The Balboa
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I recently visited The Balboa in Downtown San Diego's Bankers Hill neighborhood and was really impressed! In business since 2015, this classic cocktail and burger bar is such a fun place to visit. They are consistently voted among the top burgers in San Diego and now I know why! I ordered "The OG Balboa" and it was excellent! It was obvious that it was skillfully prepared with high quality ingredients. In fact, the ground beef here is fresh, never frozen. The Garlic Fries were outstanding. Made with hand cut Kennebec potatoes. We enjoyed a few drinks from the bar; the Old Fashioned was particularly good. Although the vibe here is pretty dive bar-like, it's such a fun, vibrant experience. Everyone was so friendly and genuine. I look forward to visiting again soon. Highly recommended!
Ok, driving around and looking for somewhere to eat, and I thought, why not The Balboa. I walked in and asked the bartender if it was okay if I brought in Cako. I told him that Angel said to ask first. He said, yes, that would be alright. So Cako was able to experience The Balboa. There were a number of people inside. We sat over by the pool table, but it was a little warm, so we moved to a table right by the door. Cako pretty much said hello to everyone coming in. Again, very relaxed and chill vibe. Had the OG with bacon, an order of garlic fries, and of course, an ice cream sandwich, which is soooooo good! I know when Cako loves a place, she lays down, and she did. I really like coming to this location. It's a great place to come to! Cako Approves!
Great spot if you want a burger and a beer! They have a great happy hour deal where you can get their balboa burger, fries, and a beer for $20! I opted for their garlic fries and the garlic lovers would definitely love these fries.
Been 10 years since I've been here, and somehow it's even better than I remember. Absolutely delicious and easily a top-3 spot for me. No-frills, dive-bar vibe with seriously good food. Yum.
Burgers and fries were really good. The burgers were juicy and the garlic fries were crispy and very flavorful. This place is more of a dive bar than it is a restaurant. Not really a family vibe atmosphere but if that's your thing you will enjoy it. You order as you walk in and then pick a seat. Plenty of seating. I have to mention that the place did have a weird smell right as you walk in.
Very fun and casual spot with plenty of great drinks and amazing staff! They also some great burgers, definitely gotta grab one if you're over here! There's two seating areas, one is up by the bar and the other is a few stairs below. Upper area is more dimly lit and great for drinks, lower dining area has many larger tables and is a lot more brightly lit if you're getting a meal. They have a game room with arcade games and a pool table as well. Secret passage in the back will lead you to a speakeasy called Charade!
Nice dive bar feels. They have plenty of seating and a room with arcade games and pool. The burger was sooooo good, and the fries and the sauce too. Bartenders were really chill and didn't have to wait too long for food. Nice happy hour specials !
This is a great dive bar with a burger, fries and beer special for $20 until 6pm! Came here to celebrate one of my co-workers and everyone kept telling me how great their burger deal was and they were right! The deal comes with the original burger but you can modify it and remove or add items for an additional price. It also comes with a choice of garlic or regular fries...opt for the garlic fries, you won't be disappointed! Nothing beats it than pairing it with a nice ice cold beer on top. They had the Harland hazy IPA which was really good! My co-workers got theirs with the Barrio Lager and they really liked it as well. They also have other drink specials such as $5 fireball shots and $6 well drinks!
Feels like a real neighborhood kind of place. We came on a Mon night which was industry night/happy hour all night. I thought all sandwiches were $10 but it's only their OG one. We decided to get chicken sandwiches. My partner got it with the salt and pepper fries and I got mine in a lettuce wrap. The chicken flavor was delish! Whatever spice they put on is great. Very moist too. Otherwise the sandwich itself is pretty standard but well done. The fries were good. The right amount of crispy and good potato flavor. I think it's a little pricey at almost $14 for just the sandwich without fries. The space is deceivingly small. They have the main bar area but a full separate area to the right for seating and it has a pool table. They have a small arcade area to the left of the bar as well. You order at the counter and they bring your food to you.
I've been here a few times over the years for the original balboa burger and it never disappoints. I originally heard of this place from one of Gareth's videos on YouTube for San Diego's best burgers. On my most recent visit, the house was pretty full and lively on a Friday evening around 11PM. Parking was decent (parked just a short block away). There was no line to order and our server was super helpful. You gotta get the burger with grilled onions. It's the only way to go. I even got the beyond burger to try to be a bit healthier and it was amazing. It's perfectly paired with garlic fries. Their south location is bit nicer and less dive bar-y. But their burger still holds up after all these years.
Solid burger! Love a good dive bar especially if they got a good burger! Come for drinks or come for the burger or come for both you can't lose!
Pretty cool local dive bar. There are a decent amount of seating and alot of TVs. You place your order at the bar. Ther service was friendly and fast. And our food came out pretty fast! I got the chicken sandwich with salt and pepper fries. Portion are very generous! Every thing was very high quality and cooked to perfection. Considering this place is known for their burgers. I appreciate that they pay the same attention to their chicken sandwich! Pro Tip: They also have a speakeasy that is open at night :)
Wow my last review here was 9 years ago!! I've been back multiple times since then and always had a great time with awesome burgers! Yesterday I held my Inaugural post-Holiday Dirty Santa get together here and everyone had a great time! Party of 10 and we had more than enough room! Finally tried the BBQ Bacon burger and LOVED IT! Huge strips of bacon and caramelized onions!! Delicious! $15.95 and worth every bite! Beers are about $8 and lots of other options from well drinks to canned seltzers! CJ was even kind enough to bring over a complimentary round of mystery shots! Love that The Balboa is my neighborhood go-to! Thanks for another great time CJ and crew!
Reviews are largely positive. People praise the excellent burgers, great fries, and friendly staff. The fun dive bar atmosphere with games is also a highlight.
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Yum! Haven't been back for over a decade. We love a good burger and wanted to see The Balboa still had good burgers. We came, there was a small line, it did take forever to order because you order one by one at the front before entrance. Then there's people who went straight to sit at the bar hoping to skip the line and get their orders in. The lady was good at that and took everyone in line before helping them out. I ordered their Friday Lunch club, $15 for burger, fries and soft drink or add a beer for $5. Comes with the original and I got regular fries. Husband got the garlic fries and damn, they use fresh garlic! Super pungent, you can kill a vampire just by breathing. It was delicious though. Burger was good. A little greasy but good. A good basic burger, no frills. Place is a dive bar. Bathroom a bit dingy. They have a women's bathroom in second room further right which is nicer. It was a hot day and they had no AC, just some fans. We were pretty sweaty. If you're in the area, good basic burger to check out. read more
Sadly, it's just not what it used to be. Perhaps it's the expansion of this location, perhaps it's the new ownership, or perhaps the buzz has just worn off. Starting with the good, Alex was awesome behind the bar. Although he was training a new associate, he still took great care of us. Even when I had questions, he was quick to respond in a knowledgeable and understanding way. The garlic fries were solid, but I was definitely disappointed to find that they no longer offer their house made ranch. I do not care for their dirty aioli so it was a real bummer not to have that herbaceous ranch to go with the fries. The $15 dollar HH burger was just average. Prepared WELL DONE, the patties became dried out and pretty blah. This was partially on me though as I totally forgot to ask for the burger to be prepared to a medium temp. Although it was a larger burger, $15 on happy hour, along with a $10 order of fries put this meal in the more super premium burger range. I know a place not too far from here, in a more expensive neighborhood, serving up a super premium burger, including fries and an amazing aioli for $17! And that's without HH! Besides the burger being dry and just average, my biggest gripes were the cleanliness and the Clover cash processing fee. Starting with the cleanliness, the new expansion on the north side of the business is just gross. Absolutely everything in there was super dirty, including the large area rug which seemed to be 50 years in without even a spot clean. Aside from other odds and ends, there were also some old movie theater chairs that were so dirty that I can't imagine anyone wanting to sit in them. I know it's a dive bar, but I hope they reevaluate the state of this part of the expansion. And why am I paying a Clover processing fee when I'm not using a credit card. According to Google, Clover strictly prohibits the use of charging the customer the Clover fee for cash transactions. The fact that you pay nearly a 4% fee just for them to use the Clover POS system on a cash transaction is buns. A number of places reduce the cost when you pay with cash, so this baffled me. Thanks to Alex and the chef for getting us through. I've been coming here since it was Doods Foods, so I hope they can get back to the good old days. read more
I recently visited The Balboa in Downtown San Diego's Bankers Hill neighborhood and was really impressed! In business since 2015, this classic cocktail and burger bar is such a fun place to visit. They are consistently voted among the top burgers in San Diego and now I know why! I ordered "The OG Balboa" and it was excellent! It was obvious that it was skillfully prepared with high quality ingredients. In fact, the ground beef here is fresh, never frozen. The Garlic Fries were outstanding. Made with hand cut Kennebec potatoes. We enjoyed a few drinks from the bar; the Old Fashioned was particularly good. Although the vibe here is pretty dive bar-like, it's such a fun, vibrant experience. Everyone was so friendly and genuine. I look forward to visiting again soon. Highly recommended! read more
Ok, driving around and looking for somewhere to eat, and I thought, why not The Balboa. I walked in and asked the bartender if it was okay if I brought in Cako. I told him that Angel said to ask first. He said, yes, that would be alright. So Cako was able to experience The Balboa. There were a number of people inside. We sat over by the pool table, but it was a little warm, so we moved to a table right by the door. Cako pretty much said hello to everyone coming in. Again, very relaxed and chill vibe. Had the OG with bacon, an order of garlic fries, and of course, an ice cream sandwich, which is soooooo good! I know when Cako loves a place, she lays down, and she did. I really like coming to this location. It's a great place to come to! Cako Approves! read more
2 months ago
Great spot if you want a burger and a beer! They have a great happy hour deal where you can get their balboa burger, fries, and a beer for $20! I opted for their garlic fries and the garlic lovers would definitely love these fries. read more
2 months ago
Been 10 years since I've been here, and somehow it's even better than I remember. Absolutely delicious and easily a top-3 spot for me. No-frills, dive-bar vibe with seriously good food. Yum. read more
5 months ago
Burgers and fries were really good. The burgers were juicy and the garlic fries were crispy and very flavorful. This place is more of a dive bar than it is a restaurant. Not really a family vibe atmosphere but if that's your thing you will enjoy it. You order as you walk in and then pick a seat. Plenty of seating. I have to mention that the place did have a weird smell right as you walk in. read more
2 months ago
Very fun and casual spot with plenty of great drinks and amazing staff! They also some great burgers, definitely gotta grab one if you're over here! There's two seating areas, one is up by the bar and the other is a few stairs below. Upper area is more dimly lit and great for drinks, lower dining area has many larger tables and is a lot more brightly lit if you're getting a meal. They have a game room with arcade games and a pool table as well. Secret passage in the back will lead you to a speakeasy called Charade! read more
Nice dive bar feels. They have plenty of seating and a room with arcade games and pool. The burger was sooooo good, and the fries and the sauce too. Bartenders were really chill and didn't have to wait too long for food. Nice happy hour specials ! read more
3 months ago
This is a great dive bar with a burger, fries and beer special for $20 until 6pm! Came here to celebrate one of my co-workers and everyone kept telling me how great their burger deal was and they were right! The deal comes with the original burger but you can modify it and remove or add items for an additional price. It also comes with a choice of garlic or regular fries...opt for the garlic fries, you won't be disappointed! Nothing beats it than pairing it with a nice ice cold beer on top. They had the Harland hazy IPA which was really good! My co-workers got theirs with the Barrio Lager and they really liked it as well. They also have other drink specials such as $5 fireball shots and $6 well drinks! read more
8 months ago
Feels like a real neighborhood kind of place. We came on a Mon night which was industry night/happy hour all night. I thought all sandwiches were $10 but it's only their OG one. We decided to get chicken sandwiches. My partner got it with the salt and pepper fries and I got mine in a lettuce wrap. The chicken flavor was delish! Whatever spice they put on is great. Very moist too. Otherwise the sandwich itself is pretty standard but well done. The fries were good. The right amount of crispy and good potato flavor. I think it's a little pricey at almost $14 for just the sandwich without fries. The space is deceivingly small. They have the main bar area but a full separate area to the right for seating and it has a pool table. They have a small arcade area to the left of the bar as well. You order at the counter and they bring your food to you. read more
6 months ago
I've been here a few times over the years for the original balboa burger and it never disappoints. I originally heard of this place from one of Gareth's videos on YouTube for San Diego's best burgers. On my most recent visit, the house was pretty full and lively on a Friday evening around 11PM. Parking was decent (parked just a short block away). There was no line to order and our server was super helpful. You gotta get the burger with grilled onions. It's the only way to go. I even got the beyond burger to try to be a bit healthier and it was amazing. It's perfectly paired with garlic fries. Their south location is bit nicer and less dive bar-y. But their burger still holds up after all these years. read more
13 days ago
Pretty cool local dive bar. There are a decent amount of seating and alot of TVs. You place your order at the bar. Ther service was friendly and fast. And our food came out pretty fast! I got the chicken sandwich with salt and pepper fries. Portion are very generous! Every thing was very high quality and cooked to perfection. Considering this place is known for their burgers. I appreciate that they pay the same attention to their chicken sandwich! Pro Tip: They also have a speakeasy that is open at night :) read more
Wow my last review here was 9 years ago!! I've been back multiple times since then and always had a great time with awesome burgers! Yesterday I held my Inaugural post-Holiday Dirty Santa get together here and everyone had a great time! Party of 10 and we had more than enough room! Finally tried the BBQ Bacon burger and LOVED IT! Huge strips of bacon and caramelized onions!! Delicious! $15.95 and worth every bite! Beers are about $8 and lots of other options from well drinks to canned seltzers! CJ was even kind enough to bring over a complimentary round of mystery shots! Love that The Balboa is my neighborhood go-to! Thanks for another great time CJ and crew! read more
Visited the Chula location and decided to hit the one in my hood... Ordered at the bar and sat in the lower level, though the arcade was appealing. Burgers and fries delivered promptly and cooked properly! Ambiance is gritty after hours club, service was prompt and at the bar, and prices were ok for happy hour. read more
2 months ago
Went here with my boyfriend to try one of San Diego's best burgers (according to online forums). First off, the service was AMAZING. The guy at the bar (I forgot his name!) was super friendly and recommended a featured Pink Whitney. We ordered 2 burgers and garlic fries plus 2 of the drinks. The drinks were balanced and refreshing. The food? OMG. So good!!!! The burger was a classic cheeseburger that tasted like everything you would want. The garlic fries were so fresh, hot, and yummy. I would seriously recommend this place for service, ambiance, and great food read more
I haven't been to The Balboa in years and I'm happy to see it's still standing after the pandemic. We came here during Happy Hour on a Thursday to watch the football game and grab something quick. Service was quick as well after we ordered. The burger and garlic fries were solid. I really enjoyed the zesty aioli sauce that comes with the food too. No complaints on the Hazy IPA - went really well with the burger and served in a cold glass. Lots of space inside as well, three rooms total. On Thursday, there were several open tables and even a couple of open pool tables. Lots of TVs as well. The music was vibey when we walked in too, so we'll definitely be coming back for more HHs. read more
2 months ago
Ok ... you have not had a good hamburger until you've been to this place hands-down the best burger I've ever had to bake the buns fresh there it was absolutely delicious. Make sure you get the side of aïoli even the fries were amazing. Services great. I can't wait to go back. That's all I can think about. Is that burger? read more
1 year ago
Used to have a ton of live music, but I think that part of the business has died. It's a relatively quiet block in Bankers Hill. There's SRO right next door to it and a CVS, and those are really the only two competitors. Apparently its one of the best burgers in SD but walking in, I would have doubted it. I haven't had it, but now I feel like I need to! They are open daily and their business hours are 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM. On Saturdays, they open at 12pm. Everyday except Sunday, they have happy hour and I think Monday they have a late night happy hour which runs from 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM. Happy hour is typically 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM. So Monday, it's basically happy hour all day. Happy hour prices are $5 Wells, Wines, $6 Drafts and $8 Balboa Burgers. Their food menu is limited to 5 burgers types (your typical burger, BBQ bacon, your classic burger, a double cheeseburger and a grilled chicken sandwich) and two types of fries - garlic or salt and pepper. They have a speciality cocktail list which runs about 10 dollars. You have mezcal old fashioned, mules, and one called the Balboa which has whiskey, honey syrup, and lemon saraparilla bitters. They have more on the speciality menu but those are the ones I've had. The place is pretty decent. I'm usually there for one or two drinks at the end of the night and it's typically pretty dead (I think I usually avoid the rush) and so my experience has been much more intimate than what you might experience. It's a dive bar for sure. Everything is pretty reasonably priced and that is always a plus in my eyes! read more
8 months ago
1 month ago
Amazing burgers and fries! It's unfortunately on a sort of sketchy block of 5th Ave but it's awesome inside. A very homey dive feel with Christmas lights up and friendly service. And the burgers and fries and the best. So happy I was finally able to make it over and try this place! read more
8 months ago
Absolutely amazing with huge props to the bartender Kevin for making the experience so great. I'm new to San Diego and the Balboa is right next door to the air bnb that I am staying at. The burgers were pretty good. Best in San Diego? Idk, I haven't had many burgers in sand Diego but I imagine SD has better sea food and Mexican food. The real stand out of the Balboa was the bar tender Kevin. I don't go into bars much because I don't drink much and find them intimidating but Kevin was especially warm and welcoming offering warmth and great vibes for a traveler from another state. He and the rest of the team really made me feel at home in a new place and I felt comfortable asking questions about the new city I am in. I even had a few beers which is not typical of me so he must be good at his job! Thanks Kevin and the rest of the Balboa team for making my entrance and stay in San Diego great! I really want to come back, not just for the ocean and surfing, but also the new friends I made along the way! Cheers! read more
1 year ago
My friend that told me about this place said these were the best burgers in San Diego and I concur, these burgers are pretty dang delicious. I got the Balboa Burger and garlic fries. The burger was a perfectly cooked medium and tons of flavor. A little messy but what is a burger if not messy. I was however disappointed with the garlic fries. The fries themselves are cooked well but severely lacked the garlic taste I was hoping for. All in all, if you're looking for a lowkey spot for your next burger fix, check out this dive bar! Patience is key as they cook everything fresh! But it's well worth it. read more
Haven't been to this bar in a while and they expanded since I last visited. Their is now an arcade corner and a lower level with a pool table. Small menu located at the entrance where you order at the bar. Food and drinks came out quick. I ordered the bbq bacon burger and the garlic fries. The bacon was extremely salty, rest of the burger was fine. Garlic fries were good to snack on between the burgers and beer. Only street parking is available. HH between 4-9pm. read more
Great customer service, friendly, professional, and hilarious. This place is HUGE. almost missed seeing the game room that had plenty of choices and a pool table. Plenty of inside/outside seating . Food was fresh and flavorful. Will def be back read more
2 months ago
One of the best in SD. Hit their happy hour for an unmatched $20 burger and beer combo. The garlic fries are made to keep the vampires away. Legit covered in garlic goodness. read more
2 months ago
18 days ago
5 months ago
Food: 4 - Had we the classic and original. Bun is super soft, meat was cooked perfect, a little salty for my taste buds. But all in all - delicious. The fries are nice and crispy and fresh cut - not frozen. Service: 4 - Very friendly bartender Ambiance: 3.5 read more
3 months ago
First time ever coming to San Diego to celebrate a friend's birthday, and we ended up coming to the Balboa because we've heard so many good things about this spot. The service was amazing, such a good place to be with your friends. The bartending service was amazing, Pete and Dallas made us feel so comfortable. Definitely would come back, I recommend if you guys are just trying to find something chill to end your day of day drinking come to the Balboa. read more
6 months ago
The burgers were pretty decent. Not the biggest fan of their ranch but a solid eat after a few drinks! read more
Food - solid burger. I got the balboa and my husband got the bbq burger. They were good but we weren't blown away. The balboa was a bit on the smaller side. Service - This is the type of place where you order everything at the front and get a number and they take your items to your table. Counter service with table delivery. Service was a little slow. Ambiance - casual bar ambiance. There were people playing pool and nice music playing. Enjoyable. read more
3 months ago
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More info about The Balboa
1863 5th Ave
San Diego, CA 92101
Banker's Hill
Directions
(619) 955-8525
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http://thebalboabarandgrill.com
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Is there outdoor seating? Looking for options b/c I have a dog.
No outdoor seating but dogs allowed if on a leash and well behaved.
Do they have happy hour?
As of 8/8/2023 Yes. Monday all night. Tuesday through Friday 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.. $8 I'll go over the dining only. $4 select shots, $5 wines wells and drafts anytime $5 fireball…
Happy hour hours and specials?
Monday all night happy hour 4-10pm $7 Balboa Burger (dine in only with purchase of a beverage), $5 drafts $5 well drinks $4 Select Shots Thursday $15 Burger and a Pint…
Ok for kids?
Well behaved humans under 21 are allowed from 11am-4pm . If you happen to stay passed the 4pm mark, no worries. As long as you get there before 4pm.
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