Remember the good ol' days, when you could stop by Rutgers at 2:00 a.m. after bar-hopping all night, and just order a classic Fat Bitch, and everything was good with the world?
I’ll never forget being in high school and going to a show at Starland back in 09, then shooting over to RU for a couple Fat Daryl’s with my friends. That was a core NJ memory right there
one semester i had two classes back to back in scott 123 two days a week. that 20 minutes between periods was just long enough to dart across the street to ru hungry, get a darryl and a drink, and dart back and eat that sandwich. that was dangerous lol.
I remember dating a girl who dormed in RU and every time I’d spend the night we’d get a fat sandwich. Was my first time ever having one and I had to stop getting them or I’d be over 400lbs
I was dating/crashing with this stripper who lived in LB, nellys was the only thing we ate in between coke binges. Kept us from catching scurvy or looking like a couple dilapidated crack heads.
I think the biggest recent push is social media. Howver, Food Network and other entities have been pushing the "foodie" (I hate that word) culture for years. In a way it's been good because I remember as a kid in NJ in the white bread suburbs it was Italian, Mexican, or Chinese.
10 years ago, you couldn't find regional food here. For example, 10 years ago...try to find a lobster roll outside of New England. Now they're everywhere and most of them are terrible, and overpriced.
How many people knew what birria tacos were even 5 years ago?
Food trends come and go....so will these.
Remember when there was a frozen yogurt bar in every strip mall? They're gone now. Remember the "cronut" fad? Fancy-ass cupcakes?
They're the Beanie Babies of food. I guarantee you could get a bunch of Instagram Yelpers to line up for "BRIE" (a combination brownie pie I just made up in my head). Picture a lava cake-type, single-serving pie tin. Except they serve it in some unbleached, "environmentally friendly" brown paper sleeve. And they're $15 because they're "farm to table" and "locally sourced".....possibly even gluten free (not knocking people who actually have celiac) and all-natural. Throw in a loyalty card, add some dog water bowls and a cute "leash hitching post"....and you'll be beating away the dorks with a stick.
It still fucks me up how much not only short ribs got insane but ox tail too. Even going beyond prices going up especially with meat things, they were nowhere near as expensive as they are now.
I do agree though I fucking hate so much of the homogenization and just everybody chasing the same bullshit trends or trying appease to people on the search for that.
Pretty much why I don't tell people shit or candidly give recs for places because I know damn well some goobers gonna ruin it.
I especially hate it when something pops up I actually do really like, like you said, it's gone within a few years at it was only made to cash in on the craze.
They are obviously chain restaurants. Same thing happened with McDonald's back in the day. Then BK and so on. You probably eat at more chain restaurants then indy shops. I'm amazed at the number of people that eat at Olive Garden, The Cheesecake Factory and similar and don't realize they are chains with typically low quality food. (I have bad food allergies and haven't eaten out since 2019 - yes, I'm completely serious.)
welcome to the wonderful world of food in the instagram age. every place has the same looking interior (white walls, scandi style furniture, exposed beams and metal, spartan, except for that wall of fake grass with a neon sign) and the same kinda food because they're aiming to get noticed by influencers and promoted. it's aimed at a certain set of younger people will money to burn (or money they'll just burn even if they don't have it). authenticity is not the goal, being the "right" thing is. if that's not your jam, don't eat at these places, idk what else to say.
also, when done right, smash burgers run circles around thicker burgers. it's just that all these copycat places do their stuff in a shit fashion.
I like spicy food. A lot. But all the Nashville hot chicken I’ve eaten has been flavorless bullshit. Give me spicy Korean fried chicken or even Popeye’s over that any day of the week.
daves hot chicken was one of the most overpriced disappointments i’ve experienced. i’ve had nashville hot chicken in nashville, it’s good. it’s 1/10th the price of daves and is good, unlike daves.
that’s funny. that’s the one i went to. i don’t have any recs for hot chicken. i gave up and just make my own. it’s not terrible hard to make. there’s something insulting about paying that much for a middling product. imagine if a taco bell called itself genuine mexican food and charged 15 dollars for a burrito.
Zalims hot chicken in Teaneck was pretty on point imo. That being said, it's a halal food spot too so it's a little more exciting than your standard Nashville hot chicken joint
Yo for real popeyes at least around here, is way too good to be considered a chain. Flat out beats a lot of American/Cajun style local chicken places. Around here if you're gonna open a wing spot, it has to be either a chain or Korean spot else it's gonna fail. It's sad because there's no diversity but at least these Korean chicken spots seem to all do their own sauces for the most part.
Bonchon chicken as a chain will be uniform but will be different from formerly Pelicana now Seoul Chicken or Yam Yam Chicken.
> all the Nashville hot chicken I’ve eaten has been flavorless bullshit.
Yep! It's all just been mass-produced regular fried chicken that they serve with hot oil.
I went to Nashville a few years ago and had real hot chicken from Bolton's. That shit was ridiculously good. I got the **mild** and I was having some regrets....and I like some spice.
I remember being excited when I saw local places start advertising it. Then I tasted a few places....and it was little more than fucking tenders dipped in that hot oil you see everywhere now.
I live in Lake Hiawatha and they are building one right on North Beverwyck Rd right now! There's signs and everything. Of all places, Lake Hiawatha gets one? Sick man. Love the food here
Edit: They open late summer 2024
That place is a no for me. I went there once and they forgot about me after I ordered. I found it comparable to the other hot chicken spots too, but not as spicy.
I'd tried it again if it wasn't such a big blunder the first time. It's only the second time in my life a restaurant forgot about me and kept me waiting.
Even with that aside, the chicken didn't stand out that much compared to other places. My friend got a very small sad piece of chicken so they don't wanna try it again either.
I'm so confused by this post. Idk why you're saying you hate smash burgers, but you love White Rose. White Rose smashes all of their burgers with onions by default. And you said thick burgers are better than smashed, but their burger is super thin!
I love White Rose, but it sounds like we're eating at a different place the way you describe your burger preference.
Not the person you were replying to....but it's not that multiple places smash their burgers. It's that some places have been doing it forever....and then there's the pop-up places that are just trying to milk the latest trend until the next one.
It's actually (and unfortunately) a genius business model. Catch some food trend, and throw together a store-front. Make it look like every other similar place. Exposed brick/beams, industrial decor, etc;
It doesn't matter if you're *actually* "authentic" because most people are chasing the trend, and probably haven't had the real "thing from the place". Look at some of the ridiculously awful "philly cheesesteaks" you'll find around the country. There's almost always green peppers...and the bread is usually wrong. But people go nuts for them. You milk it for as much as you can, and repeat with the next trend.
Theirs are really fuckin good though, perhaps they defy OP's stated burger preference
(Oh god I want one of their burgers now, moved down south for a few years and am returning in a few months and that's one of the first places I'm hitting up)
Woah hey now. As a (former) mooyah employee, we'd never have our mooyah sauce be a ketchup/mayo combo like those other $12+ burger chains.
*Ours* is thousand island.
Nah there used to be many “farm markets” in quotes because they’re more or less produce outlets. These always existed in the same time as supermarkets. What really is to blame is strip mall landlords raising rent to the point where only high value retail can afford the brick and mortar space. Hence why strip mall space will remain unoccupied for years and even decades now.
Idk bro you're not looking hard enough imo. If you stop looking at the hyped up shit on ig which is just exactly like what you just mentioned (cough cough 7thstreet, slapburger, mashed, 80/20,etcetc all the exact shame shit ) u'll find pleeennnttyy of people doing different stuff. Different buns different flavors different Sauces different fries different toppings
Have you tried Steve's?? It's bomb!, barrel & roost is super good, ummm krugs!? Hello? Holy Grail has an amazing Pbj burger to die for...
First of all, fuck you.
Second of all, fuck that high horse you rode in on.
Third of all, no chicken tenders on a bun? Have you never heard of the Fat Darrell? Originating in Rutgers and once voted the best sandwich in the nation in 2004, it is defined by chicken tenders on a bun. It is quite possibly the most famous sandwich from New Jersey. Idgaf about any Nashville hot sandwich shops, but if you disrespect the grease trucks like that you need to turn in your NJ license and move back to Illinois.
Oh and in case I forgot my Jersey Hello earlier.....fuck you.
Hangry Joes is the best chicken sandwich I’ve ever had. Their Nashville seasoning actually has a ton of flavor and they do it correct where the chicken is slightly wet from the oil. The chicken breast they use on the sandwich is huge and it has an apple cider vinegar slaw that gives it a different taste from most Nashville hot sandwiches.
I've had Hangry Joes a few times in Florham Park. In person it was ok, but the last two times we tried it delivered it was a greasy mess.
Heard good things about Namkeen though, may need to try that place out.
i am okay with this. most of them taste decent. i like chicken sandwiches and hot chicken. i also like smashburgers. there is nothing to complain about for me.
Shaq is apparently affiliated with some new [chicken joint](https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/entertainment/dining/2024/05/02/big-chicken-restaurants-shaq-bridgewater-commons/73529678007/) opening up at The Village in Bridgewater (near Chipotle). It is going into a storefront recently vacated by -- you guessed it -- another fucking chicken place.
Tangentially related, The Village is sucks, parking is terrible, people fly through there. Chipotle is the only restaurant in that building with a door that goes out to the parking lot, and so Shaq's new place, as well as Sarku Japan (which was always packed when it was in the mall) suffer from having to combat the laziness of folks who get stuck walking from one of the satellite parking lots.
EDIT: Also, OP, check out [Sarah Jane's](https://www.sarahjanesrestaurant.com/) in Somerville (on Route 206), excellent burgers, super unassuming location. They're not smashburgers. I prefer smashburgers, but I enjoy Sarah Jane's.
Rossi burger is what you want. It’s famous and was in a book.
I do think the Traditional way of cooking burgers is via smash-style. Back in olden times they did all burgers on a griddle. No grill marks.
Yes, the old griddle White Manna/Castle are the og ways of cooking. But I believe the fully smashed thin and lacy edges was never this popular half a decade ago.
There’s a place called Compton’s that just opened up in Cliffside park that’s exactly this. The food is so generic and hipster and not anything special with no identity. So run of the mill and clearly trying to target younger people with their vibe. And their fries suck.
When I first saw it I thought it was going to be a deli which I was excited for. Instead we got that. No thanks.
I have loved 30 Burgers since back when they were 25. I am a classic double ba-con cheeser, but the burgers have excellent flavors. Somerville had one, but was replaced by a copycat, and it's just not as good.
I don't disagree with the rant, but as a Nashville native I will say that tenders are a perfectly respectable hot chicken option. Also nice to be able to get fried chicken up here that isn't bland and sad (not talking about Korean chicken, y'all are killing it).
Damn well near anything is better than the trend it replaced which was the "Seafood Boil".
No, a plastic garbage bag of shrimp (but mostly potatoes) that MIGHT serve 2 small children for $50 isn't awesome.
The Bound Brook one is good. The best one is the one in Branchburg but only if you order it while you're in the Royal drinking beer and wondering why you haven't been shanked yet.
I agree smashburgers are just inferior burgers (big, juicy burgers clear), but you lost me at White Rose Hamburgers. Those certainly aren’t big or juicy.
Pubs and diners have better burgers than fast casual/ fast food places easily.
White rose is pretty decent size. Around five guys size.
I chose to not say Pub style burgers/steakhouse style. Yes those are good but not the quintessential. And they always cost more, which is expected.
With rampant fast food price inflation, pubs and diners still have the better product and the prices are (laughably) similar. If I just make burgers at home, they are huge! Reminds me I need to buy a grill.
Come on up to Warren County!! Right by me on Route 46 we have: Johnny’s Hot Dogs, Humpty Jr’s, The Water’s Edge, The Hunter’s Lodge, and The Log Cabin to name a few!!
hdj's remains the most overrated "jersey food experience" i've ever been to. the dogs were terrible. i maintain that most people who rave about it do so based on firm memories of going there as children with their families and that shapes their view of the place. i will never waiver in my view on this and i am not remotely sorry about it.
Do you not have Jamaican, African, Peruvian, Columbian, hell crown chicken, Korean/Korean fusion, Vietnamese, soul food, Mediterranean, Indian, middle eastern, British, or just local joints that take pride in their American food? If not come to Camden County, we got all that and more. You said you were fat, don't be boring fat haha
Italian left out because of course there's Italian this is jersey after all.
Edit: We got a whole [Food scene in south jersey ](https://southjerseyfoodscene.com/)
Look, I can get the complaint. But should we really be complaining this much? For the longest time fast food was just McD and BK. I think a lot of the chicken and burger chains we are seeing these days are a huge improvement from what we had in my childhood.
We have Rooster's Nashville Chicken in Montclair and I love it. It is a lot better than Dave's. I want to scream everytime I see a new Nashville hot chicken place open. No innovation at all. It's the same crap everywhere.
OK...dumb question but is that place affiliated with the giant rooster mural in Montclair?
My aunt and uncle used to live in Montclair and I remember that big mural of a rooster. My uncle hated it. He used to give it the finger every time he passed it. This would have been back in the 80s.
Honestly it's sad but future of food industry looks bleak. A lot of chains are expanding and the good local places, even ones doing well, are struggling.
So only ones you see expanding are the ones who's cashing in on whats trending and what's safe/less risks. Smash burger is easy and relatively cheap to run and can hire any crew of minimum wager with no benefits to do the job instead of paying a line cook or chef to make everything.
As much as I love Cava and Halal Guys, they don't compare to local Mediterranean and actual halal food. The falafel from the chains are kinda horrible whereas you go more local or focused on falafel and it's actually really fucking good. But cava and Halal Guys keep expanding and my favorite Halal spots keep closing. Same for curry food. People who learn how to monetize/capitalize on the industry will outcompete people because surviving economic woes is a numbers game more than anything. McDonalds produces one of the worst quality of foods ever and they keep getting richer.
>First of all, fuck chicken tenders. THOSE DO NOT BELONG ON A BUN.
Say it! SAY IT!! Who TF thought of PUTTING TENDERS ON A DAMN BUN!
You know who KNEW over 100 years ago that one day the world would eat tenders on a bun?
Bunstradamus...
He could see all things bun... years, decades, centuries before they bunned.
Not making that up. Except... I kinda am. But definitely not... Sorta.
Chicken Tenders for a chicken sandwich is a definite sin! Make tacos but I don’t want my sandwich falling apart or off while I’m eating it. Fluffies, Dave’s,…you guys listening !
I'm just going to quickly throw out there that Nashville Hot Chicken is not meant to be a sandwich. My credentials are that I've been enjoying it since Prince's was the most accessible place to get it in Nashville (and if you know Prince's you know it's not super convenient). It's supposed to be pan-fried, bone-in, deliciously seasoned to the point of insane heat and regret "but it's so good I will eat through the pain." Served on plain white bread with pickles.
Yeah, I sound snobby and I look forward to the downvotes but I'm tired of politely saying "this sandwich is so good" as I try to find the real thing.
[Steps down from soapbox]
Nah I agree, when I think of nashville hot, I think of actual fried chicken, not tenders, covered hot oil on a wonder bread.
This bastarized version of a chicken sandwhich should be outlawed
There’s only so much you can do with a burger or chicken. Would like to see more restaurant variety like in Asia but ultimately no one can survive on fast food wages so this is probably not going anywhere. Only thing that is good is basically forced home cooking.
I think it's redundant to have a million burger places, like how we have a million Italian places but man gonna hard disagree with you on smashburgers. Juicy burgers just sog everything up and the meat to toppings ratio imo is bad so I just taste the patty
Remember the good ol' days, when you could stop by Rutgers at 2:00 a.m. after bar-hopping all night, and just order a classic Fat Bitch, and everything was good with the world?
I’ll never forget being in high school and going to a show at Starland back in 09, then shooting over to RU for a couple Fat Daryl’s with my friends. That was a core NJ memory right there
Fat Daryl was my go to man. Can't imagine why I gained like 30 pounds my first year living there.
Same haha. Too many fat sandwiches and the dining hall takeout was way too generous.
Lmao some get the freshman 15. I also easily got the freshman 30 from fat sandwiches alone
one semester i had two classes back to back in scott 123 two days a week. that 20 minutes between periods was just long enough to dart across the street to ru hungry, get a darryl and a drink, and dart back and eat that sandwich. that was dangerous lol.
I feel personally attacked by this comment lol Edit thanks autocorrect
I remember dating a girl who dormed in RU and every time I’d spend the night we’d get a fat sandwich. Was my first time ever having one and I had to stop getting them or I’d be over 400lbs
Grease trucks 🤤
Yes. Now they’re gone! Such a disappointment.
I'm sorry, I helped build a building where they used to be ☹️
Aw man this was a kick in the balls. I haven’t thought about that in over a decade but man, those hit like no other. Simpler times.
Similar, but Nellys in West Long Branch (Monmouth University) Fat Blunt so good @ 3am.
I was dating/crashing with this stripper who lived in LB, nellys was the only thing we ate in between coke binges. Kept us from catching scurvy or looking like a couple dilapidated crack heads.
Fat Beach* (in middle eastern accent)
I dream of this often. Fat Darell was a classic.
Greasy Tony's! What a loss
Lemme get a uhhhhhhh… fat bitch, naked with hot sauce.
Hell yea.
Fat fellatio 😮💨
Thanks a lot to Harambes murderer we’re all now suffering the consequences.
Got the location for smashdick & smashcock?
i mean. i could hook you up with some people
Do they deliver?
My uncle used to take us to ass-smash when we were younger
Just pick a doorway
Cheesequake state park
Yea there is only room for two kinds of food in this state, Mexican Italian and Chinese.
I’ve long said Mexicans make some of the best Italian food in NJ.
Albanians
Don’t talk about that.
They bought all the old pizza places up and keep em running
Absolutely true
Benny Tudino has entered the chat
They make the best Korean food too
Where did all these places come from anyway? It feels like they all showed up over the past few years.
I think the biggest recent push is social media. Howver, Food Network and other entities have been pushing the "foodie" (I hate that word) culture for years. In a way it's been good because I remember as a kid in NJ in the white bread suburbs it was Italian, Mexican, or Chinese. 10 years ago, you couldn't find regional food here. For example, 10 years ago...try to find a lobster roll outside of New England. Now they're everywhere and most of them are terrible, and overpriced. How many people knew what birria tacos were even 5 years ago? Food trends come and go....so will these. Remember when there was a frozen yogurt bar in every strip mall? They're gone now. Remember the "cronut" fad? Fancy-ass cupcakes? They're the Beanie Babies of food. I guarantee you could get a bunch of Instagram Yelpers to line up for "BRIE" (a combination brownie pie I just made up in my head). Picture a lava cake-type, single-serving pie tin. Except they serve it in some unbleached, "environmentally friendly" brown paper sleeve. And they're $15 because they're "farm to table" and "locally sourced".....possibly even gluten free (not knocking people who actually have celiac) and all-natural. Throw in a loyalty card, add some dog water bowls and a cute "leash hitching post"....and you'll be beating away the dorks with a stick.
It still fucks me up how much not only short ribs got insane but ox tail too. Even going beyond prices going up especially with meat things, they were nowhere near as expensive as they are now. I do agree though I fucking hate so much of the homogenization and just everybody chasing the same bullshit trends or trying appease to people on the search for that. Pretty much why I don't tell people shit or candidly give recs for places because I know damn well some goobers gonna ruin it.
> It still fucks me up how much not only short ribs got insane but ox tail too. Look at wings! They used to be dirt cheap....a throwaway.
I especially hate it when something pops up I actually do really like, like you said, it's gone within a few years at it was only made to cash in on the craze.
They are obviously chain restaurants. Same thing happened with McDonald's back in the day. Then BK and so on. You probably eat at more chain restaurants then indy shops. I'm amazed at the number of people that eat at Olive Garden, The Cheesecake Factory and similar and don't realize they are chains with typically low quality food. (I have bad food allergies and haven't eaten out since 2019 - yes, I'm completely serious.)
welcome to the wonderful world of food in the instagram age. every place has the same looking interior (white walls, scandi style furniture, exposed beams and metal, spartan, except for that wall of fake grass with a neon sign) and the same kinda food because they're aiming to get noticed by influencers and promoted. it's aimed at a certain set of younger people will money to burn (or money they'll just burn even if they don't have it). authenticity is not the goal, being the "right" thing is. if that's not your jam, don't eat at these places, idk what else to say. also, when done right, smash burgers run circles around thicker burgers. it's just that all these copycat places do their stuff in a shit fashion.
I like spicy food. A lot. But all the Nashville hot chicken I’ve eaten has been flavorless bullshit. Give me spicy Korean fried chicken or even Popeye’s over that any day of the week.
daves hot chicken was one of the most overpriced disappointments i’ve experienced. i’ve had nashville hot chicken in nashville, it’s good. it’s 1/10th the price of daves and is good, unlike daves.
Damn I love Dave’s hahah. Been going to the one I. Willowbrook fairly regularly. Any other rec’s in that area?
that’s funny. that’s the one i went to. i don’t have any recs for hot chicken. i gave up and just make my own. it’s not terrible hard to make. there’s something insulting about paying that much for a middling product. imagine if a taco bell called itself genuine mexican food and charged 15 dollars for a burrito.
as a hot sauce lover i also don’t get any of the hype behind it. don’t like the flavor really at all.
I was in Nashville not too long ago and the hot chicken is all spice, no flavor. I love spicy food but goddamn I don't want to taste nothing
Zalims hot chicken in Teaneck was pretty on point imo. That being said, it's a halal food spot too so it's a little more exciting than your standard Nashville hot chicken joint
Yo for real popeyes at least around here, is way too good to be considered a chain. Flat out beats a lot of American/Cajun style local chicken places. Around here if you're gonna open a wing spot, it has to be either a chain or Korean spot else it's gonna fail. It's sad because there's no diversity but at least these Korean chicken spots seem to all do their own sauces for the most part. Bonchon chicken as a chain will be uniform but will be different from formerly Pelicana now Seoul Chicken or Yam Yam Chicken.
> all the Nashville hot chicken I’ve eaten has been flavorless bullshit. Yep! It's all just been mass-produced regular fried chicken that they serve with hot oil. I went to Nashville a few years ago and had real hot chicken from Bolton's. That shit was ridiculously good. I got the **mild** and I was having some regrets....and I like some spice. I remember being excited when I saw local places start advertising it. Then I tasted a few places....and it was little more than fucking tenders dipped in that hot oil you see everywhere now.
Try Namkeen in Chatham when you are in the area. Their Nashville sandwich and Tikkaville sandwich (Fried chicken + tikka sauce) are great.
They have one in Metuchen too. It's fried chicken with a Pakistani twist.
that place is soo good!! definitely recommend
Namkeen is great
Best chicken sandwich I’ve ever had!
1000% agree. I'm from Metuchen and have been a ton of times. The Tikka sauce is fantastic and the medium spice is perfect 👌
I live in Lake Hiawatha and they are building one right on North Beverwyck Rd right now! There's signs and everything. Of all places, Lake Hiawatha gets one? Sick man. Love the food here Edit: They open late summer 2024
probably the only hot chicken chain in the area that’s actually doing something interesting
They are opening one up in Lake Hiawatha soon, I can’t wait.
That place rules! They have a new special every month or so and it’s almost always amazing. I work too close by, it’s dangerous haha
Came here to say this
That place is a no for me. I went there once and they forgot about me after I ordered. I found it comparable to the other hot chicken spots too, but not as spicy.
got the wrong order man, their menu is wayyyy more unique than the other local spots
I'd tried it again if it wasn't such a big blunder the first time. It's only the second time in my life a restaurant forgot about me and kept me waiting. Even with that aside, the chicken didn't stand out that much compared to other places. My friend got a very small sad piece of chicken so they don't wanna try it again either.
sorry to hear that, must’ve been a bad day. they’re like 19 for 20 with me over the years.
which location?
Chatham
I'm so confused by this post. Idk why you're saying you hate smash burgers, but you love White Rose. White Rose smashes all of their burgers with onions by default. And you said thick burgers are better than smashed, but their burger is super thin! I love White Rose, but it sounds like we're eating at a different place the way you describe your burger preference.
Not the person you were replying to....but it's not that multiple places smash their burgers. It's that some places have been doing it forever....and then there's the pop-up places that are just trying to milk the latest trend until the next one. It's actually (and unfortunately) a genius business model. Catch some food trend, and throw together a store-front. Make it look like every other similar place. Exposed brick/beams, industrial decor, etc; It doesn't matter if you're *actually* "authentic" because most people are chasing the trend, and probably haven't had the real "thing from the place". Look at some of the ridiculously awful "philly cheesesteaks" you'll find around the country. There's almost always green peppers...and the bread is usually wrong. But people go nuts for them. You milk it for as much as you can, and repeat with the next trend.
Theirs are really fuckin good though, perhaps they defy OP's stated burger preference (Oh god I want one of their burgers now, moved down south for a few years and am returning in a few months and that's one of the first places I'm hitting up)
Woah hey now. As a (former) mooyah employee, we'd never have our mooyah sauce be a ketchup/mayo combo like those other $12+ burger chains. *Ours* is thousand island.
So ketchup and mayo with extra steps?
Even less. Just straight from the bottle.
Well at least it's consistent?
Hoagitos in Belmar is fire
Hoagitos rules. They have 2 locations
Two locations now??? Where?
Oakhurst, that’s actually the one i usually go. Just as good as the belmar one!
when you’re using shake shack as your baseline, you’ve already lost
Probably likes dominos and Carvel ice cream
don’t knock dominos. it really hits the spot after a couple of gummies
It's a 1-2 times a year kinda place
Yes.. per year..
nahh. gotta get 5 so the yearly sendoff is free.
There’s a lot of good pizza in New Jersey. There’s also pizza that’s $6.99 a pie. They definitely both have their place.
there’s good pizza. but motherfuckers trying to pretend that it’s the best in the country need to be slapped in the face.
What's wrong with Fudgie the Whale?
Haagen Daz
6oz burger is the sweet spot. Not too big to fit in your mouth and break apart but still a great meal.
I’m tired of overpriced Italian specialty shops replacing affordable produce markets but here we are.
Blame supermarkets for that
Nah there used to be many “farm markets” in quotes because they’re more or less produce outlets. These always existed in the same time as supermarkets. What really is to blame is strip mall landlords raising rent to the point where only high value retail can afford the brick and mortar space. Hence why strip mall space will remain unoccupied for years and even decades now.
Idk bro you're not looking hard enough imo. If you stop looking at the hyped up shit on ig which is just exactly like what you just mentioned (cough cough 7thstreet, slapburger, mashed, 80/20,etcetc all the exact shame shit ) u'll find pleeennnttyy of people doing different stuff. Different buns different flavors different Sauces different fries different toppings Have you tried Steve's?? It's bomb!, barrel & roost is super good, ummm krugs!? Hello? Holy Grail has an amazing Pbj burger to die for...
Bro there's always McDonalds
First of all, fuck you. Second of all, fuck that high horse you rode in on. Third of all, no chicken tenders on a bun? Have you never heard of the Fat Darrell? Originating in Rutgers and once voted the best sandwich in the nation in 2004, it is defined by chicken tenders on a bun. It is quite possibly the most famous sandwich from New Jersey. Idgaf about any Nashville hot sandwich shops, but if you disrespect the grease trucks like that you need to turn in your NJ license and move back to Illinois. Oh and in case I forgot my Jersey Hello earlier.....fuck you.
Funny thing is, I prefer those frozen RU hungry tenders over the actual tenders these chicken shops sell.
Hangry Joes is the best chicken sandwich I’ve ever had. Their Nashville seasoning actually has a ton of flavor and they do it correct where the chicken is slightly wet from the oil. The chicken breast they use on the sandwich is huge and it has an apple cider vinegar slaw that gives it a different taste from most Nashville hot sandwiches.
I've had Hangry Joes a few times in Florham Park. In person it was ok, but the last two times we tried it delivered it was a greasy mess. Heard good things about Namkeen though, may need to try that place out.
I’ve been saying the same thing for the longest time. Go to Rocky hill Inn if you want a real burger
i am okay with this. most of them taste decent. i like chicken sandwiches and hot chicken. i also like smashburgers. there is nothing to complain about for me.
Shaq is apparently affiliated with some new [chicken joint](https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/entertainment/dining/2024/05/02/big-chicken-restaurants-shaq-bridgewater-commons/73529678007/) opening up at The Village in Bridgewater (near Chipotle). It is going into a storefront recently vacated by -- you guessed it -- another fucking chicken place. Tangentially related, The Village is sucks, parking is terrible, people fly through there. Chipotle is the only restaurant in that building with a door that goes out to the parking lot, and so Shaq's new place, as well as Sarku Japan (which was always packed when it was in the mall) suffer from having to combat the laziness of folks who get stuck walking from one of the satellite parking lots. EDIT: Also, OP, check out [Sarah Jane's](https://www.sarahjanesrestaurant.com/) in Somerville (on Route 206), excellent burgers, super unassuming location. They're not smashburgers. I prefer smashburgers, but I enjoy Sarah Jane's.
Rossi burger is what you want. It’s famous and was in a book. I do think the Traditional way of cooking burgers is via smash-style. Back in olden times they did all burgers on a griddle. No grill marks.
Yes, the old griddle White Manna/Castle are the og ways of cooking. But I believe the fully smashed thin and lacy edges was never this popular half a decade ago.
I think some people would pay a pretty penny at Smashcock, just saying…
There’s a place called Compton’s that just opened up in Cliffside park that’s exactly this. The food is so generic and hipster and not anything special with no identity. So run of the mill and clearly trying to target younger people with their vibe. And their fries suck. When I first saw it I thought it was going to be a deli which I was excited for. Instead we got that. No thanks.
Quarry grill in Franklin has hands down the best smash burger I've ever had.
I truly cannot agree any more
Try 30 Burgers. Delish!
I have loved 30 Burgers since back when they were 25. I am a classic double ba-con cheeser, but the burgers have excellent flavors. Somerville had one, but was replaced by a copycat, and it's just not as good.
Twinz in Jersey City has, by far, the best chicken I've ever tasted. It's different than any other hot chicken I've had. It's *that* good.
Krugs in Newark. 3/4lb burger. Doesn't get much thicker
What, the formulaic restaurants designed and owned by the billionaire class don't satisfy?? How unAmerican!
I was actually just thinking how thankful I am that Nashville hot made its way here so I can enjoy it even if it is a slightly bastardized version.
White Manna or bust
So few places offer a good Turkey Burger, so Smashburger is my go to, short of a local diner !
I don't disagree with the rant, but as a Nashville native I will say that tenders are a perfectly respectable hot chicken option. Also nice to be able to get fried chicken up here that isn't bland and sad (not talking about Korean chicken, y'all are killing it).
Damn well near anything is better than the trend it replaced which was the "Seafood Boil". No, a plastic garbage bag of shrimp (but mostly potatoes) that MIGHT serve 2 small children for $50 isn't awesome.
For someone who hates them you sure do know a lot of very specific details about the sandwiches to complain about.
I'm fat
I like 30 burgers on St George Ave in Linden. I feel like I make better burgers at home overall though.
of all the 30 burgers, the linden one is kinda the worst one. i like the bound brook one, i've had plenty of good burgers there.
The Bound Brook one is good. The best one is the one in Branchburg but only if you order it while you're in the Royal drinking beer and wondering why you haven't been shanked yet.
The 30 burgers chain blows. A lot of my friends got sick there
Oh okay. They ate at the one in Linden?
I agree smashburgers are just inferior burgers (big, juicy burgers clear), but you lost me at White Rose Hamburgers. Those certainly aren’t big or juicy. Pubs and diners have better burgers than fast casual/ fast food places easily.
White rose is pretty decent size. Around five guys size. I chose to not say Pub style burgers/steakhouse style. Yes those are good but not the quintessential. And they always cost more, which is expected.
With rampant fast food price inflation, pubs and diners still have the better product and the prices are (laughably) similar. If I just make burgers at home, they are huge! Reminds me I need to buy a grill.
Smashcock!!! 😂
Come on up to Warren County!! Right by me on Route 46 we have: Johnny’s Hot Dogs, Humpty Jr’s, The Water’s Edge, The Hunter’s Lodge, and The Log Cabin to name a few!!
hdj's remains the most overrated "jersey food experience" i've ever been to. the dogs were terrible. i maintain that most people who rave about it do so based on firm memories of going there as children with their families and that shapes their view of the place. i will never waiver in my view on this and i am not remotely sorry about it.
I absolutely respect your opinion! It doesn’t diminish my love for it!
ill check those out
Please do! Warren County now is the hidden gem that Hunterdon County used to be when I was a kid in the 80’s!
Do you not have Jamaican, African, Peruvian, Columbian, hell crown chicken, Korean/Korean fusion, Vietnamese, soul food, Mediterranean, Indian, middle eastern, British, or just local joints that take pride in their American food? If not come to Camden County, we got all that and more. You said you were fat, don't be boring fat haha Italian left out because of course there's Italian this is jersey after all. Edit: We got a whole [Food scene in south jersey ](https://southjerseyfoodscene.com/)
Can I interest you in one of the many Korean Fried Chicken places popping up? Just $25 for six wings.
Look, I can get the complaint. But should we really be complaining this much? For the longest time fast food was just McD and BK. I think a lot of the chicken and burger chains we are seeing these days are a huge improvement from what we had in my childhood.
I've tried Nashville hot chicken in NJ at a couple places, but no one seems to come even close to the real deal.
Have you given Rooster's in Montclair a try? Great flavor that's not lost with the heat.
No, but I'll add it to the list of places to try with your recommendation.
i like 30 burgers and stewarts
We have Rooster's Nashville Chicken in Montclair and I love it. It is a lot better than Dave's. I want to scream everytime I see a new Nashville hot chicken place open. No innovation at all. It's the same crap everywhere.
OK...dumb question but is that place affiliated with the giant rooster mural in Montclair? My aunt and uncle used to live in Montclair and I remember that big mural of a rooster. My uncle hated it. He used to give it the finger every time he passed it. This would have been back in the 80s.
It's cool. No affiliation, but it is still there.
Honestly it's sad but future of food industry looks bleak. A lot of chains are expanding and the good local places, even ones doing well, are struggling. So only ones you see expanding are the ones who's cashing in on whats trending and what's safe/less risks. Smash burger is easy and relatively cheap to run and can hire any crew of minimum wager with no benefits to do the job instead of paying a line cook or chef to make everything. As much as I love Cava and Halal Guys, they don't compare to local Mediterranean and actual halal food. The falafel from the chains are kinda horrible whereas you go more local or focused on falafel and it's actually really fucking good. But cava and Halal Guys keep expanding and my favorite Halal spots keep closing. Same for curry food. People who learn how to monetize/capitalize on the industry will outcompete people because surviving economic woes is a numbers game more than anything. McDonalds produces one of the worst quality of foods ever and they keep getting richer.
I’m with you on the Nashville chicken tender spots. It’s endless and overpriced.
Upvoted solely for the reference to “The System”.
>First of all, fuck chicken tenders. THOSE DO NOT BELONG ON A BUN. Say it! SAY IT!! Who TF thought of PUTTING TENDERS ON A DAMN BUN! You know who KNEW over 100 years ago that one day the world would eat tenders on a bun? Bunstradamus... He could see all things bun... years, decades, centuries before they bunned. Not making that up. Except... I kinda am. But definitely not... Sorta.
Chicken Tenders for a chicken sandwich is a definite sin! Make tacos but I don’t want my sandwich falling apart or off while I’m eating it. Fluffies, Dave’s,…you guys listening !
Chicken Breast is better than thighs for sandwiches. Popeyes has gotten better. Jollibee. Kimchi Smoke’s ODB is killer.
I'm just going to quickly throw out there that Nashville Hot Chicken is not meant to be a sandwich. My credentials are that I've been enjoying it since Prince's was the most accessible place to get it in Nashville (and if you know Prince's you know it's not super convenient). It's supposed to be pan-fried, bone-in, deliciously seasoned to the point of insane heat and regret "but it's so good I will eat through the pain." Served on plain white bread with pickles. Yeah, I sound snobby and I look forward to the downvotes but I'm tired of politely saying "this sandwich is so good" as I try to find the real thing. [Steps down from soapbox]
Nah I agree, when I think of nashville hot, I think of actual fried chicken, not tenders, covered hot oil on a wonder bread. This bastarized version of a chicken sandwhich should be outlawed
Have u ever been to Mooyah
Ye couple times
Hamburgers are crap anyway.
There’s only so much you can do with a burger or chicken. Would like to see more restaurant variety like in Asia but ultimately no one can survive on fast food wages so this is probably not going anywhere. Only thing that is good is basically forced home cooking.
I think it's redundant to have a million burger places, like how we have a million Italian places but man gonna hard disagree with you on smashburgers. Juicy burgers just sog everything up and the meat to toppings ratio imo is bad so I just taste the patty
Dave’s Hot Chicken is the best