Those burgers are downright beautiful. They are mouthwateringly gorgeous. They are a magnificent credit to their race. 

To anyone who has been there;  how large are the burgers there?  They seem to be quite small, and the price seems reasonable, even if they are small. 

MH - They do look incredible!  The onions seem reminiscent of ones at White Hut in Springfield, MA.

The burgers ARE small, but not as small as you'd think (not like White Castle, for instance).  In its own small way there's actually a little heft to the sandwich.  I find that the onions dominate, which isn't a complaint, but to my taste ketchup and pickle chips bring it all into balance.

There are a lot of places similar in New Jersey. There is the White Mana (only one n) in Jersey City, a couple of White Diamonds, and the White Rose System. The Clark White Diamond in Clark is actually on my mail route. These places all use fresh meat that has been shaped into a ball. It's flattenned out and cooked on the griddle. I think they use 2 for a bigger burger which is served on a hard roll with poppy seeds. Personally I prefer the White Rose in Roselle. There is no better fast food burger. I get the large bacon cheese burger with ketchup and pickles. Much heftier than White Diamond which seems like it has less meat and more bun.

A large bacon cheeseburger and an order of fries is a good filling meal that is a great followup to a night drinking beer and watching a movie at home.

any resemblance between these and the ones found at Crabill's, MH?

TJ Jackson


any resemblance between these and the ones found at Crabill's, MH?

I don't think so. Crabill's doesn't grill the chopped onions they add, and I'd say, based on the photos, the White Manna burgers are bigger.
 
But thanks for the reminder. It's about time for a trip to Urbana.

Odd - I cannot imagine a slider-style burger without grilled onions

You should ask them if they will grill the onions for you on your next stop down there

TJ Jackson


Odd - I cannot imagine a slider-style burger without grilled onions

You should ask them if they will grill the onions for you on your next stop down there

I don't know where they'd be able to grill onions at Crabill's. The side of the flattop where they initially cook the patties is covered with patties, and the other side with the deep grease couldn't be used for onions. Besides, I like those burgers with the chopped raw onions.

Be sure to go with a double at WM.  IMO, the potato bun smoothers a single.

In case the picture on the main page of Roadfood changes, this is the link to the subject of this thread:

http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Overview.aspx?RefID=6392
 
About that article: The prices seem to be off in that the hamburgers and cheeseburgers are the same price. It looks like those in the picture are small (Single) hamburgers NOT large (Double) hamburgers. Doubles come on a hard roll.

This is a picture that I took of 3 SMALL hamburgers that I bought today at the Roselle White Rose. They are on a 9” white plate and the hamburgers in the Roadfood article above are on a 9” paper plate. Same roll size. I took mine home so I couldn’t move the patties around on the buns. Left is a cheeseburger and right is fried onions. The one in the back is plain.



All small hamburgers are $1.30, and with cheese, $1.60. Doubles that come on a hard roll are $2.60 plus $.30 for cheese.



In these types of restaurants the burger meat is pre-formed into single hamburgers. They are shaped like small hockey pucks, one wad of hamburger for a single and two wads for a double. They put them on the grill and squish it (Single) or them (Double) to make the hamburger. For the first 40 years or so of their operation you ordered a single or a double, now you order a small or a large.

Having past the White Mana on Tonnele Ave. (Rt. 1&9) in Jersey City many times I finally stopped in to taste a burger. It was no different than any other hamburger that you can get from any White Rose or White Diamond in NJ. I’ve also past this Hackensack one many times but never bothered to stop because it is so tiny.

This is a very nice report done in June 2008 about the 2 White Manas:

White Mana
 

It's not clear to us if Food_Fan is speaking of White Manna or the other burger places, but just to clarify: White Manna's hamburgers and cheeseburgers, rounded to the nearest dollar (that's the way Roadfood.com's menu pricing works) are $1 (we're not certain these are the latest prices, but a burger is 95 cents and a cheeseburger is $1.05).
 
Both the single and the double are served on potato rolls; the double is not served on a hard roll.  The various White Roses, White Diamonds, and the White Mana in Jersey City may have certain similarities to each other, and to the White Manna in Hackensack, but they are not the same, and they are owned and operated independently from each other.  Taste is personal, and nobody is right or wrong about their preferences, but as we see it the burgers vary greatly from one to the next.

In one of the Weird New Jersey magazines, they have an article about the two White Mana places in New Jersey as well as photos.

 I wasn't quite sure the picture on the home page was of burgers. Looks more like some kind of bbq from a plastic tub to me! I guess what looks like shreds of pork swimming in sauce are really grilled onions!

A couple of years ago my wife and I did the 2 White Man(n)a's in the same day to get a good take on a comparison. We both agreed the Hackensack burger was far tastier.

The one in JC used to have a 24 hour a day webcam of the counter area. It was fun to occasionally check on what was going on at like 3AM on a Saturday night. The webcam no longer seems to be in operation.

I always ask for mine medium rare
 
If you like this type of burger, they've been there a long time and have lots of fans...
 
A nice fresh ball of meat smashed down to smithereens.  I've seen this cooking concept PROUDLY done as far away as Columbia, Mo at Boochies..Supposedly a "great burger joint"that is a college type bar..It's as much a cooking process as it is a fast food type of burger. Hey, lots of people like it.
 
I really think we need two top 10 lists for burgers...Why not have a list of the top 10 thin type burgers..Say 1/4 lb or less and a list of the top 10 thick burgers..Say 1/2 lb or more.   White Manna makes lots of these top 10 lists. 
 

I don't think you can get a true slider medium rare, given the size of the burger in question

Yes, I know that.  I was being sarcastic.  I don't like well done burgers and consequently I do not like thin burgers.  I know lots of people do though.

But, I do love White Castles....A exception.

Amen!!!

This is a blog with some pictures of the Hackensack White Mana hamburgers. (Child advisory – language!)

You will see pictures, like mine, of what the small hamburgers look like after you get them home.
 
Scroll down to the picture of the grill that is filled with cooking hamburgers and CLICK on the picture. When the very large picture opens, scroll to the BOTTOM RIGHT CORNER of the picture. You will see that the entire grill is filled with small hamburgers and that there is ONE DOUBLE HAMBURGER on the grill. That is the one that has the hard roll/Kaiser roll sitting over it as it cooks.
 
The only way that I see that this White Mana differs from the one in JC and the White Roses and White Diamonds is that they put a very large amount of sliced onions on the hamburgers that they make with fried onions. (I wonder if Beano is on the menu) That, and it looks that they may use a slight bit more hamburger than the others.
 
A couple of 2 min. White Manna videos:

White Manna, Hackensack NJ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zanf2vJXwfE

Anatomy of a Masterpiece - The White Manna Cheeseburger.

Please note that he is making small hamburgers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEccdJKg7sQ

Despite all that, several reviewers have made is clear that the White Manna burger is far better than White Rose and/or White Diamond.

You think they're the same, and that's fine, you are entitled to your opinion

TJ Jackson


Despite all that, several reviewers have made is clear that the White Manna burger is far better than White Rose and/or White Diamond.

You think they're the same, and that's fine, you are entitled to your opinion

If you don't mind, and if you have the time, would you show me where these reviews are located?

I've been eating these hamburgers since 1965 and I am always interested in learning from other people's experience.

Thanks.

Food_Fan


This is a blog with some pictures of the Hackensack White Mana hamburgers. (Child advisory – language!)

What blog?

Bruce Bilmes and Sue Boyle

Food_Fan


This is a blog with some pictures of the Hackensack White Mana hamburgers. (Child advisory – language!)

What blog?

Thanks for the heads up!

I didn't notice that I forgot to add the URL when I posted. I went back and made a few changes but could not get rid of the bold in the last sentence so I changed it's color.

Food_Fan

Scroll down to the picture of the grill that is filled with cooking hamburgers and CLICK on the picture. When the very large picture opens, scroll to the BOTTOM RIGHT CORNER of the picture. You will see that the entire grill is filled with small hamburgers and that there is ONE DOUBLE HAMBURGER on the grill. That is the one that has the hard roll/Kaiser roll sitting over it as it cooks.

I don't see a hard roll in that picture. 

Aw geez...I lived and worked in Maywood for a year and didn't know about White Manna!  My loss!

Foodfan - Thanks for the youtube heads up.  Terrific stuff whether you like the burger or not. So simple and yet so well thought out.  You gotta give credit where it's do.  Good for them! The kind of place eveyone in the food business wishes he or she owned! I think the words are....... Cash Cow
Just wondered, if you said to the grill guy "Can you take my 4 off a little early?" What would happen?  Anyone been there and tried that?
 
I lived in BC lots of years and I never did..But, I should have!  
 
Hey, after you guys finish chomping down on those White Mannas and you  want something sweet for dessert (late morning or lunch) head north on River Road to the old Packard's Shopping Center (Now a Target) and make a left into their parking lot and come out the other side and on that road (I forget the name?  Maybe Anderson Ave?) just before the railroad tracks on your right is the B&W Bakery.......One of the very best..."Still, after all these years." It's all good there.
 
Real good pizza place up the road as well..Brooklyn Pizza...No slices though.  Not cheap, but very good.
 

Baah Ben


I always ask for mine medium rare
 
 
 
I really think we need two top 10 lists for burgers...Why not have a list of the top 10 thin type burgers..Say 1/4 lb or less and a list of the top 10 thick burgers..Say 1/2 lb or more.   White Manna makes lots of these top 10 lists. 
 

Your idea would eliminate any burgers between 1/4 and 1/2 lb. 

Baah Ben:

Is this the place you mean?

http://www.bwbakerynj.com/

I'm not real big on bakery items, but I have driven the 45 mile round trip to B&W for thier crumb cake, which is thier signature item. It is absolutely fabulous!

Of course, I make sure there's always time for a side trip to White Manna or some other eating stop,

I've never heard of B&W but it sounds like a good place. You might also give Mazur's in Lyndhurst a try.

Bruce Bilmes & Sue Boyle said:
                                    “I don't see a hard roll in that picture. “
 
I captured the lower right hand corner of the picture that I referenced above. I think that that large roll looks like a hard roll because of the creases in it. Anybody else have a judgment on this pic?
 

I think it's two rolls.

But the bigger point is: some of us have been there, multiple times.  And we know they do not serve double burgers on hard rolls.  It's a funny debate to have, given that you say you've never been there!

MD - Yup..Dat's da place...Thanks as usual for your effort.

Food Fan - I will go to Mazur's next month..Thanks for the heads up.  I do seem to recall them being famous for their wedding and birthday cakes?  Maybe I'm wrong about that.  But, I will try it.

Barely looks like a Kaiser roll...Tough to tell.  that grill is a thing of beauty.  Thanks for the pictures FF.  Terrific!

What I love about White Castles vs White Manna is the roll.  White Manna's potato roll has a completely different texture that I do not happen to like.  I just love those White Castle rolls. Krystals fall short..Not quite the same.   

White Castle has to either have a commissary and perhaps there is a distribution company like Sysco involved?  Or, maybe they have local bakery deals set up.  They may even come into a place like Sysco frozen.  Has anyone ever worked for them and knows how those rolls are baked and/or distributed?  How do they get to those locations each and every day?????????

I do love watching those sliced onions and cheese slices put on top of the White Mannas..What a freakin business!  But their rolls, for me, are a negative. 

Incidently, for those of you living within a Publix, they have potato dinner rolls, if you want to try and duplicate a White Manna burger.  Also, Arnolds makes a commercial potato hot dog and potato hamburger roll.  They are a bit large for duplicating a White Manna though.

I went to the White Manna in Hackensack the day before it was featured on Diners Drive-ins and dives on the food network. I still waited on line a good 45 minutes and ended up placing my order with two guys in front of me who I was talking to while waiting. As for taking the burgers off early, there is such a system to the way they cook them I think that would throw everything off. Someone asked for no onions and it was next to impossible to accomodate them. I ate at the White Mana in Jersey City and found the roll to be way too large for the size of the burger.

I'm thinking of doing a North/North Central Jersey eating tour in the next few weeks and was wondering how many White Diamond/ White Rose System places there are. I know about the ones in Highland Park and Clark. Where are the others?

Dave

My favorite place for a burger is the White Rose in Roselle. It's on 1st Ave. which is actually a continuation of South Ave. in Cranford and Roselle Park. Never been to the White Manna in Hackensack, but I was thinking of going. Since I always order everything with no onions, I think I'll pass. I agree with you concerning the White Mana in Jersey City.

White Diamond in Clark is ok; similar to White Rose, but White Rose is better in my opinion. Much more meat it seems, especially on the large bacon cheeseburger.

For what it's worth I agree with John. The Roselle White Rose's burger has just the right combination/size of roll, burger, toppings, and the meat iitself is very good.

Any thoughts/opinions of the White Rose (I think) in Highland Park outside of New Brunswick?

Dave

Hello all,
         Been busy doing some time consuming things. If you don’t mind I’d like to respond to various posts taking the last first.

DPuro329,
      I’ve only had the doubles at the Highland Park White Rose a couple of times. They come on a hard roll and pretty much taste like all the others to me.

The Highland Park, NJ White Rose was the first. Two brothers, Bob & Jack Hemmings and their cousin Jim Hemmings, founded it. They split up in 1971-72 and Bob Hemmings built the White Rose in Roselle, NJ and Jack Hemmings built the White Rose in Linden, NJ. The Highland Park one is much more famous because of it’s proximity to Rutgers University and New Brunswick.
 
Ken8038,
       I’ve never had a small (single) burger at any of these places so I went to the White Rose in Roselle and ordered 3 small burgers (Pictured on Pg. 1) just so I could take the pictures of them to post here for comparison to the White Manna small burgers. The double on the hard roll is a much better way to make a burger and really makes a difference in the taste. The only bad thing about the hard rolls is that sometimes they fit the burger and sometimes they’re too big.

Baah Ben,
         I was introduced to Mazur’s by an x-girlfriend and everything they made was superior at that time (Original owners). I can only hope that the recipes have been kept and are executed in the same manner. If they are, you will taste some really good bakery goods! I hope you enjoy your visit to NJ!
 
I think that White Castle is in a class by itself. I’ve investigated Krystal’s and can’t find a picture or video that shows the hamburgers cooking on the grill. Krystal’s bun is 1/3 thicker than White Castle’s bun but the hamburger seems to be the same thickness and shape. Like so many other chains, they’ve chosen not to enter the North East market.
 
Since White Castle was the first fast food chain they built their own bakeries and processing plants and even started a company that makes sheet metal products - PSP Company. http://www.psbcompany.com/aboutus.php
 
Bruce Bilmes & Sue Boyle,
          I have to say that I admire the fact that you would travel from Trenton to North Jersey to visit the White Manna and do your report on the Linden White Rose’s pork roll sandwich! (No sarcasm meant)
 
From looking at all the available pictures of White Manna hamburgers I see that they put doubles on the same small roll as the singles. I stand corrected. Out of the 8 similar diners they are the only one that does this.
 
Since I prefer doubles on a hard roll and have 2 White Roses and 1 White Diamond (and 2 White Castles) within a mile of me I don’t think that I would travel to Hackensack to stand in line at the tiniest of this type of diner to get what I’ve got right where I live. All my life I’ve eaten hamburgers that are prepared in the exact same manner as the White Manna in Hackensack and I guess that’s the reason that I don’t think so much of this highly publicized White Manna. Hey, no big deal, it just ain’t worth the trip for me
 
My point in challenging the revered status of the White Manna in Hackensack is that all the other 7 (Now 6)* diners that have the same physical set-up and cook the hamburgers in the same way** can’t be far off from the Hackensack Manna.
 
This is the same screen capture from page 1. I lightened it and I can’t tell what kind of roll the larger one is for sure. All I can see is that it’s larger by ½ in. than the rest. It looks like they’ve got some eggs frying under those same small rolls too.
 
.
 
I think that the White Manna in Hackensack’s hamburgers may well have a different flavor than the 7 others.
Those 7 other similar diners do not bury their hamburgers in huge amounts of onions, as does the Manna in Hackensack. The Hackensack Manna’s grill must be permeated with the massive amounts of onion that they use. That’s the only difference between Hackensack and all the others that I can discern.
 
* Steve’s White Diamond on Bayway Ave. in Elizabeth is gone so now there are only two White Diamonds.
 
** The White Diamond in Linden now uses fresh preformed round hamburgers. I took some pictures this past Sat. morning.

Food Fan - I'm totally with you on White Castles vs White Mannas..I love watching the White Mannas being made, but I love eating White Castles more.

Mazur's is heavy on wedding cakes as I did recall.  They have a beautiful website, if you are interested.  And, they are showing two of my very favorite bakery cakes..Seven Layer and Checkerboard.  Sadly in Central Florida they never heard of either!  I think they are too labor intensive for them?

I am going to try my best to get to Mazur's next month.  I may have to do Rutts Hut instead of Hirums (not such a bad sacrifice since I can get their terrific onion rings) and on the way back hit Mazur's for a 7 layer cake.   

I am going to check out their sheetmetal site.  Yeah, that is a specially made piece of equipment; their griddles.  Actually the entire kitchen is custom stuff.

Hey, one thing that really upset me the last time I was at the White Castle on Route 17..At lunch time, they were microwaving the buns!  I asked the manager what the deal was?  He said when they are in a rush...I said "I'll wait for mine the way you use to do it"  So, I have no idea if this was a Rogue Manager or something you've found in other White Castles lately?  I hope not!  They do an amazing business at that Route 17 location... 

Could they have been microwaving cheeseburgers to melt the cheese?

I don't order cheeseburgers very often and I remember the little steam boxes they had to melt the cheese on them. Maybe they use microwaves now?

Food_Fan,
You knowledge is very impressive. I enjoy White Castles on occasion, have never been to Krystals, enjoyed the burgers at White manna in Hackensack, didn't enjoy the burger at the White Mana in Jersey City (bun too big for the burger, but it was a single, maybe a double would have been better?) and I have to get up to Northern Central Jersey to try the White Diamonds and White Roses.

Dave

Food-Fan - are you referring to the little stainless steel boxes?

I only saw the microwave being used.  I said something immediately to the effect I did not want mine done that way and asked if they had changed their process.  The manager came out and told me when they are busy at lunch time they did this.  I said I would wait and that I wanted mine done the way I'd always seen them done. 

This was two years ago so I have no idea what to expect this time...I only get to have them when I am in NJ.  Some trips, I don't get to White Castle.

DPuro - I don't think they have Krystals in NJ?  I think they concerntrate in the South.  I know they have a website and I'm sure they mention their locations. 

They have good service at the one I go to.  If you go inside, you order, receive a table sign with your number, and they bring your order to you.  There is a person constantly cleaning the tables and they are all dressed well.   

The nearest Krystal to NJ is in North Carolina.

Baah Ben,


Yesterday I called 1- 800- THE CRAVE and asked the woman who answered about microwave use – she had no clue. So today I stopped by the White Castle that’s nearest to me and they said they don’t use the microwave for heating the buns or hamburgers. They pointed out the two steamers that look like toaster ovens but have drawers instead of windows and said if people ask they’ll melt the cheese on the burger in them.
 
Since they sell frozen hamburgers there too, I’m thinking that guy might have been heating up frozen hamburgers and selling them as fresh.
 
Did you know that there’s a White Castle in Clifton? From where you will be it’s very easy to get to.
 
From Rt. 3 W you get on the Parkway N and get off at the next exit onto Rt. 46 E and stay in the right lane. As Rt. 46 turns to the left you keep going strait onto Piaget Ave. for two blocks and it will be on the corner of Piaget Ave. and Main Ave. on your right. If you want to go back to Rt. 3 from there you can hit Hanks Franks on 46 E. and then The Hot Dog House on 17 S. on your way back to Rt. 3

This map shows the Krystal’s & White Castle Locations.

I know Hank's Franks very well.  It has been there for 40-50 years!!! Amazing staying power.

I'm staying in Hackensack and so the WC in Hasbrouck Heights on Rt 17 is closest.  I may or may not get to it this trip.  I've made myself quite an agenda and plan in being in NYC most of the time or in Philly. 

If I do go, I will see if they still have the microwave.  I remember exactly where it was placed (to the far left of the counter area).  It's been two years.  

The Hot Dog House?  That one I do not remember.  Is it near the little steak place?  Another tiny building on Rt 17 (west side of the road) that's been there forever.  They use A-1 steak sauce with their steaks.  Near the Meadowlands Diner?

Baah Ben,
 
From Rt. 46 take Rt. 17 South and you will pass an open area on the right (Ball fields) and then a large restaurant.
 
When you see the large restaurant and parking lot on the right The Hot Dog House will be the very next building on the Berry St. corner. The Hot Dog house is the size of a one-car garage and in the picture below is the mustard yellow building with the long fence to the right of it.
 
You can see The Hot Dog House  here and the large restaurant by moving this Google view.

FoodFan - Thanks......

I've eaten at the White Manna in Hackensack a few times, had the burgers with and without onions, never experienced a longer wait for the burgers without onions.

Baah Ben, the steak place next to the Dog House in Carlstadt is STeve's Sizzling STeaks one of the best in NJ ,IMHO, both are on route 17 South.

Baah Ben


The Hot Dog House?  That one I do not remember.  Is it near the little steak place?  Another tiny building on Rt 17 (west side of the road) that's been there forever.  They use A-1 steak sauce with their steaks.  Near the Meadowlands Diner?

Steve's Sizzling Steaks actually uses Maggi Seasoning on their steaks (not A1).  The stuff is dreadful, but people seem to love it. 

<<The stuff is dreadful, but people seem to love it.  >.

Not me, I agree with you, it's like an extra salty version of A1, if that's even possible. In fact Steve's was one of the worst steakshouse experiences I've had in the past 5 years. I've posted about it before, no need to go into it again.

apologies for getting off-topic...

To my mind Maggi is more like soy sauce or worcestershire than it is A1. A1 is primarily sweet, whereas Maggi is without a doubt salty.  Places like Steve's aren't great steakhouses.  They don't serve Prime steaks, and for that reason alone I don't consider them acceptable.  

Actually I read your post wrong, I was thinking of Worcestershire when I posted, as in "Extra Salty Worcestershire, if that's even possible".

OK, now back to the topic at hand....

My wife and I went on a little roadfood adventure yesterday in North Jersey. We were going to stop at White Manna in Hackensack but ended up skipping it because of time (and full bellys). We did however stop at the White Rose system in Roselle. Wow that was a good burger. I got a 1/4 cheeseburger on a nice soft kaiser roll absolutely delicious.

Dave

Steve's Sizzling STeaks serves great burgers as well , Sorry guys the sauce is not A1 or worcestershire and not Maggis either, I guess multi million dollar athelete's who can afford to eat at any resturant and choose STeve's  don't think it's that great either.

if it's not Maggi it's soy, or a combination.  regardless, that's the flavor profile and that's what we're trying to get across.  

if it wasn't such a crazy notion I'd say you are equating money with taste. 

I had to go look up what is in Maggi Seasoning Sauce.

Ingredients: water, hydrolyzed corn gluten and soy protein, salt, artificial flavor

"if it wasn't such a crazy notion I'd say you are equating money with taste. "

No, that's not what I was trying to imply, these atheletes have the money to eat at
any restaurant,and in this area, being so close to such great steak houses as Peter
 Lugers,The Palm, Wolfgangs,Smith & Wolenski,Ben Bensons,Flemings,Sparks and so on, a lot have said they think STeve's is great as well. Taste is very subjective and everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

Big G - You are correct. 

Nobody can deny Steve's is successful.  It has been there at least 35 years.

I just happen to agree with Tommyeats on this one.

Have you been to Jerry's in East Rutherford? 

Baah Ben,

Never been to Jerry's is it close to Giants's stadium. 

Yes..It's on East Rutherford Avenue.  Like Steve's, this place is very successful and has been there for at least 35 years.  Family owned and operated.  Not cheap!  Has a loyal following.

If you are looking for an Italian restaurant in that area, you might want to give it a try.  "Jessie's Salad" is one of their specialities. 

I'm still hoping someone will try Tracy's Nine Mile House in Little Ferry.

Baah,

Tracey's is apparently known more as a catering hall than a restaurant.  I've never heard anyone reference it as a restaurant in my years in Bergen county.  That's not to say they don't have lunch and dinner service (although their outgoing message when you call makes no reference to this), but by God that is certainly not a place that gets its name out there.  It doesn't even seem to have a working website (it's currently 2009, so this is, you know, odd). 

Jessie's salad had better be one hell of a salad to be one of Jerry's specialties.  I can only assume it's lettuce with "antipasto" on it.  Meats, cheeses, maybe some roasted red peppers.  Oil and vinegar, s/p/oregano.   If so, is it that different than any other Italian American restaurant salad?  Are they house curing their meats and getting their cheese from small local producers?