Harold (John Cho) and Kumar (Kal Penn) are two young adult stoners whose desire for White Castle hamburgers to cure their munchies takes them on an outrageous adventure across New Jersey. Harold is a junior investment banker who is constantly stepped on at work because of his Asian ethnicity and quiet nature. Harold has a crush on his neighbor Maria (Paula Garces), but lacks the confidence to approach her. Kumar is the son of a doctor with a predisposition for medical work, but no desire for a career. A night of smoking and watching TV gives Harold and Kumar an insatiable craving for White Castle fast food, but there is no nearby White Castle. The two travel through New Jersey searching for White Castle, but encounter several roadblocks and hijinks along the way.