Burger lines stretched onto the sidewalk Thursday as chain and independent restaurants marked National Burger Day. At midday near Penn Station, Shake Shack served free fries with any burger purchase. Burger King locations across the city offered buy-one-get-one Whopper deals. Smaller operations, such as Harlem's Harlem Public, posted limited-time specials on their house burgers, with some reporting higher-than-average lunch traffic.
National Burger Day, observed annually on May 28, arrives as the city transitions into summer. School groups and office workers took advantage of the promotions, filling patios and quick-service counters. In Astoria, families gathered at local spots like Petey’s Burger, where staff reported a steady stream of orders from noon through dinner.
Some independent operators noted the challenges of competing with national chains' marketing budgets. "We can't give away burgers, but we can offer a good deal," said Rafael Ortiz, owner of a Brooklyn burger shop, referencing a $2 discount for the day.
By Thursday evening, several locations reported running low on ingredients. Uptown, a manager at a Five Guys location said, "We expected a rush, but not quite like this."
Observers say the annual event functions as an unofficial kickoff to the city’s outdoor eating season. With temperatures climbing and school calendars winding down, many diners said they're ready for backyard and patio meals to become routine again.