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Most Americans think of burger sliders when they think of White Castle. The chain has been around since 1921, and its teeny-tiny handhelds have outposts all over the country. If you’re from northern New Jersey, you may swear by White Manna or White Mana Diner, which serve similar beefy minis from tin can-like streamliners that have existed for decades. But if you’re from the Southern U.S., Krystal’s steamed sliders likely have your heart.
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The original Krystal, which opened in 1932 in Tennessee, was a 25-by-10-foot restaurant named for its cleanliness. The rise of drive-thru culture quickly brought flocks of burger-loving diners, including Elvis Presley. In the words of the King, “a little Krystal does the trick, man; perfect bite before lights go up.” In fact, after his first radio broadcast, he and the DJ ordered a whopping 100 Krystal sliders to dole out to fans.
Today, there are locations in 11 Southern states, plus a new store in Union, New Jersey. As a Philadelphia-based fast food connoisseur who’d never been to Krystal, I was psyched to be driving distance from the chain’s first northern outpost. Read on for my honest first impressions of several menu items.
The O.G. sliders that live up to the 92-year-old hype
For the uninitiated, the O.G. Krystal slider is a grilled, square beef patty, diced onions, mustard, and a slice of dill pickle on a steamed bun. If you don’t order several at once, you’re doing it wrong. The sliders were dangerously easy to scarf down at a startling pace. The meat was so thin yet flavorful; it and the bun promptly melted away on my tongue the moment I took a bite. The mustard held down the fort in terms of taste; its punchiness paired just right with the sour pickle.
The sliders’ simplicity is what makes them scrumptious. Onions, mustard, and pickles all bring nostalgic, bold flavors to the table without reinventing the wheel. However, I felt the meat could have used a bit more salt and pepper. For the sliders I ordered with American cheese, I appreciated the rich, creamy contrast, although I wish it had melted more. Due to the patty’s size, the cheese was occasionally overwhelming, so I suggest going the purist’s route sans-cheese if you’re a first-timer. (P.S.: I also tasted a slider with sofrito-inspired Cruz Sauce, developed with former NFL star Victor Cruz, which is exclusively available at the NJ location; think an herby, oniony garlic aioli with peppery spices.)
I tasted the chain’s alternate proteins for good measure. I started with the Classic Chik, a slider with all-white battered chicken breast, mayo, and dill pickle. The breading was crisp and indulgent without feeling heavy, but due to the size of the chicken, there were bites that seemed to have an excess of breading. The meat-to-breading ratio of the wings or chicken nuggets likely feels more substantial. The Spicy Chik was my preference; I appreciated that it was marinated in spices and served dry rather than doused in a glaze or sauce that would turn the breading soggy. The mayo curbed and balanced the heat just right. As for the Krystal Fish, a fried Alaskan pollock filet complete with panko crust and tartar sauce, it was tender and flavorful yet mild enough that seafood skeptics may find it approachable. The texture was the real highlight.
The Junkyard Tots were much better than they had any right to be
The sliders may get all the attention, but I was very impressed with the sides. The fries were deliciously no-frills, but still felt a notch above most fast food joints (TBH, they reminded me of Applebee’s fries with their earthy bits of potato skin and semi-crisp texture). That said, the onion rings wowed me in comparison. The breading was crisp and evenly fried without detracting from the sweet, tender-crisp allium inside. They also had a homestyle, handmade feel to them, as the rings contain whole-sliced onions rather than paste.
Despite Krystal’s knack for plain-yet-tasty food, I had to go OTT with the Junkyard Tots, a towering side of chili, cheddar cheese, bacon, and ranch dressing atop your choice of fries or tater tots. I didn’t expect to adore this menu item so much. The chili was deeply seasoned with a tantalizing dose of tomatoey, lip-smacking acidity. Despite its name, it wasn’t too messy to eat. While I felt the bacon got a little lost in the sauce and some bites were a bit too salty, I was impressed with how versatile, balanced, and herby the ranch was.
The Latin-inspired sweet treat you can only get at the NJ outpost
A first-timer’s meal at Krystal (or any restaurant, TBH) is incomplete without dessert. While the chain is known for its hand-spun milkshakes, I took the brand's advice and ordered the Tres Leches Glaze Bombs instead—another Latin-inspired item made in collaboration with Cruz that’s only available at the NJ store. It’s a caramel-kissed spin on the chain’s standard glazed donut holes. The coating reminded me of a thinner dulce de leche; it turned sticky and chewy as the donuts cooled. The dough was lighter and airier than I expected. As a Latina myself, tres leches anything should be swimming and soaking in a dairy mélange, so they didn’t deliver on the name in my book, but I still liked them.
Is Tennessee’s favorite burger chain worth the Northern hype?
All in all, I enjoyed my inaugural trip to Krystal. The service was warm, the restaurant was spotless (just as the founders intended), and the food delivered retro, timeless flavors with a few modern flourishes. My favorite items were the onion rings, Junkyard Tots, and plain slider. Next time, I’d try the milkshakes over the donuts, hold off on the cheese for the sliders, and save room for a Chili Cheese Pup, the most extravagant of the chain’s hot dogs.