Meh. $5+ for a moderately biggish decentish tasting burger isn't terrible, but throw in the soul-withering misanthropic glare from the lady who seems to work the cash register most often, and I'm a lot less happy about spending any amount of money here. Patties are cooked to the "outside is slightly crispy" level of well doneness, which is to say overdone for a guy who usually orders burgers medium-rare when given the choice. Guy who serves the orders on the counter will call a number once then just ignore you when you come up to the counter to actually pick up your order. "Yeah, this is order #5" is easy- would that be so much to ask? read more

Your on UC Berkeley campus and in search of a decent burger....well here you go. This place has been around forever and there is a reason. The burgers are decent to good...they are a big size and it is relatively inexpensive compared to other burger places. I live no where close, so don't know the next time I will be back...but I wouldn't mind going back for a quick bite to eat. read more

Bongo Burger - Bacon cheeseburger - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

My friend suggested this place to me and I decided to try it. I ordered the Persian burger and fries; I thought the sandwich was bland and the fries were stale. The cashier and people in the kitchen were nice, so a couple stars for that but the food was not nearly as good as I had hoped, disappointing. read more

When Oscar's was still around, I went through a phase of preferring this place because of the tendency of Oscar's to cook their burgers medium unless you remembered to say "well done." After Oscar's closed, I wandered around aimlessly from burger joint to burger joint, looking for a burger to fill the void. At some point, I tried Bongo Burger again and this place once again became my go-to Berkeley burger spot. I also love the falafel wraps, which are super good, and the shish kebab sandwich. Just say no to crinkle cut fries. Randomly, my mom went to Cal back in the late 60's and for her entire life Bongo Burger was her all-time favorite place for falafels. read more

$16 for a shitty black bean burger, and the person at the counter is super rude. No way is this place going to survive.

A Classic! My boyfriend was showing me around UC Berkeley where he went to school for 4 years and told me I needed to try this place. The burgers were so good, I kinda regret getting the turkey burger to be healthy lol. I tried my boyfriend's mushroom burger and the patty was juicy. My favorite part of this whole meal was the toasty buns! They were perfectly toasted and had a great amount of condiments (ketchup, Mayo and mustard). Recommend this staple if you're near the area read more

I had a Persian burger and fries for me and my guest as they are a non-red meat eater. What a waste! This place used to be better. I should have known when I saw it was empty. Fries were not cooked well and the burger tasted so bad I threw it away after one bite. What a waste of $31.00. In all fairness, my guest was able to eat their Persian burger but complained about the taste. I think I will try another place. read more

Great food and service! We took multiple hungry kiddos who are picky eaters and everyone found something they liked.

Great food. Shish kabob burger was outstanding. They've been going strong for several years. A classic!

A Berkeley institution! Love their Persian burger. This is a sizable lamb sandwich with just the right flavors. They also have good fries to go with your sandwich. read more

After a strenuous hike bongo's food was a reward and relief of my appetite. I ordered falafel plate. It has cucumber salads, lot of falafels and green veggies. Order came quickly and enjoyed a sumptuous dinner with fellow hikers. read more

I have tried Bongo Burger on two separate occasions and each time I become incredibly sick afterwards. After the first time, I thought I'd give it another chance but I seriously regret that decision. Do yourself a favor and eat somewhere else. read more

My sister friend was in town and wanted to get together for visiting her alma mater and my new school in two weeks' time--University of California at Berkeley. And we would be meeting up with two of her family members who are also Cal alumni, her sister and her brother-in-law. It was the brother-in-law who suggested we eat lunch here--more like he insisted we have lunch here. Fortunately for me, my friend paid for my lunch--since her brother-in-law really, really wanted us to eat at Bongo Burger. They had the plate lunches. Her sister and her husband shared the chicken plate which was served with pita bread and hummus along with quinoa and tomato shredded lettuce salad. My sister-friend had the Mediterranean plate which was served nearly the same with chicken and apple sausages. Both dishes looked really good and colorful! This was my first time at Bongo Burger. I ordered the Mushroom Burger combo with French Fries and a bottled water. It was made with Nieman Ranch beef with the same shredded lettuce as my friends' salads. However, the mushrooms tasted like they were canned. And I took a peek--they were canned mushrooms. Bongo Burger would have fared better if they have used fresh mushrooms. The fries were crispy but lukewarm--would have appreciated if they were piping hot! All in all, Bongo Burger hit and killed the hunger pangs for us. My sister-friend's brother-in-law was quite happy as well as her sister. I would not recommend the mushroom burger unless they start using fresh mushrooms. I would give this Bongo Burger another opportunity for myself to try their other offerings. read more

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Been coming here for years. I usually get the American Burger and fries. The burger is a good portion with a juicy patty and is always tasty and filling. The fries are delicious (probably my favorite and the main reason I keep coming back). The restaurant is your regular casual burger spot with a good amount of seating, so a good lunch spot for families or group of friends. I will definitely keep coming back to satisfy my burger cravings. read more

Bongo Burger is known for their burgers. tried the breakfast. not as good tasting but good value. eats: 2 eggs over easy, toast, and home fries(3.05) -eggs done ok -toast fresh, jam smuckers. -home fries not, just cubes of mushy potatos, no crispyness. crumbs: -good value, but poorly prepped (fries) -good service read more

There's a hierarchy of burger joints in my mind, with In-N-Out sitting at the top and McDonald's on the bottom. I'd say Bongo sits right in the middle. I always get the Turkey Burger and I'm always pretty happy with it; it's pretty juicy, has a lot of stuff in it, and tastes great. The fries are kind of hit and miss: on rare occasions they are soggy and not actually fried adequately, but most of the time they're OK. Service-wise, they're pretty fast and you'll get your burger in about 5-10 minutes. Decor-wise, the place doesn't really give off a "clean" vibe, but it's not bad. read more

Bongo Burger - Turkey burger - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

In comparison to memories of the delicious bongo burger I had on Dwight a few years ago, I was extremely disappointed with this recent visit. Our burgers were about a quarter inch thick (see pic). And bland. Bf joked the iceberg lettuce overpowered the flavor of the meat and bun. His cheese also was shredded over the meat and unmelted. My Persian burger was tasty but again the meat was skimpy. Fries were ok. Afterwards we agreed the food didn't sit well in our tummies. We won't be back to this location. read more

Bongo Burger - Bacon burger above, bongo burger below - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I would give this place 2.5 stars if it was available, but since I feel like most folks have overrated this place, I'm going to stick with 2. Also the "Meh, I've experienced better" description that goes along with 2 stars is about how I feel about this place. No free refills on soda? What the hell? $1.30 for a small soda with no free refills at a burger place is just not right, especially since it would probably cost about a quarter to give you two refills. The burger I had was good (mushroom cheese) but the slice of cheese was not thick and didn't even cover the whole surface area of the burger. STOP SKIMPING! The bun is also way too big. Eating just the bun is a mini meal in itself. I found the price point to be a little high (I think it was a little over $8 for the combo (mushroom cheese burger, small soda and fries)). I'm not a big fan of crinkle cut fries, but I may be the outsider on that one b/c all of the people I was with love crinkle cut fries. The service was terrible and the cashier made it seem like she was doing me a favor just by being there. This was a weekend day a few weeks ago. She was rude and had an attitude. While waiting for my meal and drinking my non-free refill small soda, I decided I was going to need another beverage of some sort. I asked for a cup of water and the cashier looked at me for a second and said, "didn't you get a soda?" I was already sick of the poor service, so I simply gave her a stone face and answered "yes." I guess she thought that if I had a soda, there was no conceivable reason why I might want a cup of water.... She begrudgingly gave me a cup of water. There is ketchup and Ranch dressing on the counter, but one thing was missing, sauce cups. When I got my food, I realized why, there was one sauce cup placed on my tray. I guess they want to limit the sauce that you can get. I'm glad they don't do this at any other burger place I've been to, if you just take Berkeley Burger places, none of them come across this stingy, Barneys, Oscars, Nations, All Fast Food Places etc. I read another review that said that the bacon isn't pork? I'm glad I didn't order a bacon burger, but that just seems suspect to me. I've heard of turkey bacon, but it is always called turkey bacon so there is no confusion. If I'm going to spend this kind of money, I would much rather go to Barney's. The burgers are better, the service is friendlier, the indgrediants are better etc. Nations doesn't have all the options, but I would go for Nation's over this place. Free soda refills, all the sauce you can eat and an overall good burger. One more thing before I step off the soapbox, it was freezing inside. It was a cold say to begin with, but it was even colder inside. I guess everyone in the kitchen wanted to make sure they were not warm, who cares about the customers anyway. An overhaul in customer service and a few minor changes and this place would be a lot better. Hopefully the owners will read this and make the improvements. It would cost them a new cashier and a few cents in water, soda, and sauce. read more

My favorite Saturday and Sunday morning stop in Berkeley. Hands down. especially after the gym. Their Persian stuff is fantastic. The Med. plate is delicious and the Persian burger is tasty (get them to put mushrooms on it or it's a little bland) But what brings me back time and time again? The Mushroom Burger. I NEVER order the mushroom burger....unless I'm at Bongo. Sometimes I order two. One is usually gone before I get back to my girlfriends place (since everyone knows a surefire way to frighten off a new beau is by downing two huge burgers during a commercial break).....[hmmm...I wonder if she reads my Yelp reviews?] Just don't forget some of that white better than mayo sauce on the counter. [insert obligatory "white sauce" + orgasmic joke here] Helpful Tip: Do NOT try to eat the mushroom burger or apply sauce in your car. Yes, yes. i KNOW you're hungry. But unless you have a Nissan Xtera or something with waterproof seats, you'll regret it. read more

Ate here for the first time for lunch today, and decided to go for the Mushroom Burger Combo. The burger was pretty good. The way the swiss cheese and mushrooms tasted together made it a pleasant palate experience. I liked how the sesame seed bun was warm and crispy, unlike most buns I guess. The fries were above average, the way they are cut makes them super crispy. Honestly, after I sat down at my table while waiting for my food to be ready, I realized I should have went for the Persian Burger. I didn't see it initially because I was feeling a burger and only looked at the items they had under the burger heading. The Persian Burger was listed under Sandwiches. But damn, I definitely want to come back here to try that lamb sandwich creation they have. People here on Yelp think it's pretty good... read more

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This place is nothing much inside but, it fills a need or a memory....I don't know...but when I eat a turkey burger it releases my "happy" endorphins and "don't bother me" I'm in my own burger heaven. Maybe because it's grilled and that shredded lettuce? Or maybe because it's big and saucer flat kind of like old style burgers when I used to eat beef, back in the day....who knows....who cares really. All I know is I drive my sister crazy, who lives on the corner when I come visit...."Bongo Burger...Bongo Burger"...My mantra.....She finally breaks, even though she's probably eaten there already that week....and let's me have my juvenile moment of demanding and gives in..... Because she knows how much I love my Bongo Burgers! Oh and a few fries please too. read more

Unchanged since my review three years ago. Still good food, prompt service, interesting beat era neighborhood in this block. read more

Bongo Burger - Tabouli and Persian Burger. - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

Even though Bongo Burger is a chain, this location serves some GOOOOOOOD burgers. I ordered the black bean burger with cheddar cheese ($6.50). That was a tasty burger, and I didn't even have to kill any animals in order to enjoy the burger. They had just the right amount of spices and such. Therefore, I recommend the black bean burger because you get to save lives while supporting an enterprise as renowned as that of the Bongo Burger franchise. read more

Bongo Burger - Black bean burger with cheddar - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

The burgers here are good but definitely not the best I've ever tried. The size of the patty and buns is HUGE in terms of surface area - a much wider/flatter burger than most chain restaurants will give you. But the patty was kind of chewy and basic and the toppings just mediocre. I asked for mushrooms as a topping, but it also came with the basics - mayo, processed cheese (not swiss like I was expecting...), lettuce, tomato, onion. The toppings were definitely skimpy; I only had a few pieces of mushroom and one tomato slice. Bongo Burger's selling point is its affordable pricing. I wouldn't willingly choose to spend my money at this place again, given the other options Berkeley can offer (and not being a huge burger fan to begin with...) but if I was really craving a burger, was short on cash, and didn't have my car, I'd come here. The location is super convenient, just a block off North Gate (and another location on Southside also), and the prices are super cheap for a quick eat. If you have the resources, I'd recommend Fuddruckers or In n Out instead (equally as cheap, but farther away) or even Eureka or Burger Meister (more expensive, but equally as close). read more

I went to Bongo Burger for the first time yesterday. I wish I had knew about it when I was a student. I ordered a Turkey Burger and I loved the toasted bun. It tasted light, but also flavorful. I was impressed by the diversity of the menu, with items like the Persian burger, Baklavah, and crimped fries. I can't wait to go back and try the other stuff on the menu! Other pluses: 1. the meat is Niman Ranch, more sustainably raised 2. the lady at the cash register was very friendly and made me feel at home read more

Er - How can I not have reviewed this? It's a lifeline to those nerdy science postdocs and grad students in the EECS department. Go for the standard, cheese, or mushroom burgers (though I hear the falafels are great too). Nice and juicy, and very fatty, of course. Do they only use organic meats? I can't remember. The combo is probably not a good option - just stick with the burgers and avoid the fries/ soft drinks, which only save you about 20-50 cents and merely shorten your life span by years. read more

Taste: 4 Value: 3 Service: 3 Like my review for their Southside location, I think their sandwiches are pretty good, but definitely overpriced. I've only been to the Northside location two times. read more

Satisfying casual burgers perfect for a quick meal during a work break. I have been to this Bongo Burger location quite a few times because it is so close to work. The burgers at Bongo are similar to a fast-food burger, but made fresh with better ingredients. You order food at the counter and can decide to dine-in or have your food to-go. Bongo Burger can get quite busy during the noon rush and getting your food will take forever so avoid coming here if it is packed. The regular burgers are all pretty good, but I prefer the Persian burger. It is a large lamb patty sandwiched in French bread. Bongo burger is not super cheap, but you can get a meal with fries and a drink for $10. I did venture off the burgers once and ordered the falafel sandwich. While it was certainly the best falafel I have ever had, I thought it was good alternative if you are looking to get something vegetarian or just in the mood for something different. Despite being a little slow and not super cheap, I have yet to be let down by Bongo Burger. read more

Fast with nice service. Good food, a little bit over the price that I would have thought it would be. Nice location right in Berkeley campus. read more

I haven't eaten anything since 10:00, 8.17 because my last meal was on the plane to Vancouver. At 17:00, 8.18 I went to the north of UCB to have dinner. I find Bungo Burger and ordered an American Burger and a small crush ( orange soda). Nice environment and not many people there. The burger is bigger than the big mac in McDonald so I felt very full. There were beef, tomatoes, pineapples, salad and cabbages in the burger. read more

Bongo Burger - American burger and Crush ( orange soda) - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I was craving a burger like crazy so my boyfriend brought me to Bongo Burger. We ordered a lot of food - onion rings, fries, protein burger, and a black bean burger (mine). The burgers are on par with burgers your friend makes at a July 4th BBQ. Not great. At the price point, I definitely thought it was too expensive to get that sort of quality. The black bean burger wasn't exciting - I've had some in the past that tastes even better than a regular burger, but this one wasn't satisfying at all. After reading all the great reviews, I had high hopes. I ended up just being disappointed. The onion rings were good, but I think they fry it from a frozen bag (at least, that's what I think I saw). The fries were just normal, but we didn't finish them. It was more expensive than going to In-N-Out, and definitely wasn't as satisfying as that. The service was also snail-like slow. read more

In the days of seeing our fave spots come and go, there's nothing quite like the stability and comfort of a consistent quality burger and fries. I'm partial to sitting inside the one by Moe's but we've lingered here as well. The persian burger is surprisingly good Every. Single. Time. I'm partial to a double bongo with grilled onions, lettuce wrapped with some hummus to dip the fries in. Place has saved our desperate hungry arses for years. read more

Love their simple tabouleh salad & turkey burger with cheddar. Also! Their onion rings are probably one of my favorites. Not too greasy, and extremely crunchy! Go support this small local business amidst these times! read more

We have going here once or twice a week for years, and the food is great. We always order the same thing, and the counter person always has difficulty understanding. I say it slowly and the order goes in. Not today. The counter person couldnt understand, and asked the fry cook for help. He messed up the order. I came back, explained what I wanted and he got it wrong again. So I wrote it down. This time he smerked at me, and made it clear that he had no intention of completing the order. I explained that I was a long time customer and was about to leave and never come back. That had no effect. Won't be going back. read more

Bongo Burger is a "typical" college-geared fast food joint with decent burgers and slightly too-slaty fries and fried snack foods. Back in the 90's we loved this type of quick, cheap eating - nowadays? My 30-something body can't handle the carbs/fat/sodium. read more

The lady wearing glasses is often time a bit rude. The burgers are good and affordable but customer service leaves much to be desired.

TRY: the mushroom burger w/ fries!!!! I don't even like mushrooms, but THIS BURGER is delicious! Fries come at an additional cost but don't skip out-- they're delightfully crisp and go great with the burger. Customer service is efficient but can be curt at times. The wait can also get a bit long. Grab your food to-go (beware, the fries will soften in the bag!) or sit at one of the small tables in the restaurant. read more

The middle aged lady was very rude to me. I think she thought l didn't pay tip at my first payment. But I made two separate payment and paid my all tip on my second one. Even that was to go order. I think that was the reason on rude behavior. But still That was totally surprising. Why a cashier behave like this to a customer. Well in the past like most of the people l worked this kind of job as well. And never made shutout kind of weird taking to anybody God knows. I think never stop by at least this location. To not to see her face again. !! read more

This is a homey, welcoming place with decent food. They have good vegetarian options - I got the falafel plate which was super satisfying. The falafel was crispy and flavorful, the pita soft and fresh, and the sides were delicious. Their fries are also not too deep fried which is nice. Overall, very good for the price. The decor is a little dated and some of the condiments are a little informal and basic, so this definitely isn't an upper scale place. But I had a great time here with some friends and will definitely be back to try some other veggie options. read more

Friendly and prompt service, decent atmosphere, about what you would expect around a college campus for a vibe. The food was quickly prepared, fresh and delicious. I got the Mediterranean plate and it was a great value at $10 and change. I left full and happy. Recommend. read more