Hammer Burger is a popular spot in Downtown Santa Ana, known for smashed burgers made with high-quality ingredients and local craft beers.
In 2020, entrepreneur Kevin Hammons and chef Curtis Scheetz founded Hammer Burger. At the time, their business operated as a pop-up. After initial successes, they moved their business into a food truck in 2021.
After two years in a food truck, Kevin and Curtis traded in their food truck for a brick-and-mortar restaurant in Santa Ana. In May 2023, Hammer Burger opened in Downtown Santa Ana.
Word quickly spread about their quality smash burgers made with local, high-quality ingredients and a local craft beer list. This included the finest cuts of beef for their burgers, Martin’s potato rolls, and house-made sauces and dressings.
After hearing so many great things from multiple friends and family about Hammer Burger, I finally stopped by to try their burgers out for myself.
Interior of Hammer Burger
When I walked into the restaurant, I was shocked to see how busy it was. The ambiance was boisterous and lively, and the restaurant was packed.
To the right was a narrow but open dining room with tall ceilings, bright lights, and televisions playing various sports games. During my visit, there was not one open table in the main dining room.
The cashier was in front of the entrance. Being a fast-casual restaurant, you order from the cashier, pay, and pick up your food before finding a table.
You can also sit at the small bar, located to the left of the entrance, and order food and drinks directly from the bartender. I decided to do so, at the cashier’s recommendation, because I wanted to try a few local craft beers.
The bar’s modern décor gave off a sleek, contemporary vibe. There was also a cool, backlit art piece displaying the name Hammer Burger. The bar was also the perfect place to sit and enjoy a burger and beer while watching a game.
Hammer Burger Menu
The menu at Hammer Burger was simple. It included burgers, which they called “Flat Burgers,” sandwiches, hot dogs, sides, loaded fries, salads, desserts, a kids’ menu, and drinks.
Several burgers, including the Classic, Spicy, CaliBama with onion rings and grilled onions, a Chili Burger, and the “Flatty Melt,” a grilled cheese version of the classic burger, were on the menu. All burgers came with two double-smashed, thin, crispy patties.
For sides, there were shoestring fries, sweet potato fries, onion rings, fried pickles, beer cheese, and chili.
There were also loaded fries with various ingredients, including chili, beer cheese, pickles, and grilled onions.
Other than that, there were a couple of salads, a few items for kids, and desserts.
As for drinks, you had an ice cream float, milkshake, soda, tea, and a large selection of local craft beers.
House-Made Sauces
One of my favorite things about my visit to Hammer Burger was the assortment of house-made sauces. I love sauces, so this was great.
Even better, all sauces were free and made fresh daily. As the sauces were self-serve, I could have as little or as much as I wanted with my burger and fries.
You had Ranch, Jalapeno Ranch, Chipotle Mayo, Garlic, White BBQ, and Hammer Sauce.
Ranch: Simple and homemade
Jalapeno Ranch: Same as the Ranch but with a fresh, spicy flavor
Chipotle Mayo: Very smoky and creamy
Garlic: Rich, garlicky, and creamy, reminding me of the sauce at Zankou Chicken in Anaheim
White BBQ: Tangy with a sweet aftertaste
Hammer Sauce: Very tangy and mustardy
Classic Hammer Burger
When I first saw the Classic Hammer Burger ($10.00), I could only think wow. It looked beautiful and was unlike any burger I had ever seen before. The patty overflowed out of the bun like a work of art. It was so beautiful that I couldn’t wait to eat it.
My burger came with two double smashed thin and crispy patties. I also had the option of triple patties ($2.50) or quad patties ($5.00).
The patties were smashed so thin that they morphed into one large patty. I almost forgot that there were two. Next time, I might order the triple patties.
The patties were crispy and crunchy on the top and edges from being smashed and seared, which added a smoky flavor. However, the opposite side of each patty was not.
While the middle of the patties was not pink, the meat was juicy and flavorful, thanks to the special blend of beef used.
A thick layer of gooey, salty American cheese covered the patty. On top of the cheese was a crunchy, salty pickle, adding a fresh, tangy bite.
The final component was a Martin’s potato roll, delivered fresh from Pennsylvania. It was lightly grilled but soft and airy. The roll was small compared to the meat but held up to the last bite.
The crispy, smoky patty, salty cheese, fresh tangy pickle, and soft bun made this a great burger.
Spicy Smash Burger
I also ordered the Spicy Smash Burger ($11.00) with grilled jalapeño and onion, hot sauce, chipotle mayo, and pepper jack cheese on a potato roll.
The burger was similar to the Classic Hammer Burger. The patty, smashed until thin, was crispy and smoky. The fluffy and light potato roll was also the same.
Topping the patty was a generous amount of jalapeño slices. While the menu listed them as grilled, they were still somewhat crispy. And with their seeds removed, they were not spicy, at least for me.
The chipotle mayo, the same as before, was smoky and creamy but not spicy. The same was true of the pepper jack cheese, which was funky and gooey but not spicy.
While this burger was not spicy, I enjoyed the combination of crispy jalapeño and salty pepper jack cheese.
Shoestring Fries
I couldn’t order a burger without some fries, so I ordered a basket of Shoestring Fries ($6.00). A regular size was also available for $3.00.
The first thing that caught my attention was how big this basket of fries was. It could have easily fed two to three people.
While simple, the fries were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. And they were just the right thickness without being too thick or thin.
I don’t believe the fries were made fresh, but with all the sauces to dip them in, I didn’t mind.
Service
On my visit, I sat at the bar after the cashier recommended it when I asked about ordering a beer. So, I do not have experience ordering with the cashier.
At the bar, I ordered food and drinks from the bartender. The bartender was friendly, attentive, and always around to answer any questions.
I also spoke with a manager who stopped by the bar to check on me. As with the bartender, he was friendly and made sure I had no issues.
That said, I found the service at Hammer Burger to be excellent.
Conclusion
After hearing so many great things about Hammer Burger, I am glad I finally got to try it.
When it comes to the ubiquitous burger, I consider myself a harsh critic, as so many places seem to screw up something so simple.
I had my doubts about Hammer Burger, but in the end, I enjoyed their take on the smash burger.
Not only did their burgers look great, but they tasted better, thanks to high-quality ingredients and house-made sauces. And all for affordable prices and large portions.
With great burgers and craft beers, house-made sauces, friendly service, and hip, modern décor, I recommend Hammer Burger in Santa Ana whenever you want a smash burger.
Pros
- Delicious smash burgers using high-quality ingredients
- House-made sauces
- Affordable
- Friendly staff
Cons
- Busy dining room