Kitchen + Bar
Both Redbird locations, 2515 E. 6th St. and 6444 N. Oracle Rd., are like a smash burger heaven. Their burgers here come with two patties that get seared and smashed on their flattop, achieving peak crispiness. From thick-cut bacon, to green chile, they have all kinds of fixings on their menu.
If you’re feeling real crazy, you can try their “Die In Your Sleep” 3X3 Burger, which is three burger patties, double thick-cut bacon, roasted green chiles, soft butter onions, American cheese, Redbird sauce AND triple cheese sauce.
Truland Burgers & Greens
People love their burgers so much they just opened a second location! Here, 7332 N. Oracle Rd. and 4821 E. Grant Rd., they are all about cooking with natural ingredients, using products like Niman Ranch’s all-natural, antibiotic and hormone-free beef, fresh brioche buns, and Kennebec potatoes.
On their menu, they have burgers that come with unique toppings like fried egg, truffle mayonnaise, and roasted poblano chiles.
The best part: you can pair your smashburger with a creamy milkshake!
