Smash Papas

Stopped by Riverside food lab after checking out The Cheech, I stumbled by Smash Papas since I was searching for a burger. Food came out fast and tasted fresh, bun was soft, meat wasn't over seasoned like most Pattie's from other spots so you taste all ingredients. I got the western which had different flavor than most western burgers but not in a bad way. The onion rings were fire with the ranch lol also had the fries which were also great. Last but not least the Wings were delicious, juicy chicken and flavorful lemon pepper sauce. Ordered some more to go, I live over an hour away that's why lol. The manager or owner was very hospitable and I appreciate the customer service, I'll be back.

One of the best damn burgers you can find for miles! Nothing overly-fancified here- great smash patty with perfect char, lettuce and tomato so fresh you wanna slap the sh!t outta it, and that bun... I was skeptical at first (I'm a simple guy, just give me a good quality bun) but it's soft as cotton candy. If you like your fries classically crispy outside and tender inside, ask for them "well done". The presentation when receiving your order don't blow you away, that first bite and second and third will. Ordering is simple- order whatever you want for your burger. Mind blowing ain't it?! You want a burger with lettuce and tomato, no cheese? Ask for it. You want two patties instead of one, and grilled mushrooms along with the other veggies? Ask for it. Simple.Oh, and be forewarned if you're enjoying your burger sitting at the counter closest to the entrance doors, make sure you've secured your napkins otherwise the gust will blow em all over that place when the doors open. Stephanie there absolutely ROCKS the customer service My go-to burger joint whenever I'm in Riverside!Mahalo fo reading

A new addition to the Riverside Food Lab, Smash Papas replaces Pig Pen right at the front entrance of the food lab. I came for dinner earlier this week and overall had an okay meal there. The single smash burger I ordered was good but on the smaller side and I wish it had more seasoning as it tasted a little plain and the sauce they had on the burger reminded me of a Thousand-Island style sauce.The fries were decent and were on the thinner side but were hot and crispy. Price wise, I feel like you don't get the quality of food you are paying for and it's on the expensive side compared to the other vendors in the food hall. They just opened so I'm hoping there's some adjustments in the coming months as I can see potential growth especially with smash burgers not being that common in the IE.The staff were friendly as a plus and everything is made to order here. I waited about 10 minutes before my food was ready. Overall ambience was lively as the food lab was quite busy during dinner time when I went and there's plenty of seating for groups and parking in the structure or streets.

Merely okay, I gave this a try early on when the Festival of Lights started. It sounded cool, smash-style burgers can be fun and tasty, right? Or so I thought. As noted by others, the prices aren't commiserate with quality. I went for a double with cheese because that's how you roll, theoretically. A deal with drink and onion rings sounded like the best option. Made to order, it probably took 10 minutes, not bad, but not fast either, considering how slow it was midday. The packaging was nice, though, good box, and I grabbed a seat to dive in. First, it was very hot, a good start. After a few bites, I decided that there's something essential missing in regard to taste. There's a special sauce reminiscent of Thousand Island dressing, but very subdued and lacks spice and verve. After I finished, I felt a bit letdown. I wanted to support a new start-up, but wasn't good enough for me to want to go back. The girl working the counter was really nice and professional, so that's a plus and kept my score 3:5 stars.

Decent smash burger in a food hall with various options. Not going to take it down a point for how busy it was due to Festival of Lights but be aware it does get busy during it. The onions rings though were really fresh and tasted great so I would come back and just get those again.

I thought the food was fine-- I ordered the smash philly and the fish & chips, and they both tasted good: Philly had flavorful meat and soft, toasted bread, and the fish tasted fresh. Unfortunately I have to agree with others and say that the portion sizes aren't very generous for the price. You can get a more packed philly even from a mall food court, so there were quite a few bites where I tasted mostly/only bread. Their sauce also isn't much to write home about; I had the "secret sauce" and it tasted like a milder In-N-Out. Overall, would definitely pass and get something better from the Food Lab. (Also, what's with all the manga?)

I come here a couple times a week, if not at least once a week, on my lunch break. I work close by in Riverside, and this has been my favorite treat in the area. Love the ladies in the front that work there, and the chefs have been super chill everytime I slide by. There's also a bar across from them with some baddie bartenders so that's always refreshing. Love the anime vibe here, and their burgers have been immaculate every time. Personally, I've been getting their sausage breakfast sandwich for lunch and they're fire. Don't sleep on em

Disappointed. We paid $35 for 2 burgers and fries that we didn't even finish. The burgers were so plain and even the barbecue sauce had no taste. We won't be coming back here, especially for the price we paid and how disappointed we were

I think the rating for this restaurant are a little unfair. The service was very friendly and the food was prepared hot, fresh and fast. The burger is seasoned well and tasted great! The fries are simple, but tasty. I guess my only complaint would be the price. But it's California after all... Overall a positive experience

Located inside the Food Lab across from the Mission Inn, this little stand offers a selection of burgers, beef sandwiches and fried sides. I had a cheeseburger which was a tenderized (smashed) beef patty with cheese on a soft bun. They do not serve with any lettuce, tomato or pickles but, I think you could request for an extra charge. I also had their onion rings which were done with a tempura like batter. They were quite tasty and a good sized portion to share with someone else for $6. They have about six stools at their adjacent counter area, but there are numerous tables in this food court that houses several other food vendors.