The Balboa Bar & Grill

Down to earth burger happiness. Just a dive bar with exceptional hamburgers and amazing fries. The servers/​tenders are happy to be here and are really genuine. This is a great place for those looking for SD’s ultimate burger dive.

This place hands down has the best burger I’ve had in San Diego. So awesome we were at Balboa and walked here. Well worth it. Hidden little secret. BEST burger and they guys behind the bar are super friendly and cool. will for sure come again.

Ok, so I had been here before when it was just the Tin Can, but I never had The Dude’s Burger… so I finally made my way back to check it out…
Well… I’m a little disappointed. It was perhaps overly hyped. I got the Balboa Burger. Figured I should try their namesake. My medium rare burger came a little closer to medium well. The zesty aioli was pretty good, but overall, I left a little disappointed by the burger.
The beer selection has gone down since Tin Can. Sure they have 4 draft lines now, but I remember there being a better can selection back in the day. Anyways, when I went, on a Saturday at noon, there were only 2 beers on draft, which is pretty dumb. Apparently no one refrigerated the replacement kegs, so they were probably stuck with MT Black House and Anchor Steam the entire day. Meeeeeh…
Maybe it’s a way better deal if you come for happy hour, but an $ 8 burger that was overcooked is pretty meh… Rocky’s is still the crown of the less than $ 10 burger in San Diego. And Rocky’s beer selection is so much better.

Self service! Walk in order your food and drinks, find a seat! Don’t know why they don’t have table service being that it’s such a small joint. Table service might bring more tip’s?
We had the Classic & Pastrami Burgers along with Garlic Fries. Nice char on the burgers, juicy and cooked desired! Fries were exceptional! Great meal with a Rock & Roll feel! Priced right!

Slow service, but it’s an $ 8 burger so you get what you pay for. I feel like they should staff the bar more because everyone literally has to order from the bar before sitting.
The second time I was here, they forgot about my burger for 20 minutes and I ate alone while my friends awkwardly waited and stared. Once again, $ 8 burger so can’t complain. It tasted good but eating alone is just sad :(
Maybe this place should just keep the bar part in their name and lose the grill. Or hire more people

Balboa bar and grill is well a true hole in the wall. Small, dark, loud, drinks a plenty, and food. The menu has lots of drink specials but gets straight to the point with the food. Burgers burgers and amazing burgers!
The burgers are labeled best in SD. Truthfully they very well may be best in the city. Fresh ingredients cooked to order. It’s the way things should be. I’ve had quite a few burgers on my visits to SD and Balboas certainly is near the top of the list. These burgers aren’t trying to be something their not. It’s bar food and it’s damn good! Oh don’t forget about the fries they are certainly some of the best in the city!
The staff here was friendly and did all they could to get your drinks and food out quickly. This place was packed to the rim during my visit and my orders were still handled in a very timely manner. I mean the cooking griddle is I think like 4×4. That’s microscopic for the business volume. Even if your food takes a little bit to get to you it’s well worth the wait!

Quite possibly the best burger in town. Just outside of downtown in a little neighborhood, you will find the balboa grill. This divey little hideaway is a gem in San Diego with good local bands playing, an awesome down to earth staff and the best food around.
No frills, no expensive drinks, just good beers, good burgers and a comfy bar stool.
They were playing «72 cutest animals» when I went in too so that deserves an extra star. 6 stars!

This review is for their burger. Best burger ever. Since moving to SD a few months ago, I’ve been on the hunt for a good gourmet burger and after getting several recommendations from different people at work I knew I had to try it. So glad I did. The first time I came, they ran out of patties.bummer. That made me want it even more. Came the second time and every bite was heaven and I didn’t want the meal to end. Come early to make sure they don’t run out of patties!

Great food, as always I love to get back there.
Tomi is a great cook and so the rest.
Will highly recommended this place

I came here to try the «best burger in San Diego.»
I walked in and ordered the regular balboa burger, medium-​well, with fries to share. The towering burger came out with a knife holding it up, cheese spewing down the sides. I cut that beast in half and I felt my brother watching me as I took my first bite; think of the scene in the Wedding Singer when Rosie pays Robbie with meatballs and she asks him to take a bite so she can watch him enjoy it… lol. CLASSIC…
Classic just like this burger. It was juicy and big and cheesy. The fries were real good and seasoned well, good thing I had enough to share. It was the perfect meal.

Do yourself a favor and walk on over to the Balboa at about 430 and grab yourself a Balboa Burger, side of season fries and drink of your choice. Enjoy it in this dimly lit bar at a high top table to the sweet sweet tunes they play.
Happy hour the burgers are only $ 5, and your drink will be a buck off. Score. Order at the bar.
Balboa burger — best in SD. Maybe best in my entire life. Melts in your mouth.
Season fries, real real good. Tastes like a homemade seasoning. Next time I’ll order light seasoning, but that’s just me.

This is a quaint little bar/​burger place. Not sure when it opened, but it’s a no frills kinda place.
A couple different burger options and two different fries but man talk about Delish.
My husband and I shared a fry and each got a different burger. He the barbecue bacon cheese and I the balboa. It was juicy and flavorful.
A must check out spot even if it’s just for a beer and a burger.

This is probably my new favorite burger place we’ve found in SoCal.
We came here after our marathon cravings a delicious burger, and that’s exactly what we got. I ordered the BBQ bacon burger and my husband ordered the pastrami burger! The pastrami burger was to die for, I’ve never had such a tasty burger, perfect combination, and very filling. We also ordered a side of regular French fries that had a little spicy kick to them but very very yummy.
Highly recommend this place, I will be coming back to get a pastrami burger!

Price was very reasonable for burgers $ 7 – 9 and fries $ 3 – 5 for small and large basket.
Burgers are large and taste pretty good.
Ambience is bar, classic rock and TVs.
Servers were very nice.

Oh man their burgers are good! This might the the best burger I’ve ever had. They are seriously that good. I had a double beef cooked medium rare with lettuce, tomato, grilled onions and grilled jalapeños. Added mustard at the table. The meat was super moist and very flavorful. The bun had a perfect texture to hold the burger together.
The garlic fries were super good too!
Give them a try. The crew is very friendly. Definitely worth stepping in for a lunch.

No frills burger joint & I loved it! Passed by the Balboa time & time again, but never knew it was there until I Unilocaled burgers of course. Glad I finally tried this place out! Simple place, simple menu, great burgers! Again, I’m a bit biased when it comes to burgers, but this place has to be in my top 10 or hell even top 5! The place is small. I’d say less than 50 people can fit into the restaurant. But what they lack in space they make up in the taste of their burgers. GOTTA ORDER AT THE BAR then find a seat. Tried the «Balboa Burger» (no onions) [$ 7.75] & it was juicy & flavorful. The bread was the tastiest burger bun I’ve had. I heard it was made especially for them? Idk, but it was mouthwatering. Had a bite of their «Classic Burger» (again no onions) [$ 7.25] I think I like the Balboa better, but the meat was just as juicy. Small garlic fries [$ 3] was enough to share for 2 since the burgers were massive. They had good drink concoctions. Had «The Balboa» [$ 8.33] & the «Mint Julip» [$ 7.41] Both strong & both great tasting. Chill place & chill people. Go try The Balboa!

Pastrami Burger Is Totally Legit!
SITREP
Such a fantastic stop in downtown San Diego to enjoy some great burgers, garlic fries and cold delicious bourbon-​barrel aged brews.
THE SETUP
What I love about Balboa Bar & Grill (The Balboa), is how it immediately has that fun, divy bar feel that makes you feel right at home — IF, of course, you ARE at home in divy old historic bars — and in point of fact, I AM.
In particular, this establishment reminds me strongly of my own hometown Pre-​Flite Lounge back in Downtown Sacramento, with same gritty friendliness that you find from historic buildings.
TASTY PASTRAMI BURGERS
When I first walked in the door, all I had to hear the bartender tell me is «Pastrami» once, and I KNEW I had to try this burger.
* «One Pastrami Burger for me, friend!»
* And he said, «Coming right up!’
Oh YUM!
And along with a request for medium rare on the burger itself, I was set up also with some garlic fries which were tasty as hell, and washed down nicely with an their special XS-​IPA, brewed and aged in bourbon whiskey barrels.
.good, especially just at $ 5 a pint!
GREAT SPACE!
And The Balboa is a great place to meet up with 20 – 30 of your closest friends since it has got plenty of space! ;)
THE LOWDOWN
My hats off to the good lads at The Balboa for taking such pride in keeping such wonderful traditions alive in San Diego!

There is no way to describe how good these burgers are! And I would definitely say they are the best I’ve ever had!
So Juicy! So flavorful!
I got The Balboa along with another in my party. And someone else got a pastrami and another got the classic, we were all in foodie heaven!
Now the cocktails, are amazing! A very fresh taste.
You have to try the Jalepeno Margarita!!! Not really spicy just good tasting! We loved them!
You will not be disappointed!

Like everyone else says, the Balboa Burger is one of the best tasting burgers in San Diego. Fresh toasted bun, made to order, fresh lettuce and tomatoes. Really tasty. It goes perfectly well with the garlic fries and the Coffee Stout on tap.
Be sure to hit the daily happy hour {4−6} for the $ 5 Balboa and $ 1 off drinks.

During my morning view of the daily channel 5 news I saw Balboa Bar & Grill, grillin’ up a smoke storm in participation of San Diego’s burger week. I am a *burger aficionado* so of course the first thing I did come quittin’ time at work was to venture over to this place to see what all the hype was about. I had the Balboa Burger and Indeed it lived up to every single expectation that I had. I was very excited to see the same guy (owner) who was on the news earlier that morning, back there grilling up my, what tasted like… a down home, homemade burger! Applause!!! Keep up the good work! I will next venture to try this California Burgrito I keep hearing about…
PS-​The best part of the décor is that there really isn’t any, no windows, it’s a little dark, perfect place to hide from the paparazzi with your burger addiction like me!

I had heard great this about their burgers so when Burger Week was announced, my husband and I decided to check it out.
The establishment is very small and available tables are hard to find. My husband and I both ordered the balboa. I requested grilled onions and we split garlic fries. Since it was Burger Week, they were offering the Balboa Burger & a beer for $ 10. Good deal for us.
The burger itself was rather small but very juicy. It was cooked rare, I prefer my burger medium so I disliked the bloody drippings. Also, since the burger is juicy the bun gets very soggy quickly. I wasn’t a fan.
Now, the garlic fries are completely addicting. They are crispy and packed with flavor. Their aioli puts it over the top. My husband and I devoured them. If I come again, it will most likely only be for a beer and their fries but as for the burger I was disappointed.
²⁷⁄₁₀₀

CITY BEAT BURGER WEEK #4
I can’t believe its been a year since I last ate here… if I only lived closer! Balboa is still somewhat of a San Diego secret since its in an odd location and a divey but clean and friendly atmosphere.
The Balboa Burger… its definitely in the TOP 3 of San Diego Burgers… I could even say that its San Diego’s BEST BURGER! Yes, I said it… the BEST! Even full price of $ 7.75 is well worth it. The uh-​mazing Garlic Fries are only $ 3 extra. Also, like Europe, these prices already include tax! So that’s 8% you’re saving… be sure to leave a good tip!

Burger Week 2016:
First time here. Small establishment with an intimate but relaxed atmosphere. I picked up a buddy and went directly after work. I regretted not packing some shorts and flip flops. Ordered at the bar and I was set.
The burger arrived and it was off the heezy. I loved it. If it was wrong, I didn’t want to be right. From the warm, soft bolillo bread, to the fresh fixins, to the scrumptious patty with aioli sauce. So much flavor.
This burger is $ 5 regularly during happy hour. I will be back.

Yummy burgers!
We’re always on the look out for some good classic burgers in SD. We weren’t feeling any fancy smancy burgers with all the crap on it. You know? Just really good regular burgers with a thick meat patty, ketchup, American cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and pickles…
Balboa will give you that classic burger that you are looking for. It doesn’t disappoint. It was so good! If tasted like a better Hodads. We also got some Bloody Mary and it was bomb. Just watch out, check your bills, from other reviews they tend to sneak charges on you. We were charged like $ 2 bucks extra for the BM, for the premium alcohol (which we didn’t request) then the reasoning quickly changed to for the BM mix. Hmmmmmmmm… Weird. Just add it to the price, no need to add extra hidden charges.
Besides the sneaky check attack, everything else was really cool. The place is really cool, used to be tin can or something, but now they renovated it to be cooler. Next time we’ll come for burgers and beers.

Number one burger in San Diego… worth the trip
FF decent but overpriced

Came in on a Saturday night at 745pm, came for the famous centennial burger that everyone raved about. The rave was genuine. I got mine with avocado and fried egg added for $ 1.50 each. Total was then about $ 17 which was a bit high for a burger at dive bar type joint but its also a double patty burger and as picture shows, its huge!
Burger came out in 10 minutes or so so service is fast. Only 15 people or so in the joint when I came in, surprising really but then again it was Mardi Gras in DT Gaslmap as well.
This burger nearly rivals any other burger I have had anywhere. Pure awesome! I cant give them props over my default burger spot Slaters ⁵⁰⁄₅₀ as they have more options then just 1 big fixed menu burger like this but this left me very very pleased indeed! The sports bar environment of Slaters wins me over as well so take it from a sports nut who loves his sports bars.
I still say you cant go wrong here if a classic, big, double cheese, bacon and beef burger is what you crave.

Great value! I was a little sceptical, seemed like a divey place at first, small and hidden, but it was great. I got there in the early evening, I got the Balboa burger $ 5 happy hour specia, side of regular fries, l and the Balboa cocktail. Everything was delicious, cocktail was really amazing. They had 2 TVs playing movies from Netflix, they time I was there was slow but was picking up around 6 on a Saturday night. I would certainly return, great food, great service and great value!

The food here is amazing. If you get the burger, definitely get it with egg on top.
This was probably the best burger I’ve ever had.
The only reason I don’t give this place 5 stars is because one of the bartenders is unprofessional. He was complaining about tips and some other stuff to the other bartender and to a patron there. That type of stuff should be discussed in private.
Food wise, 5 stars.

This place is OD. one of my favorite burgers in town. The Cali Burgito is amazing, and it completely hits the spot. I tell anyone who is craving a great burger to hit this spot up. its relatively small but its definitely worth it if you’re in the mood for a great burger at a very reasonable price

Ambiance is cool and I love bars. Good amount of tables around and the servers/​bartenders were nice.
Definitely a place to come and hangout when you wanna watch a game on the tv sets.
Food:
I’ve had this bar & grill bookmarked for a while but finally made it out.
I had the garlic fries which was delicious and loaded with garlic.
For my burger of choice I ordered the BBQ with no bbq sauce and side order of the house Aioli instead. Basically i wanted the burger added with grilled onions and bacon. I like to control my sauces since at times it can be served to me drenched and mushy.
The burger was a little dry for me regardless that i added the sauce and the patty lacked flavor.
I’ve had some good burgers in SD and unfortunately i thought it was just alright. I do want to return and try the pastrami. They could’ve been having an off day so i definitely need to return and give it another try.

Ambiance is cool and I love bars. Good amount of tables around and the servers/​bartenders were nice.
Definitely a place to come and hangout when you wanna watch sports on the tv sets.
Food:
I’ve had this bar & grill bookmarked for a while but finally made it out.
I had the garlic fries which was delicious and loaded with garlic.
For my burger of choice I ordered the BBQ with no bbq sauce and side order of the house Aioli instead. Basically i wanted the burger added with grilled onions and bacon. I like to control my sauces since at times it can be served to me drenched and mushy.
The burger was a little dry for me regardless that i added the sauce and the patty lacked flavor.
I’ve had some good burgers in SD and unfortunately i thought it was just alright. I do want to return and try the pastrami. They could’ve been having an off day so i definitely need to return and give it another try.

I’ve heard so many recommendations about The Balboa, and it lived up to the hype. Service was on point, the burgers were delicious.
I tried the Balboa, hubby ordered the BBQ Bacon and we shared garlic fries.
I highly recommend the burgers. The fries are ok… Kinda reminded me of in-​n-​out fries.
Will be back for burgers and ice cold beers

Easy parking, convenient location, affordable delicious food. Responsive service.
Happy Hour = $ 5 burgers? Solid. Saturday at 4PM was mild crowd-​wise and a recommended time to stop in.
Burgers are good. Really good. The price to taste ratio is pretty close to In N’ Out minus the crowds and the wait.
My wife tried the Pastrami to mix it up and they put a MASSIVE amount of meat on her sandwich. It was a good thing to complain about.
I can eat burgers 3 meals a day (I think I was Wimpy in another life) and can see myself coming here twice a day. I will definitely be back here in the future and recommend you stop by for Happy Hour if you’re on the fence about trying it. $ 5 isn’t a bad price to try one of the best burgers in San Diego.

What else can you really say that hasn’t been said already? It’s plain and simple.
Damn. Good. Burger.
I’ve tried both the Balboa Burger and the California Burgrito and I can’t say that one is necessarily better than the other. Very different, undeniably delicious and depending on the mood that you’re in, both would be a perfect decision.
While the Balboa plays the classic role, the Cali is a burger twist on a San Diego staple, the California burrito. I will say that both creations do posses a similar quality that instantly thrusts these burgers into hall of fame status for me — they’re clean. What’s that mean? Well, even though they are loaded with ooey-​gooey toppings, you somehow don’t leave with messy hands from trying to keep the whole thing together while eating it. Perhaps it’s master burger engineering? Perhaps I’m just lucky? Either way, these dudes have quite possibly built the perfect burger all while quietly hiding in a small, dark, windowless building in plain view.

Yup this was the best burger I’ve had in San Diego thus far. Maybe best burger I’ve had ever! Really really surprised how outrageously succulent this burger was. I bid u to find a more ultimate combination of the most perfectly cooked luscious dripping pattie and crispy buttery bun. Can’t be done. Their prices are on point– atmosphere is legit– and drinks are phenomenal– this is the epitomy of the ultimate dive bar. Nothing pretentious just good food made well at good prices with damn good drinks– applaud the balboa!

Inconspicuously set inside of a row of small businesses at the lower west end of Bankers Hill sits a rad burger experience waiting for you.
Wow, what a sleeper! The burger here is a five-​star affair. I’m not even going to get into it, just head over there and get a burger. Fresh, very well constructed, well built and flavor that will blow your face off.
The place is small, the kitchen is small, the bar is small. But they are doing big things at Balboa bar and grill. The fries were tasty too… they add a little tasty seasoning on them.
I love real-​bars. With more variety than just shitty craft-​beer. Seriously, these dudes are making good cocktails too. There is a cool little stage for live music, get in before is gets to crowded.

Dude!
Come here for the Doods foods. it’s a must! I always get the Balboa burger, because of the namesake.
I miss the Tin Can, but appreciate the owner’s attempts to maintain a somewhat similar style.

Yummy burgers! I did what Omar said and added an over medium egg. The burger I got was the Balboa Burger. The band I saw was awesome! I saw Evan Bethany and Saba. Tonight 12/​19/​2015 AJ Froman plays, go see them they’re awesome! The garlic fries are yummy as well.
The cucumber smash I had was really good. I really want to try the aviant. The crowd here wasn’t that bad, I might regret saying that later, since when people say its not crowded and then it gets more crowded.

This review serves as my tribute to «The Balboa Burger» (lettuce, tomato, onion, American cheese, zesty house aioli, $ 7.75). To this date I have found my most favorite beef burger (surpassing True Burger in Oakland). This burger combination is what I would envision in a perfect burger and serves as a reminder of why I’ll never be anything lower than a size 6.
It’s a classic example of a hidden gem — located along 5^th a block coming off of I-​5N. The sign isn’t too big that it can be easily missed if not paying attention to signs. There’s street parking in meters along 5^th and some more parking along 6^th, but you’ll then be fighting with general Balboa Park traffic.
It’s one of the nicer dive bars where the tables aren’t sticky and the chairs don’t have stuffing exposed. There’s a full bar making basic well drinks, limited wine selection and a small selection of beer on tap. They take the effort to also pre-​chill your glass.
So just why is it the best burger ever? It’s actually quite simple:
— ⁷⁰⁄₃₀ meat/​fat from Central Meats. Central Meats doesn’t have the name recognition as Niman Ranch (of Bay Area fame) but the ⁷⁰⁄₃₀ proportion is an uncommon combination — most burgers are at least ⁸⁰⁄₂₀. This fat percentage does affect the taste — it actually tastes more like a Hamburg steak and not some rubbery mess but the downside is that you’ll be using quite a lot of napkins to absorb the juice it contains. That’s actually a good problem.
— Bolillo bread that’s toasted to perfection and can absorb the meat juice. According to an anecdote from the owners the bakery is owned by two men and their wives. Both this company and Central Meats are from Barrio Logan.
— Fresh veggies.
— An egg. The higher fat on the meat makes it taste more like «steak and eggs» on a burger. You’ll be needing a lot of napkins to clean off that mess.
The small garlic fries ($ 3) go well with the burger but they could be a little more consistently crispy. Still the fries that were crisp had a nice strong garlic flavor coming out of real garlic!
Now that I discovered that they do burgers to go I now know where to get an actual burger. Considering that it’s only a buck and some change more than an In-​N-​Out Double Double pound-​for-​pound it’s certainly cheaper! The No1DP knows I’m a faithful girlfriend and many men can’t sway my attention, but this is one thing that’s giving him some serious competition.

Probably my new favorite burger place. I have been there a few times and the burgers are simply HEAVEN between buns. The meat is tender and cooked perfectly medium rare and the beef is of obvious high quality. The meat is not overly seasoned which way too many places tend to do. The BUN is uhmazing. They have Torta’s made from a local bakery into bun sizes and damn they are good. But most importantly held up and did not fall apart. The owner is very pleasant and I have always received caring service. The first time I had one I had just eaten 10 consecutive burgers for a burger week contest (throughout 6 days). Even though I was sick of burgers, I devoured it immediately. It was love at first bite! I had to control myself out of ordering another one. I didn’t want a heart attack so I refrained because I already pushed my luck.
Also it is pretty inexpensive I think $ 7 a beautiful boiga.
They also mix some mean cocktails for a fair price. I had some cucumber pepper martini thing WOW it was so good!
Yeah it’s a dive. That just makes it that much better!

Yeah, these burgers are seriously good. Perhaps the best taste and value in San Diego. If it’s your first time, order the Balboa Burger with a side of fries. Yeah, that’s the ticket, $ 7.50, as I recall.
Oh, and you dip your fries in ketchup? The house-​made aioli will cure that habit. The proprietor mentioned that he uses only Kennebec potatoes and seasons them with a secret blend of spices. So good !!
The beer selection isn’t exactly comprehensive, but there will be something there for you, trust me.
Is «divey» an appropriate adjective? If so, the picture of this place is next to the dictionary definition. I mean that in a good way. This is one of those places where, when you take off your sunglasses, it’s still dark. I’m a fan.

If you want a really great burger without a lot of fluff, head on over to Balboa Bar and Grill. You’ll get exactly what you’re looking for, plus if you feel like adding a beer to your meal, you’re likely to find something that complements it.
Things to keep in mind:
1. This is a small space, seating is at a premium. This is especially true because the word has gotten out and people know they can get a delicious burger here.
2. There is a music stage and bands play some nights of the week.
3. This is a small space.
This is quite possibly the best burger in San Diego. Deal with the line and the space issues and all of that just to eat it. It’s worth it.

Been here 4 times now and each time is as good as the last. After I get The Centennial Burger from the balboa, I choose not to brush my teeth that night because I like to wake up with that heavenly taste in my mouth. I kid you not, my mouth is watering right now just thinking about how good that burger is. You have to get the garlic fries to accompany it also!
The bartender here is amazing! He’s also whipping up delicious drinks based on my own personal preference. Every drink he has made me has been great. They also have a limited, but good, craft beer selection on tap.
They have a juke box here with a great selection of music if that makes a difference.
If you are reading this review stop what you are doing and go to the balboa right now. It’s a game changer. Seriously stop reading and go now !!!

I can proudly say that I (me and my bf) discovered this little gem back when it was Doods. Ever since we walked in to this amazing little spot off 5^th we fell in love. The staff is top notch and always ready to make your stay here exceptional. The food is phenomenal! I usually go for the Burgito, salsa on the side and I add bacon, which is basically a burger with fries and avocado. Their burgers aware great and reasonably priced for the quality. Another thing to look forward to when coming here is the live music, they have bands come out so if you’re into live music check out their schedule.
Great place I highly recommend to anyone exploring the rich burger culture in San Diego.

Man oh man you wouldn’t know it but their burgers are out of this world! This place seems more like a bar when you enter but they are licensed as a restaurant so that worked in our favor because we were able to stop in for dinner with our little boy.
It was a long day after a legoland so my husband and I were snooping around for some happy hour specials. Just so happens that this place offers it. The usual– well drinks and beers on tap for $ 5 but also their burgers. We ordered 3 of the Balboa burgers and a large order of garlic fries and it was Delish! No lie! I am not usually a burger person but this one would probably convert me to being one. The burger meat was juicy and flavorful! The garlic fries were tasty as well.
Stop by, have a drink but don’t leave until you’ve ordered their burger and garlic fries!

I know you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover but let’s face it, it’s in our nature to do so. I don’t care what anybody says, you can’t transcend your nature. Our survival is based upon making instant judgments to trigger a «flight or fight» reaction, that’s just how it works. Naturally, we can apply the same principal to dining/​drinking establishments in which we spend our money.
With all that said, I seriously wouldn’t give Balboa Bar & Grill a second thought if I were just strolling by since it literally looks like a hole in the wall. Even inside it appears slightly divey, nothing that really wows you or stands out as anything other than average. Other than a peek of the kitchen in the corner, I’d almost ask myself, «Wait, they serve food here?»
Once we move past the judging a book by its cover thing, Balboa Bar & Grill defies those initial instincts once you see a food menu. Balboa has Burgers, sandwiches and salads but I heard that their burger was where it’s at. Since I’m a burger fiend, that’s what I had to have. Taking the advice of a friend, I went with the Balboa Burger, added a fried egg, then ordered a side of fries and for kicks I got a pint of Port Brewing’s Mongo. It all came out to $ 15. Not bad at all. Anyway, so how was the burger?
Wowza!
This little burger packs one hell of a punch! I’m not sure what they do to this thing but somewhere between that bolillo roll, the beef patty, lettuce, tomato, onions, American cheese, house aoli, and added egg create a powerhouse of flavor that I’m simply not used to having when I get a burger somewhere, let alone a bar/​pub! I don’t know if it’s the best burger I’ve ever had but it has definitely blurred the lines and is definitely one of the best in recent memory. I don’t know what it is but it’s just a sleeper. Maybe it’s just because I was a skeptic due to it only being ¹⁄₃ pound and I pretty much just stick to making my own… but… I was extremely impressed. The burger is definitely where it’s at here.
Okay, burger induced drooling aside, this place has an okay beer menu. Like I said earlier, they had Port’s Mongo which is always a good go to IIPA and a couple other ones that were decent but nothing that really holds a flame to your «beer bars». However, with one or two that are solid choices for the beer snob and the fact that their food and service are good and their burger is killer, I’m going to go ahead and give them a pass.
Honestly, I need to make it back here again. Even if it’s just for a burger, it will be worth it but I’m sure that I won’t just stop at that.

First time here. I’ve seen so many of my friends commenting on this place and I just happened to be a block away so I figured why not. Easy to find and right on a main street with plenty of parking (metered) nearby.
Walked inside and it’s quite dark but typical for the type of bar it is. I was greeted right away by one of the bartenders (and I think part owner). I was looking at the menu and he asked if he could help me, but not so much in helpful tone but more of a you’re in the wrong place tone. I told him I wanted to get a burger and he invited me in. There is a bar with maybe 10 seats and a few tables. I was going to take a table when someone invited me to have their seat at the bar as they were leaving.
I ordered The Classic burger with a beer. I took a seat at the bar and enjoyed a cold Ale Smith. It wasn’t long before my burger was delivered and it looked amazing. Too bad it didn’t taste amazing. I was asked how I wanted my burger cooked and I told them medium is fine. Unfortunately medium here is like medium well to well done. The burger didn’t look that cooked when they brought it out, but after biting into it I soon discovered it was cooked way past medium. It comes on a fresh soft bun with lettuce, tomato and onion. Again, unfortunately they grill the onion and it has lost most of it’s flavor. I prefer raw onion on my burger and the menu says nothing about grilled onions.
Overall, good burger but so many other places I would go to first before coming here. It was over cooked and I’m not at all a fan of grilled onions. For sides they only offer fries or garlic fries but most burger places I know will also offer onion rings. I would recommend serving the yellow chili peppers or having them available. Many other burger places are starting to offer these and I’ve found they really bring out the flavor of the burger. And I didn’t get a very friendly feeling from the bartender when I first came in and tried to engage in small talk after I sat down but he seemed to prefer talking to his locals than someone new.
Again, many other great burger places in the near vicinity and I would recommend them if you are craving a truly good burger. Disappointed this didn’t live up to the reputation.

Isabelle, a cute, petite, fierce woman who lived in my building in Washington, DC, was a saucier in the French Embassy’s kitchen. She was also my girlfriend. I did alright in the 80’s.
One evening, in response to her demand, «…find for me a real American ‘amboogare…» I took Isabelle to Hamburger Hamlet, whose menu described no fewer than thirty variations on the iconic sandwich.
Surveying the list, my friend grumbled in French that Americans were «gloutons.» She asked me which of the thirty Hamlet burgers was the best one, the real American one. And because women love it when you lecture them, I said these things:
«Hamburgers are the perfect reflection of the American personality; the perfect burger is perfected by the individual eating it; and as no two people are the same, there’s no „right“ way to prepare or dress a burger.»
Then I learned the French word for «bullshit.» Isabelle was certain that I knew the answer and was holding out on her.
I sort of understood. The French have only recently begun to think for themselves in the kitchen, and at the time, her experience would have taught Isabelle that there was a «right» way to prepare iconic dishes — that is, the only ones that mattered — and so she’d have assumed that the burger, an American icon, had a perfect, practical form.
It’s a shame that happened there and then. Today, at least in San Diego, the question is easy to answer: the most genuine American hamburger in town is made at Balboa Bar and Grill.
In their signature Balboa Burger, BB&G — a combination of the former Tin Can Bar and Dood’s Foods — has a wonderful thing, largely because they don’t screw with it.
Owner/​partner/​all-​around nice guy Tom Logsdon and his staff use good meat, a slightly fatty ⁷⁰⁄₃₀ that produces thick, juicy, beefy patties, and they dress the burger in classic style: lettuce, onion, American cheese if you want, and the best, most consistently ripe and flavorful Roma tomatoes I’ve seen in town.
Granted, the burger includes a non-​standard garlic aioli, but it’s good, and to avoid trouble, I’d have lied to Isabelle and said garlic aioli is an old American custom. Same goes for the buttered, grilled, custom-​made bolillo with which the fellows embrace their dripping, rich and savory bundle of burger joy. All-​American.
The Bar’s excellent French fries would be unfamiliar to the French. Made from Kennebec potatoes and dusted with a bit of spice, their fries are firm, crisp and fluffy with a slight nutty flavor that the French can’t duplicate. USA! USA!
What I like about BB&G’s menu is that it’s short: just the fries, three non-​burger choices, and six burger variants to which you can mix, match, add or subtract toppings at will, which is an American tradition, too. I like an over-​medium egg on mine, for the egg-​yolk gravy, but I’m not from here.
BB&G recently replaced bottled beer with four drafts, rotating every few weeks through several local and in-​state craft brewers. Add to that a full bar — Tom makes a decent Old Fashioned, the classic accompaniment to any burger — and you’ve got lunch or dinner, in that most American of settings: the corner bar.

Best Burger ever! Frische Zutaten, super leckeres Brot und nach Wunsch kann alles abgeändert werden! Wirklich einer der besten Burger den ich je gegessen habe!