Summary: You can get a very quick, efficient haircut for the cheapest prices in all of San Diego. Expect to get in and out and on with your day for about $10. --------------------------------------------------­----------------------- I like the asian method of cutting hair: cut it, make it look good, and get me out. Don't bother talking to me, and don't waste my time. If I want to have a conversation with people, I wouldn't go to a haircut salon to do it and get charged $20 for it. I don't particularly like American salons such as Supercuts simply because they charge so much for potentially so little. I literally paid $25 for a small trim, a chat with my barber, and a hair-wash (I could honestly do that at home). My friends even asked me if I got a haircut at all. I went into this place, showed a picture of Ryan Gosling, and asked the barber to do it. The barber nailed the picture perfectly without asking much questions, and I left without a trace. Just be careful of the lines that sometimes form here. read more

I used to be fond of this place. It has a price point that can't really be beat, and it's quick and efficient. What earns it my 1 star today is the overall lack of common sense that some of these barbers seem to have. Is it so hard to listen to basic instructions??? I walked in today for two very simple things: shave the sides, and don't touch the top/bangs because I've been growing it out. The guy nodded his head in confirmation, so I felt like everything would go swimmingly. Nope. Long story short, the guy CUTS MY BANGS INTO OBLIVION and LEAVES THE SIDES LONG. I GAVE YOU TWO SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS, HOMIE. HOW DO YOU GOOF LIKE THIS?? The man basically did what he wanted to with my hair- the same hair that I had spent the past half year trying to get right. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? YOU DID THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT I ASKED!!!!! I left feeling incredibly irate. Never before have I seen such a lack of style sense in what should be a stylist. I've had some decent cuts from this place. But today's experienced completely destroyed whatever respect I had for Happy Barber. Let it be known that I won't be returning here ever again. read more

$11 (cash only), 15 minutes, no awkward small talk, straight business, fresh. Men don't need stylists, they just need a decent barber with scissors and a clipper. I searched for a few years for a simple place to get a good haircut. Supercuts did not make me look like the guys on the wall. Fantastic Sams was not fantastic. I even went to a stylist place and that is 2.5 hours I'll never get back. Those cool, retro barbershops (Lefty's, Floyd's, Cut Above the Rest, etc), do a really great job, but the price isn't worth the temporary nature of a haircut. This place is simple, basic, and the best value for a sharp trim. read more

Stop with failed attempts for default high and tights. I always seem to get the weakest chair. If i say a low one on the sides with a little off the top is that too hard?? No i just got a messed up haircut for the next two weeks. read more

Happy Barber - seriously all i asked for was a low One fade with a little off the top. He put the clippers on 3 and literally went all the way up. I - Barbers Near Me - San Diego, California

Cheap, quick, friendly, quality, not ratchet, and a good fade. I had literally only a 3 minute wait. The barber that cut my hair was very friendly. He did exactly what I asked (skin taper fade with a fauxhawk). He was done in 15 minutes and it was flawless. He also didn't try to chat it up awkwardly and just let me relax while he worked. There wasn't any angry stereotype gangster drive-by-shooter / new bugatti music blaring out of a pieced together sound system either. Instead, there was a movie and the news playing on different screens with reasonable volume. Overall very relaxed environment. The amazing part? It cost $9 flippin dollars. Even after tipping I spent $15 for a quick haircut that looks great. Definitely coming back. read more

My son and I have been coming here for a couple of years. They do a great job and that's why they have a lot of repeat business. Nothing fancy but there is usually plenty of spots to sit and watch a bit of TV while you wait. There is plenty of parking and when busy you can take a number as long as you return when it's your turn. A tip is to make sure you are in the door by 5:40ish. If there is a line of people waiting, they will turn on the closed sign so the staff can finish by at least 630 (their hours go to 6, but they know it takes time to cut your hair) read more

There normal hours are 9am-6pm. Today is Wednesday, Oct 31, and I got there at 5:25pm to get a haircut. They were closed and some guy told me it was because they're weren't much customers. read more

This place is cheap, and I don't recall ever seeing a barber give as much detail to a haircut as the dude gave to mine yesterday. This spot has now become my destination for haircuts. read more

I'm from the OC, which has a lot of cheap barbers. This place reminds me of it. Overall, this place is A-OK, especially for trims. I didn't love my hair cut walking out of the place, but I never do until the week after a hair cut. I did like my do when it grew in a little. It's a decent place. I would probably not come here if I wanted to change hairstyle. I'd go here for a trim. read more

The place is cheap but you really need to know your shears and stylings well if you wanna come out of this place with decent looking hair. My guy got the front unbalanced on both sides and crudely buzzed off the uneven parts to balance it out. No scissors fixing Will give this place one more try just because it is really really cheap. read more

Walked in today to get my 1 year old his first hair cut. We were seen right away! The barber was so friendly and gentle with him. It was a true success. Definitely will be back soon cause this kids hair grows like crazy. Oh, cash only! There is an ATM a few steps away from the shop. Thank you happy barber! read more

Happy Barber - Baby's first hair cut - Barbers Near Me - San Diego, California

One of the better barber shops in SD. It's about $8 for a fade and less if you are military or senior. The barbers are pretty efficient but always make sure you get the cut you want. Just know that this place gets really busy especially during lunch hour or rush hour. The wait can be long but I like this place alot. Just know that this place is CASH ONLY (but there is an ATM in the same plaza) read more

They ruined me. :( Unless you're looking for a buzz cut or something very easy and generic, don't go there. If you have style and like to look good, don't go there. If you have any self-respect, don't go there. read more

I've been coming here for the past 2 years and I am usually pretty happy with the results. I usually get the same haircut everytime, but it's not always the same person cutting my hair and I still come out happy. If you really want a specific person to cut your hair you have to wait, but it usually won't be too bad. Great for simple basic haircuts with no crazy directions and details. I mean it's only $8 (plus tip if you want)! I think that is a pretty good deal! read more

Quick 25 minute cut every time for a price that can't be beat. Simple place for a straightforward guy. Wait can get kinda long but they have a ticket system so you can gauge how long the wait will be. read more

Bad first and second experience, but maybe you just need to avoid the guy I had. All I wanted was the sides faded and nothing off the top. Simple and easy. The barber (got the same guy both times) took the razor and faded it from the side (where it should be faded) to the very top of my head (NOT where it should be faded, cut a good portion of the hair on top off) -- completely different hairstyle. On top of that, it was uneven. See Sonny A's review if you don't know what I mean. The second time this was about to happen I stopped him but he gave some reason and continued. All in all, it looks like they don't know how to cut a typical low fade, or they're too good to listen to what the customer wants doesn't fit with what they have in mind. It'll take months to grow my hair out to what it was before. read more

My husband usually goes to one in PQ, but have recently moved and had been looking for a new barber. I had to pretty much persistently push him to go to Happy Barber, convinced that he'd love it based on the great reviews on Yelp. He came home with the worse cut I've seen him in and was really unhappy. For some reason, he couldn't understand what my husband wanted and just went ahead and went to cutting anyway. My husband only wanted the sides cut short and the top a little trimmed... what he got was an even number 3 all around his head, so he pretty much looks like a nice round melon head. I want to laugh, but he looks so incredibly sad... Needless to say, we'll never be coming back to here again. read more

I visited this place for the 2nd time and they did a great job. I like my cut and was pleased with the service.

Okay, so after reading the other reviews about this spot and getting a random recommendation from this dude at the UTC mall (dude's fade was ill, too bad he cuts it himself), I decided to hit up the Happy Barber after work. The spot itself is a little run down, but it's a barber shop, it's not suppose to be super boughie looking. Anyway, dude in chair three (Ryan), he's money. What makes this place better then the other places I've been to, is while he's fading you up he's also brushing it, which makes your fade super even. Needless to say, I'm giving up on my old shop for the Happy Barber. read more

First thing, Cash Only (not necessarily a bad thing, F*** Visa and their damn fees). There's no sign on the door though. I noticed in the middle of my haircut. But the older gentleman had no problem with me going to the ATM next door. It's only $8 and they do a good job. Now don't come here if you want to bleach your hair like that douchebag in all the T.G.I.F.'s commercials. However, if you want a good haircut for a good price, cruise on over. It's in a little shopping center next to the Hungry Stick. The older guy did a great job. At other places I usually end up going home and buzzing my hair afterwards. Basically I would go just to have them do the back and around the flappy things on the side of my head. Not here. read more

Really an amazing place! He was so patient with my son, whom is three years old, he did an amazing job with clean lines and I will definitely be coming here every time my son needs a haircut. Definitely a great establishment with great people! Thank you happy barber! read more

Happy Barber - Happy with his new hair cut - Barbers Near Me - San Diego, California

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Ask for Jack he does nice fades These dudes can keep you looking fresh read more

Nothing but great reviews for Happy Barber. I've been going there for about 2 years now. Every experience has been great and consistent. Depending on the day and time that you choose to go, the barbershop can either be filled or completely empty. There have been a couple times when I have needed a quick trim in a hurry but have walked out because of the line. For those with time to spare, the longest I've ever spent waiting was 34-40 minutes. They know how to make the haircut you want look good on YOU. I've never walked out of there disappointed. read more

I cannot give this place enough praise. This is a barber shop that would make Ron Swanson a la Parks and Rec proud. $10-11 for a cut, takes no longer than 15 minutes, and no talking. Raise a glass of your finest poison for Happy Barber. read more

Been getting my haircut buzzed since I was 12. Needless to say... I know a good cut when I see it, and these guys at Happy Barber do a PHENOMENAL job. They have a numbering system, so people don't cut. They work extremely fast-- I was 10th in line, and was sitting on a chair in about 30 minutes. At 8 dollars a cut? It definitely does not get better than this. O and ... I doubt I have to say this... but this place is definitely a men/boys haircut joint-- and more specifically to that... it is a mens/boys buzz-cut joint. So women + men who like "styling-up" their hair should probably try somewhere else. Pro Tip: Grab a number when you walk in. read more

I made my first visit on Sunday, 9/13 in the early afternoon. It was pretty busy. When I walked it the wait was five deep. However from the time I sat down to wait to the time I was called was about five minutes. I some folks were waiting for specific barbers. My barber and experience was great! I really wish i got my barber's name. The haircut was quick and straight forward. The cut probably lasted about 10-15 minutes (he only cleaned up the sides and left the top length as is). I will definitely make this my go-to barber from now on. read more

I don't really care about a lot of things in my life, but my hair is sacred to me. It took my quite a while to finally come try this place out because I usually have a friend cut my hair for me, but you know sometimes you really just need to get a haircut when you have an important date or something haha This place is tucked in the plaza with Ramen Yamadaya. There is ample parking inside the lot! Once you enter the barber shop, all the barbers are roughly 3 steps away from the waiting chairs. If you have a specific barber you want to have cut for you, you literally just sit in front of the chair of the respected barber. Slightly awkward because the person getting their haircut might be staring into your soul or something. I got my hair cut by Vin [he is the guy furthest down from the entrance. I showed him a picture of what I wanted, a high fade, and he pretty much nailed it. I wanted to grow out the top of my head and he didn't really touch the top. The fade was pretty solid for me being only charged $11. The sides of my head were pretty much dead even and I left a happy camper. They gained trust from someone who has real trust issues with his hair. I'd definitely come back to get my haircut again! *note, if you've never been inside an asian salon/barber before, fair warning the barbers tend to talk to each other in their native language as their cutting your hair. It's pretty normal so don't really mind them, they don't really try to talk to you either unless it's regarding your hair. read more

Getting a haircut is something that I just dread about.. I don't like to wait in line and I hate sitting in a chair for 30 minutes doing nothing. On top of all this, I just don't look good with short hair. So I came here for a haircut the other day, hoping to get out as soon as possible, and that's what I got. The wait was short (none), and cut was quick (~15 minutes), and the price was low ($10). The cut was a bit on the shorter side, but I really didn't care.. and I was just glad that it was over, very quickly. There is no frill - you don't get a massage or a hot towel, but you do get 15 minutes of your life back.. and that's priceless. The owner was super friendly and that was a bonus! If you share the same feelings about haircuts (I think many of my male readers do), then this is the place to be! read more

Simple, and cheap - gets the job done, especially for students that don't want to pay the $20-25 it costs to get a simple haircut near UCSD's campus. Definitely not for the picky and people with very specific ideas for what their hair has to do. For everyone else that just wants their hair out of their eyes though, their service is more than good enough. However, it's worth noting that the price has hiked recently - it's not $10 for everyone, $9 for seniors, a $1 increase from prices last year. read more

This is my new favorite place to get a haircut in ALL of San Diego. The longest I've ever had to wait in a queue was ~10 minutes because there are usually 3-4 barbers working at a given time. This really lets customers come in and out without waiting too long. Now onto the best part. I LOOK FRESH AF for $10. Hands-down you get way more than what you pay for. A #1 fade is so on point here. Thank you Happy Barber for making me look good and keeping my wallet happy. read more

I used to pay $25 for a cut at a place where I needed an appointment. Scheduling was a pain in the neck. Last week I showed up and she was double-booked so she told me to come back the next day. That was it. I went on Yelp and saw this place had some good reviews. I had a business trip coming up and I needed a cut, so I dropped by. Not only was this shop quick and inexpensive - I got a better cut here than I did from the last place! My girlfriend didn't know I went somewhere new but commented that she really liked the cut. It was only $8! Even with tip, I still paid less than half of what I was paying before. I'm done paying more for the inconvenience and sub-par cut at the other place. I'm coming back here from now on. Thanks guys! read more

Went here twice and got the older gentleman both times. The first haircut was good, and came out as well as my regular barber back when I was in KS. The second time though, everything was completely uneven. I had faith in his skills based on the first haircut, and I was in a rush so I didn't check until it was too late. One side was cut higher than the other, and the top was left too long. Even the sideburns were uneven, with the left side cut angled upward, and the right angled downward. Come on, the sideburns are probably the easiest things to cut evenly. That shows how much he paid attention to the work. If you decide to go there, I'd say avoid the older man. Seems like one of the other reviewers thinks the same. It was probably a bad sign that the other customers seemed to avoid that barber as well. read more

BAD. I just got the worst haircut I think I've ever gotten. Won't ever go here again, you shouldn't either. It's way too short, and the guy cut one side of the front about 1 INCH shorter than the other side, so there's a big hole on the left side. It's not like I have to be presentable within the next 3 weeks or anything. He also messed with my beard for no apparent reason... it was well groomed already. I "walked-in" to this place and was called up right away, to my surprise, since there were other people waiting. I soon realized that those other people knew who they wanted to have cut their hair, and clearly DIDN'T want the guy that I ended up getting. You get what you pay for: maybe I'll have to go to one of those places that "fixes $8 haircuts". If you're going to this place, know who you're getting. Don't have the older guy do your hair. He is really bad. read more

I've been a loyal Happy Barber customer since the first time I got my hair cut there more than 2 years ago. I thought I'd give it a shot since it had pretty good reviews on here, and I wasn't disappointed. I know there are plenty of places in San Diego where you can get an $8-$9 haircut, but your money is best spent here. I get the same cut every time- a [plastic blade-cover] 3.5 on the top, and a low skin fade. Of course every barber has a slightly different style, but I'm satisfied with almost all of them. I don't like the few female barbers (sorry ladies), but all of the males do a great job. Although Jack seems to be the most popular one there, I feel everyone would be satisfied with a haircut from any of the male barbers. The bottom line is that Happy Barber is the best $8-$9 cut in San Diego, period. read more

This place is a hidden gem literally, but one thing you must keep in mind you have to be SPECIFIC! For those users giving negative reviews, it's obvious they failed to tell the barber what to do. Their only as good as the description of the style that you want, if you're vague well you're going to get what you asked for. It's detrimental that you're specific! So be specific! If you don't want the front of your head lined (Something I failed to tell them once and sure enough they lined it and I walked out feeling like a ghetto rapper.) tell them so! I can't say I've had a bad experience, but personally I try to stay away from the female barber and aim more towards the younger Barbers, and the old guy is alright, and their all extremely nice to you unlike other locations such as bigger chain Barber shops. You simply can't beat 8 dollars, and I always tip since I figure what I was paying before at Super Cuts (a stupendous 17+ dollars) is well worth the 1 dollar tip to spare. So go in and give them a try and out of pure emphasis for the love of god be detailed/descriptive on what you want, don't just sit there like a moron expecting a miracle out of a unclear description. These Vietnamese Barbers know what their ,doing 4 Stars! read more

I moved here in August and quickly looked for a place to get a good haircut for cheap. I came here and it was just what I wanted. Happy Barber has not disappointed me in the two times I have gone. The atmosphere is nice. It seems like a family run place as the men that cut are from a wide range of age and they often speak softly to one another in their native language. Haircut was fine and I ended up giving them an even $10 both times so far. A previous reviewer mentioned they have a number system like at a deli. The second time I went I took a number, but noticed the system was not on even though there was a wait, so maybe they don't use it anymore. I waited probably 10-20 minutes on a Sunday afternoon. Not bad at all. read more

As someone who hates long lines, appointment systems, and above all, expensive haircuts, this is my go-to barber as this place will hook you up with a 10 dollar fresh cut in under 10 minutes. Their service is kinda like this review: short, but efficient. read more

Gave the hubby a pretty decent cut for $8!

Not a bad barber, I've been here once and the line was about 10 deep on a wednesday afternoon. The staff was very friendly and the haircuts were done fairly quick. I always get a low skin fade and I walked out of here a happy guy to say the least. I paid $11 for my haircut so I am not complaining! I know they have a second shop closer to my house so I'll most likely be visitng that one from now on if the service is just like this one. I would recomend this shop for a family, its perfect place to bring the boys. read more

I have always been happy with the way they cut my hair, and I should have probably given them a 5 months ago. My best friend in the whole world went there today for a haircut. He walked in looking like Machete with a bad 'fro, and walked out looking better than Antonio Banderas. Yeah, it doesn't get any better than that!! read more