I walk in its one rectangular room with the ordering counter and kitchen in the corner. It gives a very simple vibe in the best way. There are Polaroids on the wall with pictures and a decal on the left wall. The service was absolutely amazing, the guy with the sleeve was super nice and didn't seem like he was just going through the same service lines. I don't eat beef, and I haven't eaten any pork but recently I've been trying some stuff with like pork flavoring, not anything that was a real meal but I asked him about the chicken sandwich and if there's pork in the butter- he said yes and then he actually let me try some which I thought was super cool. There's no tax on the food and it's all reasonably priced, the sandwich was 12$ and the bottled drinks were 3$ (cans are 2$). HE WAITED until all our food was ready to call it out so we could eat together The fries were great, salty in a way that I love, they are like McDonald's fries but make you feel better. The sandwich buns are smushed flat and then cooked so they're crisp, I absolutely love that The soy egg I had a bite of individually, it is very good and flavorful- it's cold so it's stored, the yolk is a perfect creamy texture WOW the sandwich was great, the bread crisp and the outside of the chicken is crispy which is great, but the inside is soft and easy to bite through- normally I don't like chicken sandwiches because the texture inside is weird or it's just way too much chicken or too hard to bite through- this is perfect- it pairs so well with the egg as well since the egg adds a creaminess I was already leaning towards giving this place 5 stars from the service itself, so I'm incredibly happy to be giving this a place 5 stars from the food as well. I would 100% come here again, I will say def get fries with the burger I don't eat a ton and it was like a good amount of food read more

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First time here and not impressed at all. The name "The Friendly" would lead a person to believe that the people were going to be friendly, but the staff were NOT friendly. Everything felt very transactional, no eye contact, no smile, no personality. And even the hand-written chalk menu basically tells you that they don't care about your preferences. The place is NOT clean, and possibly has not been cleaned in years. We sat at the counter where we could see them prepare food and I'm glad we saw what was happening; it was a bit of a stomach turning experience that made us uneasy thinking about eating the food. The woman who took our order also prepared our food, and everyone else's, that had ordered just before and after us, and she did NOT change her gloves even though she was multi-tasking with taking orders & prepping & cooking food. She touched so many things: her face, her hair, her apron, her pants, the screen on the register, all the food, & cooking utensils, and a dirty towel, all with the same gloves on . She wiped her gloves repeatedly on that dirty towel and then used it again and again to wipe off the food prep surfaces and the red trays used to serve food, which did NOT get washed in between uses, only wiped down. So many moments As I was watching this unfold, I looked up to see an A in the window and it made me wonder how they passed the inspection . This is a NEVER again for us. read more

The Friendly Kearny Mesa - Burgers Near Me - San Diego, California

I've been to the Friendly in North Park only once because I get too overwhelmed with parking in that area. However, I never forgot how good their food is and have been dying to go back. I stumbled upon this location by accident walking over to another busy lot in Convoy and I just knew I had to go or I'd miss the opportunity. My partner got the OG while I got their French Dip burger. I swear we ate without even talking it was too good haha. Hopefully I'll get to go again sooner than later for my next burger craving! read more

Tasty burgers at a great price. Parking lot is absolutely terrible but coming at lunch on a weekday will have some open spots. Otherwise forget about it. There's only a few burgers on the menu but all are good. Fries are also good and the price is right read more

The Friendly Kearny Mesa - French dip burger - Burgers Near Me - San Diego, California

No frills, small menu, no substitutions and the best burger I've had in a long time. Got the shit kicker which had gorgeous lacy crisp edged patties with juicy flavorful centers and not overly salted. The onion rings were perfectly cooked, the bacon, garlic aioli and a not too sweet bbq sauce were all perfectly balanced salty-sweet. Service was efficient, the wait for food was minimal despite the volume of orders coming through. Looking forward to trying other items. read more

The Friendly Kearny Mesa - Great prices! - Burgers Near Me - San Diego, California

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Been a minute since we've been here but it's still yummy! Looks like this location added a couple of new items to menu. They added a tonkatsu fried chicken sando and a crab ragoon fish sando. We weren't interested in trying anything new cuz this place is known for its smash burgers so why deviate. LOL. read more

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We love the OG The Friendly in North Park. Greasy heart clogging delicious burgers. The newer Kearny Mesa location has an expanded menu. We ordered the OG burger, Filet o Fish, and the Shit kicker. OG Burger still as good as the original. Filet o Fish was kind of fishy, mainly coming from the fish roe that is added. I don't know, maybe just not a fan of that on a sandwich, though I love it on top of rice. The shit kicker is the OG with bacon, onion rings, and BBQ sauce. I love me some western double cheeseburgers, so this one hit the spot. Overall just as great as the OG spot in North Park, with some new flavors to check out. read more

Made fresh to order, quick efficient service Tried fish and chicken sandwich; my dad said he liked both equally but the fish had to be the star of the show for me. It's crispy and fish roe made it all the better. The chicken sandwich was interesting, the chicken itself tasted like it could've been seasoned more + crispier. All Friendly's locations are go-to burger & pizza spot as a SD local since their smashburgers and pizza r tasty and consistent! read more

The Friendly Kearny Mesa - McFriendly Filet-O-Fish Tonkotsu Fried Chicken Sando - Burgers Near Me - San Diego, California

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Tucked into the busy Steamy Piggy parking lot, this small burger spot keeps things simple with classic burgers and fries (no shakes but they had bottled soda). The space is pretty bare and open to the kitchen, so focus was more on the food than ambiance. The French onion burger was the highlight, and worth going back for. The onions rings were solid and as expected. However, the Filet-O-Fish came out extremely hot, making it hard to enjoy right away. read more

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5 stars for everything I have ever eaten here and everything I ever will eat here. I love the tonkatsu chicken sandwich, the mcfriendly fish sandwich, any specials, and the flat top burger. Service is always fast and friendly. Indoor seating only. read more

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Excellent burger! My smash-burger-loving kid and I came by for lunch on a quiet Monday afternoon to finally try the infamous Friendly for the first time. The space is small and simple, with an open grill just behind the register. A couple employees and a casual setup; this is a good spot for a quick bite or grab-and-go. My son LOVED the burger. He's the true smash burger pro in our family & has tried all the biggies throughout the city, and he ranks Friendly on top. Love that there's more than just traditional burgers here, and looking forward to coming by again to explore the menu. read more

The Friendly Kearny Mesa - My smash burger aficionado, loving his meal - Burgers Near Me - San Diego, California

Its so tiny here! But it feels homely and "friendly". Its a very laid back feel here. They literally have 6 items on their menu, but to my surprise, the burger I ordered was phenomenal! We got the OG burger. Its 8$ and super tiny. I hate smash burgers, but this, this was too awesome. This was the best smash burger I've ever had. Their garlic aioli was so rich in flavor and they packed the burger with it. The patty was oozing with flavor and the onion, the onion was cooked to perfection. The cheese... OMG.. it felt so cheesy and this is what made it the perfect smash burger for me! To top it off, the bun was soft and fit perfectly with the whole masterpiece! I loved this burger. Im glad its a small burger bc i wouldn't stop eating! Service is excellent and its just an awesome place! read more

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Ordered the OG Flat top and if you're craving a classic smash burger then this is the place for you! Fries and burger came out super fresh and hot. Both were really good! Burger is pretty greasy but if that's what you're looking for, then this is it. Flavors of the burger are great and not too salty. Weekday night was not busy at all and food came out fast. The parking in this plaza is terrible though as a heads up. read more

The Friendly Kearny Mesa - Burgers Near Me - San Diego, California

Always love coming here for a fresh burger meal. Everything is made to order & comes out so hot! The menu is simple, no modifications. Chill vibes, low key with good music. Classic Burger joint vibes. read more

The Friendly Kearny Mesa - Shit Kicker, OG Dirty Flat Top, & McFriendly Filet O Fish - Burgers Near Me - San Diego, California

Straightforward, no frills amazing burger spot. I've been a patron of The Friendly since it was just a small pizza joint on 30th St. They've opened some new locations, I've spent some time away, but their Kearney Mesa spot brought be back. If you like burgers and you're in San Diego, you owe it to yourself to give their Dirty Flat Top a try. At $8, it's about in line with other burger joints (even McDonald's prices are creeping up there). It's simple, it's straightforward. But every part of their burger hits: The sear of their meat has a slight crisp, the garlic aioli is rich and flavorful. Their burger buns are buttered and get a turn on the gridle. It's a welcome respite from the endless sea of Asian cuisine. The inside is casual, with a slight ironically aggressive aura. Heavy metal blasting, stickers bombed around the inside. A new spin on an old-school diner vibe. The only thing unfriendly about this place is their horrendous parking. If you know Kearney Mesa, you're no stranger to the constant battle for space. This is made worse with the removal of street parking (though with the nice addition of bicycle lanes). Walk here or get dropped off. If you're wanting a calm, sit-down experience, you're gonna have a bad time. The Friendly won't get docked for that. That's the nature of the area and it's something we all live with to frequent this food lover's enclave. The Friendly gets a 5/5 from me and I'll be back. read more

Why does Yelp force us to leave a whole one star? That's a lot for this establishment, can't really call it a restaurant. A restaurant allows you to refuse Garlic if you don't desire Gralic, certainly not the case for this very salty burger. The real kicker? They play that RAP music and they play it loud as heck. Honestly, for me, it was pure torture hearing that noise. A pass. Btw, parking is extra small for 12 stores. You'll have circle 4 sure. read more

The Friendly Kearny Mesa - No outdoor seating. - Burgers Near Me - San Diego, California

You really need to like greasy burgers with no lettuce, tomatoes, or other veggies to like the friendly. They don't do modifications and they put a lot of sauce on the burgers. If you are okay with that, then it's a really really good burger. Felt like a more tame friendly compared to the other locations, probably because of the location. Same burger taste tho. Parking lot is rough tho. Like you would need to parking somewhere else and walk a few minutes to get here. read more

The Friendly Kearny Mesa - Burgers Near Me - San Diego, California

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Price was amazing. The experience. Bit weak. Tonkotsu burger. What are you going for? It has umami. It's noticeable cuz it's mentioned in the menu. But it's not enough to be obvious. Crispiness , aji tama. Nailed it. But it feels like there is one more hump to reel in guys like me as a repeater. Cuz we do eat burgers ... read more

All Friendly locations receive high ratings for me but the Kearny Mesa location stands out when it comes getting your food out quick, especially when you call it in. My burgers come out within minutes of me placing my order. Will always recommend this place. read more

We've been here a few times. The first time we went it was delicious. Sour: This is probably the 4th time we've gone. The burger was a little oilier than usual. It had a very strong essence of wine this time. I don't mind the loud music if that's the vibe you're going for. But my husband who likes all genres especially rap wanted me to mention the song selection is pretty in appropriate. It's not the cuss words that are necessarily bothersome but the sexual content is not a good option especially there are families trying to enjoy their meal. We ate the burgers and took some to go for the fam. The fries we took to go were not cooked all the way. It was soggy but it wasn't because it was sitting in the to go box you can tell it was never crispy because the color was so light. Sweet: prior to this 4th visit I would've given this place 4 stars so it could be an off day. I like how simple the menu is and the sauce selection. The burgers are nice and crisp and very simple with good flavor except this time. The onion rings are my favorite. Crisp to perfection. We will continue to go but this last time was a bit disappointing. I'd like to try the fish sandwich next time as I heard it's very good. read more

The Friendly Kearny Mesa - Burgers Near Me - San Diego, California

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I placed a take out order for the Shit Kicker with onion rings! I've heard great things about their smash burgers so I had to try it! Not sure if it's because my order was to go that it just didn't really hit the spot for me. It was good but messy. Too much BBQ sauce and not enough napkins. ‍ the onion rings were good no complaints on that. I'm going to go back again and hoping that it was just an off day for my taste buds. If you like smash burgers I'd recommend trying this place. read more

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The French onion dip was incredible. I'm a sucker for Au jus sauce and theirs was straight up French onion soup on the side! The taste was so good I can't get it out of my mind. The food was incredible. Their service was great. My favorite part was probably the price. I can't afford to eat out anymore, but I heard this place was affordable and it delivered. I got the French onion dip sandwich a side of fries, two side sauces and a bottle of squirt for all under 20 bucks. if I would've gotten a nasty "extra value meal" at a fast food chain it would've been the same price or more. But here at Friendly you're getting fresh really amazing tasting food with real whole ingredients none of that processed BS. Just remember, they don't take cash, card only. read more

If you're looking for a meal good enough to wish for on your deathbed, you found it. The OG Dirty Flat Top is a double smash burger topped with cheese and marinated grilled onions and it means serious business. Two patties perfectly crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Soft white, American bread, bun, and the onions adding the most delicious caramelized flavor kick on the end of each bite. It didn't photograph very well, but it doesn't matter because it is a thing of beauty in my mind. This burger joint has a local neighborhood dive type feel, complete with super chill people working behind the counter. The music that was playing was kind of all over the place, but perfectly suited the joint. One minute heavy metal, the next minute gangster rap. We got lucky when we arrived because there wasn't anybody in there and by the time we were leaving, every table was full and there were people waiting at the counter. The hype is for real folks! read more

The Friendly Kearny Mesa - Burgers Near Me - San Diego, California

Don't walk past this spot. The atmosphere is so outdated. Looked like I walked into an old restaurant from the 60s. Theres a reason for this because you want to focus on the food. The Hamburgers here were absolutely delicious. Probably the best smashed burger I have ever ate. I tried a famous spot in LA and this beats that!!! I had the French Onion Dip burger and had the OG Dirty Flattop burger. I can't choose between which one was the best. They both had their unique taste. I would definitely come by again. I live 2 hours away and I would make the drive just to have a smash burger from this spot. read more

The Friendly Kearny Mesa - Menu - Burgers Near Me - San Diego, California

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The friendly is a wonderful place to get smash burgers, my personal favorite type of burger. Some people consider it the best burger in San Diego, and its tough to argue against it! I always get their OG Dirty Flattop with a side of fries. Sometimes if Im feeling a bit more hungry, I get an extra OG Dirty Flattop. I always get a sauce because I really like how they make them as well! They do charge for non-ketchup sauces however so its up to you whether or not you want to try it! They do also charge for water bottles so I usually just bring in my larger water bottle from home to drink while Im there. The service is also really good. The food comes out super quickly once you've ordered it and every time I go they are really nice. The ambiance is really nice. I am on the younger side so I never really got to experience the diner style. To me, this seems as authentic as I can picture it! I highly recommend you go and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! read more

The Friendly Kearny Mesa - Fries - Burgers Near Me - San Diego, California

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I would give this place 0 stars if I could. It's ironic that the customer service is anything but "friendly" for a place called Friendly. When I walked in, the cashier with the mustache already seemed annoyed and rushed me to order, even though I had only been looking at the menu for a few seconds. His tone was rude and impatient from the start. While I was trying to add another burger to my order, he cut me off before I could finish speaking and repeatedly said, "can't hear you." Before I even had a chance to speak louder, he kept interrupting and continuing to repeat himself. There was no "sorry, I can't hear you," no patience, and no basic courtesy. There was also no "thank you" or "have a good day", he simply walked away after taking the order. The entire interaction felt dismissive and unprofessional. To top it off, a customer next to us found a hair in their fries, which made the visit even more off-putting. First and last time here. Extremely unpleasant experience. read more

Do you like your burger cheesy, greasy, salty, and just begging for a beer? Then come to The Friendly. They don't serve beer, but they really should. Pros: * Delicous burgers; recommend the French Dip * Great Fries & onion rings * Affordable * Clean restaurant. Nothing fancy * Fast & Friendly staff Cons: *N/A Extra: * It's in a small parking lot that gets busy. We had to park down the street * This has old school greasy burger joint vibes. Love it or hate it, your choice * It smelled like weed when we went...again, love it or hate it, your choice lol read more

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Well they're definitely friendly here. Really cool dudes working at this Kearney Mesa location. The OG flattop burger is excellent & seasoned perfectly! Good fries too. Very reasonably priced lunch. read more

The Friendly Kearny Mesa - OG Flat top with fries. Good! - Burgers Near Me - San Diego, California

Absolutely delicious! Honestly, I would give 10 stars. I had the Spicy Avocado Boiga, which is 2 smashed patties, 2 slices cheese, bacon, avocado, and chipotle-garlic aioli! This burger is to die for and is only at the Convoy location! I also enjoyed the vibe. Quick, friendly service with a mix on hardcore rap and metal music in the background. I will be back! read more

The Friendly Kearny Mesa - Spicy Avocado Boiga and French fries - Burgers Near Me - San Diego, California

Definitely a no frills burger place. Been there. Done that. No need to go back. A wait staff (not the one with the earlobe tunnels (he washes his hands) ate French fries behind counter with his fingers then proceeded to handle Hamburg buns without washing his hands. Not cool. Played loud rap music with too much obscene language. Don't remember last time someone put sooo much salt on French fries. Interesting stickers to view when sitting at counter. No paper towels in restroom. We tipped 20% but when we reviewed receipt later that day it only showed 18%. Double check. We found 3 errors. read more

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Friendly staff, casual ambiance and solid flavorful burgers. We had the OG flatburger and the Shitkicker burger with fries. Menu as is, no modifications. Parking was fine when we came early afternoon on a Monday. They have free 120 mins parking. If you like smashed burgers with no frills, highly recommended! read more

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Greasy, cheesy, and crazy indulgent smash burgers. This would absolutely hit the spot after a night out, or in my case, a casual Saturday afternoon. I went with their OG Dirty Flattop and a side of Onion Rings. This burger was the embodiment of simple is best. It featured two smashed patties, butter braised onions, American cheese, and their house garlic aioli. It was crispy, juicy, oh-so-creamy, and full of onions. Please don't expect a balanced, fresh burger. This one will 1000% make you feel slightly bad for yourself for downing it so fast, yet simultaneously satisfied. Their Onion Rings were also done really well! They were made fresh. Oh, did I mention everything's made to order right in front of you to see and smell? Literally so good. The most memorable part of the meal for me might have been their Garlic Aioli. I'm usually not a fan of creamier sauces, but there's just something about a quality garlic aioli. The perfect addition to the burger and a great dipping sauce for the rings. read more

The Friendly Kearny Mesa - Menu - Burgers Near Me - San Diego, California

Finally had chance to try this place out and glad I did. We went with the og flat top cheeseburgers fries and onion rings. It wasn't crowded at all and the service was quick. The staff was professional but not really friendly like their name haha. The parking can be tough but the food was good and I'd put them in same level as in n out burger. Would I come back? Yes I would. read more

The Friendly Kearny Mesa - Simple menu - Burgers Near Me - San Diego, California

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My first review for 2025! Been wanting to try this place for awhile, but whenever i decide to go, it takes forever to find parking and i end up not going. New years day, i was craving a burger. In and out's line was so long and I figured i try this place - if i could find parking. I pull up into the lot and it was meant to be because there was one vacant spot right in front. Yay! The menu is really simple. I opted to go with the OG and Fries. It was pretty empty and that was to be expected on new year's day, at 9pm. i decided to sit at the counter and check all the stickers they had, a lot of them had me giggling. Now onto the food. It's an open kitchen so you can see your food being made. Once my order was ready, i could already tell that i would be doing a happy dance. The first bite reminded me of local burger places I used to frequent in jersey when I was younger. I cant quite figure out what it was that reminded me of my jersey days, but this burger was so simple yet so tasty. The right amount of onion to cheese ration was good. I probably would have wanted my bun to be more toasted but that's just my preference. Although it looked small, it definitely was very filling. The fries are typical fries, but cooked to the right crisp. The 2 people working that night were really nice and even asked if my food was ok. Something i was not expecting at this type of place. I didnt use the restroom so im not sure if there's a changing area for babies. Plenty of tables inside. This place is located in a small strip mall, there is a parking lot, but it gets full quickly, especially on weekends. I would definitely come back. Im curious to try the other location as i just learned that they sell NY style pizza. Im looking forward to trying that. They accept card, i believe they also take cash. read more

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I am convinced that it doesn't matter which Friendly location you go to, the vibes are always on point. Service is good and the food always slaps. Down and dirty double cheese burgers and fries is all they do and they do it right every single time. Check out their downtown location for, arguably, the best bar style pizza in the city and maybe some culinary experiments! read more

First time trying this location on Convoy and it's just as good as the original. I ordered the OG Dirty Flattop and my son had the Meat Cheese Bun, which is just a plain cheeseburger. The burgers are full of flavor and have just the right amount of satisfying greasiness. They're not overly filling and leave you wanting more. The staff were efficient and our orders came out quickly. The no-frills interior is an indicator they're all about the food. All in all, a solid spot if you're after a great burger without the fuss. read more

The Friendly Kearny Mesa - OG Dirty Flattop - Burgers Near Me - San Diego, California

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Was having a burger craving and i drove to The Friendly. Although it is 2025 , i am always wrapped back into time everytime i dine at this establishment. This is what a classic grill top cheeseburger embodies. The first item on the menu is the OG and please order that first. Side of fries or onion rings, your choice. A nice selection of sodas to wash down the great food. Service was awesome and watching my food being made with love , will make me come back over and over again read more

The Friendly Kearny Mesa - Og x fries x coke - Burgers Near Me - San Diego, California

Definitely a must try spot!! We ordered the OG Dirty Flat top and the Shit kicker and oh my goodness, these burgers were to DIE for! I definitely preferred the OG burger, the aioli sauce they use in combination with the cheese was ABSOLUTELY DEVINE. the Shit kicker is good if you are a fan of bbq sauce. The food was cooked fresh right in front of us and came out super quick. The servers were so nice too and even offered to take a Polaroid photo of us to put on their wall! A great hole in the wall spot with good food good service and really good prices. Can't wait to come back. read more

The Friendly Kearny Mesa - OG flat top and Shit Kicker burgers with fries. SO GOOD!! - Burgers Near Me - San Diego, California

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4.5/5 The friendly is a classic smash burger spot with really addicting garlic aioli that I can't get enough of. The burger is simple but delicious with 2 smash patties with cheese, grilled onions, and their aioli sauce. I also like their chicken katsu sandwich that has a marinaded egg and a savory sauce. The menu is set and you cannot customize the burgers but I think they taste really great the way they come. The fries are also really good and taste fresh, reminding me of in n out style fries. The only downside to this location is the parking. It is super hard to find parking in that particular plaza especially for just wanting a quick stop and go meal for burgers. read more

Came In on a weekday and the food was great! Quick order everything is make to order and it was delicious!