Harpoon Willy's Wins APP.com's Burger Bracket

Asbury Park readers select local restaurant as having the best burger at the Jersey Shore

Apr. 2, 2026 at 11:02am

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After a March Madness-style tournament, readers of the Asbury Park Press have selected Harpoon Willy's as the winner of the publication's Burger Bracket, naming it the best burger at the Jersey Shore.

Why it matters

The Burger Bracket competition generated significant local interest and engagement, highlighting the passionate food culture and fierce loyalty to neighborhood restaurants that define many New Jersey shore communities.

The details

Harpoon Willy's, a popular local restaurant in Asbury Park, bested a field of other contenders through several rounds of voting to emerge victorious in the Burger Bracket. The winning burger is said to feature a unique blend of seasonings and toppings, including tomatoes that "have a little more umami than your regular tomato."

  • The Burger Bracket competition ran throughout March 2026.

The players

Harpoon Willy's

A well-known restaurant in Asbury Park, New Jersey, that was voted by readers as having the best burger at the Jersey Shore.

Asbury Park Press

A local newspaper serving the Asbury Park, New Jersey area that organized the Burger Bracket competition.

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The takeaway

The Burger Bracket competition showcased the deep pride and appreciation that Asbury Park residents have for their local food scene, with Harpoon Willy's emerging as the champion of this community-driven culinary showdown.