I found the Best Burger in NYC

Quick Overview

The best burger in NYC is arguably the Legendary Cheeseburger from Nowon (No. 15 on the World's 25 Best Burger list), which features a complex, flavor-packed Korean-inspired smash burger style utilizing A5 Wagyu trimmings, custom kimchi special sauce, and a brioche bun, contrasting with the simpler, highly-regarded $35 Wagyu burger from Peter Luger.

Key Points: The video explores the best burgers in NYC, featuring a visit to Hamburger America (where George Motz demonstrates making a simple 3-ingredient burger) and Nowon (Chef Jae Lee's Korean-inspired smash burger). Nowon's Legendary Cheeseburger is ranked No. 15 on the World's 25 Best Burger list for 2025 and costs $21. Hamburger America's classic burger follows a simple three-ingredient philosophy: beef, cheese, and bun, utilizing 3oz portions of 75/25 beef, seasoned only with salt, and cooked on a flattop with a dome to melt the cheese. Nowon's burger is complex, featuring double 4oz patties (made from A5 Wagyu trimmings), kimchi special sauce, avocado, pork belly, egg, pickles, and chives on a sesame seed brioche bun. Peter Luger's burger, ranked No. 13, is a simple Wagyu tenderloin patty basted in beef tallow and topped with Parmesan cheese on a sesame potato bun, costing $35. Chef George Motz emphasizes that simplicity (like his 3-ingredient burger) or quality ingredients (like the A5 Wagyu at Peter Luger) are key, contrasting them with the complex, flavor-layered experience of the Nowon burger. The video highlights the dedication of chefs like George Motz (Hamburger America), who spent his life studying burgers, and Jae Lee (Nowon), who creates complex, award-winning flavor profiles.

Context: This video documents a culinary tour across New York City to find the best burgers, featuring interviews and demonstrations from two prominent figures in the burger scene: George Motz, the chef and owner of Hamburger America (known for his documentary 'Hamburger America'), and Jae Lee, the chef/owner of Nowon, a highly-ranked Korean-inspired restaurant. The exploration contrasts simple, classic burger preparation with complex, gourmet iterations.