What a nice surprise this place turned out to be. We came hungry and walked away fully satisfied. Our kiddos have food allergies and they were able to accommodate. Service was super friendly and helpful. Food was fantastic, especially the chili. Wow, the chili. Burgers were legit. Double burger was way huge. Chili fries were amazing. Dog melt was surprisingly good. Onion rings and fries were on point. Ranch was a little too funny for me. And to be able to top off the meal with Thrifty's ice cream?! We'll be back. Get a big bowl of chili. Large dining area, clean, nicely decorated. Parking wasn't an issue for us. read more

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This is a long overdue review for Water Shack. I stumbled upon this place a few years ago when I was craving a no frills mom & pop style burger. To my surprise Water Shack's burgers were delicious and satisfying that I find myself coming back here ever so often. Their burgers aren't the heavy, greasy/high fat patties you would get from other places. However, their 1/4 lb patties are their smallest patties and heft makes for that ideal bun to burger ratio. Did I need to order double patties on most of my burger orders? Probably not. Their patties are on the leaner side but they aren't dry; and the fixings from any burger you choose will satisfy that meaty burger fix you're looking for. The Chicken Patty Melt is also a very tasty item. Very cheesy, buttery and crispy toasted bread with chicken breast. Their fries and onion rings also come air-fried so this place focuses more on the healthier comfort food options that wont leave you feeling heavy and drowsy. This place is also doubled as a purified water dispensary and also serves baked goods and ice cream. Love this type of no-frills, unassuming place with very friendly staff and serves up some delicious food! read more

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Given that it's giving "water service" place, the sandwich was quite good. The french fries were air fried and so not my favorite, but the sandwich itself was quite tasty and the pastrami was very good. The service was also very nice. read more

Water Shack - Pastrami sandwich and fries - Water Stores Near Me - Vista, California

The nostalgic flavor of their burgers were exactly what I was looking for. The service was friendly and the nice team member delivered everything to my table after ordering. Don't expect anything fancy with the interior, straightforward aesthetic that gives a perfect nostalgia, I loved it. My cheeseburger was flavorful and I was glad it was not a smashed burgers, fries were crispy and my kraut dog was the perfect appetizer. This place is definitely underrated. If you are in the Vista area, try them out! read more

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Saw a couple friends post reviews and had to try myself....was not dissapointed at all! I had the most delicious Pastrami Rueben and fries ever. Hands down the best!!!! The service was warm and welcoming and Drew and Danielle were extremely friendly and awesome. Highly recommend to all my friends and family read more

Water Shack - Pastrami Rueben and small fries - Water Stores Near Me - Vista, California

Good always good Ordered a sundae. Not topping because he said I didn't ask. Same for my sister in law. If you order a hot fudge sundae that includes the topping Only hot whip cream and cherry. Crazy read more

We ate here last Thursday evening at it was great! We decided to try it out for a casual dinner as we are new to the area, and saw it had some great reviews. My husband ordered the onion rings and pastrami burger, I ordered a Kraut doggie and garden salad, and my daughter got some fries and some thirty ice cream. We were all extremely satisfied with our meals, and my daughter of course loved the ice cream (and sprinkles!). The service was also exemplary. If you need a quick, casual meal, and are out and about in the area, definitely check this spot out! Locals describe it as a hidden gem. read more

Water Shack - Water Stores Near Me - Vista, California

Started coming back this year and everything is absolutely top tier now. Grilled cheese is a gooey comfort, fries are crisp and dippable, burgers are bomb, and their brownie bomb is sinful. Staff is super sweet and always helpful and polite. It's a cute little shop that has American style eats and old school vibes. We're making this our weekly snack stop. read more

Water Shack - Brownie Bomb - Water Stores Near Me - Vista, California

Cutest little kitchen ever! Great french fries, cheeseburgers, sandwiches, and we always leave with a cone. Vibe is a blast from the past. Old Vista is the best.! read more

Read the comments on my photos. So good! We come here once every so many months for the ultimate treat meal. They do have healthier options btw. So you can come here more often and enjoy. They are clean and kind and it's not instant food, they make most items upon ordering so don't expect immediately getting your dog n fries. Truly yummy food takes a few mins so be patient. It's worth it. I get the shack meal. Best value. Daughter gets the burger. I tried it. I'll be getting the burger next time, so good! Tasted fresh! Best raspberry tea in town. We like their crisp fries too. Best milkshakes you'll find. Mix and match and enjoy. Best cookies too. Truly a worth it treat spot. Lady is welcoming and knows the menu well and obviously enjoys working there, feels family owned in that they care about cleanliness and customer service well. read more

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Craving a pastrami sandwich I came to the right place. When I arrived I had to sit in my car for a moment to double check the address since the sign on the building says "Water, Sweets and Treats" This is truly a unique establishment with a great menu including Thrifty ice cream! The sandwich was delish and I topped it off with a double scoop of Black Cherry ice cream. read more

Have driven by numerous times and finally got a chance to visit. Met up with a large group for an ice cream social. I had two delicious scoops of Thrifty butter pecan. Took me back to my childhood at the Fallbrook Thrifty's. They use the same scooper. Some of the group had milkshakes, chili dogs, pastrami sandwiches and even affogatos! The owner was so nice and handled our group, others coming in behind us and those filling up water bottles with ease and a big smile. Looking forward to stop by again and try something different. read more

It's definitely wacky to walk into a store that sells water by the gallon and expect great food but that's exactly what you get here. The pastrami in the Ruben was perfect and the chili cheese dog was larger and more flavorful than I expected. Plus they have thrifty ice cream! read more

Water Shack - Water Stores Near Me - Vista, California

Don't skip out on this place. It looks like it's just a place to get water, but they have really good food especially the pastrami sandwiches and they have Thrifty Ice Cream. read more

Hidden gem! We thought that this was a home water tank refill station and had no clue it was an ice cream parlor, shave ice shack or burger / hot dog spot! Prices are very reasonable and services is fast and friendly. Great to take a group of kids for a treat! read more

I've lived in Vista for 4 years and have never been here. My wife and I got it today and the food was pretty good but the experience was just ok. I called in an order (chili dog, beef dip, and ice cream sandwich) and when I arrived they handed me the bag. As I walked out I thought I should check the bag for the ice cream sandwich and it was not in there. I went back and they gave it to me. Then in my car I was like, I was like I better make sure the au jus for the beef dip is in there and it was not, so I had to go back in to get the au jus. Not that I needed an apology but they were just like "ok" and not super friendly or anything. Lastly, the food was good but they advertise 1/2 lbs of roast beef but when I held the sandwich it didn't feel very heavy so I had to weigh it and it was only 5oz instead of the advertised 8oz. All in all we would return again because the food was good but the attention to detail of getting the order right and the portion size of the beef dip should not advertised as 1/2 lbs. read more

Water Shack - Beef Dip - Water Stores Near Me - Vista, California

This place has everything! Great staff, great food, great water and Thrifty Ice Cream!! We've ordered all over the menu and have not been disappointed. Highly recommended!! read more

Located in a nondescript building on the very busy N. Santa Fe in Vista, it was a pleasant surprise to experience how good their food was! I enjoy diners and this place definitely has diner vibes. We were there on Labor Day and had the place to ourselves for a good half hour. Overall, the inside was very plain looking, a little bit old timey. I would love to see them put some color on the wallls, maybe a shade of blue to give a theme to support their name. I checked in on Yelp and received a free icee with purchase of one. We tried a regular size root beer and a pineapple. Warning, Regular size is very large! I tried the patty melt, and my husband ordered a double cheeseburger. We also had a chili cheese dog. The portions were extremely satisfying and the taste was fantastic. Fries were very crispy, cooked to perfection. The double cheeseburger was huge. The prices were absolutely reasonable. We will definitely be back for more! read more

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Hole in the wall spot with an interesting business model. Based on the name, they're all about selling water (there are huge barrels of water that make it feel like you're in a brewery), but they also have a full food and dessert menu. Indoor and outdoor seating. Order at the register. Fast and very friendly service! Like above and beyond friendly! We came late afternoon for some cold treats. I got a PB mocha frappe (Reese's PB extra), and it hit the spot! Everything seemed reasonably priced, and I'd def want to try the food next time! read more

Water Shack - Mocha Regular Frappe (with Reese's PB) - Water Stores Near Me - Vista, California

This is my go to place for purified water. The Pastrami Melt is delicious! The Chili dog is real beef and hard to beat.I always get a bite to eat here while filling up my bottles. I ordered 2 scoops of ice cream to go, to share with my wife. As I handed her the cup to open the car door for her, she dropped it in the parking lot! : ((( I scooped it up and went back inside to dispose of it and when I told the young man behind the counter what happened, he scooped up 2 more and said "here you go!" We even offered to pay. I love coming here, it reminds me of being in my old neighborhood where I grew up. Friendly service, great food, a honest to good business. read more

Water Shack - Pastrami Melt with fries. Mother Earth Lager. YUM ! - Water Stores Near Me - Vista, California

TL;DR: Water Shack offers a unique combo of a water store and sandwich shop. The friendly staff, well-prepared sandwiches, and quirky ambiance make for an interesting visit. While the pastrami sandwich was good, it didn't quite reach 'favorite' status. Your Thoughts? 1/2 As an unusual hybrid, Water Shack provides both hydration solutions and hearty sandwiches, making it a standout for convenience and culinary cross-appeal. They even sell ice cream! I didn't try the water but noticed they sell alkaline here. The pastrami sandwich was flavorful and assembled with care, avoiding the common pitfall of soggy bread in hot sandwiches. It was served quickly, maintaining its quality throughout. While tasty, it hasn't topped my list of favorite pastrami sandwiches yet. Expenses: 1/1 Don't recall the exact amount I paid, but I recall the price being more than fair for what I received. Was able to pay using debit card. Location: 1/1 The staff at Water Shack are very friendly, attentive and welcoming. Ambiance was casual, definitely not romantic. I probably wouldn't pick this spot for date night, but it's a great spot to come pick up a quick sandwich. Possibility of a Future Visit & Recommendation: 1/1 Definitely swing by Water Shack if you're intrigued by its quirky water-and-sandwich combo or just craving a good sandwich. The pastrami might not blow your mind, but the vibe is cool enough that you might find yourself back for another sandwich--or maybe just a water refill! Y.E.L.P. Total: 4/5 read more

Water shack is a hidden gem... Friendly service and lots of seating, but the best part is the amazing food. Seriously the pastrami and Ruben or the combo hot pastrami and Ruben must be the best I've ever had and it is my favorite sandwich. I miss the Ruben from Icebox deli, and I believe this one beats it. I've had pastrami in Manhattan and this seriously competes with the best. Water shack is a hole in the wall with people filling up their water bottles in the background. Amazing tasting water. Best in North County? I think it does compete with Carlsbad water and likely bests it. read more

this place is so san diego classic & it's pretty cheap for good portions. queen at the register always too sweet & family owned asf. lock in to water shack read more

The food was delicious and fluputious.everybody here is so nice and helpful. It's like an retro vibe. read more

Water Shack - Shaved ice - Water Stores Near Me - Vista, California

I've been wanting to come here for a while but now that we have a water dispenser we had a great excuse to. I liked the food. I had the chili dog. Chili was not beef based obviously. Tasted more like mashed beans but it was still ok. I'll be back to try other options. My son got the Buffalo chicken fries which were really tasty. We also ordered ice cream. My son had the cookie sandwich and my husband had the banana sundae thing. Minus one star because I ordered a sundae as well as didn't receive anything but whipped cream on top even though the sign clearly states 2 toppings are included. So I basically paid 1.50+ for her to spray whipped cream on my ice cream vs a regular scoop. I'm not gonna argue but it will probably prevent me from spending as much money as I would have in the future had that not happened. Not to mention she also didn't allow me to enter my phone number for rewards. So overpaid and won't even see any return on that. Be cautious you are getting what you ordered and pay for. Sounds minor but put a real damper on the experience and excitement of coming here read more

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I absolutely wanted to love this place, we have been on the hunt for a good burger and keep coming up short. First off, when you walk in you are met with a unique hybrid sort of business. There is an ice cream counter, some seating and a counter to order at, and well water you can refill etc., makes sense with the name Water Shack =) The staff was super super friendly and engaging and we went with a BBQ burger, fries and a pastrami sandwich. We took a seat in the back area, amongst the cool signs and giant cutlery, it was a pretty quiet night as we were the only ones in the back area. The fries were a bit cold and soggy which was a bit odd since it was not very busy. We split both the burger and the Pastrami sandwich, the burger was ok, again a bit cold, not sure if they sat around for a bit before being served as it seemed to take unexpectedly longer than I had expected. The first bite of the Pastrami was yummy! really liked the nice crisp bread on the top, however the bottom piece of bread was so soggy that we both pulled that off and ate it open sided. Could be an off evening, but glad we went out and gave it a try. read more

Water Shack - Water Stores Near Me - Vista, California

I met my platonic friend Eric at this Water Shack Restaurant at 2 p. m. today for my lunch time meal. This location was very easy to find because I used my Google Maps Directions on my Apple IPhone XR while I was driving towards the Water Shack Restaurant. I parked in the back parking lot and then I locked my car and then started to walk toward the side door entrance. Eric was inside this Water Shack Restaurant waiting for me at the front counter. I was greeted by Veronica who was very friendly to me. Veronica said she has worked for the Water Shack Restaurant for 3 years because she enjoys she told me serving people their Thrifty Ice Cream and she loves seeing their customer's children enjoying eating their delicious ice cream. I made a decision on my lunch time order today and I placed my order with Veronica. I ordered the one BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich with French Fries, Ketchup and their Coleslaw on a toasted Brioche Bun. The price was $17.26 with the sales tax and the tip I had chosen for Veronica. It had taken about 20 minutes to have my name called by Veronica to tell me to come over to their front counter to pick up this BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich I made it a meal and included one order of the French Fries with Ketchup and the one cup of their Cole Slaw. It was just Cole Slaw but the mayonnaise in it was very good and lightly sweetened. These French Fries has a soft and chewy texture to them and very delicious when I dipped them into this ketchup. The BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich on the Brioche Bun was really flavorful and the BBQ Sauce was not too sweet and it gave this BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich a sweet and rich flavor to this BBQ Sauce. This Pulled Pork was the first time I had eaten it and it was very tender and a really delicious flavor. The Water Shack's Food has always been very delicious and very satisfying to me. Eric my friend, he ordered one Grilled Cheese Sandwich and a cup of water for his beverage. I told Eric he should order their BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich or their BBQ Beef Hot Dog that I had previously ordered and both of these meals were very flavorful and I enjoyed eating them. When I met Eric at 2 p.m. this afternoon it was an odd time. It wasn't lunch time and it wasn't dinner time it was an in between time. I only saw one family that was eating at one of their tables inside their Water Shack Restaurant. It was very slow. Then I saw this younger girl and her brother ordering their Thrifty Ice Cream. I also saw this much older married couple walking into this Water Shack Restaurant. I also recognized Robert who was my Door Dash Delivery Driver from last Friday when he dropped off my food order from the Water Shack Restaurant. It seems like 90 percent of this Water Shack's Restaurant orders are mostly Door Dash online at home delivery orders. I didn't see many customers eating inside this Water Shack Restaurant today. As I said before it was at 2 p.m. that is an off time. The reason I lowered my rating from a 5 Star Review to a 4 Star Review is due to this really loud Mexican Music that was on this Water Shack's Restaurant's loud speaker for their customers. This music should have been turned down. This music was too loud and I couldn't carry on a conversation with Eric. This Hispanic Music was giving me a headache from listening to this loud Mexican Music that was playing in the background. I had to leave ASAP. Otherwise, I still am in support of this Water Shack's Restaurant really delicious BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich, BBQ Dog and their BBQ Burgers are really flavorful and very good. I would order them again. It is just the Hispanic Music needs to be turned down to a much lower volume. read more

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Overall, the food is amazing. The ice cream is amazing. Service is wonderful, and it's a nice little hidden environment. Filled up a couple water jugs and got some ice cream and it was delicious! They also gave very large size scoops! Then I went ahead and tried the chili dogs and they were amazing! The fries are to die for when eating there as well! Definitely going back soon to try the Brownie Bomb!! read more

Used to go to Carlsbad Alkaline but since they hiked their prices up plus I heard reviews from people that tested it that it was coming up acidic.. it was time to find a new spot. Because of business hours and locations I now go to a few different places but a I'm happy to support that place as it seems to be a local family business. Plus you can grab more than just water, you can have a meal or a snack here! The guy was super nice and I love that they gave a loyalty program too. Win win :) read more

When Water Shack first showed up on DoorDash I gave them a try. The grilled cheese sandwich was HUGE and delicious. It arrived with enough wrapping to actually keep it warm, which was great. I also ordered the Strawberry-Banana smoothie, and all I can say is that it's the best I've ever had. On any of the smoothies you can add extra components, so I requested extra banana. I can't comment on the in-store experience, but for my $, Water Shack is now a favorite! read more

Water Shack is a true hidden gem in Vista. Don't let the name fool you, they serve more than just water! Their hot dogs, chili, and pastrami are pretty great especially for the price! It's really hard to find good food at the prices they offer. Service is great and the staff is super friendly. Nothing really special about the ambiance but a great lunch spot. I highly recommend trying it. read more

Water Shack - Pastrami Melt - Water Stores Near Me - Vista, California

Fun little spot in Vista! Definitely get your water here but you can also get burgers, hot dogs, ice cream, and shaved ice!!! Like carnival cravings all in one! Only thing missing is funnel cakes haha! The burgers and hot dogs were huge and yummy! Kids shaved ice is only $1! Service is super super friendly! Love to support local. It's a water store where you can actually get food ... but now I'm starting to think it's a food spot where you can also get water! read more

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Right now, I'm in the parking lot of the water shack with my to go order. This is the first time I've eaten here. The hamburger is a delicious, well conceived and thoughtfully prepared burger. The meat has a generous, substantial quality to it. The bun is an excellent choice for this burger. The hamburger fits the bun perfectly and it's not too "bready". The french fries are very good. They are mostly long fries, well formed and not overcooked. Everything I ordered came out with nothing missing and plenty of napkins. The Coke tasted very good too. That's not always the case in my experience. The woman who took my order was welcoming and vivacious. I'm glad I came here. Notable: I read the reviews of restaurants I like. Invariably there is someone who writes one star, nasty reviews. It's the same person who uses the same language on all these different restaurant reviews on yelp. This is a form of vandalism. It's easy to tell the difference between an honest one star review and these mean spirited ones. The mean ones always say the same type of thing regarding the cleanliness of the restaurant or the poor food quality, or that they had to throw away their order. It's one complaint after another and they're just making stuff up. They try to ruin the review system for the rest of us. read more

I've taken my 99 year old dad here numerous times. They didn't used to be open at 10 but we've come earlier since they changed their hours. We got there about 10:15 and were told we couldn't get lunch until 11 because they were doing the days baking. I was kind of surprised but wasn't going to sit and wait until 11. Personally, I've not seen restaurants open but not serve food until an hour later. Can't review the food since there wasn't any. read more

The name "water shack" was a lil sus when I heard how good their hot dogs were. Don't be scared. It was actually delicious!! The sesame buns really were the cherry on top. No complaints, would order again! read more

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I've been a loyal customer for a few years. I've supported this place through all their price increases. The manager is fantastic and I think part of my loyalty was because of her. She is wonderful. But now that this place has done the double whammy, I'm done. They've increased the water to $1.00 a gallon while also implementing a new 3% credit card fee. ADIOS! read more

The concept is cool. The people are AWESOMELY friendly! I drove past this place 100's of times and never knew what lie within. They have Thrifty ice cream! I was a little disappointed with the food. The meat was a bit overdone to my taste. The burger patty could have been a little rarer and it needed more fat content. The pastrami was overcooked as well. It was cut with the grain which made it a bit chewy. That being said, the fries were excellent I will give them another try as I really want small businesses like this to succeed. read more

So just looking for local eats and found this. What they lack in decor wow do they make up for in the food and prices. Burgers simply amazing and half the price of competitors and they're bigger. And best fries I've probably ever had. Bravo While the business is some weird mix of a water store/ video store?/ice cream parlor/restaurant it's worth a visit. After talking to them about the history it makes sense sounds like they might be making more changes in the near future - nice staff, friendly. Wow lots of people surprisingly come in to refill their bottle water but you gotta come try their food. Mainly American hamburger, hotdog etc but they have melts and pastrami and more. They offer thrifty brand ice cream as well for a treat read more

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Stopped in to our favorite place for ice cream treat today. My wife had a hot fudge Sunday and I had a chocolate milk shake with a hot fudge drizzle, wow was that delicious! The back dining area was really clean and quiet while we indulged. The crew making the treat were so nice as they always are. Great summer treats! read more

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This place was cool. Had a Groupon for $30 & ranked up $45 which turned into $15. Score! The place is cool - they have burgers, fries, Ice cream, shakes, salads, cookies & brownies, & they sell water. There's other stuff too, but I just really like that they have everything. We arrived and there was like no one there. Ordering was easy and we ended up getting a chocolate shake, a grilled chicken sandwich, large fries, shack attack which comes with a burger, large drink (woot woot - Coke products), fries, & a sundae & some sourdough thing with grilled hot dog (maybe it was called a dog melt). We took it to go and next time, I'll definitely eat it there. Those fries were seasoned and they deserve more respect to be eaten fresh. But the food overall was tasty. This place also has water you can fill up your jugs with it or buy it there. Prices are fair and the girls that work there are friendly. I'll definitely come back! read more

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