Awful Wally’s Deli

I walked by the other day, and sadly Awful Wally’s is closed! I hope they can get their stuff together and reopen, because the Awful Wally Burger with the cheese and thin layer of pastrami was freakin’ MONEY!!!

Awful Wally’s is a great burger joint for the price. The reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is becasuse I have had better. On that note, this place does come in a close second or third for me. The awful wally burger is great. basically your true pastrami burger for about $ 6.00. This is what I call the real $ 6 burger. The only funny thing about this place is that if you are eating in there, it always seems like the ventilation is broken so you come out smelling like grilled burgers. The burgers are not huge, but are a decent portion. They do have a variety of different burgers to choose from. I first came here because I just had to see if it really was awful, but it is far from it. The only thing that is awful is maybe the location. Its kinda off the beaten path. Whenever someone asks me how to get there, I just have to tell them to go past the strip club, and you will see it.

Just checking in to let everyone know that it appears Awful Wally’s is closed. At least it has been shuttered this entire week. I was a regular, would eat every Thursday or Friday and read the SN&R. Sad to see them go!

I’m a hamburger lover at heart so when I got an invite to Awful Wally’s I was excited to try out an unfamiliar burger joint.
The ambiance is warehouse dumpy. Plenty of room and fairly clean but not a place to impress friends.
The menu seemed fairly diverse– I settled on a spicy burger and cross-​cut fries. The two items ran about $ 9.60. With the ridiculous ATM surcharge of 79 cents I was well over $ 10 for a burger/​fry lunch.
The burger was fairly tasty with a good bun but seemed a bit dry even with the hot sauce on it. I noticed that the patty seemed unusually thin– about half the thickness of the Costco patties that I normally buy.
The fry order was very small for them charging over $ 3 for the order and the taste was in no way superior to what you’d get from Jack-​in-​the-​Box.
My meal was good but nothing to really draw me back for another meal. There are too many excellent competitors around who do it better for a lower price in a nicer atmosphere.

Not a bad dive, by any means. This place isn’t located in the most beautiful area of Sacramento, for sure — which may contribute to why I’ve driven by it for years going to work and have never stopped in. An old building with a no frills interior, Wally’s was still clean, the staff was friendly, the burger and fries were both hot and tasty, and the prices very reasonable. My first visit will not be my last.

Awful Wally’s was anything but. I was of course intrigued by the name so I decided to roll the dice and stop i for a bite while in the neighborhood. It’s blue-​collar to say the least. The no-​frills interior combined with the occasional view of some working man’s plumbers crack reminded me of something out of a Bruce Springsteen song.
Taking all this into account, I knew the ultimate test would be what’s on the plate. I ordered a simple burger and a beer for a very reasonable price. I was expecting something between McDonald’s and some fancy make-​your-​own burger bar, and that’s exactly what I got. The burger satisfied my meat-​craving and the Budweiser washed it down. I will no doubt return soon. Shine sweet freedom.

i like to think after a long burger making day this place moonlights as a cabinet or window tinting shop. That would be appropriate. It’s industrial, yet not in the bourgeois Chipotle-​esque exposed ductwork and polished metal way though. It’s industrial, for reals. Perhaps this is why the Awful crew takes seriously the working man’s burger.
These are some pretty decent burgers for a good price. I think the word I’m looking for is value. You are going to eat pretty well under ten bucks.
You are also going to see the working man scarfing burgers. Paint speckled coveralls. Sweat soaked tees. Perhaps a swear word or two if you are lucky.
The Man can’t keep you down.
Not here. Not now.
Feast working man. Feast! For here, you are the boss.

I like this place, used to work a few blocks away then we moved to West El Camino.
The Wally Burger, Slackey and Turkey and Cranberry are my personal fave.

Not sure why I’ve always been so intrigued by this place, but I finally went in. Liked the lunch time vibe. Very relaxed and blue collar with the occasional BMW driver pulling up to slum his or her way through a dive-​bar burger.
Food was disappointing. Put just a little seasoning in those thin-​ass burgers please! The buns were really good… pastrami was okay but tough… sauce was decent… lettuce & toms were fresh… way too many onions. Fries were lukewarm.
Burger, small fry and drink was about $ 10. Pretty middle of the road on all counts.

I have had lunch here many times. It is located in a somewhat less than exciting neighborhood and next to a «Gentleman’s Club.» However, I have not seen any of the ladies in here eating before their shift.
I have ordered an Angus beef burger and a Buffalo burger. Both were properly cooked, I usually order well done just to be sure. The menu items are extensive on the overhang boards. You order with the chef or other employees before sitting down. They have fountain drinks and specialty beverages available.
Both of my burgers were tasty and made with plenty of trimmings. If I’m in the area again, which somehow I seem to be every once in a while, I’ll go by for lunch and grab another burger.

Solid burger, and the AWFUL WALLY BURGER comes with pastrami which kicks it up a notch. The warehouse vibe is very unique but the place had a very stale smell which knocks it down a star. It stunk

I would give it 3 ½ stars if I could. I liked it, but the pattys were thin. The buns were excellent. I honestly like In n Out better

Some of the best buns in Sac are on Richards Blvd and I’m mos def not talking about Club Fantasy. Awful Wally’s is the owner of that distinction. Beer, burgers, easy on the wallet prices, a pool table and cardboard cutouts of Corona soccer cheerleaders all in an awesome dive bar for burgers kinda atmosphere… how could I not love this place? The Awful Wally burger with pastrami on the patty is legit, I do recommend up sizing to the ½ lb if you have a bigger appetite though but the regular size if perfect if you’re looking to avoid inducing a food coma. If this place was downtown and open late night it would easily be a 5 star spot. I’m sure when given the opportunity to do some day drinking here I’ll bump up my rating.

I had a crap day. I was in the crap side of town. Why not try this awful wally then? I was with my pops, and we all know most dads can spot a good burger place… My day turned from shit to gold. I walked into what I think was an old car repair place warehouse thing? The décor was not cute. I mean that in a good way! It looked like they kept or brought in stuff to compliment what I saw as a «manly building». I loved it. They have GOOD burgers. Like… the kind you can make for yourself if you really out the effort into– but are just too busy (ahem lazy) to do so. Theres a pool table. Theres beer. Parking and pricing hell yes. Its worth the drive down Richards.

The name explains it all. Now after reviewing previous reviews I’m trying to figure out exactly how people enjoyed their burgers? Now I eat out a lot, and would have to say this place is on the bottom of my list to ever try again.
I ordered the BBQ bacon burger and fries (which I was sooo craving at the time) and to my unpleasant surprise it completely ruined my craving. The burger itself you can tell had been frozen and possibly defrosted un-​properly. The BBQ sauce… I wouldn’t even call a sauce; it was dry and left an «awful» after taste in my mouth. As far as the fries went, they were old, dry, and chewy.
Put it like this: If you don’t take my word for it fine, but whatever you do don’t order that BBQ bacon burger unless you want to be utterly disappointed.
Décor: You feel like your in a warehouse but the place is spacey.
Staff: I have mixed feelings about the staff. The first gentlemen that helped me I asked him if they have a paper menu because the only menu they have is written with chalk above the cooks… and my response from him was *head shacking no*. So I explained to him I failed to bring my eyeglasses with me and therefor can’t see the menu to well… and my response from him *shrug*. Now, I could only assume he was having a bad day or something, but wow?! Anyways, the lady at the register seemed a lot more pleasant and helpful thankfully.

Not the best, but definitely worth it. It’s the kind of place you go when you just want a good hamburger. Maybe you want some other stuff on it too. Like Pastrami. mmmmmmmmm. I’ve been coming to a customers location for years and I finally made it over here. I’m mad at them for hiding the restaurant from me for so long. Now granted the burgers are the thickest, however they also don’t make you feel completely useless after eating them.
Imagine going to a friends place for a BBQ during the workday. That’s what it’s like. Good food, relaxing, nothing to hide.

First of all, who calls this «Awful Wally’s Deli?» Nobody, that’s who! The sign out front says «Awful Wally’s Hamburgers» and that’s what they do. No deli counter in sight!
As far as the burgers go, pretty standard stuff. I had the Green Chili Cheeseburger (they call it something else), and it was good– not awful, not great). I’ve had better (best at a dive bar in Carrizozo, New Mexico) as well as worse.
So go for the funky meat locker décor. The burgers are good, but nothing special.

You know you’re eating somewhere classy when the place neighbors a 70’s style Gentleman’s Club and Industrial Retail Stores selling miscellaneous textiles.
I was kinda disappointed, because I heard such great things about this place. Its your typical burger, except supersized. The Wally Burger is somewhat amazing just because it has pastrami on top of the patty so +0.5 stars for putting meat on top of meat! Fries ain’t bad either. The Chef Salad on the other hand looks like the salads I made as a poor, lazy college student — sliced deli meat and kraft cheese over iceberg and topped with diluted ranch. It’s ok, I’m on a diet so that’s probably a good thing.
Make sure you wear clothes you don’t mind getting smelly =P Limited indoor seating, no outdoor seating.

You know, you walk into a restaurant on Richards and you just have to wonder «what exactly did I get myself into?»
As soon as I walk in, there’s an older gentleman who reminds me of my pedophile uncle, who I can already tell was going to hit on me if we were at a bar.
The place looks like a family just started running a business out of a warehouse. It doesn’t look like they’ve been there for years. The décor is really outdated and their bar consists of bud and bud light.
I actually dig divey places like this, especially because what it boils down to is the food and service, which is on point.
I got the saw-​something burger with criss cut fries. I did not need to add anything to my burger. It was flavorful, juicy, and it wasn’t too messy.
I will definitely go back to that place; it’s like stopping by a friends shop and grabbing a bite to eat. Good food, great hospitality, and pervy men giving you «the eye» what more can you ask for?
Well done.

I finally got the BF to shut up about this place.
Richards Boulevard is our thoroughfare of choice when heading westward from the apartment. Every time we’d pass by, he’d say, «Let’s go to Awful Wally’s!» We had never actually been there, but something about the burger-​inhabited warehouse intrigued him, convincing him that it was good. I, not necessarily unconvinced, thought that Awful Wally’s was on worker hours, much like the lunch spots downtown.
One Saturday afternoon — er, yesterday — BF said, once again, «Let’s go to Awful Wally’s!» And, for the first time this week, I obliged to one of his random suggestions. «Okay. Maybe it’s open.»
We drove up, and the lights all seemed to be off. Not a good sign. When we got closer, we notice a little girl pushing her baby sister around in a stroller. Open! We walked in, and the lovely smell of warm burgers and grease trickled around us. A group of «kids» from the government housing across the street were hanging out at the bar. For whatever reason, I took that as a good sign.
BF and I to a gander at the menu; luckily, they had chicken breast sandwiches to please the BF’s palate (he doesn’t eat beef.) Ordering was easy: the Sawdco for me («with all the garbage» as it says) and a BBQ chicken for him, with a side of criss-​cut fries to share. My burger was huge. It was intimidating. However, I lacked a painful fullness I associate with large burgers afterward. Maybe it was the lettuce, maybe it was that weird yellow sauce, but it was satisfying without being torturous. BF was equally pleased with his chicken. The BBQ sauce was on the side (not marinated) but he was happy with its yummy grilled-​ness nonetheless. They had a good selection of bottled and canned drinks: Snapple, SoBe, Stewart’s, and the like. They had canned as well as fountain soda, which I thought was pretty cool.
The atmosphere was something to be appreciated. The diviness is part of the charm; beer ads everywhere, and possibly the biggest American flag I’ve even seen in my life. Ironically, there’s kind of a sporty feel to it, but the TV, situated in a corner by the bar, is rather small.
So, the BF has been silenced for now… I, however, may be the one to suggest it in the future.