The building that became White Manna Hamburgers was first built for the 1939 New York World’s Fair in Flushing Meadows. It was purchased by Louis Bridges, moved to Hackensack, and opened on River Street in 1946. It has been there ever since — the same small stainless steel diner structure, the same flat-top grill, the same fresh extra-lean ground beef delivered daily, the same onion-smothered sliders on Martin’s Potato Rolls. White Manna appeared in Season 2, Episode 13 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives — “The New Jersey Diner Tour,” aired January 28, 2008 — and has also appeared on Best Thing I Ever Ate and Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations. It has been named New Jersey’s best burger by Tasting Table and is consistently on the short list of best slider joints in America.
Quick Facts
Restaurant: White Manna Hamburgers
City: Hackensack, New Jersey
Cuisine: Burgers
DDD Season: 2
DDD Episode: 13
Episode Title: The New Jersey Diner Tour
Original Air Date: January 28, 2008
Address: 358 River St., Hackensack, NJ 07601
Phone: 201-342-0914
Website: https://www.whitemanna.com/
Status: Open
About White Manna Hamburgers
The World’s Fair building came from the Paramount Dining Car Company of Oakland, New Jersey, in 1939 — one of two such structures that ended up becoming New Jersey slider institutions. The other is White Mana in Jersey City, a different restaurant with different ownership that shares the historical connection. The Hackensack location is the one that ends up on every burger list. It’s a small operation: a handful of stools at the counter, a flat-top grill you can watch from your seat, and a cook who knows exactly what he’s doing. The ordering process is simple. The burgers are small. You order several.
What to Eat at White Manna Hamburgers
The Sliders — fresh extra-lean ground beef, thinly sliced onions, cooked together on the flat-top until the onions steam the meat from above, then served on Martin’s Potato Rolls with your choice of cheese. Order at least four. The Cheeseburger version is the default for most regulars. Fries and a Shake complete the meal. The menu is not complicated. It doesn’t need to be.
If you want to replicate slider energy at home, Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Burger Joint Seasoning is the starting point, and Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Top Secret Sauce is the finishing touch.
Plan Your Visit
White Manna is open Monday through Saturday 10:30 AM to 9:00 PM, Sunday 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Cash preferred.
Address: 358 River St., Hackensack, NJ 07601
Phone: 201-342-0914
Website: https://www.whitemanna.com/
Status: Open
Triple D Essentials
White Manna’s slider game is the real deal — capture that same flavor at home with Guy Fieri’s Burger Joint Seasoning and his Top Secret Sauce. Stream the New Jersey Diner Tour episode on Amazon.
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White Manna Hamburgers appeared in Season 2, Episode 13 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “The New Jersey Diner Tour,” originally aired January 28, 2008.