White Manna
Hackensack, NJ Photo courtesy Steve Felder
Hungry for a greasy little burger hot off the griddle? White Manna is one of those classic New Jersey hamburger joints where the burgers are small, the counter is crowded, and you can watch the whole show happen right in front of you. The little white diner along River Street doesn't look very big from the road, and once you step inside, you'll discover it isn't very big inside either.
That's part of the fun.
Grab one of the stools around the counter and watch as little balls of beef hit the hot griddle. They're smashed down with onions, flipped, covered with cheese if that's your preference, and tucked into small soft rolls. Order one and you'll probably wish you ordered two. Order two and you may start thinking about three. These aren't giant gourmet hamburgers piled six inches high. They're little old-fashioned sliders, served hot and fast with the grill right there in front of you.
White Mana Diner
Jersey City, NJ Photo courtesy Bob Jagendorf
The story behind this tiny hamburger stand is almost as interesting as the burgers. White Manna traces its beginnings to the 1939 New York World's Fair, where a small diner was used to demonstrate a new style of fast food service. After the fair, the structure eventually made its way across the Hudson to Hackensack, where White Manna began serving customers in 1946.
And it hasn't changed all that much.
The little diner still has that wonderful streamlined look, with its rounded corners, stainless trim and windows wrapping around the building. Inside, there's not much separating you from the grill, the cooks or the person sitting next to you. When the place gets busy, everybody squeezes in and waits for another batch of burgers to come off the griddle. Forget the drive-thru. Half the entertainment here is watching lunch being made.
White Manna has picked up plenty of attention over the years. It has appeared on television food shows and regularly turns up on lists of America's classic hamburger joints. Anthony Bourdain stopped by for No Reservations, and Guy Fieri also featured the place on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Not bad for a little roadside hamburger stand that's been doing essentially the same thing since the 1940s.
White Mana Diner
Jersey City, NJ Photo courtesy Bob Jagendorf
There's also a bit of New Jersey burger trivia involved. Another old hamburger joint survives in Jersey City under the name White Mana, spelled with only one "n." The two places share some early history, but they're separate businesses today, and asking which one makes the better burger is probably a good way to start an argument with someone from North Jersey.
For RoadsidePeek purposes, though, the Hackensack location has everything we're looking for. There's the little vintage diner, the old sign, the crowded counter and a grill that's probably cooked more tiny hamburgers than anyone could possibly count.
So if you're cruising through Hackensack and spot this little white building along River Street, pull over. Find yourself a stool if you can, watch those onions hit the griddle and order a few burgers.
Better make that a few more.
UPDATE: Located in the Jersey City area is this famous old diner. The White
Mana Diner still has signs from the 1939 World’s Fair and
great burgers.
UPDATE: White Manna remains open on River Street, but plans are underway to move the little diner building to a new location on Hackensack Avenue. The move is expected sometime in 2027. 08-26
Summit Diner
Summit, NJ Photo courtesy Paul Bauke
The Summit Diner is right off the main street in downtown
Summit. It still serves the locals today. The Summit Diner is a O'Mahony with wood paneled walls which dates back to the late 1930's. Many thanks to Paul Bauke for info.
A diner has occupied this spot since 1929, with the current car arriving in 1939. One favorite is the "Slider," which around here means Taylor ham, egg and cheese, not a little hamburger. There's even some local lore that Ernest Hemingway once stopped by, although nobody seems to have saved the napkin.
UPDATE: Summit Diner remains open and recently received an exterior restoration, including its classic neon. 08-26
Olga Diner (Demolished)
Marlton, NJ Photo courtesy Paul Bauke
That big DINER and BAKERY sign made Olga's
Diner pretty hard to miss at the old Marlton Circle. The diner had been a South Jersey landmark since 1959, with plenty of booths, a long counter and a bakery that became almost as famous as the restaurant itself.
Olga's actually started in Camden in 1946 before moving out to the growing suburbs. The Marlton location became known for its pies, cakes and baked goods, and in 1989 the bakery even made an inaugural ball cake for President George H.W. Bush.
The old diner finally closed in December 2008 and sat empty for years.
UPDATE: The original Olga's Diner was demolished in 2017. A new Olga's Diner opened about a mile away in 2019, but the vintage diner and its big roadside bakery sign are gone. 08-26
Vegas Diner
North Wildwood, NJ Photo courtesy Paul Bauke
Looking for a little Vegas glitz along the Jersey Shore? The big roadside sign at the Vegas Diner in North Wildwood does a pretty good job of bringing some of it to New Jersey. With its bold lettering, neon and giant arrow pointing toward the parking lot, this is one diner that's not shy about telling you where to eat.
The Vegas fits right in with the Wildwoods, where neon signs, motels and all sorts of mid-century roadside architecture still give the shore plenty of character. Inside, the menu covers the usual diner territory along with steaks, seafood and plenty of breakfast choices.
And yes, there's still an old-fashioned salad bar too, which seems just about right for a place with this much retro personality.
If you're cruising through North Wildwood after a day at the beach, keep an eye out for that arrow. It practically does the turn signal for you.
UPDATE: The Vegas Diner remains open, and its great neon roadside marquee still points the way in. 08-26
Peterpank Diner (Demolished)
Sayreville, NJ Photo courtesy Paul Bauke
Cruising along Route 9, the big roadside sign pointed hungry travelers right into the Peterpank Diner. The unusual name had been around since 1957, when the Petermann and Panko families reportedly wanted to call the place Peter Pan. Since the name was already taken, they simply added a "k." Problem solved, Peterpank was born.
The diner grew quite a bit over the years. A 1961 dining car was destroyed by fire in 1978, and a new modular diner opened the following year. Eventually the place could seat around 240 hungry customers and stayed open 24 hours a day.
For generations of locals, Peterpank was more than another Route 9 food stop. It was a favorite late-night hangout and even became a traditional gathering place for local high school seniors on Senior Skip Day. Sounds like a few breakfasts probably lasted well into the afternoon.
After nearly 60 years, Peterpank served its final customers on December 30, 2015.
UPDATE: The Peterpank Diner was demolished in July 2018. A Wawa and gas station later opened on the site, and the old Route 9 diner sign is gone. 08-26
Americana Diner (Rem.)
Hightstown, NJ Photo courtesy Paul Bauke
Now here's a diner that knew how to light up Route 130. The Americana Diner in East Windsor had plenty of retro flash, with neon, bold lines and that tall clock tower making the whole place stand out after dark.
The diner opened in 1978, with a 1995 remodeling bringing much of the Art Deco styling seen here. It even came through after Superstorm Sandy in 2012, helping prepare thousands of meals for the community.
UPDATE: The Americana was transformed into the upscale Americana Kitchen & Bar in 2019. It's still open at the same location, but the classic diner look and signage seen here have changed. 08-26
White Manna
White Mana Diner
White Mana Diner
Summit Diner
Peterpank Diner (Demolished)
