It’s not Christmas, but in my world, National Hamburger Day — which fell on Wednesday, May 28 this year — might as well be!
Most burger historians allege that Louis’ Lunch in New Haven, Connecticut invented the burger (which they still serve on toast). Wherever it originated, the burger is one of the most quintessentially American foods. And it’s no secret to regular readers that I love a burger, so to pay homage to one of my favorite dishes, here are my favorite burgers in New York, all of which can be found at true and tried hidden dining gems.
Luana’s Tavern
I chose a bold set of words a few years ago when I reviewed Luana’s Tavern: I compared their tavern burger to the one at Peter Luger’s. At the time, it had severely impressed me, especially with Luana’s being a new restaurant when I first reviewed them in 2023. I’ve since returned to Luana’s Tavern just about every time I’m in Carroll Gardens, and while I still stand by the fact that their tavern burger is one of the best in the city, I have since transformed to a smashburger gal, and I’m happy to say theirs is one of the most buttery, juicy smashburgers in the city. Made with double patties, American cheese, spicy pickles, and tavern sauce on a brioche bun, after plenty of field research, I can confirm you simply can’t go wrong with either burger at Luana’s.
Petey’s Burgers
I lived in Long Island City for quite some time, and my best memories from that apartment are when I’d walk my dog, Bowie, to Petey’s Burgers, get myself a cheeseburger and some cheese fries, Bowie some bacon and a bunless cheeseless patty, and head over to Gantry Plaza State Park for a picnic with my best furry friend. When people ask, “What’s your preference: Shake Shack or In-N-Out?” my answer is, “Neither, it’s Petey’s Burgers.” The burgers here are the sweet spot between the two major East Coast and West Coast chains. Their bun reminds me of In-N-Out and they have California-style fresh-cut fries, but that gooey American cheese and their stellar shakes remind me more of Shake Shack. And yet, Petey’s Burgers is something entirely on its own: a no-frills, affordable burger joint, not trying to be anything it’s not.
Dirty Pierre’s
I was intrigued when I first visited Dirty Pierre’s, a Forest Hills bar with year-long hanging Christmas lights. And while doing shots of cheap liquor with friendly locals feels like the move here, the real star of the show is their Bistro Burger. Made with a half-pound of ground beef served on an English muffin, diners have the option for add-ons including jalapenos, mushrooms, and a variety of cheeses. For the ultimate experience, add their house-made garlic cheese and grilled shallots, and pair it with a pint of their infamous sangria.
Nowon
When it comes to burgers, I generally consider myself a purist. Give me American cheese, some high quality ground beef, skip the ketchup and sauces, and don’t get too fancy with the bun. However, every now and then, an inventive burger takes me by surprise. Few examples are truer to that theory than the one I tried at Nowon. Run by Korean-born Chef Jae Lee, their “Legendary Cheeseburger” is made with a double patty, topped with a kimchi special sauce, American cheese, pickles, and onion, all encased in a cartoon-looking sesame bun. The burger here bears the closest resemblance to a burger emoji as any other burger I’ve seen in real life. It’s got an added kick from the kimchi sauce and tang from the thick pickles, with slight nuttiness from the bun. All of the flavor profiles make the burger at Nowon exactly what it sets out to be: legendary.
Swoony’s
After having reviewed so many burgers, readers and friends alike frequently try to convince me where their favorites are. I got an overwhelming amount of suggestions to try the burger at Swoony’s, but anything that’s overhyped has me immediately skeptical. I went with an open mind and decided I’d order various other items including the burger just in case it didn’t live up to its high expectations. Well, Swoony’s proved that some things are hyped for a reason.
The burger here is made on a Portuguese muffin, like the English muffin’s softer, more pillowy cousin. I think I’ve made my point that if there’s American cheese that’s properly melted, I’m all in, and between the juiciness of the burger here (I’d say the juiciest I’ve ever reviewed) with the hefty dose of American cheese, I was in heaven with the Swoony’s burger and dream of the day I return to eat it again.
Have a suggestion for a great hidden dining gem in your neighborhood? Reach out to us with your recommendations
