This spot HITS. The workers are chill and the have a pretty straight forward menu - pizza, burgers, and bevies. The Pizza is pretty solid - thin, crispy, and the toppings are tasty. I've gotten the mushroom ricotta slice and the cheeseburger and boy is it's greasy and scrumptious all in one. A nice spot to stop by for a quiet bite and you don't have to wait too long. Definitely a spot to check out for a beer and slice. read more

The Friendly - OG Dirty Flat Top burger - madd good - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

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Short story: service sucks and the food was meh Long story: I've been really looking forward to eating here for a long time. It's always popping up as one of the best burgers in San Diego. The vibe in the place was cool. Bustling and music blasting. I look around for the menu. Not easy to find. I guess it's one of those "if you know you know" but then I saw a small chalkboard that listed the burger and a tiny printout pizza menu way in the back. I order a burger and coke. So pumped to try it. I ask for no onions and the guy at the register immediately cops a huge attitude like I ruined his day. He points at the chalkboard and says "no substitutions". I reply "no biggie! I can scrape em off or something" dude looks pissed and says "they're hard to scrape off" I know reading this I may sound unreasonable. Maybe dude was having a bad day. But the way he was looking and speaking to me made me want to walk away from the counter not bother ordering. If you are great at burgers but not customer service maybe stay off the register and stick to the grill. My friend with me goes "not very friendly for a place called the friendly" so it wasn't just me. The burger comes out. Honestly I'd bet on a good day it's great. But today it wasn't. Overly greasy. Ironically all of the onions slid right off so I'm not sure why he feels it would be too difficult for me to remove myself. The burger could barely stay in the bun it was so greasy. The aioli spread was all on one side of the burger and it was a mess. I'm not sure if maybe this place used to be great and since has declined, or if the staff was just having such an off day that it reflected in the effort of the food. Or if the guy just had some issue and felt like taking it out on us today. But needless to say. There's plenty of amazing smash burger places in San Diego. Excited to try somewhere else. read more

Talk about hole in the wall! I'm from Vegas and the homies recommended this spot. It was not a let down at all. First off you're in SD by the beach where the vibes are amazing. Upon entry the vibes I got was almost like small diner with a retro twist. Was told to get the burger, and wasn't warned that no fries or any mods of any sort was acceptable. Which is why it's called the "Friendly". I ended up getting 2 burgers and a pizza which top it off perfectly. Burgers are a nice simple smash burger with slices of cheese along with grilled onions that have been soaking in garlic butter for hours which is placed in between 2 grilled brioche buns. Pizza was phenomenal as well, but the burgers were the star. They were so good that I came back 5 times during a 2 week stay. The Friendly is in my top 3 places for burgers. read more

This place is perfect. Just your everyday casual solid people and vibe place. Urban... it's dope!! Loud music and good food! Show up in sweats kinda place... The food!!!!! So good.. it's simple. The burger is a must don't change it, how it comes is perfect and they ain't kidding it needs nothing! The pizza by the slice is good too. Not sure what a whole pie is like but the other stuff is good.. I can't rate it 5star only cause it's simply not the best pizza I've ever had... but it's still up there in quality don't hesitate on it. The service is fast and the people are friendly.. read more

The Friendly - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

I came here around 6 pm and they only have street parking so I parked for free two blocks down. I walked over and there was a short line. I think they only sell one burger and that is the flat burger? So that is what I ordered. It was $8 and really delicious. Very greasy, beefy, and cheesy, so I enjoyed it a lot. It was not very big though, especially compared to the other pictures I saw online. I sat outside because the weather is nice and the music was too loud inside. read more

The Friendly - Flat burger - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

Walking into The Friendly for the first time feels like stepping into a clubhouse where everyone already knows the rules except you. I made the rookie mistake of asking for ketchup with my burger and the entire staff reacted like I had just asked for a fork at a sushi bar. Heads turned. Fingers pointed. Laughter broke out. It was like I had revealed myself as an outsider in a single syllable. Apparently ketchup is contraband here. Who knew. But once you get past the inside baseball energy, the burger itself is a revelation. Monumental. A sandwich that does not need ketchup because the garlic aioli they use is doing the heavy lifting of an entire condiment department. It transforms the whole thing into something beyond a standard burger. This is not your backyard grill moment. This is its own category. A sandwich with swagger. The weirdest part is that they do not offer sides and they do not allow modifications. You get what they make and that is the end of the conversation. Normally that kind of rigidity would annoy me but here it almost works. It is like they are saying trust us we know exactly what this is supposed to be. And annoyingly they are right. The Friendly is chaotic, loud, a little smug, and absolutely worth it. Even if they roast you for asking for ketchup, you will walk out thinking about that burger long after the embarrassment fades. read more

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Here for the one and only Dirty Flat Top Burger before leaving San Diego, and thankfully it didn't just meet expectations--it exceeded them. The vibe at The Friendly is as laid-back as it gets: chill atmosphere, staff blasting great music, and everyone clearly having fun while turning out killer food. Sometimes simple is the hardest thing to get right, but they absolutely nail it here. The $8 cheeseburger is an insane value--juicy, perfectly seasoned, and cooked exactly how a flat-top burger should be. Nothing fancy, no gimmicks, just flawless execution that somehow tastes totally unique. Huge kudos to the crew for doing something so simple so well. If you're in San Diego and don't stop here, you're doing it wrong. read more

The Friendly - Dirty flat top cheeseburger - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

Cool little chill spot with amazing smash burgers and the closest to a NY slice I've ever had, prices are very affordable highly recommend. read more

The Friendly - Double smash cheese burger and a Hamm's beer - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

Honestly the food is pretty okay depends on the day you go. Most of the time it's extremely busy and packed. I prefer to order over the phone to avoid lines and just pick up my food but it's takes even longer. I didn't know you couldn't order pizza slices over the phone since it's "first come first serve". The service is pretty meh. I think there's a lot of other places around to get a greasy burger and a slice of pizza. read more

The best smash burgers in town!!!! The way the cheese melts on them is just delicious. The pizza is also great! Love me a pepperoni jalapeño. The ambiance in there is also very welcoming and chill. read more

The Friendly - Smash burger - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

Top 5 burgers all time. Very rugged place. They know they're great and don't need your business, so service kinda short and direct. No modifications allowed, but don't need em. If there's no line, GO. Even if there's a line go! read more

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Classic smash burger. Super greasy and hits the spot after a couple drinks. They also have pizza but and cheesy bread. A couple of seats and beers. Next door is a brewery place if seating its rough that allows yea to bring food over. Staff is pretty friendly. read more

The Friendly - Classic smash burger - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

My friend told me about this spot--she called it a pizza place with good burgers. Funny enough, it's actually more of a burger joint, but this is the only location that also serves pizzas. AMBIANCE: Parking: It's in the North Park/University Heights area, so parking can be tricky. Best bets are metered spots, 2-hour parking, or nearby street parking. Seating: Indoor booths and counter space, enough for 20-30 people. Vibes: On the quieter, southern strip of North Park--close to houses and plenty of other eateries. Inside, it's casual and no-frills: simple signage, a few photos on the wall, and a laid-back diner feel. Great for chilling or grabbing food to go. FOOD/DRINKS: Dirty Flattop Burger (Recommend): Ooooii! Classic double smashburger done right--melty cheese, grilled onions, and buttered buns. Flavor bomb. Mushroom Ricotta Pizza (Recommend): Crisp crust, generous cheese, and a savory umami kick from mushrooms + ricotta. Hits the spot. Drinks are straightforward--think sodas, beer, and a few basics. CUSTOMER SERVICE: John was awesome! He even mentioned he's the only one who can whip up a heart-shaped pizza. TL; DR OVERALL: 4.5 Stars. Good prices, simple menu, delicious bites, and a chill experience. Nothing too flashy, which makes it easy to decide and enjoy. I'll definitely be back. TIPS: *OG spot! *This spot also is the only one that serves pizza. read more

The Friendly - Woooo! - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

I finally tried this place after hearing all the hype!! We visited on a Tuesday night. The parking lot is TINYYYY so be careful or park elsewhere! There were 4 of us and we sat at the counter. For 2 regular cheeseburgers and 1 fry it came out to $25 so a bit pricey. They don't offer free water so be aware! The shop is small and a little dirty, tables weren't wiped. The burgers came out quickly. They were very crispy and fresh! I loved the thin fries. I wish there were vegetables in them to cut the fat, but overall good burger. Their ranch is SOOOO good though! read more

The Friendly - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

Such a great local spot! $8 super large double patty smash burgers, $3.50 large pizza slices (over 15 options). The best deal though is all beer is sold in a can and if you get it shot gun it's $1 off making takate's ($4) normally just $3!! Year round not happy hour all the time pricing! The food was excellent though! Nice heavy greedy burger. No modifications aloud, made with beef, cheese, onions and garlic aloi. Service was super fast and friendly but more New York friendly quick and to the point to get the food as fast as possible. Awesome atmosphere they were blasting music, it's an open kitchen so you can see the chefs cooking, tall bar seating and a few small tables indoor and outdoor. A lot of Togo customers too. read more

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The best smash burger I've had in SD! The meat is high quality, flavorful, and tender. The burger comes with two patties, garlic mayo, grilled onions, and melted cheese. It's all cooked to perfection. This burger does tend to be on the oilier side, but not a big deal for an occasional "cheat meal." There are no modifications allowed, so if you have any preferences or allergies, this may not be the spot for you. The pizza is solid, though I wouldn't necessarily come for the pizza. The only reason I'm giving it 4 stars is because each time I've come the burger tastes slightly different, so there's a little bit of inconsistency, but it's still good every time. The service is also lacking sometimes, and it can feel like they just want to get you out of there as fast as possible, but I understand as it does get busy. Expect a wait and there's very limited seating, so we take our food to-go. All worth it for how flavorful their burgers are though! read more

The Friendly - Pepperoni pizza - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

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Second time stopping in this unicorn, and yet again it exceeded all Expectations!! The staff is amazing, $1 off beers if you shotgun them, and the dirty flat top burger for $8 is a guilty pleasure that I can't wait to indulge in again!! Next time you're in, buy a cold Tecate for the chef and he may shotgun one with you! Such a Vibe!! read more

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Had the Dirty Flattop Cheeseburger, a slice of cheese pizza and a slice of pepperoni pizza. The burger? The best smash burger in town. Simple yet delicious. My surprise was the pizza. The crust was lite and thin. Sauce to cheese ratio was equal which makes this pizza almost perfect. Welcoming staff. This location (1 if 2) is located of 30th. You will need to find parking around the establishment. Only 4 tables and roughly 6 stools for inside seating. This is now one of my "go to" spots for sure. If you have not been here before, it's a must try! read more

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The smash burger is so worth the hype. One of the best in the city. And love the vibe in the place.

We came here twice. That's how good their smash burger is. Their menu is pretty small they only have the burger and pizza. But man is this burger delicious. The melted cheese with the cooked onions seasoned to perfection. It is messy but so worth it! read more

The Friendly - Burger - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

A long awaited visit to The Friendly! Didn't realize how quaint the original location is, and enjoyed its homey-divey atmosphere with just a few tables to sit and eat. We took our burgers to go, and they were incredible!!! Definitely lived up to the hype. The garlic aioli, the American cheese, the perfect smash-- phenomenal hangover food hahah. Didn't realize this location only sells their classic burger, so if you want an array of burger options you'll need to visit their location on University Ave :) Trying their pizza for sure next time! read more

The Friendly - Dirty flat top burger - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

Several pizza offerings both the pepperoni and Ricotta/spinach slices were very good. Their signature dirty flat top burger made them famous and is the only burger option available. Fun vibe and friendly service. read more

The Friendly - Ricotta spinach slice. - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

Came here for lunch while I was visiting from out of town. Got the flat top burger and slices of pepperoni pizza. The burger was soo good! It is a smash burger with patty, bun, and cheese. Simply yet so rich and delicious! The burger was kinda small but enough to fill me up. I had a bite of the pepperoni pizza but I was already full from the burger! 8$ for a flat top burger and $2.50 for slices of pizza. Pretty decent prices. Definitely a gem in SD! read more

The Friendly - Pepperoni pizza (by the slice) - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

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Best Burger. Mouth Watering Now thinking about it!!! It's exactly how I like my burger ... I'd like some crisp lettuce but hey it's that frigging good! Forget about Rocky's or Hodads. This is legit!!! Yum I want to go right now. I order pizza jalapeños and add to the burger for extra crunch;) xoxoxoxoo read more

If you are looking for some to grab and go that's hot...cheesy...flavorful then swing by and grab a slice and a delicious Lil burger.

I heard so many great things about the Friendly, so I've been dying to check it out. This place has limited seating, so it appears that it is more common to order/pick up your food and take it to go. We ordered a pizza slice and an OG dirty flattop. They both came out very quickly. The pizza was delicious. It was greasy and your standard pizza. The burger was also quite tasty. It was buttery, greasy, and juicy. The patty also had crispy edges. It was probably one of the better burgers I have had in San Diego. Overall, both food items were delicious and straightforward. I would certainly return and try new items off of their menu! read more

The Friendly - OG dirty flattop - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

The Friendly is a small pizza place in North Park but they are most famous for their Dirty Flat Top Cheeseburger. It constantly ranks as one of the best burgers in San Diego and you won't disappoint. It's a simple smash burger with melted American cheese and grilled onion. The seasoning and the flavour of the pattie is strong and amazing. There are not many seatings inside. The staff are down-to-earth guys. Try this place when you crave for burgers. read more

The Friendly - Dirty Flat Top Cheeseburger - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

Hadn't been here in a minute, but today I stopped by for lunch had a burger and pizza... AFTER THE GYM, okay? Took a pic only after my fat zzz took a bite. I fell in love all over again. S was scrumptious and I gobbled it up like there was a time limit. Parking is tight but I came on my bike, they have locks right out front so that'll probably be the move going forward. Staff is excellent and makes eye contact, god forbid we have human connection. Peace read more

The Friendly - Burger and a slice of pizza - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

Your friendly neighborhood dining spot. The space is not huge and they specialize really in only two things: burgers and pizza. I hear and heard a lot about their burgers from friends who live in the area as well as out of towners alike, but when I was in town on this particular trip, I was really just in the mood for some slices of pizza and some cheap beer. And boy did they deliver. When I walked in, I was able to sit at the counter pretty much right away. It was created by the friendliest people ever. Just really chill folks and chill vibe to this place. I ended up ordering two slices and a Modelo. The slices of pizza really hit the spot and the overall cost was a little over $10. What a deal! I'm not sure if it was their goal to be a New York style pizza shop, but the feel of it is definitely a pizza spot that you might find in New York. I am 100% coming back and getting a burger on my next trip. I was able to find street parking about a block away. This area seems like it could get tight in terms of parking. read more

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One of the best cheeseburgers that I've tried! Grilled onion, buttery sauce, melted cheese with that juicy burger patty. Thinking about it just makes my mouth watery. The portion is on the smaller side I could've ordered my second one. It's a quick in and out restaurant, straightforward, menu with one burger and pizza options . read more

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I had no idea what I was about to get into when ordering a burger at The Friendly. Walking around North Park this place looks simple, no frills but means business. Service was good and they are quick to make you a wonderfully crisped round the edges and sauced up burger. For someone who doesn't enjoy onions it was definitely yummy. Not dry, and so satisfying, I felt like I got a late-night core memory while eating this beauty but it was only 6pm. The shop filled up shortly after I devoured the delish dish and now I know why The Friendly is legendary. Truly hope to be back sooner rather than later. read more

Now if you are coming for ambiance, you are in the wrong place! If you have food issues and want to modify your burger, you are in the wrong place! If you are down to have a burger the way they make it; which is two smash patties, grilled onions, melted cheese, and a garlic aioli on a smashed grilled bun, then you are in the RIGHT PLACE! The burger is so delicious and mouth watering! You will be wanting more so do not hesitate to order two for yourself! They do have a plethora of slices to choose from. I can't say anything about those since I came for the burger! Now the line is out the door! You will wait but worth it! There aren't any sides so there isn't a reason to not know what you want when you get to the counter! The establishment is small so there isn't limited seating and none outside. Don't be rude and not tip just because you had to wait and no sides. All that is well known! read more

The Friendly - Pizza!!! - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

As a birthday girl, I felt absolutely loved and cherished as the sweet cashier complimented me AND comped my pizza :) amazing music playing throughout the restaurant and all smiles, also clean! And the pizza and burgers were DELICIOUS, 10/10 coming back read more

The Friendly - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

A lot of the negative reviews for this place are soft. You come to a burger/pizza spot expecting accommodation for your gluten allergy, take your pretentious, hipster, entitled self somewhere else. Personally I go to burger spots for damn good burgers and that's exactly what the friendly provides. At the moment this is my favorite burger joint. If you're going to whine about not receiving 5 star service and ambiance at a place that sells $8 smash burgers then this place isn't for you read more

This place is a gem. Sternly friendly service that keeps the line moving. Three 6 Mafia bumping, and of course, one of the best burgers I've had I'm a while. Done quick, done right. I drove back today for another. Pizza is good as well. Pizza by the slice and a smash burger. Top notch. read more

Chef's Kiss Pizza and Unbeatable Vibes! Every time we visit San Diego, stopping here is an absolute must. We grabbed a few slices for lunch, and the New York pepperoni with jalapeños was a chef's kiss--seriously perfect. This place knows what it does well and sticks to it. The menu is basically smashburgers, beers, and pizza, and they nail every single one. What really makes this spot special is the atmosphere. It has a cool, nostalgic feel with great music playing. There were people hanging out outside just enjoying the vibes while waiting for their food, which added to the fun, community feel. It's located inside a neighborhood, and finding easy street parking was a breeze. If you're looking for amazing, straightforward food in a place with a genuinely great atmosphere, you have to come here. We'll be back on our next trip, no question! read more

Give me allll the grease - fave smash burger in SD! I also love their becky pizza. We bring all our friends when they're visiting in town and everyone raves about it. I love this location because of the sweet woman at the front. The other locations are a hit or miss with "friendly" staff. Each location has it's own menu and flair so I'd still encourage you check them out. Street parking at this location can be difficult but it's worth it, I promise! read more

I'm not usually a burger person but the one here was magnificent. The textures and flavors and the way it practically melted in your mouth. Also love onion so that was the cherry on top Forewarning it's a bit small and you'll have to find street parking but there's a bar once you're inside! They also do no modifications (you won't need them). read more

The Friendly - Fire - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

I went to the friendly last night after watching the Super Bowl. The burger I got was very very good. I also had a piece of their pizza. I think it had spinach and ricotta. I wasn't expecting to get the pizza. But it was probably even better than the burger. It was just amazing pizza. What was more impressive was the person who took my order. I've never met a more outstanding representative of restaurant. I think I even asked her if she was the owner because she seemed to care so much about letting her customer, me , knowing everything she could about the business she worked for. She was so thorough. Who ever owns The Friendly is extremely lucky to have Yazi as their employee. read more

Not bad not great. The amount of mayo on the burger gave me the ick but I could see myself enjoying it if I was drunk lol