Solid smash burgers! Select menu and that's fine with me because you come for the burgers. Options like the chicken sandwich are tasty too. Reasonable prices for the location. Lines get long during rush hours, but I don't mind because scenery is chill. So happy this business took over the previous burger business and completely flipped it with quality and care in food, service and laid back ambiance. read more

I Came for the hype,,, and I stayed for the vibe. The atmosphere is awesome It's a cool old gas station aesthetic, outdoor fire pits, friendly staff and a fun community feel. Perfect spot to hang with friends or take a date. Now the food... the smash burger was way too salty for my taste and the super-soft bun made it feel more like I was eating a burrito. The fries????Also loaded with salt. Be warned: the special sauce has a real kick if you're not into spicy food. Big shoutout to the vanilla milkshake it was the MVP of the meal. Overall: Great service and ambiance but next time I'm asking for less salt, please! read more

The Station - Menu - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

The phenomenal smash burger that was once only served in that back yard of an Italian restaurant in Oakland on weekends has now finally opened a brick and mortar of its own. Decent parking I would even say child friendly I won't elaborate because you have to get the experience read more

The vibes are great! Do keep in mind that seating is pretty limited, the line can be long, and there is only one bathroom. However, this is one of the most cost efficient smash burgers in the area with excellent customer service -- smiles and helpful attitudes all around! I love the concept of the burger bowl, though I think it could be better. Their milkshakes taste milky and real. I'd go back! read more

Meet me at The Station! The Station is an outdoor eatery that offers a select menu of smash burgers, chicken sandwiches, bowls, milkshakes, and soft serve. Prices are moderate. It's also located in a really nice area and I liked how the seating is mainly outside with some enclosed space in a balcony / patio area. There are also heaters! Parking can bit rough though as it is limited. I wanted to try something different, so I got the Saigon Smash and Vanilla Soft Serve. The Saigon Smash is Viet inspired grilled chicken sandwich with pickled daikon/carrots. It tasted pretty fresh and healthy, but personally I would've wanted the chicken to be fried / crispy. One thing I wasn't expecting was how good their soft serve was. Sooo creamy and not too milky! Easier on the stomach than I anticipated. I also got to try their smash burger with their fries. Meat to cheese ratio was great and I enjoyed the bun. Really solid in terms of flavor and looks, but would've liked lettuce or some sort of veggie besides the onions. Their fries are shoestring and similar to In-n-out's. Definitely coming back for that soft serve and perhaps another kind of sandwich or bowls! It was really lively at night and large group friendly. read more

The Station - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Great and super popular family spot right next to the Claremont hotel! Go early or after peak dinner time bc there will be a line. The smash burger and ice creams are always worth the price and wait tho. IG food reviews @sierra.eats.8 read more

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What can I say other than: I came at the right time. A line formed behind me shortly after I fell in line with maybe 3 groups ahead of me. I've driven past this place with an even longer line and refused to join. I live close enough that I can always come back. The line was reasonable, the wait wasn't too bad. I felt I waited maybe 20-30min in total. I ordered to-go: - 2 back alley single patty burgers (smash burgers) - side of fries - 1 chocolate, 1 strawberry hand-spun milkshakes I was told the crispier the edges, the better the smash! And it did not disappoint. The fries were okay, but I really enjoyed the burger! I liked how simple it was and not too expensive (similar to Gott's burgers). I would definitely come back and make it a double patty! read more

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A return visit that proves this spot stays consistent every time. Stopped by The Station this afternoon with Big Girl for a quick bite and it hit just like always. I ordered my usual, the Crunchy Kale Salad, and there's just something about the combination of the dressing, golden raisins, and pumpkin seeds that really works together. The balance of flavors and texture makes it one of my favorite salads to keep coming back for. I also got the coffee milkshake because... balance Big Girl ordered the Back Alley Burger (single with cheese) along with fries and a lemonade, and everything was delicious as usual. One thing I really appreciate about The Station is the consistency. The food is always solid, service is friendly, and the overall vibe makes it an easy go-to spot. Definitely one of those places I know I'll keep revisiting. read more

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I've tried this place a few times through door dash but was not ready to leave a review until I came in person. Right off the bat, the service was super kind. They have a window that you order at with outside seating. Some tables have umbrellas while other parts have a structured canopy. They have a straight to the point menu. I always get a double back alley burger and a side of fries. The bun has a little bottom so none of your yummy condiments fall out. The bun is so so soft and fluffly. The onions melt in your mouth. The fries are golden crispy shoe string fries. The kicker is that while this place is delicous in person, it also stands up through door dash. Even after sitting in someone's car for god knows how long, it still arrives delicious and fries not soggy. read more

The Station - Back Alley Double with fries and side of house sauce - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

Finally able to visit the Station. Just ordered the Smashburger and it was pretty tasty. The potato bun was very soft. The meat had a nice crust on it and the fries were hot and crispy. The sauce was a combo of relish and siracha. Ambiance 10/10 Food 9/10 Bathroom 10/10 Cleanliness 10/10 Service 10/10 Value 9/10 Will I Return? Yes read more

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Wish I found out about The Station earlier! After looking through some reviews, I decided to get doubles on the burgers. I usually think double patty is too much meat but the burgers are really smashed here, so it's actually just the right amount. Double back alley burger $10.95, double saigon smash free range chicken $12.95, fries $4.95 each, milkshake $7.95, house sauce $.95. We were asked if we wanted sauce when we ordered the fries, so it wasn't 100% clear that it was an extra charge until we looked at the bill/menu harder afterwards. The back alley burger is fantastic, double patty is definitely a must. Great flavor, would get the pickles on the side next time as the buns are not toasted. The buns are nice and soft, so eat quickly! While I think the buns are great, I do think they should be toasted, for both flavor and longevity of the burger. Great smashed and salty flavor on the meat. I actually came for the saigon burger but thought the back alley burger was a lot better. The saigon burger, while a cool concept 'banh mi inspired burger', underwhelmed me. The daikon and carrots were quite bland and not pickled enough at all. The chicken patty pretty bland as well, I think pork patties would be even better. Overall, cool concept, not much flavor. Not enough jalapeños either. I think it has a lot of potential, just needs more flavor amongst the different components. The milkshake isn't worth it at all for $7.95. It's very milky and doesn't have much coffee flavor. The aftertaste is a bit odd... not sure if they're using flavored syrups or something instead of flavored ice cream. Can't recommend and wouldn't get this again. The chocolate dipped cones looked good though... maybe next time. Fries were great, very salted, just how I like them. Thin, crispy, salty, and hot. Unfortunately, the house sauce that's $0.95 tasted like it was sat out for too long. You know when you get In-N-out and the spread sits out for too long and then it turns orange/starts tasting funny? That's what it looked and tasted like. You order and then sit down with a buzzer- good chunk of outdoor seating. Self serve ketchup and water. There were heaters that would presumably turn on when it gets colder. Rounding up to 4 for the smashed back alley burger. read more

The Station - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Was waiting for traffic to die down before we headed through the tunnel and stopped with The Teen to grab dinner before we went home. The line was long, but moved fairly quickly, so don't let that fool you. The burgers were delicious down to the last bite, the fries were just crispy enough, and the lemonade was definitely lemonading!! Service was great, front of the house was handling the hustle and bustle of the hungry people with ease and very kind in doing so. The ambience cray busy, but chill at the same time, the people just kept coming and thank goodness the dogs were not barking! Definitely will be going back, making my original back alley burger a double, getting the side of the house sauce and trying shake too.. Wait... they do have shakes right? Yes they do... A hand spun shake to be exact, chocolate! read more

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This is gonna sound wild but my favorite thing at The Station is a brown rice bowl. The Saigon Bowl, which features two chicken patties, griddle fried onions, pickled daikon and carrots, cucumber, jalapeño, cilantro, and sriracha mayo served over a bowl of brown rice is the ideal post-tennis lunch. I like it so much I enjoyed it with fries, by the pool, on my birthday! read more

10/10. Kinda in the up skirts of Berkeley but easy to find. Food: we ordered a double smash burger and a single smash burger with fries, jalapeños on the side and house sauce. 10/10. Would recommend and would try again. Believe the hype. I am a burger connoisseur and this place has been on my list to try for a while so when I finally had the time, I took the opportunity and it didn't disappoint. The fries were great! Did not even have to ask them for semi well done as they came out hot and crispy! Wait time: yes, there was a wait. About 15-20 mins but it goes by quick. By the time we got done eating, there was no line. I'm sure it comes in waves. Parking: street parking only unfortunately and can be tough. Bathroom: clean. Functioning. What more can I say? The toilets flush, the water runs and there was soap and paper towels. Ambiance: good for all parties. Come solo or bring the family, they have something for everyone. And they have beer and wine too! read more

The Station - Double smash burger and single smash burger with fries, jalapeños and house sauce. - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

Smashburgers will always be a weird trend but here we are... a double Original Back Alley Burger will set you back $11. The highlight for me was actually the soft squishy buns. The homemade sauce didn't catch my attention but maybe thays just me. Their coffee shake was way too expensive and honestly didn't cut it for me either. All in all, this place is hella popular and is in a very nice area. It's definitely worth coming by once but I'm not sure if I'll make the detour again. read more

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I've always driven by this and never went. First time here 2pm on a Sunday and there was still a line! People seemed to be coming and going so finding a table wasn't too hard. Seems like plenty of seating in the shade. Got the Holy Cow + jalapeños and a chocolate shake. Shake was pretty good! I removed the cheese from my bowl and it was good! The grilled onions added a lot of flavor. Didn't wait incredibly long for food to arrive. I think the price was good. Not much parking but usually can find street parking in the surrounding areas! read more

The Station - Menu - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Never knew there was a burger spot in this corner! It's in a very nice area and there's plenty of outdoor seating. And there was somewhat of a line during lunch time with quite a long wait for food (~20 min). When it finally came, I didn't think the burger was too impressive to justify the wait honestly. It was alright, but I've definitely had tastier burgers. Also keep in mind it's a smash burger on the thinner side. A double burger didn't leave me feeling too full. The coffee shake was on the milky side and lacking the bold punch of coffee flavor even though it was $8. Overall, I'll still give it 4* for the nice vibes, but that's doing a lot of the carrying. read more

The Station - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

My friends and I stopped by The Station right at opening and what a great decision that was. An hour past opening, the line to order was down the block. Although I was tempted to get the Saigon bowl -- double chicken patties on a bed of brown rice, I can't resist a good potato bun and ultimately went with the double Chicken Saigon burger, along with a side of fries. Our friends ordered a double stack burger, and after seeing the oozy cheese, I kind of wish I had opted for that as well. Will definitely need to try that out my next visit. The chicken Saigon sandwich was delicious. The patties were smashed impossibly thin, well-seasoned, and every edge was perfectly crispy. The pickled radish had a nice sweetness, and with the jalapeños, gave off the same flavor profile as a nicely constructed bánh mì. If you're looking to try out a great tasting chicken smashburger, The Station might be the only place in the Bay Area with this option. The fries here were no slouch either. The cut of the fries reminded me of McDonald's style fries: thin, crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and generously salted. If you're a fan of smash burgers, you owe it to yourself to try out The Station. read more

The Station - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

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The smashburger was genuinely one of the best burgers ever. Maybe it's because I haven't had one in a while but it was genuinely soooo yummy and delicious. The fries and shake were okay - I probably wouldn't get again but I was craving a classic burger fries shake meal. Also I had to get the chocolate dipped cone because I've been CRAVING it for 10 years or so since McDonald's got rid of it. McDonald's still does it better I'd say tho. All in all I'd go back for the burger not necessarily the additional dishes. The vibes were great. They have a large outdoor seating area which is perfect because they were so busy for the entirety of the time we were there (~7-8:30). The service was fast though and we didn't have to wait long for our food! read more

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Only American cheese which is a baddd start w me. It's processed so the rumors of healthy burger is sunk. Would be a big plus to give option of Swiss or mozzarella..... Great attitude from employees which is a big plus. No bun hamburger over fries absolutely delicious. I can't lie. However their sauce isn't too good. Left me feeling greasy.... Great music too. Roller skating music. read more

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This was our first time at The Station after hearing great things about it on Instagram. Finding parking was a challenge as it was Saturday afternoon, but once we got to the restaurant everything was great. It's all outdoor seating (some covered, some uncovered) and the have market lighting for night time. The service was very friendly and efficient. The line moved well and food came out quickly, despite the restaurant being busy. The burgers were fantastic. Good char and flavor. The fries were also tasty and came in a large portion. We will definitely be back to try other things. Like the chocolate dipped ice cream cones, which looked awesome . read more

The Station - Back alley burgers (one with no onions) and fries with a side of avocado - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

Delicious sandwiches with extra crispy thin McDonald's-like French fries. Open air seating with heaters or a camp fire. Great after a bite to eat after playing tennis! read more

The Station - Rootbeer float - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Cute local burger stand with lots of outdoor seating. It's located in an upscale neighborhood with mansions and The Claremont Resort nearby. Service was friendly, but the food took a while. The burger was okay. I assumed the Saigon grilled chicken sandwich was a breast, but was disappointed that it was a ground patty. The toppings of daikon, shredded carrots and cilantro were fresh and just the right amount of spicy. The bun was disappointing. Fries were hot and crispy. read more

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The double stack cheeseburger had those crispy, caramelized edges you want from a proper smash burger. Good beef, solid pickles and onions doing their job. Only miss? They're not toasting the buns. That's an easy fix that adds flavor and texture. Their signature Saigon burger (chicken) was lighter and had interesting flavors, but honestly just okay. Wouldn't order it again. The fries were cooked well but could use something extra - beef tallow or clarified butter would take them up a notch. Chill vibe with a solid patio, heaters, and dog-friendly space near the Claremont Hotel. Service was friendly, prices are fair for the quality. Go for the smash burgers if you're in the area. Skip the Saigon and stick with what they do best. read more

The Station - Double stack, burger, and chicken Saigon - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

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A chicken smash burger?! Um, yes please! I've literally never had or heard of anything other than a traditional beef smash burger, but the Station in Berkeley may be one of my favorite new(ish) spots in the East Bay to post up and enjoy some solid and innovative eats and treats. They also offer a vegetarian 'Impossible' burger and gluten free bun, fyi. The Station is only covered outdoor seating, but there are heat lamps to make it nice and warm/cozy during this chilly weather. We ordered a Saigon Smash (free range chicken) that comes with pickled daikon and carrots, onions, cilantro, sriracha mayo, and jalapeños on a potato bun for $9.95 (single) and $12.95 for a double. We also ordered the Original Back Alley Burger (a node to when Pizzaiolo first started this venture in literally the back ally of their restaurant post-pandemic), which comes with onions, pickles, house sauce, and onions on a potato bun. The Back Alley single is $7.95, double $10.95 ~ the single itself to me is pretty hearty and filling. A few other menu items we tried: the Crunchy Kale Salad ($9.95), a couple orders of fries for the table ($4.95), a cookies & cream and chocolate shake, and a few beers for the table. Yes, they have local beer/wine, and also water/sodas. Other notable menu items we didn't try but seem yummy and fun: the chocolate dipped cone, vanilla float (with your choice of soda pop), the Holy Cow (essentially a double smash without the bun over a bowl of fries), and the Saigon Bowl (essentially their double chicken smash without the bun and over a bowl of brown rice and the same toppings). Yes, please! The service was quick considering we came on a busy weekend rainy day, and such friendly staff making the experience overall a great one. Definitely kiddo approved too! Overall we thought the fries were deliciously crispy, smash burgers juicy and filling, love the thick-cut pickles, adore the chicken smash bursting with unique tongue-tingling flavor, the salad added a nice and light addition to the meal packing the crunch, and can never go wrong with a traditional shake and/or fresh, cold beer. Planning our next outing there as we speak! Street parking is a bit tough but not impossible, leave a few additional minutes to circle the area. read more

The Station - Original Single Back Alley Burger - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

Tried this spot for dinner and the smash burgers were seriously so bomb. Easily the highlight of the meal. Super flavorful, and definitely the kind of burger that makes you want to come back. I'll absolutely be back for another and already have my eye on the Saigon burger for next time. The shakes, though, were a letdown. They looked good but were pretty lacking in flavor and too watery. The fries were just okay..Nothing bad, but nothing memorable. My biggest issue was watching the employee pack the fries into the boats with his bare hands. It felt pretty unsettling and honestly unsanitary, especially handling hot, greasy fries that way. Just throw on some gloves or use tongs. Overall, the burgers alone are worth coming back for, which is why I'm giving 4 stars. I just hope they tighten up the food handling practices a bit. read more

The Station - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I was craving burgers and wanted to try a new spot. So I hopped on Yelp and found this place. I did read that parking could be difficult so I did do an online order in case I had to double park somewhere and run to grab my order. I ordered two original back alley burgers with double patties no pickles and no sauce on mine and sauce on my boyfriend's and a side of fries. Once I ordered, it said it would take about 10 to 15 minutes. When I pulled up, I was ready to attempt to double park somewhere, but luckily there was one parking spot available at The Station so I pulled in and had my boyfriend go get the burgers. The food was fresh. That thang was piping hot. We ended up eating our food in the car instead of driving home and my mouth was just burning, but the fries were so good. My boyfriend did say the burger was pretty flavorful with the sauce and I do wish sauce on the side was an option on the website because I get a little iffy about house sauce sometimes just cause I'm not a fan of ketchup and would have liked to dip it a little bit to see if I would have liked it but that's just a me problem. But without sauce in my burger, the burger was pretty bland. I honestly should have paid $.95 for some jalapeños. I also do wish that milkshakes were an option on the website. I also wish they provided napkins in our to go bag but thankfully, I had some napkins in my car. I mean, overall, we still had a great experience and we definitely wanna come back to do the sit down experience because my boyfriend said it looks pretty cool. read more

The Station - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

I went here for a late dinner and this place it the spot when you're craving burgers. What we got: Smash burgers- This was really good. It came with the secret sauce and grilled onions. I feel like the onions were a nice touch. Overall a decent burger Fries- They were fried to perfection. I love how crispy they were. Kale salad- This salad was pretty good. I love freshness it added to my meal. There were bits of raisins which gave it a nice fruity kick. The ambiance was pretty causal and it seems like a place that college students would come to. Theres plenty of seating but parking was slightly limited. read more

The Station - Double smash burgers - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Food was underwhelming for price point which was over 40 dollars. The burger bowls where decent, not very filling, patty's where very very thin even though there was 2, fries tasted old and not salted very well, sauce in this instant was super good but lowkey carried the meal and there was a lot of sauce drizzled over it, also the beer...can we talk about the little cup ! Service for the most part was self serve and the ambiance was nice! I did enjoy the outside/inside feel and I liked the small community feel! Wish area was in a different spot because parking was horrendous! read more

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I saw a couple of videos of this place online and I had to check it out. The restaurant is located in a residential area. They have a small parking lot, and there is street parking nearby. We got lucky, and there was an open parking spot. The employees are friendly, and everything is ordered at the window. Most of the seating is outside inside tents with outdoor heaters. Now for the food: -My husband and I both ordered the Original Black Alley Burger Single and Double 3/5: both were good but nothing extraordinary. I thought the double was a bit juicer. It lacked flavor, though it was a bit saltier. -Fries 3/5: thin cut and crisp. If you love this style of fries, they are perfect. I prefer a bit softer fries. -Crunchy Kale Salad 4/5: this was my favorite. It is fresh, it has a good amount of dressing and cheese. It is refreshing and flavorful. -Chocolate Dip Cone 4/5: The chocolate was great, but I wish the vanilla ice cream was a bit creamier. Overall the food is solid for me. It isn't bad, but it isn't extraordinary either. I've had good smashed burgers before and I wasn't as impressed. I didn't get to try the Saigon Smashed burger, which seems very popular. If I come back for the salad, I would try the Saigon burger. read more

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Located at the corner and on a packed street. Parking can be difficult, just plan to walk a little ways. A complete outdoor spot with lots of tables. The line went to the sidewalk around noon. The menu is simple - smash burger, chicken, or impossible. With some bowls that are essentially a dissembled burger. And a few salads. I'm hoping it was because it was busy and not who we are, but the cashier was not friendly. For one burger we asked for the house sauce on the side and have siraracha mayo in the burger instead. No mention that these sauces may be the same. Then we asked if we can mix flavors for the milkshake and his response was curt. Didn't ask us if we wanted anything to drink, the exchange just felt rushed. We got our order and we had a lot of sauces on the side that looked the same. We go back and ask for the sriracha mayo sauce and they said it's the same as the house sauce? That's confusing. Why have 2 sauces named differently if they are the same. And why smile and nod at a customer like it's doable when you know it's the same sauce anyway? Anyway, aside from the confusion and impatient customer service, the smash burger itself was pretty dang good. The chicken smash burger was essentially a banh mi. The kale salad had a great mixture of texture and tartness to it. The fries were perfect. While it was tasty, it's a bit out of the way for us and the consensus is that we wouldn't go out of the way to get it. read more

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What a great hole in the wall! Burgers are smashed with onions in it. Great sauce. Very nice people. read more

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Has to be one of the best smash burger spots in the Bay Area. Cool family vibe and delicious smash burgers. I would highly recommend this to anyone craving something fresh and yummy! The service is quick and friendly too! Highly recommend! read more

Tried both the regular single smash and the bahn mi style smash burger. The regular smash was awesome. I wasn't the biggest fan of the bahn mi style but I think that is just personal preference. Smashed pork patty, had the flavors of a bahn mi but I will stick to the regular smash next time I go. I didnt try the fries but they look good. Overall a very solid burger spot. read more

Amazing Burgers and EVEN BETTER SERVICE !!!! the french fries were crispy perfect amount of salt. The burgers were just ridiculously tasty and you can even get a cold beer at this place. Great vibe environment is amazing as well. read more

The chicken Saigon was my favorite. Definitely go for double meat. The fries were super crispy and almost stole the show. Came here on a busy Saturday. There was a long line but it does move quickly. I expected finding a seat would be tricky but ppl do leave once they're done so we were able to find a spot. It can get a little loud but not sure if that's cuz the seating area is covered so it traps the noise in. read more

The Station - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

Finally tried out the "new" The Station. Pretty good burgers and fries. Smash burgers are not my favorite, but these were pretty good. I ordered a double, no cheese, and it hit the spot. Ordering process and service is much improved. This makes a big difference versus the previous set up. Will return. read more

WHEN: Sun @1pm It's lunchtime and while there is a line, it wasn't packed. People who eat here don't tend to hang around for long. But please make sure you already know what to order when you are next in line to keep the line going! First time eating here but second time trying out their food because I was able to try my partner's leftovers. Since it's surrounded by residential neighborhoods, there's a decent amount of street parking around. For a small restaurant, there's plenty of seating, which is all outdoors, but mostly covered. It was a very warm and sunny day, so being in the shade helps. There's just one restroom stall that is gender neutral, so don't wait until last minute to go because expect a line! ORIGINAL BACK ALLEY BURGER (Double Patty) - $10.95 Griddle fried with onions, American cheese, pickles & house sauce on a potato bun. Since the single patty burger tasted a bit dry, I thought it either needed more house sauced or another patty--I went for both. That potato bun is so soft, and I wish I had them hold the pickles. That cheese is melty and gooey, and this burger was pretty good! FRIES - $4.95 Standard skinny fries. Nothing special but not bad! HOUSE SAUCE - $0.60 For my fries and dipping my burger in case it felt like it needed more sauce. It's quite liquidy though. CHOCOLATE DIPPED CONE - $6.50 It's only $0.50 more to have it dipped and you know what, that chocolate shell created a barrier from having the ice cream melt down all over my fingers. Win-win! I highly recommend getting it dipped. I'm so glad I got this, it really hit the spot and the ice cream filled the entire cone all the way to the bottom! read more

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Came here on a Thursday at 11:30am. I've been seeing this all over IG and figured since I was having a solo day, I might as well grab some lunch. I was so excited to finally try! Here's what I got: Original Back Alley Burger (single): I have been wanting to try a smash burger for so long and this was my chance! I could just be really picky as I am really particular with certain foods or maybe all and have a high standard. At first glance it looks really basic and didn't wow me like how it did in pics on IG. I think the deal breaker for me was that the buns were not even toasted. Seems like it just came straight out the bag. At first bite, I definitely wasn't mind blown. A few more bites in, I think it was safe to say it wasn't my cup of tea. I left half for my husband to try. I guess I had higher expectations for this. I had another smash burger elsewhere and I think that was underwhelming as well. I'm not sure what's lacking. I'm all for simple burgers, but the flavor needs to be there and this was lacking Fries: I love a good skinny fry and these are ideal! It was good, BUT they over salted these. I'm not sure if it was just my order or if that's usually how it is. Not a fan of things that are too salty. It's hard to eat! With all this being said, I wouldn't mind coming back to try the other offerings on the menu. I did want to try the ice cream and salads, so maybe that will be better than the burger. read more

The Station - Original Back Alley Burger + Fries (also I realized they didn't add cheese my burger) - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

I had a really positive experience here. Buckle in for my celiac review about the gluten free experience! PARKING AND LOCATION: great central location right off the freeway, close to cal. TERRIBLE parking. It's mostly paid street parking. SERVICE: you order at the window. I told them I have celiac and asked if they could wipe down surfaces and change gloves prior to making my order. The person taking my order at the window took this extremely seriously, explained that they will be very careful, and recommended the fries as the frier is gluten free. When I received my order they had marked my gluten allergy very clearly and urgently on the receipt. They were polite and knowledgeable about service dogs and did not give me any tsuris about my service dog. FOOD and VIBES: all the seating is outdoors but covered and with heat lamps. The seats are stools or bench seats. It got quite busy around noon. The music is a bit loud for me personally. The food was great. Good flavor-- they weren't stingy with the sauce and the carmelized onions were done well. The burger itself was cooked on the well done side but it was still flavorful. I HAD NO REACTION. No pain, no celiac symptoms at all!! Am writing this review 3 hours after and STILL NO PAIN! So there was no cross contact. I am impressed, relieved. They did a great job. I will note that somebody I came with ordered hers with no onions and they still put onions on. So I recommend those with allergies like mine are clear and double check. The thing about this whole experience was that the food didn't blow me away, but the combination of the food being relatively good and the service being so on top of my celiac disease made me like it a whole lot. It's rare to be able to go to a burger joint and feel safe getting a burger when you have celiac disease, and so the station gets big points for that. I will definitely be returning when I feel in the mood for a safe gluten free meal. read more

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