Smashburger Headed to Monrovia

The burger chain Smashburger has applied for a conditional use permit to serve alcohol at a proposed location in the Huntington Oaks shopping center, the Monrovia Now blog reported Wednesday.

Smashburger would be one of four tenants in a new building that will replace the old Acapulco restaurant and construction should begin in February, Monrovia planning division manager Craig Jimenez told the blog.

Smashburger's mission is built around a unique way of cooking burgers by literally smashing them into the grill.

"Place your order and we spring into action, painting the grill with real butter, adding a dash of our secret spice blend, and smashing the meatball with a tool we invented ourselves...," the chain's website explains. "Smashing caramelizes the beef, creating a sear that locks in the juices as no other cooking method can."