A smash burger joint that hands you soft serve on your way out the door isn’t something you stumble across every day, but that’s exactly the move at this Roosevelt Row favorite in downtown Phoenix. Bad Jimmy’s started as a pop-up before landing in a permanent home on Pierce Street, and it’s grown into a small Arizona chain without losing the scrappy, tattooed-burger-joint energy that got it noticed in the first place.
The downtown location sits right in the middle of Phoenix’s gallery and bar scene, which makes it a natural stop whether you’re grabbing an early lunch or wrapping up a night of hopping between nearby breweries. Simple menu, loud music, good burgers: that’s the pitch, and it delivers.
What To Order
The menu stays intentionally short, which makes deciding easier than it should be. The Classic Double and the L.A. Burg are the two names that come up again and again, both built on K4 Ranch Arizona beef smashed thin and griddled hard, then stacked on Martin’s potato buns with a house-made “not-so-secret sauce” that does a lot of the heavy lifting.
Criss-cut fries are the default side, and they show up crisp and well-seasoned more often than not, though the occasional soggy or overcooked batch does get mentioned. If you’re after something lighter, the salads offer a decent counterbalance to all that beef.
For those skipping meat, the house-made veggie patty gets real credit for actually tasting like something rather than an afterthought, and kids have their own option in the “Lil Jim” burger. Wings round out the savory side, offered both smoked and fried with a Tennessee-style dry rub that gives them a nice kick without overwhelming the meat.
Then there’s dessert, which is really the signature move here. Organic soft serve from Strauss Family Creamery comes in chocolate, vanilla, or swirl, served up as a cone on your way out rather than a sit-down dish. It’s a small touch, but it’s the kind of detail that sticks in people’s memory long after the burger does.
The bar is worth a mention too. It pours a full lineup of cocktails alongside a few playful non-alcoholic options like red cream soda, giving the place a bit more range than your typical burger counter.
Atmosphere & Décor
Bad Jimmy’s leans into a rebellious, slightly punk-rock personality rather than trying to look polished. The energy picks up noticeably after dark, when the music gets louder and the space starts feeling more like a bar that happens to serve excellent burgers than a straightforward restaurant.
Seating indoors is limited, so a lot of the action spills onto the patio, which suits Phoenix’s love of eating outside for a good chunk of the year. The setup favors walk-ins and bar seats over long, lingering dinners, and that casual, drop-in feel fits the neighborhood it’s in.
Being planted in the Roosevelt Row arts district gives it a natural connection to the surrounding gallery and bar crawl scene, so the crowd tends to be a mix of neighborhood regulars and people making a stop between other stops.
Other Considerations
Is it kid-friendly? Yes, there’s a dedicated kids’ burger on the menu, though the after-dark bar atmosphere leans more toward an adult crowd once the sun goes down.
Can I get vegetarian options? The house-made veggie patty is a legitimate alternative to the beef burgers, not just a token add-on.
Is there a full bar? Yes, Bad Jimmy’s serves a complete cocktail menu alongside its food, plus a few non-alcoholic specialty drinks for anyone skipping the alcohol.
What are the hours? The Pierce Street location runs from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and stays open until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Are there other locations if this one’s packed? Bad Jimmy’s has expanded to Uptown Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tempe, so if downtown is slammed, there are a few other spots around the Valley to try instead.
Bad Jimmy’s
📍 108 E Pierce St, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Website: https://badjimmys.com/
