The Balboa

Top Tier Burgers - A Must-Try!Balboa is top tier. It's the best burger I've ever had. My girlfriend showed me this spot, and I can say it's pretty darn good. It is a local bar location, and although it took me a while to find, it's literally right there once you know where to look.They have a really good sauce and garlic fries, and their meat is always super juicy--better than In-N-Out. It is a bit pricey, but you get what you pay for.If you're looking for an amazing burger, Balboa is the place to go!

Don't let the location throw you off, the burgers are great. Garlic fries are yumm too, but be warned they will stain your tongue for solid 24. We sat at the bar and service was great They also put on the game we requested. Ambiance is very hole-in-the-wall vibe.

A good bar and hangout in Banker's Hill. They have pool, some video games, a good beer selection, and some cool cocktails, like the Jalapina Margarita.They're well-known for their burgers, the famous Balboa Burger has been churned out of here for years and features a homemade zesty aioli. The burger is honestly one of the best in San Diego, right up there with Rocky's, Hodad's, and The Friendly. Juicy, choice patty, great aioli, fluffy and slightly grilled bun. The garlic fries are pretty delicious as well.It's a nice place to come by and have a drink, or hang out with friends and get some grub. It's also in close proximity with downtown and Hillcrest, so you can easily kick off a fun night here and take things either north or south.

If I lived in San DIego, I would be here all the time. We stopped in for lunch after the 2024 Pride Festival and it did not disappoint. It's the nicest "dive bar" I've ever been in. Service was exceptional. The menu is on the wall and you order at the bar, and they bring your food out to you. The menu is basically burgers and fries, but they're done exceptionally well. Writing this review is a problem because I'm just thinking about how I would love to eat this again! Please visit if high-quality burgers and fries plus a great bar are what you're after. The garlic fries are VERY garlicly, beware if you are garlic sensitive!

These guys make a good burger and the garlic fries are amazing. Super divey, a tad bit too loud for my liking, but great burger and beer deals! Really simple menu but they do a great job. Two seating areas. The music was too loud so it's a little hard to keep a conversation going. Got the original burger with their house made aioli but would try their classic with pickles, cheese and ketchup next time. Apparently they have a location in South Bay also!

Best burger/fries/drinks combination in San Diego! Pool table, some arcade games, dive vibes, fantastic bartender (hi Alex!) and talented BOH (hi Noah!). 10 stars!

Good old-school bar with fabulous burgers. I saw the sign claiming to be the best burger in San Diego so I stopped by to try. It seems there is always a line for people buying take-out! Sat at the bar and had a drink and a burger! Frankly Burger is pretty good. There is only about 4 different kinds and menu is non existent! Still nice juicy burger comes your way....The only down side Balboa is a bar so expect it to be significantly louder than your ordinary burger joint...

I've been on a burger kick so my husband has been taking me to all his favorite places. I ordered the balboa burger and it was delicious ! Along with the fries , I really enjoyed the aioli sauce. I'm excited to come back and try out the different burgers.Everyone who works here is great ! It's a pretty cool place to drink some beers and play some pool.

Fun neighborhood bar in downtown SD! I went during St. Patrick's Day weekend so the vide was fun and upbeat! I had the classic burger but it didn't live up to the hype. I

Food: 5/5Drinks: 5/5Portions: 5/5Atmosphere: 4/5Cleanliness: 5/5Customer service: 5/5Speed: 4/5Price: $$Outdoor seating: noADA access: yesRestrooms: yes M /FDogs: yesKid Friendly: noVegetarian options:Vegan options:Pros: fries are great. drinks are creative Cons: location