I was working on the area and craving a hamburger. I decided to stop by before making the long trek back to North Orange County. The place was nice not too crowded (beat the lunch crowd ). I asked the guy at the register what is the most popular burger and he mentioned Bench Burger. I ordered that and a side of onion rings. The blue cheese and bacon pairing is heaven between two brioche buns. I will definitely stop again! read more

Burger Bench - Bench burger, onion rings, sriracha aioli, and soda - American Near Me - Escondido, California

Absolute 10/10. If you're looking for the most perfectly cooked burger, seasoned well and every sauce option you've found it. Top tier truffle fries and truffle tots! The fact that you can do half and half sides is so unique and an amazing option (especially for those of us with eyes bigger that our stomachs). The mini corn dogs taste home made , not like those frozen store bought ones. The avocado on my burger was soooo fresh. The pickles were absolutely perfect. By far some of the best food I've had in a LONG time. Aside from the outstanding food, the service was unmatched. Not only to us but to every single person they encountered while we were there. They treated everyone with respect, kindness and truly like a family. It gave a coming home for Christmas to mom's house feel. It was comfortable, accommodating, clean, and friendly. I will absolutely be back and this will definitely be a must try spot for out of town family, all date night options that I get to pick, and the "I know the perfect spot" recommendation. Thank you to each and everyone of you who cooked for us, served us, took our order, and said hello to our pup! See you soon! - Dannielle, Mel and Banksy! read more

Delicious and filling! Inferno chicken was just the right level of spicy! Nice kick to it but not overwhelming and had a wonderful crunch to it. Onion rings were crispy and tasty. Staff answered all our questions about the kombucha and are knowledgeable about the beers they offer. The offer outdoor and indoor seating, very spacious! read more

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we stopped in for lunch with 6 adults & 2 kiddos on a busy Sunday & the service was fast and friendly and food was delicious! Highly recommend ! read more

Where do I start? This is my favorite spot in the area for sure. I love their Cobb salad, they add a great amount of protein and their dressings are TO DIE FOR. I also love their bench burger, they really know how to make a great burger and cook it to perfection. Milk shakes? AMAZING. Fries? AMAZING. I really have nothing bad to say about this place. Oh and don't get me started on their breakfast.. the chicken and waffles are wow. Their service is always really excellent and they have a dog and baby friendly ambience. Hats off to the owners because they nailed it. read more

Friendly crew, with a wide variety of burgers and beers. I'm not drinking right now, so I focused on the burgers. Sunrise burger, as a good egg on a burger rounds things out nicely. The board says their beef is smashed for you, but the patty is a thick patty, that isn't smashed. Cooked to a nice medium. Ample seating...and if I wasn't in the neighborhood for a health appointment, I probably would try a shake. Next time! read more

Staff is always friendly and helpful even when they're busy. Food is always spot on, great burgers, even the vegan patties are tasty. I have never had a bad experience here. Please be kind and patient while they have limited seating due to construction. read more

Food (5/5 stars): I love a good smokehouse burger. The highlight was the bacon and I'd definitely come back for this burger! Experience (5/5 stars): * Price: reasonable * Wait Time: minimal on a Sunday for lunch * Service: good and friendly * Parking: street parking in Downtown Esco isn't too bad * Ambiance: chill, modern quick service restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating read more

Burger Bench - Smokehouse Burger - American Near Me - Escondido, California

Sunday morning breakfast spot, known for the best burger in San Diego, but breakfast? oh yeah, sooo good! #SanDiegoFoodie #SanDiegoEats We come often when we are craving a gourmet burger & truffle fries or sweet potato fries. I also love their chicken sandwiches. We decided to try their breakfast today, sunny and lazy morningin north county, they only do breakfast on the weekends. We finally tried breakfast and this will be our new added favorite spots! We normally go to Breakfast Republic in Encinitas or Claire's on Cedros in Solana Beach, we do randomly go to Home Sweet Home, Sunnyside, Huckleberry's, the local places but we have found a our new local favorite spot for breakfast. I ordered the chicken and waffle and a vanilla latte. The presentation looked good but it almost looked like there wasn't a lot of chicken because it was hidden underneath the onion rings and gravy, the gravy looked a little lumpy. I took a bite of the waffle first, nice and crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, perfect! Then I tried the chicken, crispy on the outside and moist and flavorful, tried the gravy with the chicken, waffle and onion ring, Excellent! I realized the portions are quite hefty, I only ate a third of the food and took the rest Home. Although they don't have table service, the employees are super friendly, professional and keep checking to see if we need anything. In particular today, a young man with a black with white baseball cap, wish we asked his name, was exceptionally great, and we left an extra tip for him, he provided old fashioned customer service that we haven't experienced in awhile with a smile, thank you for that! Food: Excellent Service: Excellent Ambiance: Casual, go to register and order food, get a number to put on table, they then bring it to your table. Pricing:$42 for 2 people, including tax & tip, with a capaccino & latte read more

Burgers are so tasty fresh and cooked to order Also got an order onion rings, fried wings and portable fries. Everything was so delicious! read more

Burger Bench - Order me a burger flight - American Near Me - Escondido, California

We went back to this place for the first time in a long time. For some reason, it didn't make it to our go-to list before but wanted to give it another try since it's in our neighborhood. The lady at the counter was helpful explaining the menu. The sides and the drinks seemed a little expensive. We ordered a smokehouse burger and a turkey burger. My husband liked the beef burger. My turkey burger was overcooked, a bit burnt and dry. A piece of bacon overpowered the whole burger and tasted like a bacon burger. The ice tea tasted better than most places. We'll definitely keep this place in mind for burgers but I'll order something else next time. read more

Burger Bench - Turkey burger, overcooked - American Near Me - Escondido, California

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We visited this place for the first time. It was a great experience with the food and service. We will come back again on our next visit read more

Burger Bench - Selected sliders and a nice cold drink from their tap - American Near Me - Escondido, California

We parked behind the building and had to walk past six homeless people around the lot and 7-11 to get in. Wish they had a back entrance. The burger was good, but it was an expensive meal for two for one burger & order of onion rings/fries (frings) that we split and we each had a beer - total tab was $47! read more

Burgers here are pretty average, nothing to write home about. It was a bit messy too, got a bunch of sauce on me. Would probably skip it.

Thoroughly enjoyed our dining experience at burger bench today. It was packed but the service was great and staff were friendly and attentive. Our food was hot, fresh and tasty. The beers were cold and the vibes were good. No notes. First time but will be back. read more

Came for the shakes and was not disappointed! I should have taken a picture of the shake menu - but if you ask for one they will give it to you and/or I believe they are listed on the menu on the wall. Order at the counter and they bring it to your table. The staff are all super sweet. Really laid back environment. Lots of construction on Grand when we went, but there is still lots of street parking a block or two away if you don't mind walking. read more

Burger Bench - Salted Carmel pretzel shake & peanut butter banana shake - American Near Me - Escondido, California

Food is fresh, made quickly and can be customized to your liking! I loved their vege burger and they have awesome sweet potato fries.

Yum yum in my tum tum!! This cute burger joint is located in downtown Escondido. Their burgers are one thing but lawwwwwwd their shakes are a whole new world!! The burger is sized perfectly (for me, anyway)! If you're a big dude, you may have to order 2 if you're starving, haha! They didn't skimp on the thick cut bacon at all. Gotta love that! Yes I asked for it keto style because I wanted those o-rings, tots AND that shake! Onion rings were good, nothing special about them. Dipping them in ranch is the way I roll! Now about that shake... oh mannnn, it's really the kind that you know you shouldn't have, but you indulge anyway and don't even give a damn about the caloric intake, sugar or whatever else in it that is detrimental to your health. I haven't been back since this visit which is probably a good thing, lol. Went in the evening and it was pretty low key. Not busy at all and there was ample seating inside. Service was on point. The cashier was very friendly and answered the few questions I had. I did think their prices are great for what you get. Highly recommend trying out the shakes here if anything, but for sure try a burger too! You'll have to find street parking and maybe walk a block or two but no biggie! Walking back to your car will decrease the guilt factor! =) read more

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A group of us went to a nearby escape room and wanted to grab a little something to eat and something sweet and decided to check out the Burger Bench. Glad we did. The entire staff was so nice and super helpful. It was later in the evening so we got some shakes, floats, and grilled cheese and tots. The shakes were amazing, thick and the perfect amount of sweetness. The boys got root beer floats (which came with an extra side of root beer) and they were a hit. As a lover of tots my husband is pretty hard to please, they must be crispy on the outside and soft on the inside and these were cooked to perfection. The grilled cheese was also tasty, ooey and gooey on the inside with a nice buttery toast on the outside. It was loaded with cheese too. They have a large beer selection if interested and a great variety of burgers and sandwiches. The staff was super personable and friendly. Great location too with plenty of seating indoors and outside. Can't wait to go back and try the burgers! read more

Came here last weekend with my boyfriend for lunch. We arrived right when it opened and ordered a Bench Burger, Slider Sampler, Truffle Parm. Tots and Kombucha. The food was delicious and it came out so quickly. We saw that this place got such great reviews on Yelp, and now we know why. Once our food came, more customers appeared and soon their outdoor patio was packed and had some customers dining inside too. Service was quick, friendly and their staff is on point with cleanliness. The burgers and sliders were juicy, cooked perfectly (no pink inside, just how I love it) and all had the right amount of sauces added. Flavors were great, and the tots were super hot and crispy. The kombucha is from a local business. I love when locals support other locals and now I've found another kombucha brand I love! We look forward to coming back again when we're in the area to try more items. read more

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Came for brunch. The chicken & waffles were some of the best I have ever eaten. The chicken was seasoned and obviously made in house. The ratio of batter to chicken was perfect. Now the waffles just hands down amazing. Almost donut - like. Crispy on the outside with pillow lightness inside. They even made me a mimosa not on the menu. read more

Went today for brunch and we were all impressed! Arrived on a Saturday morning about 9:30 and there was plenty of seating. It has an open air seating area along with outdoor seating which is dog friendly. My granddaughter had the apple pancakes and absolutely loved them. She also tried their homemade strawberry lemonade which was soooo good. I had a pesto egg breakfast sandwich on a delicious croissant and my son had their chorizo burrito which he loved. We couldn't pass up the tots with gravy either. Prices are fair and the setting is great. Have always loved for burgers and now we have a new breakfast spot!! read more

Burger Bench - Pesto, egg, bacon, cheese croissant with a mimosa! Excited to see they have weekend breakfast now! - American Near Me - Escondido, California

I cannot believe it's been 7 years since I last reviewed this place. I only live about 10 minutes away. Well, this time we brought the kids in tow and they loved it. Since my last review, the menu has expanded tremendously and I love how they partner with other local businesses to supply their ingredients. We all popped in for lunch and it was busy. But there was a good flow of customers so we were able to find an indoor table away from the scorching summer heat. My older son (9 yo) was happy to see a fish sandwich on the menu and he ate all up. I was only allowed a bite and from what I can tell it was a good fish not tough but very tasty. My younger son (6 yo) and I split the sliders. It was really nice to be able to sample the burgers we weren't sure about. Well, my 6 yo decided he wanted to eat all three burgers so I was left with the onion rings, which I ended up yielding to my older son cuz he found them delicious. So, all in all Mom didn't get much to eat. My husband enjoyed his burger and wasn't willing to share. Next time I know better everyone can find something they want and I will have to order my own burger. I did see they had a whole section for salads. I saw one came out and I am inclined to try that next time. It's great to see this business around and it seems to be hopping especially around lunchtime and during The Crusin' Grand in the summertime. I really hope successful businesses like this will attract more local restauranteurs to come and open up on Grand because it needs more than one burger bench. read more

Burger Bench - Swiss mushroom slider. - American Near Me - Escondido, California

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Amazing place for breakfast! Highly recommend. Great service and atmosphere. My family goes often for breakfast and dinner.

I had the chicken club sandwich on gluten free bun and it was delicious!!! The others had a classic cheeseburger and sliders! Fries, tots and onion rings on the side! Next time we will share a meal so that we have room for a chocolate shake! Not a fan of stubborn soda! read more

Stopped by today with my family for a school event and really enjoyed the food. It was our first time and will definitely be back.

Great burgers and from what I've heard great beer!! I don't drink so i really wouldn't know!! Plan on going back soon. Need to try the rest of the menu!! read more

I love that Escondido is really working on getting the downtown vibe going. This place has been here a while and I've been meaning to write a review. * The burgers are juicy and the buns are soft and crunchy at the same time. Loved it. * Beer selection was decent. They definitely can add a little more but had some solid local beers. * The Service was nice. We ate at the bar so our food and drinks came rather fast. My only complaint was we did have a hair on our tots. I'm bald so I know it wasn't from me lol and my girlfriend has curly hair. My concern was that I'm certain it came from the waiter that had a very long unkept goatee. I'm not a germ freak so I still ate the tots around the hair. But maybe management can monitor hygiene a little more Other than that, Great Food and vibes read more

Burger Bench - American Near Me - Escondido, California

Was expecting a lot more but was underwhelmed. We came with a group of 8 on Sat around 5:30 and was quoted a 40 minute wait but then ended up getting seated in 10 albeit outside. They don't have heaters so prepare accordingly if you sit outside. You order at the counter and then they bring your food out to your table. We got the three sliders (fig jam, fried chicken and golden rooster) and a side order of fries. All the burgers/sandwiches don't come with sides. The fig jam was decent. Flavors are what you'd expect but the burger was a little dry. My partner liked the golden rooster better than the fried chicken since it had a bit more flavor. The big letdown was the fries. They were SOFT. Not crispy at all even though they were warm. And for the price they were a really small portion. read more

Burger Bench - Sliders and fries - American Near Me - Escondido, California

Sliders sampler Fig jam burger Swiss Smoked Sweet potato fries Summer raspberry and mango lemonade with champagne All delicious Meat is so flavorful. Normally I eat a burger with ketchup because I dont love ground beef but it wasn't necessary. Fries are plentiful and crisp. The lemonade is Tasty! read more

Fast service and friendly staff. The burgers are really good and they have a great selection of tap beers.

Food and service were good! Love the music that was playing. Would recommend the sweet potato fries and the bench burger.

Recipient of Escondido's 2021 Best Burger award, this place does burgers like no other. They are thinking of you when you eat here. There are some options for your patty, to include: beef, impossible or beyond, and wagu beef. There are dietary options for halal, gluten free, and lettuce wrap. The restaurant is very open. They usually have the patio open to the restaurant, and two large sky lights bring in even more light. There is bar seating with plenty of beers on tap to choose from. Music is chill, and the TV has sports. It's a good place to come for informal lunch or dinner. I've been here a few times, my favorite burger is the taco burger. I like the seasonings combined with the pico salsa and thin strips of tortilla. It's got the freshness from the salsa, the heartiness of the seasoned beef and a little crunch from the tortilla bits. It's really good. read more

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After a long morning of walking around the San Diego Safari Park there is no better way to refuel yourself other than some hearty burgers. After finding some street parking, we headed over and were greeted by a friendly waiter who seated us inside quickly. Ordered at the counter a burger to share, some strawberry lemonade, and some onion rings and tater tots. You can ask for your burger to be cut in half and they will gladly do so. Starting off with the Bench Burger, their signature, restaurant named burger. The burger itself was hearty, you could taste the blue cheese, the bacon was crisp, and it was juicy. Gourmet, truly. I'm glad the buns could hold in all the juiciness without becoming soggy, too. Strawberry lemonade was not overly sweet and had a good balance between sweet and tart. Onion rings - Burger Bench, you got your breading on point. Just perfectly coated your onions without having the huge thick coat of breading that you normally see from burger places/bars. Only downside is that it doesn't come with any condiments/sauce unless you want to pay an additional small fee for it. Truffle parm tater tots were crispy and delightful. Oh yes, these were definitely worth getting and sharing. Overall, I felt fueled up and ready to go back to viewing some animals and doing some heavy walking. Staff were friendly and quick to bring you your food. Don't have to bus your table, you can just exit when you're done! read more

Burger Bench - The bench burger with truffle Parmesan tots and onion rings - American Near Me - Escondido, California

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Literally amazing! The fries the burgers just every bite is so yummy and I love the sampler idea. If you have not tried this place, please do yourself the favor and get some food here. You won't regret it! Staff is very friendly as well! read more

Great food! Tried the slider sampler- fried chicken, bbq cheeseburger and regular cheeseburger- sides -half and half truffle Parmesan fries and tater tots. It was all delicious! Do yourself favor and get a side, or a few, of the cilantro aioli sauce....AMAZING!!! Service is top notch!! read more

I was starving, I ordered one thing, a bench burger to go. Opened it up before I left to check, it was a sunrise burger. Took it back the guy said he would expedite it, took the same amount of time to come out (30min total). When it was ready they just called my name, didn't apologize or try anything to smooth it over. I mean throw me a handful of fries or something so I don't have sit there starving waiting for an order that the 2 names are not even close so obviously they hit the wrong button. Sat there and ate cuz I was starving and I had to play drums at a local bar in 30 mjn.. Customer service needs a lot of work. Was only my second time here...prob won't be back. read more

The food was so good! The burgers were so juicy and delicious. I had the Sunrise burger and my mom had the Smokehouse burger, we shared the Parmesan fries. read more

Burger Bench - Smokehouse burger - American Near Me - Escondido, California

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Soooo wanted to truly LOVE this place. Staff was friendly. Seems like they could find a way to expedite the ordering process though. Line was long and slow, and when we left, the line was ridiculously long. And was not moving quickly at all. Ordering seems to have people in line, baffled...and with only one register and order taker, it is a tedious process. Have to say that it was the first night of Cruising Grand, so lots of people were out for this local car show event. Side note on the Cruising Grand timing, WOWZERS, if you want to sit outside prepare for LOUD pipes. And exhaust fumes. Okay, all that aside and if you do love this place, you could overlook this and/or come other than a Cruising Grand night? So on to the food, we split the Classic Burger, also the Wings, and a 1/2 & 1/2 order of Tots and Onion Rings. Sadly the latter was our favorite thing. Burger is on the small side, and not a lot of flavor, rather bland. The brioche style bun is usually our favorite kind but this one was sort of oddly greasy on the top. Wings were ehhhh. Not bad and not good. And nothing was crave-able. Nice beer selection. Restrooms were clean and had hot water, something we always look for. So.. we are glad we went. Didn't hate it, but didn't love it. And we love supporting local businesses, but not in a huge hurry to return, there are others to try out. And hopefully love! read more

Burger Bench - Beer and Wine Menus - American Near Me - Escondido, California

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We came to this Burger Bench as we come from South Bay and it was closer. Great staff and friendly smiles. The food is always fresh and delicious and will definitely come back to this one. I really enjoy the grass fed burgers and their delicious sweet potato fries!! read more