San Diego has enough 5-star fine dining restaurants along its beautiful coast line for an unlimited number of date nights, but those are not the places the locals rave about when it comes to local cuisine. If you ask a local about their go to dining spots, they will almost always tell you about their favorite burger or burrito joint. Every city has their famous one or two burger spots that everyone argues about, but San Diego is home to at least twelve amazing burger restaurants. From the hills in the east to the lively Pacific Beach, San Diegans know how to cook up a quality beef patty.

1. In-N-Out Burger (multiple locations): Although San Diego can’t solely claim the infamous fast food burger joint, we definitely have In-N-Out running in our blood. Even vegetarians will cheat when it comes to ordering a “Double-Double Animal Style.” Fresh vegetables, beef, fries, all delivered at a low price and fast speed. This is the only fast food burger joint to make the list, and it easily holds a place in the hearts of more San Diegans than any other burger place.
2. Hodad’s (Ocean Beach): “No shirt, no shoes, no problem” is the motto at this laid back beach venue. Hodad’s sticks to the burger basics and gets it right every single time. Ranked on CNN’s list as one of the top five burger joints in the country, this is definitely a place worth visiting. They have great prices, large patties, delicious bacon, and fresh ingredients. Just be careful not to go there when you are too hungry, you are likely to wait in a long line to taste one of their juicy burgers.
3. Rocky’s Crown Pub (Pacific Beach): Easily the burger place with the most diehard and committed fans is Rocky’s in P.B. The burgers are basic and the lines are long, but Rocky’s burgers are so tasty and cheap everyone keeps coming back for more. Rocky’s and Hodad’s have a bit of a rivalry, so don’t bring up their competitor’s name when you’re inside or you risk starting a civil war in San Diego. This laid-back, cash-only joint has even fewer items on their menu than the minimalist king In-N-Out Burger. Show up early to skip the lines and enjoy a pint while you are there.
4. Burger Lounge (multiple locations): The new chain trying to give In-N-Out a run for their money is the Burger Lounge restaurants. This chain doesn’t have a drive-thru, but the service is good and fast so you can still somewhat call it fast food. Their claim to fame is that they have “premium burgers” using only grass-fed beef and environmentally friendly principles. The prices are higher than the competition, but once you bite into the juicy burger and onion rings you will realize it was well worth it.
5. Bare Back Grill (Pacific Beach and Gaslamp): 100% organic beef ground daily and locally grown veggies is the big selling point at Bare Back and it seems to be working quite well. There burger has won numerous “best burger in San Diego” awards over the years and they are still pumping out deliciously giant burgers. They have more options than the first four on the list and are a little classier too. Prices are getting up to $10 per burger but you are guaranteed to walk away full. Skip the fries if you are picky, they aren’t what the restaurant is known for.
6. Phil’s BBQ (Point Loma and San Marcos): This delicious barbecue joint is more known for their ribs but they throw together a char-grilled BBQ burger that locals are whispering great things about. Like the other top places though, expect to be tempted by the delicious barbeque smells while suffering in a long line.
7. The Linkery (North Park): This place is a national award winning gastro pub that serves high quality craft beers alongside their farm fresh food, creating a perfect combo for us San Diegans. Their farm-to-table strategy means that they create the menu according to what is currently available and in season at local farms. The burgers are especially flavorful with organic grass fed beef sourced from the Tallgrass Beef Farmers cooperative.
8. Tioli’s Crazee Burger (North Park): Hands down, Crazee Burger is the home of San Diego’s craziest burgers around. They do not serve anything you will find at the other eleven burger joints on this list. Try your hand at an alligator, kangaroo, or lamb burger, just to name a few. If you are up for a little culinary adventure, this is the place to go.
9. Cheers (Ramona): A local dive bar with live music and… world famous cheeseburgers. The bar is at least a 30 minute drive for most San Diegans but it still draws a crowd for their oversized and extremely tasty burgers. Nothing extraordinarily fancy there, just burgers done the right way.
10. Nessy Burgers (Fallbrook): Since 1989, Nessy’s has been making high quality burgers just off the 15 and highway 76. A little out of the way if you live downtown, but the perfect pit stop for road trips. The locally sourced beef and ingredients could easily compete with the rest of San Diego’s best if it was not so far out of the way.
11. The Waterfront Bar and Grill (Little Italy): If you are planning to head downtown, this should be your starting point for the night. Load up on great beer, free popcorn, and delicious burgers. This San Diego staple has been around since just after prohibition ended and the likes of Wyatt Earp are said to have frequented here during its early days. A lot has changed since then, but their half pound burgers are just as good as ever.
12. The Encinitas Ale House (Encinitas): Although this place changed itself into a beer connoisseur’s hang out, they still have their famous Kobe beef burgers to pair with that Belgium brew. Located all the way up in the laid back beach town of Encinitas, this place serves what they call “locally world famous burgers & ales.” Come in on a Tuesday for a deal that can’t be beat, two burgers for the price of one.