A burger joint with a unique take on the smashburger has debuted in Frisco: Called Sindbad Burger, it's a mom-and-pop featuring burgers with halal meat and Middle Eastern spices, now open at 3231 Preston Rd. #13, in a space previously occupied by a nutrition shop.

Sindbad is from husband-and-wife Mohammed Kadhim and Inas Fadhil, and Frisco is their second location, following the original Sindbad Burger which opened in east Plano in March 2024.

The couple, who originally hail from Iraq, were previously engineers; but Kadhim’s love of fast foods like fried chicken and burgers led them to follow their passion into the kitchen, where they are giving the concept of a burger joint their own special spin.

“Our first priority is to serve fresh meat, fresh chicken, fresh kids’ meals — even if they are fried, nothing is frozen," Fadhil says.

Their second trademark is the addition of Middle Eastern flavors, including a secret spice mix developed by Kadhim for the house burger, infusing it with a surprising flavor that sets their burgers apart.

Their standout is their pomegranate smash burger, featuring two smash patties topped with American cheese, then sprinkled with pomegranate seeds. Pomegranates are a beloved fruit in Iraq where they grow plentifully and hold cultural and historical significance.

“We add the fresh pomegranate seeds to the smash burger after it is fresh from the grill,” Fadhil says. The burgers are set on lettuce, tomato, and pickle on a potato bun, creating a sweet and savory interplay, and triggering a fervor among customers whom Fadhil says become "addicted."

Other menu specialties include the Baghdad bomb falafel, featuring a housemade falafel patty with tomato, lettuce, eggplant, cauliflower, and pickles, enclosed in a soft pita pocket and drizzled with mango sauce; and a Nashville hot chicken sandwich with a secret white sauce.

They've also added an exclusive item for the Frisco location: Chicken shawarma, with layers of seasoned chicken roasted on a spit, ready to be sliced into a chicken shawarma rice bowl, tucked into a wrap, or as a topping on loaded shawarma fries.

Prices range from $10 for a shawarma rice bowl to $13.19 for the pomegranate smash burger.

Beverages include freshly squeezed lemonade, orange juice, and smoothies made with ice cream, including chocolate, strawberry, and banana.

"We use coconut water to make some of them, like mango, for people sensitive to dairy," Fadhil says. The Frisco location has experienced such a great demand for the smoothies that they've added a special Oasis smoothie with honey and pistachios.

Popular culture has seen a few Sinbads over the years including Sindbad the sailor from The Thousand and One Nights, a collection of Arabic fairytales. Fadhil, who oversees design, pulled her inspiration from the 1970s Japanese cartoon character of Sindbad in Arabian Nights: Adventures of Sinbad.

"Sindbad traveled around the world and tried the spices from all over," she says. "The colors and concepts came from his travels between the sea and the desert."