Bashar A.

Clean and comfortable place with very friendly service, especially Layla—she was amazing. I ordered the single classic smash burger, single grilled onion burger, chili dog, fries, and a half iced tea / half lemonade. Everything was excellent. The burgers were juicy and tasty, the fries and chili dog were great, and the drink was refreshing. Prices are fair for the quality and portions. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a classic American burger in NYC.

+3

Alexander Hur

Very welcoming atmosphere, the employees were very friendly. The George Motz's fried onion burger was a good smash burger, the onion were savory and sweet. The monthly special being the chili dog was simple but tasty. Fries reminded me of freshly fried McDonald's fries, which is a good thing. A bit pricey but overall a good time and experience to be had.

Peter Goodman

Hamburger America is a masterclass in doing the basics exceptionally well. This is classic Americana executed with precision—no gimmicks, no distractions, just honest food made with care. The burgers are the clear star: thin, griddled patties with a deep, savory crust, perfectly melted cheese, and soft buns that hold everything together without getting in the way. Every bite tastes intentional, balanced, and deeply satisfying. It’s the kind of burger that reminds you why simplicity, when done right, always wins. The atmosphere matches the menu—unpretentious, energetic, and welcoming. There’s a palpable respect for burger history and craft, but it never feels precious or forced. Service is friendly, efficient, and genuinely enthusiastic, adding to the sense that this place knows exactly what it is and leans into it confidently. Hamburger America isn’t trying to reinvent the burger; it’s preserving and perfecting it. For anyone who appreciates classic flavors, quality execution, and a place with real personality, this is an absolute must-visit.

Damien Ward

I had a great experience at Hamburger America. The staff was friendly and welcoming, which made the visit even better. The food was really good. I ordered a classic burger with fries, and everything was cooked perfectly. I also added a chili dog and another burger to go, and both were just as delicious. The prices were reasonable for the quality and portion sizes. I’d definitely come back again.

Greg Treadway

I don't think a hamburger can get much better than this. Great time and great food. We got burgers, a chester sandwich, fries and lemonade and it was all fantastic. Service was quick, we only waited a few minutes and got to sit counter side and watch them cook. Thanks for the great service and one of the best burgers we have ever had.

+1

Alan and Deirdre Forever

For first-timers, the Fried Onion Burger is a must-try. The fried onions elevate the flavor profile of the burger and pair beautifully with the patty. Sitting at the counter to watch the chefs cook seems to be the popular choice, though it’s best suited for individuals or couples. The space is relatively small, but service is quick and the turnover is reasonable—as long as patrons are mindful not to linger, especially with first-come, first-served seating arrangement.

+1

Kongphop Attakowitwitaya

I visited Hamburger America and ordered the fried onion burger with fries and a Coke, and I loved it. The burger was juicy and flavorful, with perfectly caramelized onions that added a great balance of sweetness and savoriness. Simple, classic, and done right. The fries were crisp and well-seasoned, and the Coke just completed the meal in the best way. What really stood out to me was the atmosphere — the place was clean, welcoming, and well-kept, which made the whole experience even better. No frills, no overthinking — just really good American comfort food in a great setting. I’d happily come back again.

Kevin Drost

I had George Motz’s Fried Onion Burger, and it lived up to every bit of the hype. The burger was simple, classic, and perfectly executed — crispy smash patties, sweet grilled onions smashed right into the beef, and a soft bun that held everything together without getting in the way. Every bite was packed with flavor. What makes this place even cooler is the story behind it. George Motz went on a journey across the country searching for the perfect burger, and that search led him to the Oklahoma Fried Onion Smash Burger. During the Great Depression, onions were added to stretch the beef, and it ended up creating one of the most flavorful burger styles ever. Hamburger America brings that history to life, and you can really taste the passion and respect for the craft in the food. The vibe is casual and nostalgic, service is friendly, and everything feels intentional — no frills, just great burgers done right. If you’re in NYC and want a true classic burger with a story behind it, Hamburger America is absolutely worth the stop.

Saminda Wijegunawardena

An epic quality burger that just nails it for a fraction of the price of what you'd pay for something close but not as good as this. . My friend and I tried single patty versions of the smash burger, fried onion burger, and the green chile cheeseburger and they were all very good, with the standouts being the fried onion burger and the smash burger in that order. Shoestring fries are excellent, and while we didn't try the drink options like the various flavored milks or the sweets, I'm sure they are excellent. Service is solid and swift, and the place is laid out well with counter seating in the main kitchen area or in the side area which has two tops, booths for 4-5 people, and some more high counter seating. We got there at 1130am on a Sunday and it was fairly chill, but it was packed and overflowing with people by noon. Highly recommended.

+2

Howard Grimberg

Hamburger America is the real deal. Forget the crazy NYC prices and fancy nonsense—this place delivers seriously great burgers. I just crushed the monthly special, the New Mexico Green Chile Burger, and it was absolutely outstanding; the chile had a perfect kick. Honestly, though, you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. I've had a few of their regular options before, and they are all consistently top-tier. It's so refreshing to get this kind of quality right here in the city without feeling ripped off. The pricing is totally fair by NYC standards, which is a huge plus. Hats off to George Motz for taking his book research and turning it into a real, tangible experience. This isn't just a restaurant; it’s a tribute to the perfect American hamburger. If you love simple, expertly cooked smash burgers, you need to be here.

Sabahat Ali

I have to admit that when it comes to the classic American hamburger, as somebody who lives and grew up in North America I’ve had so many from so many different places and so many cities across Canada and the United Kingdom, and of course, all across the United States and even places like Germany and across Europe, that when someone claims that they have the best hamburger, I am insufferably sceptical. So when one of my friends kept harping on me that we have to check this place out during our trip to New York City, I walked in with a stomach full of scepticism with very little room left for Hope. If you know what I’m talking about, you’ll know the familiar feeling of disappointment when you sink your teeth into yet another burger that looks beautiful on the outside, but just failed to deliver in one fundamental aspect or another. However, I can definitively say that this place demolished my scepticism within the first bite. I literally could not fault it for anything. It was seasoned phenomenally. It was cooked beautiful. The ratio of bun to cheese to meet was elite. The caramelization of the onions was on point. The people who greeted us were genuinely excited to have us there and for me that makes all the difference. Those who took our order were friendly, not only with us, but with their fellow colleagues, and that is so important. To be very honest, if someone ask me: is this the best burger in America? I would say it might very well be. I’ve had the so-called best contenders like Emily’s. I think this is simply a better burger because it’s not trying to be anything more than an honest-to-goodness all American burger.

Hermes Arriola

Went here with a few co-workers as one of them mentioned to me that they always wanted to go and if I knew about it and I said, you kidding me, dude?! YOU KIDDING ME? Mr. HAMBURGER HIMSELF?!!! Yeaaaaah duuuuuude. Let’s gooooooooo! I mean, we all know why we are here. It’s for the most passionate, well-educated, burger scholar himself, George Motz! I loved watching his takes on burgers across America. It’s great to finally taste them in person. I love a great smash burger. I prefer them over regular beefy burgers, to be quite honest. The food is great, the vibe is great. It does tend to get crowded, which is very understandable. We didn’t have to wait for a table as we sat outside and it was starting to get a bit chilly. It was tolerable enough. I love this place.

+1

Ian Jindal

A must-visit for smash burger fans. It’s a venue of three parts - the diner experience (stools, watching the chefs), takeaway/outside seating and then a dining room. Experience varies. We waited for a bar stool, but if I were a regular here I wouldn’t bother. Service is really sprightly and very friendly. Quite a job to keep shuffling tourists and brusque regulars in order! Slim menue with specials. If you don’t like smash burgers in pappy brioche don’t visit. If you do they’re excellent. Unseasoned patties (just the beef) give a distinctive bolognese-with-the-sauce beefy taste. They are hailed as the world’s best but I’m not so sure. I prefer more seasoning and sauce, but for what they are they are spot on, consistent and not too big. Glad I visited, great as a one-off, but if I were a regular I’d need to find a time/way to limit queuing.

+5

The valve addict

One of the best smash burger that I had. The advice is very friendly and efficient. I sat at the counter for an unobstructed view of the action in the kitchen. All burgers are made to order, right in front of you. The George Motz’s fried onion burger was delicious, the onion brought some sweetness to balance the richness of the cheese and complementing the beef patty, all staked between 2 buttered soft brioche like buns. The shoestring fries are crispy and portion quite sizeable. Overall a very good experience and delicious burger!

Fire burger with a classic diner ambiance. The classic burger was our favorite but cool to see the expansive menu.

Fire burger with a classic diner ambiance. The classic burger was our favorite but cool to see the expansive menu.

got there early on a sunday, there was no line, seats were available, and george motz himself was working the grill. still thinking about how amazing the burger and fries were. highly recommended

I love this place! It was so worth the trip. I didn't expect it to have such an endearing retro atmosphere and I'm in love with the salad plate option (2 dollops of egg and tuna salad and ritz crac…

Hamburgers here came out quick and were made to perfection. The meat was nice and tender and the flavors complimented each other nicely. The fries paired well with the burgers and the pickles on th…

Take a step back in time to this very classic looking burger joint. Lots of seating- outdoor, dining room and counter seating. I sat at the counter and had full view of the grill. \nThe menu is not…

This was the best burger we had all weekend. The place is paaackkked. You walk in wait in line to order at the counter. We ordered to go, although we wanted to sit inside. They work pretty quick to…

Amazing smash burger. Ordered the George Motz fried onion double burger with cheese. Cool old school diner vibes. Came around 1pm on Friday and only waited maybe 5 minutes to get to the register to…

Everything we were looking for in a burger. They have gluten free buns, too! Loved the service, which was speedy and knowledgeable. We wanted to try it all so we shared all three available burgers,…

Seen a video of this place and had to try it when I returned to NYC. It’s truly is the best burger I’ve ever tasted less is defo more George Motz knows how to do the perfect burger. Staff outstanding…

Seen a video of this place and had to try it when I returned to NYC. It’s truly is the best burger I’ve ever tasted less is defo more George Motz knows how to do the perfect burger. Staff outstan…

I'm a fan of George Motz from his appearances on First We Feast so I knew on my first trip to New York I had to try Hamburger America and I was not disappointed. I was lucky enough for there to be sp…

I'm a fan of George Motz from his appearances on First We Feast so I knew on my first trip to New York I had to try hamburger America and I was not disappointed. I was lucky enough for there to be …

We showed up expecting to wait in line, but fortunately, for the brief moment we showed up there wasn't one. We ordered a classic and the onion burger, and they were absolutely incredible. No doubt, …

We showed up expecting to wait in line, but fortunately, for the brief moment we showed up there wasn't one. We ordered a classic and the onion burger, and they were absolutely incredible. No dou…

We showed up expecting to wait in line, but fortunately, for the brief moment we showed up there wasn't one. We ordered a classic and the onion burger, and they were absolutely incredible. No doubt…

Fantastic smash burgers. Our table tried both the onion and classic smash along with a side of fries. Burgers were cooked to perfection and reasonably priced. Great atmosphere that is clearly a loc…

Fantastic smash burgers. Our table tried both the onion and classic smash along with a side of fries. Burgers were cooked to perfection and reasonably priced. Great atmosphere that is clearly a loc…

Amazing burgers the way they should be. This place is so good. It’s worth waiting for a seat by the chefs. Fantastic quick meal if you’re in the area.

I got a double fried onion burger and some fries. The burger is a great take on a classic smash (of course with the onions adding some sweet depth). The patties are clearly made with good quality beef for the price point, and they had a pretty good seared crust on them. The texture of the bun was perfect for the meat - soft and squishy but not to the point where it's all falling apart. I will say though, I thought the burger could have used more seasoning (especially salt), and was vastly improved when I added some salt, hot sauce, and the pickles. All in all it's a great smash, but I've had better in the city (I hate to say it, but I think smashburger does them best 😭. This place was a lot better than Gotham imo though). The fries were awesome actually, perfectly thin and crispy! Also needed more salt imo but that was an easy fix. The atmosphere also had a really cute diner vibe which I liked a lot. Sitting at the counter looks like it's more fun but I brain farted when talking to the staff so I ended up in the back. (Def request the counter, don’t be like me 😭)

Hamburger America lives up to the wall clipping that describes it as a “late night downtown greasy burger joint”; and that’s meant as a compliment. The space may evoke that vibe, but it’s immaculately clean with an attentive staff. I came in for lunch, grabbed a seat at the bar, and was taken care of by Christian at the front. He was delightful, attentive, and, dare I say, plucky guy. He even happily snapped a photo with visiting guests. I ordered the fried onion burger, which absolutely delivers on the onion and fully embraces that “greasy” descriptor in the best way. Personally, I’d probably add lettuce and tomato next time (assuming that’s an option) because I’m a bit of a traditionalist, but the burger itself was undeniably delicious. The fries were solid, but not really a standout. I went with water, though honestly a soda might’ve completed the classic experience. All in all, a great spot to pop into for a seriously satisfying burger.

Amin Sameni

Classic lunch‑counter style burger spot in SoHo with a nostalgic diner vibe and a focused menu of smash burgers, including the fried onion option George Motz is known for. Burgers are flavorful and well prepared, but portions are small, so go for double patties if you’re a big eater. Staff are friendly, and it’s a fun, casual stop if you’re in the area.

+14

Nicolas Arbelaez

We ordered the house special with the fried onions. The burger itself was delicious and definitely worth a try! The space is a bit tight but nothing too different to what you find in similar joints around NYC. Be prepared to wait circa 20-25 minutes for the burger once ordered and to fight for a table!

Marley Bee

We love coming here but it can get crowded really fast. The counter is almost always full and you have to wait for a table if you want to sit. The food comes out quick and hot. If you do sit, they run the food to your table which is nice. The monthly specials are quirky and delicious. However, recently they have been repeating monthly specials. Price wise, it's better than Shake Shack, however prices did increase since the restaurant first opened but that's probably because of good sales. A nice tourist spot and in walking distance of trains. If you like burgers I'd come here?!

Diana L

Excellent food. I had the fried onion burger with fries and they were hot and fresh and delicious. The burger was good without being greasy. The seating is a bit weird. If you want full service, then you can request to sit at the counter. Otherwise you can order, pick up your food, and find your own table inside or outside. We opted for counter-service but it was confusing who was also waiting since they didn't take names and relied on shuffling people around the wait area. There's the main counter where you can watch them prepare the food, and then there's a purgatory corner completely opposite where you just face the wall. The problem is no one wants to sit there. We wanted to get the good view but finally just gave up because a 10-minute wait turned into a 30-minute wait and we were hungry. The food was great but the seating was weird. Definitely try to go when it's not peak Saturday night dining to have a better seat and shorter wait.

This may not be a gourmet looking burger but it for sure will hit the spot if you are looking for a great tasting one. Get the burger and double it! Both their fried onion and original smash bur…

This may not be a gourmet looking burger but it for sure will hit the spot if you are looking for a great tasting one. Get the burger and double it! Both their fried onion and original smash burger a…

decided to pop in for a quick lunch on a chilly Sunday afternoon. the place is packed! you can choose to sit at the full-service counter or do self-service and find your own seats. we opted for self-…

Decent burger and fries. Nothing crazy special but if you want a tasty burger that's better than a fast food chain, it works.\nIt was a little chaotic to order because they don't have good …

Decent burger and fries. Nothing crazy special but if you want a tasty burger that's better than a fast food chain, it works.\nIt was a little chaotic to order because they don't have good line m…

Decent burger and fries. Nothing crazy special but if you want a tasty burger that's better than a fast food chain, it works.\nIt was a little chaotic to order because they don't have good line man…

I had their fried onion burger, and for the price, definitely felt like it's well priced especially for the location! Eating it, I can definitely taste the onions of the burger! However, after I …

Went here on a Saturday afternoon and it was very busy. The bar was around a 15 minute wait, but we opted to order at the register and find our own seats. We ordered the classic smashburger, the fr…

Great service with how busy and packed. Great history all over the walls and feel to the whole place. Great variety of food and styles of burgers. Loved some choices more than other.

Loved the casual counter service yet cute diner vibe to enjoy the meal. The onion burger was definitely a bit overrated; didn't taste all that special and portion was pretty small. Overall still ve…

We heard about the place and had to try it. It was very refreshing to arrive at a place where you don't need a reservation, there's no lines of people waiting to get in, the place was clean, spacio…

Solid 3.5. \n\nI love the old school diner vibes and the sign stating no books or newspaper at the counter. Yay for eating and getting out asap so someone else can get a seat. \n\nThe server was nice…

Fried onions on the fried onion burger were burnt to a crisp. service is slow, even without a line. A decent burger, but quality does not align with Motz's view of his expertise. A better internet …

The burger, fries and soda here are almost as good as at a McDonald's, at three times the price. And the service is execrable. Spare yourself.

The burger and fries are comparable to Burger King's, only much more expensive. And the service is slow, and the staff dim-witted. Do yourself a favor, and patronize an actual fast-food burger …

The food here is comparable to at Burger King, but waaaay more expensive. And the staff is completely clueless, and the service snail-paced, they have no business setting up shop in Manhattan. …

The burger and fries are comparable to Burger King's, only much more expensive. And the service is slow, and the staff dim-witted. Do yourself a favor, and patronize an actual fast-food burger jo…

The food here is comparable to at Burger King, but waaaay more expensive. And the staff is completely clueless, and the service snail-paced, they have no business setting up shop in Manhattan. Do…

The burger and fries are comparable to Burger King's, only much more expensive. And the service is slow, and the staff dim-witted. Do yourself a favor, and patronize an actual fast-food burger jo…