Eat This Now: Smashed burger and fries at AlBeik

Al Beik // Photo by Alexander Omorodion

As a kid, the holidays truly were the most magical time of the year in more ways than one. The prospect of new gifts, along with Harry Potter marathons, made this season my favorite. I still revisit The Boy Who Lived every December, but growing up has changed what I look forward to most. Now the magic feels rooted not in gifts or movies, but in the smiles on people’s faces, the generosity, and the extra little bit of patience in the day-to-day.

This feeling struck me when I walked into AlBeik and was greeted by a sweet boy who was hardly taller than the chair he was sitting on. He grinned at me and offered a half-eaten fry off of his tiny plate as an appetizer, as if he was welcoming me into his home. Inspired by this gesture, I decided that there’s no way I could skip ordering fries with AlBeik’s Signature Smashed Burger I came in for.

This burger is decked out with caramelized onions, cheese, your choice of a single ($11.80) or double ($16.50) beef patty, and topped with coleslaw. What sounds like standard cheeseburger ingredients on paper turned out to have a flavor profile far exceeding standard. Every bite into the patties served as a testimony of the high-quality beef cooked to just the right temperature. The coleslaw was not too sweet, but had a level of earthiness and umami that made it a great addition without overpowering the other flavors. 

I added a side of large fries ($4.70)—of course. They come generously showered with a seasoning for a hint of spiciness and another layer of depth to the dish. 

The holidays are all about putting smiles on faces. From the little boy (the owner’s son, I later learned) happy to share his fries with me, to the satisfaction I felt when eating this meal, AlBeik captures that spirit. It’s the otherwise ordinary moments like this that remind me why this season still feels magical—if you are open to it.

AlBeik is at 13135 State Line Rd, Kansas City, MO 64145.