Swagyu Burger has such a cool and beautiful atmosphere, and the staff and management are always so nice and welcoming. The manager regularly checks in with tables to make sure everything is good, which really makes the experience feel personal and welcoming. Now let's talk about the food -- absolutely delicious. I've tried a lot of items on the menu and honestly haven't had anything I could complain about. The onion rings are my personal favorite and a must-order every time I go. They also have a great beer selection. I'm so happy we have a spot like this downtown! read more

My husband and I stopped by SWagyu hoping to enjoy a happy hour, but we were disappointed to learn they don't actually offer one. That aside, we were warmly greeted by two gentlemen at the door who told us it was open seating and invited us to sit wherever we liked. Before walking in, I asked whether they had a happy hour, and one of the greeters wasn't sure--he suggested we check with our server. It turned out he was one of the servers, and it felt like he just didn't want to lose a potential customer by saying no. Once seated, we looked over the menu, which was fairly limited but clearly focused on burgers. Our server, Olivia, was friendly and upbeat. She recommended the wings (buffalo mixed with their barbecue sauce) and the loaded fries with queso and sautéed onions. We also decided to try the onion rings. When our food arrived, everything looked hot and fresh, but our order wasn't quite right. We got regular fries instead of loaded fries. The food runner offered to fix it, but we asked for the toppings on the side since we were already hungry. It took about ten minutes to get the queso and onions, and unfortunately, the onions weren't great--next time I'd go for extra queso instead. The wings, though, were good--crispy, flavorful, and reasonably priced at about $11 for six pieces. The onion rings were also excellent, crunchy, and golden at around $8. Service-wise, things felt a bit scattered; we didn't receive plates or utensils for the appetizers initially, and our server seemed all over the place, though she remained kind throughout. We ended up having to get our own utensils from another unoccupied table. While I wouldn't make a special trip just for the food, Swagyu has a casual vibe going for it with room for improvement for accuracy of order and customer service when it comes to attentiveness. Their patio overlooks the stadium area, and when the FIFA Cup was on, the big outdoor screen created a lively, energetic atmosphere. If you're in the area before a Padres game or a concert nearby, this spot is convenient for a quick bite in a great atmosphere. As always -- you can thank me later read more

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Excellent spot right across the street from Petco and ideal for pre or post-game food/drinks. Lots of seating both indoors and outdoors and a nice large bar in the center. The decor is a red theme and gives off a nightclub-like feel. They had quite a few staff working but it was sometimes a challenge to flag one of them down. I also got the cheeseburger with no cheese but they forgot to do this. No big deal, they corrected it quickly. I will say the burger was very good along with the fries but feel the price was a little steep for the burger. Overall glad to have tried it and it satisfied my burger craving. read more

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This is one of if not the closet restaurant by Petco Park. We just couldn't find something last minute bc everyone was watching FIFA so we decided on this place bc it wasn't packed and we had front row seats lol. The food is pretty good, I highly recommend the wagyu skewers! It's a smaller portion bc of the type of meat but omgahhhh they get 15 stars for that seasoning! read more

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I've tried about 4-5 of their items now, and honestly they're consistently good! I've had the Katsu Chicken sandwich, OG burger, classic burger, Swagador burger, and the skewer. The skewer was *chef's kiss*! Literally melted in your mouth, pause. Can't go wrong with any of their burgers either! Their service is VERY welcoming and quick. They always have a good playlist going or sports on the tv's. It's a great burger bar with a full bar and delicious food. I'm glad this is literally a couple minutes away from me walking. read more

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We enjoyed our burgers and loaded fries at Swagyu Burger East Village This location is right outside of PetCo Park and easy to get to near the 12th & imperial and Market Trolley Station. We enjoyed the Classic Smashed burger and the OG Swagyu Burger with loaded fries. The smashed burgers had the right amount of seasoning and crisp on the patties. The loaded fries are a MUST try great recommendation by our service Crystal. Cheesy crispy fries with jalapeño cheddar cheese. I rate the burgers 4.5/5 stars, the Loaded fries 5/5. stars and the customer service and atmosphere 5/5 stars. Both Mike and Crystal gave excellent customer service. This location has indoor and outdoor seating and restaurant was very clean. Check it out! Happy Yelping :) read more

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Just a walk across the street but it took us awhile to get over to this joint! Great burger that was cooked properly, great bun, great toppings. The potatoes lacked crispiness before the cheese sauce was added, so it became a bit mushy and lacked texture. Full bar and a few local brew options, bonus! Ambiance is chic pub, service was prompt and friendly, and prices are high because of the touristy area. read more

Swagyu Burger Bar - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

It was an absolute hit. Their smashburger and waffle fries were absolutely perfect. Brandon provided an excellent service and the place is large and very swanky. Great music and a very nice patio. Great place to watch games as well. If you haven't been I say go there...you won't regret it. read more

Swagyu Burger Bar - 1/2LB Smash Burger "OG" and Sweet Potato Waffle Fries - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

This is a delayed review because I completely forgot about it! This was pre-Halloween week. Two friends and I have a quick bite before heading to Old Town. We grabbed seats at the bar. We were served drinks in plastics cups which was a tad off-putting but oh well. We ordered Buffalo Wings, Wedge Salad, two El Swagadors and a Classic Smash Burger. Wings were good, I prefer the flats so it was perfect to share with my friend who likes the drumettes. Nothing special about the Wedge, I've never been a fan of having to cut up my own lettuce. All burgers were juicy and delicious. The brioche bun was quite thick, we ditched most of the bun. The game was on so the place got pretty rowdy. We were joking around with the manager which added to a pleasant experience. Will be back for more, but please use real glassware so I don't feel like I'm at someone Backyard BBQ. read more

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good smash burgers and even better onion rings .. we tried the "classic" and "OG". Place was empty when we strolled in during the afternoon, i am sure this place gets packed during baseball season with its close proximity to petco (across the street) and huge screens all throughout the restaurant. Overall great service, prices were consistent with the area, burgers will get you full! read more

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Cool spot (love the red neon lights and matching bar stools!) but kinda dead on a Sunday afternoon... Didn't wish to simply walk in and walk out, so ordered a 1/2 Lb "OG" Swagyu Burger (two 4 oz Swagyu smash patties with pork belly, smoked onions, pickled serranos, cheese, pickles, secret sauce, potato brioche bun) to quickly split before heading for greener/more happening game day pastures. Service was quite efficient, and the burger as tasty as the mouthwatering menu description suggested, so no regrets for stopping in! read more

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Came here and tried the half pound OG swagyu burger. Wagyu meat has a high fat content, so it allows for the patties to be smashed thin and fried up crispy. The bun was airy and light, which provided a nice contrast. The toppings were light and did not overpower the flavor of the beef. All in all a light, well balanced burger. It's more of a burger snack than a meal burger. In my opinion, wagyu does not make the best hamburger patties, so I'd rather spend the $20 on a burger elsewhere that is larger and comes with sides. The venue looks more like a bar lounge than a restaurant. But it's very nice and upscale inside. read more

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Over the past couple of years, I've been to several locations. It is one of the best burgers in town. Especially if you like more smashed style. Remember, it's a blend.. I'm sure hundred percent Wagyu will be too greasy. And I'm not sure why anyone would eat 100% anyway. We try every time the burger and my son goes for the Katsu cheese as well . Definitely delicious - well balanced burger. Wagyu fries are also recommended... I love the new location near the ballpark. San Diego location is more like a steakhouse... in fact it was a steakhouse before if I'm not mistaken. Set up is beautiful and upscale burger restaurant. Service is also personal and friendly every time we went there. read more

Swagyu Burger Bar - Swagyu burgers before action! Highly recommended! - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Stopped in prior to the baseball game. Great choice as it's right across the street from the stadium. Sat down at the bar and was immediately greeted by the female bar tender. She took our order and proceeded to fill it. The Male bartender, Eugene then asked her to stay on her side. I thought that he was joking but wasn't. We then switched bar positions to her side and he still served us. Eugene the. Asked what we would like to eat. I inquired about the burger and desired to add another patty. He told me the single was big enough and I didn't "need" a double. I told him I was hungry and didn't want to have to order a second order. I then decided to double up on the fries. He then talked me out of that. My food came and I was immediately disappointed. The burgers are small. Not what they appear on the menu. I wish I had just gotten a double as planned. It was not as good as expected. I have never recalled going to a restaurant and the server trying to talk me out of buying more food. Great place to hang out if you just want drinks. Fun people. Just an overall mid experience read more

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Food Price Classic Smash Burger $15 Me & my sister shared as we weren't that hungry. It was a good sized burger and tasted slightly better than an average burger. Nothing too much stood out about it. I wouldn't say it was memorable or anything. Shoe string fries $10 These were not shoe string at all. Just regular fries. When the woman brought it out, we even asked if was shoestring because we expected thin fries. It was just regular. I wouldn't get it again Onion rings (to go) $7 I got these because I really wanted them, so I purposely ordered it to go with the shake. I didn't eat them until the next day. I air fried them. They reheated well and I enjoyed the pic sauce it came with (no pics as i forgot) Drink Salted caramel shake (to-go) don't remember the price. It was one of the better shakes that I've had. Not too thick where it was hard to drink. I got it for my husband and it tasted great from what we were saying on the ride home. Not too sweet or thick. (no pics as i forgot) Service: The woman was very nice and attentive. It did get a little backed up because of Comic Con so none of that was her fault. Ambiance: Very clean and not too dim, okay lit. The aesthetics is red and "edgy" as I would describe it. Parking In downtown, street parking. But we walked because it was during Comic Con. Location 315 Tenth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101 #JeniuneReviews #SanDiego #Jenny #Reviews #Food #Swagyu #Burgers #Shakes #Fries read more

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Good was good overall. I got a burger patty melt that, after looking at the pics, doesn't look very appealing...it was good though! We also got the wings. Really tasty but maybe a couple more minutes frying/cooking would be better. They were a bit "boing-y". The French fries and onion rings were great. It felt like they were pretty understaffed for the day of FanFest but they were extremely courteous and thankful for our patience. The outdoor seating was amazing in such a nice day. read more

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I came in around 3:30 PM on a Tuesday. There was a small group at the bar, but overall it was pretty quiet. It was a weekday and not near lunch or dinner so I can't really speak to how crowded it gets during peak hours. I sat outside and was greeted right away. Dogs are allowed, which is a huge plus. I ordered the OG Wagyu burger. It's a half-pound and seriously massive. I planned on eating only half, but it was so good I finished the whole thing. Easily one of the best smash burgers I've had. Juicy, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. The food came out in under 10 minutes, and the wait staff were incredibly friendly and attentive. Prices are a bit on the higher side. The burger is $20 so after tip you're looking at around $25 for just the burger, no sides. That said, it is Wagyu, and the quality definitely shows. Overall, this is a really cute spot. TVs everywhere for sports, even outside, great food, and awesome staff. I'd absolutely come back. read more

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This place has literally the best burger I've ever tasted. Beyond exceeding my expectation. The sides were also very flavorful. The bun is toasted to perfection, full of fat and flavor. 1/2 lb EL Swagador burger (bottom), 1/4 lb Classic Smash Burger (far top), Ultimate Share Tray (middle) hubby only ate 1/2 of Swagador burgervery filling, recommend the tray for group of 4 or more. However we loved the leftovers read more

Swagyu Burger Bar - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Craving a solid burger? This spot across from Petco Park delivers! Just a heads-up: parking can be a pain, so walking is your best bet. My friend was in the mood for a classic burger, and we landed here. We were seated quickly and chose the patio--perfect weather, comfy high chairs, and a massive outdoor screen set the vibe. Service was great and our server was very attentive. The menu is rather simple so it wasn't hard to decide. We both went for the El Swagador burger with fries. The burger was big, juicy, and packed with flavor--definitely hit the spot. I even saved half for the next day, and it still held up. If you're in the area and craving beef, this place is worth a bite! read more

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Late night snack after a fun time at petco? Yep. Directly located across the street, stopped in on a Friday night and grabbed a bite. There is a large bar area and a few tables on the sides. We were quickly provided menus for both food and drinks and service overall was good. The chicken was just a little overcooked but overall had great flavor. The fries are not included but recommend adding. The pretzel bites came with 3 dipping options and also were a good size. Some of the bites were more cooked than others but overall texture was okay. Although I didn't try any drinks, they had everything you could want. Def recommend stopping in. read more

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Been waiting for them to open and was excited to pop in for a late lunch. A few people at bar. Immediately the bartender comes over. Drink ordered and he gave suggestions. I already knew I wanted to try classic smash and the onion rings. Food came out quickly first bite juicy and full of flavor. The onion rings had a great crunch and weren't greasy. Want to come back at night. Bet the place looks extra sexy. You can get an American waygu cheeseburger for $8.00 hard to beat in downtown. read more

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Swagyu burger Bar recently opened and took the space of R-place across from Petco Park. They have a large indoor bar, not much for other indoor seating and a decent amount of seating on their patio. There is also a giant tv visible for the patio for sporting events. I was expecting a variety of large, classic burgers, but was a bit disappointed when I saw the small menu of smash burgers. They only just opened, so I'm hoping they will expand their menu. They had a few burger options, a few sandwiches, neither of which came with a side. The burgers are a bit pricey in my opinion for not coming with anything. They have sides to share, but honestly portion size wasn't that shareable either. They have a few dessert (shake) options as well. Service: Our server was great. It wasn't busy, but he checked on us as needed and food came out very fast. Food: I got the classic smash burger and my husband got the el swagador. Both were good, but nothing out of this world. The sweet potato waffle fries were great though! Since they also just opened, they didn't have high chairs either, but the chairs actually worked ok for our little one as they were kind of closed in. read more

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This new location just opened in East Village right before opening day of the Padres season. I decided to stop in for lunch to check it out. I used to frequent the old restaurant that used to be in this location, whose food I really enjoyed. I was hopeful that the new place would be somewhere I could frequent as well. Unfortunately due to the small menu, that probably won't be the case. First I'd like to start off by saying the menu is extremely small. The American Wagyu cheeseburger is only $8, which is a pretty good deal. You will have to buy your side of fries separately. The burger was good, but nothing amazing and I definitely have had better, but that $8 is hard to beat. I ordered a side of fries which I did not care for. They were battered in some special seasoning they use, but it just wasn't great. They were more like potato wedges and the temperature was off. If I go back I'd probably try the sweet potato fries or onion rings instead. The server was very polite, and the food came out fast. They have tvs playing sports, and both indoor and outdoor seating. I may give them another try, and get one of the other burgers or a sandwich. read more

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Tonight was the third time I went into Swagyu (we live in East Village) well before close (tonight over an hour before close) only to be told they were closed. Granted, it's slow during the week (this was a Thursday night) but when you post your hours online and closing is at 10:00pm, don't say you are closed at 8:45pm. It was dead and I understand closing early saves costs - I get it as someone who used to work in the industry, but I'm done with this place. read more

Came to this place after the Dodgers vs. Padres game. It was a packed house, but we found seating right away. I ordered the 1/2 LB EL SWAGADOR BURGER with no secret sauce or serrano pickles. This burger was really good, and it also came with pork belly. I had fries and their buffalo wings. The best thing about this place was that the place was packed, and we got our food right away. We were a group of 4 people. I recommend this place. read more

Swagyu Burger Bar - 1/2 LB EL SWAGADOR BURGER - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Baseball and burgers!! We made our way to Swagyu Burger Bar following a game at the neighboring PetCo park. The place was damp and musty. I have a feeling the restaurant is on life support. Dimly lit and very few patrons, which worked well for us, as it was the only place without a waiting list...everywhere else in the area was booming! Remind me in the future that a line out the door is a good sign and not to be deterred. I ordered their 1/2 LB "OG" Swagyu Burger proteinstyle, hold the tomatoes. For some reason the held the pickles too. I really wanted the pickles, but they never arrived. I'd also requested a side of ranch, but that was never delivered. The attached picture shows what I received. At first I thought it was someone else's order because it was missing ranch and pickles, but I was assured it was mine. This was depressing. The kitchen felt this was how a $20 protein burger should look. After letting the server know this was hard to accept, she responded with, "Our GM took off $3." The $3 adjustment furthered my impression that the GM didn't care enough to deliver the missing ingredients from the burger, and instead added insult to injury. Not worth the price, ambience suffered, and the server's friends garnered her attention the whole time. read more

Swagyu Burger Bar - $20 abomination. - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Stopped by again today before the Padres game. Was greeted quickly and asked if we wanted outside or inside seating. We chose the patio since it was a nice warm day. Our drink order was taken while we looked over the menu. While there aren't too many options, the choices they have are good. I had the American Wagyu cheeseburger and my son had the Japanese Swagyu Classic Smashburger. Both were delicious! The sidewinder fries were great as well! Nice thick beer battered fries served with ranch and/or ketchup. Great location, fun atmosphere and friendly staff. read more

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The whole time I was being flirted with by a worker that had tattoos on his arm not sure of his name and felt uncomfortable. Also noticed he was super rude to his co workers. Alex the food runner was very nice. read more

I always loved swagyu burgers, starting from their food truck and the various locations they've had. But this last visit was NOT meeting my expectations. The bun was so dry and seemed stale. The burger wasn't juicy and lacked flavor. The fries were undercooked. Service wasn't very memorable - nothing good or bad to talk about. The location is awesome being so close to petco park, which is why we went before a game. But I would've been happier getting food at the game instead. read more

Swagyu Burger Bar - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

The burgers are point blank delicious. Glad to see this business grow. They carry well via takeout too. read more

Swagyu Burger Bar - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Swagyu Burger Bar was fire. Juicy patties, crazy good sauces, and the staff were dope super chill, friendly, and on point. Great food and even better vibes. Definitely coming back. read more

Swagyu Burger Bar - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

We ordered the OG, the Classic, pretzel bites, loaded fries and a ginger ale. I liked the pretzel bites best and then the loaded fries. But at $15 and $20 a burger, I think these burgers are overhyped. I think I would have liked the OG burger over the classic, but I wish I they had it in a single smashed patty. I didn't try the OG bc I personally ordered the Classic- but I would never order it again. It wasn't bad but it wasn't great either. I live in LA and there are soo many smash burgers at $11 each that I can't justify spending $15 or $20 on a mediocre one. I usually like brioche buns but it just wasn't it on this smash burger. When I think of smash burgers, this is just not it. My bf said his OG burger was alright although he also didn't care for the bun. We just wouldn't spend $35 on those two burgers again. Overall, he paid about $70 for everything. The ambiance felt like a dressier sports bar. Like a nice lounge type sports bar. read more

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We went on Tuesday and the host sat us immediately. Our waitstaff took our drink orders then brought right out. She took our food order. The burgers came out picture perfect and hot. Omgee -- they were delicious! We will go back. read more

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Well didn't get a chance to eat here because they were under staffed on comic con week. Only 1 server was working on the busiest week of the year!! Owner needs a lesson on staffing read more

Ok so. This burger was legit I shared it with a friend and I'm still thinking about it. It was delicious. Bar was great lighting was kind of wild bartender was super nice but really the burger was so good . It's the first one that I've ever had to not say take everything off. It came out perfect pretzel bites were awesome. It was kind of pricey but that's downtown San Diego read more

Overhyped and Underwhelming I've heard a lot of buzz about Swagyu Burger with people raving about its "premium" Wagyu beef patties and the overall experience. After finally getting the chance to try it, I can't help but feel let down, especially considering the hefty price tag. The hype surrounding this burger just doesn't live up to the reality. First off, let's talk about the burger itself. While Swagyu markets itself as a top-tier burger joint offering Wagyu beef, I didn't get the melt-in-your-mouth experience I was expecting. The patty, while tender, didn't have the rich, buttery flavor that should come with Wagyu. Instead, it felt like just another decent beef patty--nothing remarkable. For the price, I was expecting something far more indulgent, but it fell flat. It was neither mind-blowing nor bad; it was simply... fine. The toppings didn't do much to elevate the burger either. I opted for their "signature" build, which featured fancy sauces and some gourmet veggies, but everything felt a bit over-complicated. The sauces were heavy-handed and masked any potential flavor the beef might have had. Plus, the bun was a bit too soft and soggy after a few minutes, which is always a letdown when you're paying top dollar for something that's supposed to be a standout. Now, onto the cost. For a burger that's supposed to be a "premium" experience, Swagyu's prices are borderline absurd. I get it--Wagyu beef is expensive, but at nearly $20 for a single burger (without sides), I expected a truly extraordinary meal. Instead, I got something that felt more like a regular, overpriced fast-casual burger with an inflated price because of the name. If I'm paying that much for a burger, I want it to be a game-changer, not something I could have gotten for half the price at other high-end burger spots. The atmosphere of the restaurant itself is fine, nothing too special. It's trendy, sure, but it didn't feel like the kind of place that justifies the hefty price tag. Service was average--nothing particularly memorable about the experience. If you're paying premium prices, you expect a bit more attention to detail across the board. In the end, Swagyu Burger doesn't live up to the hype, especially considering its inflated cost. If you're craving a Wagyu burger, there are definitely better (and more affordable) options out there that deliver on both flavor and value. For the price, I expected something truly extraordinary, but instead, I left feeling like I had just paid for a lot of hype with little payoff. Would I go back? Honestly, probably not. read more

Arrived employee was eating with friend, got up and I asked questions about exactly what I wanted and specified what I wanted and her friend who was behind me told me " Let's go move it" I then asked " Are you closing at 7:00pm ?" Her friend said we have to catch a train! Not sure what was happening, the burger was OK $42 but the service was lame, since when does a friend of the employee call the shots at a restaurant??? read more

Ate the delicious food too fast to post a pic. Tried this place before a Padre game. Most delicious cocktails. I tried the brownie shake. It was out of this world. The burgers were delicious. This is a clean, delicious well ran establishment right next to Petco park read more

Swagyu Burger Bar - Restaurant - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Swagyu Burger is hands down one of the best burgers around. Juicy, full of flavor, and consistently done right. Every bite hits, no shortcuts, no dry patties. Even better that it's right by my house, makes it way too easy to go back. Super happy to have a spot like this so close. read more

A must try! I had recently seen this open up in the East Village Ballpark neighborhood and had to see how the burgers were. I Loved the look of the place - really unique lighting and great outdoor patio facing Petco Ballpark. I had the "El Swagador" Burger - two 4oz swagyu patties with pork belly, smoked onions, pickle serranos, cheese, pickles, and secret sauce on a brioche bun. I highly recommend adding the Katsu cheese as an upgrade! LOVED this burger. Also recommend the onion rings - I loved the batter they used. The 4 others at the table ordered the 1/2 lb "OG Swagu" Burger, as recommended by the waiter, two 4oz smash patties with cheese, pickles, and secret sauce on a brioche bun. It was a great suggestion for anyone not wanting pork on their burger. 5 of us came for dinner and everyone was very happy with their meals. We will be back for more. Fast and friendly service, only complaint was the "Diddy" music playing while we were there. IT WAS AMAZING. Now added to my list of favorite burger spots in San Diego, and that was a big deal because I am a "burger guy". read more

Swagyu Burger Bar - Great atmosphere and unique lighting inside. - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California