Burger Joint NYC Review 2026: Is This New York's Best Burger Anymore?

Around day five of our New York honeymoon, we ventured to what's often hailed as one of

New York's top three burger spots: Burger Joint.

I distinctly remember it being called 'Brooklyn Burger Joint' in the past... 🤔

We visited during the holiday season, on Christmas Day, and I was worried about finding any restaurants open. Luckily,

Burger Joint was open on Christmas Day!

During my first trip to the US back in 2012, I tried all the popular burger joints, and each one was (deliciously) shocking. Thinking back to that experience, this visit just didn't quite hit the same mark.

Here's my slightly disappointing review of Burger Joint in New York ;<

📍Google Maps Link

⏱️Daily 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM

💰For two people: $58

✅️Great to combine with a visit to Central Park or 5th Avenue (Apple Store)

✅️Not as mind-blowing as it was 14 years ago... honestly, it tastes like something you could get in a great burger joint back home. LOL

✅️Open even on Christmas Day in New York!

1. Where is Burger Joint located inside the hotel?

Burger Joint has a rather unique location: it's nestled inside a hotel.

You'll find it on the first floor of the Thompson Central Park Hotel (Hyatt).

We accidentally entered through a side door instead of the main entrance. I looked around, thinking, "Where is it?" when a hotel staff member saw me, I just said "Burger???" and they pointed me in the right direction.

I'm sure many visitors find themselves a bit lost, just like us! LOL

On the left, you see a coffee shop-like space within the hotel. Walk past that, and you'll find stairs as shown in the right photo.

Behind those striking red velvet curtains at the top of the stairs, you'll discover Burger Joint, a true New York gem!

It's amazing how the atmosphere completely transforms once you step inside, despite being within a hotel, right?

2. Insider Tip for Burger Joint NYC: Grab a Seat First!

This tip really only applies if you're visiting with a group, but it's crucial...

As you can see, it gets incredibly crowded! However, it operates more like a fast-casual spot than a full-service restaurant. You order, pick up your food, and then find your own seat. In other words, it's NOT a traditional restaurant!

We even saw people occasionally eating while standing because they couldn't find a table.

Since it was Christmas Day, fewer restaurants were open in New York, which likely made it even more packed. But just looking at the crowd, it's clear it's always popular with tourists.

So, if you're going with several people, definitely split up! Have one person order while another secures a table to make your visit as efficient as possible ⭐

3. Our Burger Joint New York Order

Burger Joint offers a total of four burger options, excluding their vegan choice:

the classic Hamburger, Cheeseburger, and double versions of each.

Beyond that, they have a selection of side dishes (fries, sweet potato fries, coleslaw, etc.), along with beverages and alcoholic drinks.

Since we'd had a late breakfast/snack earlier, we ordered a classic Hamburger and a Cheeseburger,

along with Sweet Potato Fries and two drinks. The total came to $58, and I don't believe we added a tip, given the self-service nature.

4. Honest Review: Burger Joint, One of New York's Top 3 Burgers

We waited about 30 minutes after ordering. So, it really paid off to grab a table first, didn't it?

The place was busy, and they start cooking the patties fresh after you order, which likely contributed to the wait time.

This is the classic Hamburger I ordered.

Since it was day five of our trip to the US, I was trying to avoid anything too greasy or salty, so I skipped the cheese. Haha.

The components are pretty standard: a bun with a patty, lettuce, onion, tomato, and pickles.

This is my husband's Cheeseburger. The sauce is visible here because of the angle... haha.

As I mentioned in the title and introduction, it was a perfectly fine burger, but nothing exceptionally delicious!

It wasn't bad, but when I first visited New York 14 years ago, I felt the patties were truly exceptional. This time, even the patty tasted quite ordinary...

My husband even commented, "Wait, *this* is one of New York's top three burgers?" Haha. So, it's a decent spot if you're looking for somewhere to eat on Christmas Day when other options are scarce, or if you want a burger in the US but don't want to resort to McDonald's. It's just not the mind-blowing experience it once was.

However, the sweet potato fries were delicious!

ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

And considering they cost ~$10, they certainly should be, right?

Burger Joint used to be considered a must-visit spot on any New York trip, hailed as one of the city's top three burger joints. But based on our honest experience, it seems it might not quite live up to that reputation anymore. :>