The Limited-Time Burger That Would Fill A Real Sonic Menu Gap

Of all the major chains, Sonic arguably offers one of the most unique fast food menus. From its rainbow of drinks (like frozen refreshers, dirty sodas, and iconic limeades) to its nostalgic snacks (like corn dogs and chili cheese tots), there are many bites and bevs on the roster you won't find elsewhere. So why are the burgers so basic? Their quality is solid, but the offerings are conventional. If the chain revived the limited-time Double Sonic Queso Smasher, it would fill a significant menu gap.

The handheld was released as part of Sonic's 2024 winter menu, which otherwise consisted of fizzy, sweet pops and a red velvet cake batter milkshake. The burger was the highlight with two hand-smashed Angus beef patties, two slices of American cheese, white queso, tortilla strips, pickled jalapeños, onions, and a rich Southwest sauce atop a cushy potato bun. Cost varied by location, but the burger was typically priced at $8.99.

Bringing it back would fill a void in the menu. There are no spicy options in Sonic's current burger lineup; the Double Queso Smasher's peppers would bring heat and a much-welcome acidic foil to the richness of the other components. The regular burgers also currently come exclusively with toppings like onions, pickles, lettuce, and tomato. While we love the usual suspects, it would be nice to see more creative finishing touches, like tortilla strips and queso.

Sonic launched smashburgers in July 2024. They quickly became one of the most popular Sonic menu items, on par with cherry limeade and mozzarella sticks. The Queso Smasher launched that October. The latest additions are the All-American Smashers, released in January 2026; the standard option has American cheese, onions, lettuce, tomato, pickles, ketchup, and mayo. It's considered one of the best new fast food sandwiches of 2026.

"The spiciness from the fresh jalapeño activity, cheesiness, the beef game is extremely proper, made to order. That smooth, creamy queso cheese is just really complementing the onions," said one YouTube reviewer. "Really nice flavor, nice little pick-me-up with the jalapeños ... queso, all that cheese," added another YouTuber. "These peppers aren't just there for show; they bring some real heat ... Balancing out the spice are the creamy white queso and the American cheese ... They paired really well together and, along with the Southwest sauce, gave the entire burger a creamy, savory flavor," said our reviewer.

While the burger is off the menu, you can customize the Smasher to get it closer to the queso version. Add jalapeños, and consider adding chili, bacon, or BBQ sauce to boost the smokiness in lieu of Southwest sauce. There's no sub for the tortilla chips, so add your own if you want it to be as identical as possible.