All around town, fast food restaurants are popping up quicker than you can say fast food. But, there are also places that can do fast and yummy,without just being known for their drive thru line. Hamburgers happen to be much more enjoyable sitting in a relaxed atmosphere than driving through stress-filled traffic while trying not to spill ketchup on your pants. Both Smashburger and Mighty Fine offer these relaxed atmospheres with quick and delicious food.

Smashburger came into the restaurant scene in Austin just last year. Their theme color is red, smashing red, to brighten up the gray walls and invite people into the easy-going atmosphere. But, Smashburger is all about hamburgers, from the classic smash to the avocado ranch black bean.

The classic smash is my personal favorite, all of the traditional hamburger flavors are topped off with the tasty bun, way better than any fast food hamburger bun. The bun is not the only unique part: the meat is actually real, not frozen and reheated.

The Smashburger meal is not complete without their smashfries, they come with rosemary, olive oil and garlic on top; seriously the best fries ever. The drinks at Smashburger are typical fountain drinks, and milkshakes and malts, which are made with Haagen Dazs ice cream. Smashburger also has many salad choices and smashchicken instead of a smashburger.

Mighty Fine has been in the Austin area longer than Smashburger, in fact by many years, Mighty Fine came and started in Austin in 2007. Mighty Fine offers the casual atmosphere as well, but even more relaxed than Smashburger, with blue and white checkered tablecloths on picnic like tables. Mighty Fine and Rudy’s barbecue happen to be owned by the same people.

With their Rudy’s experience, the owners and their workers know how to serve the customers; when you order everyone gets their own bag with their name on the top. You choose from a ½ or ¼ lb burger with red, yellow or white and onions, lettuce, cheese, tomatoes or pickles. Mighty Fine also has the real and unfrozen/reheated meat, making their hamburgers fresh.

The fries come small and from freshly peeled, fried potatoes, but there are lots in the small package. The strawberry lemonade and shakes at Mighty Fine are delicious, a spectacular completion to the rest of the meal; you could even order a lemonade shake from the local’s menu.

Both Mighty Fine and Smashburger are yummy hamburger places to eat at. At Smashburger the fries completely blow me away, while at Mighty Fine the fries are more normal. However, Mighty Fine wins in the creative hospitality with individual bags for each person, no more mixing up of hamburgers. Mighty Fine would also win the drink category, the shakes are super smooth, unfortunately Smashburger’s Haagen Dazs ice cream didn’t give them the advantage. Smashburger and Mighty Fine are both worth your money, without a doubt.