Dublin burger-lovers are soon to be salivating, as the culinary mind behind Pang restaurant is smashing his way out of lockdown with Dash Burger, a new concept Pop-Up that’s going to tantalise taste buds all over town.
Taking inspiration from some heavy-hitting LA burger pop-up kings like Mark Tripp, George Motz and Goldburger @goldburgerla, DASH Burger, Ireland’s first smash burger joint, opened on Friday 18th September and despite the restrictions announcement it was sold out by Sunday afternoon.
The burgery brainchild of Barry Wallace, (a self-trained food entrepreneur with an instinctive palate and eye for the exceptional), Dash Burger has a three-pronged USP; the cooking technique of smashing; their buns; and their seasoning.
Passion for SMASHIN
The cooking technique that makes a Smash Burger is all in the name! The smashing of beef on the griddle leads to maximum surface area crust and a juice sealing sear that adds texture and flavour along with an outer edge of crisp “Meat Lace” a phrase coined by Jenn Harris of LA Times. This technique has roared back into popularity in the US with Smash Burger pop-ups like Tripp and Goldburger in LA winning the ‘best burger’ awards in 2018 and 2019.
Ok so far so delicious I think you can agree.
Each burger has a double patty of Irish beef with a delicious blend created specifically with Pat Mc Loughlin Butchers to compliment the smash technique. Topped with American Cheese, Pickles, Onion, Mustard and ketchup these are old school American Diner Burgers with high-quality Irish Beef.
You’re the BUN
Not just any ol’ bun. This bun is a potato roll from a speciality bakery. Fluffy, soft, light, crispy with no sweetness to let the flavours of beef shine. The choice of bun for both Shack Shack and In & Out Burger in the US, Dash Burger wants to follow suit and emulate the famous Martin’s Potato Roll from California. Delighted to find an option of a potato roll available in Ireland Dash Burger are thrilled to be bringing them to the scene as part of their smash burgers
Oooooh + MMMMM = UMAMI
The absolute game changer, what really sets Dash’s smash burgers apart, is the secret seasoning, concocted by Barry in his home kitchen during lockdown, when he had an epicurious Eureka moment that drove to bring the elusive taste of umami to his tantalisingly textured smash burgers. His unique burger seasoning packs the umami hit to add gorgeous depth of flavour to each bite, while raising the flavour of the beef and melting into the cheese to create a crispy hot, umami-kissed cheeseburger.
In a hurry! Gotta Dash!
This clever little spot’s charms don’t just end at its delicious flavour.. DASH promises to live up to its name too with a speedy service which is facilitated by the compact size of the restaurant and the swift nature of the smash cooking method. Dash will operate as a takeout until restrictions allow indoor dining again, and then it’ll be limited covers of 10, respecting the government guidelines for the foreseeable future but will soon double in capacity when normality resumes. The menu offering will also deter much indecision with the choice being streamlined to three-burgers (a double smash, triple smash and a house special) along with Dash Free Rangers (Tendies) which will also have a serious secret sauce to bring to the diners of Dublin This will form another part of their secret series, their secret seasoning and their secret sauce promises to become the most addictive five flavour hit in the city! The final addition to the pared-back perfection of the menu is the Jalapeño Popper Arancini, an unconventional take on the sumptuous side, that only cements the unique offering at Dash.
Barry said:
As smash burgers cook in rapid time with 2 x 3oz beef patties slammed on the chrome griddle we will be swift.
While Barry wouldn’t be drawn on the recipe for his secret seasoning, he did promise that the resulting taste is really special:
We’re thrilled to be popping up with Dash Burger in Dublin. The Irish burger scene is plentiful and of a very high standard but there’s always room for a new story. Unami is something that just works so well with Aged Beef so our secret seasoning will stay secret for a long time! The ultra smash technique delivers a different style to all our competitors and really is a different experience”.
ABOUT BARRY WALLACE
Independent restaurant owner Barry Wallace has been conceiving business ideas since he left school at 15. Since then he has travelled and worked solidly until a market stall collaboration with a chef friend found the support of investors, which brought them to Brussels to open his fish & chips concept restaurant. Following a scale up to London he answered the call of home and over the years had saved up enough to finally start his own venture, Pang Restaurant. With its delightful menu of Vietnamese rice paper rolls, vegan yellow curry, and show-stopping banh mi’s it became a huge hit straight away but has been left in an uncertain environment post covid.
Barry said:
“I’m hoping for the Dash Burger Pop-Up to be a hit! I spent years working in different countries opening restaurants for various investors and when I finally got to a good place with my first small business (Pang) the pandemic kicked in! My friends and family helped me with everything from branding, photography, carpentry, PR to my 15 year old nephew Finn painting the walls! It’s a great effort and to quote the photographer Ines Billings “We need to help each other and get this economy going”!
Praise for PANG
7.5 out of 10 – Catherine Cleary – The Irish Times
Praise for Bia Mara / Hook
“Next level Fish & Chips for adults”.
Guy Fieri – The Food Network USA
“Beautiful fish and chips for all the family”
Yotam Ottolenghi
“First fish and chips for ages and only the best blinking fish and chips ever”.
Deborah Meaden – Dragons Den
www.barrywallace.ie
Dash Burger Opening Hours
Wed + Thurs
17.00 – 22.00
Friday + Saturday + Sunday
12.30 – 15.30
17.00 – 22.00