Bongo burger is one of those restaurants that you're ashamed to admit you like. The burgers and fries really aren't that memorable, the service is perpetually nasty and unhappy, and the sodas are very overpriced. The burgers are overpriced for what you get, the fries are that weird crinkle cut frozen store kind, the burger is extremely thin/dry and any moisture comes from the condiments (although the flavor is good, they're a great size and the bun has a just right crunch). So why eat here, like I just did, when one is sober and there are other things open. Because sometimes you just need a damn bacon cheeseburger. Sometimes you miss your lunch break and have a shitty day. Sometimes you have your work raped with red pen, have an entire room of moving boxes to unpack AND need to fix the red pen raped work before 9:30 tomorrow morning. In short, sometimes you need a bacon cheeseburger, with fries, and a diet coke that's been watered down with bourbon... read more

Bongo Burger is a top-notch fast food joint; high quality food, fast service and above average prices. I have tried the Mushroom Burger, Cheese Burger and Persian Burger. The meat is always well-cooked, the cheese is a perfectly melted and the burger bun is toasted to complement the juiciness of the meat and the absorb the combination of sauces (ketchup, mayo and mustard) The crinkle cut fries are under-seasoned but nothing a sprinkle of salt and dip of ketchup won't fix :) The hummus is pretty average however, the serving is small compared to what other places offer. The carrot juice is wonderful; fresh and cold. It is the perfect way to make myself feel healthy after the carb-a-licious meal that I consume! Overall rating - - 3/5 read more

I've gone to this Bongo burger occasionally these past 3 years. In general their food is OK. The main issues being an overtoasted bun and bland, dry meats. The only thing they get right are their french fries which are always cooked perfectly crisp BUT, today at about 12:30pm I witnessed something and I will never be returning here again. I saw the cook indecisively place a slab of raw hamburger meat on the cutting board for a second. By the time he was ready to throw it on the grill it had created a puddle of raw meat juices. 10 seconds later, the guy who puts the sandwiches together placed two buns and a pita in the puddle unknowingly. He proceeded to serve these contaminated items to their unsuspecting costumers. I really think I should have said something, someone could get extremely ill. So, proceed at your own risk. read more

Back when I was a student, I had a few favorite places to get some food in my stomach between classes, and Bongo Burgers was one. I think I only ever ordered one thing-- the Shish Kabob Burger with fries and a coke. I probably ate that several times a week. And we had such a love/hate relationship. The fries were OK. The coke is... coke. The burger though-- oh, that meat was so damned good. I think they sprinkled crack on it. But the god damned bun... those things weren't buns. They were mini loafs of bread scientifically engineered and baked to rip the roof of your mouth to shreds. That delicate balance of pleasure and pain made for quite the culinary adventure. I have certain predilections that I blame on that sandwich. I only hope that the students of today can share in that one-of-a-kind experience. read more

If you would like a burger and you are on the North Side of campus - this is the place to go. The food is nothing special. Main draw, the abnormal ratio of men to women. After spending all day in the School of Social Welfare, it is quite refreshing :) read more

Bongo Burger is like the Dodo bird (pre-1600's) and Berkeley is its Mauritius. Currently, Bongo has no natural predators in the North Campus area. There are so many restaurants on Euclid and even south of campus, but none of them are fast food burger joints. As a result, Bongo has been able to survive in spite of selling burgers that are mediocre at best. If a Wendy's arrived in Berkeley much like the Dutch pulling up to shore on the beaches of Mauritius, Bongo would be extinct in no time. The burgers at Bongo are often overcooked to the point of being really dry and sometimes even burnt. A combo meals costs between $8-$9, and it can take a while to get the food during lunch rush. These are not good qualities for a fast food place. On the plus side, I like the sesame seed bun and the vegetables are fresh. Also, I really enjoy the crinkle fries. However, this bird is still flightless and not that bright. If Berkeley could get some decent fast food burger places, I wouldn't mind if Bongo went the way of the Dodo. read more

I've eaten at all three Bongo Burgers near campus, frequenting the Euclid Ave one the most (since it's near the EECS and CS buildings, which I spent a lot of college days at). The mushroom burger and Persian burger are worth mentioning, but the turkey burger was a bit too salty on one occasion. The joint seems to have trouble having consistent taste and quality in their foods, such as the fries. I've had good ones and not-so-great ones where they were a bit limpy. In almost all occasions though, they were pretty bland. The service is perhaps this joint's weakest point. The lady behind the counter never smiled, and in fact gave a bit of a cold stare when I or my friends asked for an extra tiny cup of ketchup or even more napkins. Other employees were better, but if the clerk behind the cash register doesn't put up a good face, it tends to lower my opinion about the place in general. Another weak point is the pricing. Each burger could set you back at least six or seven dollars, which could be staggering compared to more conventional burger joints. Sure, the burgers here may be different and fresh, but inconsistency between visits makes me hesitant to justify the price. Admittedly, the only non-burger dish I had was a salad entree (can't remember what it's called), and never had the falafel. The salad, by the way, was disappointing. So if you really want to try an exotic burger, Bongo Burger would be your best bet, but try the other two joints, not the one at Euclid. My experience at Southside and downtown has been better. read more

The food is tolerable, and mostly affordable. Take note: the fries are more or less just like styrofoam. If you're just looking for a ketchup delivery device and nothing more, then these fries should foot the bill. Otherwise, save yourself some cash and skip 'em. On the other hand, the woman who always seems to manning the cash register when I go there is just a hair shy of being openly hostile. While being awful for absolutely no reason at all is totally in line with the general Berkeley vibe (Progress! Keep reaching for the stars, Berkeley!), some of us don't care for it. read more

I have been to Bongo Burger about 1 million times since starting grad school at Cal. It actually was the first place I ate at when I moved to Cal. I unpacked my boxes, strolled the area, and decided a burger would be delicious. How little I knew how many times I would be a customer. Bongo Burger provides a good quality burger for a slightly above average price. The burger is delicious. I get the standard beef burger, but occasionally spring for the bacon cheeseburger. The beef is Niman Ranch and very juicy. A few times I have had it come back a little overcooked, but it usually is spot-on. The bun is crispy on the outside (warmed on the side grill). The fries need a little something...they are crinkle-cut, but lack enough salt in my opinion. Thankfully, ample salt packets are available. The service is pretty good unless you go at the lunch rush. There isn't much room for standing there while waiting for a togo order. They people are really nice (and even have memorized my order!), but they do occasionally forget to give me my drink because of the crazy rush. They take Discover! Woo hoo! Just don't ask if they take Discover, because even though there are stickers on the door, some of the cashiers don't think they do. Overall, a good burger place. Standard burger combo runs $7.50, which is a lot, but pretty standard for Northside. Peppermint Grill is much cheaper, but also much crappier, and Vinnie's has a cheeseburger combo for a few cents less, but it's a toss-up between the two styles. All in all, if you're looking for an escape from endless ethnic food on Northside, come down to Bongo Burger! read more

As a college student this was one of the staples for my friends and me for going out eats. Its been a number of years now and recently after seeing a show at the Greek we needed to get some late night food before heading out. Walked by this branch and decided, it's been long enough. Got the kebab plate and a bacon cheese burger. Flavors were still pretty decent but Id like to think I've graduated my palate a bit now. Still it works as a quick, cheap convenient mainstay if you just need a decent meal to fill the tummy. read more

An old colleague recommended this place based on her old college years here. I had the shish kebob sandwich. decent size. the ingredients are fresh which is appreciated and the meat was nicely seasoned. i do wish there was more meat in the sandwich as the bread to meat ratio are a bit disproportionate. a bit highly priced. read more

Do yourself a favor, buy some ground beef and grill it in a pan, then slap a couple of slices of white bread on either side and you have a better burger than this place. I love the way the doors open up to give you the feel of sitting on a patio, though. read more

Last semester, I ate here a couple of times a week. It was just SO GOOD. I was partial to the mushroom burger meal and the double burger meal, but the falafel is also good. Their onion rings are perfectly flaky and their fries are to die for, just the right amount of crispy on the outside and light potatoes on the inside. As you can imagine, losing this culinary delight when I went vegetarian four months ago was quite depressing. But! A few weeks ago, I was told to try Bongo's black bean burger combo. And HOLY SHIT. It was amazing! I usually hate burger alternatives, they never achieve what they're trying to be, but the black bean burger at Bongo comes damn close. Now, to keep from becoming a regular again, this can't be good for my health... tl;dr Fucking amazing, good service, fast, affordable, om nom nom. read more

I had gone to Bongo Burger once before a couple years ago and didn't remember it being that memorable, so I went in today with low expectations. However, I was pleasantly surprised as it actually turned out to be pretty good. What I ordered: - Mushroom and Cheese Sandwich ($3.95): sauteed mushrooms, cheese, lettuce, caramelized onions, tomatoes, and mayo Although it's technically called a sandwich, it actually is a burger since it comes on a seeded, toasty bun which had a nice crunch to it. The mushrooms were plentiful and tasty, but they were a tiny bit salty. I really enjoyed the caramelized onions which added to the flavor, but they resulted in a very drippy burger eating experience. I think it was the onions at least. Good thing I was eating over the outer wrapper paper of my burger or else I would have had a pool of liquid on the table! Also, there was a little too much mayo for my liking, but the burger was still decently good. I wouldn't mind coming back here for the convenience, but I probably wouldn't crave it either. It is really cheap for a filling meal though! There are definitely better burger places in Berkeley, but this one is probably one of the closer, more convenient locations near campus. read more

It probably comes as no surprise that Berkeley's home-grown version of the short-order burger joint is a bit unconventionally spiced with a mediterranean pizzazz. They have beef burgers, wrap sandwiches, falafel, middle eastern plates and even serve a cheap and good basic breakfast, but the real house specialty is the Persian Burger, which consists of a patty of charbroiled ground lamb, delicately spiced and served on a grilled soft roll with onions, lettuce and yogurt sauce. Really unique and quite tasty, this is a great place for a cheap, quick slightly different lunch in Berkeley. read more

Bongo Burger - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

Cons: - This place has a lot of people especially during lunchtime on weekdays - no free refills :( Pros: - their burgers are amazing! Period. My favorites mushroom burger and my boyfriend always gets persian burger. But i recommend you to go to the one on telegraph just because this one is busier read more

Bongo Burger - Mushroom burger - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

Food: -Turkey Burger: SOO BIG! The bun was SOOO GOOD! it was all warm and perfectly toasted; crunchy exterior and a chewy center! YUMMY! Tasted like a baguette but it wasn't...you've just got to try it. The turkey patty was literally larger than life! But it was delicious! The burger came with lettuce, tomatoes, and some mayo spread (I think it was mayo anyway). Service: -None, you just order at the front, but the lady at the front was super nice! Ambiance: -Just a chill burger joint close to campus. Nothing special. A good place to come for a quick chow down! Price: The burger came out to be around $5. It was well worth it! I can't wait to go back and try the other things on the menu! read more

Came here again for dinner. Instead of getting the burgers, I decided to try their Hummus Combo, which is consisted of falafels, hummus, and salad. Personally, I thought the portions were kind of small, considering that if you were to pay the same amount, or even less, you would be getting a huge burger. However, surprising, after I finished my dish, I actually felt pretty good. I have to say, their mediteranean food is legit. Not as good as Sunrise Deli's med food, but the hummus is pretty good. My friend got the Mushroom Burger and it was delicious. Definitely beats La Burrita and La Vals across the street if you want something good/tasty and slightly on the healthier side. read more

So yummy! You can definitely tell the meat is fresh! I love the all American burgee. Even the juice is yummy. I recommend the carrot juice and asking for a cup of ice on the side. So great cold! read more

Serious burgers for the yuppie crowed. The portions are huge, and let me tell you--the onion rings are nothing short of a revelation: not too oily, very crispy and with parmesan cheese sprinkled lightly on top. I would give five stars, but somehow my tummy would get overwhelmed every time I ate here, so I could only eat like one onion ring (so hard to eat just one!) and like half my burger. My eyes were always bigger than my stomach at Bongo. read more

Overall this restaurant is pretty good for burgers and fries. The meat is flavorful and juicy and they have some interesting things on the menu, such as hummus and falafel plates, dolmas, persian burger, etc. However, you MUST order the mushroom and cheese sandwich - not the mushroom burger, mind you. Yes, its veggie, and it's great. The mushrooms taste delectable and there is this creamy-ish sauce that, along with the cheese, melts in your mouth. I've also had the mushroom burger, which is also good, but I actually prefer it without the meat. Either one is a great option for any of you mushie lovers out there.... Goes great with a side of fries! read more

I love the Persian burger, just had one hot off the grill, tasty spices, good lamb, nice crunchy bun. Delicious.

I only get the turkey burger here, along with either french fries or onion rings, depending on whether I'm taking the food to go (onion rings hold up much better than do the fries). I love those three things at Bongo. I give it five stars not because it's the best thing I've ever eaten but because I think it succeeds at what it sets out to do. Plus, I love that they have a (always chilled) squeeze bottle of ranch for you to serve yourself. Bad for you, but good for them! Lunch can be crazy there, but dinner is practically dead most nights. read more

Mushroom Burger at 8AM? Yes I did. The burgers are pretty darn big but I feel like it's mostly bun. Delicious, but it gets unexpectedly pricey especially when you add fries and a drink to your burger. read more

Love me a Bongo burger and Persian burger, takes me back to my youth. The baklava is nice too. Great service decent pricing..Am very pleased and satisfied.Love the sesame bun.... read more

In the South Bay, burgers of restaurant grade will typically run you about $15-$25. For the quality of their ingredients, you really get an unbeatable price at $7. Reminds me almost of the baguette burger at Boudin. Definitely recommend giving this place a try. read more

I used to eat here quite often during my days at Berkeley. So basically I would usually get a mushroom burger, fries, and soda.. The burger is pretty good, not too greasy, just the right size, and the other ingredients are fresh.. Fries are also pretty good but you can tell they come from the freezer. Then one day I decided to be adventurous (doesn't happen often when it comes to food) and ordered the Persian (lamb) plate.. Comes with some pieces of marinated/spiced ground lamb, side salad, and tabouleh salad. (You can also get fries instead) From then on that was the only thing I ordered. It's somewhat strange because I don't generally like lamb, it has a weird after taste to me, but when grounded up and served with spices it tastes pretty good. The tabouleh salad especially is very fresh and tasty and this plate is much much healthier than the burger meal. It also costs a little more but just think of it as insurance against a future heart attack. read more

In the Bongo, the patties come bigger than the bread that holds them. Mid-chow-down your bottom bun has gone missing and your desperately gripping the rest of your patty by a sliver of your top bun. This all makes for good lunch time entertainment and foolishness, while you begin to analyze and improvise on how to finish your burger while still looking cute for the geeky B-boys. Some days are Bongo days, when the need for a fat, juicy, turkey burger with lettuce bits swimming in ketchup and mustard takes over your mind late-morning. A deal that leaves my stomach packed for hours at $4.94 (sans fries and soda). Even though the crinkle fries are bomb, I resist to save my figure and instead plot to steal a few from my friends who order them. 3 stars... well, because its Bongo Burger, not Barney's. You'll only catch me here at lunch out of necessity not amor. read more

Frequent this place for breakfast since it's quick, fast, and reasonably priced. I always get the eggs that come with toast and home fries. I wish sourdough was an option rather than just getting the wheat bread that's there. Home fries are solid. Sometimes I'll order the beef bacon which is also good if I'm looking to mix it up. read more

The toasted sesame buns are delicious! The crinkle fries are perfectly cooked. And they have orange crush!! I like how the burger patties are pounded flat and cooked so the edges are a little crispy. read more

Went into Bongo on a random weekday for dinner. There were 2 people working (one as cashier, the other as a cook), they both looked so miserable! Either that, or they were giving me death stares. The atmosphere was dreary and a bit creepy :( Almost $9 for a meal consisting of the mushroom burger, some fries, and a small drink. The burger tasted similar to that at Burger King (flame broiled flavor). I thought the whole meal to be a bit on the expensive side, considering the meal was a bit on the mediocre side. My sister who tagged along, didn't order anything but waited while I ate my meal, became thirsty. But she was afraid to ask for water, claiming the employees and their death stares terrified her. I would not come here again. I left full but sad for some reason. read more

"When in Berkeley just go to Whole Foods." Was what I was told by a colleague. Well I'm more of a risk taker, an explorer. So I followed my nose to a small kitchen that serves Middle Eastern Restaurant. The parking you can forget it your best bet is to walk, bike, bus, or Uber/Lyft. I ordered the Falafel Plate.. I wasn't a big fan of it. Too much salt and very dry. However, my colleagues ordered the Persian Burger and an American Burger both were great and the fries as well. So when in Berkeley in search for a burger don't be to quick to pass up "Bongo Burger" it may be Middle Eastern but, the name itself tells you what they specialize in read more

Bongo Burger - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

There's good Middle Eastern food around campus (Sunrise, Hummingbird) but no good Middle Eastern meat - there's a huge market hole for a good and cheap kebab place. Bongo's Persian pita is a decent effort: the lamb is OK (Niman Ranch, though you wouldn't guess) but without that extra spit-roasted goodness I remember from innumerable kebab dives on Queen Street in Auckland. Falafel has a nice crisp crust but is kind of tasteless. Apply their delicate thin tahini generously. I never get the non-Persian burgers anymore. In that price range near campus, I prefer Smart Alec's. read more

Their persian burger is a must try. Other than that, their regular hamburgers are just average. The only thing is that the persian burger combo is 7 or 8 bucks. A tad expensive for a college student read more

With the multitude of east bay burger options, Bongo falls in the middle. their patties are thin and decent not too juicy but not too dry. Their buns are a bit big so a double is a better option. It seems their other options outshine their burgers. I have heard tale the black bean burgers are great. I enjoyed their lamb as well. This is the kind of spot you hit up when there isn't much else around and you need a decent bite and a decent price. Not going to satisfy that burger fix that takes over your life when it hits. If you do go, get the double and rock the mushrooms, it'll help the situation. read more

I'll review this one instead of the Dwight/Telegraph location since I came here a lot more often. I ate here quite a lot during my final semester because it was just down the street from the engineering buildings on campus and I would spend many hours of the day locked up in Davis Hall finishing assignments and a tedious final project. It was easy to just run down there to get a quick lunch or late night meal to go and then go back to crunching numbers. I ate in here sometimes too with friends. It's more spacious than the southside location, and it's not as busy either so I find it a lot more comfortable. Plus you don't have crazy Telegraph people walking up and down the streets shouting random stuff, so this place is a lot more peaceful. As for the food, I almost always go simple and get the cheeseburger combo. They take just the right amount of time cooking it - not super fast like at a fast food restaurant, but not too long like at a gourmet burger place. The fries are pretty good too, and they're great with ranch. Combos are reasonably priced too, around $7-8 with the fries and drink. I would definitely recommend this place, especially the Euclid location, if you're craving a burger in Berkeley. read more

This place is decent. I've had the persian burger and the bacon cheddar burger. The burgers are okay, the patties are on the smaller side but the toppings are freshly sauteed and tasty. The fries are crispy but again not really seasoned, just lightly salted. It's somewhere between reasonable and a little pricey for what it is. I think it's worth it to spring for the $2 more for a nice burger at a bar like triple rock or at burgermeister, etc. read more

It's funny how I've lived next to this Bongo Burger and never ate here until now. I guess the fact that I can smell Bongo Burger every time I open my apartment windows, led me to never care to eat there. However, I came here on a Sunday night because all the other restaurants on Northside were closed. I always assumed Bongo Burger mainly served burgers, so I never knew they also sold Mediterranean food too! I got the Mediterranean plate and it came with falafels, hummus, tabolueh, lettuce, lots of pita bread, and a big fat block of feta cheese. I sure wiped up all the hummus up with the pita, and happily chomped on my feta & falafels. The falafels however, are on the small size, and oddly shaped. Some of my falafels were oblong and some very very small. The plate literally comes on a papaer plate and cost $8.71 after tax. In addition to Mediterranean plates, there are also chicken kebab plates, sandwiches, burgers (of course), fries, hummus, etc a la carte. I'd come here for a quick Mediterranean stop and to try their burgers (as it IS in the their name) sometimes again! read more

My standby North Campus lunch place for when I am really effing hungry. Their Persian Burger (lamb) must weigh at least a pound, and paired with fries always leaves me in an afternoon food coma. Burgers are pretty average fast food, fries are a little below average. They do squeeze fresh OJ and carrot juice, which makes for a much healthier (and more expensive) combo than a soda. The black bean garden burger is also an option for the heath conscious, and is just the right amount of spicy. The middle eastern fare is decent too, but not as authentic or as tasty as the Hummingbird Cafe across the street. The lunch rush here is a pain in the ass - go after 1:30 if you can swing it. read more

Of the burger places i've tried in Berkeley, this is my favorite. They use quality Niman Ranch beef, frozen, but you can still tell the difference. I usually get the cheeseburger and fries or onion rings or both if i'm sharing with someone. The fries and onion rings are always crisp and perfect while the burger also has good flavor. The one thing i don't like is that they use thick roll-like buns here which they toast and i prefer soft buns with my burgers so everything doesn't get squished out as i'm eating. The persian burger is also really good and probably my new favorite since they use a softer baguette for this one. The burgers will definitely fill you up and it's a good price for a great quality burger. read more