William Perlman I NJ News Photos

By Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Forget about Dunkin', America runs on burgers. Nearly 60 percent of Americans eat at least one burger a week, and McDonald's is by far the largest restaurant chain by sales. Our recent ranking of NJ's 23 burger chains from worst to best was a huge hit with readers.

Now you might say, enough already with burgers, but it is National Hamburger Month, so it's only natural to follow that up with the best burger in each of New Jersey's 21 counties. Almost all of the places are on this list are non-chains: bars, bistros, restaurants, diners, roadside hangouts. It's one burger fanatic's rating of the best; let the juicy debate begin.

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Saed Hindash I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

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Atlantic: Vagabond Viking Burger, Vagabond Kitchen & Tap House, Atlantic City

Vagabond Kitchen & 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 is a hefty handful; dig the Vagabond name imprinted on the bun. The burger, a side of fries with the sriracha mayo dipping sauce, and a cold one, and you're all set. There is another location in Galloway.

Runners-up: Pittsburger, Tailgaters Sports Bar & Grille, Galloway; Classic SteakBurger, The Palm, Atlantic City. You'll need a hearty appetite to tackle the Pittsburger; it's three pounds of meat - six patties - topped with bacon, cheese, lettuce, tomato and an onion ring.

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Saed Hindash I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

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Bergen: Cheeseburger, White Manna, Hackensack

In the burger world, you don't have to be big, fancy and fussy to be great. The burgers at the White Manna 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 my number-one Bergen burger joint. There's a McDonald's right across the street. Talk about choices.

Runners-up: Double Diablo Burger, Mooyah, Lyndhurst; Meat Lovers Burger, Dog House Saloon, Washington Township. The Double Diablo, with jalapenos, applewood smoked bacon and Cholula hot sauce, lives up to its name at one of the top burger chains.

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Alex Remnick I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

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Burlington: Turkey burger, Oliver A Bistro, Bordentown City

Yes, it's a turkey burger; you got a beef with that? Oliver A Bistro is on Farnsworth Avenue in Bordentown City, the cutest small town most of New Jersey has never heard of. Oliver, open 20-plus years, takes burgers seriously; Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are burger nights, with up to 10 specials. The Banh Mi Turkey Burger packs local honey sweet chili glaze, pickled carrots, jalapeno peppers and cilantro mayo in one irresistible package.

Runner-up: Jalapeno cheddar burger, HOB Tavern, Bordentown City; Classic Cheeseburger, Vincentown Diner, Vincentown. Burgers are what this South Jersey diner does best.

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Alex Remnick I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

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Camden: Cheeseburger with Monterey Jack, 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 monterey jack cheese, pictured here, is one of those burgers that need no ketchup or other condiment to be appreciated.

Runners-up: The Second Coming Burger, Pour House, Westmont; Inside Out Burger, Kitchen 519, Glendora. The Inside Out Burger, stuffed with gorgonzola and topped with applewood bacon, vine tomatoes, arugula and caramelized onions, is a standout.

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Cape May: Red Store Burger, The Red Store, Cape May Point

Cape May has long been one of the state's top dining destinations - Conde Nast Traveler magazine named it one of the nation's top 20 dining cities. The Red Store, which opened in 2012, merely added to the reputation. Owner/chef Lucas Manteca, former executive chef of the Ebbitt Room in the Virginia Hotel, offers seasonal cuisine with a South American flair. The burger combines caramelized onions, mushrooms and grain mustard with house-cut herbed garlic fries.

Runner-up: Steakhouse Burger, Cattle n Clover, Wildwood. The Steakhouse Burger is topped with frizzled onions, fried pickles and house-made boursin cheese. 'Nuff said.

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Cumberland: En Fuego Burger, Outlaw's Burger Barn & 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 BBQ sauce, but you'll want to let them fire up the En Fuego, with house-pickled jalapenos, avocado, red onion, pepper jack and habanero creme fraiche.

Runner-up: Burnin' Love Burger, Red Robin, Vineland; Burger with special sauce, Jim's Lunch, Millville. Baseball superstar Mike Trout's favorite burger joint. Go now; they are closed from Memorial Day to Columbus Day.

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Essex: Plain burger, 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 meat mix from a local wholesaler cooked on a tiny grill. It'll take 15-20 minutes for your burger to be ready; pull up a seat and drink in the abundant atmosphere. Krug's, an Ironbound legend open since 1938, is one of those places you wish would last forever.

Runners-up: Burger, Tierney's Tavern, Montclair; AKB Burger, Ariane's Kitchen, Verona. Tierney's is classic; so is their burger, cooked on a grill in the compact kitchen.

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Gloucester: Spicy Thai Burger, Thai Burger Cafe, Pitman

Thai Burger Cafe sounds enticing, although the Pitman cafe offers go well beyond burgers, with everything from spring rolls, salads and tom yum soup to curries and rice and noodle dishes. The Spicy Thai Burger pulls no punches; it's made with chili, garlic and sriracha sauce.

Runners-up: Double Burger, Prime, Glassboro; Mushroom Swiss burger, Society of Burgers, Sewell. SOB specializes in salads, for those who think healthy, and burgers, for those who don't.

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Peter Genovese | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

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Hudson: Blazin' Cattle 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; my favorite is the Blazin' Cattle, with pepper jack, fried pickles, spicy fermented slaw, pickled jalapenos, green leaf, sriracha mayo and topped with near-perfect onion rings. Burger nirvana. There are also locations in Montclair, Edgewater and Closter.

Runners-up: Bankrupt Burger, Left Bank Burger Bar, Jersey City; cheeseburger, Park Tavern, Jersey City. The Park Tavern, a great divey hangout away from downtown's hustle and bustle, makes excellent burgers and sandwiches.

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Amanda Marzullo I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

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Hunterdon: Black bean burger, Basil Bandwagon, Raritan Township

Hey, give me a big fat juicy beef burger any time, but every once in while you need to let a veggie burger in your life. The black bean burger at Basil Bandwagon is the most popular burger at the natural foods market; they go through about 300 a week. Made with black beans, garlic, corn, black pepper, chipotle pepper and cumin, it may not make you swear off beef, but it'll at least make you think about it.

Runner-up: Zeus burger, Clinton Station Diner, Union Township; Five-Alarm Whistle Burger, The Rail at Readington, Readington. That Five-Alarm burger is hot, take my word for it!

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Peter Genovese | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

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Mercer: New Mexico Burger, Bobby's Burger Palace, West Windsor

Bobby's Burger Palace, owned by celeb chef Bobby Flay, came in second in my ranking of burger chains. They let you do something that is practically unheard-of at a chain: you tell them how you want your burger cooked. The New Mexico Burger is abundant eye candy, with its neon red/purplish onions, roasted green chiles and queso sauce.

Runner-up: Social Burger, Trenton Social, Trenton; Cheeseburger, 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.

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Amanda Marzullo I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

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Middlesex: Stage Left Burger, Stage Left, New Brunswick

They once called it "the world' best cheeseburger.'' Now the cheeseburger at acclaimed Stage Left restaurant in New Brunswick is merely the "Stage Left Burger.'' It's still great. The meat's from DeBragga & Spitler, and the burgers are cooked on a wood-burning grill. You can taste the difference.

Runner-up: Pub Burger, Tumulty's Pub, New Brunswick; Bacon burger, Five Guys, North Brunswick. This chain definitely had a love/hate relationship with readers in our chain burger ranking. But these are good burgers, with top-notch rolls and fries.

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Saed Hindash I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

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Monmouth: Ader's Burger, Ader's Tavern, Union Beach

Burgers are a neighborhood bar staple, and one of the best ones out there is the burger at Ader's Tavern in Union Beach. The burger, like the bar and town, is blue-collar and no-nonsense: a good piece of meat on a sturdy roll. There are nine burgers, including the Gunnison Burger, a naked (no-bun) burger that pays homage to the state's only legal nude beach. The Ader's Burger, shown here, combines sauteed mushrooms, onions and Swiss cheese.

Runner-up: Down-N-Out Burger, The Speakeatery, Asbury Park; Barnacle Bill's, Rumson. A burger with the special cheddar cheese sauce is a must, and you can't beat the waterfront views.

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Amanda Marzullo I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

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Morris: Baked Brie Burger, The 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 also locations in Manasquan and Summit.

Runners-up: Double cheeseburger, The Habit Burger Grill, Parsippany. Southwest burger, Morris Tap & Grill. Morris Tap's chef, Eric LeVine (also of Paragon Tap & Table in Clark) offers creative takes on all-American fare, plus a standout beer selection.

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Saed Hindash I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

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Ocean: OC Burger, Old Causeway, Manahawkin

Skip the endless summer traffic into LBI and stop at The Old Causeway in Manahawkin, or its sister restaurant, Mud City Crab House, right next door. 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.

Runners-up: Five-Star Burger, Shore Fire Grille, Manahawkin; cheeseburger, Frankie's Bar & Grill, Point Pleasant Beach; cheeseburger, Sand Castle Diner, Beachwood. The Sand Castle offers NJ's best diner burger, to my mind.

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Alex Remnick | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

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Passaic: Kobe Burger, Zinburger, Clifton

Zinburger may lurk in the shadow of the burger chain giants, but Zinburger (five locations in N.J.) placed number three in my ranking of the state's best burger chains. Airy, spacious surroundings and a good beer/wine list make for an alternative to cramped, cookie-cutter chains. The Kobe burger, with cheddar cheese, wild mushrooms, lettuce and mayo on a good roll, is my favorite here. And don't forget to order one of the great shakes.

Runners-up: Rodeo Burger, The River of Beer, Bloomingdale; Angus burger, The Shepherd & the Knucklehead, Haledon. The Shep is NJ's best craft beer bar, and the food's quite good.

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Salem: Pattyscakes Burger, EMS Cafe, Quinton

Luke and Bethanne Patrick, owners of the EMS Cafe in Quinton, met at a 911 center, so the name was a natural, but it actually stands for Early Morning Start. Tuesday is Taco Tuesday, and there are potpies on Friday. Burgers are 1/3-pound; the Pattyscakes includes onion rings and fried pickles.

Runners-up: Burger with sharp provolone, Corner Bar, Pilesgrove; Angry Cheeseburger, Lapp's Dutch Market/Olympia Dairy Bar, Carneys Point. Why is that burger angry? Because it's topped with sriracha sauce, plus a fried egg and ketchup.

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Peter Genovese | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

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Somerset: Six-Alarm Burger, 25/30 Burgers, Branchburg

Most of the current 25 Burgers are transitioning to 30 Burgers, which means five more burgers on the menu and more tasty choices. The Six-Alarm Burger packs some serious heat, with jalapenos, salsa, pepper jack and chipotle mayo on an onion bun. Stop at the Branchburg location; it's the former Royal Diner, with the diner's retro look lovingly intact.

Runners-up: Beef/fried shrimp burger, Turf n Surf Burger Grill, Warren; Buffalo burger, Rocky Hill Inn, Rocky Hill. Buffalo is the other white meat, or dark meat, or something. It's better than you might think, and better for you, too.

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Sussex: Salt Burger, Salt, Byram

Bradley Boyle is the tattooed, craft beer-loving owner of Salt who opens his restaurant on Thanksgiving Day for a community dinner. The day-to-day menu goes well beyond the predictable bar standards, with poutine, crawfish hush puppies, goat croquettes and bangers and mash among the choices. There's a Tofu Burger, but carnivores will opt for the Salt Burger, a six-ouncer on a brioche roll with a side of sriracha aioli and hand-cut fries.

Runner-up: Cheeselovers' Burger, Sparta Classic Diner, Sparta. Edible Napalm Burger, Flying Monkey Cafe, Vernon. Two beef patties with ghost pepper sauce, jalapenos and pepperjack. You've been warned.

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Amanda Marzullo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

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Union: Muenster cheeseburger, Loaded, Garwood

Not long ago, Loaded in Garwood was one of those closely-guarded local secrets. Sorry, word's out. Known primarily for its barbecue, the pleasantly divey hangout has acquired a rep in the burger world; it was a finalist in our N.J.'s best burger showdown two years ago. You can have your burger any way you want as long as you don't want lettuce; co-owner Jacob Han says the leafy stuff has no place on a burger. The burgers can stand on their own; the Muenster cheeseburger, shown here, is simple and classic.

Runners-up: Firehouse Burger, Hat Tavern, Summit; Wicked Bleu burger, Urban Burger, Cranford. The Wicked Bleu is the Eiffel Tower of burgers, four fat onion rings sending the sriracha and blue cheese-topped burger skyward.

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Warren: Grass-fed burger, Humpty Junior's, Columbia

Humpty Junior's is a cool, kitschy roadside hangout, the kind of place you want to pull up in your '57 Chevy. SUVs and compact cars welcome too, of course. You get a choice of grass or grain-fed burgers (who does that?), served on a soft potato roll with slaw and handcut fries. For those not in a burger frame of mind, try the smoked meatloaf grilled cheese or the veggie po' boy.

Runner-up: Alpine Burger, Sullivan's on the Main, Phillipsburg; Mad Daddy Attack, Marley's Gotham Grill, Hackettstown. The Mac Daddy is topped with diced onions, fried pickles, cheese, bacon and the horseradish-boosted Mac Daddy sauce.

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Peter Genovese | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Who makes the best burger in your county?

This is one burger fanatic's list of the best burger in each county. Now it's time to hear your favorites. Who makes the best burger in your county? What makes it special? Let us know in the comments section.

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Amanda Marzullo I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

More juicy stories about burgers!

N.J.'s 23 burger chains, ranked worst to best

The ten finalists in our N.J.'s best burger showdown

This is the state's biggest burger

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