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    Hodad's

    4.1 (3.2k reviews)
    ModerateBurgers, American
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Order Hodad's Takeout or Delivery

    Hodad's Photos

    Business Info

    HODAD'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Loud
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

    Recommended Reviews - Hodad's

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    Reviews With Photos

    A very large shareable portion of Fringos - 20 large onion rings piled high atop a lot of wedge fries.
    Candice F.

    This place used to be packed, but then again, we used to come when it was during Comic Con weekend. Today we arrived on a midweek lunch hour and there was immediate plenty of seating. Service was swift. Menu is the same but probably with higher prices. We remember that the portion sizes were on the larger side, so we decided to order small and even split some plates. We ordered the four piece chicken tenders, mini bacon cheeseburger, and the grilled chicken sandwich. To add on fries or onion rings, there is an additional charge of either $4.50 or $5.50, respectively. So prices on top of your main item can definitely get pricey. Food flavors and presentation seemed average like your standard diner type restaurant. Nothing was remarkable. Just solid.

    Chocolate shake
    Cat B.

    Bacon cheeseburger was pretty good. Fries were good. Kids said chicken strips were yummy. Chocolate shake was tasty. Service was pleasant.

    Single bacon cheeseburger
    Eliko S.

    We grabbed a late lunch at Hodad's today. We waited a few minutes by the entrance, and we were then seated at a high-top table. Our orders were taken quickly, and large waters with lemon were brought out to us. Our burgers came out in about 7 minutes and they were just what the doctor ordered. :) My chicken burger was especially delicious, and I'd asked for extra pickles, and let's just say that the Hodad's chefs did not disappoint. There had to be at least 15 pickles on this bad boy. YUM! Onion rings were crispy and delicious. M. loved his burger and as usual, his only complaint was that he wished it was bigger. Haha. We enjoyed our food and the fun, kitschy Hodad's dining area. I feel like every time I come here, I spot something on the walls, or dangling from somewhere, that I haven't seen before. It's always a good time at Hodad's and it is certainly worth a visit if you haven't been here before. Keep in mind they do have a limited menu (burgers, chicken burgers, veggie burgers, fries, rings, shakes & some beverages and beers.) However, the table next to us ordered shakes and they looked hella good. Next time for us, for sure!! Mahalo!

    Bacon Cheeseburger
    Isaac J.

    If you are visiting or even local to san diego most people would recommend Hodad's. I mean it's kind of hard to miss, they are even at most big venues like Petco park and the new snapdragon stadium. Upon entering this location downtown the theme gives off a rebellious punk rock theme. It also feels very old school skater vibes as well . There are many things to look at and overall it's a nice blast in the past for scenery. I ordered the bacon cheeseburger , and strawberry malt milkshake. It's a solid burger joint. The patty was cooked to perfection, very juicy and tender bite. The cheese was excellent and complimented the meal very well. You can taste the combo of the juicy patty and melty American cheese. The condiments of the onion, tomato and pickles are subtle but refreshing. The applewood bacon however ...... i wish it was not hard as a rock. Maybe skip out on the bacon and just get the cheeseburger. The fries were also a nice addition to the meal. They are your standard potato wedge fries. The strawberry milkshake was a nice addition as well. Very creamy, sweet and a nice big generous portion. If you dont end up finishing your shake you can also ask for a to go cup and you can take that monster back home with you. The service was exceptional. Staff were very friendly and food was gave out hot and ready. Overall if you're craving a good burger joint, this is the place to go too. Will definitely be coming back again.

    Just a few minutes of walking and you're to the beach!
    Debra S.

    This joint is eclectic and right next to Ocean Beach. Like the surrounding areas, it's quite a unique looking place. Represents people from everywhere with its many license plates! Food wasn't anything crazy, like the decor. Was crazy good though, if you really want to add crazy to that part of the review. The burger was cooked to perfection and full of fresh ingredients that made my tastebuds happy! The onion rings were also cooked to a nice crispy, golden brown. Don't need to order the big burger unless sharing with someone else or if you are super hungry. The small portion filled me full. Definitely recommend if in the area.!

    GUIDO
    Kristin S.

    So good! Came here with some friends and everyone loved it. I had the guido burger and it was amazing!! Onion rings were also very tasty. Friendly staff, and nice laid back vibe of the restaurant

    Guido burger
    Bernadette S.

    was craving a burger and my coworker asked if i ever tried this place. I never heard of it an apparently it is a san diego staple. I read that it got more popular with out of towners and gained more visibility due to it being shown on diners drive in and dives. I waited two weeks for my burger craving to be fulfilled (work team decided to do the monthly lunch here so i could try it lol). This place did not disappoint! Firstly, its street parking. Be mindful that in the area that it is in, there's a lot of no left turns and one ways lol. Took me 20 minutes to figure out how to get to the meter parking across the street but because of the one ways and no left turns, it became an adventure lol. I looked at the front of the place and asked my fellow san diego natives, is this open?? It looked abandoned haha! But that's their gimmick apparently. Walked in to see a big place, about 8 booths, one long table. It is table service. We were seated immediately. my coworker and i split the guido burger, half size frings, and strawberry milkshake. Wow. The half sized frings is big enough to share with 3-4 people. The onion rings sold me. So crisp and the onions were sweet. Potato wedges were good too but the star was the onion rings. Glad we split the burger because even half size it was huge. Very delicious! Milkshake was a huge portion and was yummy and Balanced the salty from the burger. They told me to check the location by the beach to get the true experience. the food is filling and it ended up being my only meal of the day. Staff were very nice. they do have high chairs as well for the little ones. definitely will come back.

    Mark K.

    ABSOLUTELY THE BEST TIME here Friday night for my alleged '60th' bday, I still claim that I am 29. All the staff was FABULOUS, ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC! Our server, everyone! Thank you thank you for a great time and GREAT food!

    Mini Cheeseburger
    Raisa B.

    It was our first time in San Diego last week, and we were told that we had to visit Hodad's. We chose the downtown location, and headed there straight from the airport. It was 2:30 on a Thursday, and it was super easy to find parking right around the corner at a meter. When we walked in, we were blown away by the ambience! License plates, stickers, and other fun art all over the walls and booths. There was a ton of seating, and we were greeted right away. We placed our orders within five minutes, and received our food really quickly. The burgers were giant, and the fries portions were huge. Half-price beer and milkshakes every day from 2 to 6? How can you beat that?! They brew their own beer, and the four we tried were really good. The milkshakes were humongous! The looks on my kids' faces when they brought them out to the table were priceless. Needless to say, we had to get some to-go cups because they could barely even finish half. Great service, delicious, messy burgers, good beer, and great shakes. What's not to love?!

    Kristin M.

    Stopped in here for a dinner before attending a nearby show at the House Of Blues. Hodad's is perfectly within walking distance of House of Blues, so I highly recommend coming in for a burger next time you're pre-gaming for a show. This whole place is fun to look at, with funny license plates, surf boards, and the walls covered in Hodad's stickers. The music is vibing and not too loud to carry on a conversation, with a mixture of punk, rock, punk rock, and metal. There's ample seating with a bus booth (probably seats 3ish comfortably, 7 four top booths, one long picnic table with 8 seating benches that would sit two comfortably on each bench, and 4 high top tables. There was a basketball game playing on their three tvs for those that love a bit of sports with their meals. Our server Anson was the highlight of the meal other than the food. He has this confident calm demeanor with a seriously wicked smile and he was so nice and patient, giving us some great recommendations! We opted to try the Guido burger as it's mentioned it was inspired by Guy Fieri, and basket of frings. The fries are those amazing thick wedge fries and were so perfectly seasoned and the rings and fries were so perfectly crispy and hot. Definitely fresh made. The Guido burger was juicy, flavorful, and everything you would want in a burger. Can't wait to come back soon next time I'm seeing a show at HOB or just for a fun night out.

    Mini bacon cheeseburger with onion rings
    Julee W.

    If you're in the mood for a burger, this is the place to go. The mini burgers come in at a sixth of a pound, while the singles are a third of a pound, and they definitely don't skimp on toppings. Expect a burger stacked high and overflowing in the best way. The bacon is more like a thick patty than traditional strips, which was a pleasant surprise. The fries were soft and almost mashed-potato-like in texture, but the onion rings were the real standout. They were easily the star of the meal. Service was excellent as well. Our waiter was friendly, attentive, and helpful with recommendations, which made the experience even better.

    Katie F.

    With a line down the block at the OB location (always!), we stopped into this location after a Padres win, to see what the fuss was about. I'd rate this spot a solid 3.5. Here's why: STAR#1: Location is easy to find amidst the buildings of downtown and wasn't all that crowded. The interior is a smattering of old license plates, meets fun graffiti and an old bus sits in the corner - that anyone can dine in! The vibe is surfer meets metal (as that was blasting throughout the space) and we felt right at home. STAR #2: The menu is small but mighty - in the sense that it offers all that it excels at making! We opted for the little bacon cheeseburgers with one side of fries and the other, onion rings. Our burgers came out about 15 minutes later, piled hiiiiiiiiiigh with fixings (lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, mayo, ketchup and mustard) which made it hard to see our little burger patty. Lesson learned - order the regular sized burger if you're looking for a more meat taste. The burgers were fresh, delicious and huge - despite being "little". Solid burger! The wedge fries were a nice touch, lump and aplenty. The onion rings were perfectly fried, not heavily breaded and SO good as well! YUM! STAR #3: Pricing is decent for these massive babies in that it was under $40 for two - yay! Worth it! I'll knock 2 stars off for the following: Service. I hate to say it, but this location was massively understaffed. We were greeted right away, but with the dirty tables, it took a bit to clean the space for us to be seated. Our server was friendly but also taking care of the entire dining space and pouring drinks behind the bar. A few others came in and out - bussing tables, saying hello and giving refills, but the overall vibe was kind of chaotic in that everyone was doing everything for every table. BAH. Cleanliness. When we entered, tables were strewn with dirty baskets, napkins and just overall unkept. The floors were sticky; the bathrooms were messy with an overflowing trash can and I got the overall impression of yikes. Otherwise, I'd return to this spot for a burger again!

    Inside
    Jean T.

    I arrived for a pretty late lunch since I was in the area for a conference and have been meaning to try out Hodads. I came around 3 PM on a Monday and there was no one else in the shop but me which meant I got super quick service. I opted for the single cheeseburger with onion rings and a Dr. Pepper. The burger was pretty good and the onion rings were amazing. It was definitely worth the 20 minute walk that it took to get there. I'd go back in the future just for the onion rings alone! The best part is that they give you 2 stickers at the end of your meal! I'm pretty sure you're supposed to stick the stickers on the walls of the establishment somewhere but I wanted to take mine.

    Mini Cheeseburger & CHILI BURGER

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    Page 1 of 80

    Hodad's Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Hodad's

    Does Hodad's accept ebt (food stamps) for meals?

    No they don't

    Do they provide nutritional info?

    Not that I saw

    Where is the best place to park at the Downtown location?

    The best place to park for Hodads downtown is the parking lot on the southwest corner of 11th ave and broadway, just around the block from the restaurant.

    Do you do Lettuce Wraps instead of a Bun?

    Yes

    Can you dine in?

    Right now, Yes. We do have indoor dining at our Downtown San Diego location. This could change if the County goes to the more restrictive Purple tier in the coming weeks

    Do the bacon burgers still come with a patty of bacon or is it in strips now?

    They still come with bacon patties.

    When are the least busy times to go?

    Weekdays M-Th opening and mid day after lunch. Depends on what's going on in DT. Or gloomy days!

    Do they have gluten-free options, like gluten-free buns or lettuce-wrapped burgers? I'm assuming that the fries are cooked in the same fryer as the onion rings and therefore aren't gluten-free?

    I don't know honestly. Just call the restaurant. I am sure they will be happy to tell you

    What's in the veggie burger?

    Hi Hana. We are offering a new Vegan Patty in addition to our Veggie Patty (mostly brown rice, bulgur, mushrooms & cheese)… 

    Is this place baby friendly? High chairs available?

    They do offer high chairs, but the place tends to be loud.... my guess is it's fine with kids/toddlers, but would depend on parent preferences :)

    Is it dog friendly here?

    No, no patio in OB or downtown

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Rosemarie’s - Little Sal... your flavors are hard to put into words.

    Rosemarie’s

    4.6(597 reviews)
    7.5 mi
    $$

    Service was great. Waitress was holding the place down by herself very impressively…read more I got the famous rosiemac burger double patty and it was very delicious however I think the cheese may have overpowered it and I think next time I would choose one without the cheese completely. Onion rings were ok. Nothing to rave about honestly. The seasoning on it made them seem nicer but I think it just took away from a good ol fashioned onion rings, they also added a seasoning to the ranch to pair with the onion ring and I wasn't a huge fan. Next time I definitely want to try a different burger and opt for the elote fries or no fries at all. I'm just happy to finally be able to cross this place off my list of must tries, lol. Looking forward to my next visit

    WuzupWuzup! Location…read moreis fairly small, but does it pack that punch with flavor and great customer service. I've gone here several times and each experience has always lived up to the great expectation of each burger I've tried. Prices are a little up there given "the size" of the burgers, but you're paying for the ingredients and quality of it. The flavors of each burgers are truly incredible. Everything is fresh, cooked to perfection, and explained very well when brought to the table. I forgot the name of the burger I tried, but it was chicken based that was like a curry infused (it was yellow) and I thought it was a nice edition to the menu. Side note, you might want to wear gloves or eat with knife and fork as you'll be using a lot of napkins for sure (haha) I will continue to show the love for this place and enjoy this as one of my "special treat meals". Thanks for the wonderful experience.

    Photos
    Rosemarie’s - Order desk

    Order desk

    Rosemarie’s - Elote fries

    Elote fries

    Rosemarie’s - Nashville Hot Chicken The Gnar We Have Eggplant

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    Nashville Hot Chicken The Gnar We Have Eggplant

    Rocky's Crown Pub - 1/3 Lb . Hamburger with French Fries

    Rocky's Crown Pub

    4.2(2.1k reviews)
    6.9 miPacific Beach
    $$

    I absolutely love Rocky's. The menu is simple: burger and fries. Great draft beer selection. Stone…read morebuenaveza for me. There is a nice ocean/bay breeze through the bar and plenty of tables and stools to sit at. TVs for watching sports are always on. The bartenders and wait staff are quick to take your order and friendly. Bicycle racks are outside to lock your bike to. This is a great local bar. Check it out!

    Rocky's Burgers is a casual burger spot located in Pacific Beach, known for its juicy burgers,…read moresimple menu, and convenient location in a busy beachside area with a laid-back, local vibe. Pros: I got the half-pound burger with fries and it was really good overall. The burger was super juicy, well-cooked, and had that classic hearty, satisfying taste you want from a solid burger spot. The portion size was generous, especially with the half-pound patty, and the fries were a great side to round out the meal. The location in Pacific Beach is also a big plus. It's in a great area with lots going on, so it's easy to grab food and walk around afterward or make it part of a beach day. The overall vibe of the spot feels casual and fitting for PB--nothing overly fancy, just good comfort food done right. Cons: Since it's in a busy beach area, parking and crowds can be a bit of a challenge depending on the time you go. It's more of a casual grab-and-go or quick dine-in spot, so don't expect a sit-down restaurant experience with a lot of space or quiet seating. During peak beach hours, it can also get pretty busy. Verdict: Overall, Rocky's Burgers is a great spot in Pacific Beach if you're craving a juicy, satisfying burger in a fun beachside area. The half-pound burger and fries hit the spot, and it's a solid choice for a casual meal before or after hanging out in PB.

    Photos
    Rocky's Crown Pub
    Rocky's Crown Pub - 1/2 Lb. Cheeseburger aka heaven

    1/2 Lb. Cheeseburger aka heaven

    Rocky's Crown Pub - A pretty thick patty with crispy char. Seemed a bit smaller than 1/2lb burgers that I'm used to. $11 in 2024

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    A pretty thick patty with crispy char. Seemed a bit smaller than 1/2lb burgers that I'm used to. $11 in 2024

    The Friendly - OG burger

    The Friendly

    4.2(1.4k reviews)
    3.4 miUniversity Heights, North Park
    $

    Best Smash Burger in San Diego. 2 thin patties with crispy edges, buttery caramelized onions, slice…read moreof American cheese, on a fluffy toasted bun... ZERO MODS... simple - executed to perfection!! Also had a slice of their pepperoni and Jalapeño pizza -- equally delicious. Thin and crispy! Service was super fast! They had a few tables inside and some barstools. They also had some seating outside on the street and an area to just lounge outside and have a slice or grab a burger. Prices were pretty reasonable slices were under five bucks. I think the pepperoni and jalapeño was under four and the burger was eight bucks. Parking in this area always sucks so good luck to that.

    When I tell you this place is a whole vibe and unique experience. We went in on a casual Tuesday…read morelunchtime and boy was I pleasantly surprised. I ordered their burger while my girlfriend ordered a couple of pizza slices. The burger is so simple but let me tell you, that tastes leaving you feeling like you're ready to order that second burger! Their garlic aioli with the onions combo is chefs kiss. I love how the meat is so tender and buttery at each bite. It made me really want to savor the taste and make it last longer. The service was great, our order was out fairly quickly. The workers definitely know what they're doing back there and I hope to make it down here again soon.

    Photos
    The Friendly - Open kitchen

    Open kitchen

    The Friendly - Flat top burger

    Flat top burger

    The Friendly - Dirty Flat Too Cheeseburger to go

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    Dirty Flat Too Cheeseburger to go

    Bonehead Burger Co - Old town burger (Only available the the old town location)

    Bonehead Burger Co

    4.3(289 reviews)
    3.5 miOld Town
    $$
    Veteran-owned & operated
    Family-owned & operated

    Good food and good vibes!! Food was amazing we had to take…read moreit to go. The buffalo breezy sandwich - definitely reminds me of a Nashville Hot chicken from Sun diner TN. A good size chicken breast breaded and with a good amount of buffalo sauce. Bonehead burger - you can have it single or double. However you want it!! It's a combination of smash burger and In-N-Out with boneheads signature sauce. Definitely juicy and delicious. If you're looking for a burger to fill you up. Definitely this is the burger to get. Bonehead tots - excellent choice for shareable meal. Tots with bacon and their signature sauce hits the spot. Bonehead wings - do the wing lovers. The buffalo sauce is spicy and wings full of meat. Great for 1 person or to share. One thing that we did notice is the service. They were very attentive. Being a family owned business they know how to take care of their customers. Definitely recommend them for your next lunch meal.

    For ambiance alone, I would give this place 5 stars. A very chill outdoor patio area with a good…read moreamount of seating, coverage and TVs for sports games, it's a great spot to chill out and relax. For food, I'd give it a 3.5/4 stars. The Bonehead burger alone is $13...it felt like it was almost reminding me of a fast food burger...it was flavorful and overall pretty good, but for $13 I felt it was a rip off. It was mostly toppings of chopped up bacon, fried onions and veggies. Next were the tots, they were a HUGE portion (which I would've appreciated in the burger) and covered in what I can only imagine was that fake nacho cheese in a can. soggy and disappointing. The tots by themselves were delicious and crispy, but covered in the cheese they end up soggy and falling apart. I guess that's on me though to order cheddar cheese, I should've clarified what kind of cheese it would've been. Service was slow, only one person working the front helping people order, cleaning tables, grabbing condiments and bringing food to the tables. They definitely needed another person there to help out. I watched my burger sit under heat lamps for at least 5+ minutes. I had heard good reviews about this place, so I'm glad I tried it but overall just ehh.

    Photos
    Bonehead Burger Co - The award winning Bonehead Burger. BEST. BURGER. EVER.

    The award winning Bonehead Burger. BEST. BURGER. EVER.

    Bonehead Burger Co - BEST. BURGER. EVER.

The Bonehead Burger

    BEST. BURGER. EVER. The Bonehead Burger

    Bonehead Burger Co - Double Bonehead Burger

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    Double Bonehead Burger

    Dukes Old Fashioned Onion Burgers - Double burger 1

    Dukes Old Fashioned Onion Burgers

    4.2(795 reviews)
    8.4 mi
    $$

    This was our second time at Duke's, and once again, they did NOT disappoint! Everything was…read moreabsolutely amazing--from the Keila fries to my chicken sandwich and my boyfriend's burger. Every bite was delicious! Of course, we had to get milkshakes to go, and our absolute favorite is the strawberry shake! the death by chocolate one is a close second!!! It's seriously SO good! The food, quality, and overall experience make this place a 10/10 for us. We'll definitely be back again, and I would highly recommend Duke's to anyone looking for a great meal!

    Duke's Old Fashioned Onion Burgers has become a pretty popular spot in La Mesa. Every time I've…read moredriven by, there's always a steady stream of people coming in and out, so I figured it was finally time to see what the hype was about. They also rotate fun milkshake specials, and when I visited they had an Apple Pie Milkshake that sounded really good. I just wasn't in the mood for something sweet that day. I kept it simple and ordered the Single Onion Burger ($13.95) with mayo, ketchup, and lettuce, plus an order of the Original Fries ($5.75). The onion burger is made with fresh ground beef that's smashed with onions on the grill, and you can customize it with toppings like lettuce, tomato, pickles, jalapeños, cheese, mustard, and ketchup at no extra charge. Bacon is available for an additional charge. The restaurant itself was really clean, and I appreciated the self-serve condiment station stocked with ketchup, spicy ketchup, ranch, plenty of hot sauces, and to-go containers. The fries ended up being my favorite part of the meal. They're fresh cut and double fried, coming out piping hot with a crispy exterior and fluffy center. The portion was also super generous. They packed so many fries that they were spilling outside of the container into the bag. Paired with the ranch and spicy ketchup, they were honestly worth ordering on their own. The burger was a little more disappointing. The patty was overcooked, which made it pretty dry. You could even tell by the color that it had spent a little too much time on the grill. Since I usually keep my burgers pretty simple, there wasn't much to balance out the dryness, so I found myself dipping almost every bite into extra ketchup and ranch just to add some moisture. I can definitely see why Duke's is a neighborhood favorite, and I still like the concept behind their onion burgers. It just didn't completely satisfy the burger craving I walked in with. I'd come back for the fries without hesitation, and I'd be willing to give the burger another shot hoping I caught them on an off day.

    Photos
    Dukes Old Fashioned Onion Burgers - It's at the entrance

    It's at the entrance

    Dukes Old Fashioned Onion Burgers - Garlic Parmesan Fries

    Garlic Parmesan Fries

    Dukes Old Fashioned Onion Burgers - Single Onion Burger 10/10

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    Single Onion Burger 10/10

    Hodad's - burgers - Updated September 2026

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