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White Manna

358 River Street, Hackensack, NJ - (201) 342-0914
Posted By Mike Iacoucci on 3/12/2009 1:55:00 PM
"Perfection" is the only way to describe the burgers you receive from White Manna in Hackensack. White Manna serves what is one of the greatest "slider" burgers that can be found anywhere, the perfect marriage of bun, meat, cheese, and, of course, onion.

With thousands of burgers served from a 15' by 30' diner, the atmosphere is somewhat chaotic: there's a line out the door into the parking lot, and the lucky few who manage to get inside are scattered all around, as there is about five feet between the door and the grill. Yet somehow through all of this, the grill runner manages to keep all of the customers' orders straight. What makes it amazing is that nothing is written down; the customers shout out their orders, some of them complex, and it all manages to work out somehow. I have tried to look at the grill to see if there is come kind of "code" to the layout that keeps the orders straight but I have yet to find one. There is only one rule to abide by when ordering: tell the grill person your burger order and NOTHING else. There is more staff stationed behind him or her; place your fry and drink orders with them.

The meat is fresh-ground beef that is shaped into tiny balls. When you place your order the ball is placed onto the grill (two balls for the doubles) and if ordering with onions an excessive amount of shoestring-cut onions are placed on top of the balls, and the two are smashed down with a metal spatula. After the burgers are turned, a slice of cheese (if ordered) is placed on top. Before the burgers are removed, the buns (potato of course) are opened and placed on top of the burgers to collect all of the grill steam and juices. All burgers are cooked well-done, but it doesn't matter: these are some of the juiciest, tastiest burgers you will ever eat!

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Scorecard

5 - Overall: Legendary - Worth driving from anyplace
Overall: Legendary - Worth driving from anyplace
Hamburger
Double Hamburger
Cheeseburger
Fries
Double Cheeseburger
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Reviewers Photos [Upload Your Photos]

The grill.  How can this genius manage to keep orders for thousands of burgers a day straight and make every one of them perfect?
"The grill. How can this genius manage to keep orders for thousands of burgers a day straight and make every one of them perfect?"
Seth Bogdanove





Double cheeseburgers in all their juicy glory.
"Double cheeseburgers in all their juicy glory."
Mike Iacoucci


Cell phone photo of a quartet of cheeseburgers, November, 2008.
"Cell phone photo of a quartet of cheeseburgers, November, 2008."
Michael Stern


Shot of the building from the parking lot.
"Shot of the building from the parking lot."
Mike Iacoucci



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