diff --git a/js/angular/controller/sideMenuController.js b/js/angular/controller/sideMenuController.js
index 6a120259d..ce7ecebab 100644
--- a/js/angular/controller/sideMenuController.js
+++ b/js/angular/controller/sideMenuController.js
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ IonicModule
   '$rootScope',
 function($scope, $attrs, $ionicSideMenuDelegate, $ionicPlatform, $ionicBody, $ionicHistory, $ionicScrollDelegate, IONIC_BACK_PRIORITY, $rootScope) {
   var self = this;
-  var rightShowing, leftShowing, isDragging;
+  var isDragging;
   var startX, lastX, offsetX, isAsideExposed;
   var enableMenuWithBackViews = true;
 
@@ -61,7 +61,11 @@ function($scope, $attrs, $ionicSideMenuDelegate, $ionicPlatform, $ionicBody, $io
     if (arguments.length === 0) {
       shouldOpen = openAmount <= 0;
     }
-    self.content.enableAnimation();
+    if (self.left.displayType == 'overlay') {
+      self.left.enableAnimation();
+    } else {
+      self.content.enableAnimation();
+    }
     if (!shouldOpen) {
       self.openPercentage(0);
       $rootScope.$emit('$ionicSideMenuClose', 'left');
@@ -80,7 +84,11 @@ function($scope, $attrs, $ionicSideMenuDelegate, $ionicPlatform, $ionicBody, $io
     if (arguments.length === 0) {
       shouldOpen = openAmount >= 0;
     }
-    self.content.enableAnimation();
+    if (self.right.displayType == 'overlay') {
+      self.right.enableAnimation();
+    } else {
+      self.content.enableAnimation();
+    }
     if (!shouldOpen) {
       self.openPercentage(0);
       $rootScope.$emit('$ionicSideMenuClose', 'right');
@@ -111,7 +119,17 @@ function($scope, $attrs, $ionicSideMenuDelegate, $ionicPlatform, $ionicBody, $io
    * @return {float} The amount the side menu is open, either positive or negative for left (positive), or right (negative)
    */
   self.getOpenAmount = function() {
-    return self.content && self.content.getTranslateX() || 0;
+    var retOpenAmount = 0;
+    if ((isNaN(retOpenAmount) || retOpenAmount === 0) && self.right && self.right.displayType == 'overlay') {
+      retOpenAmount = self.right.getTranslateX();
+    }
+    if ((isNaN(retOpenAmount) || retOpenAmount === 0) && self.left && self.left.displayType == 'overlay') {
+      retOpenAmount = self.left.getTranslateX();
+    }
+    if ((isNaN(retOpenAmount) || retOpenAmount === 0) && self.content) {
+      retOpenAmount = self.content.getTranslateX();
+    }
+    return retOpenAmount;
   };
 
   /**
@@ -181,6 +199,18 @@ function($scope, $attrs, $ionicSideMenuDelegate, $ionicPlatform, $ionicBody, $io
     var maxLeft = self.left && self.left.width || 0;
     var maxRight = self.right && self.right.width || 0;
 
+    var overlayLeft = self.left && self.left.displayType == 'overlay' || false;
+    var overlayRight = self.right && self.right.displayType == 'overlay' || false;
+    var openLeft = overlayLeft && self.left.getTranslateX() || 0;
+    var openRight = overlayRight && self.right.getTranslateX() || 0;
+    var openContent = self.content.getTranslateX() || 0;
+
+    if (amount > maxLeft) {
+      amount = maxLeft;
+    } else if (amount < -maxRight) {
+      amount = -maxRight;
+    }
+
     // Check if we can move to that side, depending if the left/right panel is enabled
     if (!(self.left && self.left.isEnabled) && amount > 0) {
       self.content.setTranslateX(0);
@@ -192,31 +222,30 @@ function($scope, $attrs, $ionicSideMenuDelegate, $ionicPlatform, $ionicBody, $io
       return;
     }
 
-    if (leftShowing && amount > maxLeft) {
-      self.content.setTranslateX(maxLeft);
-      return;
-    }
-
-    if (rightShowing && amount < -maxRight) {
-      self.content.setTranslateX(-maxRight);
-      return;
+    if (amount > 0) {
+      if (overlayLeft) { self.left.setTranslateX(amount); }
+      if (overlayRight && openRight) { self.right.setTranslateX(0); }
+      if (!(overlayLeft && openLeft)) { self.content.setTranslateX(overlayLeft ? 0 : amount); }
+    } else if (amount < 0) {
+      if (overlayRight) { self.right.setTranslateX(amount); }
+      if (overlayLeft && openLeft) { self.left.setTranslateX(0); }
+      if (!(overlayRight && openRight)) { self.content.setTranslateX(overlayRight ? 0 : amount); }
+    } else /* if (amount === 0) */ {
+      if (overlayLeft && openLeft) { self.left.setTranslateX(amount); }
+      if (overlayRight && openRight) { self.right.setTranslateX(amount); }
+      if (!(overlayRight && openRight) && openContent) { self.content.setTranslateX(amount); }
     }
 
-    self.content.setTranslateX(amount);
-
-    leftShowing = amount > 0;
-    rightShowing = amount < 0;
-
     if (amount > 0) {
       // Push the z-index of the right menu down
-      self.right && self.right.pushDown && self.right.pushDown();
+      self.right && self.right.displayType != 'overlay' && self.right.pushDown && self.right.pushDown();
       // Bring the z-index of the left menu up
-      self.left && self.left.bringUp && self.left.bringUp();
+      self.left && self.left.displayType != 'overlay' && self.left.bringUp && self.left.bringUp();
     } else {
       // Bring the z-index of the right menu up
-      self.right && self.right.bringUp && self.right.bringUp();
+      self.right && self.right.displayType != 'overlay' && self.right.bringUp && self.right.bringUp();
       // Push the z-index of the left menu down
-      self.left && self.left.pushDown && self.left.pushDown();
+      self.left && self.left.displayType != 'overlay' && self.left.pushDown && self.left.pushDown();
     }
   };
 
@@ -348,6 +377,12 @@ function($scope, $attrs, $ionicSideMenuDelegate, $ionicPlatform, $ionicBody, $io
       isDragging = true;
       // Initialize dragging
       self.content.disableAnimation();
+      if (self.left.displayType == 'overlay') {
+        self.left.disableAnimation();
+      }
+      if (self.right.displayType == 'overlay') {
+        self.right.disableAnimation();
+      }
       offsetX = self.getOpenAmount();
     }
 
diff --git a/js/angular/directive/sideMenu.js b/js/angular/directive/sideMenu.js
index 1ab736794..688581acd 100644
--- a/js/angular/directive/sideMenu.js
+++ b/js/angular/directive/sideMenu.js
@@ -13,7 +13,8 @@
  * <ion-side-menu
  *   side="left"
  *   width="myWidthValue + 20"
- *   is-enabled="shouldLeftSideMenuBeEnabled()">
+ *   is-enabled="shouldLeftSideMenuBeEnabled()"
+ *   display-type="push">
  * </ion-side-menu>
  * ```
  * For a complete side menu example, see the
@@ -22,6 +23,7 @@
  * @param {string} side Which side the side menu is currently on.  Allowed values: 'left' or 'right'.
  * @param {boolean=} is-enabled Whether this side menu is enabled.
  * @param {number=} width How many pixels wide the side menu should be.  Defaults to 275.
+ * @param {string} display-type Which type of display the menu should have.  Allowed values: 'push' or 'overlay'.  Defaults to 'push'.
  */
 IonicModule
 .directive('ionSideMenu', function() {
@@ -32,8 +34,14 @@ IonicModule
     compile: function(element, attr) {
       angular.isUndefined(attr.isEnabled) && attr.$set('isEnabled', 'true');
       angular.isUndefined(attr.width) && attr.$set('width', '275');
+      angular.isUndefined(attr.displayType) && attr.$set('displayType', 'push');
 
       element.addClass('menu menu-' + attr.side);
+      if (attr.displayType == 'overlay') {
+        element.addClass('menu-animated');
+        element[0].style[attr.side] = '-' + attr.width + 'px';
+        element[0].style.zIndex = 2147483647; // top most, maximum zIndex value
+      }
 
       return function($scope, $element, $attr, sideMenuCtrl) {
         $scope.side = $attr.side || 'left';
@@ -41,7 +49,8 @@ IonicModule
         var sideMenu = sideMenuCtrl[$scope.side] = new ionic.views.SideMenu({
           width: attr.width,
           el: $element[0],
-          isEnabled: true
+          isEnabled: true,
+          displayType: attr.displayType
         });
 
         $scope.$watch($attr.width, function(val) {
@@ -53,8 +62,12 @@ IonicModule
         $scope.$watch($attr.isEnabled, function(val) {
           sideMenu.setIsEnabled(!!val);
         });
+        $scope.$watch($attr.displayType, function(val) {
+          if (val == 'push' || val == 'overlay') {
+            sideMenu.setDisplayType(val);
+          }
+        });
       };
     }
   };
 });
-
diff --git a/js/views/sideMenuView.js b/js/views/sideMenuView.js
index 0bb600d22..14af2e7d6 100644
--- a/js/views/sideMenuView.js
+++ b/js/views/sideMenuView.js
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
       this.el = opts.el;
       this.isEnabled = (typeof opts.isEnabled === 'undefined') ? true : opts.isEnabled;
       this.setWidth(opts.width);
+      this.displayType = (typeof opts.displayType === 'undefined') ? 'push' : opts.displayType;
     },
     getFullWidth: function() {
       return this.width;
@@ -31,7 +32,24 @@
       if(this.el.style.zIndex !== '-1') {
         this.el.style.zIndex = '-1';
       }
-    }
+    },
+    setDisplayType: function(displayType) {
+      this.displayType = displayType;
+    },
+    enableAnimation: function() {
+      this.animationEnabled = true;
+      this.el.classList.add('menu-animated');
+    },
+    disableAnimation: function() {
+      this.animationEnabled = false;
+      this.el.classList.remove('menu-animated');
+    },
+    getTranslateX: function() {
+      return parseFloat(this.el.style[ionic.CSS.TRANSFORM].replace('translate3d(', '').split(',')[0]);
+    },
+    setTranslateX: ionic.animationFrameThrottle(function(x) {
+      this.el.style[ionic.CSS.TRANSFORM] = 'translate3d(' + x + 'px, 0, 0)';
+    })
   });
 
   ionic.views.SideMenuContent = ionic.views.View.inherit({
diff --git a/test/unit/angular/controller/sideMenuController.unit.js b/test/unit/angular/controller/sideMenuController.unit.js
index 039f5605c..16ea5c978 100644
--- a/test/unit/angular/controller/sideMenuController.unit.js
+++ b/test/unit/angular/controller/sideMenuController.unit.js
@@ -69,6 +69,18 @@ describe('$ionicSideMenus controller', function() {
     expect(ctrl.right.isEnabled).toEqual(true);
   });
 
+  // Menu displayType
+  it('should set displayType', function() {
+    ctrl.left.setDisplayType('overlay');
+    ctrl.right.setDisplayType('overlay');
+    expect(ctrl.left.displayType).toEqual('overlay');
+    expect(ctrl.right.displayType).toEqual('overlay');
+    ctrl.left.setDisplayType('push');
+    ctrl.right.setDisplayType('push');
+    expect(ctrl.left.displayType).toEqual('push');
+    expect(ctrl.right.displayType).toEqual('push');
+  });
+
   // Menu widths
   it('should init widths', function() {
     expect(ctrl.left.width).toEqual(270);
diff --git a/test/unit/views/sideMenu.unit.js b/test/unit/views/sideMenu.unit.js
index d412770d4..0d4346eb9 100644
--- a/test/unit/views/sideMenu.unit.js
+++ b/test/unit/views/sideMenu.unit.js
@@ -12,5 +12,6 @@ describe('SideMenu', function() {
   it('Should init', function() {
     expect(menu.width).toEqual(270);
     expect(menu.isEnabled).toEqual(true);
+    expect(menu.displayType).toEqual('push');
   });
 });