Here’s the Beef: 8 great burgers in San Diego
Don't see your favorite? Tell us why you love it
The all-natural Brandt Beef burgers at Neighborhood in the East Village are some of the tastiest in town. (Photo by Edwin Real)
The burger. It’s America’s quintessential meal; and cooks across the nation feel free to use it as a canvas for artistic self-expression tucked in between two buns.
Across our nation’s culinary landscape, carnivores are hunting down different varieties, insatiable in their quest for yet another burger. Just this month, the Food Network Magazine named the best burger in every state, giving In-N-Out’s Double Double the honors in California. Follow the trend with our picks for San Diego’s finest.
Hodad’s Pig out properly at this Ocean Beach burger shack with the double bacon cheeseburger. Bacon is boiled, then formed into a patty and griddle-fried to perfection, yielding just the right crunch and chew. 5010 Newport Ave. Ocean Beach. (619)224-4623
Pig out with Hodad's Bacon Cheeseburger. (Photo by Edwin Real)
Neighborhood If your taste buds had a butt, Neighborhood’s spicy Cajun burger would kick it. Brandt Farms ground beef is dry rubbed to ignite your palate and comes dressed with spicy aioli and just enough cool pickled-radish relish to put out the fire. 777 G St. East Village. (619)446-0002
NuNu’s Stiff, cheap drinks inspire late night booze-hounds to get their burger fix. The half pound barbeque-style angus burger is so big it takes a knife stabbed down its middle to keep it together; just try to get your mouth around this beast. 3537 Fifth Ave. Banker’s Hill. (619) 295-2878
The Linkery North Park’s sausage factory goes above and beyond the call of burger with ‘The Lot.’ Lacking very little, pastured beef, grilled pineapple, house cured bacon, Winchester Gouda, and a fried egg can be topped off with your link of choice for an additional $5.50.3794 30th St. North Park. (619) 255-8778
Canada Steak Burger
Ever feel like your burger could use a little more meat? Succulent gyros are carved and then stacked high atop a ½ pound char-broiled ground steak patty; add bacon for .75 for a burger that’s won awards since the 80s. 3604 University Ave. North Park. (619)283-4345
The Tractor Room If ever a burger deserved to be mounted on a wall it’s this prize. 5th Avenue’s one and only hunting lodge is home of the Prime Beef Burger, smothered in smoked mozzarella cheese, thick cut bacon all on a rustic Sadie Rose bun. 3687 Fifth Ave. Hillcrest. (619) 543-1007
Crazy Burger What do the San Diego Zoo and North Park’s Tioli’s Crazy Burger have in common? Species of meat run wild on this menu; alligator to emu and where the buffalo roam, served with original house sauces, don’t tell PETA, but we’re fans. 4201 30th St. (619)282-6044
Burger Lounge A thoughtfully prepared burger through and through, a perfect balance of juicy meat, cheese, crisp produce and tangy Thousand Island dressing that comes on a toothsome bun. The turkey basil variety is rumored to steer even the most devout cow worshipers away from the pasture. In La Jolla, Kensington and Coronado.
Amy T. Granite is a gastro-adventuring, craft beer enthusiast who celebrates living in San Diego everyday. She is also a freelance journalist. Visit her blog www.saysgranite.com
Tags: best burgers in San Diego, Burger Lounge, Crazy Burger, favorite burger, Food Network, Hodad's, Neighborhood, SDNN, The Linkery, Tractor Room
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Comment by: Alex Maas Posted: May 5, 2009, 10:32 pm
I do not eat burgers and rarely eat red meat. Sometimes I might have one piece of pepperoni on a pizza. At any rate, according to people I know,
Rocky’s in PB has the best burgers in San Diego.
Comment by: huh Posted: May 6, 2009, 6:46 am
not sure that last comment has much authority.
Comment by: Matt Posted: May 6, 2009, 9:06 am
Amy, you’re on crack for not mentioning Rocky’s
Comment by: Shelly Bowen Posted: May 6, 2009, 9:26 am
Recently had a Stilton cheese bacon burger with spinach at O’Brien’s Pub on Convoy. SO good!
Comment by: WWSC Posted: May 6, 2009, 9:36 am
Rocky’s is a bit overrated. How do you dry out a 1/2 lb burger? Why do I have to wait 20 minutes for a burger? It’s OK at best.
Comment by: Val Huntington Posted: May 6, 2009, 10:04 am
Agree that Rocky’s is overrated. i still can’t get over dripping grease and all of the flies buzzing around the condiments and mayo that sits on the table? hmmm…. And while i love Nunus for drinks, one of the best burgers. really??? good start though on a list. I would recommend O’Brothers in downtown for an excellent tasting burger on the premium side (they use organic beef). Boomerangs is good and fun to make your own burger with solid taste.
Comment by: trudg Posted: May 6, 2009, 10:07 am
Phil’s BBQ is always mentioned for ribs, but rarely for its burger….time to fix that: it is GOOD with 1/2-lb of nicely grilled meat, slather of some sauce and a fresh onion ring to top it off.
Comment by: ricardo aguirre Posted: May 6, 2009, 10:29 am
That was a great piece - hopefully it will catch fire and circulate through the interwebs.
Rocky’s is way overrated. They refused to enter the Scott & B.R. burger contest a while back.
You’ve got to do and article on great burgers at “fancy” restaurants… Word has it that the Ken Grill has a good one.
Comment by: Stephani Posted: May 6, 2009, 1:38 pm
Ummm Val, what mayo sitting on the table at Rocky’s? I think you are thinking of the Waterfront. Amy seriously though, no Rocky’s? Having only tried Neighborhood, Jayne’s Gastropub, Hodad’s, Arizona and Rocky’s, I say Rocky’s is my favorite. I definitely want to try Canada and the Linkery though. You made them sound awesome! Nice pics by Edwin too!
Comment by: DG Posted: May 6, 2009, 1:54 pm
Neighborhood is outstanding and the fries are great too. Can’t wait to scarf my way down the list.
Comment by: Matty Posted: May 6, 2009, 3:06 pm
Hmm.. Western Steakburger has been putting gyros atop hamburgers since the ’80s, and they are only about 10 blocks down University from Canada Steak Burger. Obviously it’s a curious question as to who was doing it first (I think Greeks run both places). But more importantly, who does it better?
Comment by: Amy T. Granite Posted: May 6, 2009, 4:39 pm
Thanks for the great feedback everyone. There are many more burgers in San Diego worthy of a mention. As for the great Rocky’s debate… I do think they serve a tasty burger- and one that’s widely talked about. I decided that including it would be redundant. So why, then, include Hodad’s? No other burger place in town boils their bacon, forms it into a patty then griddles it like a hot cake. Pass the syrup, I’m done.
Comment by: Val Huntington Posted: May 7, 2009, 10:36 am
thanks stephani. you’re right on the mayo…i was thinking of the waterfront. but the flies are still at Rocky’s.
Comment by: Erica Posted: May 7, 2009, 11:54 pm
The Waterfront bar on Kettner has the best burgers in town. Beats Hodad’s by a mile!
Comment by: John Micheal D. Posted: May 8, 2009, 8:21 am
Cass Street Bar and Grill in PB and now in Birdrock is so good the people that are regulars don’t want to let everyone in on the secret.
1/3 or 1/2 pound burgers, cooked to order, fresh buns, perfection.
Enjoy.
Comment by: CaptD Posted: May 8, 2009, 3:22 pm
Lefty’s on 30th Street has an AWSOME burger, if you can avoid their KILLER pizza! Good Luck & Great eating in North Park!
Comment by: jeff Posted: May 13, 2009, 3:45 pm
Love Rocky’s but I have about given up on the place cuz I can never get in and get a seat. My new favorite is Western Steak Burger on University Ave; around 2700 block as I recall.
Waterfront is OK, but nothing special. Hodads is OK too, but I am not a fan of the giant tall construction. Personally I like wider and easy to get a handle on as well as thin buns; hate, hate the big fancy bun style.
Comment by: Rebecca Posted: May 15, 2009, 9:25 am
You should try O’Brothers at Horton Plaza. It is a new, 100% organic place and is very cool. They have a great burger and good little skinny “pommes frites” type fries.
Comment by: LisaSD Posted: May 21, 2009, 11:51 am
I am always up to trying a new burger and have been to quite a few on the list and enjoyed their burgers, but I like consistency in product and a reasonable price. For that, I go to Rocky’s and Johnny B’s in La Mesa. For all of you who commented above that you don’t “get it” about the Rocky’s recommendations, it is perfectly fine with me that you stay away. They don’t need to enter any contests, duh! There is a reason there is always a “wait”, people!
Comment by: Shelley Posted: May 26, 2009, 2:09 pm
How could you miss Mr. Peabody’s on Friar’s Road??? They make their own hand-formed burger (unlike the commissary-style at Hodad’s) and have a terrific turkey burger too(flavored with wine.) Curious you also missed The Waterfront and Johnny B’s in La Mesa.
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Comment by: Julio Garcia Posted: June 5, 2009, 10:26 am
Looks like whoever wrote this lives in North Park. If they lived in say, Carlsbad I bet we get 10 burger places in Carlsbad.
Branch out a little, huh?
Comment by: Ninz Posted: June 16, 2009, 9:33 pm
Julio dear, the reason there is no place named in North County is because there is none (I live here too). The few that have popped up close down quickly because people prefer family places like “Chili’s” and “El Torito’s”, unfortunately..Just drive to San Diego–it’s where everything’s at!
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Comment by: Stephanie Posted: July 6, 2009, 9:21 am
Burger Lounge is without a doubt the best burger in San Diego! You have to try their unbelievable grass fed beef, or for the vegetarians, the amazing quinoa burger!
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Comment by: Stephanie Posted: July 28, 2009, 9:47 am
Not only does Burger Lounge have organic, grass fed beef burgers and basil enriched turkey burgers perfect for any lunch or dinner, but they also have the most amazing quinoa veggie burgers I’ve ever tasted. Try their 1/2 and 1/2 order of onion rings and fries on the side and you are certain to fall in love. And now, they have 4 locations for your convenience!
Comment by: James Posted: August 19, 2009, 12:05 pm
I went to Burger Lounge with my girlfriend and had the most amazing burger I’ve tasted in a long time. It’s definitely the best burger in San Diego; must get the half and half fries too!
Comment by: Alyssa Posted: September 1, 2009, 1:43 pm
Burger Lounge definitely delivers something different when it comes to burger joints! They use only the finest grass fed beef for their organic burgers and they also serve up a fabulous turkey burger as well as a vegetarian quinoa burger! This place will satisfy everyone’s needs, and you just can’t go wrong with their spunky atmosphere and first class cuisine! To top it off, I highly recommend the to-die-for red velvet cupcakes!
Comment by: Kirk Mather Posted: November 9, 2009, 7:56 pm
Rocky’s sure. But how could Waterfront not make the list (India St)?
Comment by: Alyssa Posted: November 19, 2009, 11:16 am
It can be tough to find that one burger that you have to keep going back for but I have found mine! Check out the Burger Lounge at any of the four San Diego locations and I promise, you will not be disappointed! They actually use organic meats and offer super fresh and tasty burgers with a loungy restaurant atmosphere, I love hanging there with friends while chowing down my favorite burger! My all time is the turkey basil burger with a 1/2 & 1/2 order of seasoned fries and onion rings, and if I’m not feeling too guilty I’ll finish off with a decadent red velvet cupcake! Amazing!!!