One of my favorite parts about the ever-evolving world of food is the sheer abundance of burgers it has brought us—different styles, flavors, and interpretations of what I consider to be one of the great American foods.
The thing with burger styles is that they often follow certain trends. For decades, it was the thick, tavern-style pub burgers that made up the “best of” lists, and before highlighting burgers in print was even a thought, it was the griddled onion burgers that were popular at some of the nation’s most legendary diners and roadside stands. Burgers can be regional too. A cheese-stuffed burger known as the “Juicy Lucy” hails from Minnesota, while hamburger patties with all of the typical fixings come stuffed into Navajo fry bread in the Southwest, encapsulating an on-the-nose picture of our nation’s history.
Today, there is one style of burger that is dominating the scene. It’s none other than the celebrated—almost inescapable—smash burger. You can find smash burgers nearly everywhere today, and some places are doing the beloved handheld food justice.
Slap Burger Is Community-Driven and Downright Delicious
When partners Rashad Alawi and Hazem Asad opened Slap Burger in Paterson, NJ, they had one goal in mind: classic, American smash burgers that adhere to the halal principles. That means sourcing meat from Halal purveyors and omitting certain ingredients—such as pork—from the menu. Paterson is home to a large Islam community, so this was seen as a necessity not just for their own diets, but the community at large.
Slap Burger does just that, turning a classic American burger joint into a staple of the community. Little did he know, the concept would take off not just in Paterson but New Jersey as a whole. Slap Burger enjoyed a viral moment on social media that never truly died down, and today they’ve got a second location in Clifton to show for it.
What You Came For: The Burgers
So, what does Slap Burger excel at? Smash burgers, of course. Their classic option comes in either a single, double or triple. Four ounces of halal-certified ground beef, smashed thin on a screeching-hot griddle. The beef sticks to the flat top, creating lacy and crispy edges that offer both texture and depth of flavor. Guests have the option to add Halal beef bacon to their burgers, too. A fluffy potato bun is reverse-griddled in butter—meaning instead of opening it up and toasting the inside, Slap burger instead opts to toast the outside of the bun, leaving the inside steamed and pillowy. I wish more places did buns this way.
The patties are piled high on those buttery buns along with grilled onions, American cheese pickles and house-made Slap Sauce—a tangy and creamy burger sauce.
There’s another burger style at Slap Burger that’s become a crowd favorite, the Slap’N Melt. This style is decidedly different from the staple smash burger. Not one, not two, but three slices of cheese stuffed into a fresh ground beef patty, which is seared hard on the flat top to produce an unctuous exterior and a melty, cheesy interior. Biting into the burger reveals a gooey cheese pull and an incredibly comforting flavor. It’s similar to the aforementioned Minnesota Juicy Lucy, but is given the Slap Burger treatment with grilled onions, pickles and that addicting Slap Sauce.
Not Just Burgers: Other American Classics Flow
Of course, it’s not just burgers—not even close. Fried chicken has become a staple in its many forms at Slap Burger. The most obvious being the chicken sandwich. No frills, nothing fancy, just a beautifully fried chicken breast, layered with sauce, pickles and cole slaw on a griddled bun. For fans of spice, try it Nashville style where they dunk the chicken in a spicy cayenne sauce as soon as it comes out of the fryer. It sticks to the chicken and perfumes it with a satiating spice that keeps you coming back for more.
You can get this same chicken as tenders or chopped up and loaded onto a platter of creamy mac and cheese or crispy fries. However, many go for the chicken and waffles, which perfectly combines savory and sweet with crunchy fried chicken and a choice of an Oreo or Fruity Pebbles waffle. Douse it with maple syrup, Mike’s Hot Honey, or in my case, both—sit back and enjoy what is a truly indulgent bite of food.
For drinks, you could go for a soda, but why not spring for a tart and sweet house-made lemonade? Which comes in a variety of flavors such as dragonfruit, strawberry, orange Curacao and mango.
Beyond savory foods, Slap Burger sticks to their roots as a burger joint with a long list of creamy milkshakes. For other sweet options, guests can go for a fluffy banana pudding, which comes in the classic flavor, Oreo, Dubai pistachio and more.
Serving the Community One Burger At a Time
Slap Burger came onto the scene dishing out beloved smash burgers, but owners Rashad Alawi and Hazem Asad were determined to make it into something larger than just another burger joint. In both Clifton and Paterson, Slap Burger is a community hub that is bringing American classics into the 21st Century. Whether you go for the classic double or the cheese-stuffed Slap’N Melt—the Nashville chicken sandwich or the chicken and waffles—Slap Burger guarantees that you’re in for a meal that is as fulfilling as it is delicious. That’s why the people can’t get enough of it.
Slap Burger is located at 127 Crooks Ave in Paterson and 1348 Clifton Ave in Clifton
Slap Burger is certified 100% Halal
Love Burgers? Check out our list of the best burgers in North Jersey
Peter Candia is the Food + Drink Editor at New Jersey Digest. A graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, Peter found a passion for writing midway through school and never looked back. He is a former line cook, server and bartender at top-rated restaurants in the tri-state area. In addition to food, Peter enjoys politics, music, sports and anything New Jersey.
