Project Burger: Palm Desert’s Hidden Smash‑Burger Lab
A Family‑Built Coachella Valley Original
Since opening less than a year ago, Project Burger has been getting quite a lot of attention. From an unassuming and rather discreet Palm Desert location, it’s already carved out plenty of buzz and energy — and for good reason. This isn’t just another burger joint. It’s a place built around an ethos, and a menu that backs it up. And it’s delivering something that’s genuinely fun and exciting.
Project Burger is born from true Coachella Valley roots, spearheaded by three cousins. They’re part of a larger family that oversees several restaurants across the valley. Some of our favorites include Salsa’s Restaurant, Crudo, Oceana, and Cups Cafe. As a family‑owned Palm Desert restaurant, Project Burger reflects the same hands‑on spirit you’ll find across the family’s other valley concepts. Here, the cousins’ presence and their day‑to‑day involvement give the restaurant a sense of pride and personality.
A Tucked‑Away Palm Desert Find
It’s not a building you’ll immediately find. Project Burger sits inside a Palm Desert industrial–office complex where Country Club meets Washington. Facing the street, you’ll see places like the nearby Cups Café and Oceana, but Project Burger is tucked a little farther back, in the same pocket where Desert Beer operates — a geographic pairing that feels entirely convenient. Inside, the space is relatively small: a single row of tables and a long counter that looks directly into the kitchen window.
From the outset, the atmosphere leans more toward production space or taproom ambiance than classic American diner. Yet it’s social, vibrant, and energetic. Some of that comes from the intimacy of the room, and some from the steady rhythm of the kitchen, which seems to be sending out unique dishes with constant regularity.
A Menu Built on Experimentation
It’s intentional that I’ve referenced a taproom twice. The “project” aspect of the name comes through with a lab‑like mentality that runs across the menu. There are creations here you won’t find elsewhere, and you get the immediate impression that the menu is built on playfulness, experimentation, and a clear sense of craft. It’s easy to see why some diners consider it one of the most creative smash‑burger spots in Palm Desert. It’s a menu I mulled over with excited anticipation.
Smash Burgers With Personality
Smash burgers lead the menu — those thinner, crispier creations that often get doubled up between the buns due to their smaller size. But in Project Burger’s case, they’re intentionally thinner because they’re packing the buns with a whole host of additional ingredients. The eponymous Project Burger is indeed a double smash delivered with American cheese, aioli, caramelized onions, and bacon jam. That might have been tempting, but it gets even better.
Nora’s Breakfast predictably has egg in it, but they’re also serving it with black forest ham, bacon jam, cream cheese, and in a croissant. They used to serve that burger in a waffle, which says quite a bit about the experimentation. Digging deeper, there are burgers with shrimp, pork belly, and even a chile relleno added in. They get pretty creative with their combinations with additions like provolone truffle cream and cilantro jalapeño aioli.
My choice was Mamo’s Super Hamburgesa. It’s a smash patty plus chorizo bilbao and black forest ham, served with crispy fried onions in a black brioche bun and sitting in queso cheese sauce. I’ve seen many plays on a Mexican burger, but this one takes it up a few notches. The triple meat element sold it to me, but the queso dip was just another pleasant surprise. It may be a little messy but in a completely fun way. It was also delicious and incredibly unique.
My buddy went with the Pika Pika. It’s built with two spicy smash patties, pepper jack cheese, caramelized onions, a pineapple compote, and spicy aioli. It’s an especially great photo op with the whole jalapeño and pineapple slice on top. It had a few layers of heat that dialed things up, but the sweetness from the pineapple kept it balanced. And it’s another item that stands out for its bold, unwavering uniqueness.
Like any good burger joint, Project Burger does a cool lineup of handcrafted shakes. Signatures include Nathan’s Style Reeses and the Oreo Chingón. Beyond that, there are salads, sandwiches, and tacos. Some of the more interesting choices include a Cobb showcasing sweet and spicy pork belly, and a beef dip built around shredded barbacoa.
Community, Collaboration, and Momentum
Project Burger thrives on a welcoming energy that comes from the youthful enthusiasm of its three owners. That spirit and friendliness is evident the moment you walk in the door. It’s the kind of spot where you feel a sense of connection and belonging.
That same energy found its way into the Acrisure Arena earlier this year when they were invited to create a limited-time Peso Pluma Burger collaboration during the Dinastía Tour. It introduced them to thousands of new diners and cemented their place in the valley’s dining landscape. Combined with strong word-of-mouth and consistent five-star reviews, the restaurant has quickly become one of Palm Desert’s most beloved new spots.
A Smash‑Burger Lab That Belongs Here
Project Burger succeeds because it feels authentic. It’s a family project with a clear vision, a smash‑burger lab that embraces experimentation and uniqueness, and a neighborhood restaurant that reflects the community around it. The owning partners bring hustle, heart, and heritage to every dish, and the menu shows how willing they are to push flavor forward while staying grounded in what makes smashburgers great. It’s a project that feels right at home in the Coachella Valley — and one that’s quickly becoming a go‑to for smash‑burger fans in Palm Desert.
