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Hodad's
Category: Restaurants Burgers Burgers [Edit]
5010 Newport Ave(between Bacon St & Abbott St)
San Diego, CA 92107
Neighbourhoods: Point Loma, Ocean Beach
(619) 224-4623
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 11 am - 9 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Drive-Thru:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Dive-y, Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
1988 reviews for Hodad's
Review Highlights
-
"The onion rings were among the best I've ever had." In 717 reviews -
"License plates, stickers and posters line the walls." In 245 reviews -
"The frings are awesome, and reasonably priced." In 197 reviews
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- A Yelpy Insight: Vegetarians go nuts for this spot. See more places they like.
1986 reviews in English
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Review from Stephen S.
San Diego, CA
5/26/2012
The BEST burgers....... Hands Down. And malts..... and beer...........and onion rings,,,,,, and Atmosphere.................
Yeah! -
Review from Don C.
Westminster, CA
5/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
Came down to SD for the weekend and friend took me to this joint which was awesome! They have a simple menu to choose from which is great for a joint like this. I thought about getting the double but ended up with a single bacon cheese burger and it was plenty. The fries that come with the combo are wedge cut seasoned and were great.
What makes their burger stand out is the how they cook the patty. They make the end of the patty crispy like burnt but not like bbq burnt. Totally making me drool right now...haha. Their beers come in a jar kinda like how you get soda at Lucille's BBQ.
Great place and I'd come back here again! -
Review from Dayna C.
Orland Park, IL
5/18/2012 4 photos
When I saw this restaurant on the bacon episode of "The Best Thing I Ever Ate", I knew that I would need to stop there when I was visiting my best friend. Although we were living it up in the Gaslamp District, it was definitely worth the drive and hour long wait.
As a Midwestern gal, I am a big fan of juicy cheeseburgers so I came here with big expectations. I was not disappointed. I don't know what made their bacon cheeseburger so delicious but it was. Will also go back when in San Diego. -
Review from Karen M.
Spring Valley, CA
5/10/2012 4 photos
The server paid for our drinks.. Nuff said lol
Plus the burgers are bomb!! :D -
Review from Morgan S.
San Diego, CA
5/24/2012
This place was great! From the chocolate shake, onion rings and fries, bacon cheeseburger, to the decor. A must if your in the area!
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Review from Jason W.
San Diego, CA
5/14/2012
I'd like to start off by saying I don't think the vegetable to beef ratio is as bad as other people say, and the burger itself is pretty big. I have only got the bacon burger but man do they do it right. It's not like a Wendy's or McDonalds where they put this limp soggy excuse of bacon on top of their meat, this place makes it crisp and cooks it together along with the beef as if it was one united entity.
Their fried goods are also pretty good as well...I know, fries and onion rings should be hard to mess up but you will be surprised. I have heard the shakes are good as well so I will be trying that next time.
Oh and their decor is pretty fantastic. Funny liscense plates all around, a small little car that you can eat in, unique cups to serve beer in. Only part of the decor I didn't like was the extra high stool seating, just not as comfortable as sitting and being able to put my feet on the ground or something stable. -
Review from Katie B.
Tucson, AZ
5/23/2012
Best burgers, shakes, and onion rings in the world! Anyone who thinks they are too big is crazy. That's what makes this place awesome. The atmosphere and music are great as well.
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Review from Stephanie H.
San Diego, CA
5/5/2012
I have to correct myself and add another star because it IS a step up from fast food..
But average food and too loud to have conversations. Why bother? Oh yea, its cheap and you probably wouldn't have to talk to anyone if you're anti-social or have an annoying date.
It's like McDonald's for grown up kids who obsess about tattoos and punk music.
And I mean this in terms of ambiance... as I was later corrected by a non-Yelper, but Hodad's fan, "mc donalds dosnt have neopalitan malts made with real ice cream & fresh amazing onion rings & big juicy burgers that have fresh toppings pilled the size of your face.. "
Still, I'd rather go to Hamilton's in south park for the higher quality food and music.
And there's a line to get in.. that is FUNNY! -
Review from Doug T.
San Diego, CA
5/12/2012
We finally had a chance to have dinner at Hodad's and were not disappointed.
The burgers were fantastic and huge. I had the Blue Jay and could barely finish it. We also ordered a basked of Frings, and they were some of the best onion rings ever. (should got the half order). Great Food, Great Energy, we will be back. -
Review from Patrick H.
Oceanside, CA
4/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
Good hospitality, great food, awesome atmosphere.
Sat in a VW Bus that was cut halfway thru the middle and was served thru the window. Funniest thing ever. -
Review from Gerardo M.
San Diego, CA
5/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place is good but maybe a little to big?
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Review from Ferdinand D.
Perris, CA
4/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
What can I say about Hodad's that has not already been said. The double bacon cheeseburger is about the size of my mouth wide open, times 2!! I came on a day when the weather was overcast at OB and the line was quite short. I got here just in time where I had to wait maybe 10 minutes, if that! The entire restaurant is just amazing. The decor, the layout, and the bar seating area where you can look outside is just perfect. If I have to rave about anything about this place, it would have to be the Onion Rings. They were INCREDIBLE! The best tasting onion rings I've ever had, HANDS DOWN. And even though there were a ton of people, our food came out quite quickly. I was just one satisfied customer.
Hodad's gets packed quickly.
Lines sometimes ridiculous.
Venue (by the beach and decor) is awesome.
Burgers are great, juicy, delicious.
Frings (fries and onion rings) are great.
Milkshake is good.
Service was ok. -
Review from Adena B.
San Francisco, CA
4/30/2012
A perfect place for when you're craving a big, juicy hamburger.
I was eyeing the double cheeseburger, but the waitress took one look at me, shook her head, and just said, "no." She was right, the single cheeseburger was plenty, and with a half order of frings, my friend and I were stuh-huffed (stuffed)!
Tasty, tasty meat (is there any other kind?) and super friendly service. -
Review from Kailey S.
4/24/2012
Everyone I know loves this place, which is why there is always a line.
This place is a must try. The burgers are tasty, yet they don't do anything fancy. Where I think they excel is the onion rings and fries. Both are delicious.
It can get very crowded but the service stays pretty good. -
Review from Danny A.
San Diego, CA
5/6/2012
I drove to Hodad's with some friends on a whim one day after hearing a lot of good stuff about it. The parking situation is pretty messy. I went on a Sunday afternoon and it was packed and there was not a lot of street parking but we were lucky and spotted a spot just a block away. After we got to the place there is one line of all the eateries around and, of course, it's for Hodad's. The wait to get seated took about 30 minutes outside with not much place to sit.
Once we were seated it took a while to get our food. We all knew what we wanted before we were seated so we ordered right away. The food comes in big portions and the onion rings with ranch is a staple to any burger joint. The milkshakes were a bit on the solid side close to being just ice cream. I ordered the biggest burger they had to offer: the double bacon cheeseburger and it was too big to take a proper bite but it was all worth it. The food was good and worth the wait and the satisfaction. The vibe in the restaurant is very friendly with a lot of upbeat tunes in the background and the decor is perfect for it surrounding environment.
I would suggest mixing ketchup with the garlic hot sauce for dipping their fries in. -
Review from Ed F.
5/15/2012
It was off the chain, the server was great. I'm glad I didn't order my shake at the beginning like I intended cause it would have been too much. We all just shared one shake. I ordered the biggest burger they had which was enormous, they seriously should have warned me but he just smiled and wrote it down... little did I know what I was in for. It was too much, I'll try and put the picture up when I can figure it out. Try this place though the burgers, fries and shakes were awesome.
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Review from Carolyn C.
CA
5/24/2012
you better have an appetite to finish these burgers!! so good! There is always a line, so be prepared to wait to get a table. You can always order ahead of time and take it to go and eat by the beach if you are you hungry and want your burgers faster.
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Review from Michael S.
San Jose, CA
4/29/2012
Best burger not named Joe's Cable Car.
The food is incredible. -
Review from Andy P.
I came here for my friend's bachelor's party...dinner. Such a chill environment where you can really enjoy the surfer atmosphere. However during peak times ever night, your line is definitely a big long. We waited 30 mins on a Friday night.
I really wish I loved burgers more, but sadly even Hodads didnt convert me to a burger-lover. However, I will admit, Hodads definitely has some quality burgers with very perfectly grilled patties and other side goodies.
We all got the Single Bacon Cheeseburger which was surprisingly tasty and perfectly cooked. The bun was soft and kept intact even with all the other stuff added to it.
Pros:
- Onion rings were bomb. Get them!
- Fries were fatty and filling. We got a basket to split with our party of four.
- Bacon Cheeseburger is a very safe option. The layer of bacon made it very flavorful!
Tip:
- I'm a huge advocate for safer halitosis, as in, GET YOUR ONIONS GRILLED. I forgot to ask them to grill them and they were starting to get strong. I picked them out. What a waste, man.
I don't know man, definitely better than Red Robin and Five Guys...but they were running a tad bit too expensive for my taste. I might be back!Listed in: Best of SD
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Review from Amihan M.
Napa, CA
4/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
We were lucky enough to just walk in without a wait and also to be seated in the little "car" and that made the experience awesome. I didn't want to leave and wish I can bring that "car" home with me and flop in on my living room.
The burgers were huge! The server discouraged me from ordering a bigger one (I was hungry) which was good because I barely finished my cheeseburger. Frings were crispy and came with ranch dressing. You have to really eat the burger fast because the bread will disintegrate if you don't. -
Review from M. V.
San Diego, CA
3/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
DON'T EAT HERE NOT WORTH THE WAIT! CRAPPY SERVICE JUST OK BURGERS!!!
To go orders are the same wait time as a line wrapped about the building for dine in. Extremely rude servers, I would expect this at Dick's Last Resort where waiters throw napkins at you but not here. I was told 20 mins for my to-go order and waited 45 minutes, when I asked a server if he knew if my name had been called and I missed it he rolled his eyes at me, went and checked and came back with "No" not even a "No, we haven't called you yet but we will soon!" and then I asked him if he knew how much longer and he shouted "why don't you just f*cken wait!?" NEVER GOING HERE AGAIN!!!!! -
Review from Josie C.
Redlands, CA
Updated - 4/21/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Hadn't been to this one in a while, but they added the Guido burger and Blue Jay.
Brought friends to try out Hodad's and they were impressed. Our waitress was awesome and friendly.
Place can get packed quickly!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/12/2011
My family LOVES Hodad's! My sons (6 &3) love the license plates on the wall and the front of the… Read more »
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Review from Vi L.
4/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
OMG....I was craving this burger for a week after I had it.
Honestly, there's nothing too too special about the burgers here. If you want a good, all-American burger with the toppings (pickles, onions, cheese, mustard, ketchup, etc), this is the place to go. Ever bite was filled with a good mixture of everything. Maybe it's because I really enjoy pickles and onions in my burger (might be a little overwelming for other people), but that's what did it for this burger. Another extra was that the baskets come with potato wedges, instead of the typical fries you get from other restaurants. But yums! Everything was cooked to perfection. From the juiciness of the burger to the crispiness of the wedges & onion rings.
Too bad I came here on a stormy weekend. Can't wait to come back when it's sunny so I can order my meal to go and eat it on the beach while I enjoy the warm California sunshine. -
Review from Jarett O.
Pasadena, CA
5/6/2012
I don't understand the complaints about ambiance and noise, after all it is somewhat of a dive joint for burgers. As for the food, the burgers are HUGE. I'm 6'3 200lbs and a single is plenty for me and my girlfriend and I share a shake or fries. They render down the bacon by broiling it first, then crisp it up on the grill. Always busy. Staff always friendly, and food is consistently good. Just a tip, order to go when you are sitting outside waiting, then walk down the street and you can eat on the ocean front. If you want a "high class" overpriced Kobe beef burger or something of that sorts, this is not your cup of tea.
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Review from Jenny K.
3/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
It's like In-N-Out on crack.
Yes, without a doubt the food is incredibly oily but that's what makes it so amazing! I didn't venture too much and only ordered a Cheeseburger and some Onion Rings and Fries, but the bf says "The Guido burger is the bomb!" The cheeseburger was very large, and had a good balance of meat to veggies ratio. The patty itself was very moist and flavorful, but I definitely found myself envious of my bf's Guido burger because it had carmelized onions where as my burger only had boring raw onion.
The onion rings deserve a special mention because they truly are amazing. The batter is well seasoned and just crispy enough. The juxtaposition of the outer crispiness and the inner smoothness is simply brilliant. The poor fries were amazing, but the onion rings definitely stole the show. The fries were also seasoned well but they were thick-cut and inherently very filling and dense. I hogged most of the onion rings :)
Go give this place a try! There is free 2-hour street parking everywhere but it is very busy in Ocean Beach. There was a massive line at Hodad's even at 3PM so we took our food to-go and ate on the beach (which is just a stone's throw away). The area in general is very lively and a great place to chill with friends, with your significant other, or just by yourself being awesome. -
Review from Stephen T.
Long Beach, CA
4/9/2012 5 photos
4 stars... EASY!
Only reason it's not 5 stars is because of the wait...
I won't get to detailed because there are already almost 2000 reviews, but here were the pros and cons:
PROS: The milkshake was outstanding! The burger was hot and delicious, and the frings (basket of half fries and half onion rings) were also nice and hot and came with ranch!
CONS: We had to wait a half hour to get seated, its a bit pricey, they brought the frings out way before the burgers so it kind of ruined my apatite by eating to much before my burger came, the fries weren't all that great (the onion rings were amazing) and the place wasn't very clean.
The pro's did well outweigh the con's, so I would come back for sure! -
Review from Mari D.
Maaaan! Bomb diggity. I learned that saying somewhere and I don't know it it's real or not but that's what this burger was. Bomb diggity.
So let's start with the good:
I've always dreamed of a big juicy "if it doesn't get all over the place it doesn't belong in your face" burger just like Carl's Jr. Promised. Somehow no burger ever really measures up. I love me some in n out and I've tried others but none had the perfect juiciness to flavor to portion ratio...until Hodad's. It's the burger I'd been searching for. Upon reading the reviews I expected it to be huge...upon receiving it, well I wasn't impressed. But man..once I chowed down on it I realized the impressive size was vertical.
So there's ketchup, BBQ sauce, and two types of hot sauces at the table. I used like 20 napkins. Our waiter recommended we get the basket of fries and onion rings to share. Good idea. Both were delicious. It was four of us including me with my crazy appetite and two big hungry boys, and although I still had to fight for my share of fries and onion rings, I was left satisfied by what I was able to gather during the attack.
The bacon...mmm...so crispy!
The meat...so big and juicy
The toppings...so generous
BOMB DIGGITY
The bad: I could swear that the guy THREW the receipt at me. Not cool.
Anyway we wanted to try the shake but didn't have enough time. I wanted to spend more time on my food but all the tablemates ate so fast I had to catch up and we also had to hurry to catch a play afterward so I felt I didn't get to enjoy my burger as much as I wanted to...ok..it's actually going to be my excuse to go back :p
The menu is fairly simple and I pretty much was digging the prices. Very affordable. The decor is funky and entertaining.
Ok so why not five star? Only thing I hated was the parking situation. On the plus side it's right next to the beach. You win some you lose some and according to other reviews be prepared for a line...luckily we didn't get one but it did form while we were eating.
So anyway this place...Bomb Diggity!!! -
Review from Aznboi S.
San Diego, CA
3/24/2012
The Guido burger is the bomb! Combination of tender pastrimi, beef patty, and their spicy brown mustard is genius!
Their potato taters and onion rings are also very good. Onion rings surprisingly had more a LOT more onion than batter which is rare! The taters were very crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
There's always a lineup anytime of the day. Just had a very late lunch around 3pm and it was still jam packed. This joint is ridiculous. Been here like 3 times and never left disappointed! -
Review from Anna B.
Pacific Beach, San Diego, CA
3/15/2012
EPIC BURGERS.
SWEEEEEEEEEEEET, BRO. TOTALLY EPIC.
After a long day of parasailing in La Jolla, we drove a good amount to OB to get some grub. This was one of the few proud decisions in my life for a number of reasons:
1) BEST FUCKING BURGER in SD.
2) BEST customer service in SD.
3) WEIRDEST license plates on the walls.
4) HILARIOUS potheads talking about the "remember the last time we got high" stories.
5) SPECTACULAR shakes...and I don't even fucking like dessert!
I ordered the bacon cheeseburger with a vanilla shake and onion rings, and the burger came out to be a small one instead of the regular, big-boy size. I willingly ate it, but shyly told the lanky hipster waiter about it, but just expected him to apologize, but not only did I get an apology, but HE GAVE ME A FREE, REGULAR BACON CHEESEBURGER for the mistake. I mean, honestly, it wasn't a big deal... but holy smokes I downed two burgers, all of the onion rings, AND.. well, I couldn't finish the shake.
I can see why people flock from North County and all over to OB to eat here. Just such an awesome, low-key place that provides great food and greater service.
We had a bit of fries left over, so I bagged it home to eat on the car ride back, but there were a lot of hungry-looking homeless dudes around that corner, so I donated my prized leftovers to one man, who thanked me endlessly.
See? Eating at Hodad's even makes me a better person. 6 stars won't even do justice. -
Review from Mat R.
San Diego, CA
Health nut here, but occasionally, you've got to have a cheat meal, and if I were to choose a place to do that, look no further. I was there this past weekend, and I could not help myself but to laugh about how soul fulfilling this place is. I just sat there, telling my fiance how "my soul is happy and there's nowhere else I'd rather be". The prices are very cheap, but prepared for a line out the door during peak times. Pro-tip: get it to go if you just want the grub, but you're missing out on the ambiance that is Hodad's.
The burgers are no joke, and the onion rings are some of the best I've had. An order of onion rings+fries (Frings) left me and my fiance with lots of left overs, so prepare for big portions. Hodads' reputation is well deserved, and I plan on going back more often. -
Review from Brent C.
3/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
Honestly, this is it? I was not that impressed.
There was SO much hype about this place before I came here. I even stood in line in the rain just to eat here, but I was pretty disappointed. I started with the onion rings, which were actually really good. The breading was just how I like it and it had the perfect crisp. When I got my bacon cheeseburger, it was HUGE. I actually debated getting the double bacon cheeseburger, but good thing I didn't. I took my first bite, and I was like, ummmm it tastes kinda generic. I was pretty damn hungry and I always work up a good appetite, but I just didn't care to finish it.
To be quite frank, I'd rather go to In-n-Out than this place. -
Review from Amanda E.
Riverside, CA
4/29/2012 3 photos
This burger was incredibly delicious. I had the blue jay burger, which had blue chesse, bacon, lettuce and tomato. These burgers are so fresh and tasty. You must try the chocolate milkshake. The atmosphere is beach theme, with unique license plates from all over the U.S. The only downfall is the line to get in, but it moves really fast. The service is GREAT, considering how busy this place is. The staff is very helpful on ordering and answering questions.
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Review from Jessica D.
San Diego, CA
5/5/2012
It was decent, but I really don't see what all the fuss is about. I'd never wait an hour for that food like people seem to do. We ordered to-go and at by the beach. Honestly I think Smashburger and Five Guys have better burgers.
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Review from Steven M.
Bear, DE
4/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
Hands down the best burger I have ever had! Amazing burger, delicous onion rings. Amazing, Amazing, Amazing.
And those complaining about a wait, STOP, cuz it's worth it. -
Review from Tania L.
Duarte, CA
4/4/2012
I'm from Los Angeles, and there are plenty of burger joints around here. so I know a good burger when I bite into one.
The Food: DELICIOUS!
If there is a line to corner to go into this place, it must be good. I had the cheeseburger with frings, which is half potato wedged fries and onion rings Best onions I have EVER had. -
Review from Ryan R.
Bakersfield, CA
3/28/2012
Everything is perfect.
Burgers, fies, rings, and milkshakes; perfect. -
Review from Gabriella J.
San Diego, CA
3/29/2012
I love HODADS. The portions here are huge and the walls are filled with license plates from every single state you can think of. If you get lucky, you might even get to sit in the middle van. That's IF you get lucky.
Get a burger and split the milkshake (they come with a little extra).
Due to its reputation, Hodad's can be a little busy, so if you want to eat at this restaurant...you gotta be a little patient and not starving. -
Review from Gina N.
2/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
Overhyped in my opinion. I prefer in n out personally. If you want to chow down and gorge on thousands of calories with the ginormous portion sizes of everything then by all means, come here and pig out. We were in town for Tough Mudder SoCal, and the fellas wanted to have a big juicy burger after the competition.
They offer the FRIED chicken sandwich and veggie burger, but no turkey burgers. boo. I tried the UNburger (which is pretty much the burger and the fixings without the burger (practically the same as in n out, except subpar at best). The milkshake was decent, i've had better. The best thing i ate here was probably the wedge fries. The fellas said their burger was good, but they've had better. But I guess it's worth trying once if you're in the area. We all left with a food coma and disgusted (and we shared everything). Come extremely hungry and be prepared to feast!
America, this is why we are FAT!Listed in: Vacay Must See & Eats!
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Review from Burrito M.
San Francisco, CA
3/20/2012
I think I like this Hodad's location better than the other. It's nice to be able to sit at the counter facing the street and people watch while you snarf double bacon cheeseburger and onion rings. The service was kinda lousy (we sat waiting for everything for a looooong time). Whatever, I guess you gotta adopt a laid back attitude when eating with a buncha Hodads...HAHA
(Yes, I just laughed at my own joke...Snap!) -
Review from Tony A.
San Diego, CA
What can i say about this place that hasn't been said already......you want an awesome burger bigger than your head, then this is the spot for you. I hear there's also a location downtown now but i will always choose this spot even though its a bit more of a drive, the staff is friendly and the vibe in there is just very homey and comfortable. Aside from that, when you're done eating there you can find some good drink specials at the surrounding bars without the judgmental looks you get downtown.....if not then take a walk on the OB pier and walk off that huge burger.
Read more reviews for this business:
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