Fast-Casual Burgers with Artisanal Edge on the Upper East Side
With a name as bold as Sin City, this Upper East Side spot keeps things humble and serves up seriously good burgers built on quality and consistency.
From its debut just before the pandemic to its current status as a neighborhood staple, David and Jake serve up handcrafted burgers that balance indulgence with convenience.
A Burger Born from West Coast Inspiration
For owner David, Sin City Burger was a love letter to high-quality, artisanal burgers he grew up with on the West Coast. Frustrated by New York’s burger scene, he and Jake, both self-taught and dedicated, opened their first location in December 2019, just months before lockdowns hit. “This would be our first attempt to open a burger shop… without sacrificing the quality of the burger,” David explains. Despite steep delivery fees during COVID, they persevered by relying on fresh ingredients, a lean menu, and a focus on fast service.
Signatures That Stick Around
Their star is the Temptation, a cheeseburger stacked with caramelized onions, pickle relish, bacon, and their secret “sin sauce.” David says it’s their bestseller: “Temptation’s definitely the crowd favorite and best seller.”
Another favorite is the Chicken Deluxe: fried chicken cradled in house-made coleslaw. This one is strongly recommended by Jake. Every component from never-frozen patties cooked to order, to premium buns is fresh and delivered daily. He notes: “We guarantee air quality and freshness, so you can cook it… any temperature.”
A Menu That Evolves with Community
Sin City launched with a straightforward lineup: three burgers, chicken options, hot dogs, and two kinds of fries. Over time, they’ve expanded to sliders, wings, milkshakes made with real ice cream (not powders), and limited-time chilis and fry seasonings.
“We let the kitchen be creative,” according to David. Community feedback and sales data guide their decisions and seasonal specials and catering offerings help them stay in rhythm with customer tastes. As the team puts it, “the sales don’t lie.”
Quality at the Core of Every Decision
Staying fresh means staying nimble. With ingredients delivered daily and nothing ever frozen, Sin City Burger puts quality first even if it means occasionally selling out during a rush. “If it gets really busy… we could run out,” Jake explains. But that’s a trade-off they’re proud to make.
Behind the scenes, a close-knit team keeps operations smooth and standards high. As interest grows, expansion is on the radar, with thoughtful plans to bring their signature style to more neighborhoods in New York and beyond.