The Friendly is a pizza parlor that offers New York-style pizza and a very much buzzed about flat top burger, which many locals are proclaiming as the best burger in San Diego.
After hearing about the burger from quite a few people, I had to check it out for myself.
The diner has a simple menu of whole pizza pies, pizzas by the slice, and their dirty flat top cheeseburger.
We decided to try the cheeseburger and two slices of pizza.
Dirty Flat Top Cheeseburger
At first glance, this burger isn’t much to look at. The top bread bun was more smashed than I would have liked. When I lifted the burger, there was a thick imprint of grease where the burger had been resting.
However, one bite in, and I understood the hype. This no-frills burger tastes how a cheeseburger should taste. By cooking on the flat top griddle, the burger patties develop a crispy crust over the meat, locking in the moisture and ensuring that each bite contains some of that burger crust. The cheese, while nothing extraordinary, blended seamlessly with the patties.
My only real issue with the burger was just how greasy it was. Halfway through devouring the burger, the grease had soaked completely through the bottom bun.
But at $5 a burger, this perfectly cooked burger is worth trying out and I can see myself coming here again if I’m in the mood for a classic cheeseburger.
Spinach Ricotta Pizza
We also tried the spinach ricotta pizza and the sausage and pepperoni pizza (sorry, no photo of the latter). I always like choosing a white pizza and a traditional red sauce pizza.
The crust was thin and crispy and we enjoyed both pizzas we tried. It may not be my favorite spot for NY-style pizza in San Diego, but it hit the spot.
Overall, we had a good visit. The staff was friendly and welcoming and we liked the pizzas and the burger. The prices are quite reasonable as well.
The Friendly
4592 30th St, San Diego, CA 92116
Thanks for the lead on The Friendly, and your as-always excellent photography! It looks like the last line on the menu board says ‘We respectfully decline any modifications’. In that case, did you notice if grilled onions are involved anywhere in the cheeseburger? If I’m gonna break down and indulge in a nice crusty, greasy cheeseburger, I’d normally ask for some grilled onions on it – but I prefer not to tick off the cook if they aren’t even in the picture. ? ?
I don’t recall there being any grilled onions in the burger
I’ve heard a lot about this place too! I wanna try the burger and the prices seem very reasonable. Thanks for sharing your visit and opinions!
hope you get to check it out!
I’ve been reading your blog for sometime and I so wish that I lived near you in San Diego instead of the Midwest LOL
aww, come visit! haha