Islands Burgers in Mira Mesa delivered one of the most attentive dining experiences I've had in a long time. From the moment I called, someone answered on the first ring. When we arrived, Lena provided prompt, friendly, and genuinely attentive service from start to finish. To top it off, Manager Tim stopped by our table to make sure everything was going well. The food was spectacular. Combined with the outstanding service, it made for an exceptional dining experience. It's incredibly rare to find this level of hospitality anymore. Tim should be proud of the team he's leading, and the owner should be proud of the culture they've created. Great food is important, but exceptional service is what keeps people coming back, and this staff absolutely delivered. Experiences like this have become so uncommon that they deserve to be recognized. Thank you for reminding us what outstanding customer service looks like. read more

Islands Restaurant - Burgers Near Me - San Diego, California

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Anytime I visit San Diego, Island's is always a MUST stop before I go home. However, this might be the last visit to this location. My family came in around 9p. The evening started out great, vibe is always nice. Waitress was nice and took our orders. Double checked and asked again when there were substitutions. The drinks and food were coming out quickly. Everyone was enjoying and eating, except me because my food never arrived. At this point we hadn't seen our waitress and was looking for someone to flag down. There happened to be a gentleman walking around in a hula shirt, maybe a manger, and we asked if he could either find our waitress or find out what happened to my food. He came back to say that something happened and for some reason my order didn't get put in. They would hurry to work on it and they would comp the meal. Ok, that's fine. The waitress came back, apologized, double checked my order, but didn't even look at me and spoke to someone else at the table and when I corrected her on something, didn't even look up. Disappointed. Then, when they finally brought out my order, it was completely wrong. Incorrect burger: Thousand Island instead of the Longboarder. Wheat instead of white bun. Fries instead of onion rings. I hope they actually gave me the plant based patty. I can forgive that maybe my order was accidently deleted when she was entering orders. But, if you're trying to remedy the situation at least get the order correct especially when you come back out to double check it. I didn't even bother letting them know the order was wrong because everyone at my table was almost done eating and the restaurant was closing in 15+ minutes. Maybe that was another reason the order came out wrong because they were rushing due to it almost being closing time? I don't know, but that still shouldn't be an excuse because I deserve to get what I ordered, comped or not. So disappointed. I would still recommend them for their yummy food because it still is my favorite burger restaurant in SD. That is why they are getting 3 stars, but this will probably be my last time coming to this location in Mira Mesa. read more

If you are looking for a place where the vibes are high and the prices for alcohol are actually reasonable in this economy, the happy hour here is your new sanctuary. Honestly, the service is so on point you will barely have time to finish one drink before the next one is magically appearing in front of you. The sliders are the undisputed MVP of the menu. They are small, delicious, and exactly what you want when you are three drinks deep and trying to convince yourself you are "just having a light snack." However, be warned: once that happy hour clock strikes its final hour, the menu prices start looking like they were written by someone who thinks a side of fries should cost as much as a small down payment on a house. The rest of the food is definitely tasty, but your wallet will definitely feel the sting once you realize you just paid premium prices for what is essentially "elevated" bar food. Stick to the cheap drinks, crush a plate of sliders, and enjoy the great service. Just maybe don't look too closely at the dinner menu unless you are feeling particularly wealthy. Happy Hour is a good go to for the area but you don't wanna visit outside of it. I mean there are worse islands to visit IKYK but this one doesn't require a trip with the TSA read more

10/10 experience! Kenny was our server and he was so great. We came during happy hour and got chips and guac. My burger was pretty decent, and the sweet potato fries were seasoned well. What stood out the most was the great service even from the hosts +food runners! read more

Islands Restaurant - Garden Burger - Burgers Near Me - San Diego, California

5 stars for the service. Kenny was our waiter and was very attentive and interactive with our kiddo. Genuinely great service. Josiah also stopped by our table frequently to bus plates and was so kind. Food was pretty good, as expected from islands but really great service :) read more

Impressed with the Hawaiian decor and feel. Plenty of TV's with variety of different channels. One of the TV's was playing "The Surf Network" playing which we didn't know was a thing. Food was pretty good. My wife took a gamble on the tacos and she liked them. Cheddar fries hit the spot when we were hungry. Burger was huge and it made a mess when I ate it but it was delicious. 7/10 place to eat. 5 being average read more

Islands Restaurant - Hula Burger - Burgers Near Me - San Diego, California

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My friend and I came in for some dinner and gossip, and yes the tea was piping hot lollllll. And I'm glad we had some good food to munch on while discussing all of it! Started off with a chocolate shake, so thick and delicioussssss. Then we got onion rings to share, and they were perfectly crispy. Then I got a Malibu burger, but I forgot to snap a pic before I completely devoured it :( highly recommend their ranch on the side, it's perfect for dipping whatever your little heart desires. Our server, Kiera was an absolute doll, she provided great service and excellent recommendations. She was very attentive and was busting her butt keeping everything clean and everyone in the seating area happy. There's plenty of parking, which is great, plus there's a lot of stores in the vicinity so you can walk around a little bit after dinner. read more

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I've been here many times and my favorite item is the cool breeze smoothie! I usually also get a burger and fries which are always consistently good. Today I opted for a moa kai tuna sandwich and cool breezes to go. Everything was delicious as always but can't give 5 stars because apparently they don't put a maraschino cherry on top of the cool breeze anymore so that's sad. Next time I eat in the restaurant, I plan to still ask for one since they probably still have them since it's a bar too, but didn't bother asking on the takeout order. read more

Headed up for lunch with coworkers. This time I ordered the Maui burger. I always enjoy a really clean restaurant and bar. This place is absolutely spotless. Service is good. read more

Islands Restaurant - Maui burger - Burgers Near Me - San Diego, California

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Tuna sandwich was awesome and fresh and the sweet potato fries were crispy and salty. Our server was top notch and gave us refills without asking (I like that). The venue has a beautiful warm island beach vibe that is enjoyable day or night! Can't wait to eat here again! read more

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Great spot to grab a burger or in this case a burger salad! Their sweet potato fries are delish too! The service was quick and although they did not have the bowl I originally ordered the burger salad was a really good choice. The ambiance is casual and chill they have lots of screens to be able to catch a sports game too! And although it was not happy hour time the menu advertised some pretty good deals I'll have to go back to check out! read more

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I went to the restaurant with my six children, and the waitresses gave me dirty looks and didn't want to serve me. read more

Islands Restaurant - that they won't serve me until a male waiter shows up - Burgers Near Me - San Diego, California

We were looking for a place to get a drink and a dessert. Upon striking out at several places,i didn't realize how hard this was going to be. Seems you can do one or the other. We found Islands. Living in the Carolinas, this place looked like the tacky chains we find around Myrtle Beach. This chain may look like those, but it was a step ahead. Service was good, so we're the drinks, we got to watch Duke win on their multiple tvs and we had very delicious desserts. We sure will be back. read more

My first time here for happy hour. They have a pretty good happy hour menu with multiple items to choose from at a reasonable price. My mangorita was too sweet and it could use a bit more alcohol.i also got sliders (three mini sliders for only $7). I loved crunchy caramelized onion. The hours are good too (3:30-6:30). The space is good for group gatherings. I appreciate that they were able to do individual checks. I'll def come here more often from now on. read more

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We were on our way to the cinema and I was really craving a burger and there it was - Islands, just by the movie theatre. We went it, ordered some sweet potato fries, lettuce wrap burger and soda. Good service, delicious food, and decent portion size. Overall really good read more

Islands Restaurant - Burgers Near Me - San Diego, California

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SAN DIEGO, CA: April 2025. Late night decision to find something to eat that's on the lighter side. Anything open around 8:30 PM seemed to be on the heavy side, especially in an unknown food territory. I saw that this was a not a five star chain restaurant, debated, but glad I chose here. I was greeted immediately, seated immediately, server came immediately. I like that menus were on the table so I could start food cruising immediately. $17.59 for most salads. Prices were a bit on the high side, yet seemed average as meals are heading to the $20 range everywhere save for In-n-Out. Islands had some protein bowls for only $10 which sounded like what I needed. But after reading the ingredients of the Kaanapali Kobb salad, ordered that without regrets. Crisp greens mixed with blue cheese crumbles, diced tomatoes & scallions, bacon, hard egg, avocado, and generous strips of grilled chicken. Chicken was plentiful, tender and thankfully not overcooked. Mind you this was not a high-end elevated salad, but it was very good, solid "Kobb" salad. Fresh and crisp. Nice portion. I would order it again. I don't usually point out a server because sometimes it seems...pointless. This young server named Lena was so genuinely cheerful on a holiday weekend who, despite being nearly closing time, displayed the cheerfulness of someone just starting a shift on the first day on the job. Lena went above and beyond. She won't be there long because that girl will soon be a college grad or be stepping up the corporate ladder. Kudos. Hence the five stars for service for a decent four star salad. read more

Islands Restaurant - Kaanapali Kobb - Burgers Near Me - San Diego, California

We extend our sincere gratitude to Aman (spelling?) for his exceptional service, efficiency, and professionalism during our recent graduation and retirement celebration with our family and friends. The entire experience was stress-free and seamless, ensuring that we had an unforgettable time. We highly recommend this establishment for future events and will continue to consider them for our needs. read more

Six of us were seated on the patio, then did not see another staff member for almost 20 minutes. We ordered drinks and nachos. They delivered the nachos with small plates. She also brought five napkins, and no silverware. Three of the plates were extremely dirty. It happens, so we asked for more. She brought back only two plates, and there was a ton of food stuck between those two as well. Ended up getting my own plates. We had not complained at all, yet a manager came over to complete our order. He apologized for a rough start, and said he was there to make the rest of our visit better. They took our order, and it took more than 30 more minutes for our food to come. Only two out of the six burgers were cooked as ordered. One batch of fries was extremely cold. And to top it all off, I popped open the ketchup bottle, and there was a large hair stuck to the spout. All in all, not an experience I would care to repeat. read more

We love going here cause it's close to our home. We go here to celebrate different occasions and just for dinner sometimes cause of their appetizers. Kids love their chill fries and wings. They always have fast service and waiters are very attentive. The place has a nice causal vibe which is relaxing while eating. Got to try their desserts they are so yummy. read more

Understaffed. I went during lunch or perhaps after the lunch rush at 3pm. Tables were dirty. There was one person behind the bar serving everyone. I ordered what I thought would be quick. A small soup and garden salad. The soup appeared what was left at the very bottom. I was given a dirty spoon. I won't be eating at this location again. read more

First step through the doors, the decoration and overall vibe is comfortable, open, & quaint. The TV options are diverse and their menu is full of dishes every family member will enjoy (fries, salads, burgers & so many other yummy options)! We came here for a quick drink before our movie & the smile & demeanor of our hosts' face - I believe his name was Josiah? I hate that I forgot, but the host and our waiter (Jimmy) - really made this pit stop transform into a place to revisit. Plus the yummy drinks! Cheers! read more

I'm pretty Meh about Islands, but I have friends who are big fans. They offer plenty of seating, and it's an easy spot to hit up. Mostly a beer and burger type of place. Prices are a bit high (SD pricing?). It's not a go-to spot for me. But I'll go if friends wanna grab a quick bite. read more

The food is delicious and the service is very quick and the waitress was very nice and kind. This is my go too for good food! And the Ambiance is very nice and is like a Hawaii bar/Grill! read more

Islands Restaurant - The Shorebird Sandwich - Burgers Near Me - San Diego, California

Fantastic service. The manager stopped by to check on us. I love that. Food was amazing and great value for the price. Highly recommend. Ample free parking. Next to movie theater area. Go grab a meal asap! Sign up for the club for free chips and guac. read more

I haven't been to an Island's in awhile, but used to go often back in the day. It made me kinda happy with nostalgia because it looks exactly like it did in the early 2000's, but in a good clean way. This location seemed well kept. I was happy to see that they still offer a real veggie patty, in addition to an impossible patty. You choose what type of burger you want, just sub for a veggie patty for free. I ordered the longboarder which has thousand island dressing, but with a veggie patty. It comes with fries, but I requested a garden salad instead. They charged $1.85 extra.. which is honestly kinda crazy considering the burger itself was $17.39. Aside from that, the garden salad was a perfect size, and I enjoyed the cucumbers, carrots, and tomatoes in it. The burger was good, however I wished grilled onions was offered. OR, I really don't mind raw onion, but when it's 1/2" thick, noooo! Why is this acceptable? Lol. I recommend 3-5 thinly sliced onions, and then it's easier to eat instead of sliding all over the place. I made such a mess in front of my friends. Haha! Service was pretty good for a party of 6 for a Friday lunch. The server was smiley, attentive, and brought some kind of joy to the rainy weather we were having. read more

Islands Restaurant - Veggie Longboarder burger with a garden side salad - Burgers Near Me - San Diego, California

Thankful Islands was open on Christmas Eve following church service. Service was great and efficient. Our server was attentive and always smiling and accommodating, I ordered #BeachsideSliders which I had before but the meat was lacking this time. I love pickles and it came with lots of them and it made up for the lack of meat. The #CheddarFries was loaded with cheese and scallions and very yummy Maybe since it was near closing they were skimpy on the meat but everything else went well. read more

Islands Restaurant - Burgers Near Me - San Diego, California

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We are enjoying the blue Consisting of blue cheese dressing red onion lettuce and tomato, blue cheese crumbles and you pick white or wheat bun. Beach bowl is yummy w grilled pineapple, bell peppers edamame and water chestnuts, scallions and broccoli. Choice of hoisin or teriyaki sauce. Drinks, sunny blonde and super delicious mai tai! A/C cranked up, nice tv's and the Celtics are celebrating 2024 NBA title! Alareece gave us such good cheerful service and I was very impressed with a waitstaff that was not our waiter that came by to clear some dishes. Good teamwork read more

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Service started strong but slowly got sloppy. Decided to stop in around 7pm for dinner. Server got our drinks right away. Thursday night football was on. Food came out in a reasonable time and was cooked correctly. Food server asked if we needed anything else and we asked for ranch but they never came back with it. Was already half way through my meal before our original server checked on us. Took the server a long time to reappear so we could pay the bill. After paying, I asked for the receipt and it looked like the server was going to get it. Saw him minutes later going to cash out the tables in the outdoor patio. I'll prob just go to in-n-out next time. read more

Islands Restaurant - Burgers Near Me - San Diego, California

Upon arrival my husband and I were immediately greeted by the hose and sat at a small booth, it was a very snug fit so I asked to be moved to a more comfortable table. We were then were sat at a more comfortable table for us. Our server Emmy came to our table with napkins and coasters and asked us what we'd like to drink. I ordered a root beer and my husband ordered a coke. I had a coupon for a free order of chips with guacamole and salsa, so I presented that to the server. She entered my code in and brought us our drinks and gave us a few more minutes to decide what we'd like to eat. Our server brought us the chips and took our food order. I ordered the Yaki tacos and my husband ordered the Kilauea burger with fries. We really liked the chips with guacamole and salsa, although the guacamole needed a little more salt(which we added ourselves). Our dinners came out scattered, which I did not like. My husband's fries and burger came out atleast 5 minutes before my tacos. My husband liked the fries and his burger, he says he'd definitely get it again. My Yakima tacos were very good, although I wish there was more chicken and more teriyaki sauce in them. You could tell all the ingredients was very fresh, which we appreciated. On our way out, I did see a few tables that still looked like they hadn't been cleaned up and that was unappealing. Overall it was a good experience and we'd definitely come back again. It was a decent price and alot of food, we even took home alot of our dinners and chips too. read more

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This islands has a great vibe and service is consistently good. The bar has great seating and cocktail drinks. We love their toucan chicken sandwich and long boarder burger with fries. It's our family favorite. We love to grab a bite and cocktail here before the movies next door. It always fun, delicious and friendly here. Love it! read more

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It's been a long time since we've dined at this location. The last time we were here they must have been short on servers as we had to wait a long time receive our food. So we decided to give this place another chance. Chris was our server. He was kindhearted, attentive and personable. We ordered the following ... *Tempura Green Beans -Served with Huli Huli dipping sauce. Those are so crisp and delicious! *Fish Tacos -Three corn tortillas stuffed with cabbage, cilantro, chipotle white sauce & pico de gallo. Those were good but the white sauce was dolloped a lot on top of it. Would have been nice if I had the choice to put how much I wanted on myself. *Beach Bowl -Fresh grilled pineapple, red bell peppers, edamame, water chestnuts, red onion, broccoli & diced scallions. Served over white rice. with teriyaki and w/grilled chicken My Dads favorite go to meal. Can't go wrong with this choice. It's healthy, full of vegetables and prepared perfectly. *We also ordered 2 Chicken teriyaki beach bowls and 1 beach bowl with fish to go. Again this visit was nice, good food,service was great and we appreciate it. read more

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Service and food are still solid. Just a bit pricey, but they have happy hour! A/C was pumping and what we needed this summer. read more

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our go to place for was family meal. been coming here with the kids forever. the people working at this restaurant are always friendly and polite. and always digging the music here. the place is consistently busy which is a good sign for a places that's been here for 20+ years. i always get the hula burger. consistently good. the fries can get salty sometimes. but we always enjoy our meal here. positive experience. read more

I had not eaten at islands in yeaaaaars, but my daughter and her friends wanted to grab lunch there (today around 1:30) after seeing a movie next door. Honestly the food is just normal chain food, but I'm giving it 5 stars because the service was excellent. We were the annoying customers who changed seats to the shade because we got too hot, then kept asking for condiments and refills. Our server (whose name I THINK was Kenny) was exceptional! So helpful and friendly. As someone who waitressed for years, I really appreciate good service and hope he is recognized:) read more

I went here with a larger group about 10 people and the majority needed split checks. Michael our waiter was so incredibly kind and patient. I know split checks are a nightmare for servers but he didn't even bat an eye. Food was great as always and I brought a lot of picky eaters and he was able to adjust as needed. For sure a nice lunch for all. read more

After a long day of moving a burger at Islands is the way to go. We haven't been in so long so it was nice to visit again and have a classic tasty burger. I always forget that there are many other options on the menu but I have always gone with a burger and fries and their secret seasoning! Their new (well new to me) bowls on the menu also sounded super good so I will definitely be getting one to try next time we go back! And if you are a soup person don't miss out on the chicken tortilla soup during happy hour. Our food came out so fast which was awesome as well! read more

Every time I go. The service is great. The burgers are amazing. And not to mention the fact the restaurant makes you feel welcome to be there. read more

Islands Restaurant - Burgers Near Me - San Diego, California

Disappointing take out today, they forgot all our sauces and our burger wasn't cooked correctly. We eat at this location fairly often. Biggest criticism is for the take out, its food and bagging of the order can be inconsistent. Eating in is more consistent. read more

For a $17 Chop Chop Salad, they didn't shop up much, maybe two to three pieces of avocado, a fell small pieces of tomatoes and onion and yes, lots of lettuce...on top of that they want a great tip...but if your salad doesn't measure up...and homeless backyard garden can provide better ingredients and quantity...like seriously you are charging $17 for a chicken salad and your main solid ingredient is the chicken, you are serving $3.00 at best for chicken..you can't really justify the poor servings for what you charge in your salad..and as prices keep rising in CA, quantity and quantity are expected read more

Food, service, and ambiance are just okay at this restaurant. I had ordered a Quesadilla, Diet Coke, and Sundae. Quesadilla was basic with just cheese and came with sour cream and sauces. Sundae included vanilla ice cream like the kind you get in a tub at a grocery store drizzled with a little chocolate sauce...nothing special. I will likely not be returning. read more

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