- I visited MrBeast Burger, the restaurant owned by YouTube star MrBeast, in a New Jersey mall.
- I was really impressed by both burgers I tried and thought the fries were great.
- At the end of the day, the burger spot isn't just a chain restaurant — it's a brand experience.
26-year-old YouTube phenomenon Jimmy Donaldson — better known as MrBeast — is known for posting videos of contestants competing in extreme game shows.
However, over the past few years, Donaldson has expanded into other income streams outside the platform, including a restaurant chain called MrBeast Burger.
The MrBeast Burger brand has quite the history.
Launched in 2020 as a collaboration with Virtual Dining Concepts, MrBeast Burger originally operated as a series of ghost kitchens, where customers could order through an app and contracted restaurants would make and deliver their food.
In 2022, the chain opened its first physical location at the American Dream Mall in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with thousands lining up to check out the restaurant.
However, the delivery-only part of the brand ran into some issues by 2023. After a series of customer complaints, Donaldson sued Virtual Dining Concepts, accusing the company of providing low-quality food. Then, Virtual Dining Concepts countersued, alleging Donaldson used his social-media influence to sabotage the brand.
Although the brand is still largely delivery-only, its physical location in New Jersey is still open, so I decided to check it out.
I headed there on a Tuesday for lunch.
Although it's hard to tell for sure based on the brand's website, it seems like this location in Jersey is still the only dine-in MrBeast Burger restaurant.
After seeing mixed reviews online — the physical restaurant has a 2.7 rating on Yelp and a 4.6 rating on Google — I was curious to see what the burger spot was like almost three years after its grand opening.
So, I decided to head to the American Dream Mall for lunch on a Tuesday afternoon.
The restaurant was colorful and inviting.
When I arrived at MrBeast Burger, I was instantly drawn in by the restaurant's bright logo, colorful seats, and chic black tile walls.
The large seating area made the place feel spacious and comfortable, even with about 30 other patrons dining there.
I enjoyed the Beast-style burger.
I ordered a regular Beast-style burger consisting of two smashed beef patties with house seasoning, American cheese, pickles, diced onions, mayo, ketchup, and brown mustard on a toasted bun.
I substituted the fresh onions for caramelized ones (at no extra charge) and added a side of crispy, golden crinkle fries. The total came out to $17.05.
The seasoning was great, albeit a bit salty. However, the smashed components made it sloppy and hard to hold together. The American cheese was also pretty dry. Regardless, I (and my friend who came with me) happily devoured the burger in minutes.
The fries were also warm and perfectly crisp. They were a great complement to the burger, and one order was enough for two of us.
Next, I tried the Impossible burger.
When I ordered, my friend and I intended to split one burger in half, as it was meant to be a shopping snack.
However, that burger was so good that we decided to order another. This time, we opted for an Impossible burger, which cost $15.15 without the side of fries.
This was my first time trying an Impossible patty, which is a plant-based meat alternative. However, it had the same yummy umami flavor as the regular burger.
The only difference I tasted was it seemed less salty, making it slightly better than the standard burger patty.
At the end of the day, the restaurant is a branded experience.
MrBeast Burger isn't just a fast-food restaurant — it's a brand experience.
Each table had small postcard-sized flyers advertising exclusive merchandise connected to the restaurant. Multiple TVs also played MrBeast YouTube videos nonstop, and logos covered the walls.
Although all the branding might seem overwhelming, I was impressed that a 26-year-old has created an entire world for himself. From the menu items to on-screen entertainment, this restaurant was centered on the MrBeast universe.
If I were ever revisiting the American Dream mall, I'd definitely eat at the restaurant again.