By the point you meet up with native meals truck entrepreneur Christopher Rasmussen, he’s already two steps forward. Final time we noticed him, he was spinning sugar into gold, slinging waffle pops from his wildly widespread meals truck, Mama Lama Sweets. However even then, he had a watch on one thing extra. Not only a pivot — extra like an growth. An entire new recreation.
Enter Monkeyshines, Rasmussen’s newest enterprise: a no-frills, all-flavor smash burger operation constructed for the meals truck scene. And right here’s the kicker—the menu is as stripped down because it will get.
- The Shines: 6 oz. of smashed brisket burger perfection, topped with American cheese, thinly sliced grilled onions, pickles, and a housemade sauce, all on a toasted bun.
- Monkeyshines Loaded Fries: A mountain of crispy fries smothered in smashed brisket cheeseburger bits, bacon, grilled onions, jalapeños, and that very same addictive sauce.
- Lil’ Monkey: A mini model of The Shines, served with plain fries and ketchup. As a result of typically, easy is all you want.
So, why the shift from candy to savory? It wasn’t a whim — it was an statement. Rasmussen had been watching crowds at meals truck parks and festivals for years. He noticed the traces. He noticed the developments. And most significantly, he noticed cash on the desk.
“I knew I may make a imply burger,” he says, leaning in opposition to the gleaming metal of his newest truck. “I’ve been in eating places my complete life. And I observed — when folks don’t know what a waffle pop is, they stroll proper previous you. However a burger? All people is aware of a burger.”
That’s the way it began. The truck itself? A stroke of luck. Rasmussen had been eyeing it for 2 years, sitting within the commissary lot, ready for the best second. When he lastly pulled the set off, all of it got here collectively at breakneck pace — a recent emblem, a customized wrap, well being permits in hand. Lower than two months from concept to actuality.
And now? Monkeyshines is already carving out its spot within the Fort Value meals scene. HopFusion on Thursdays and Harris Hospital pop-ups. All main as much as a second of fact: the Cowtown Burger Showdown, the place Monkeyshines will go head-to-head with the most effective within the enterprise.
However right here’s the factor — Rasmussen isn’t simply making burgers. He’s crafting a model. A temper. A vibe. That extends all the best way to the title, a playful nod to an outdated nickname from his dad. “He at all times referred to as me Monkeyshines,” Rasmussen says with a smile. “It simply felt proper.”
In fact, Mama Lama continues to be working sturdy — now a two-truck operation, bouncing from TCU video games to the Perot Museum to non-public occasions. However Rasmussen is aware of the facility of choices. “When you’re reserving a giant occasion, now I can say, ‘Hey, you need candy? We obtained that. You need savory? We obtained that too.’ It’s a one-two punch.”
And the actual query: Will the 2 worlds ever collide? Rasmussen laughs, shaking his head — as a result of they have already got. “We did this waffle breakfast sandwich—two layers of waffles, fried egg, bacon, Monkeyshines burger sauce. Whole hit. We’re undoubtedly bringing that again.”
The man simply will get it. Whether or not it’s a waffle pop or a smash burger, it’s about greater than meals. It’s about understanding what folks need — typically earlier than they even do.
And that? That’s the way you construct a legacy.
