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About

The Balboa, a premier Bar & Grill and Restaurant in the heart of San Diego, invites you to experience the ultimate dining destination. Located at 1863 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101, our establishment offers a unique blend of flavors, atmosphere, and exceptional service. As a top-rated Bar, we take pride in our extensive selection of craft beers, signature cocktails, and fine wines. Whether you're looking for a casual gathering spot or a night out with friends, our Bar & Grill is the perfect place to unwind. Our Restaurant menu features a diverse range of dishes, from classic American favorites to innovative twists on traditional cuisine. Our chefs use only the freshest ingredients to create mouth-watering meals that are sure to delight. At The Balboa, we're dedicated to providing an exceptional dining experience that exceeds your expectations. Join us for lunch, dinner, or happy hour and discover why we're a San Diego favorite.

The Balboa Review Summary

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4.7
(1096 Reviews)
5
4
3
2
1
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B Davis
B Davis -Google user
Edited 3 months ago
This burger joint inside a bar/tavern really hit the spot! The burgers were excellent—super tender, juicy, and best of all, no weird hard or fatty pieces. Just really high-quality meat cooked perfectly. We got the Centennial & classic burger. We tried the garlic fries, which...Read More
$10–20Atmosphere: 5Moderate noiseSuitable for all group sizesNo wait
Annie Chanthavysouk (Chanthavysouk)
Annie Chanthavysouk (Chanthavysouk) -Google user
a year ago
Nice burgers and good price. The garlic fries are my favorite with the fresh garlic taste. There are beers, wines and any cocktails available. Unfortunately I didn't see any porter or stout but I'm okay with the IPA. Definitely check it out
Steven Heath
Steven Heath -Google user
2 years ago
This is a laid back casual bar and grill that specializes in burgers. If it’s your first time going there make note that you have to place your order at the bar - there is no table service here. …
Christopher Smith
Christopher Smith -Google user
a year ago
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...Read More
Christina Adkins
Christina Adkins -Google user
a year ago
DELICIOUS CENTENNIAL BURGER!!! It’s hard to find this bar, but once you find it and go inside it feels very …
Nicholas Grismore
Nicholas Grismore -Google user
4 months ago
One of the best burgers around downtown. Patty is seasoned perfectly and the buns are lightly toasted. Awesome atmosphere with old arcade games and pool.
Atmosphere: 5
Christiane
Christiane -Google user
11 months ago
Ooh their burgers! 🍔🤤 The Balboa has a relaxed, unpretentious vibe, good drink selection, & friendly staff serving super tasty burgers & well-cooked fries late in the evening (perfect for night owls🦉). For a burger with a side of fries + a …
Stephanie Buriel
Stephanie Buriel -Google user
2 months ago
First time I ate here and loved it. I had the barbecue bacon burger and regular salt and pepper French fries. The burger bun and bacon for the burger were cooked perfectly. The serving of fries is enough for two people to share. After I...Read More
Atmosphere: 4
Max Sanchez
Max Sanchez -Google user
4 months ago
The burger is so damn good. Happy hour special is where it’s at. The people who work here are cool and never have an attitude. It’s the place to be! The burger is fresh, juicy, and all the toppings / ingredients are crunchy and crisp....Read More
Atmosphere: 5
tim christensen
tim christensen -Google user
5 months ago
Great burger. The garlic aïoli was great. Burger was delicious. Definitely a top 10 burger I’ve had in my life. Prices were a little expensive. A burger and fries was over $20 which seems crazy. But it is 2025. The place also hasn’t had much...Read More
Dine inLunch$30–50Atmosphere: 3BBQ Burger, Salt and Pepper Fries
Peter Morales
Peter Morales -Google user
2 months ago
My friend Eva recommended this place for burgers. I had a chicken sandwich with a lemonade while Eva had a bacon cheeseburger with jalapeños and garlic fries. They have an arcade and pool table. Plenty of tables to sit. I will definitely...Read More
Other$30–50Atmosphere: 5Moderate noiseNo special eventSomewhat difficult to find parkingPaid street parking
Stephen Chapman
Stephen Chapman -Google user
a month ago
Best burger I have ever had. Worth every calorie of my chear day and the hand cut garlic fries with fresh garlic were outstanding?
$20–30Atmosphere: 5Side of Garlic Fries, The CentennialLoud, but you can still talk3-4 people
Alex a
Alex a -Google user
10 months ago
This place is probably considered a dive bar, but it's like the bar from Cheers, no, everyone doesn't know my name, but it has this familiar, oddly comforting feel about it. …
Andrew S
Andrew S -Google user
a week ago
Nice little bar serving mainly burgers. I'm no expert on burgers but this was the best I ate in California by a long way. Served in a bread bun rather than a brioche bun. I know restaurants use brioche because it doesn't go stale as...Read More
Atmosphere: 5
elias bermudez
elias bermudez -Google user
2 weeks ago
I ordered the Original Balboa Burgers, with salt & pepper fries. The burger was dam good. The buns, fries and vegetable were fresh. I enjoyed eating my meal, solid burger and fries, the aioli tasted good. I would definitely go back to order another burger.
Dinner$10–20Atmosphere: 5Moderate noise3-4 peopleHighly recommendVegetarian menu or sectionBeyond Pattys are an option in the menu.
Joleen Soderberg
Joleen Soderberg -Google user
a week ago
We were visiting San Diego from out of town and wanted a good burger. We are so glad that we trusted the reviews for The Balboa and headed there! Cool small bar atmosphere and great food! Service was great. Cheers to Kevin the bartender!
Atmosphere: 5
Jason Camp
Jason Camp -Google user
5 months ago
We love it here! In my opinion, it's one of the best burgers in San Diego, and everything is made in-house—bread, fries, sauces, you name it. We had an amazing meal and a great time. The service was top-notch! The staff is super friendly, …
Keith Langill
Keith Langill -Google user
2 months ago
Great burgers in a cool little dive bar on the edge of Balboa Park in Banker's Hill. Very consistent burgers and clean taps make for a great visit in spite of slightly dicey neighborhood. Definitely splurge for the garlic fries, and be sure …
Rachel Bartlemay
Rachel Bartlemay -Google user
2 months ago
Did not actually eat there, but leaving this review in hopes that anyone with young kids sees it. This place is not kid friendly and did not have a kids menu. There was another review that indicated it was a good place for kids as...Read More
Erik Charles
Erik Charles -Google user
4 months ago
I was craving a burger and decided to search for something local. what I found was an absolute gem. The burger was perfectly cooked, juicy, and packed with flavor, and the fries? Crispy, golden, and addictive. Honestly, this place is second to none in the...Read More

Features

Service options

check icon Takeout
check icon Dine-in
Delivery

Highlights

check icon Fast service

Popular for

check icon Lunch
check icon Dinner
check icon Solo dining

Accessibility

check icon Wheelchair accessible entrance
check icon Wheelchair accessible parking lot
check icon Wheelchair accessible restroom
check icon Wheelchair accessible seating

Offerings

check icon Alcohol
check icon Beer
check icon Cocktails
check icon Comfort food
check icon Food
check icon Food at bar
check icon Happy hour drinks
check icon Happy hour food
check icon Hard liquor
check icon Late-night food
check icon Quick bite
check icon Wine

Dining options

check icon Lunch
check icon Dinner

Amenities

check icon Bar onsite
check icon Restroom

Atmosphere

check icon Casual
check icon Cozy
check icon Trendy

Crowd

check icon Groups
check icon Tourists

Planning

Accepts reservations

Payments

check icon Credit cards
check icon Debit cards
check icon NFC mobile payments

Parking

check icon Paid street parking
check icon Parking