Cuantas Hamburguesas

There are a lot of fun things you can buy with $10—like an Apple headphone dongle or two-thirds of a beer at Q2 Stadium—but none as satisfying as a double smashburger combo at Cuantas Hamburguesas. 

Just when we thought we had reached the thin peak of the smashburger movement, Cuantas Hamburguesas makes us realize how much we still have left to learn. This small yellow trailer is parked in East Austin, right next to its famous sibling Cuantos Tacos —home to some of the best tacos in town. And much like at its taco counterpart, the menu here is small, delicious, and affordable. But instead of slinging street tacos, Cuantas Hamburguesas is all about Mexican-style smashburgers. 

photo credit: Richard Casteel

photo credit: Richard Casteel

photo credit: Richard Casteel

photo credit: Richard Casteel

photo credit: Richard Casteel

We’ve seen hamburguesas with a lot of different toppings, but at Cuantas you can choose from four different combos that grow increasingly unhinged—from a simple “Americana” with cheese and onions, to one with a smashed longaniza patty and a costra cheese corn tortilla. There’s one topped with ham and pineapple, and another with sliced hot dogs—but what’s most important is that they all work, thanks to a well-seasoned foundation of beef, and a soft, toasted bun holding it all together. Small and compact, the burgers are dense enough to still feel like a satisfying meal. And somehow, they each come in at under $10, even after adding on a side of beef tallow-cooked fries that should very much be a part of your order, even if just for some crispy balance. 

If Cuantas Hamburguesas and Cuantos Tacos were the only two occupants in a field in East Austin, they alone would turn it into a food park worth driving across town for. But they’re not. You’ll also find excellent barbecue at Rollin Smoke, fish tacos from Ensenada, hoagies, arepas, and more, all within a few feet of each other. And it all goes down at Arbor Food Park, in a cute lot decorated with string lights that’s just as well suited for a casual Wednesday night dinner or a semi-chill bachelor/bachelorette party wind-down meal. You can even BYOB here, which should help you stretch that $10 even further (plus, you’ll get a full beer).

Food Rundown

photo credit: Richard Casteel

Sincronizada

This burger feels a little bit like something you’d come up with in college after a long night out and a few too many drinks. It’s topped with sliced hot dogs, ham, cheese, pickled jalapeño, and chimichurri mayo. There’s a lot going on, and we love all of it.

photo credit: Richard Casteel

Campechana

The campechana feels the most like a hybrid of Cuantos Tacos and Cuantas Hamburguesas. It starts with a classic smashburger base, then tops it with a bit of Mexican chorizo and a costra grilled cheese corn tortilla. The end result is something between a burger and a taco, and is worth trying at least once.

photo credit: Richard Casteel

Hawaiiana

Kind of like a Hawaiian pizza in burger form, this one comes topped with ham, pineapple, and pickled jalapeno. It’s a little bit sweet and a little bit spicy. Get this if you’re feeling just a little bit wild.

photo credit: Richard Casteel

Americana

Maybe you just want a classic smashburger without any wild cards. You’re looking for the Americana–a pretty classic double-patty burger with cheese and minced onions, and one of our favorite burgers in town.

photo credit: Richard Casteel

Beef Tallow Fries

You’re probably not coming to Cuantas for an order of fries alone. But at $2, adding these to any order is a no-brainer. They’re crispy, satisfying, and cooked in beef tallow for a little extra savory kick.