New York's best burgers
An American classic you don't want to miss.
McDonald’s has a motto about queues: “Two deep is too deep.” So if there are more than two people waiting in line, that’s too many and you need to work faster. This is not a motto you will find at the hippest burger bars in New York. But you can’t help being a little curious about just how good the hamburgers must be if people are willing to stand in line for hours for them.
The perfect burger joint
Burger Joint
The most talked-about Burger Joint can be found at the imposing Le Parker Meridien hotel in Midtown. Behind the heavy red drapes hides a small burger stand that sells the most divine burgers. Simple, but juicy and full of flavor. If you’re having trouble finding it, just look for the excessively long queue winding out of the restaurant. Want to enjoy a Burger Joint burger without standing in line? Then you are in luck, because they have another place! You’ll find it in The Village on West 8th Street. This place is often almost empty and you can easily have a whole booth to yourself, where you can sit back, relax, and enjoy one of their burgers.
Setting the standard
Shake Shack
Many would argue that the burgers at Shake Shack set the standard for the rest of the world to live up to. And once you’ve sunk your teeth into a Shake Shack burger, accompanied by fries and a home-made milkshake of course, life will never be quite the same again. Nowadays Shake Shack can be found in a dozen different locations around New York (as well as in other cities in the US and Europe), but the original and best is in Madison Square Park, which just recently reopened following major renovations and refurbishment. Spend a few hours queuing for your hamburger, then enjoy it in Shake Shack’s outdoor seating in the park.
Focus on the fifth taste
Umami Burger
Umami Burger is a hamburger chain with locations all over the US. Unlike other burger bars, Umami Burger has table service and an alcohol license. As the name suggests, the focus of the ingredients in these burgers is on the fifth taste, umami. Don’t miss their fried pickles and onion rings.
Delicious brunch
5 Napkin Burger
5 Napkin Burger has two restaurants in Manhattan and is not solely a burger restaurant, but also has other food on the menu. It is very highly regarded for its delicious brunches. Their range of burgers offers something for everyone – everything from a classic cheeseburger to Italian Turkey and Lamb Kofta. Or why not try the Ahi Tuna?
Around since 1972
JG Melon
JG Melon's burgers are so classic that they're what the editor-in-chief of cool food magazine Bon Appetit thinks of when he thinks of burgers. Since 1972, this Upper West Side restaurant has been serving juicy burgers and bloody marys to its many regulars. Cash only, no reservations and a preppy dress code.
Text by Emma Brink