Hands down the best lamp burger in the area , their spicy chicken is off the hook too , I always order their tabooleh salad and it's so refreshing . Prices are worth their foods , I don't know where they get those buns for all their burgers but I think that huge part of their success ; the bunds are so fresh and crispy especially the long one that comes with Persian burger , I can't have another meal in the day if am eating that whole thing , it's insanely good , highly recommend . Halal too makes it worth so many times . Needless to talk about ambiance as it's a very tiny place . Service is quick and not bad at all . read more

The skinny: - fast service - great prices - detailed menu so you know what is in each dish - plenty of menu options for every palate - good size portion - well seasoned meat with refreshing sides - not to oily or salty A family member mentioned this place to me and had recommended I try the persian burger. I opted for the persian plate instead. Persian Plate to go: (check out pic) rectangular ground lamb patty that was robust and meaty without being oily, salty, or fatty tasting. Well seasoned with more than just salt. The sides included tabouleh which was refreshing and light while also featuring great herb flavors. Another side of salad which was nice but not memorable. Last but not least a green olive to top it off. Let me know if you try this dish and if you agree! read more

Bongo Burger - Persian Plate - $6.95 - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

This place brings back so many memories of the time I was a little Cal bear. This has got to be one of my favorite burger joints of all time. Sure, there's other places that are staple to Cali or the East Coast, but this place for sure takes the cake or burger. Perhaps I'm bias, but there's been plenty of times where eating a freshly grilled bacon burger form this place saved my life or at least made the day way more manageable when I was stressful. In addition to the burgers, their fries are also nicely done and taste so fresh. If you're in the area, make the stop. This place is worth it. Parking sucks, but the burgers will make up for it. read more

Unsanitary. Workers were without masks and gloves. Lady taking orders blew her nose, then picked up the phone and continues to take orders. MASk FREE. No thanks read more

I went here for the first time on Saturday after the gym, and I came back on Sunday (again, after the gym). This should speak volumes to the simple perfection of an uncomplicated and uncompromising Bongo burger. I was comforted by the "We use Niman Ranch" sign and surprised by the quality of the bun. I look forward to returning for the Persian Burger and the Mushroom burger. read more

Combo No. 3! Cheeseburger, fries, and small drink for only $7.95! EVERY TIME for my 4 years as a Cal Undergrad. Burger is cooked perfectly, and goes well with American cheese, the sesame bread bun, and I like how they shread the lettuce. Also the fries are so CRISP and HOT because they're fresh out of the fryer. Lastly, that RANCH or BLUE CHEESE or whatever that white sauce is, I dont know. POUR IT ON ERRRRRTHANGGGG! Not overpowering, but still compliments the burger. Also, bring lots of napkins, not the cleanest thing to eat. :D Bongo Burger is a MUST GO whenever I'm back in Berkeley. read more

I used to like this place but unfortunately the quality is horrible and the prices are so high comparing to other amazing restaurants around here Looks like the owner has become greedy and just cares about making more money Just an example I got a drink which they charged 1.30 for a very very small cup full of ice and when I asked for a refill they charged me another 65 cents I paid 4dollar for tips so money is not my concern just the feeling that the owner thinks people are stupid and he can insult peoples intelligence is sad I wished at least the quality was good the kabab tasted so greasy and it was so small Anyway I gave them a chance after couple years But not only they haven't improved they've gotten worse in quality and customer service and prices This is it for me and bongo burger read more

Ordered via doordash for pickup at 6:11pm, store closes at 7pm. At 6:48pm, doordash still says the order was being prepared. I called twice to check, there was no answer. I walked there to check. My order was ready. Staff asked what drink I wanted, said sprite, and when she said it was done, I see coke in the drink. I said I ordered sprite and pointed to the receipt. She pours out the coke and refills with sprite. I start to check the rest of my orders to make sure there were no other mistakes. My order was a mushroom burger which I added a note "Gluten intolerant (lettuce wrap)". i unwrap my burger to see buns. I said to them that I asked for a lettuce wrap. They countered, saying they ran out of lettuce. Note that the website said that they had gluten free options available, but clearly, the staff don't understand. I was quite frustrated at that point. I just wanted to leave and so I left, but in hindsight, I really should have asked them to make me a new one. Really disappointing. read more

Delicious, generous, and cheap! The American burger is only $6.25, and it was awesome. The bun was fresh and perfectly toasted, the patty was was nicely grilled, and the toppings were just right. Someone who GETS IT made this burger. I also appreciated the crinkle-cut fries and the friendly service. They have lots of vegetarian options too! Edited to add: Their turkey burger is soooo good. Not dry at all. How do they do it?!?! read more

I have ordered take out twice and both times the food was delicious. The fries are always crispy even when ordering via door dash. This is one of the few burgers that I can finish in one sitting. The burger itself is cooked perfectly and all the veggies are always fresh. This is a great local business and recommend them for a yummy burger. read more

Off balance burger, bread is too thick, patty has little presence. The type of burger too big to eat in burger shape. Service is mediocre, low effort type of restaurant. Would not recommend read more

Bongo Burger - 1. Mushroom Burger, Fries and a Small Soda Combo - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

I love Bongo Burger! It's one of the best burger places around the area and definitely satisfies all my burger cravings. It's one of the few places I've seen that has a mushroom burger which is delicious btw! The meat and mushrooms are super juicy and the portion is just right! I definitely recommend the mushroom burger. I should try the other burgers but I just love the mushroom burger too much! There is indoor seating and outdoor seating and usually, there's a lot of space to sit down and eat, but I usually just take it home to eat. Anyway, I definitely recommend this place! read more

Yum!! A friend of mine told me how good this place was and I couldn't really wrap my head around how delicious a burger place could be until I came here. Unfortunately when we got there the persian burger had sold out but we tried the spicy chicken sandwich, and the turkey burger - both were excellent and had a great touch of seasoning to them. I'll be going back to try the persian burger hopefully soon! read more

The food here is pretty basic, but in a good way. It's probably better when you're drunk. I was not when I ate here, but I enjoyed myself. It's a small hole-in-the-wall type of place frequented by Berkeley students. It's open relatively late, and I appreciate that. It's fairly priced and you get good value for what you pay. It's also a good spot for people-watching. I had the cheeseburger and fries. The burger is much bigger than you would get at a fast food chain. It's not quite gourmet, but better than say McDonald's. Think really good cafeteria food. I'd go again. read more

I've been a customer at this Bongo Burger on Dwight for more than 20 years. That gets them three stars even on a bad day. Some of the folks who work there remember me kindly even post quarantine which is nice. The food is hit or miss but good enough- don't skip the ranch. On the hit days- the burgers are delicious. On a day like today when two items were left off my order the food got cold while I was given a hard time by the new to me cook who kept insisting my order was complete. Not such a big deal right? Might be that I was in extra pain today so it felt extra awful, might be that I had just left the doctor with news about a probable surgery, might be that I was a line cook for twenty years so I have no patience left. I admit some of us who used to be in the business can be assholes and I am obvs in that camp. On either side of the line I think my mean shit I don't say it out loud, unlike the line cook today. He was sarcastic in that talk extra slow way for AWHILE and so mean I said why are you so mad? I didn't complain. I tipped well on my to-go order and waited politely to get someone's attention when I realized I was missing 10.00 in food. I was calm and kind. He made me wait (I am visibly disabled) while he worked through the line when he could have just gotten me my missing food (I could see it) and gotten me out of the door and out of his day. That's what we always did. You get what was paid for out the door and keep the line going. It is really hard (nothing easy about that work) but not so complicated. It's been a terrible few years and my ability to take shit when I'm paying for it is all gone. I don't have a ton of money to spend on food and Bongo used to feel like a little respite on a bad day. The best thing today- the Cashier who was professional, kind and backed me up when the cook and I disagreed on what I had paid for. Give them all raises. Including the cook on the grill. Second best? The ranch which is always delicious. The fries are usually really good- hot and crispy if you ask for them that way. Today the food was cold, unwrapped by the cook as he looked for the invisible missing items and kept acting like I'd stolen something. I was sad then mad but I was polite. The cook was not. If he had spent less time being antagonistic and more time cooking he could have crushed that line. Bongo will always have lines. I'm probably not going to be in it for awhile but they will be okay without me and truthfully it's very hard to navigate that space with mobility devices. Ableism, fat phobia and ageism is an unholy trifecta of garbage. I'm out of practice dealing with it after being isolated for so long. Note- he gave me all that angry shit while not wearing a mask and not being all that far away from me across the counter. With the Delta Variant and the small space I vote masks on either side of the counter. There's a sign saying must wear a mask- I'd like to see it include everyone. read more

I went to Berkeley/lived here for 5-6 years, and I finally tried Bongo Burger. I don't really have any idea why I hadn't tried it before, as I love burgers and I had heard this place was decent and priced pretty cheaply. I'd have to say the burger I got was overcooked and the meat patty is very thin, but it was still pretty tasty. I just got a regular hamburger, though I hear their alternatives are quite good. I was pretty surprised by the menu, as it had a good selection of vegetarian items (as if I'd ever order one) and stuff like falafels and pita wraps. It's definitely not a IB Hoagie's style menu. The fries were quite enjoyable as well, though they don't have a good ranch here, probably something out of the bottle, so I had to settle with regular ketchup. Considering how much I like hamburgers, I should have come here before when I was a student, but maybe it was better I didn't since I probably would have gotten it almost every day. :P read more

Blast to the past!! We used to eat these when we lived in Berkeley, and this week end we took our youngest son to his dorm, and we had Bongo Burgers.... As tasty as we remember it!! I guess good things don't need to change! read more

Keeping rating at 3 stars. I came here a few weeks ago and tried their persian burger since I've only had it once before. It definitely failed to meet my expectations. The meat was okay, but the sandwich was just very plain. It's definitely not worth the $7-8. read more

The burgers here are very forgettable. Nothing special about them...at all. They're your standard frozen quarter pounder you can find at Costco in a 60 pack. The only thing that's a *little* different is that they offer a turkey burger, which from my experience, is pretty good. Props. For about $4 a burger, this is cheaper than most burger places I'd say, but the fries that they offer (sold separately) are like their beef patties: frozen and completely standard. Nothing special about them at all. I feel like Bongo Burger was a restaurant started from a Costco shopper who had too much leftovers in their freezer rather than a burger joint. I'd come here if I wanted a cheap burger, but if a McDonalds were closer, I'd probably go into that instead. read more

How can you ever go wrong with a good burger? I always end up getting either the cheeseburger or double hamburger combo, but they have a lot of other choices (sandwiches, hummus, and breakfast?!) on their menu. The burger patty is always juicy and well-cooked, and the fries are a big bunch of zigzaggedy goodness. The portions are pretty big for me, and just right for most guys. I like Bongo Burger because it doesn't feel too greasy, and it's about 5 minutes away from where I live. It's affordable and fast, and it's an easy hangout spot to grab a quick bite with friends. read more

I had the persian burger combo. The burger was pretty good. It actually looked more like a sandwich though. The meat was juicy and well cooked and the bun was warm, soft on the inside and crunchy on the outside. Tons of lettuce and tomato. It was a decent size to share with someone else. The fries could've have been crunchier but they were yummy with the ranch. read more

This place is pretty good! I've walked by this place for years before actually stopping by to try it, and was impressed by how large the portions are and how delicious everything is. The meat is very juicy and you can get yourself a sandwich, burger, plate, or anything else. read more

This is a review from last week sometime for the location on Dwight. Slightly perplexed as to why the location is characterized as Elmwood; but hey, maybe that means I can claim to be Elmwood resident from now on. I live pretty much right down the street from here but have only made the trip once. I came in to Bongo after a rather strong hankering for a Burger. I had heard good things from Yelp, friends, and the Daily Californian alike. Needless to say, I was rather disappointed! Food: I ordered a cheese burger and fries. The burger was decently priced and a large portion, which is a definite plus. But the meat was mediocre, at best. I love my burger medium rare and this came out standard medium cooked. The fries were also crinkle cut... which i really dont like, but they were okay nonetheless. Overall, this place was no more than a meh for me. Will be back though as they have many other options, including breakfast, on the menu (or maybe even if I'm craving a burger and am too lazy to make it anywhere else). read more

Bongo Burger doesn't get enough love. They're a classic Berkeley staple, and for good reason. Fast service, quality food, and great prices. Drop by if you're looking for a quick bite. read more

Save your money, go somewhere else. I had fond memories of bongo when I was in high school and would go to the center location but this is nothing like I remember. I saw that this location had better reviews so I decided to drive to this location even though I live only 5min from the one on center, but I wanted to make sure my burger would hit and it was wayy below average. I ordered the all American burger and it was soggy and just a hot mess.. except it wasn't even hot smh. I did love the fries though.. Also the hubby had the Persian burger and he thought it was okay but a little salty, I tried a bite and it tasted like straight meat. Idk if people are into that. I like meat but I don't want my meat to taste like straight meat. Maybe it's the fact that it's lamb but try it at your own risk.. don't say I didn't warn you.. read more

Yum, persian burger. Definitely will return. Whenever I come around, this place is always full, and today was no different. But luckily my burger buddy and I found seats. The persian burger took less than 10 minutes to be done and we started chomping away. The burger itself was very tasty, and it was pretty large as well, definitely filled me up! The fries weren't anything to go crazy about, just fries. Crinkle fries if anyones a fan. I really appreciated the sauces that were laid out: ketchup, sriracha, ranch and tabasco. I'd be back to try an actual burger though, by the looks of my neighbor's meal, it looks quite filling as well. read more

Bongo Burger - Persian burger combo (sans le drink) - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

Great service and fast. I discussed this place few years ago, tried almost all menu .The food was very tasty.

Always the Persian burger combo + cheese. I love my Bongo Burger people. Been a fan since '97.

We love this neighborhood burger and falafel shop. the people are friendly, the food is good and consistent and the portions are large and affordable. read more

So the place is a little weird at first glance. Bongo Burger? WTF? Where are the bongos? Is this a Caribbean joint? No wait, they offer Persian food? With Burgers? Wait, what? For as cooky as the name and Persian-Burger fusion concept is, it absolutely works. Perhaps living up the street from Bongo Burger had a bit to do with my obsession with the place for much of my college years, but the place really is good. The burgers are a can't miss proposition of good bang for your buck. And my wife never minded me dragging her along as she still claims the Persian Burger is the best black bean burger she's had. read more

Bongo Burger - Burger Combo: Yes, it still hits the spot. - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

Bongo burger is a great low-cost high-quality mediterranean/classic burger joint in the UC Berkeley area. It's a pretty small shop with just a few tables so maybe don't come in with a big group on a busy night. That being said there was plenty of room for our group of 7 on a Tuesday night around 8pm. Counter service was friendly and attentive; I ordered the chicken plate for around $9-10. That might be on the higher end price-wise but the quantity and quality of the food was so so worth it. The chicken was butterflied and grilled with the perfect amount of seasoning and it was still so moist even while being very crispy on the outside. Tabbouleh salad can tend to be dry and bland but that was not the case here! They had a citrusy dressing that meshed really well with both the tabbouleh and the cucumber/tomato mix that was fine diced. I really loved the tahini on top of the salad; it ended up dripping down under the cucumber and tomatoes which made for a little extra dipping sauce. The pita definitely took a back seat to the rest of the food but that wasn't my focus anyway. 5 stars for affordable, quality, filling food! read more

Bongo Burger - Chicken Plate with tabbouleh salad - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

We come here every time we visit Berkeley. Today was no different. Highly recommended! read more

Bongo Burger - Outside - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

I was searching for vegetarian/vegan food in the area when I ran across Bongo Burger. I called in an order for a Black Bean Burger and it was ready by the time I got there and paid (maybe 6 minutes later, which was great because I was working). I appreciate that I ordered on the phone and they made it the way I asked. I always ask for my food to be made without onions, and it was refreshing to walk away with exactly what I asked for! The lady who answered the phone & rang me up was kind and accommodating, which was appreciated. The burger was hella good, THICC and very filling. It comes on an onion bun, which tastes fine. People who like onions might like it a lot! I'll probably ask for different bread next time I go (and I WILL be back). They don't have pickles though, that was sad. read more

Had lunch today at Berkeley's famous Bongo Burger. Cheeseburger was good, although slightly burnt. Was a little upset that they charged $1.25 to add 1 slice of cheese to my burger. Fries were good but could use a little salt. Overall, customer service was good and food came fast. Keep in mind when visiting, that this place has no parking. read more

Best shishkabab sandwiches this side of Iran. And the burgers are to die for. And the falafels are out of this world. A legendary Berkeley gem. And so inexpensive! read more

Great burger joint and more. Persian burger and kabobs. Don't skip the baklava. Expect about a 10 minute wait for your food but it is fresh and worth it. read more

Their Persian Burger and Bongo salad are better than anything you could get at a 5 star restaurant. Every time we visit the Bay Area we take a detour to Bongo Burger with the family. read more

Bongo Burger offers a solid, delicious charbroiled burger. I generally get the bacon burger. The amount of bacon is generous and the way they chop the bacon up and put on the burger is unique and yummy. Otherwise, if I don't get that I get their mushroom burger or Persian burger. You can't go wrong with any of the above. I'd avoid their chicken sandwich and hot dog. Just stick to the burgers. Also: They have really good ranch sauce. It's self serve, unlike other places that can be stingy with their sauces. They also have self-serve sriracha. I love this. The fries are GOOD & generally very crispy. Damn they are good! If you want them to be even better, take a salt packet and sprinkle on when they're still piping hot. Bottom line: try this place!!!! read more

I got the shish kebab plate and the meat was really delicious and it came with a nice salad and fries. My only problem (and the same problem I had with another restaurant of this type) was I walked for 5 mins to get a place to eat and my food was lukewarm by the time I sat down. Otherwise the food had delicious flavors and you don't even need to get a burger! read more

I'm from out of town and stopped here for lunch based on the Yelp 4 star rating. I'm giving it 5. The burgers are delicious! Quick, friendly service, and we're leaving very happy with full bellies. If I'm in town again I'll be happy to grab another bacon cheeseburger here. read more

Bongo Burger - Delicious bacon cheeseburger! - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California