The key to a good burger? Smash it!
The new smash burger experience arrived in Guelph with the grand opening of Slap Burgers in the Campus Estates Shopping Centre at 35 Harvard Rd. on Feb. 3.
This is the second location for the family-owned business that began with the goal to create the best version of the classic smash burger meal.
“We have family that live in America. We would go back and forth and the smash burger is very popular there,” said Badder Jamali who opened the first Slap Burgers restaurant in Waterloo over 10 years ago with his siblings and his father, Wali.
“We had another restaurant previously, and when we sold it, my sister thought why don’t we try smash burgers? It could be really hot in Canada, if we do it right. And the rest is history.”
Jamali believes good food is a labour of love, which is why he says his family does their best to make everything in-house rather than buy pre-made items.
With a simple menu, Slap Burgers offers a blend of halal AAA angus beef chuck and brisket that is ground on-site, fresh local produce, house-made pickles, and the restaurant’s signature "Slap sauce." Toppings include lettuce, tomatoes, onion, pickles and chopped chillies.
“We smash the burgers to order on a really hot grill,” Jamali said. “So, you get a really nice sear on the bottom, a crispy crust, and the other side is still nice and juicy. It’s a thin crispy patty.”
Jamali believes the new location offers an interesting dynamic compared to his first location in Waterloo.
“There is more of a residential feel here, but you still have the students," he said. "What I like about Guelph is that there is a lot of agriculture. People are proud to grow their own produce here."
Jamali looks forward to being part of the community.
“Right now, all of our beef and produce is local. We really want to use Guelph ingredients too,” he said.
A University of Guelph alum, Jamali is no stranger to the city.
"I went to school here and my cousins live in Guelph. We’ve been coming here for many, many years,” he said.
Jamali is excited to bring an independently owned burger place to Guelph.
“It seems there is a hole for this market here. It’s nice to see and serve a new community and we will see how that goes in terms of the different demographics and different taste buds," he said. "It’s nice to call this place home for our business.”
