Smish Smash, the Oakland pop-up turned downtown San Francisco counter at Saluhall, just scored the kind of national nod that can change a tiny stall’s fate. Its Dac Biet and Mk’Rib specials have already helped make the lacy-edged, gloriously messy smashburgers a local fixation, and co-owner Amy Han says seeing that love reflected on a national stage still feels a little unreal as the team waits to find out whether hype turns into steady lines.
Food & Wine Puts Smish Smash On The Map
In a roundup published last Wednesday, Food & Wine named Smish Smash one of “The Top 6 New Burger Spots in the US to Visit,” praising the stall’s inventive, “messy” creations and one-off specials. The list, part of the magazine’s Global Tastemakers package, was compiled from industry polling and editorial tastings to identify which new burger shops deserve a detour.
Local Reaction
SFGATE notes that the Food & Wine blurb singled out the Dac Biet, described as tasting “just like a bowl of beef pho,” along with an Mk’Rib riff that plays on McDonald’s classic sandwich. According to SFGATE, the national shoutout has not yet turned into an immediate crush of customers at the Saluhall counter.
“‘Holy sh—t, it’s real,’” Han told SFGATE, recalling that she initially assumed the outreach was spam until the story actually went live. Han and partner Victor Donado said the recognition lands like a hard-earned validation after years on the pop-up circuit and the recent push to settle into a permanent downtown spot.
From Pop-Up To The Top 100
The move into Saluhall started with a residency that launched in January 2025, according to Eater SF, shifting Smish Smash from a roving pop-up to a regular counter on Market Street. The stall’s reputation has grown along with its footprint. The San Francisco Chronicle ranked Smish Smash at No. 80 on its 2026 Top 100 Restaurants list and called it the Bay Area’s “quintessential smashburger.”
What This Means For Saluhall
Downtown Saluhall has struggled to keep vendors and has faced ongoing questions about light foot traffic since opening, a pattern tracked by local outlets. Hoodline coverage has highlighted how challenging the hall can be for small operators, so a national spotlight on one of its most buzzed-about counters could offer some badly needed momentum.
For now, Smish Smash’s owners are treating the Food & Wine mention as a morale boost rather than a promise of never-ending crowds. If that curiosity turns into repeat visits, the compact stall on Saluhall’s ground floor could end up pulling more diners through the doors, with a little reflected shine for the neighboring businesses as well.
