This place reminds me of like radiator springs off cars but the food is really phenomenal and you can get your car done next door that's a win-win situation to me. I came upon this place when I was just hungry I was just searching for somewhere to go somewhere cheap and when I tell you their menu is... is that like what the hell is a french onion burger I don't know but I want to try it like it just sounds good you can't go wrong with anything you get here and if somebody said oh this place is mid or it's okay yeah you need to go back to culinary school buddy read more

The service here seriously needs improvement. I don't come here very often, but every time I do, the service at the walk-up counter is awful. The staff is consistently rude and unfriendly. On my most recent visit, I couldn't even get a simple hello, she just stared at me until I said something, and then she literally chucked her pen at me to sign my receipt. I almost wanted to match her energy and throw it back, but I didn't. The food is always good, though. The burgers are solid, and the fries, as usual, could use some salt. I asked if they could be salted, and she said no because the salt gets stuck in the fryer? I'm not really sure how that makes sense when the fries could simply be tossed with salt at the end before being put in the bag. Overall, the food keeps me coming back, but the customer service definitely needs some serious work. read more

Had bookmarked this place for a long time. Finally had a chance to try it. Maybe it was because of a weekday lunch, I did not have to worry about parking. But seems like there is enough parking. The place did not disappoint and satisfied my burger craving. My wife is not a burger person so she had a ribeye sandwich. She thought it was okay and wished it was an actual piece of steak. lol The onion rings were not as good as I had expected. I thought they would be bigger rugged pieces so I'd taste more of the onion, but the batter was half of it. I would certainly come back for the burger. Perhaps gonna get the 2/3 lb next time. read more

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The burgers and fries were fantastic. Clearly a hole-in-the-wall type of vibe, which oftentimes turns out to be THE best spot! Their customer service was friendly and prompt. Can't wait to return! read more

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My friend loves grabbing a shake from John's so we went for a walk and grabbed a shake. Happiness abound. Please come and create your own adventure. read more

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My bf and I come here very often! We love the food, it's always fresh and quick, (such delicious shakes) the service is kind and efficient, and the ambiance is relaxed, good smelling food and good music read more

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While standing to order, I was ignored by the 3 people in site. It had to be a good 5 minutes before Danielle, I believe took my order. Super unfriendly and the food was tasteless. Went there being new to town and a friend recommended it. We won't be giving it a second chance. read more

Came here before seeing a movie after seeing the reviews and it was a very enjoyable experience. Food was fresh, shake was delicious. I would definitely come back here! Loved the diner vibes of it all. read more

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Today was disappointing. It took 5 minutes for the guy to acknowledge we were there then after already late on the order he said it'll be another 10 minutes, we waited over 30 minutes just for some fries and onion rings even after ordering it over the phone 20 minutes prior ti picking up. ! Very rude customer service, zero consideration! read more

The food was good. We ordered burgers and a hotdog. Also ordered fries. Next time, I'd like to try the onion rings. But the star of the show was a mocha malt shake. It was very busy. There's additional seating on the side of the building. We sat outside. There was only one outside table. There's parking in the back and the street. read more

No one should eat here. Ate here for years until one day black stuff in a glass of wate. The young waitress working should not be in this industry. Thats all I say about her. The owners don't give a shit if they have moldy ice machine and get people sick. Health dept would have a field day. They place is never clean either. Not got used that but if like that sort of nasty crusty charm, this is your place. read more

Before I visit an unfamiliar town or city, I like to find interesting sites and good restaurants. I was planning a shopping trip to the factory outlet stores in Livermore, so I searched Yelp for a good lunch spot. I found John's Char Burger. After a morning of shopping, I headed over for lunch. WOW! Just.....wow! John's Char Burger is one of those wonderful dining spots that you wish existed in every town. It's the type of food, location and ambiance that you see in various movies that just oozes with quintessential "Americana" vibes. The burgers here were really good. In fact, they reminded me of some of the burgers you get at a backyard barbecue or from a restaurant that specializes in char grilling. Unfortunately, most of the existing restaurants just don't really char them long enough to give that fantastic char flavor. Thankfully, John's Char Burger emphasizes that "char" experience. The burgers were cooked exactly as I like them -- and the flavor was fantastic. The fries were good too. However, the onion rings raised my elation for this place quite a bit! The location is a little difficult to find (as it was my first time driving through Livermore). In fact, the place was very busy -- even for a weekday lunch. Still, I found a parking space and ordered through the enclosed patio window. I could see the restaurant and counter inside. It just reminded me of seeing an old fashioned burger diner that you see in movies or TV shows. The staff was very patient and friendly too. The prices were surprisingly affordable too. My food arrived very quickly. I took the food to a local park in order to enjoy the nice weather. The food was just amazing! I'm looking for a reason to return to Livermore just so I can great another meal at John's Char Burger. It was one of the nicest culinary surprises that I've experienced in quite a while! read more

John's Char Burger - Burgers Near Me - Livermore, California

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Great burger. Worst customer service. The lady working the front counter is straight Rude. No hello or hi. Or how's it going. Just demanding your order. They need to be more polite or find a new front counter person. read more

Oh, John's Char Burger, you had me at Onion Rings! Nice big rings with the perfect crispy crunch & seasoning. I ordered mine for takeout and mixed up a yogurt dipping sauce at home. If you enjoy really good onion rings without that pesky beer-batter-flavor, visit the friendly team at John's Char Burger. read more

John's Char Burger - Oh, John's Char Burger, you had me at Onion Rings! Nice big rings with the perfect crispy crunch & seasoning. - Burgers Near Me - Livermore, California

Been coming to John's for over 30 years. Always loved it. I've noticed a decrease in quality since ownership change. As I sat for my meal today, I saw no seasoning being applied to the meat. The cheese was tasteless, moved away from shredded lettuce to big chunks of iceberg. Seems like a move to make it as inexpensive to make as possible sacrificing quality. Service was very slow today as well. Food came out cold, and fries and onion rings arrive 20 minutes later and then we're burnt. read more

John's Char Burger - Slow, poor service. - Burgers Near Me - Livermore, California

Pretty standard char burger -- decent, but nothing that really stands out. Unfortunately, my onion rings were burnt, which was a bit disappointing. The place itself was also really warm inside with no AC, which made it a little uncomfortable to dine in. Overall, the food is fine if you're just craving something classic and straightforward, but nothing particularly unique or memorable. Simple and greasy -- exactly what you'd expect from a no-frills burger joint. read more

Ordered a 1/3lb char burger with jalapeño and bacon. Delicious!!! It was great to visit again after 18 years. Cook and serving staff were so nice. read more

John's Char Burger - Char burger with jalapeño and bacon - Burgers Near Me - Livermore, California

This review should have posted last year; it was stuck in drafts for some reason... I have not been to John's in about 30 years. We went and very little has changed. Still great burgers, awesome french fries, super milk shakes and the only sad part is no more jukebox (yeah its been that long). Definitely worth the nostalgia, the visit, and more. Wish the cook wasnt spending more time on his Iphone than actually working. Still, worth it...great date spot still? Yeah, i'd bring a date here for a classic style. read more

Super delicious cheeseburger and fries. I had the 1/4 pounder. I'm going to try the 1/8 pounder next time.

Updating my review as I've become more and more a regular. These are the best burgers in Livermore paired with the best service in town. I like to sub onions for bacon and jalapeños and the fries are crispy and come in a big quantity. I can't rave about the kindness of the owners enough: they're the kind of folks who recognize their repeat customers and seem so genuinely happy to see you arrive. And let me say they are incredibly generous and thoughtful (including doing things like gifting my toddler free ice cream). Great location right in downtown Livermore just steps from Livermore 13 Cinemas and the rest of First Street. Love this place. Great old school burger spot. read more

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Please excuse the half eaten burger but I wanted to show how juicy this burger was. I got the 1/4 lb single with pepper jack, mushroom, grilled onions and jalapeños on the side. It was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! I'm not a burger type of gal and probably only had 3 different burger joints in my life but this place takes the cake, hands down. Such a classic diner. The feel inside, the vibe and the food. Simple burgers but can add a lot to it and make it whatever you want. Fed myself, partner and dog, all for $32. read more

John's Char Burger - Single 1/3lb burger with mushrooms and a double 1/2lb on French bread - Burgers Near Me - Livermore, California

Burger was fresh and pretty good. $16.30 after tax for a small fry and the double char also not bad. Nothing spectacular just all pretty good from customer service, cleanliness and food. Fries weren't as crispy as they could be and they bag them right from the fryer so you have to salt them yourself. I will be back again I liked the burger and it wasn't messy at all to where I could eat in my car during my lunch break 100% better than other small burger joints in Livermore read more

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What a cool little spot. I came in the wrong door, not realizing there is a nice warm interior to John's too. The team was super helpful and I had my order in fast. The strawberry shake made it to me first, it was cold and flavorful. The food was out pretty quick after that. The servings are HUGE here! The small fry was a loaded basket! The 2/3 pound burger was massive too! I probably should have ordered the 1/3 pounder. The fries were beautifully cooked, but were bare. A little salt and they were perfect! The burgers were frozen patties, so the texture was a little dense. The bun was pretty solid too. The flavor was good, so I ate until I felt my gut was going to bust. John's has an old school diner feel, I loved that! Good service, good food! read more

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Best char Burger in town. I was in the mood for a burger and came across this gem. My family and I grabbed some burgers, fries, onion rings, and a milkshakes . The onion rings were perfectly crispy! The fries are "shoestring" and unsalted which for me was a plus because I like minimal salt. The burger was delicious! And had an actual char taste. The shakes taste like homemade milkshakes. I had the banana milkshake and it contained real bananas! The service was pleasant. I seen a lot of reviews stating the service was terrible but I was fortunate enough to have experienced the opposite. The person taking my order was patient as my family all placed their orders and not knowing exactly what we wanted lol. It looks like they have a dinning room off to the side to dine in and enjoy. I'll definitely be back! read more

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They're serving frozen burger patties that you can buy at McDonalds and it takes them 15 minutes to make your order, what a joke

The woman who answered the phone was polite and quick and they nailed the order, each item was correct which was surprising because it was a picky order for a big family and each item was unique instructions. The building is still classic and nostalgic. The flavors were nostalgic but not old they were amazing including the milkshake and onion rings such classic flavors done right. The burgers were cooked perfectly (in our opinion) the slightest of pink and perfect amount of sauce. Pure American comfort food I'm glad they're in my hometown. read more

I don't know what happened here, John's used to be one of our favorites. We tried to eat here tonight, and nothing was even what I would call "edible." The burgers were cold and flavorless. The fries were cold and seemed like they were re-heated; they tasted old and were limp. The BLT was just disgusting. The bacon was still white, stringy, and undercooked, and tasted like old grease. The bread was wet. More than $50 plus tip for dinner for two, and we had to stop elsewhere to get food on the way home. I couldn't be more disappointed. read more

John's Char Burger never disappoints. The combination of consistently delicious food, outstanding service, and the charm of a historic local landmark makes this place truly exceptional. Highly recommended! read more

First time here 1994!!! And been coming here ever since... Yelp fam I could say this is the best burger joint ever...but I'm not since itz impossible to go to every burger joint...I will say this I haven't been to a better one...these burgers have been consistently good, juicy, & full of char flavor...came here for lunch wit the fellas in 94 and thatz all it took...they've changed from the original owners since then but the burgers, milk shakes, and all the goodness stayed the same...where ever you are take a trip to Livermore at stop here at John's Char-Burger... read more

John's Char Burger - Burgers Near Me - Livermore, California

Burger was solid burger. Definitely a no frills place... $14 is a bit more than I expected to pay for a burger and fries but I guess that's the going price these days. read more

John's Char Burger - Menu - Burgers Near Me - Livermore, California

Older white lady at the counter is rude and very dismissive. Felt ignored when attempting to place my order and not acknowledged. Otherwise, the burger was super tasty and was fresh. The onion rings on the other hand were not that great. Tasted like a frozen bag from the grocery store . Loved the old school feel walking in though . read more

John's Char Burger - 1/3 burger with cheese - Burgers Near Me - Livermore, California

Great place for good burgers, fries and shakes. It's the first place we hit when we are visiting!

Double Char Burger with Cheese. Good burger, but super greasy. Good hole in the wall spot! I felt like having Hot Chocolate which was on the menu, but unavailable unfortunately. To be fair, it's an odd request at 11:30, but it was before lunch rush. There was definitely a rush, and though my photos at 11:30 show not much, in the time I was eating my burger, all but a couple tables were filled. I left at noon. read more

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I've been coming to John's Burgers since I was in middle school, I have to say they are the best burgers in town and I love the fries well done! Milkshakes are pretty good too. The service has always been pretty decent, but some of the workers have had their days, who hasn't? We recently came in on a rainy day and it was a bit chilly inside the dine in area, they have another side which is mostly for pickups I'd say but it was cold both sides. Other than that, the food tasted like the same Johns charred burgers I've always tasted! Will always come back and vouch for this spot!! read more

John's Char Burger - 1/3 pound w/cheese - Burgers Near Me - Livermore, California

This burger joint was so close to Concord Feed where my friend bought some chicks so we decided to stop by for lunch. We weren't even that hungry. Well guess what? We were glad we came here to eat because it was delicious! Let's start with the ambience because the diner felt like a traditional one you'd see in the movies. Next, the burger was simply phenomenal. I mean we wanted in n out but this place tops those chains by a mile. It was so good my friend tipped $8! In Chinese, 8 is a lucky number so she definitely gave this place her blessings. So did I, so I recommend this burger joint with my utmost respectful regard! read more

John's Char Burger - Burgers Near Me - Livermore, California

I have been coming here off and on for nearly 50 years. It is one of the best places for a charburger and fries and a malted shake. It changed hands several years ago, but the quality always remained to same. I consider myself a pitmaster and grillmaster. I have been cooking my whole life and it takes a really good restaurant to impress me. This place holds a permanent place in my heart and I hold many fond memories here. The building is old, kind of run down looking, but don't let that fool you. The food here is fantastic and the service is great. If you are in pursuit of a REALLY great burger, you need to stop in and try it. I no longer live in the area but make it a point to stop in when traveling in and out of the bay area. read more

First time here but our food was delicious ! Service was great and it looks like an old school burger joint. Staff were nice and the environment calm and relaxing. Truly recommend this place everything was 10/10 read more

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Probably better to not dine in but I'm honestly glad we did so we could see the conditions of this establishment. Sat at the counter and wouldn't come back. We ordered and had to wait too long for our food even thought we watched it being made fairly quickly. We saw the cook place it where they put food to go out which was probably 5 ft away from us and it sat there for a good 5 mins. During this time the owner was walking around with an electric fly swatter which grossed my husband out. And he was seemingly training the cook by standing over his shoulder, watching and reprimanding him but he couldn't make sure the orders that were done right next to him got sent out in a timely manner. The waitress was nice but no one seemed like they knew what they were doing because they all walked past our finished order countless times. And on top of it she was hand washing the dishes right in front of us as we were eating. The whole set up there seemed very unsanitary between trying to kill flies and washing dishes right in front of customers. The onion rings were the best thing, fries were sad and super short like we got the last bit of the bag, burger was ok but in n out is way cleaner, quicker and overall better. I wanted to support this local restaurant but I can never recommend it after our experience dining in. read more

John's Char Burger - Sad short fries - Burgers Near Me - Livermore, California

Just tried this place after many years away ...burger was great and onion rings great.Real char flavor .Will be going back soon .

Loved it! Great burger! Well constructed sandwich. No skimping on the fries, nice portions. Great value. The people running the place were nice. It's no-frills, clean. Not a local, but, I'll be eating here again. read more