The best smash burgers in Glyfada: We tried them and picked our favorites

You’ve probably already noticed the small pink spot on Giannitsopoulou Street, where the smell of smash practically forces you to stop. The pink continues on the wrapping paper, and the contents truly live up to the name Epos.

Thanasis Panourgias, Leon Oikonomidis, Giannis Sapountzis and Filiο Bourna met in Antiparos. On the beloved island, the first two own Bardot and the other two own Epos, and they joined forces to bring it to Glyfada. Here, you won’t get lost in endless options, since the smash comes in just two simple, yet elevated versions. The classic cheeseburger with ketchup, mustard, onions and house pickles fits in one hand. Its taste takes you back to old-school cheeseburgers, but with much better quality.

The second option is the House Special, with spicy mayo and pickle relish. Pair it with fries and one of the two sauces (truffle mayo or sweet chili mayo). Add a beer and you’re good to go.

Just Burgers is more than a name — it’s history in Glyfada, and rumor has it that if you try it once, your burger standards immediately become far more demanding, and it’s hard not to return.

The restaurant opened in May 2012 in the heart of Glyfada, and soon won over the Southern Suburbs of Athens (and beyond). The owners’ vision is to offer homemade burgers, always using top-quality ingredients, fresh produce, and freshly handmade patties that have now become their trademark.

Here, you’ll find smash burgers in six different variations, with Black Angus patties and potato buns. Still, I rarely stray from the classic just smash with potato bun, double Black Angus, American cheese, pickles, grilled onions, iceberg and just smash sauce, which I always pair with crispy sweet potato fries. I also highly recommend the cherry blossom smash, with brie, bacon, shimeji mushrooms in truffle oil, rocket, truffle mayo and cherry marmalade.

Ps: you can also find Just Burgers’ irresistible smash creations in Posidonio and Romeo.

In Ano Glyfada, there’s a hidden ghost kitchen just waiting for you to try it. Michelin-starred and Toque d’Or awarded chef Panagiotis Giakalis, known from The Margi Hotel, decided he wanted to enter people’s homes in a more affordable way, while using the fine dining techniques he learned — and he believes it’s the best decision he has ever made. Here, the onions cook together with the ground beef, giving extra flavor to the patty, while the signature Munchy burger comes with plenty of sauce, pickles, cheese and bacon.

You’ll also find a classic Cheeseburger, while the surprising Korean Kimchi Burger with crispy chicken, bacon, egg and maple syrup gives you something you’re not used to. Mixing comfort food with creativity and premium ingredients was, after all, the initial goal of Munchy.

Don’t forget to try the smashed fries with bacon, pickles and Munchy sauce, which already have a loyal fan base, while the extra options (truffle, parmesan and bacon bits) take the smash experience to the next level.

After its success in the center of Athens, the four co-owners Dimitris Tsalas, Angelos Vakrinos, Dimitris Bitsos and Stelios Siolas decided to bring Starlight’s winning formula to Glyfada — a neighborhood that knows good food. The strong vibe of the spot, with music and dominant green décor, almost “shouts” at you not to walk past but to come in for a taste. The smell of ground beef — minced on site, never pre-made — does the same.

Their smash stands out because here, the potato bun rests in steam, without added butter. Another secret is the homemade pickles, marinated in a mix of sugar, salt, vinegar, pepper, lemon and herbs.

You must try the House Burger (with a double or triple patty), because although it’s simple — cheese, pickles, sauce — it has grilled onions that go crunch, which is the little extra that makes the difference. I’d also encourage you to look out for the month burger, which changes on the first of every month and is always a surprise. For example, in October, the truffle mayo literally dripping from the burger was the kind of extra you didn’t know you needed.

One of the first burgers of my adult life was eaten at The Burger Joint. Since then I tried many others, but eventually moved to the next level — smash. Even then, the first to bring it to Greece, in 2019, were the Papakostas brothers — Giorgos, Fanis and Thanasis — of The Burger Joint.

With 100% Black Angus beef, imported by them from the US and Australia, the quality of the meat is non-negotiable and the main ingredient of their success. Chef Giorgos Papakostas wanted to bring to Athens the more junk-style approach he discovered in America, without compromising quality. And he achieved it.

The secret lies in the cooking technique, so that the surface caramelizes, the bun is buttered, and the smash cheeseburger fills up with cheese, pickles, tomato, iceberg and mayonnaise. Together with the potato chips and smoked mayo, it’s the complete meal you need. In their locations in Glyfada, Nea Smyrni and Neo Psychiko, you’ll find six different smash options, as well as many more dishes, such as the brisket menu, all served in a space reminiscent of an American diner.