There's nowhere else in Kansas to get a burger this good! I've been patronizing it exclusively since the 80's after trying other places. I give new places a chance, but eventually concluded, Why bother!? The service is super friendly -- after a few visits, they'll know you by name. It's always packed when I go, so I order ahead, and if a seat happens to open up, I enjoy mixing with everyone. The locals know it's the best! And the staff makes sure your meal ends on an upbeat note with a free soft serve. It's the "Cheers" of burger joints! read more

In town for a few days and gave J's Carry Out a try and boy are we glad we did. We arrived during the lunch rush and they were pretty crowded but even so the staff was super friendly and attentive. Our food came out quickly and was hot and delicious. Menu has something for everyone. Drink refills are plentiful and everyone got a free ice cream cone at the end of our meal! read more

J's Carry Out - Menu at J's Carry Out - New American Near Me - Emporia, Kansas

We are from out of town and just happened to wander in. This was one of the best burgers I've had in a very long time. Staff is super attentive and friendly. We didn't realize it when we walked in but an ice cream is included with your meal. We will definitely be back the next time we come through. read more

J's Carry Out - New American Near Me - Emporia, Kansas

Food was excellent and service was on par. I hear their Beef is locally butchered as well.

A small diner like bar with a couple of tables makes it a cozy stop. I had several younger persons working, I think college kids. That being said, I ordered a double cheeseburger with fries and a coke. Best burger and fries I've had in a while. Freshly made and delicious! Far better than any chain burgers that leave asking, just what is this? The staff were awesome; good people, their folks would be proud. And you have a soft serve that comes with it to top off. read more

The burgers at J's are absolutely the best. Theres a saying that when the bag has the juices from the burger on it, you know it's going to be delicious. (This is not verbatim but close) And oh boy was it ever!!! The staff is so friendly and there service is second to none When you walk in you're greeted immediately. The ambiance radiates comfort Those other burger places have nothing on J's Carryout. It's great midwest hospitality can't be beat!!!!! And it's local. Go support the local business. They'll love you even more. read more

Not much to say on this one except you can expect one of the best, most flavorful burgers you've ever eaten. Fresh ground beef DOES make a difference. The fries were seasoned well. I had gotten the impression they were freshly cut there which is not the case, but they were good. I ordered my burger exactly how I wanted it, right down to the grilled onions, and that's how it came. No fancy schmancy options here, but when the beef is this good, why muss it up with a bunch of other stuff? As a tip I would offer you probably want to call in your order in advance as it's more likely than not there won't be an open table to sit at in the extremely small front area. And while I didn't ask to use their restroom, I don't know they would have one available for customers. It might be best to plan that visit elsewhere. The place is really, really small. I love the fact that this place knows what they do well, and they do it. read more

J's Carry Out - No room inside, but these burgers are worth eating in a parking area! - New American Near Me - Emporia, Kansas

Absolutely hands down the best burger place in emporia. Their ice cream is so amazing. Their burgers are juicy and the curly fries don't even get me started. Service is amazing as well read more

On a tip from my friend who lives in Emporia, stopped in after a round of golf at the nearby muni that is well worth the trip. To say I owe my friend one would be an understatement. Probably as good a French Fry as I've ever had. And while they are famous for their burgers, I went with the pork tenderloin (my secret pleasure). While their tender doesn't match The Pad in Topeka in terms of size it is a truly great offering. Will definitely be back to give this landmark another whirl! read more

J's Carry Out - Delicious little golden sticks! - New American Near Me - Emporia, Kansas

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I've praised J's before. I'll do so again. Ordered carryout from work Thursday love the double patty melts with extra grilled onions. The pounder with pepperjack & grilled onions is still my favorite but the patty melt is killer. Staff is friendly with warm smiles. Place is clean. Good service. Hard to beat mom & pop owned restaurant. Don't miss this place if you travel through Emporia. read more

I'm going five stars here, because what Jay's does well is exactly what you would expect from both the size of the establishment and from the pictures on the front of the place. They do BURGERS, and no, not fancified 'gourmet' burgers adorned with too many derivatives of greens or cheeses, just a big, juicy burger with the standard accompaniments. A burger with applewood smoked bacon and garlic aioli on ciabatta is just fine, but seriously, why try so hard? Jay's is about as big as your standard kitchen, with outdoor seating as well. It's known as a carry-out place, so capacity isn't the chief concern. The focus of Jay's is their burgers, and they do them up very well! This visit had us gobbling down double cheeseburgers with the works and heaping sides of fries. The burgers are done on a griddle, not flame-broiled, and the meat mixture and cooking technique retains all the flavors and moisture. In the restaurant business they call that 'execution', and Jay's does it just right. In these uncertain times, small businesses mean more than ever and we mean more than ever to small businesses. As we were traveling south on the interstate, we made a phone call, we took an exit, and we picked up our food and ate on the patio. COVID has changed the game for so many places, but Jay's looks to be surviving well. Three burgers plus a couple of fries set us back about $30, and with the timeliness and taste, it was an excellent value. They even give you free ice cream (which we declined - burp!) and have a super-friendly staff. read more

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What a cool place! My family has been coming here for decades, I came here a few times when I was a kid. We recently came back to visit family and decided to take our kids to J's... what a great decision! The chili burger and onion rings were amazing! And my kids enjoyed the corn dogs, hot dog and curly fries. And the staff are super chatty and nice. So glad we came here! read more

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Wow! Burgers were so flavorful. One of the best hamburgers we've had in like forever! Great fries, too. We were a bit concerned that we wouldn't get a seat (it's pretty small) but they had lots of take-out orders. No problem. Sat at the counter. Everyone was so friendly! And talk about the service - like a well-oiled machine. Everyone had a job to do and we just sat back and watched. They were amazing! We will definitely be back next time we're in Emporia. read more

They are the best in town and have awards to prove it Voted best burger in town for years now. Big fresh burgers cooked on an old time well seasoned grill for taste and flavor. Great service and a free ice cream cone for dessert. read more

Great hamburgers. Maybe the best I've ever had. Definitely worth a try. Prices are reasonable. Service is friendly.

Great burgers, fries, and service! We ordered through the drive through and everything was fresh and hot. J's is also affordable and a better value than going to a fast food restaurant for a burger. read more

Traveling... we were in the mood for a good burger. So glad we chose this place. Food, service, everything was great! We sat outside... it was such a lovely evening! read more

J's Carry Out - single burger and fries - New American Near Me - Emporia, Kansas

Best burger you can get anywhere! Just a small little place with friendly service! Also you can get a free ice cream cone! read more

J's Carry Out - Menu - New American Near Me - Emporia, Kansas

Excellent hole-in-wall old school burger joint. You won't be disappointed, especially with free soft serve ice cream for dessert!

This place is the BEST! Hamburgers are like what our Grandparents use to make!! Staff is young but very professional, can't beat the food better call it in or go early they are ALWAYS BUSY! read more

If you like good old-fashioned burgers and fries, this is your place! Excellent food and good service. Give it a try. One of the best hamburgers I've ever had. read more

Excellent Burgers! I tried their Steak sandwich, it was amazing. I love how simple is their place. They give you free ice cream cone with every order. read more

The food here is outstanding. I got the pound cheeseburger - just to prove I could - and it was amazing. Fries are great here, too. You have to wait, sure, because it's all done to order, but food-wise you can't go wrong here. So why just 2-stars? Nobody on staff was wearing a mask, despite the governor's order and the county's strong recommendation. It's disrespectful to customers and other staff to roll the dice with people's health like this, and as someone traveling with an immuno-suppressed person, the stakes are particularly high for us. Any place that does this gets an automatic one-star rating from me because of the lack of concern it displays for patrons, but because the food was THAT GOOD, J's gets a bonus star. read more

Best BURGERS IN THE COUNTRY plus the staff is always super friendly and the soft serve is amazing.

The hamburgers are so filling because they are bigger than usual. It's nice when they give you ice cream in the end

We stopped here on our way to KC. Super nice people. We were in drive through with our dogs, a man came out and took our order, when we got to the window they offered us free ice cream cone- and it was good ice cream! Then asked if they could Refill our drinks while we waited - it was not that long of a wait - super good burgers , big, thick, juicy with melted cheese and soft fresh buns. The onion rings were awesome too. Thanks for your kindness! read more

They have good food and polite workers. The menu includes burgers, sandwiches, hotdogs, fries, etc. and the normal American food selection. We were asked multiple times if we wanted refills on our drinks, and checked on often by waiters. Their burgers are gigantic. You can have a free ice cream after your meal. The good kind of hole-in-a-wall. read more

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Growing up in Emporia there was never a better burger. J's always hit the spot. Everything was fresh. An Emporia staple for sure!

Hole in the wall hamburger place. It's been there for years. Owners and staff are always friendly. Service is always fast. The food is always delicious. The prices are fair. Whenever we pass through Emporia we always make it a point to stop. read more

Always pleasant staff and predictably superb food. Hot upon presentation to the customer and it's always served with a real smile. Their 'burgers' are the real deal, not the fancy gourmet kind with several different kinds of cheese and 'a special sauce'. Fries, chili dogs, onion rings, it's all great. read more

I'd drive 6 hours to eat at J's. Wait! I did that and would like to say that you should too. No matter where you live, J's is well worth the trip to Emporia! Let me explain: Jay uses only the freshest and most wholesome ingredients in his food. He also serves it with pride and strives to make your visit as great as it possibly can be. read more

Best burger I've had in a while. AND they offer free soft serve while you wait!! How do you beat that? I had come back from a trip to Texas and was eager to try a Whataburger. Not even close to J's. Glad I have family that live in Emporia so I get a chance to sneak back. You gotta try it if you're close by, or even not so close. read more

Friendly and fast local service. Good and hearty burgers and excellent onion rings. Free ice cream while you wait. I'd eat here every week if I lived in Emporia. Highly recommended. read more

Always a must when I come back to visit home. the food is always fresh and tasty and don't forget the complimentary ice cream cone while you wait! You just can't go wrong with Js! read more

Seriously does it get any better than Js? I've been coming here since the early 90s when I was in college and the first place I want to go each time I'm in Emporia is Js. Amazing BLT, onion rings, burgers! J is the nicest guy ever. Free ice cream. Very little indoor seating but you can sit outside or take it to go. Hours are limited but worth it if you can make it work with your schedule. read more

A great little burger joint. They have wonderful and polite service and the burgers are made to order and very good. The only minor criticism I would give them is maybe look into some seasoning for the curly fries as they are pretty bland. read more

Disc golf brought me to this amazing place! I ate here four days in a row during the 2015 Glass Blown Open. The burgers are killer! Simple, handcrafted, juicy goodness with all the great traditional toppings of your choice. Followed by complimentary ice cream! Brought me back to my childhood. The hospitality here is unrivalled...... We were welcomed with open arms and treated with the utmost care. The owner offered us constant refills and even offered to put ice in our coolers :) many thanks good sir! If you are in Emporia Kansas, this is a must visit place to eat. Great town, great vibes, and Americana cuisine at its best! read more

J's was recommended to us by a family member. We stopped to eat while in town. Food was great and the staff is very friendly. Will definitely come back again. read more

Great lunch today at J's. Double cheeseburger and curly fries with iced tea. Very friendly and free ice cream cone at the end. Hard to beat in Emporia. read more

I have only eaten here once but, in my opinion it leaves something to be desired. I had high expectations after seeing it had been referred to as "The best burger in Kansas" and it didn't meet them. It was still a decent burger in my opinion, which came with a wide variety of toppings and condiments which could be added to your burger. I ordered mine with onion rings, which also lacked flavor, and my girlfriend had fries which were good. I will probably return soon to give it another chance read more