Upcountry Sausage — Restaurant in Hawaii

Basic Burger Review

Right now, this burger is fine—but it’s not a smash burger in spirit or execution. A proper smash burger is a masterclass in simplicity done perfectly. You can’t just flatten a patty and call it a day. Here’s where you could elevate your game:

The Bun – The Stage for the Show The bun is as important as the beef. It should be soft, slightly sweet (think potato roll or milk bun), and toasted for a hint of crunch. Yours feels cheap, dry, and cold. A great smash burger bun gently hugs the patty without stealing the spotlight—right now, yours feels like it’s just clocking in for the paycheck.

The Beef – Where the Magic Happens A true smash burger patty is thin, juicy, and full of flavor. That means using an 80/20 beef-to-fat ratio, seasoning generously during the cook, and smashing hard onto a ripping-hot griddle to create that crispy, lacy edge known as the “Maillard crust.” That crust is the soul of the smash burger, and it’s missing here.

Onions & Cheese – Built Into the Smash Classic smash burgers often press thin-sliced onions right into the beef as it cooks—letting them caramelize in the rendered fat. Charging extra for grilled onions on a smash burger is like charging extra for ice in a soda—it’s just part of the deal. And cheese? It should be draped over the patty and allowed to fully melt into the nooks and crannies of that crust. Cold cheese on hot meat is a crime.

Sauce – The Secret Weapon A good smash burger sauce is tangy, savory, and built to complement the beef, not overpower it. Think a well-balanced “special sauce” with mayo, mustard, pickles, and spices—something that wakes up the taste buds. Right now, sriracha mayo and bacon jam feel like shortcuts rather than signatures.

What Makes a Smash Burger Great? • A toasted, high-quality bun that stays soft but holds together • An 80/20 beef patty smashed on a blazing-hot griddle for maximum crust • Thin-sliced onions smashed into the patty • American cheese (melts perfectly) • A balanced, house-made sauce that enhances the beef • Simplicity—no gimmicks, just perfect execution

Final Thought Smash burgers are all about doing the basics flawlessly. Nail the crust, melt the cheese, toast the bun, season the beef—then let the quality ingredients speak for themselves. Do that, and you won’t just sell burgers—you’ll make...

Of my many food vices, sausages are definitely in my top 5! I got to experience USC while having "Pau Hana" drinks with friends at Mahalo Aleworks (brewery & bar).

ATMOSPHERE: They're a takeaway food cart located within Mahalo Aleworks' first level outdoor lanai.

RESERVATIONS: Not available.

PARKING: Plenty of free parking in the lot and on-street.

MENU: A sole smash burger, taco and three styles of hot dogs.

FOOD: The Italian Stallion - $14.00 The well-seasoned, oversized sausage was split down the middle with a nice char, topped with grilled onions & green peppers, drizzled with a delish stone-ground mustard and dill pickle slices to the side. The bun was soft but with a nice chew to it. I didn't feel like trekking to the bathroom to wash my hands so I ate it with the provided fork & knife.

SERVICE: Very friendly. I was given a pager but they ended up delivering it to my table upstairs. Total order time was under 10 minutes.

TIP: The smash burger comes with potato chips.

OVERALL: Not your ordinary...

Upcountry Sausage is a food truck next Mahalo Aleworks. The team was very friendly and they take great care in delivering quality food! We purchased the RagingCajun which is an Andoluie Sausage with grilled peppers, onion and bits of pineapple and more. It was delicious, served on fantastic bun. Also, we shared the Chicken Tacos, which are perfect for sharing since you get two to an order. It was grilled chicken breast meat and had, red cabbage slaw, red beans and cirn in the taco. It was really delicious and I highly...