Two Friends Named Jay Built Sizzling J’s, the Smash Burger Counter Inside a State Street Gas Station

NORTH HAVEN — Pull in for gas at 414 State St. and you might leave with lunch instead. Inside the station, Sizzling J’s runs a griddle counter that turns out smash burgers, Philly cheesesteaks, Georgia hots and breakfast sandwiches on Portuguese rolls. It has quietly built one of the best Google ratings in town: 4.9 stars across more than 170 reviews.

If you have only ever stopped there for gas, here is who is behind the counter, what the regulars order, and what it costs.

Two friends named Jay

The restaurant tells its own origin story in one line on its delivery listing: “We Are a Small North Haven Fast Casual Eatery Started by Two Long Time Friends Jay & Jay! Our signature is our Smash Burgers!” That explains the “J” in the name.

State business records show Sizzling J’s CT LLC was registered on Aug. 1, 2024, at 414 State St., with Jayesh Maher listed as its principal. Google lists the counter as located inside “Sizzling J’s GULF,” the station itself.

Customers on Google know the owner simply as Jay, and he comes up in review after review. “I know the owner Jay he’s an amazing person and always looks out for his customers,” wrote Vincent, who said he eats there at least three times a week. “He ensures that everybody’s food is taken care of as if it was his own.”

Amanda wrote that “Jay was helpful and so proud of what him and his guys are doing. Friendly service is almost nonexistent these days so this was very refreshing to experience.”

The crew at the grill

The staff gets nearly as much love. Anne, who works next door, wrote that she has “come to know Jay throughout the years,” and named the crew: “Omar, Fernando and Gabe truly have a passion for people.” Omar, she said, “will engage you as you checkout — he loves his job and connecting with people,” while “Fernando fires up the grill with all the flair of the amazing chef he is.”

Cal summed it up in one line: “Great customer service, menu has all the classics you’d expect, pricing is super reasonable.” He signed off with “Thanks, J!”

Don’t let the gas station fool you

That phrase, or something close to it, shows up again and again in the reviews. Amanda called the food “awesome,” with “tons of flavor,” and said it was “fresh and super hot,” adding that it is “very unassuming considering its inside a gas station. Do not let that fool you.”

The menu is short on fuss and long on sauces. The house “Sizzle Sauce” is the signature burger sauce, and there are a dozen more on the list, from chipotle aioli and Dijon aioli to ghost pepper ranch.

What to order

Prices below are from Sizzling J’s own online ordering menu this week. Delivery apps charge more, so ordering direct or at the counter is the better deal.

A smash burger. These are quarter-pound patties on a brioche bun. The Juicy J ($8.99) is the classic, with cheese, griddled onions, pickles and Sizzle Sauce. The Sizzler ($9.99) adds fresh jalapeños, fried onions and chipotle aioli. The Big Sizzle ($12.99) doubles the patties and adds bacon. If you want something you will not find at a drive-thru, the Jamaican Beef Patty Burger ($12.99) tucks a smash burger inside a Jamaican beef patty.

The Munchie Box ($16.99). If you cannot decide, this is the move: a Juicy J or a Sizzler, four crispy breaded wings and Cajun fries in one box.

A chicken sandwich. The Cluckin Chicken ($7.99) is a crispy chicken patty with pickles and Sizzle Sauce on brioche. Cal ordered the Cluckin Spicy ($8.99), with pepper jack, fresh jalapeños, pickles and ghost pepper ranch, and called it “10/10.” He also liked the toasted bun, “a super nice touch.” The Chicken Bacon Ranch is $10.99.

A cheesesteak. The Classic Philly ($11.99) is shaved meat, griddled onions and melted cheese on an 8-inch hero roll. The house signature is the South of Haven ($13.99), with pepper jack, jalapeño, lettuce, tomato and ghost pepper ranch. There is also a Lemon Pepper Chicken Philly and a Chipotle Chicken Cheese Steak, both $13.99.

A Georgia hot ($5.99). Sizzling J’s serves Hummel hot dogs, New Haven’s own, on toasted New England–style buns. The Georgia hot comes with peppers, onions and Dijon aioli. For something bigger, the Broad Street Bully ($9.99) is a split and grilled Hummel dog topped with onions, Sizzle Sauce, shaved ribeye and American cheese.

Breakfast. The counter opens early, and breakfast sandwiches come on fresh Portuguese rolls. An egg and cheese is $5.99, and bacon, sausage, kielbasa, turkey bacon or ham, egg and cheese is $6.29. The Big Apple Bacon Egg & Cheese ($11.99) is a New York–style hero loaded with applewood bacon and three extra-large eggs. The breakfast burrito is $10.99.

Something different. The Breaky Sandwich ($9.99) stacks hash brown, fried egg, American cheese, bacon and a sausage patty between waffle buns with pancake syrup. The Jamaican Breakfast Sandwich ($9.99) uses a mild baked Jamaican beef patty as the bun.

On the side. Sizzlin Fries ($6.99) are the loaded house fries, with melted cheese, griddled onion, jalapeño slices and Sizzle Sauce. Cajun fries are $5.99, and regular fries are $3.99.

Before you go

• Hours: Google lists Sizzling J’s as open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and closed on weekends. Online orders run from 7 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. on weekdays.
• Where: Inside the gas station at 414 State St. Order at the counter inside.
• Order ahead: The online menu takes pickup orders, and the counter is on DoorDash and Uber Eats.
• Specials: Watch for limited-time specials. October’s was a Pastrami Nightmare with purple cabbage, pickles and pepper jack.

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