REVIEW: Sonic Queso Smasher & Red Velvet Cake Batter Shake

This burger tasted insane.

Check out my last Sonic review of the Sonic Smasher here.

I recently tried Sonic's new Queso Smasher Burger and Red Velvet Cake Batter Shake, two featured items on their winter menu. The Queso Smasher Burger stands out with a lot of ingredients packed into each bite. Starting with the positives, the Angus patties were smashed to perfection, giving them a crispy edge with a solid beefy flavor that shone through. The potato bun was also a good choice, soft yet sturdy enough to hold the toppings together without getting soggy.

The queso, however, didn’t live up to expectations. It had a gritty texture, likely due to excess flour in the roux, making it feel less smooth and creamy than expected. Combined with pickled jalapeños, the cheese’s saltiness became overpowering, which also masked the flavor of the diced onions and added to the overall MSG-heavy taste. The tortilla strips, intended to add crunch, were soggy from the sauces, so their texture was barely noticeable. With these combined elements, I’d rate the Queso Smasher a solid 7/10, with room for improvement on the queso and tortilla strips.

As for the Red Velvet Cake Batter Shake, it had a hint of cocoa, but like many red velvet items, it tasted more like food coloring than chocolate. The cream cheese flavor was subtle, almost too light to be noticeable, and the shake was melted by the time I received it, as was the whipped cream. The service left something to be desired as well; despite placing a mobile order, I waited eight minutes, and by then, the shake was entirely melted. The burger was still warm, but overall, the shake only earned a 5/10 for me.

Ratings:

Queso Smasher: 7/10

Red Velvet Cake Batter Shake: 5/10

Prices: Sonic Smasher burger $8.04

Red Velvet Cake Batter Shake $5.49

How many calories are in Sonic’s Double Queso Smasher and Red Velvet Cake Batter Shake?

1 burger = 700 calories

1 sm shake = 620 calories