A popular food truck known for its mouthwatering smash burgers is opening a new location in downtown Bend. Americana, which currently operates its truck at local food cart pod, The Podski, is opening a brick-and-mortar burger shop in the former Seven Nightclub spot on Bond Street. It’ll offer classic burgers and a variety of fan-favorite specials which will become permanent on its new menu.
Americana has been around since 2021 and has quickly grown a cult-like following, selling about 600 burgers a day, according to owner Joseph Franco. He and his wife, Olivia, started at Bridge 99 before moving to Spider City Brewing and then, eventually, The Podski.
With its affordable prices and its flavorful smashed patties, Americana was voted Best Food Cart in 2024 by the Source Weekly’s Best of Central Oregon Readers’ Poll and was voted Food Cart of The Year by the Source Weekly editorial team in 2024.
Growing up in the food industry, Franco said he always wanted his own restaurant. When the opportunity to get into a downtown space came around, they jumped at it.
“I didn’t expect it to be so fast after opening up a food truck. I thought it was always kind of unattainable… . We didn’t know if we’d ever have an opportunity like this again,” Franco told the Source. “We’re very grateful, very thankful for the ecosystem that has been fostered around Americana. It has been very humbling”
While the food cart typically has three burger options, the brick-and-mortar will offer eight staple burgers, many of which are highly requested specials the truck has made in the past.
Some of the favorites include its Cowboy burger, a bacon Western cheeseburger with fried onions and barbeque sauce, it’s Bacon Bleu, a current “secret menu item” at the cart and, finally, the Sloppy Goat, complete with whipped goat cheese, bacon date jam, balsamic drizzle and bacon.
“The sloppy goat is one of our most requested. People will still hit us up and be like, ‘Hey, can you bring that back?’ And it’s like, ‘we will just, we just need more space,'” Franco said.
The restaurant will offer the choice for singles and doubles in all of its burgers, including its classic OG burger, which goes for $6 for a single or $8 for a double. Other new items include loaded fries, fried onions, vanilla milkshakes and root beer on tap.
“The idea behind this menu is basically to just double down on what we do and make sure that things are affordable,” said Franco. “I will not up my pricing until I lose money on every single burger. That is something I’m very adamant about.”
The restaurant in downtown Bend will open on Saturday, May 31.
This article appears in Source Weekly May 29, 2025.
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600 burgers a day is pure BS
In a town with too many burger places……….this place gets it right. Burgers shouldn’t cost $25.