What does it take for a restaurant to become your go-to spot?

It probably has to meet a certain criterion from ease of location, taste, price, and more. Whatever it may require, when you finally find the location that checks all of the boxes, it’s natural to hit them up on a regular basis. You may go so often that you quickly turn into a loyal customer and a familiar face on the other side of their register. That has become my exact situation with Smosh Town in Pasadena.

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I learned about the food truck while waiting for an oil change at Gabriel’s Automotive. I’ve gone to the auto repair shop for years and in all the times that I sat in their waiting room I never heard anything as exciting as the news of a burger food truck that sits outside the shop. While flipping through (of all things) a book on the history of Altadena, California the shop owner’s son told me the good news. At noon Tuesday through Saturday, his food truck pulls up curbside and starts selling burgers and fries.

Say less. I’ll be there.

After one visit to the family run truck, Smosh Town won me over. Two, three, and four visits later it has become a favorite. It was probably the fifth or sixth visit where I knew this would become my go-to burger spot. Despite In-N-Out operating under two miles east of their home base, Smosh Town is better. The fact that they’re an Armenian-owned small business is partially why they’re better as each order feels like you’re supporting a budding local business. There’s also the reality that it’s run by young men who are determined to make a name for themselves by selling a quality product. But the main reason why Smosh Town is better than its direct competition is the food is purely perfect.

Simple food made just right is all I (and most people) need when it comes to finding a go-to restaurant. Smosh Town doesn’t have an extensive menu with more options than you can decide on. Instead they have a five-item menu consisting of two burgers (differentiated by style of onions), regular fries/tots, loaded tots, and drinks. The order that I get each time is the Smosh Town Classic ($7) with Fries ($3). A smashed wagyu beef patty with cheese, pickles, easy mustard, and ketchup, sans the raw onions it comes with on a bun (formerly brioche, currently on potato). It’s simple and eyes-roll to the back of your head in each bite delicious. How they make something so unassuming raise the bar when it comes to LA burgers is beyond me, but I welcome it whole-heartedly. Even better, hitting right at $10 it won’t break the bank – no matter how many times you hit them up in a week.

If you’re looking for a go-to burger spot to add to your list of favorites, put Smosh Town on your list. They’re a family owned business with big goals in the food world. Serving such a consistently delicious burger daily and at a great price makes them a solid place to visit so frequently that they know you by first name when you arrive.

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Address: 250 N Hill Ave, Pasadena, CA 91106
Phone: (818) 935-4081
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday – 12:00pm to 6:00pm and Closed Sunday and Monday.
Social: Instagram