The Top 10 Best Burgers in San Diego

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As San Diego is one of the US’s premier sporting destinations, there’s plenty of ways to work up a hunger and this is something the city’s burger joints cater for this with impressive flair.

San Diego boasts some of the quirkiest burgers out there and is rapidly developing a reputation in the niche market for a swish burger dining experience. With busy commercial districts dotted up and down the coast, there’s plenty of locations to choose from in evaluating the top ten burgers in the city. From old timers who’ve polished their craft over the years to recent, zanier approaches to burgers, there’s so much to leave you satisfied in San Diego!

10. Carnitas’ Snack Shack

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This place specialises in pork and has a strong local following in the North Park area of the city. Their Triple Threat Pork Sandwich is divine and their homey back patio seating area is a really nice touch.

9. Slater’s 50/50

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Slater’s has been shaking things up on the scene ever since its opening in 2009. Their 50/50 blend of bacon and beef is much talked about among burger aficionados in the city. Many are also drawn to its surprising, left field concoctions, like the Pizza Burger and the Foie Gras burger.

8. Twist Sandwiches

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A great neighbourhood eatery just north of Balboa park. This newcomer on the scene has steadily been gathering praise due to its quality, succulent meat, which make its burgers and steak sandwiches some of the best around. The Twist Burger, with its dripping goats’ cheese and carmelised onions (made with Coca Cola), is the most popular bite here.

7. Beaumont’s

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Slater’s is a popular La Jolla spot. It’s an ideal place to combine a delicious meal, some tasty craft beer and the area’s famous view of the beach. Their Le Beast! Burger is a true feast of All-American meats. This one comprises of 1/2 LB Wild Boar / Elk / Bison Blend, Cambozola, Smoked Chili Marmalade and Beer Battered Onion Rings on Pretzel Bun. It will set you back $18.50 but it’s well worth it.

6. Bo-beau

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Bo-beau is a classy (but unintimidating), European-style restaurant situated in Ocean Beach, the most chilled-out of SD’s three beach areas. When ordering the Burger Royale you may be reminded of Travolta’s classic rant in Pulp Fiction, but this is far from a fast food chain experience. Prepare yourself for a host of delicious French ingredients with this one: freshly chopped garlic, shallots, Gruyère, green peppercorn aioli and delicate strips of braised pork belly. Magnifique!

5. Bareback Bar & Grill

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Pacific Beach’s Bareback is your best bet for a scrumptious, filling burger right on the main stretch of the city’s busiest beach spot. Bareback mince their meat fresh daily and source their fine meat from Uruguay, accounting for the brilliance of that melt-in-your-mouth first bite after a swim or hard surf in the sea. This is a New Zealand-themed bar and grill with a relaxed atmosphere and en enjoyable alternative rock soundtrack.

4. Prepkitchen

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Prepkitchen is a little on the expensive side, but the sheer quality of their ingredients are hard to argue with. Their homemade traditional garnish set off these burgers excellently, as to the homemade pickles and freshly-made buns. If you fancy a French twist, go “WNL” style to feast on a juicy burger with egg, bacon, caramelized onion, remoulade and Gruyère cheese.

3. Davanti Enoteca

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Little Italy’s Davanti Enoteca isn’t typically known for its burgers, but their Davanti Burger is a bold, surprising treat. This one involves a sumptuous mix of flavours: bacon jam, roasted tomatoes, arugula, cheese curds and aoili, which combine beautifully with Davanti’s top quality meat to create a truly memorable burger experience.

2. Balboa Bar & Grill

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For some, a few of these burgers might be might be a bit extreme. Go for the “Flying Cheeseburger” if you’re looking for a delicious, stacked burger, with double helpings of meat, cheese and bacon along with lettuce and tomato, all topped off with chipotle buttermilk sauce. Doods also serves up a great selection of cold beers and has regular live music events; a really lively atmosphere.

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1. Hodad’s

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Hodad’s doesn’t regularly have queues spilling out the door for no reason, their Bacon Cheeseburger has long been considered the top burger in the city. It has a cool surf shack kind of vibe with punk generally piping over the sound system. The service is efficient but relaxed, making for a comfortable experience to compliment the put just the right amount of fuss into doing no-nonsense burgers just perfect.