Representative photography. Actual appearance may vary.
The South Side pop-up where Chicago's best-known smashburger reviewer gave his only 10/10. The Tribune called it one of 2023's most exciting burgers. Find it inside Marz Brewing — bring cash for tacos too.
Representative photography. Actual appearance may vary.
Taco Sublime started in March 2020 when Khaled Simon and Haley Pham converted an ice cream truck and began feeding unhoused communities around Chicago as part of the Under The Bridge Project. After a devastating truck fire in 2021, they rebuilt — and when they landed a residency at Marz Community Brewing Co. in McKinley Park, they brought something new: a smashburger that had been engineered from the ground up to be pink in the middle. Chicago Tribune critic Nick Kindelsperger ate it and called it 'one of the most exciting burgers I've tried in 2023.' Burger Boyz gave it their only 10/10 in years of covering the city.
Owner Khaled Simon specifically researched the smash technique to solve the dry-patty problem: two 4 oz. patties smashed wide enough to achieve full-edge crust while staying thick enough to retain juice in the center. Sharp cheddar over both patties, sesame bun, mustard, pickles — or upgrade with Sublime sauce, guacamole, or salsa macha. The cheese-crusted variation applies the same Chihuahua cheese technique that makes Taco Sublime's tacos famous: fried into a crispy sheet on the griddle before it wraps the burger. It's the only smashburger in Chicago where the cheese is cooked, not just melted.
Taco Sublime is a pop-up residency inside Marz Community Brewing Co. The Smash Score reflects the OKC Double Smash specifically, not the full taco menu or brewery experience.
"Taco Sublime's smash burger is one of the most exciting burgers I've tried in 2023." — Nick Kindelsperger, Chicago Tribune
Burger Boyz ranked Taco Sublime #1 on their Chicago smashburger list: "The only burger I've ever given a score of 10/10 to."
The Infatuation gave Taco Sublime an 8.2/10 and specifically noted: "Get the smashburger, too" — the crispy, juicy double patties topped with layers of gooey cheddar on a sesame bun with the right amount of seeds — "aka 'a lot.'"
Steve Dolinsky (NBC 5's James Beard-nominated Food Guy) documented owner Khaled Simon's design philosophy: "Research went into it because we wanted to give you a smashburger that was pink in the middle." Dolinsky called the ratio well-balanced, with crispy edges and a juicy pink center.
Chicago Magazine named Taco Sublime one of their four favorite restaurant pop-ups in Chicago, praising the Sublime Hospitality operation run by Khaled Simon and Haley Pham.
LTH Forum regulars — Chicago's most discerning independent food community — called Taco Sublime's burger one of the best in Chicago, with active praise through early 2025.
Khaled Simon on the smashburger: "Sometimes we sell more burgers than tacos." — Chicago Tribune