Short answerA grilled burger is cooked over flame on grates, giving a smoky char and a thicker, juicy patty. A smash burger is pressed onto flat hot steel for a crispy, deeply-browned crust on a thinner patty. Grilling wins on char and juicy centre; smashing wins on crust and savoury depth.
Grilled
Cooked over open flame on grates. You get char marks, a hint of smoke, and a thicker patty with a juicy middle. The downside: gaps in the grates mean less of the patty browns, and flare-ups can dry the surface.
Smash
Pressed flat onto a hot flat-top so the whole face contacts the steel — maximum browning and a crispy, lacy crust. Thinner, faster, more intense beefy flavour, no char.
Which to pick
Crave smoky char and a thick, juicy patty? Grilled. Crave crispy crust and savoury depth? Smash. Both are great — they're just different burgers.
At BB52
Our Smashy Burger is the flat-top smash style for crispy edges; classics like The O.G. give you the thicker, juicy bite. Smash vs regular →