The Flying Elbow wins Iowa's Best Burger Contest 2022 — as a write-in candidate

Iowa's best hamburger has been found and crowned, this year coming out of Marshalltown.

The Flying Elbow, 229 N. 13th St., Marshalltown was named the winner of the Iowa Beef Industry Council and Iowa Cattlemen's Association's annual Best Burger Contest. Owner Garrett Goodman's smashburger may be relatively new to the menu — debuting in January of this year — but it has a devoted customer base.

Goodman, a Marshalltown native, started The Flying Elbow as a food truck in the fall of 2017, serving specialty hot dogs to start. The Flying Elbow's menu is full of references to pro-wrestling such as the Mr. Mac'Man and the German Suplex. He quickly racked up Facebook followers, lovingly dubbed "Elbowmaniacs," and 5-star reviews, and he realized he wanted to go all in with a brick-and-mortar location.

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Goodman moved business into its first permanent location in December 2017, but the tornado that tore through Marshalltown in July 2018 took his business with it. Determined to rebuild, Goodman focused on refinancing even as the COVID-19 pandemic again slowed his search for a new building.

With the help of a supportive landlord, John Hermanson, The Flying Elbow finally found its place among the busy stretch of 13th Street and opened for business in September 2021.

"Coming from where we've come from, I'm just overwhelmed with happiness," Goodman said. "It took about everything I had in me to get back open."

Meet Iowa's best burger in 2022 from The Flying Elbow

The winning patty that has doubled business at The Flying Elbow is made of chuck, brisket, short rib and Wagyu beef — a combination Goodman says you can't find anywhere else. They're made fresh daily and smashed on the flat top grill for an irresistible sear. Available dressed five ways, customers can order most burgers with a single or double patty. The Real American burger is The Flying Elbow's classic featuring American cheese, dill pickles, grilled minced onion and condiments.

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The win shows how delicious The Flying Elbow's customers think these smashburgers are; the restaurant wasn't even on the original list of potential Best Burger competitors and was written in by loyal fans.

"I'm proud that we fought through it and kept going, and our customers have always been very loyal and excited about the food we put out," Goodman said.

The burger joint is averaging around 350 pounds of beef a week to keep up with demand, and there are no plans to slow down as Goodman heads into summer. The Flying Elbow is currently installing a deck and patio for customers.

"I've had a lot of great people working for me, and I've got the best landlord," Goodman said. "He really believes in what I'm doing. I'm just really thankful."

In addition to The Flying Elbow's award winning burgers, Goodman continues to serve all-beef and vegan hot dogs, hand-dipped Iowa State Fair-style corndogs and loaded fries, as well as a handful of sides.

The Flying Elbow is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday through Saturday.

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Elle Wignall covers dining for the Register. Reach her at ewignall@registermedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @ElleWignallDMR.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa's Best Burger 2022 winner is the Flying Elbow in Marshalltown