This location is in a great area in a shopping plaza with Ulta, Ross, Regal theater, Bath and Body, and several other restaurants and shops. We came with a small group right at opening in a weekend. They hostess was pleasant and seated us right away, and our server came over shortly after. He was very friendly and helpful. The restaurant itself isn't anything fancy, but it's a great little casual spot that's bright and clean inside. The menu has a good selection of burgers, which seem to be their specialty. They also had some healthier options, some salads and bowls. They also serve smoothie/shakes which according to someone in our party was delicious. They ordered the one that comes with pineapple, banana and, strawberry. I ordered the fried chicken sandwich with the onion rings. The portion sizes were very generous. The onion rings were panko breaded and were fried just right. The chicken sandwich had a great flavor, and included bacon on it. Id definitely recommend and the onion rings. We were so full there wasn't room fur dessert l, but one person in our party skipped the meal and went straight for their classic Kina pie, as it was one of her favorites. The portion was much bigger than expected but she finished it all, it was so delicious. I'd love to see them at a brunch menu, but i think the food is pretty solid, and would reccomend them. As i said the location is in a good spot, with all of the shopping nearby, and there is plenty of parking. They also have happy hour available 7 days a week which isn't too common. They have a rewards program too, and will give you a welcome gift, which i noticed too late for this visit unfortunately. read more

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Islands Burgers in Mira Mesa delivered one of the most attentive dining experiences I've had in a long time. From the moment I called, someone answered on the first ring. When we arrived, Lena provided prompt, friendly, and genuinely attentive service from start to finish. To top it off, Manager Tim stopped by our table to make sure everything was going well. The food was spectacular. Combined with the outstanding service, it made for an exceptional dining experience. It's incredibly rare to find this level of hospitality anymore. Tim should be proud of the team he's leading, and the owner should be proud of the culture they've created. Great food is important, but exceptional service is what keeps people coming back, and this staff absolutely delivered. Experiences like this have become so uncommon that they deserve to be recognized. Thank you for reminding us what outstanding customer service looks like. read more

Islands Restaurant - Burgers Near Me - San Diego, California

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Anytime I visit San Diego, Island's is always a MUST stop before I go home. However, this might be the last visit to this location. My family came in around 9p. The evening started out great, vibe is always nice. Waitress was nice and took our orders. Double checked and asked again when there were substitutions. The drinks and food were coming out quickly. Everyone was enjoying and eating, except me because my food never arrived. At this point we hadn't seen our waitress and was looking for someone to flag down. There happened to be a gentleman walking around in a hula shirt, maybe a manger, and we asked if he could either find our waitress or find out what happened to my food. He came back to say that something happened and for some reason my order didn't get put in. They would hurry to work on it and they would comp the meal. Ok, that's fine. The waitress came back, apologized, double checked my order, but didn't even look at me and spoke to someone else at the table and when I corrected her on something, didn't even look up. Disappointed. Then, when they finally brought out my order, it was completely wrong. Incorrect burger: Thousand Island instead of the Longboarder. Wheat instead of white bun. Fries instead of onion rings. I hope they actually gave me the plant based patty. I can forgive that maybe my order was accidently deleted when she was entering orders. But, if you're trying to remedy the situation at least get the order correct especially when you come back out to double check it. I didn't even bother letting them know the order was wrong because everyone at my table was almost done eating and the restaurant was closing in 15+ minutes. Maybe that was another reason the order came out wrong because they were rushing due to it almost being closing time? I don't know, but that still shouldn't be an excuse because I deserve to get what I ordered, comped or not. So disappointed. I would still recommend them for their yummy food because it still is my favorite burger restaurant in SD. That is why they are getting 3 stars, but this will probably be my last time coming to this location in Mira Mesa. read more

Okay if you didn't already know Monday, Thursday, and Sunday night have all night happy hour during professional football season and you should really go. The happy hour menu is one of the largest I have seen with both food and drink options from $3 - $10 or $12 and is all super shareable. We came in for Sunday Night Football and enjoyed more than we needed in food items but they were all sucha. deal so why not order more. We did have leftover but they were still delicious. They have more TVs than I remembered in the bar bur we had a great time and would totally go back again for that happy hour deal. read more

Reservations were set ahead of time for Sunday, 10/11 (party of 25) @ 12pm. I arrived early to make sure tables/chairs were all set up. I was greeted by the host and server, Kenny. Kenny was super accommodating as the guests were coming in. Throughout the event he checked on us and also gave us privacy when we were having deep conversations. Kenny took food orders table by table and food arrived in reasonable time. Since it was football Sunday, they had Happy Hour all day. The atmosphere was fine what you would expect at an Islands. Thank you to the host, Kenny, food runners and kitchen staff. read more

I've been here since I was in my early teens. This place still holds up in the Mira Mesa community. I haven't come here in a while and our server Kenny was the epitome of hospitality. He knew his menu, was super attentive, very kind, and made my sister's birthday very special. The food came out in a very timely manner and Kenny always ensured that we had all the sauces, drinks, and pre-bussed pretty frequently. 5 stars all around. Kenny is a treasure. Thank you Islands. read more

Kenny is the bomb he is the best service ever! Thank u ! He deserves a raise! Thank you so much!

The food is always delicious. The service is fabulous, and Kenny in particular always does a great job. The ambience at this islands is incredible, you enjoy the music, the screens around with different sports (specially surfing!) and you can still engage in conversation with your table. Overall, highly recommend eating here. When we go to a movie and a dinner date, this is the place we choose. New menu item to try: hands down, the smash burger 100% recommend. Forgot to take pictures of our food when we received it. Here's a portion of my Northshore Tacos. Enjoy! read more

Islands Restaurant - Northshore tacos and image of Smash burger from menu. - Burgers Near Me - San Diego, California

Perfect place to grab their Teriyaki chicken on whole wheat bun with fries and a ton of their creamy Ranch dressing! Mike Alesi to extra good care of us as we also ordered 2 Mai Tai's before our movie! He packaged up an extra Teriyaki chicken sandwich Togo after we finished our yummy drinks! A++ on the server, food and drinks!! read more

My friend and I came in for some dinner and gossip, and yes the tea was piping hot lollllll. And I'm glad we had some good food to munch on while discussing all of it! Started off with a chocolate shake, so thick and delicioussssss. Then we got onion rings to share, and they were perfectly crispy. Then I got a Malibu burger, but I forgot to snap a pic before I completely devoured it :( highly recommend their ranch on the side, it's perfect for dipping whatever your little heart desires. Our server, Kiera was an absolute doll, she provided great service and excellent recommendations. She was very attentive and was busting her butt keeping everything clean and everyone in the seating area happy. There's plenty of parking, which is great, plus there's a lot of stores in the vicinity so you can walk around a little bit after dinner. read more

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10/10 experience! Kenny was our server and he was so great. We came during happy hour and got chips and guac. My burger was pretty decent, and the sweet potato fries were seasoned well. What stood out the most was the great service even from the hosts +food runners! read more

Islands Restaurant - Garden Burger - Burgers Near Me - San Diego, California

Headed up for lunch with coworkers. This time I ordered the Maui burger. I always enjoy a really clean restaurant and bar. This place is absolutely spotless. Service is good. read more

Islands Restaurant - Maui burger - Burgers Near Me - San Diego, California

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I've been here many times and my favorite item is the cool breeze smoothie! I usually also get a burger and fries which are always consistently good. Today I opted for a moa kai tuna sandwich and cool breezes to go. Everything was delicious as always but can't give 5 stars because apparently they don't put a maraschino cherry on top of the cool breeze anymore so that's sad. Next time I eat in the restaurant, I plan to still ask for one since they probably still have them since it's a bar too, but didn't bother asking on the takeout order. read more

Tuna sandwich was awesome and fresh and the sweet potato fries were crispy and salty. Our server was top notch and gave us refills without asking (I like that). The venue has a beautiful warm island beach vibe that is enjoyable day or night! Can't wait to eat here again! read more

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Great spot to grab a burger or in this case a burger salad! Their sweet potato fries are delish too! The service was quick and although they did not have the bowl I originally ordered the burger salad was a really good choice. The ambiance is casual and chill they have lots of screens to be able to catch a sports game too! And although it was not happy hour time the menu advertised some pretty good deals I'll have to go back to check out! read more

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Impressed with the Hawaiian decor and feel. Plenty of TV's with variety of different channels. One of the TV's was playing "The Surf Network" playing which we didn't know was a thing. Food was pretty good. My wife took a gamble on the tacos and she liked them. Cheddar fries hit the spot when we were hungry. Burger was huge and it made a mess when I ate it but it was delicious. 7/10 place to eat. 5 being average read more

Islands Restaurant - Hula Burger - Burgers Near Me - San Diego, California

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We were looking for a place to get a drink and a dessert. Upon striking out at several places,i didn't realize how hard this was going to be. Seems you can do one or the other. We found Islands. Living in the Carolinas, this place looked like the tacky chains we find around Myrtle Beach. This chain may look like those, but it was a step ahead. Service was good, so we're the drinks, we got to watch Duke win on their multiple tvs and we had very delicious desserts. We sure will be back. read more

My first time here for happy hour. They have a pretty good happy hour menu with multiple items to choose from at a reasonable price. My mangorita was too sweet and it could use a bit more alcohol.i also got sliders (three mini sliders for only $7). I loved crunchy caramelized onion. The hours are good too (3:30-6:30). The space is good for group gatherings. I appreciate that they were able to do individual checks. I'll def come here more often from now on. read more

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Food was nothing i would brag about but definitely a variety to choose from with no regrets. I did not take advantage of the alcoholic beverages nor the other speciality drinks. The delivery of meals was not the fastest nor slowest. There were 6 of us. It was noisy as it was a Sunday dinner gathering. Their decor was definitely island styled. read more

I had the best time at this restaurant today my server Kenny was the best and Dann was on the door. She was so nice thank you if you get a chance stop in and say hi. I guarantee a good time thank you again to the staff. read more

We were on our way to the cinema and I was really craving a burger and there it was - Islands, just by the movie theatre. We went it, ordered some sweet potato fries, lettuce wrap burger and soda. Good service, delicious food, and decent portion size. Overall really good read more

Islands Restaurant - Burgers Near Me - San Diego, California

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SAN DIEGO, CA: April 2025. Late night decision to find something to eat that's on the lighter side. Anything open around 8:30 PM seemed to be on the heavy side, especially in an unknown food territory. I saw that this was a not a five star chain restaurant, debated, but glad I chose here. I was greeted immediately, seated immediately, server came immediately. I like that menus were on the table so I could start food cruising immediately. $17.59 for most salads. Prices were a bit on the high side, yet seemed average as meals are heading to the $20 range everywhere save for In-n-Out. Islands had some protein bowls for only $10 which sounded like what I needed. But after reading the ingredients of the Kaanapali Kobb salad, ordered that without regrets. Crisp greens mixed with blue cheese crumbles, diced tomatoes & scallions, bacon, hard egg, avocado, and generous strips of grilled chicken. Chicken was plentiful, tender and thankfully not overcooked. Mind you this was not a high-end elevated salad, but it was very good, solid "Kobb" salad. Fresh and crisp. Nice portion. I would order it again. I don't usually point out a server because sometimes it seems...pointless. This young server named Lena was so genuinely cheerful on a holiday weekend who, despite being nearly closing time, displayed the cheerfulness of someone just starting a shift on the first day on the job. Lena went above and beyond. She won't be there long because that girl will soon be a college grad or be stepping up the corporate ladder. Kudos. Hence the five stars for service for a decent four star salad. read more

Islands Restaurant - Kaanapali Kobb - Burgers Near Me - San Diego, California

5 stars for the service. Kenny was our waiter and was very attentive and interactive with our kiddo. Genuinely great service. Josiah also stopped by our table frequently to bus plates and was so kind. Food was pretty good, as expected from islands but really great service :) read more

We love going here cause it's close to our home. We go here to celebrate different occasions and just for dinner sometimes cause of their appetizers. Kids love their chill fries and wings. They always have fast service and waiters are very attentive. The place has a nice causal vibe which is relaxing while eating. Got to try their desserts they are so yummy. read more

If you are looking for a place where the vibes are high and the prices for alcohol are actually reasonable in this economy, the happy hour here is your new sanctuary. Honestly, the service is so on point you will barely have time to finish one drink before the next one is magically appearing in front of you. The sliders are the undisputed MVP of the menu. They are small, delicious, and exactly what you want when you are three drinks deep and trying to convince yourself you are "just having a light snack." However, be warned: once that happy hour clock strikes its final hour, the menu prices start looking like they were written by someone who thinks a side of fries should cost as much as a small down payment on a house. The rest of the food is definitely tasty, but your wallet will definitely feel the sting once you realize you just paid premium prices for what is essentially "elevated" bar food. Stick to the cheap drinks, crush a plate of sliders, and enjoy the great service. Just maybe don't look too closely at the dinner menu unless you are feeling particularly wealthy. Happy Hour is a good go to for the area but you don't wanna visit outside of it. I mean there are worse islands to visit IKYK but this one doesn't require a trip with the TSA read more

I went to the restaurant with my six children, and the waitresses gave me dirty looks and didn't want to serve me. read more

Islands Restaurant - that they won't serve me until a male waiter shows up - Burgers Near Me - San Diego, California

We extend our sincere gratitude to Aman (spelling?) for his exceptional service, efficiency, and professionalism during our recent graduation and retirement celebration with our family and friends. The entire experience was stress-free and seamless, ensuring that we had an unforgettable time. We highly recommend this establishment for future events and will continue to consider them for our needs. read more

Six of us were seated on the patio, then did not see another staff member for almost 20 minutes. We ordered drinks and nachos. They delivered the nachos with small plates. She also brought five napkins, and no silverware. Three of the plates were extremely dirty. It happens, so we asked for more. She brought back only two plates, and there was a ton of food stuck between those two as well. Ended up getting my own plates. We had not complained at all, yet a manager came over to complete our order. He apologized for a rough start, and said he was there to make the rest of our visit better. They took our order, and it took more than 30 more minutes for our food to come. Only two out of the six burgers were cooked as ordered. One batch of fries was extremely cold. And to top it all off, I popped open the ketchup bottle, and there was a large hair stuck to the spout. All in all, not an experience I would care to repeat. read more

Understaffed. I went during lunch or perhaps after the lunch rush at 3pm. Tables were dirty. There was one person behind the bar serving everyone. I ordered what I thought would be quick. A small soup and garden salad. The soup appeared what was left at the very bottom. I was given a dirty spoon. I won't be eating at this location again. read more

The food was horrible. I ordered an expresso martini, and there was a bug in it. The service was very slow. The food was so bland, disgusting, and I'm nauseous after eating their tacos. I could've made better tacos at home myself. My husband ordered a burger, and he gagged after eating it. The worst restaurant of all time. Do not bring your family here unless you guys are genuinely brain dead. Do not make the same mistake of eating there. We have made a big sacrifice on the behalf of America. ‍ #warning! #runforyourlives #grossburger #yack #chumbucket read more

First step through the doors, the decoration and overall vibe is comfortable, open, & quaint. The TV options are diverse and their menu is full of dishes every family member will enjoy (fries, salads, burgers & so many other yummy options)! We came here for a quick drink before our movie & the smile & demeanor of our hosts' face - I believe his name was Josiah? I hate that I forgot, but the host and our waiter (Jimmy) - really made this pit stop transform into a place to revisit. Plus the yummy drinks! Cheers! read more

Ashton was an amazing server! He was super friendly, attentive, and made sure we had everything we needed throughout our meal. He had a great attitude, was really personable, and made the whole experience so enjoyable. The food was great, but Ashton definitely made the visit even better. We'll definitely be coming back and asking for him again! read more

I'm pretty Meh about Islands, but I have friends who are big fans. They offer plenty of seating, and it's an easy spot to hit up. Mostly a beer and burger type of place. Prices are a bit high (SD pricing?). It's not a go-to spot for me. But I'll go if friends wanna grab a quick bite. read more

The food is delicious and the service is very quick and the waitress was very nice and kind. This is my go too for good food! And the Ambiance is very nice and is like a Hawaii bar/Grill! read more

Islands Restaurant - The Shorebird Sandwich - Burgers Near Me - San Diego, California

Fantastic service. The manager stopped by to check on us. I love that. Food was amazing and great value for the price. Highly recommend. Ample free parking. Next to movie theater area. Go grab a meal asap! Sign up for the club for free chips and guac. read more

I haven't been to an Island's in awhile, but used to go often back in the day. It made me kinda happy with nostalgia because it looks exactly like it did in the early 2000's, but in a good clean way. This location seemed well kept. I was happy to see that they still offer a real veggie patty, in addition to an impossible patty. You choose what type of burger you want, just sub for a veggie patty for free. I ordered the longboarder which has thousand island dressing, but with a veggie patty. It comes with fries, but I requested a garden salad instead. They charged $1.85 extra.. which is honestly kinda crazy considering the burger itself was $17.39. Aside from that, the garden salad was a perfect size, and I enjoyed the cucumbers, carrots, and tomatoes in it. The burger was good, however I wished grilled onions was offered. OR, I really don't mind raw onion, but when it's 1/2" thick, noooo! Why is this acceptable? Lol. I recommend 3-5 thinly sliced onions, and then it's easier to eat instead of sliding all over the place. I made such a mess in front of my friends. Haha! Service was pretty good for a party of 6 for a Friday lunch. The server was smiley, attentive, and brought some kind of joy to the rainy weather we were having. read more

Islands Restaurant - Veggie Longboarder burger with a garden side salad - Burgers Near Me - San Diego, California

We are enjoying the blue Consisting of blue cheese dressing red onion lettuce and tomato, blue cheese crumbles and you pick white or wheat bun. Beach bowl is yummy w grilled pineapple, bell peppers edamame and water chestnuts, scallions and broccoli. Choice of hoisin or teriyaki sauce. Drinks, sunny blonde and super delicious mai tai! A/C cranked up, nice tv's and the Celtics are celebrating 2024 NBA title! Alareece gave us such good cheerful service and I was very impressed with a waitstaff that was not our waiter that came by to clear some dishes. Good teamwork read more

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Thankful Islands was open on Christmas Eve following church service. Service was great and efficient. Our server was attentive and always smiling and accommodating, I ordered #BeachsideSliders which I had before but the meat was lacking this time. I love pickles and it came with lots of them and it made up for the lack of meat. The #CheddarFries was loaded with cheese and scallions and very yummy Maybe since it was near closing they were skimpy on the meat but everything else went well. read more

Islands Restaurant - Burgers Near Me - San Diego, California

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This islands has a great vibe and service is consistently good. The bar has great seating and cocktail drinks. We love their toucan chicken sandwich and long boarder burger with fries. It's our family favorite. We love to grab a bite and cocktail here before the movies next door. It always fun, delicious and friendly here. Love it! read more

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It's been a long time since we've dined at this location. The last time we were here they must have been short on servers as we had to wait a long time receive our food. So we decided to give this place another chance. Chris was our server. He was kindhearted, attentive and personable. We ordered the following ... *Tempura Green Beans -Served with Huli Huli dipping sauce. Those are so crisp and delicious! *Fish Tacos -Three corn tortillas stuffed with cabbage, cilantro, chipotle white sauce & pico de gallo. Those were good but the white sauce was dolloped a lot on top of it. Would have been nice if I had the choice to put how much I wanted on myself. *Beach Bowl -Fresh grilled pineapple, red bell peppers, edamame, water chestnuts, red onion, broccoli & diced scallions. Served over white rice. with teriyaki and w/grilled chicken My Dads favorite go to meal. Can't go wrong with this choice. It's healthy, full of vegetables and prepared perfectly. *We also ordered 2 Chicken teriyaki beach bowls and 1 beach bowl with fish to go. Again this visit was nice, good food,service was great and we appreciate it. read more

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