Joe Jr Reviews

Exactly what you would expect in a diner. I had the pastrami omelet, my wife had corned beef hash and eggs. Both meals were perfectly acceptable and very reasonably priced. Same as pretty much every diner I have ever eaten at. Service was prompt and courteous.

This place isn't plush, but it offers consistently excellent burger platters, gyros, souvlaki, and other standard diner fare. They also make excellent iced coffee

I heard this was THE breakfast place. I should have stuck to that. I went for dinner and the place looked shabby, not what I expected. I actually don't care what the place looks like but when your clothes start smelling of the place then it's bothersome. I had the fish which was okay--at least it was seasoned. My kids had the chicken fingers which were overcooked. My husband had a burger that was average. Stick to brerakfast, I heard it's good. The smell of the place got to me so I didn't go back to try.

Went for brunch. Solid omelet with potatoes and bagel. Busy neighborhood place. Everyone is working hard, but took a while to get orders taken. Once your order is taken, food comes quickly and is good. Then another wait for your ticket. Good value.

This is a salt-of-the earth, no-nonsense place. They'll make your eggs any way you like. Take a stool at the counter and watch the short-order cook work his little daily miracles. Not much else to be said...

We have been going to Joe's for a few years and have not been disappointed. They serve typical diner food. The service is friendly and welcoming. The food is delicious and customizable. My wife tends to have oatmeal and fruit. I order eggs and sausage. The coffee is good (not great) and they serve cream upon request it is a busy neighborhood place.

Located not far from Union Square this is an excellent coffee shop / diner, There is the typical extensive menu with many specials for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Food is well pre-pared, nice portion and tasty. Service is fast and friendly. Prices are very reasonable.

This is a great neighborhood place. Small but welcoming. The owners are the best ever. I wish they would learn or serve vegan and vegetarian fare.

We googled best burger in NYC before we arrived and were directed to Joe Jr. Whilst a little out of the way the food was worth the walk. We both plumped for the burger and enjoyed our meal. The best part was the freshly made lemonade which couldn't be rivalled by any we tried during our trip. This place is by no means a fancy eatery but if you like good food it's worth a visit.

I accidentally passed by this place near my hotel (Hotel17). It looked somewhat interesting so I googled it. One commentary article stated that it offered the best burgers in NYC so I decided to give it a try. I was there for a late lunch so there was not many customers (when I passed by the first at the late morning it was PACKED). So I got to relax and enjoyed my meal. I ordered the cheese burger and it was very tasty and juicy. The burger was not salted so I could prepared it the way I wanted. The fries on the side was also very good. This is the place I would definitely go back if I am in that area.

Joe Jr's is a cozy little diner located on the corner of 16th and 3rd. It's warm atmosphere is well matched with it's delicious food which is served piping hot and quickly. I had a delicious cheese burger, which I would definitely come back for again.

Mom & Pop diners like Joe Jrs. need your support today like never before. I showed my support today and ordered a bacon cheeseburger which was honestly one of the cleanest and one of the most fresh and distinct simple elegant no frills simplicity burger on a bun. Iced coffee and corned beef hash rounded out the meal. Great place. Must have walked by the place 1000 times and wish I had shown my support earlier. God bless Joe Jrs. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

If you are looking for a really good breakfast / lunch diner along Third Avenue in the 20's then this is a good stop. It has the typical large diner menu with everything from breakfast item to lunch and dinner specials. Omelets are great as are the home fries. There are sandwiches, pancakes, soups and all are good.The staff is fast and attentive.

Went there with family. We ordered spagetti which was ok, BLT which was good. The fries was not OK. Soft and tasted a bit of old oil. Service was fast staff was ok in a food way. Grade would have been higher if fries had been better. I did not like to have the smell of food in my clothes when leaving. Would go again to try hamburger since a lot of people says they are good.

Wow, we were searching for a true New York diner and we found it...french toast, bacon, omelettes, potatoes and corned beef hash, all to die for. When we arrived the place was full of NYPD Academy students...what more classic image of a diner could you ask for? The food was amazing, the ambience out of this world and, for our last breakfast in Manhattan, it was perfect. You've got to try this place!

Joe Jr doesn’t look like much from the outside that I am guessing was a Covid DIY effort for outdoor seating. Great menu and inside is excellent. Real diner style.

Almost a step back into time. This small lunch counter was something that every New York neighborhood had in years gone by. A counter and a few booths serving the neighborhood. I went for breakfast. Service was brisk and efficient. They were very busy and the staff keeps things moving here. I had an omelette, it was okay, not great. I've been told my many that the hamburger is amazing here - I will have to try!

It's a cosy little diner with the best burger I think I have ever had! Nothing fancy, just burger and chips slapped on a plate but it definitely tasted amazing! Very quick and friendly staff. The perfect diner we were looking for on our visit to NYC.

Very tasty pancakes, bacon and eggs, fresh coffee. Opened at six, and we had the place to ourselves for the first 10 minutes. Spanish spoken. Baseball discussed. Plain decor. The No Smoking sign nests between Our Lady of Guadelupe and the Infant of Prague.

The most brilliant New York triple decker Breakfast. This place might not look like much from the outside but the stream of locals and busy delivery service going on illustrates how very much loved it it. And rightly so. We had two hungry teens with us and even they couldn’t eat everything on their plates. This is conspicuous consumption in the best way. Delicious homemade blueberry pancakes, the best crispy bacon, beautiful waffles, excellent freshly squeezed orange juice. All the things to guarantee the perfect New York brunch or brekkie. We were there on a Sunday morning and caught the Monaco Grand Prix on the telly as he ate. Just perfect!

NYC greasy spoon for pancakes and sausage. This place is a time warp with friendly staff and excellent diner breakfasts. We'll be back again for lunch another time. Rustic interior and lively atmosphere. Full of NYC stereotypes young and old. The friendly chef at the grill is given complicated orders every few minutes and cranks them out just from memory. Impressed!

If you are wanting a typical neighbourhood place to eat with an equally great atmosphere then this is the place for you. Full of locals popping in for their lunch which is always a good sign . Delicious burger and the usual regular free coffee top ups.

Classic burger Outstanding, cant wait to get back for another one . Cooked to perfection Put joe jrs on your list #porkmafia inda house

My wife and I visited NYC last weekend and my wife's one requirement was she wanted to grab breakfast at a "real" diner. We stumbled upon Joe Jr. around the corner from our hotel and it was a fantastic experience. Service was friendly and very quick, while the menu offered a wide variety of traditional diner breakfast options. The food arrived quickly and was fresh and piping hot. Our total for two breakfast plates with coffees and tip was under $20. We will definitely be back next time we're in the area!

Googled the closest diner style breakfast and came up with this place. I must say it was a good choice. Food was good , kids enjoyed their pancakes. Some coffee and OJ and we were off to a good start to our day.

Huge menu, great food, prompt service. Everything you want in an NYC no-frills diner. My cousin, who is a local, recommended it and I couldn’t have been happier.

Joe Junior is a popular diner with an extensive menu but we visited specifically for the burger, which I'd heard a lot of good things about. We were quickly seated despite the place being quite busy and were well looked after by the hard working waiter. The diner itself is fantastic, light coloured wood paneling and mirrors surround you with wooden fans and ornate light fittings hanging from the ceiling. We both ordered the Cheesburger Deluxe (one with bacon) and we were both blown away by the taste of the burger. The meat they use is spectacularly tasty and like nothing else I've ever had. Its much, much better than the revered Minneta Tavern Black Label burger and all for a paltry $9. The fries, salad and coleslaw that accompany the burger are also really good and leave you wanting more. The next time we're in this area we're heading straight back to Joe Junior! "Go to Joe Junior and have the burger" is the best tip I've ever been given!

I love diners and this was a great place to stop for dinner. Great food and service at good prices. Would definitely stop by again.

This traditional diner was a few blocks from our hotel so we ate breakfast here a few times. The decor is not fancy and really could do with being updated but the old fashioned look adds to the charm of this place. The staff rush around constantly yet are happy and friendly. Your water glass and coffee cup never go empty and the traditional diner staples such as pancakes and bacon are served quickly and at a reasonable price. This is a great place for a tasty filling breakfast before a hectic day in New York.

Hotel staff told us of this restaurant for breakfast and we're glad they did! Classic "diner" atmosphere. Delicious pancakes served hot off the griddle and fast. Fresh squeezed, real orange juice!Efficient and friendly service. It's a busy, small place in a lively neighborhood and obviously a favorite with the locals. Reasonably priced and well worth a return visit.

Breakfast to go! Small enough to sit in. Old school NYC diner.

We were staying near by and needed a good breakfast quick. This is the real deal. A genuine American diner. If you want the best, this is it. Is service, reasonable prices, clean and tasty food prepared before your eyes.

This is one of the few places in NYC today where you can get a very tasty, juicy burger for practically nothing. Burgers like they used to be before McDonalds gave them a bad name. Before all the leathery, tasteless burgers that proliferated across the city or the phony overpriced supposedly gourmet nonsense burgers. Like the ones you got with your father in the 1960s or 70s if you're that old. You can get fries if you must, but they're the typical soggy tasteless fries you get in most other places. And of course there's the supermarket tomato and iceberg lettuce if you want it. They don't do justice to the great taste of Joe Junior's burgers.

It’s always good to have an inside scoop on the things that matter, like burgers (and pizza, of course). Take Joe Junior’s. The first and only time I’d had it before this visit, I thought it was overhyped and a rare misfire of a recommendation from Eater.com's meat expert, Nick Solares. But a few weeks ago on another burger expert's Instagram (George Motz AKA @motzburger) I read a crucial tip on ordering it: you have to ask for it cooked with salt and WITHOUT THE PLANCHA, which is the rectangular press you often see on the grill at short-order shops like Joe Junior’s. (It doesn’t hurt to order it medium-rare, either.) Cooked properly per this advice, the burger at Joe Junior’s is fantastic. Thick, juicy, flavorful. A paradigm of a diner burger. I never should have doubted Nick. ⠀ I also honored Nick’s recommendation that I have it “commando” style, sans toppings or condiments. And even though it was supremely satisfying, I couldn’t help but wonder what it’d be like with my favorite accoutrements—pickles, a slice of raw onion, and yellow mustard on the side for dipping. Next time.

Good value, large portions, fair price. Very attentive servers, and friendly. Easy walk from Times Square.

Stopped here with a friend for a late night dinner after a long day out. While the servings are very generous I found the flavours a bit flat. We ordered the patrami and beef burger and southern fried chicken and while the burger was overflowing with pastrami the chicken had little flavouring and no spice that I could detect. Perhaps it was the lateness of the hour but I wasn't impressed.

I liked the sandwiches that they serve, such as tuna fish, and grilled cheese. I liked the chocolate layer cake for dessert.

Needed a reasonably quick good burger, and found this place. Quick service, good cheeseburger, fries, and homemade soups. Nice and small - about 8-10 can sit at counter and maybe the same amount at tables. Very reasonably priced and satisfying, and will go back next time I am in town.

This place was recommended by a couple of locals so we gave it a try. Food was good and served quickly. Expect a typical old school diner experience.

Cheap and very good. We loved everything about this place. Pancakes where fresh and tasty. Juice home made. Anbefales!

Terrific, typical NY diner, perfect for typical breakfast. Nothing fancy, just quick, quality deli breakfast food...

Great breakfast, burgers, place lunches and dinners in a classic diner setting. This is the real thing. NYC diners are disappearing fast, so experience this while you can.

When you go to the US, there are a few things you want to do, in terms of food. You want to eat pancakes, a hot dog, a doughnut... and you want to go to a diner. We Europeans have that romantic idea of the diners from the movies, where you get a coffee before you start eating 😉, where every piece of furniture comes from the 60s or the 70s... Somehow, we even expect an old mustang to be parked in front of the restaurant. So this is what I looked for when I arrived... on Google, which is always sooo reliable... And I found Joe Jr Diner, in Gramercy, close to where we were staying. Well... it turns out that's not a diner (at least that doesn't match our idea of a diner), that's a bar that serves food (oh... ok, maybe it is a diner, after all 😝). But it was late, my son was tired so we went in anyway. I still ordered the burger I was planning on ordering at a diner, and my son and my wife had a Matzo ball soup, because we wanted to try this thing that seems so popular in the US, but never reached Spain or France, as far as I know. I guess that was not the place for the soup... but the burger, even though it didn't look special, was very good, juicy and well cooked (which is the most important, at the end. The atmosphere is... let's say rough, and the staff is nice but it's an old school bar so don't expect much on this side. Overall it was an ok experience, especially because the 3 of us ate enough for $30 in total (only 1 course). I'm not sure I would repeat, though, unless I'm very hungry, it's late and I have no food at home... Quality & taste: 6/10 Quantities: 8/10 Atmosphere: 3/10 Originality: 2/10 Ratio price / quality: 8/10 Service: 7/10 How I felt afterwards: 6/10

If you want it now and want it good you should surely go. The wait staff is wonderful and willing to serve you're food as you like it. It is not fine dining and you never know what or who will be here when you arrive. Enjoy the local taste near Union Square.

Nice diner nice people regular diner food good hamburgers good coffee in nice New York city neighborhood Jayne

I found Joe Jr on a list of best burgers in NYC - it was picked as the best burger in Gramercy. The place was busy at lunchtime but service was rapid and my bacon cheeseburger arrived quickly, with the lettuce/tomato/pickle components helpfully on the side so you could finish putting it together yourself. I went for medium, could probably have coped with medium rare but it was really juicy and generous. Lots of really good chips too. With an ice tea the bill came to just under $15 (before a tip). Great atmosphere, it was fun to watch the cooking happen right in front of me.

I'm from the UK and this was my first burger in NYC and it did not disappoint! My parents asked me to find somewhere nearby to where we were staying and low stress. I ordered the cheese burger deluxe (comes with fries, lettuce and tomato) and it's just a no nonsense burger, reasonably affordable and just done really really well! I'm not an expert on burgers at all but if you're looking for a burger that is just grilled to perfection, this is the place! I had mine medium rare, it was so juicy and the cheese just melted into the cracks! You really don't need anything extra in this burger, no need for any extra sauce or anything, it just hits the spot!

We came here for breakfast 3 times because it's ace. We'd been here on our last trip to NYC 12 years ago. It's the same which is how it should. A friendly neighbourhood diner with top food. Best home fries we had on our trip. The staff are fantastic and deserve your custom

This a great place to local food that comes from New York City. It’s a great diner that has a excellent food, and the customer service is outstanding. I would highly recommend trying their burgers that are rich with flavors and texture. They have great options for breakfast as well.

I'll keep this brief. Joes is an old school, small American diner. The burgers are excellent, as are the fries and homemade lemonade. If you need a quick dinner/breakfast at a good price then this is your place

Extremely good, original and delicious hamburger. We were looking for a real hamburger and they are at the top 10 of some of the lists. Not the cleanest place in the world but maybe the best hamburger of my life.

Recommended by the front desk person at the Seafarers, we had a late dinner and a Sunday breakfast. Definitely a neighborhood place, where your preferred beverage makes it to the table by the time you sit. Very smal, 7 tables and 13 stools. Very fast, but also very good. If you are looking for a New York experience you need to "Eat at Joe's" for sure!

What can I say? Burgers are great!!! They are even better than my mother's.The service is great and even if the place is full, the time you may wait for a place is less than 10 minutes. Also, the prices are really the best in comparison with other diners in Manhattan.

This could be the best burger I've ever tried. It was very traditional american burger with nice ingredients and the real burger flavor we were looking for. The people were extremely nice and the place deserves a visit. The burger with avocado was memorable.

Loved it. Stayed there for hours, drinking strong coffee and eating pancakes. Awesome food, very good prices. Highly recommended!

This typical American diner has everything you need: good fresh pancakes, crispy bacon and a fair price. There were a lot of people coming in and out all the time, but our waiter remained very polite and helpful. If I could give one point of criticism, I would say that I find it a bit strange that you have to pay extra for maple syrup with the pancakes; In my opinion this is something that should simply be included in the price. Everything else was perfect.

joe junior is the kind of place that only exists because it was opened in a time before the gentrification of gotham. if it were to open today, it would be faux-retro and run by an obese man with frosted tips and oakleys. instead, what you have is an authentic relic from a by-gone age that serves classic diner food un-ironically, and not surprisingly, is staffed almost entirely by hard-working and diligent hispanics (the real mainstays of most nyc restos). for about $6 you can get a medium rare hamburger cooked to perfection, its juices disintegrating the bun if you wait too long, and dripping down your arm if you wait too little. and yes, in the middle of this city, it is a neighbourhood joint, with locals out for breakfast or a quick lunch. a perfect getaway from tourist traps if that's what you're after

We read about Joe Jr. in "New York"magazine. Loving diners we had to try it. It was just as described in the article! We sat at the counter and ordered two cheese omelets, one cheddar with bacon "on top" and one swiss with sausage "on top", both with rye toast. Great omelets and both the sausage and bacon were excellent. We thoroughly enjoyed watching the cooking and the bustle behind the counter. We recommend sitting at the counter if there is room.

Reasonably priced. Went for breakfast and it was exactly as I expected. Fast service. Only downfall is the smell kinda sticks to you.

I don't know how you would stumble across this place so on glad I did some research in to real NYC diners. We knew we wanted burgers so two burgers & fries wee served up to our choice of medium. These burgers were amazing!! So juicy & tasty. The waiter was lovely & attentive. Defiantly try & go here for a burger or I'm sure everything is good on the menu. I'd love to try breakfast there.

We love ordering in from Joe Junior. It's good old fashioned corner coffee shop food. Great burgers, omelets, etc. You call in the order and you turn around and it's at your door piping hot. Always a treat when you don't feel like cooking. They have tables and a counter if you want to eat there which is fun too.

Actually the restaurant is Joe Jr., which bills itself as "Home cooking done on premises." I don't doubt the "on premises" claim, but I do doubt this is what most people consider "home cooking." This is your classic New York diner that gets you in and out as fast as possible. No rapport with the waiter or staff, just eat and leave. The three people in our party ordered a variety of items, from omelettes to pancakes. The price was right and had we been in less of a hurry, the breakfast menu had a number of unique omelettes, pancake combinations and waffles. The pastrami omelette really caught my interest. A peak at the lunch and dinner menu featured soups, seafood, hot sandwiches, as well as open plate specials. Desserts ranged from Greek baklava to Jello with whipped cream. If you are ever in this area and looking for a fast, no nonsense meal served a la New York, this is about as basic and authentic as they come. For us, it was part food, part experience.

A local told me that this small diner near Union Square has the best burger in NYC. I ordered a cheeseburger and it was perfect. Charred on the outside and medium on the inside. Juicy and tasty without a lot of fixings needed. The customers were varied: smartly dressed business persons, hipsters, tourists, and a few down and out looking folks. The place is well worn 24 hr diner, a bit shabby, but clean. Old school service by waiters in black trousers and white dress shirts was attentive and prompt.

We were there an "early" morning around 9, we came for breakfast, and got very good service, great breakfast, it was authentic and lots of it, would definitely recommend this place for the american feeling.

Went for breakfast. Solid food. Enjoyed our omelets and potatoes. Be patient with having your order taken, but food comes soon thereafter. Seemed their pattern.

I went for breakfast. Had banana pancakes, bacon, and potatoes. the serving sizes are large-so order accordingly-I couldn't finish my potatoes.

My teen age daughter and I were looking for a place to get a cheeseburger. The burger and fries were the classic diner meal. The food was very good!! Don't ask the teen, she is never happy!

I had heard wonderful things about the burgers. They were said to be simple, composed of excellent ingredients, and perfectly prepared. So, I ordered the cheeseburger and fries, and ... maybe the guy who does "perfectly prepared" is off duty Wednesday nights. It was a pretty good diner cheeseburger, but I've had at least one better at the Waverly on 6th by NYU. If I'm on the east side of Union Square at meal time, I'll try Joe Junior again.

Just about all that I wanted for in an old-school NYC diner: bottomless coffee, a menu that goes on for days, service expeditious and courteous, incredible value, hustle and bustle, no frills. Just about perfect.

Joe Jr has been become our go-to breakfast place whenever my wife and I are staying in this part of town. Perfectly cooked over-easy eggs, a wonderful turkey sausage, and mounds of very tasty potatoes, along with great Java. All at reasonable cost with good service!

The 3rd (out of 4) diner we tried during our 8-day stay in New York, this was recommended by our hotel’s front desk since it was located not too far away from the hotel itself. We were a bit reluctant at first as it doesn’t look very appealing from the outside however we decided to try it anyway. We came here for breakfast. It’s more a café’ than a diner so if you’re looking for one of those typical, colourful iconic NY diners with images of celebrities and baseball, etc on the walls then this place is not for you, it can be regarded as the classic greasy spoon. So, the coffee was ok and cheap (I think it was under $2.00 pp), we had a portion of French Toast with corn syrup (pricey at $5.35), and another portion consisting of 2 or 3 (I don’t remember exactly) pancakes with two eggs and sausage, all the food was satisfactory and the check came to a total of $22.00 inclusive of 15% tip. Service by the all-male staff was ok/ordinary, no frills attached. As some other reviewers have noted, you come out of this place with your clothes a bit smelly, but as far as we are concerned we were overall quite pleased and given the chance we would have come back again sooner or later, all in all it wasn’t too bad.

Joe Jr. Restaurant is a good place for breakfast. Nothing fancy but good food. Long counter with half a dozen small tables designed in the 50's. I had hash and eggs, but people at my table had pancakes and omelettes Everything was good. Basic breakfast foods done right. Fast service by the owner and cooked by a visible crew behind the counter that never stopped moving. A must for the fresh squeezed orange juice. I tried several better looking breakfast places in the area. Nothing provided the same level of service and food.