Sonic Just Announced A New Smash-Tacular Menu Item—And App Users Can Try It Early

The height of summer calls for firing up the grill. From Oklahoma Onion Burgers and Mississippi Slugburgers to corn ribs and freshly grilled okra skewers, our favorite dinners center around smoke and char—and, as an added bonus, keep the kitchen cool. There’s one type of burger that’s a little bit trickier to master, however—the smashburger. Known for its crispy edges, the smashburger is a technique that puts ground beef on a hot grill for a healthy sear that yields a browned (albeit well-done) patty built for cheese and special sauce.

If you’d rather opt for a weeknight shortcut on your burger that leaves the prep up to the pros, Southern-based fast-food chain Sonic has a brand-new menu item you’ll want to try.

The new Sonic Smasher, available nationwide beginning August 5, is a hand-smashed cheeseburger with two seasoned Angus patties perfect for those busy nights when you’re craving a restaurant-quality burger at a bargain. The Smasher is served on a soft potato bun with a signature sauce, two slices of melty cheese, crinkle-cut pickles, and diced onions. It’s priced starting at $6.49, with an option to upgrade to the Triple Smasher—you guessed it, three patties—starting at $7.49.

“Our mission at SONIC has always been to bring fun, craveable food to our guests at unbeatable prices,” said Ryan Dickerson, Chief Marketing Officer of SONIC. “With the SONIC Smasher…this burger is not just hand-smashed—it’s a blend of textures and flavors that come together for a cheeseburger that’s crispy, juicy and melty all at once.”

If you can’t wait until August 5, the popular drive-in chain is releasing the Sonic Smasher early—July 29—to those who order through the Sonic app. This early-bird release pairs well with other in-app perks like all-day half-priced soft drinks, iced teas, lemonades, limeades, Ocean Water, and slushes. The restaurant also launched six new drinks this summer that could take your Sonic Smasher to the next level.

Just one question remains: Tots or Groovy Fries?