In baseball it’s called the “Triple Crown,”an incredibly rare achievement in which a player leads the league in average, home runs, and runs batted in. To win the triple crown, a player must tremendous power to hit for distance as well as a very keen eye to hit baseballs thrown at nearly 100 miles per hour and place them on the field in positions that result in driving in runs. In horse racing, the term Triple Crown represents a series of horse races for three-year-old Thoroughbreds, consisting of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. To win all three of these races is even more rare.
There’s another Triple Crown competition that’s even more challenging and difficult to win. That’s Edible’s Green Chile Cheeseburger Smackdown, an annual event held in Santa Fe every year since 2013. This competition has one simple goal: to determine the best burger in New Mexico. I would argue that the reason this competition is even more difficult to win than the aforementioned Triple Crowns is that the Smackdown is not an athletic achievement reliant on a coalescence of physical and mental skills. This Triple Crown–Secret Judges’ Award, Reigning Chomp and People’s Choice–can be earned only if there is agreement among the most difficult of all elements to gauge–human beings. As a one-time judge at the Smackdown, I can attest to how difficult it is to obtain consensus.
Every year Edible invites sixteen restaurants from across the state to “toss their spatulas in the ring and thrown down the burger sure to beat them all.” On 10 September 2022–for the first time in the event’s history–one restaurant won the cherished Triple Crown. If you haven’t been following Tikka Spice over the years, you might be surprised that at the time of the Smackdown, this “restaurant” operated out of a food truck (albeit an award-winning food truck). It may come as a revelation that Basit Gauba the owner-operator of this food truck, is from Pakistan–not exactly a hotbed for green chile cheeseburgers. In 2025, Stackers nearly accomplished a repeat of its 2022 conquest, earning the Judges’ Award and People’s Choice Award
Basit has emerged as quite the entrepreneur. Inspired by his success in operating Tikka Spice since 2017, he launched Kukri within the confines of 505 Central Food Hall in January, 2022. Later in the year he launched Tikka Spice South Asia Street Food on Osuna as well as Stackers, which focuses exclusively on Tikka Spice’s smash burger brand. Yes, it’s that same burger which saw Triple Crown success at the Green Chile Cheeseburger Smackdown. Though I didn’t get to attend that event, I wanted to decide for myself if that burger warranted its accolades.
Stackers operates out of three locations in the Duke City area. The initial location is within the 505 Central Food Hall. The most recent location, about three miles from my Rio Rancho home, is within the comfy confines of The Block, a shipping container complex. It’s one of four small food pods with indoor seating. Its next door neighbor is Kukri which specializes in chicken tikka tenders and chicken sandwiches. Stackers offers five smash burgers and a spicy chicken tika sandwich. Fries and shakes are also on the menu.
19 December 2024: A Smashburger is flattened or smashed while it is cooking, which helps to create a crisp outer crust and a juicy interior. Duke City smash burgers are made with double beef patties. Each smash burger is covered in a molten blanket of melting cheese and more green chile than most green chile cheeseburgers in town offer. As advertised, the green chile was hot–hot enough to get my attention. As a bona fide fire-eater, to get my attention is an impressive feat. The locally baked bun (from Sergio’s Bakery & Cafe) is rather smallish (maybe four-inches) which means the beef patties extend beyond the buns. The Duke City smash burgers are terrific exactly as constructed though you can add such condiments as mustard and ketchup if you’d like.
8 November 2025: In defense of the Oklahoma Onion Burger at Stackers, if a burger joint in Oklahoma purported to serve a New Mexico green chile cheeseburger, we would likely complain vehemently about how inauthentic it is. We didn’t expect Stackers version of the onion burger to be an exact copy of its blow-us-away counterpart at Johnnie’s Hamburgers & Coneys at El Reno, Oklahoma, but we had hoped for a closer approximation. Sure, the guy manning the grill smashed a beef patty atop a small pile of onions so that burger patty and onions became one, but at Johnnie’s, caramelized onions are much more prevalent. At Johnnie’s, onions are not only part of the burger patty, they blanket it. The flavor combination of sweet, finely sliced onions and beef are incomparable.
In all honesty, I thoroughly enjoyed Stackers version–a Halal smash burger with onions smashed into the patty, American cheese, pickles, and Stackers sauce on a brioche bun. My Kim was not as forgiving. She loves onions even more than I do. “Onion burger” may be a bit of a misnomer, but there’s no discounting the fact that it’s a very good burger with a coalescence of flavors that will get your attention. Alas, one of those flavors isn’t the distinct pearlescent deliciousness of onions. I may have just talked myself into another trip to Oklahoma.
19 December 2024: Seasoned fries as well as queso fries and tots are also available. The seasoned fries are salty and crispy on the outside with a fluffy interior. With or without ketchup these seasoned fries are the type of fries for which burgers were designed, a coupling made in culinary heaven. Perhaps even better are Loaded Stackers Tots (a base of crispy, golden tots smothered in rich, green chile queso and topped with a drizzle of green chile sauce for that perfect kick. You can then add diced halal smashed beef patty for a hearty twist, finished with a generous swirl of garlic crema and the signature Stackers sauce. Craving a bit of spice? Stackers has you covered with a dash of sriracha. All of this is crowned with a sprinkle of cilantro and onion and a scoop of fresh pico de gallo).
Stackers not only wowed the judges and crowds at the Green Chile Cheeseburger Smackdown, it’s winning new fans every day. Outstanding smash burgers are only one reason.
Stackers Burger Co.
7805 Enchanted Hills Blvd., N.E.
Rio Rancho, New Mexico
(505) 810-1543
Facebook Page
LATEST VISIT: 8 November 2025
1st VISIT: 19 December 2024
# OF VISITS: 2
RATING: 22
COST: $$
BEST BET: Duke City Smash Burger, Oklahoma Onion Burger, Seasoned Fries
REVIEW #1436
As a huge fan of Johnnie’s in El Reno, OK, I am intrigued by the question of whether it would be better with green chile, or whether we would just say the chile is not as good as in NM and overlook the fact that this is probably the best onion burger anywhere. I tend to say NM should have its chile and OK should have its onion burgers. I am on my own quest to find the best green chile burgers in the Land of Enchantment. One thing I have found though is that in Oklahoma not many places can make a good onion burger so they focus on other things like the quality of the beef or cooking methods such as charcoal broiling.
NM has its own competition but the focus seems to be on the chile with some other ethereal qualities that you will recognize when you taste it. I still think the best GCC I have had was at a restaurant in Las Cruces in the 1990’s that I think was at the corner of Missouri and El Paseo, but I could not really tell you why it was so good. Anyway, the average green chile cheeseburger in NM will likely satisfy me more than the average burger in 48 states (I am excluding Oklahoma).
Their use of Sergio’s buns certainly speaks highly of them! But to make the trek across the city, Gil, I’m waiting for a number from you. Two visits now; what will it be?
Stackers is available at four locations, three of them in Albuquerque.
Thank you for alerting me to another SNAFU. It’s been remedied.
While your word is usually It Best(sic), if “…Basit Gauba the owner-operator of this food truck, is from Pakistan–not exactly a hotbed for green chile cheeseburgers.” seeing where he is from, is tempting enough for me to be lured to Enchanted Hills to assess this Yum Yummm…maybe this week run into ya there? Why? Because Aishah Hasnie, https://tinyurl.com/3vrtbvn3, my second most alluring Beauty (next to Melania) in the world of Women is from there as well!!!
Alas, Saturday I was getting a hankering for a Smashburger and not knowing Y’alls’ in-out-of state’s whereabouts, and having filled up with the usually lowest gas @ Before Daylite Dispensary @ 2nd & Alameda [e.g. $2.44 on 12/28] thought I’d stretch out the pony’s legs by running out to THE BLOCK in RR’s Enchanted Hills, i.e. at the plaza of shipping containers on the chance of running into you Guyz. Considering what RR isn’t, this looks like a fun place for kids to have some space for socializing-cruising along with munching and shopping, as well as being a place for adult beverages et al for older adults as part of getting out of the house later in the day rather than having to drive “all the way” into ABQ…Whoa.
The S-Burgers with several nuances: Indeed, I’d suggest diners bring their own brioche bun as a backup for covering/holding the innards or for when the original bun dissolves/deconstructs; maybe take along a fork(?). Relatedly, they have a note on the napkin dispenser to take one at a time…seriously? they do or attempt to do humor! Elsewise, I munched on a fairly, healthy-sized burger given there were two nicely charred patties, which despite they’re being far from rare, had a nice flavoring and degree of moistness that got me to continue to attempt to overcome it. (If you’ve ever eaten with a fire-fighter you might get the picture.)
For indoor seating in mid-afternoon, there is a nice ebb-n-flow including Folks moving tables around for larger than 4 at a spot. There are six, counter window, casual eateries serving this one particular section of the complex. As warmer days occur, patio seating will be fun and socially accommodating while overlooking the ‘courtyard’. A peek at the place https://tinyurl.com/ccj97dxd nearing its previous completion.
Lastly, awesomely enjoyable view of the mountains per a different than ‘our’ ABQ perspective. A security guard at the entrance I went in was sociable. The world’s a-changin: “Back when”, a salad, entree (e.g. a Filet), cocktail, and coffee would set ya back 20 Bucks and was previously known as ‘fine dining’…LOL…this one is a step-up from Sonic’s. [ Sure wish someone would revive a Polynesian place in terms of food/decor, e.g. Trader Vic’s, Don the BeachCombers, the Islander, or Tiki something.)
I’m so glad you discovered THE BLOCK. We discovered that it’s best to visit on weekdays after 1:30PM when the crowds have abated somewhat. We’ve also discovered a number of fine, small eateries we hope to visit soon. Great observation about the buns and the need to bring along your own fork.