Burgers and Delis

What You Need to Know About Burgers in New York

• When it comes to burgers, one might immediately think of fast food chains that are ubiquitous in city centers. Forget about the dreadful cardboard-like burgers served in Europe and take advantage of your trip to New York to discover the true taste of a burger. New York is truly the city of burgers, where they are cooked to order for you, according to your taste and with quality ingredients.
• It’s impossible to know precisely how many burger restaurants exist in New York, but according to estimates based on customer reviews, we’re approaching a thousand addresses. The burger is indeed the most iconic American specialty and one of the favorite dishes of Americans.
• In New York, you will discover the incredible diversity of burger recipes. Alongside the unbeatable Cheeseburger, you can vary your pleasures and combine unprecedented ingredients. Vegetarians will also have no trouble finding vegan burgers, where meat is replaced by vegetables or soy. And of course, it all must be accompanied by fries, ketchup, and mayonnaise!

The 9 Best Burgers in New York

1. Corner Bistrot: The Most Friendly Burger

   Corner Bistrot is a typical address in the Greenwich Village that brings together both tourists and locals.The restaurant room immerses you in the friendly atmosphere of the Village, like a tavern. Friendly and attentive servers. As for the burger, I recommend the Bistro Burger with its crispy bacon. It is served with tomatoes, salads and cheese. You can add pickles (the gherkins), mayonnaise and ketchup. The homemade fries are just as excellent. A tip: if you want to go there on Friday and Saturday nights, remember to book in advance as it is very often full!

   

   Address: 331 West 4th Street, at the corner of Jane Street and West 4th Street.

   Neighborhood: Greenwich Village.

   Metro: 14 St/8 Av.

2. New York Burger Co.: The Most Creative

   The restaurant New York Burger Co has been open since 2004 just steps from the High Line. With a concept opposite to fast-food chains. Here, traditional-style hamburgers are offered: the meat is guaranteed hormone-free, antibiotic-free and preservative-free. You can also try original recipes like the Blackbean Burger, with avocado and carrots, or the Impossible Burger, a vegan burger.

   

   Address: 470 West 23rd Street/10th Avenue.

   Neighborhood: Chelsea.

   Metro: 23 St.

3. Burger Joint: The Most Unusual Burger

   Burger Joint is certainly one of the most unusual restaurants in New York. Burger Joint is located inside the lobby of the luxury hotel Thompson Central Park New York, not far from Central Park. You must therefore enter the hotel and spot the small neon burger sign. A dark corridor then leads you to a windowless room with walls covered in graffiti left by customers. That’s it! The atmosphere and prices have nothing to do with the luxury hotel. Burger Joint is quite accessible and the burgers delicious. Be careful as it is crowded at peak hours.

   

   Address: Thompson Central Park New York by Hyatt, 119 West 56th Street, between 6th Avenue and 7th Avenue.

   Neighborhood: Midtown.

   Metro: 57 St.

4. Lexington Candy Shop: The Most New Yorker

   Lexington Candy Shop is not a candy store but indeed a restaurant. It is even an institution in the Upper East Side, with prestigious clients like Woody Allen and Bruce Springsteen, who sometimes come here as neighbors. At least that’s what my neighbor of the day, a pure New Yorker who has been coming here for years and years, told me. The atmosphere is therefore very local. The burger is made like at home and presented open in a plate. You finish the assembly by adding mayonnaise, ketchup and a huge pickle. A charming address.

   

   Address: At the corner of Lexington Avenue and 83rd Street.

   Neighborhood: Upper East Side.

   Metro: 86 St.

5. Stone Street Tavern: The Most Historic Burger

   This restaurant is located in the heart of the Financial District, on the small Stone Street. A typical street that immerses you in an Irish atmosphere. Here, you rather feel like you’re back in old Europe! This very narrow street is lined with pubs and I therefore recommend the Stone Street Tavern, a tavern founded in 1962. The interior is in keeping with the street with a warm, typically Irish atmosphere. In the evening, the room is dimly lit. You will feel like a sailor disembarking from a ship coming from old Europe. On the cuisine side, the burgers are perfectly executed, tasty and accompanied by very good homemade fries.

   

   Address: 52 Stone Street.

   Neighborhood: Financial District.

   Metro: Wall Street.

6. Shake Shack: The Best Burger Chain

   The Shake Shack restaurant chain was founded in New York in 2004 and is now part of the classics. Shake Shack is indeed an industrial fast food but there is a real effort on the quality of the products. In New York, there are now several Shake Shacks all over the city but I advise you to favor the one in Madison Square Park, in the southern part of the park, a few steps from the Flatiron Building. You can’t dream of a more New York decor! At peak hours, the queue in front of the kiosk is long but hold on. The burgers are rather small but of good quality and the crispy twisted fries. A very good value for money with, as a bonus, a fantastic location.

   

   Address: Madison Square Park.

   Neighborhood: Flatiron District.

   Metro: 23 St.

7. Five Guys: An Ugly but Good Burger

   This chain founded in 1986 in Virginia has grown incredibly in just a few years. Make the queue at the counter then choose the base of your burger and the ingredients you want in addition: lettuce, tomatoes, onions, mayonnaise, pickles… The burger is cooked in the minute and packed in an aluminum bag. Aesthetically, the burger has a funny face, and let’s even say it’s ugly, but the taste is there and I admit I was pleasantly surprised. A downside: the fries are a bit too greasy, as you can see in the picture above. But, at this price, Five Guys offers a good value for money.

   

   Address: 316 West 34th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenue.

   Neighborhood: Midtown.

   Metro: 34 St-Penn Station.

8. Bare Burger: Organic Burgers

   This young chain was launched in 2009 focusing on organic and natural ingredients. A real break from some large burger chains that offer hormone-treated meat. Another difference: it’s up to you to compose your burger, by choosing from all the ingredients offered in the menu. Enough to compose your burger just for you! As for me, I ordered a burger with bacon, blue cheese, pickles, tomatoes, salad and ketchup… Perfect!

   

   Address: 313 West 57th Street, between 8th Avenue and 9th Avenue.

   Neighborhood: Hell’s Kitchen.

   Metro: 59 St-Columbus Circle.

9. P.J. Clarke’s on the Hudson: The Most Maritime

   I discovered this address while walking along the marina of the World Trade Center, just steps from the One World Trade Center tower. The well-located terrace, the view and the welcoming tables attracted me. The burger is both perfectly executed and generous, with crispy homemade fries. The price is a bit higher than elsewhere but it is a high-end restaurant in an exceptional place. In addition to an excellent burger, the real plus is to be seated on the terrace and enjoy a magical view of the Statue of Liberty in the line of sight. A maritime atmosphere!

   

   Address: Marina of the World Trade Center, New York.

   Neighborhood: Financial District.

   Metro: WTC Cortlandt.

What is the price of a burger in New York?

• You will find burgers at all prices in New York, from international chains to the most gastronomic restaurants. A burger costs on average around $15 in New York, including fries. Add to that a drink and, if your burger is served at the table, the tip, which is 20% of the bill. To help you compare, here is a comparative table of prices below, from the most expensive to the least expensive.
• Here is also an article to understand the tipping system in New York restaurants. One thing to know: you do not have to give a tip if you go to pick up your burger at the counter. The 20% tip is only due if a server brings your burger to your table. This is specified in the table below.

Comparison of burger prices in New York in October 2025.