I tried one of the Charlotte area’s most unusual burgers. What I got for $25
Unusual food has a way of getting my attention.
So when an editor messaged me about a “great burger at a doughnut shop,” I paused. She was talking about Sumo Doughnuts, in the part of Indian Land, South Carolina, that has Fort Mill addresses — a place I had never heard of but suddenly felt compelled to visit.
I had a few questions, but one was top of mind.
“Can you substitute the hamburger buns for doughnuts?”
A quick search didn’t inspire much confidence. Most of what I saw looked like standard burgers with regular buns. Then, after a bit more scrolling, I found it: a smashburger stacked with toppings, pressed between two oversized glazed doughnuts.
But the photo wasn’t from this location, which made me wonder if I had been misled.
“Just how ‘great’ could this burger be?” I thought, driving toward South Carolina, not expecting much.
When I arrived, I passed by windows decorated with smiling cartoon doughnuts, the kind of detail that might charm some people and unsettle others. I just wanted to try the burger and leave.
I ordered a couple of doughnuts first, then asked the question again.
“Can you substitute the hamburger buns for doughnuts?”
“Yes, we can,” the cashier said, smiling. “Do you want a single or a double?”
Here’s what to know about Sumo Doughnuts.
What’s on the menu at Sumo Doughnuts?
Sumo Doughnuts blends classic doughnut shop offerings with a mix of savory items like breakfast sandwiches and smashburgers. The menu ranges from simple glazed and filled doughnuts to full meals, including the option to add fries and a drink.
Doughnuts typically cost $1.50 to $4, and burgers and breakfast sandwiches around $6 to $10.
Here’s everything I got for $25 including tax and tip:
- Two deluxe doughnuts ($3.98): Pink rainbow (topped with strawberry frosting, marshmallows and an Airhead) and S’mores (with chocolate frostings, marshmallows and graham crackers).
- Single smashburger ($6.99): Topped with grilled onions, cheese, tomato, lettuce, pickles and burger sauce
- Seasoned fries ($3.49)
- Tums from the gas station down the road (roughly $5)
The pink rainbow doughnut was fun from the start, with a bright strawberry frosting that felt sweet but not too sweet. The marshmallows added a soft, fluffy bite, and the Airhead gave it a chewy pop that made each bite a little different.
The s’mores doughnut, though, was the standout. The mix of chocolate frosting, graham crackers and marshmallows came together in a way that actually tasted like a real s’more, just softer and richer. It was messy, a little over the top, but delicious.
But the two doughnuts were an appetizer. A prelude to the main event.
It was almost as if the chef had been watching me, because my burger was ready as soon as I took my last bite of the s’mores doughnut.
I opened the box and felt the heat rise up toward my face. Then again, I was only inches away, leaning in and sniffing it like a cartoon character drawn toward a pie cooling on a windowsill. I nearly took a bite before remembering I had to take a picture for this story.
The burger looked like a dare. Its glossy glazed doughnuts stood in for buns, and it worked better than you’d expect.
The patty was crisp at the edges and juicy in the middle, with melted cheese folding into the meat, while the grilled onions added a deep, savory sweetness. Then the doughnuts came in, soft and sugary, and the mix of sweet and savory really stood out in the best way. And the lettuce, tomato and pickles added just enough freshness and bite.
I’ll likely be back to Sumo Doughnuts.
Sumo Doughnuts
Location: 8475 Charlotte Hwy, Fort Mill, SC 29707
Cuisine: Doughnuts, burgers
Instagram: @sumo_doughnuts
