Hodad’s is one of the most famous food destinations in San Diego, known for their epic-sized burgers complete with a crispy bacon patty.
This weekend, my brother and his girlfriend came to visit (our first house guests!). They requested all the San Diego favorites: Hodad’s, Phil’s BBQ, etc.
First up was Hodad’s. We decided to visit the downtown location as it tends to be less crowded than the original storefront in Ocean Beach.
I thought this all you can eat entree was interesting…
Frings
You can get fries or onion rings with your burger, or if you have a group, the best option is to get an order of frings, which is half fries and half onion rings. The basket is piled quite high, with plenty to go around. There were four of us and we barely made a dent.
Single Bacon Cheeseburger
The burgers come in three sizes: Mini, single and double. The Hodad’s sizes are not your normal measurements. A mini is more like a regular burger whereas a single is like an extra large, stacked tall with toppings, two layers of melted cheese, a burger patty, and a bacon patty. A yellow wrapper securely holds everything in place.
The bacon patty is definitely the highlight. The boiled bacon patty is pressed on the grill until crispy perfection, providing you a flavorful bacon crunch with each bite.
Outside of the bacon patty, I’ve never been overly impressed with the burger. The beef patty doesn’t have much flavor itself. The bun, especially the bottom piece, almost always gets soggy under the weight of fresh vegetable toppings. Still, it’s a very reasonably priced burger and I definitely can understand the appeal.
Guido Burger
Mr. K decided to try something a little different, ordering this Guy Fieri inspired burger (Guy Fieri featured Hodad’s on his Diner’s, Drive-Ins, and Dives” show). This burger features pastrami, grilled onions, brown mustard and swiss cheese. While it was a tasty combination, it was missing the signature bacon patty, so this wouldn’t be my choice.
Mini Bacon Cheeseburger
The mini burger was actually quite impressive in size also, only slightly smaller than the single.
Overall, this is a fun destination to try, especially with visitors. It’s not my favorite burger in San Diego, but the bacon patty is something special.
Hodad’s
945 Broadway
San Diego CA 92101
https://hodadies.com/
Hodads. I’ve lived in the neighborhood since 1991. Hodads didn’t used to be so crazy popular. I ate there a couple times back when it was possible to go there without waiting in line. I do not think that the burger is anything special. I would confirm that the burger and bun are nothing special, and the bun tends to get soggy on the bottom. Add to that I am not a person who likes a lot of stuff on the burger. I tend to focus on the meat and bread quality so this is not my type of burger. If you are more keen on toppings, this would suit you more. I don’t think it is worth standing in line there. But that’s my opinion. And I’ve not eaten there in years.
I’m surprised you didn’t order their giant milk shake
too much food!
Their smallest size is the one I like! I usually end up taking the onions out of mine so it’s easier to eat/hold.
I should have gotten the smallest size. I was so full!
My husband and I have always wanted to try Hodad’s but the Ocean Beach location is always too crowded. We’ll have to try the Downtown one. What is your favorite San Diego burger?
That’s a hard one. I enjoy Rocky’s for the price. I also really love the one at Whisknladle, though it’s a tad pricey. The Grill at The Lodge is also a solid burger, probably in my top 5.
Totally craving a burger and frings now. Thanks!
haha, luckily you’re not too far away 😉
I love the bacon patty here. It’s nice and crisp and covers the whole burger. The “Unburger” is a funny way to describe a grilled cheese! haha
I like that the bacon patty covers the whole burger too. hehe, I thought that grilled cheese name was funny too