When two restaurant veterans launch a burger pop-up during a pandemic and it explodes into four brick-and-mortar locations within five years, you know those smash burgers hit different. 🍔
Moonlit Burgers first appeared on Pittsburgh’s food scene in July 2020 when co-founders Mike McCoy and Derek Stevens started serving their signature smash burgers at pop-ups across the city—regularly selling out and creating lines around the block.
The duo, who met 18 years ago while working on the opening team at Eleven, finally joined forces after McCoy visited California and witnessed the smash burger trend taking over the West Coast. ✨
Their first brick-and-mortar location opened in Dormont on Potomac Avenue in October 2021, followed by an Uptown location near Duquesne University in 2022, Sewickley in 2024, and Garfield coming soon.
The Uptown location at Forbes Avenue serves students, faculty, and PPG Paints Arena crowds who crave thin crispy-edged patties with signature moon sauce on buttery Martin’s potato rolls.
How Moonlit Burgers won locals’ hearts
The secret to Moonlit’s meteoric rise lies in mastering the smashburger technique—flattening meatball-shaped Black Angus beef onto a hot griddle to create the Maillard reaction that produces crispy, caramelized edges and intense flavor. 💙
When McCoy and Stevens sold 100 burgers at their first pop-up, then 300 at the next, they knew they’d discovered something special that Pittsburgh desperately needed.
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The restaurant’s signature moon sauce—a brilliant fusion of gochujang (fermented Korean chili paste), mayo, Dijon mustard, Sriracha, white vinegar, sesame, and pickles—delivers creamy heat that perfectly complements the beef without overwhelming it. 🌶️
Customer reviews consistently rave about those crispy charred edges that nobody else can replicate, the perfectly melty American cheese, and the way everything comes together in harmonious bites.
The Martin’s potato roll provides the ideal soft, buttery foundation that holds all those bold flavors without falling apart—a common burger frustration that Moonlit solved brilliantly.
Sweet Vidalia onions griddled until caramelized add natural sweetness that balances the savory beef, while jalapeño-brined pickles contribute crunch, tang, and subtle heat. 🥒
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The lightning-fast service gets fresh-cooked food to your table within minutes—perfect for pre-game meals before PPG Paints Arena events or quick lunches between classes.
Reasonable prices keep smash burgers accessible at $8 for singles and $11 for doubles, with massive portions that leave customers stuffed without breaking the bank.
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The full bar serving local craft beers and boozy milkshakes featuring Millie’s Homemade Ice Cream elevates Moonlit beyond typical fast-casual burger joints into something more memorable. 🍺
Pittsburgh Magazine’s dining critic Hal B. Klein named Moonlit one of Pittsburgh’s best new restaurants in 2021—validation that their “little pop-up started during a pandemic” had achieved something extraordinary.
Food Highlights
Classic Moonlit Double: Two thin Black Angus patties with griddled Vidalia onions, American cheese, kosher dill pickles, and signature moon sauce on a Martin’s potato roll—customers describe those crispy charred edges as the best they’ve ever experienced 🔥
#4 Best Seller: The ultimate loaded creation featuring double patty, American cheese, griddled onions, moon sauce, pickles, shoestring fries, jalapeño & cilantro slaw, and hot sauce all piled on the burger—a flavor bomb that locals order on repeat
Smash Fries: Shoestring fries topped with chopped double patty, cheese sauce, moon sauce, griddled onions, kosher dill pickles, and pickled jalapeños—customers call this “a meal in itself” and many prefer it over the actual burgers 🍟
Moon Bird Chicken Sandwich: Pickle-brined chicken breast with Smashville hot sauce, cabbage & jalapeño slaw, kosher dill pickles, and moon sauce on a Martin’s potato roll—perfectly crispy exterior with juicy, flavorful interior that rivals any specialty chicken joint
Bacon Double Cheeseburger: Double patty with American cheese, bacon, iceberg lettuce, tomato, sweet onion, and garlic dijonnaise on a Martin’s potato roll—customers specifically praise that garlic dijonnaise as “perfection” 🥓
Chili Cheese Fries: Crispy shoestring fries smothered in beef chili, cheese sauce, shredded cheddar, and pickled jalapeños—generous portions that customers describe as perfectly cheesy and salty without being greasy
Atmosphere
The retro-cool design features bright colors, fun neon signs, and a wall of rainbow-hued vintage lunch trays that create a cheerful, nostalgic vibe perfect for post-pandemic positivity.
The spacious interior with full bar offers plenty of seating in booths and tables, plus an outdoor heated patio for year-round dining options.
Fast-casual counter service lets you order quickly, grab a table number, and have your food delivered within minutes—no waiting around wondering when it’ll arrive.
The convenient location one block from PPG Paints Arena makes it the perfect pre-game spot for Penguins fans, concerts, or Duquesne athletic events.
Bottom Line
Black Angus beef smashed onto a hot griddle creating those legendary crispy charred edges nobody else can replicate in Pittsburgh.
Signature moon sauce blending Korean gochujang with mayo, Dijon, Sriracha, and pickles for creamy heat perfection you’ll dream about.
Lightning-fast service delivering fresh-cooked burgers to your table in under 10 minutes without sacrificing quality or flavor.
Unbeatable value with doubles at $11 and singles at $8—generous portions that fill you up without emptying your wallet.
Local craft beers and boozy milkshakes featuring Millie’s Ice Cream that transform quick meals into memorable experiences. 🏆
Address: 1023 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
đź“ž (412) 746-1070
🕔 Open Mon-Sat, 11:00 AM–9:00 PM; Sun 11:00 AM–9:00 PM