I found the best smash burger on a budget in downtown Fort Worth

I’ve heard buzz about the NADC Burger ever since it popped up in Austin in 2021.

On paper, this burger is a dream — double-smashed wagyu beef patties with melty American cheese, grilled onions, sweet but spicy jalapenos and pickles that come with “secret sauce.”

And then actually taking a bite of the burger makes you transcend.

If you ask to make any modification to this burger, the cashier is going to tell you:

”Not a damn chance.”

And I’m going to tell you: Trust them.

The concept came from Michelin star chef Phillip Frankland Lee and professional skateboarder Neen Williams (who also lives in Fort Worth). They first opened NADC in Texas in 2021 and have since grown to another Austin location, a Fort Worth location and now a Dallas location. NADC is also in New York, Las Vegas, Denver and Chicago.

Herr are mine and my wallet’s thoughts on the NADC Burger.

What I got at NADC Burger

I took my lunch break to try this beast of a burg and headed downtown. NADC Fort Worth is located in Big Laugh Comedy Club at 604 Main St.

To me, the first sign of a good restaurant is one with a limited menu. This means the chefs are honing in on minimal items, so the quality of those items are bound to be better. Example: fast food chains like In-N-Out and Raising Canes that only serve one type of item but do it really darn well.

NADC only serves burgers and fries. You can ask for “beast mode” fries– topped with cheese, pickles, jalapeños, special sauce and seasoning.

So obviously, I got the NADC Burger with a side of regular fries. I would have tried beast mode, but our $25 budget did not permit it.

Opinion: What I thought of NADC Burger

I’m a burger girl through and through. Growing up, my family and I would get cheeseburgers for lunch every Sunday. So I would say I am a burger connoisseur.

My favorite type of burger is a smash burger, so NADC already won me on that aspect.

I only like grilled onions on burgers. Grilled onions add a great sweetness to the salty patties and sour pickles. So, NADC almost won me there. But to be completely honest, they could caramelize their onions a tad bit more.

What I don’t normally get on my burger: jalapenos. And now I wish I always had jalapenos. NADC’s were not too spicy, and added another layer of sweetness with the tiniest kick at the end. Phenomenal.

Their special sauce tastes like most burger sauces. It’s most likely a mayo-based sauce with some pickle juice. It’s good, but not any better than sauces at In-N-Out or Shake Shack.

Overall, I’d rate the burger an 8 out of 10. I docked points for the crunchy caramelized onions and the fact that the sauce is dripping down your hands to your arms when you eat it. Wash your hands after, or they will smell like onions all day.

How much I spent at NADC Burger Fort Worth

Here’s how NADC Burger rang up:

• NADC Burger: $16
• Fries: $5
• Tax: $1.37
• Tip: $2.63
• Total: $25.00

You can find NADC Burger at 604 Main St. in downtown Fort Worth. The restaurant is open daily from 11 a.m. to midnight.

This story was originally published August 29, 2025 at 1:48 PM.

Ella Gonzales

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Ella Gonzales is a service journalism reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She is part of a team of local journalists who answer reader questions and write about life in North Texas. Ella mainly writes about local restaurants and where to find good deals around town.