Bun's n Shakes

New Brunswick's Halal Smashburger Destination
Crisp edges, big flavor, and a neighborhood following.

Bun's n Shakes opened in 2022 in downtown New Brunswick, NJ, steps from the Rutgers University campus on Church Street. The concept is straightforward: halal-certified smash burgers, Nashville hot chicken, and thick milkshakes in a fast-casual counter-service format. In a college town where the food options tend toward the chains, Bun's n Shakes built a following by doing the smash technique properly - hard-pressed on a flat-top, caramelized crust, no shortcuts.

The Aggressive Double Smash is the calling card - two halal beef patties smashed hard against the griddle to create lacy, crunchy-edged patties with full-coverage caramelized sear, layered with American cheese, shaved onions, pickles, and house OG sauce on a soft potato bun. Food content creator duo DevourPower (2.9M TikTok) named it one of their all-time favorite burger joints after multiple visits. The halal certification and Rutgers proximity have made it a regional destination drawing diners from across Central Jersey.