A new food truck is parked in Ottawa's Little Italy and is emerging as a real contender for serving up the capital's tastiest burgers.
Smash Daddy's juicy, tender, cheese-encrusted wagyu beef smash patty hangs on a sauce-slathered brioche bun to create a delicious smash burger you won't want to stop eating on the spot.
Ottawa's newest Smashburger headquarters opened in early March, and customers are already lining up in the small, modest parking lot at 298 Preston Street. This is the perfect place to have lunch with friends while enjoying all that Little Her Italy has to offer.
According to the company's website, the new food truck's name “plays a joke on the idea of a burger joint and comes from the burgers we had on our cookout nights with Scrub Daddy.” And Smash Daddy was born.
For the uninitiated, a smash patty is exactly what it sounds like. It consists of balls of ground beef placed on a griddle and smashed into appetizing flat, crispy patties that are cooked to perfection.
Smash Daddy owner Richard Nguyen told CTV he “ate burgers for months” to figure out how to make the best Smashburger in town before opening the truck. Many of the burgers he tried had “a number of problems,” including patties that were too dry or lacked color.
Nguyen says what sets his burgers apart from others is the caramelization of the beef, which gives his burgers the iconic brown crunchy edge that pokes out between the buns. It says that it will be done.
Smash Daddy offers two types of beef. AAA Canadian grass-fed beef patties are $13, and premium Wagyu beef patties are $24. It's important to mention that like many food trucks, we only accept cash or electronic transfers.
Like any hearty, delicious burger joint, Smash Daddy has a delicious “secret sauce” that acts as the cherry on top and elevates the Smash Burger from outstanding to perfect. The Smash Daddy sauce is smoky and well-balanced, making it the ultimate pairing with the Beef His Smash Patty. Once you've got your Smash Daddy, you can take it home, eat it in your car, or sit at the picnic table right next to your truck.
Videos of guests stuffing themselves with burgers can be found all over social media, and TikToks about Smash Daddy Burgers have racked up hundreds of thousands of views and likes. One video introducing Ottawa's truck has amassed 90,000 views.
You can admire one of the largest murals in eastern Ontario while eating what is probably the most talked-about burger in Ottawa right now. The Leonardo da Vinci mural was painted by Dems & Doll, an Ottawa-based couple who designs murals throughout the city. This outstanding work of art is so huge that it is one of the many colorful murals he has painted on walls throughout Little's Italy.
The Smash Daddy Burger is the truck's crown jewel, but it's not the only item on the menu. If you're not feeling like a Smash Daddy, try Dee's Nuggets, a truckload of golden, crunchy, tender chicken nuggets. If you want to stick to the basics, choose the Basic Chick, a classic and delicious fried chicken sandwich with creamy coleslaw and pickles.
If none of these are to your taste, order the crispy fried torpedo shrimp, shrimp and chips with Smash Daddy's signature fries. Naked fries are hand-cut, twice-fried, well-seasoned, as crispy as possible, and can literally be paired with other menu items.
According to Smash Daddy's website, it plans to eventually expand to the sweet side of the flavor spectrum.
If you're looking to try Ottawa's newest Burger Daddy, expect a line, especially if you go during lunch or dinner hours. But 'Smash Daddy' is one of those guys who is 100% worth waiting for in life.
Leonardo da Vinci mural in Ottawa's Little Italy.Keith de Sylvia-Legault | Narcity
smash daddy
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Fast food
Address: 298 Preston St., Ottawa, Ontario
Disabled Access: Wheelchair/stroller accessible
Smash Daddy website