After promising a San Antonio expansion in 2024, cheeseburger chain Smalls Sliders is finally breaking ground on the first of three planned restaurants. A company rep says the 3103 Wurzbach Rd. outpost, the first in Alamo City, is planning to open by January 2026.
Bucking the trend of bland fast-food architecture, Smalls Sliders is known for vibrant orange shipping container-style buildings the company calls “Smorange Cans.” The premade structures, which skip traditional dining rooms in favor of drive-thrus with small patios, allow the company to rev up operations quickly after they “drop.”
The fare coming out of the kitchen is equally designed for speed. Instead of cluttering the menu with the latest flavor trend, Smalls sticks to variations of its single slider — a mini cheeseburger with a toasted buttered bun, pickles, and Smauce, the brand’s proprietary mayo and ketchup-based dipping sauce.
That’s not to say that every order is identical. Guests can add bacon or double up the patty or American cheese. But Small’s is hardly a maximalist. Sides are limited to seasoned waffle fries, which can be dipped in Smauce or queso. Shakes only come in three flavors: vanilla, chocolate, and cookies and cream.
The lack of variation keeps customer costs low. A two-slider combo meal with fries and a fountain drink costs $8.99; a four-slider feast is only $13.99.
In 2024, Smalls announced a franchising agreement with local father-and-son operators Ramzi and Danny Hakim to bring 12 locations to the city. So far, only three cans have been announced; the other two are at 2418 SE Military Dr. and 8743 Highway 151.