Burgers are one of the most iconic staples of American cuisine, with an estimated 50 billion consumed in the United States alone each year. From fast food drive-thrus to backyard cookouts, the burger has become a symbol of convenience, comfort, and culture. At Rowan University, the tradition of eating a burger is alive and well.

Students have no shortage of options when it comes to satisfying a burger craving. Popular spots on campus include Smashburger, Landmark Americana, Monarch Diner, Checkers, and Chickies and Pete’s. Rowan students have various opinions on which burger spots they prefer and what makes their perfect burger stand out from the rest. 

Makwaba Broderick, a freshman history major, says that Smash Burger has the best burgers on campus. She ranked the burgers at Smash Burgers an eight out of 10. 

“I got a plain cheeseburger with pickles, tomato, and lettuce, no onion. The burger tasted good and was just an average burger,” said Broderick. 

Stefan Nagbe, a junior graphic design major, says that he has only been to Chickie and Pete’s and ranks the burger as a seven out of 10.

“The burgers are good, but the burger didn’t really stand out,” said Nagbe. 

Teddy Gatto, a sophomore music industry major, says he only gone to Smash Burgers since coming to Rowan. He ranked the burgers a seven out of 10. 

“It was not the best burger I ever had. It was in the middle; the burger didn’t really taste that good. Just very bland,” said Gatto.

Matt Donass, a freshman mechanical engineering major, has been to Chickie’s and Pete’s, Landmark, Smashburger, Monarch, and Checkers. He ranked Chickie’s and Pete’s Burgers the best at a nine out of 10 because they are the closest to campus. In second place, he put Smash Burger at an eight out of 10 ranking. In third place, he ranked Landmark Americana at a seven out of 10 because of the vibe of the place. In fourth place, he ranked Monarch Diner a six out of 10. In last place, Donass ranked Checkers a two out of 10, saying it was the worst burger he has ever had. 

“I didn’t really like the burger bun at Monarch Diner,” said Donass. 

Drew Kwapiniski, a freshman management major, says he likes Smash Burger the best. Kwampinski gave the burgers a grade of eight point seven out of 10. 

“Smash Burger has the juiciest burgers on Rowan University’s campus,” said Kwapiniski. 

Maximus Danizinger, a freshman economics major, says that he likes Smash Burgers the best. Danzinger grades the burgers at Smash Burgers an eight point two out of 10. 

“Smash Burger has the freshest burgers around here. Smash Burger also has good fries,” said Danizinger. 

Overall, Smashburgers clearly came out on top, earning high praise from students for their bold flavors and perfectly seasoned patties. The strong response shows just how much quality and taste matter when it comes to dining choices around campus. In contrast, Checkers did not generate as much excitement among students

While Smash Burgers won the popular vote, personal preferences play a big role. From my experience trying burgers at Landmark, Chickie’s and Pete’s, Landmark stood out. The combination of a juicy patty, rich Kentucky bourbon BBQ sauce, a perfectly toasted bun, and crispy french fries on the side makes it my top choice. At the end of the day, whether students prefer Smash burgers or another local favorite, one thing is clear: Rowan University students take their burgers very seriously. 

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