I love Johnny Rockets! This burger joint with its 50’s vibe never gets old. As soon as you enter the restaurant, it is like going back in time, bringing memories of movies and TV Series I saw when I was a kid in France. Especially one of my favorites, the sitcom Happy Days, that I used to watch with my sisters and brother, not missing one episode. Good job for a place that only opened in 1986 in Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles: you would have thought that it started in the 50’s and was frozen in time, but I guess that its founder, Ronn Teitelbaum, was a big fan of everything that represented Americana during this period. Well, burgers and shakes are definitely a true representation of it!

I love the dining room, the booths overlooking the metal counter with the kitchen behind, and the bar stools and banquettes covered with this thick dark red and white stripe that looks like seats you would find in an old muscle car. Of course, on each table, you cannot not miss the small juke boxes. In the past, you could pick a song that would play in the restaurant, but now, they just play songs, not just from the 50’s, their title and artist displayed on a flat TV screen that is the only sign of modern day you really notice.s

Jukebox at Johnny Rockets in Hoboken, NJ

Food wise, they have burgers, hot dogs, grilled cheeses, but also salads. Jodi was quite happy that they had the impossible burger, the other vegetarian option for burgers being the Streamliner, a veggie burger made with a Boca burger patty. It was served with lettuce, tomato and pickles and she asked to ditch the chopped onions, relish, mustard and mayo. I admit that the Impossible burger is quite good for a plant based patty, better than the Beyond and easily mistaken for beef.

Impossible original burger at Johnny Rockets in Hoboken, NJ

On my side, I went for the Rocket Double, their signature burger composed of two beef patties, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato and sliced onion with their special sauce. It is definitely big, but I wish they put more sauce and some more cheddar as there was no slice between the patties. It was great otherwise: the brioche bun that they use is good, and the beef was juicy, with a nice crust on the outside.

Rockets Double at Johnny Rockets in Hoboken, NJ

With it, we got French fries that were so so, frozen for sure and not cooked enough, as well as onion rings made with sourdough breadcrumbs that were well cooked and deliciously crunchy. My only regret is that they did not have any ranch sauce with it (I dipped them in mayo).

Of course, I could not not have a milkshake and went for their cookies and cream milkshake with whipped cream (no cherry). Great milkshake, with some more on the side once I finished the glass.

So it was great to be at Johnny Rockets: I love the atmosphere and the food there. I’ll definitely be back!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Johnny Rockets - 134 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat!