New Jersey’s 43 best burgers, ranked, 2025 update

Forget about Dunkin’, America runs on burgers. Nearly 60% of Americans eat at least one burger a week, and McDonald‘s is by far the largest restaurant chain by sales. About 50 billion burgers will be eaten in the U.S. this year.

Who sold the first burger in this country? It’s debatable. Some say it was introduced at the World‘s Fair in St. Louis in 1904. Others maintain Louis’ Lunch in New Haven made the first burgers in 1895. And don’t forget Drexel’s Pure Food Restaurant in Chicago, said to have put a burger on the menu in 1917. The first White Castle came along in 1921.

Whatever its origin, the burger is one of life’s guiltiest pleasures. No backyard barbecue is complete without burgers on the grill. Nutritious? Hell no. A six-ounce burger — the meat alone — contains about 600 calories and 500 milligrams of sodium. Has all that slowed down the American love affair with hamburgers? Nope.

As May is National Burger Month — happy holiday to those who celebrate — here’s our list of the state’s 43 best burgers, ranked, drawing on our statewide burger-eating experience. Hundreds of candidates were considered; these are the best. Viewing these photos may cause a sudden desire to fire up the grill. You have been warned.

43. PB&J burger, Harper’s Table, Annandale

Peanut butter and jelly is great on a sandwich. With bacon? It’s even better. What about if you take all that and throw it on a burger? Sounds ridiculous, but it tastes terrific. The sweetness of the grape jelly, the creaminess of the peanut butter and the smokiness of the bacon only elevate the beef patty. (JS)

42. Ader’s Burger, Ader’s Tavern, Union Beach

The Ader’s burger, like the bar and town, is blue-collar and no-nonsense: a good piece of meat on a sturdy roll, with sauteed mushrooms, onions and Swiss cheese. There are 11 burgers at Ader’s, including the Gunnison burger, a naked (no-bun) burger that pays homage to the state’s only legal nude beach. They even serve breakfast on the weekend; steak and eggs, breakfast burritos, pork roll egg and cheese sandwiches and of course Bloody Marys and mimosas. (PG)

41. Rossiburger, Rossi’s Bar & Grill, Hamilton

The neighborhood-bar look of Rossi’s former location in Trenton has been replaced by a suburban chain restaurant motif, but the excellent burger remains. The Rossiburger is the house classic, but you can also get a bacon and cheddar burger; mushroom and Swiss burger; and a Chambers-burger, with Case’s pork roll, lettuce, tomato and raw onion, a homage to Rossi’s former Chambersburg location. (PG)

40. Wicked blue burger, Urban Burger, Cranford

Urban Burger is a trendy burger joint with yellow sidewalk tables, orange-y walls and wood floors. The wicked blue burger — sriracha, blue cheese dressing, onion rings and celery — is the Eiffel Tower of burgers, four fat, crunchy onion rings perched atop the burger, sending the sandwich skyward. Oh, and it’s good. Other burgers include ladder 31 (provolone, spicy hot “Pikliz” slaw, jalapeño mayo) and baked brie (brie, fig jam, spring mix, bacon mayo). “Rare equals red!” the website informs. “Well done equals hockey puck and takes longer to cook!” (PG)

39. Cheeseburger, Altas Horas Lanches, Newark

Part bar, part bakery, part sandwich shop, Altas Horas is a hodgepodge of different eateries slammed into a tiny storefront in Newark’s Ironbound neighborhood — right on the edge of Brazil Square, serving it all up 24 hours a day. Their calling card is the Brazilian-style burger, topped with egg, ham, mayo, corn, potato sticks, lettuce and bacon on a big, soft bun. It almost feels like a Brazilian fat sandwich. (JS)

38. Cheeseburger, Barnacle Bill’s, Rumson

Barnacle Bill’s, with its scenic perch on the Navesink River, may offer the Shore’s best-known burger. They sure do cook a lot of them, about 2,500 burgers in an average week. It’s a solid 10-ounce burger, and there’s nothing like sitting at the bar with the view towards the Oceanic Bridge and watching your burger sizzle and smoke on the grill. (PG)

37. Pour House deluxe burger, Pour House, Westmont

You’ve got to love a place that proclaims burgers as its favorite food group. The Pour House is known for its beer — 20-plus drafts and nearly 40 cans and bottles appeared on a recent menu. The Pour House classic burger combines Guinness caramelized onions and Vermont white cheddar, but the choice here is the Pour House deluxe burger: a brisket, short rib and chuck blend, plus bacon marmalade, American cheese and pickles. (PG)

36. Galley OG burger, The Galley, Asbury Park

The Galley is one of my favorite spots in Asbury Park, the Shore’s best dining destination. Excellent pizza and wings, eclectic sandwiches — and good burgers, too. The basic cheeseburger features a hefty 10-ounce slab of Pat LaFrieda meat and aged white cheddar on a brioche, but the play here is the Galley OG Burger, another 10-ounce monster with aged white cheddar, roasted long hots, roasted red onions and garlic aioli on brioche. It looks like a big cheesy mess, but it’s damn tasty. (PG)

35. OC burger, Old Causeway Steak and Oyster House, Manahawkin

The Old Causeway, named after a long-gone bar down the road, is a rambling restaurant with wrap-around bar and oyster shucking station. Upend your burger world with the OC Burger, a Black Angus burger topped with fried oysters, roasted mushrooms, horseradish spread and OC steak sauce. Yes, oysters. Old Causeway is one of my favorite restaurants Down the Shore. (PG)

34. GhostFace Killer burger, Left Bank Downtown, Jersey City

Left Bank Burger Bar opened in October 2013, on the owner’s birthday. The atmosphere is cozy and unpretentious. You can build you own burger, or order one of the standards, including the meltdown (beef, grilled onions, sauce, grilled cheese) and the M.A.C. daddy (applewood bacon, tomato, garlic herb mayo, fried mac n cheese). The best of the bunch is the GhostFace Killer, an espresso-rubbed burger with ghost pepper jam, smoked gouda, sweet bacon tots, red onions, tomato and barbecue sauce. (PG)

33. Cheeseburger, Roll-O Dairy Bar, various locations

One of the most elusive burgers in New Jersey is served out of a 1958 Coca-Cola soda wagon. Roll-O Dairy Bar is owned by Barry Palmer, formerly of vaunted New York City burger joint Superiority Burger as well as Blue Hill at Stone Barns. The mobile burger operation is Palmer’s attempt to re-introduce locality into a dairy bar with locally sourced beef for the burgers, fries cooked in the fat from those burgers, and milkshakes featuring milk from the same cow. The result is an absurdly fresh medium-rare burger that borders on rare and has a distinct funk to it. If you find yourself at an event hosting the Roll-O Dairy Bar you’re in for a burger experience — not to mention a killer milkshake. (JS)

32. Big Schmacc Burger, Tony Beef, Galloway

Tony Beef is owned by two brothers, Anthony and Nick Della Vecchia. Anthony is the head chef, while Nick handles the accounting, marketing and management. Burgers are cooked medium-well or well only. “We’ve always done so for a consistent product but keep the standard medium-well for a juicy patty as well,” Nick Della Vecchia explained via Facebook Messenger. The Big Schmacc features two beef patties, American cheese, homemade sauce, lettuce, pickles and diced white onions. It’s a handful. There is another location in Somers Point. (PG)

31. Holypeño burger, Diesel and Duke, Montclair, Jersey City, Princeton

Diesel and Duke has become one of New Jersey’s most dependable burger spots with locations across the state and a bevy of different burgers. Their classic standard burgers is timeless, but if you’re looking for a little kick with your patties you can’t top the Holypeño burger. Bacon, aged cheddar, jalapeños, caramelized onions and chipotle mayo make this burger spicy and flavorful without being overwhelming. (JS)

30. Cheeseburger, Arthur’s Tavern, Morris Plains

New Jersey’s best chili can be found at Arthur’s Tavern, according to eatthis.com. The restaurant’s French onion soup made our list of 50 dishes you need to try in 2023. And their steaks are renowned. What, no love for Arthur’s burgers? They’re big and juicy, and for cheese you get your choice of American, Swiss, cheddar, mozzarella, pepper jack or bleu. Arthur’s, which may boast the largest collection neon beer signs in the state, represented Morris Plains in our Greatest Thing About Every New Jersey Town series. (PG)

29. Rocky Hill burger, Rocky Hill Inn, Rocky Hill

The Rocky Hill Inn is a cozy retreat in one of the state’s most charming small towns. The Rocky Hill burger, with applewood-smoked bacon, grilled onion, cheddar and a Griggstown Farm sunny-side-up egg, is recommended. Don’t forget to order Chef Evan Blomgren’s awesome onion rings, made with baking powder, cayenne pepper, paprika and Old Speckled Hen English ale, among other ingredients. (PG)

28. Cheeseburger, Holsten’s, Bloomfield

We’re written countless times about their indelible ice cream — NJ.com named it the No. 1 ice cream spot in the state for a reason. And while Tony Soprano waxed poetic about Holsten’s onion rings, the best non-ice cream item here is their cheeseburger. No frills, nothing fancy, no crazy toppings. Just beef, American cheese, lettuce and tomato if you want it — and some pickles. Hearty enough to be satisfying without weighing you down, it’s simplistic burger bliss. (JS)

27. Tavern cheeseburger, Blue Pig Tavern, Cape May

Congress Hall is Cape May’s grandest structure. Inside you’ll find the Blue Pig Tavern, whose breakfasts are considered among the town’s best. Steps away is the Brown Room, the coolest bar in Cape May, a stylish Prohibition-era cocktail lounge. You’ll need an extra hand or two to handle The Tavern Cheeseburger, on a brioche bun. (PG)

26. Tavern burger, Stirling Hotel, Stirling

The Stirling Hotel, a rustic roadhouse in a little-known Morris County town, boasts indoor and outdoor bars on a scenic lot. The tavern burger is a tasty handful with a ground short rib and brisket patty, white cheddar, applewood-smoked bacon, house steak sauce, truffle mayo, tossed greens and tomato on brioche. The restaurant and bar won the readers’ choice award in our statewide best bar showdown. (PG)

25. Vagabond viking burger, Vagabond Kitchen and Tap House, Atlantic City

Vagabond Kitchen and Tap House in Atlantic City is in its own little waterfront world, in the city’s Chelsea Heights section. The draft beer selection is craft only, although you can get mainstream beers in bottles. The Vagabond viking burger is a hefty handful; dig the Vagabond name imprinted on the bun. Order the burger, a side of fries with the sriracha mayo dipping sauce, and a cold one, and you’re all set. Other burgers include a grilled patty melt, spicy California burger and a goat cheese burger. (PG)

24. Six-alarm burger, 25 Burgers, New Brunswick

The Six-Alarm Burger packs some serious heat, with jalapeños, salsa, pepper jack and chipotle mayo on an onion bun. Other burgers include the El Paso burger (roasted poblano peppers, sautéed onions, bacon, pepper jack, guacamole, lettuce, chipotle mayo) and the Trenton burger (pork roll, melted American cheese, ketchup). (PG)

23. 8 oz. burger, The Grand Tavern, Neptune

The Grand Tavern is your favorite restaurant’s favorite restaurant — I can’t tell you how many chefs have waxed poetic about this place to me. A stellar cocktail program and moody, dimly lit dining room make this a terrific date spot. It’s an even better move if your date likes burgers. Just like everything at this menu, Grand Tavern’s burger isn’t overly complicated but is absolutely elevated — topped simplistically with American cheese, pickles, onions and burger sauce. (JS)

22. Jim’s Lunch, Millville

Jim’s Lunch is Millville’s heart and soul. It was founded in 1923 — 100 years ago. The burgers are legendary, and you must have them with the house “secret sauce.’’ The lightly-spiced, chili-like concoction is meant for the burgers, but regulars douse it on fries, chicken, whatever’s on hand. Millville without Jim’s Lunch — native son and baseball superstar Mike Trout knows it well — is like the Pine Barrens without trees; it made my list of the state’s greatest old-school restaurants. (PG)

21. Meat lovers burger, Dog House Saloon, Washington (Bergen Co.)

Biggest burger in New Jersey? That would be the Meat Lovers Burger at the Dog House Saloon. It starts so innocently — an eight-ounce beef patty cooked on a charcoal grill and seasoned with a secret mix of spices.

And then the nonstop meat madness begins.

Six slices of Taylor ham/pork roll.

Thirteen slices of bacon. Make that 13 slices of double-fried bacon.

Deep-fried pepperoni.

Enough cheddar cheese to coat your stomach several times over.

Trip to cardiologist optional.

The meat lovers, amazingly, is the bar’s most popular burger. I’m not sure what that says about the typical American diet, but it can’t be positive.

The burger is more than just spectacle; it actually tastes pretty good. Order it if you dare. (PG)

20. Banh mi beef burger, Juniper Hill, Annandale

Juniper Hill was once a PNC Bank; you can even dine in the vault. The banh mi beef burger, with Happy Valley beef, spicy mayo, pickles, mango, mixed herbs and thick Kennebec potato fries, is a spicy, tangy take on the mainstream American burger. Also recommended: the lusciously creamy hand-dipped ricotta; and the Black Mission figs and prosciutto salad. I named Juniper Hill the best restaurant in Hunterdon County on my list of the greatest restaurants in each of NJ’s 21 counties. (PG)

19. Smokehouse burger, Outlaw’s Burger Bar & Creamery, Vineland

“Outlaw” and burgers go together, but “outlaw” and “creamery”? No matter; the burgers at Outlaw’s Burger Barn and Creamery are eight ounces of certified Black Angus beef. The “most wanted” burger is the smokehouse, topped with onion rings, bacon and house-made barbecue sauce. Steps away is Julio’s on Main, which made both our best tacos and best empanadas lists. (PG)

18. Willy burger, Steve’s Burgers, Garfield

Steve’s Burgers is a funky roadside burger joint on Route 46 in a space once occupied by Bob’s Pit Stop and Linda’s Fried Chicken. The Willy Burger is a juicy jolt of Swiss, meat and mushrooms. Also try Steve’s special sauce, with mayo, peppers, relish, Frank’s Red Hot and sriracha. (PG)

17. Double bro burger, Smash Bros, Runnemede and Glassboro

It seems like smash burgers are everywhere nowadays but great smash burgers are still few and far between. Thankfully, Smash Bros’ Double Bro burger is in the minority. The business is barely one year old but its succulent burgers have already propelled Smash Bros to become one of South Jersey’s hottest foodie destinations. The Double Bro features two ground brisket blend patties, cheese, grilled onions and homemade burger sauce and crisp pickles stacked onto a Martin’s potato roll. The burger can be ordered as a single or triple as well, but the double patty option is the perfect marriage of meat, cheese and sauce. (CB)

16. Double cheeseburger. 7th Street Burger, Hoboken

After taking New York City by storm, 7th Street Burger made the leap to the Garden State last summer and was an instant hit\ — an impeccable addition to this smash burger trend. The burgers themselves are thin with a crispy sear on their exterior. Tangy pickles and sweet onions add texture and more flavor while the house burger sauce is creamy, briny and brings everything together. (JS)

15. Bacon jam burger, Dan and Day’s Burgers & Shakes, Montclair

Formerly known as Stuffed Grassfed Burgers, Dan & Day’s rebranded and moved their shop across town this spring. The menu has been streamlined, but their most popular burgers remain. Thankfully that includes the bacon jam burger, which takes the concept of a bacon cheeseburger and makes it even better with a sweet, smokey bacon jam topping. (JS)

14. Baked brie burger, Committed Pig, Morristown

Despite the name, there’s no barbecue at The Committed Pig; the cheery, casual restaurant specializes in breakfast, grilled cheese — and burgers. The baked brie burger, with fig preserves, bacon and brie, is a standout; the meat is a Pat LaFrieda mix of brisket, short rib and hanger steak. Don’t forget to get some waffle fries. There are other locations in Manasquan and Summit. (PG)

13. Double Pete burger, Mulligan’s Bar & Grill, Oaklyn

No, it’s not on this list because of the name. The double Pete is the biggest burger at Mulligan’s, so that was one draw. Another: the combination of meat, bacon, fried onions, Swiss, cheddar, American cheese, pork roll and long hots. If that doesn’t get your juices flowing — or your heart to stop — nothing will. Mulligan’s also made my most recent N.J.’s best wings list. (PG)

12. Double slap burger, Slap Burgers, Paterson

The hottest burger in New Jersey in 2024 might just be Slap Burgers in Paterson, which went so viral on TikTok when it opened at the beginning of the year that it could barely handle the demand. The small Passaic County shop has worked out the kinks and is flipping fantastic smash burgers that aren’t just delicious — they’re halal. (JS)

11. Cheeseburger, New Park Tavern, Jersey City

Dark, quiet, inviting interior; good food on a tiny grill; killer jukebox — Johnny Cash, The Band, Stones, early Bruce and more — the New Park Tavern is a welcome retreat from downtown’s clamor. Eight-ounce burger on a Pechter’s roll, with a beer: what more do you need? Slip a dollar in the jukebox, and escape from the outside world for as long as necessary. There’s an outdoor patio, too. (PG)

10. Blue monkey burger, Blue Monkey Tavern, Merchantville

The former Collins House in Merchantville is now the Blue Monkey Tavern, a local hotspot with an excellent craft beer selection and great burgers. The 80/20 meat mix is a blend of short rib, brisket and chuck. The blue monkey burger is one of those burgers that need no ketchup or other condiment to be appreciated. (PG)

9. Matador burger, Bareburger, Hoboken

Bareburger was my pick for top N.J. burger chain; the hip-but-not-insufferably-so restaurant offers high-end burgers in casual, cozy surroundings. I’ve tried a half dozen different burgers here; I loved the blazin’ cattle, with pepper jack, fried pickles, spicy fermented slaw, pickled jalapeños, green leaf, sriracha mayo and topped with near-perfect onion rings, but it’s no longer on the menu. The matador, with organic beef, pepper jack, avocado, organic green leaf, organic red onions, pickled jalapeños, organic tomatoes, brioche bun, is just as good. The matador was one of ten finalists in our search for N.J.’s best burger. There are other locations in Edgewater, Jersey City, Montclair, Westfield, Ridgewood, Closter and Woodcliff Lake. (PG)

8. Burger Buff burger, Burger Buff, various locations

Nick Lepore, a body builder-turned-burger influencer, once ate a burger every day for a year just to prove his love of the beefy dish — call him “The Hamburger Hulk.” Now the Toms River native is going by the alias “Burger Buff,” and does burger popups around the state where he serves up his signature burger. It’s simple but excellent — a hybrid of a high-end steakhouse burger and an old school burger joint. Two thin patties are smashed as they cook, topped with melty American cheese and his proprietary “Buff sauce” — similar to McDonald‘s special sauce. It all goes on a toasted Martin’s potato bun. Tickets sell out, so act quickly when his events are announced. But if you can snag one, you’re in for a burger treat. (JS)

7. Stage Left burger, Stage Left Steak, New Brunswick

They once called it “the world‘s best cheeseburger.” Now the cheeseburger at acclaimed Stage Left Steak is merely the “Stage Left burger.” It’s still great. The meat’s from DeBragga and Spitler, and the burgers are cooked on a wood-burning grill. You can taste the difference. Stage Left was also the pick for best restaurant in Middlesex County in our greatest restaurant in each of N.J.’s 21 counties list. (PG)

6. Double cheeseburger, White Mana Diner, Jersey City

The flying saucer-shaped White Mana, said to have originally been at the 1939 New York World‘s Fair, is an essential Jersey food experience, as is the White Manna in Hackensack, also on this list. The sliders, cooked on a tiny grill, exude fatty greasy goodness. (PG)

5. Double smasher, Eighty Twenty, Westwood

Matt Borgerson got his start as a fine dining chef at Italian restaurant Caffe Anello in Westwood. He started cooking a variation of White Manna’s revered slider cheeseburgers as family meal for the restaurant, and soon realized he had a passion for burgers. What started as a pop-up turned into his full-time job. Eighty Twenty’s smash burgers are among the best in the state. High-quality beef is cooked until it’s blissfully crispy, with sweet vidalia onions smashed right into the patty. Then comes the American cheese — the best cheese for burgers, many chefs claim, because of how well it melts. A proprietary burger sauce, not unlike In-N-Out’s “animal style,” is then spread on a Martin’s potato roll topper. (JS)

4. Buddy burger, Tierney’s Tavern, Montclair

The secret behind Tierney Tavern’s legendary burgers?

A tin can. Specifically, a No. 10 tin can.

“I’ll tell you the secret,” co-owner Billy Tierney once told me. “Once the hand-made patty is formed, we smash it with a No. 10 tin can. When it cooks, the fat, the juices, stay in the burger.”

Tierney’s actually started during Prohibition as a candy shop across the street. The tavern itself opened in 1934. It was built by a group of Swedish boatbuilders who also built the Great Notch Inn in Little Falls. The Buddy Burger is a winning combo of bacon, cheese and caramelized onions. (PG)

3. Burger with onions, White Manna, Hackensack

The burgers at the White Manna — NJ’s cutest diner — are tiny, but the smell of the grease and onions on the telephone-book-sized grill, and the diner’s retro cuteness, make the Manna a must stop for any burger buff. It’s the smallest and least complicated burger on this list, but something about those onions, roll, meat and one-of-a-kind atmosphere says Jersey, and burger bliss. There’s a McDonald‘s right across the street. Talk about choices. (PG)

2. Bacon cheeseburger, Krug’s Tavern, Newark

The winner of our N.J.’s best burger showdown naturally must be on this list. The burger at Krug’s Tavern in Newark is simplicity supreme: a 12-ounce, 80/20 mix from a local wholesaler cooked on a tiny grill. It’ll take 15 to 20 minutes for your burger to be ready; pull up a seat and drink in the abundant atmosphere. Krug’s (pronounced Kroogs), an Ironbound legend open since 1938, is one of those places you hope lasts forever. (PG)

1. The Blend, Burger Barr, Sewell

There’s fresh and then there is the fresh you get at the Burger Barr. The blend, a combination of ground chuck and brisket, could not have been tastier, juicier (I had it cooked medium rare, as usual) or fresher. Choose from nine cheeses, including Vermont aged cheddar, gorgonzola, Jarlsberg and smoked gouda. The cooper sharp on my burger lent it a marvelously melty, tangy twist. You heard it here first: The Blend is the best burger in New Jersey. (PG)

Stories by Peter Genovese

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Peter Genovese may be reached at pgenovese@njadvancemedia.com. On Twitter, @petegenovese. On Instagram, @peteknowsjersey and @themunchmobile.

Jeremy Schneider may be reached at jschneider@njadvancemedia.com and followed on Twitter at @J_Schneider and on Instagram at @JeremyIsHungryAgain.