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    Classics Malt Shop

    4.8 (1.7k reviews)
    Closed Closed

    Classics Malt Shop Photos

    Business Info

    CLASSICS MALT SHOP ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Classics Malt Shop

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    Búfalo sandwich. Cheese steak sandwich  and fries
    Gerisa A.

    Lived here my whole life and today was my first time eating here! Pleasantly surprised. Small and busy but decent amount of seating. Vintage diner feel for sure. This has got to be the best malt shop in San Diego. Had the chocolate malt, cheese steak sandwich and fries. Everything was delicious! Their home made ranch and chipotle dip is amazing! Customer service was a breath of fresh air. Friendly staff and the cook gave us a run down of their sauces, which was awesome. Will definitely be back!

    Caliente Burger w/ Double Patty
    Michael H.

    I ordered the Caliente Burger, and the burger was delicious! I wasn't sure if one patty was enough meat, so I added an extra patty. The burger came out and was incredibly juicy, stacked high, and smothered in melted pepper jack cheese. There was some heat to the burger, but it wasn't as spicy as I would have liked it to be. The burger was cooked to perfection as ordered! The service was friendly, attentive, and that made the whole dining experience easy and enjoyable. When I say great service, the staff goes above and beyond to make sure you have what you need during your visit! The restaurant was clean, comfortable, and had nice, relaxed vibes, which made it a great place to sit and actually enjoy the meal. If you like a flavorful burger with some heat and solid quality all around, this one's a must. I will definitely coming back to try more when I am back in the area.

    Jalapeño burger
    Andrew P.

    LOCAL CLASSIC BURGER JOINT: The burger was solid and I could definitely see myself coming back. You can feel how much locals love this place. The enthusiasm in the room is real and it reminded me of a similar spot back home. Inside, it feels like a 50s diner that hasn't been updated in a couple decades, which adds to the charm rather than taking away from it. The owners have a reputation for feeding homeless folks who come in, which tells you a lot about the kind of people running the place. Good people, good food, and a spot the community clearly cares about.

    Laurie B.

    The food is excellent-fantastic burgers, onion rings and malts! Service was fast and friendly. We will be back!

    Black cherry ice cream coke
    Holly P.

    Fun spot! Service is friendly and quick. Food is made fresh right in front. The malts are great. Would definitely return.

    Order counter
    Steve Y.

    First time here at Midway Classic Malt Shop. We love these old, nostalgic malt shops. Popularity place. People wait patiently to place their order. I ordered the Reuben on Rye and my wife wanted the Classic Cheeseburger. Added Frings (onion rings and French fries), a Diet Coke for the wife and we shared another float. Couldn't wait to drink the root beer float. Generous scoop of vanilla ice cream - yasss! Wifey loved the cheeseburger. I really enjoyed the melted cheese on my Reuben on Rye. And, the Frings made our day with Thousand Island and Ranch dips! The 20-minute wait was worth it! The all-man crew was awesome!

    Inside
    Yanet H.

    The food was really good and tasty. Nice local spot that is a must try if in the area. The service was very friendly. There was someone that would clean the tables right away and would take the stuff from tables when done. Ambiance inside was family friendly, the had sports playing in TVs. There is indoor and outdoor seating and parking is not a problem. A must try for sure

    Veggie Burger with fried egg
    Andrew G.

    We came in on a Saturday evening it was busy but not too crowded. We ordered and were able to find a seat. We enjoyed our food. The fries were just ok but the burgers and the zucchini sticks were very good. They toasted my bun pretty crispy which I really enjoyed. It also helped to give my veggie burger some structure. I also got my son a chocolate milkshake he was pretty excited for. There seemed to be a lot of regulars which gave the place a nice vibe. The service was very good everyone working was very friendly and charismatic.

    A closeup of my black and white malt.
    Paul K.

    My sister really wanted a malt and even asked the In N Out drive through guy if they offered them (No). But that guy recommended Classics Malt Shop down in the Midway district so we went there the next day. The man taking orders (owner? manager?) was so nice and friendly. He really was enthusiastic and helpful. He even threw in a free order of Frings (fries and onion rings) when he found out this was our first time there and that we came in on a recommendation. The four of us in our party each had a malt (one vanilla and three classic Black and White) and man, they were tasty. I even saw they use the old school Carnation Malted Milk power that our family used when I was a kid. That rocks! We had lunch there also with my wife having a mushroom burger and myself having a Classic Cheeseburger. Others in our party had Classic regular burger and the Chicken Strips meal. We added an order of sweet potato fries and the aforementioned complimentary order of Frings and we were ready for a nap! I don't think I ate for a day after that meal. Super filling. Can't do this every day but when I want this sort of food, I'm coming here! Thank you and great job guys!

    Karen N.

    Love this local small restaurant! We tend to go here when we'll be nearby at the Sports Arena, or as a central meeting point. I like that they have quite a few choices for a small place. This last time, we tried the Philly fries and the zucchini. Philly fries were huge, and delicious! I ordered no peppers, and it was enough left over for 2 servings. The zucchini was also good, and we had some of that left as well. Choices like salads, hotdogs, sandwiches, and burgers. They also do things like chocolate or cherry Cokes, floats, or sundaes. Staff is all super friendly and helpful. It's not a big place, so it can get crowded at times. They also aren't open super late, so definitely plan around that. Plenty of parking, because it's in the Vons shopping center.

    Reese J.

    I'm in LOVE! I was in the area, on my way to the airport and I stopped by this shopping center because there are EV Charging Stations. So glad I Yelp'd something to eat because this was around the corner. I placed my order at the counter - customer service was super cool, great vibes and accommodating. My root beer float was made quickly. I got to sit in the corner and enjoy the cool relaxing vibes. My onion rings hit the spot! I would definitely recommend!

    Cashew loved his ice cream!

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    2 days ago

    Very good food, amazing quality. Customer service was outstanding. Overall, a great place to grab burgers and shakes!

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    3 months ago

    Had the basic burger and onion rings but was underwhelmed. I wouldn't go out of my way to return

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    Classics Malt Shop Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Classics Malt Shop

    Are they still open because the past two times we called to order, nobody picked up?

    I never called but I have gone past there and they are open and have been during Covid.

    Does grub hub or anyone deliver your food?

    Postmates

    Do they use local meat?

    You want meat from San Diego? I want mine from as far away as possible .. somewhere out in the country where happy cows live 😊

    Are you open today?

    Yes they are open today. They are closed on Sunday's

    Do they always serve the shakes in plastic cups?

    I've only seen plastic.

    View All 8 Questions

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    Doggos Gus

    Doggos Gus

    4.7
    (369 reviews)
    4.7 mi
    $

    Love this place! We were in a hot dog mood and decided to stop by. This is more of a stand with a…read morepatio for you to eat at! We ordered four hot dogs, corn, and fries. It's very much self service here, you order either at a tablet or through your phone via QR code. We got a Mac and cheese dog, chili dog, SDfoodie dog, and the California. Along with the corn and cheese fries. I had the chili dog which is delicious and the California which I loved! The hot dogs are great quality and so good! I also love the cheese and fries, soooo tasty. The bun was a little big for me, but my fiancee loved it. It was a large brioche bun that was toasted nicely. The prices were around 9-11 for a dog which isn't horrible. If your in the mood for a fun and filling hot dog, this is a great choice!

    I enjoyed Doggos Gus back when it was a pop-up business located inside a University Heights…read moreneighborhood bar. I even remember when it was a participating vendor at a now defunct local food festival. Their current location is a corner shack in the East Village section of downtown next to The Church by The Lost Abbey. Everything in this area involved curbside metered parking or a paid surface lot. The shack was part of a large courtyard with multiple picnic tables for seating. Cornhole boards and a flat screen TV were set up for entertainment. You order using a tablet next to the service window. The menu used to be strictly bacon-wrapped hot dogs (i.e. Sonoran style). It has now expanded to include burgers, sides, appetizers, and desserts. A fountain station had dispensers for sodas, lemonade, and agua frescas. The hot dogs were divided into two sections, Classic and Signature. I selected two of the classics for my takeout order. The first was a Baja (grilled onions, pico, chipotle, avocado crema) and the second was a TJ Style (grilled onions, tomatoes, mayo, mustard, ketchup). The sweet bun used to hold everything resembled that used for a lobster roll. The flavor combinations were hearty and not spicy which was what I preferred. The grilled onions added some char and texture to the jumbo beef hot dogs. What has changed significantly over time were the prices. Each of my choices cost $8.99. Some of the other varieties were as high as $12 which is insane for a loaded hot dog. I did appreciate the bacon wrapping to the franks, but I can't see myself coming to East Village that often for these products because there are plenty of diverse dining options that are more satisfying in this part of downtown.

    Photos
    Fountain drinks station
    Fountain drinks station
    Street corn
    Street corn
    Doggosgus hats

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    Doggosgus hats
    Underdog

    Underdog

    4.9
    (59 reviews)
    5.1 mi

    We absolutely love Underdog (as well as the breweries they share a space with when at Barley &…read moreSword/Seek/Goal)! I love the concept of breweries sharing space with food trucks in general except you get the option of THREE breweries here! In term of food, we ordered the Jessie burger & Banh Mi Hot Dog. Our FAVORITE item we always seem to order is the Jessie burger. The burger is incredibly flavorful and is feel so balanced with the kimchi and jalapenos. The Banh Mi dog is a fun Vietnamese twist of the hot dog. I love the brightness of the veggies and jalapenos but to be honest I would recommend the Jessie burger more so than the Banh Mi dog!

    Underdog has managed to win over someone like me who isn't a vegan and typically not a big fan of…read morevegan food. Yet, it stands out as one of my favorites, and I find myself ordering from them frequently. One of the things you will notice as soon as you approach the place is how clean and net their food truck is. Their menu features burgers, corn dogs, fries, and more, all with a twist and a variety of flavorful options. Among my personal favorites are the Goblin's Club and Jalapeno Popper Corn Dog. The corn dogs are notably large, with a batter that's never oily, always maintaining a tender and flavorful quality. The Animal fries, a perfect side to burgers and corn dogs, are never overly salty, and the generous portions of golden, perfectly cooked fries are a must-try. The Classic Burger and The Jesse Burger are standout choices, boasting substantial sizes with soft and fluffy buns. The sauces and flavors elevate them above your typical burgers - vegan or not. What sets Underdog apart is not just their delicious offerings but also the friendly and accommodating team behind the scenes. They are pleasant individuals dedicated to their advocacy of normalizing delicious plant-based food. In my opinion, they are doing an excellent job of offering delicious comfort food classics that can be responsibly enjoyed for generations. This is a business that I will continue to support.

    Photos
    Menu
    Menu
    The fried chicken sandwich (a special) was amazing!
    The fried chicken sandwich (a special) was amazing!
    Korean style Corn dog

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    Korean style Corn dog
    Ssong’s Hotdog

    Ssong’s Hotdog

    3.5
    (28 reviews)
    6.8 mi

    Some of the best Korean corn dogs I've tried, imo. What makes them different is the size of their…read morepotatoes - they look more like French frie pieces instead of cubes, which makes for more crunchy surface area! I like that they came out at just the right temperature too (vs other places are super hot and you need to take time to cool before eating). The only thing I was sad about was I got a full sausage this time, thinking it would be the regular size... but my partner's half mozz half sausage was much larger. I guess the size of sausage doesn't change - they just add mozz to the top for the half and half. I felt a bit shortchanged due to that (minus one star). Place is small but clean, and they've structured it in a way where there's still plenty of small tables around. The cafe next door is very trendy and small too so I do think a few people were actually from there. But all in all, it was noon on a Sunday, and not too busy even with the people from next door. We had a table easily, and the food and drinks (via Urban Bubbles, operating out of the same kitchen) came out fairly quickly. Parking is definitely hard. It's a tiny lot and paid parking. Knowing this, I just looked for street parking which was easy and not too far if you don't mind a short walk.

    Overview: great Korean hotdogs, super fast service, and yummy flavor, parking is difficult tho…read more ---- Half and Half Potato Mozz Hot Dog $7.50: - mostly cheese in the front - not enough hot dog in it (minus 1 star) - crispy potatoes Powder toppings: - sugar - parmesan - old bay seasoning (cajun seasonings) Sauces: - spicy mayo - ketchup - mustard - ranch - sweet chili ---- Notes: - service was really sweet and quick - parking is difficult - ambiance is great, music taste was great lots of rnb - must order food at register ---- Overall: great place for your Korean hotdog fix, I will be back!

    Photos
    Interior seating
    Interior seating
    Ssong’s Hotdog
    Ssong’s Hotdog

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    Ochidoggy

    Ochidoggy

    4.8
    (20 reviews)
    6.0 mi

    I remember trying Sonoran-style hot dogs while visiting a friend in Tucson, AZ several years ago…read more After seeing Ochidoggy show up on the activity feed for my connections, I decided to visit this pop-up vendor in the southern part of the Normal Heights neighborhood. The setup was a simple cart under a canopy in a random parking lot on El Cajon Blvd. A few picnic tables with overhead cover were available if you wanted to eat your food on-site. Five different hot dogs along with french fries and a stuffed jalapeno pepper were offered on the menu. A typical Sonoran hot dog has a bacon-wrapped frank topped with pinto beans, onions, tomatoes, and other condiments. It's served on a bolillo bun. The Hot Dog Regular here contained bacon, grilled onion, red onion, tomato, and mayonnaise on a football-shaped bun which made it the closest resemblance to an original Sonoran. I chose two other varieties for my to-go order, a Hot Dog Jumbo and a Hot Dog Chilidogo. The first one had the same ingredients as the Regular with ham and American cheese added. The second one also had the same ingredients as the Regular, however the bacon-wrapped frank was stuffed inside a California pepper with grilled mozzarella cheese on top. Trays of condiments were arranged in front of the cart so you could select additional toppings. Four different sauce bottles were also available for more flavor. As you can see from my photo, both hot dogs were buried under the other components. The right type of bun was used which was very soft. I did feel that a gratuitous amount of mayonnaise was drizzled on top. I didn't add more toppings or sauces because there was already a sufficient spread. I am unsure if there are other businesses in the SD area that serve Sonoran-style hot dogs as I have not actively searched for them. I can say that the products I tasted from Ochidoggy were good enough for a four star rating.

    Great food and lovely service. I love Sonoran hotdogs ever since trying them in Arizona so I was…read moreexcited to try this place. The set up is nice with a few parking spots in the lot and 3 picnic benches, bright lights, and even a heater. Prices were very reasonable ($9 for regular Sonoran dog with fries, $2.50 for canned soda or bottled ice tea). The owner was extremely nice and friendly - explained all the options and toppings to us, and even came over to turn on the heater so it will be less cold while we eat. The food came out quickly and everything was super efficient. Hot dog was great - tasty soft bun, bacon wrapped hot dog really tasty, and enjoyed all the toppings. The fries were decent but in my opinion slightly over fried and would be even better if a tiny bit more seasoned as well. Great portions though. Overall the experience was fantastic and we will be back!

    Photos
    Chilidogo + Papas, I added chipotle and mustard
    Chilidogo + Papas, I added chipotle and mustard
    Ochidoggy
    Ochidoggy

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    Classics Malt Shop - tradamerican - Updated June 2026

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