In Berkeley, Bongo Burger will be there. Unless you're talking about the Center Street location. That one will not be there. It, along with others legends on its block have been shuttered to make space for a residential high rise. Time was when Bongo Burger, like an invading army, had the Cal Berkeley campus forced against the hillside. A location of the burger stand flanking the north, west, and south. A very campaign to reestablish the Persian empire via American fast food. While the western battalion has been slaughtered by landlords and developers, the will of Xerxes lives in the original location on Dwight Way. Really, the thing - the only thing to get here - is the Persian burger. An oblong sheet of spiced ground lamb (sorta kofta like) between a crisp lite sesame roll. Tomato, red onion, shredduce and mayo. Get a side of fries. Frozen fries, but the best kind, crinkle cut. Extra edges means more opportunity for crispiness and also nice downy interior. I know it already gets mayo, but dipping into ranch helps enhance. Not just because every California yokel slathers everything in ranch. Because ranch is kinda like an American analog of tzatziki, or since we are in the Persian empire, maast-o-khiar. If anyone knows the artist who painted the cheeky pieces on the wall and the design for the Bongo Burger shirt, please let me know. each piece is dated 2001, and displays keen examples of the Global Village Coffee House Aesthetic popular through the 80s n 90s. A trip here is like an excavation, viewing striations of change across time. read more

The food is the same as it was at the former Center Street location, which I belatedly fell in love with after stupidly avoiding it for so many years. There's even the familiar smell of the grill and the site of the larger-than-life carrots waiting to be juiced. But the ambiance. I don't know, man. I've dined in twice, but since then, I've only ordered ahead and brought food back to the office. The Center Street location didn't look like much, but it was a fun, busy place either to wait for or to enjoy your food. This location? It feels crowded. I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I miss the lovely Iranian woman who often helped my coworkers and me at the Center Street location. I sometimes think about her when I hear about violent crackdowns in Iran and obviously this most recent, pointless war. I hope she's OK. She is a very sweet, intelligent person, and I often enjoyed hearing her takes on politics and the news of the day, even if I didn't always agree with her. The service I've had at this location has been fine. Efficient and mildly friendly, but once you've experienced the warmth of a familiar nice person, anything less is a letdown. read more

First time trying a Persian burger sandwich It was incredibly dry so I added my own bbq sauce. Nice meat flavor. Would I get it again? I'll try something else next time. Thanks! read more

Bongo Burger - Persian Burger Sandwich (Halal) - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

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The food is always really good and the prices are reasonable. The service is outstanding--they are always friendly and down to improve your experience. i've been coming here for over 20 years and it's always a chill, relaxing, vibe. This is one of my favorite breakfast/lunch places! read more

Always great coming here when in Berkeley. The Spicy chicken burger is so delicious and the carrot and orange juice is amazing. They are always welcoming and nice place to chill and eat at. read more

Bongo Burger - Carrot and orange juice - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

Bongo Burger is a Berkeley city for both natives and especially for students. I come back for a cheeseburger when I'm craving the nostalgia of their crinkle fries and the quality beef with each bite of their perfect burgers. Coming here reminds me of my friend and mentor, Monica Hastings-Smith, who was a UC Berkeley alum and a great artist from The Bay. Their service is great, the food is perfect each time, and there are quick to complete orders. This is the original Bongo burger, and has been there for over 50 years- the location on the other side of campus was sold to different owners. So, if you've never had Bongo- give it a try. If you have had it; you know you miss it. The location is quaint and cute, and nearby other shops if you wanna stroll Telegraph. Highly recommended. read more

Bongo Burger - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

Bongo burger is awesome! I love that. It's a mixture of burgers and Persian food. I had the Persian plate and the flavors were unique and very tasty. The portion size was good and the place has nice decor along with kind service. read more

Bongo Burger - Dining area - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

Ordered a quick Falafel burrito here. Service was quick and kind. Super chill vibe, you could study here or order to go. Nice quick lunch spot. Wish I had ordered more! read more

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Good Messy burgers. I like the Persian burger. It is yummy but messy. Nice to grab a burger before a show at the Greek.

Went to Bongo Burger located on Dwight (off Telegraph) for lunch in June 2025. Persian Burger combo (5/5) tasted so good; brought back memories of going here when I was in college. Also wanted to try something new so tried the Shish kebab plate (3.5/5). It was decent but not as memorable as the persian burger. A small no-frills dining spot where you order at the counter after reading the menu board and pick up your food when it's ready. read more

Bongo Burger - Shish Kebab Plate - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Best burger I ever tasted! Not a chain restaurant here @ Cal Berkeley. I'll for sure comeback here again and try other food in the menu. read more

Bongo Burger - Menu - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

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We were not really that hungry so we split the Persian Burger combo with fries and a small drink for something like $17.95. The Persian Burger remains consistent - a thin lamb patty that is spiced right and grilled up. It comes on a relatively thin sesame roll with lettuce and tomatoes and a bit of mayo (?). The burger/sandwich is the right mix of ingredients. The fries are surprisingly good - crispy but not overcooked. This place has somehow stayed the same all these years and I am happy for it. read more

Bongo Burger - Persian burger combo - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

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This wonderful spot is on my "list" of must haves when I visit the west coast! The Persian burger is grilled and the sesame roll is outstanding! We took it to go and added a small fry which was delicious crinkled and perfect amount of salt. read more

I'm sad to have to write this review of Bongo Burger. I've been going to Bongo Burger for 40 years since I was a student. Recently I ordered a Persian burger using SnackPass. When SnackPass advised me that my order was ready, I went into the restaurant and they had not even begun cooking it yet. This would actually be okay; I realize that Bongo Burger has a small staff and can't necessarily predict the situation in their kitchen. But the thing that bothered me was that instead of apologizing that the order wasn't ready, they were actually rude to me and treated me as if it was my fault that they were behind. There are about thirty or forty restaurants on SnackPass when you open them on Telegraph Avenue, and it just seems to me that when I use SnackPass I'm going to choose a different restaurant. I'm still happy to walk into Bongo Burger; their food is delicious, but it really bothers me that they treated me like it was my fault that they had not even started my order. Usually, they are so nice, but today was different. read more

Way, way back in the day, when I lived in the area, Bongo Burger was one of my fav restaurants. For me, their Persian Burger with a side of onion rings is last meal worthy. Both are perfection. For the Persian Burger, they use a fresh sesame roll. The inside of the roll is carved out, making it the perfect bread to burger ratio. The lamb is ground, tender, and simply spiced. Topped with some shredded lettuce and tomato. The onion rings are large, breaded and aren't greasy. Ordered from UberEats this afternoon. Just like I remembered! So happy! read more

Good burgers especially the lamb . The place was nice and clean with nice staff. The place has lots of room and you can get your your drinks yourself. read more

Bongo Burger - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

Pretty solid lunch. Nothing fancy, but my husband's burger and fries were food and my falafel sandwich was good. Really nice people working behind the counter. Decent price. Clean place to eat. Not bad at all! read more

I ordered the mushroom burger combo with feta instead of swiss- this is amazing! The fries are crispy and hot, the burger was made right in front of me in a fast but careful manner. The staff was extremely quick, nice, and attentive! They offer both indoor and outdoor seating with plenty of chairs. Overall a good spot to check out if you're in Berkeley looking for a good bite. read more

Food is excellent, service is fast and the place is clean. I've been coming here for years and it's still delicious and a good value.

We were there at april 04.2025. The customer service is so weak, the casier lady was so rude. My sister was trying to ask her daughter what to order, but the cashier swiped her card and charged her before we had a chance to decide. It made us feel uncomfortable and rushed, and we couldn't properly choose what we wanted. The cashier's attitude and behavior were also quite inappropriate. Eventhough we gave her a good tip. As for the food, the koobideh burger we ordered was undercooked and everything was very disappointing. read more

My parents started taking me here as a kid in the '70s. It's been around that long. A true Berkeley institution. I remember when the location was third of the size. The other day I was in the area and visiting telegraph and decided to come here for lunch. Of course I had the Persian burger. I suggest ordering it with Swiss cheese. They do have good vegetarian options. I think I never ordered anything other than the Persian burger except a couple times over the Luleh Kabob on a pita sandwich, if they still have that. And I did come for breakfast once or twice a few years ago. But other than that I stick to my staple. read more

Bongo Burger - Persian burger with fries. The Bongo Burger staple! - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

I went to here yesterday for the first time in 41 years and after reflecting I have to say that most things aren't nearly as good as I remember them to be from years past but their persian burger was!! read more

I actually only come to Bongo Burger for their fries! I usually don't like crinkle cut fries and tend to opt for thin McDonald's style fries, but I love these! They're extremely crispy and are actually one of my favorites. The best thing about Bongo Burger is that they have ranch and ketchup on the side that you get yourself for free. Usually, places will charge for ranch so I really appreciate that they include it. read more

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Delicious burger!!! Got hamburger with mushroom and grilled onions addd on. The fries also came nice and hot. Super super yummy! Worth a drive up to the north bay just for these burgers. The buns are also crunchy and the sesame on top is flavorful. read more

Bongo Burger - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

Nice smashburger I will go back again Wait was not that long well seasoned and good service read more

Such a Berkeley staple. They've been in business longer than my dad's been alive and I hope they stay that way. Simple, straight to the point menu options that's consistent! I'm never disappointed whenever I visit Bongo Burger. Their breakfast combo is such a steal, filling and satisfying. Plenty burger options from black bean veggie, Persian lamb or a regular beef patty for the many different walks of life that populate the Berkeley streets. They cook everything perfectly and the veggies/produce is fresh. The crinkle cut fries are crispy yet fluffy. You won't be disappointed with these folks. read more

Bongo Burger - 3. Cheeseburger, Fries and a Small Soda Combo - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

I've been coming here literally for decades, first with my parents and now with my husband. We never leave Berkeley without coming here and sometimes make the trip because of a strong craving! The Persian burger has been a staple favorite without a doubt. The bread is toasted to perfection and the meat so juicy and flavorful (also is halal!). Huge portion size so we usually split one among 2 of us and then take another one for later :) They did recently increase their prices but understandably so with current circumstances. Still well worth it! read more

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On my quest to find the best burger in Berkeley, Bongo Burger was a name that kept popping up. I was intrigued by their Mediterranean fusion menu so opted for the Persian burger. I was not disappointed. The crinkle cut fries were an homage to years gone by. Perfectly crispy and seasoned. The burger was nice. The bun was a little too toasted for my liking, but the lamb patty was seasoned perfectly as were the tomatoes. Yes, they seasoned the tomatoes. Bongo was a little on the pricier side. It was around $18 for a burger combo, which may deter me from coming back more frequently, but it was a solid low brow burger. read more

Bongo Burger - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

Located in between the madness of the colleges and the high school. If you have are here, and its not busy please not only try their burgers but also the to-die for Chicken Sandwich. I feel like the sandwich does not get enough kudos and is often over looked. I can honestly take the lemon flavor at the end of every bite! read more

Solid sandwhiches and burgers. A lot of delicious vegetarian options for a fairly good price. They also have Mediterranean dishes with falafels which are pretty good. This place is great for quick eats but it will fill you up pretty well. Tastes very fresh and feels like it is homemade. Must tries: Eggplant sandwhich Full falafel sandwich in a pita read more

First time here, I ordered the #7 which is the spicy chicken sandwich! I was worried it was going to be do spicy, but it was perfect and so gooood! Their ranch is also on point!! The food service was quick as well! Very chill vibes and great customer service! I'll be back!!! read more

Bongo Burger - Inside seating - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

Great hole in the wall joint. I have ate here late at night and for lunch. Not a single disappointment. Staff is very friendly. Service is quick and helpful if you don't know what to order. I recommend you try the Persian Burger. Flavorful and filling. read more

The breakfast was really not the best; they said the 2 egg breakfast came with "beef" sausage, it was a hot dog... They also charged me too much for my meal and then didn't offer me a refund, so I had to get an extra hot dog sausage on my already average eggs. Would not recommend. read more

Bongo burger has been around for many years and is a staple in Berkeley. The burgers are legit here. I decided to try something different today and ordered the Persian burger. It is lamb meat served on a baguette and topped with lettuce and tomatoes. The baguette was fresh.. it was nice and toasty on the outside and soft on the inside. The lamb meat was a tad too gamey but some tangy mustard on it cut the gamey flavor. I will probably stick to the beef burgers. The fries were crispy and not soggy. Skip the baklava..way too sweet. Btw, vegan options are also available here. read more

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Have you ever had a Persian lamb burger? Cause that shit is fire! Think like a lamb kabob but they smash and mince that juicey meat into Pattie's and put it on a roll. I added some hot sauce mixed with the house ranch to kick up the heat, but the burger alone is packed with flavor. read more

Bongo Burger - Persian Burger Sandwich - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Tasty burgers! I came here with a big group of friends and family (10 of us) and we were able to order quickly and have our food served promptly. The dining area isn't huge so we had to sit at different tables but that was fine. I had the bacon burger and the folks were happy to hold the grilled onions (which I appreciate). Fries were crispy. All of it was pretty cheap (around $7 for the burger alone). It's located just off telegraph below the university so it's in a cool area that's plenty walkable with lots to do before or after you eat. read more

Bongo Burger - The menu - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I got the All American burger, which was so juicy and satisfying. I don't like really fancy tall "gourmet" burgers, and this was not one of those types of burgers, it was more comfort food style. The sesame bun was a nice touch, it gave it a slightly nutty flavor in some of the bites. I also don't usually like the crinkle cut fries but these fries were nice and crispy, I could not stop eating them! read more

Bongo Burger - ' All American ' Burger - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

I love Bongo Burger. Their Shish Kabab sandwich is my favorite and I literally crave it and drive for miles to get it. Their fries and onion rings are perfection. I've been a loyal customer for over 30 years. read more

Bongo burger is a neat little burger spot . They serve breakfast and dinner tho i haven't tried the breakfast i did try the black bean burger ant it was simple and tasty. We also ordered a Persian burger with lamb and i gotta say it was really good. My favorite thing tho was the fries they were so freshly cooked and they were very crispy. read more

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My favorite burger place when I was a college student at Berkeley, and it still lives up to the same great taste! We come back every year or so, and get either the regular burger, mushroom burger, or bacon burger, depending on how we feel. The sesame buns are amazing, and I love the char they get on their patties. Service is fast, but practical/no frills. Prices have gone up, but that's to be expected. Their fries are pretty mediocre, so opt for the onion rings if you want a side. read more