The Best Burgers in San Diego

San Diego offers the quintessential California city with its constant sunshine, gorgeous beaches, and cool, coastal vibe. The dining scene here has exploded over the last few years with a variety of new restaurants opening up, from swanky steakhouses to casual taco shacks and more. If the goal is to try the best burger in San Diego, there are plenty of places to choose from. But where are the city's real foodies eating out? Welcome to our Tastemakers List. We've pulled data from thousands of restaurants to find the most popular spots among expert food connoisseurs on OpenTable. San Diego has everything from the classic burgers and fries at neighborhood pubs to locally-sourced Angus beef patties topped with Gorgonzola and heirloom tomatoes. Score a table at one of these restaurants to decide who has the best burger in San Diego.

The OpenTable Team

13 Restaurants

Updated February 26, 2020

Restaurants:	Provisional Restaurant at Pendry San Diego, True Food Kitchen - San Diego UTC, Farmer's Bottega Restaurant…
Price Range:	$$ - $$$
Cuisines:	American…
Neighborhoods:	Downtown / Gaslamp, La Jolla, Mission Hills…

Provisional Restaurant at Pendry San Diego

$$$$

American

Downtown / Gaslamp

4.6

710 reviews

This light-filled, stylish eatery serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and brunch to guests of the Pendry and the dining public. They feature different menus for each meal but the house burger can be found on both the lunch and brunch menus and many consider it the best burger in San Diego. This burger is cooked to perfection and topped with fried spring onions and aged cheddar on a roll and served alongside crispy friends and pickles. It’s a delicious and mouthwatering mid-day snack. Starters include chicken tortilla soup, smoked sun choke bisque and other savory treats for diners with a big appetite.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Experiences available

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Takeout available

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True Food Kitchen - San Diego UTC

$$$$

American

La Jolla

4.7

911 reviews

True Food Kitchen is a restaurant and lifestyle brand based on the philosophy that food should make diners feel better, not worse. This Fashion Valley branch stays true to their mission, featuring seasonal ingredients, customized orders and vibrant dishes and drinks. Their burger menu includes the Inside Out Quinoa Burger topped with ingredients like hummus and tzatziki, the Grass-fed Burger served with umami, mushroom, caramelized onion, arugula, parmesan and mayo on a flaxseed bun, and the Turkey Burger with smashed avocado, tomato, smoked gouda, jalapeno remolade and butter lettuce. It’s hard to go wrong with any of these choices.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Farmer's Bottega Restaurant

$$$$

American

Mission Hills

4.6

1325 reviews

This farm-to-table restaurant located in the heart of the Mission Hills neighborhood serves breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner along with a variety of local craft beers and wines. It’s an intimate eatery with a rustic-chic ambience that feels like a real farmhouse. They have extensive menus for each meal and the house burger is one of their main attractions. Get it cooked just how you like it - they use 100% angus beef and top it with sun dried tomato bacon chutney, grilled portobello mushroom, truffle cheese and tobacco onions on a gourmet bun. The combination of angus beef and the farm fresh toppings is why so many foodies consider it the best burger in San Diego.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Beeside Balcony

$$$$

Contemporary European

Del Mar

4.5

1149 reviews

Located just north of San Diego in Del Mar, CA, Beeside Balcony is a gorgeous oceanside restaurant where diners can enjoy seaside views from the balcony. On chilly days, they crank up the patio heaters outside so visitors can enjoy the fresh air all year round. The chef freshens up the menu here on a regular basis and features New American flavors with Mediterranean and California cuisine peppered in - not to mention perhaps the best burger in San Diego. Splurge on the Balcony Burger, an inspired creation featuring a grass-fed lamb burger, shallot jam, tomato, and fontina cheese on a brioche bun with a Beeside salad served on the side.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Great Maple San Diego

$$$$

American

Hillcrest

4.7

3825 reviews

This new outpost of Great Maple is located at the Westfield UTC mall and features a 5,000 square foot space with a 1,500 square foot patio! It features a wide selection of modern American food for lunch and dinner daily and brunch on the weekends. The laid-back space is great for enjoying their signature cocktails and made-from-scratch dishes, including what many think of as the best burger in San Diego. Try the Steakhouse Burger, served with aged white cheddar, arugula, tomato, pickled red onions, and aioli. The La Jolla Veggie Burger is also a local favorite, featuring ancient grains, almond and mushroom patty with smashed avocado, arugula, tomato, pickled red onion, and aioli.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Mediterranean Room - La Valencia Hotel

$$$$

American

La Jolla

4.6

1456 reviews

The Med is a classy, sophisticated restaurant that caters to guests of La Valencia Hotel. It features a spacious dining room with an ocean view terrace looking out over La Jolla Cove and the Pacific. The menu focuses on seasonal seafood dishes, traditional American staples and locally-sourced ingredients. The La V Burger comes with caramelized onion, American cheese, Bibb lettuce, tomato, butter pickle and aioli on a potato bun and the Black Bean and Quinoa Burger is topped with mixed greens, heirloom tomato and garlic-dijon sauce on a potato bun.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Takeout available

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Craft & Commerce

$$$$

American

Little Italy

4.6

944 reviews

This Little Italy eatery and cocktail bar went through an extensive redesign in 2016 that resulted in a bigger, bolder and more beautiful space with floor-to-ceiling windows, brick walls and plenty of books and taxidermy on display. It serves an innovative menu designed by executive chef Ted Smith and refreshing cocktails by beverage director Anthony Schmidt. The C&C Burger is not-to-be-missed and comes with onion confit, white cheddar and secret sauce on a brioche bun, alongside a kosher dill pickle and fries. It's no wonder why so many diners consider it the best burger in San Diego.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

West End Bar & Kitchen

$$$$

American

Del Mar

4.6

739 reviews

Located just North of San Diego across from the beautiful lagoon at the Torrey Pines State Reserve in Del Mar, this restaurant offers scenic ocean views and inspired American cuisine. Grab a table with a view and order an artisan cocktail or a refreshing glass of wine from the extensive wine list. The Lunch menu features two burgers that foodies will want to try! The Classic Cheeseburger is made with Prime Angus beef topped with Cheddar cheese, iceberg lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickle and mayo while the Buffalo Bacon Burger is made from American Bison and topped with Applewood smoked bacon, Pepperjack cheese, Iceberg lettuce, tomato and a spicy chipotle aioli.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Takeout available

View Takeout Menu

LAVO Italian Restaurant - San Diego

$$$$

Italian

Downtown / Gaslamp

4.6

390 reviews

Seersucker calls itself the quintessential social dining destination in the heart of downtown San Diego. It’s a lively dining spot that features fun happenings like live music and themed brunches and always draws in an energetic crowd. The menu features local fare including fresh seafood caught on the coast, high-quality meats and plenty of locally-brewed beers to sample. The seersucker burger promises not to disappoint even the most seasoned burger connoisseurs! It comes with white cheddar, bacon, onion jam, and the restaurant’s own secret sauce.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Experiences available

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Gravity Heights

$$$$

American

Sorrento Mesa

4.7

1002 reviews

Gravity Heights is San Diego’s newest large-scale brewery restaurant. Located in Sorrento Mesa, space itself is worth a visit. It features 12,000 square feet of brewing and dining beauty with large windows, cool lighting, and a funky, contemporary vibe. The menu features elevated pub fare and executive chef Keith Voight set out to make sure he was in the running for the best burger in San Diego. The GH Dirty Burger comes with American Cheese, lettuce, Pasilla chili, pickles, bacon, and dirty sauce while the American Burger has American Cheese, gem lettuce, tomato, caramelized onion, and dirty sauce.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Jake's Del Mar

$$$$

American

Del Mar

4.7

9012 reviews

Jake’s Del Mar is located right on the beach in Del Mar, just off of Powerhouse Park. They feature new American cooking with a focus on inspired updates of classic preparations like burgers, steaks, and seafood. Serving lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch, it’s a perfect place to enjoy a meal with views of the ocean and a portion of the Chef’s Special go to the San Diego Food Bank. Try the Chef’s Burger, a blend of sirloin and brisket topped with Tillamook smoked cheddar, grilled onions and special sauce on a brioche bun with the option to add Applewood bacon and avocado.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

The Shores Restaurant - La Jolla Shores Hotel

$$$$

American

La Jolla

4.5

2144 reviews

This restaurant offers gorgeous waterfront dining in the La Jolla neighborhood - you can walk in right from the beach! It boasts an open-air patio, fantastic ocean views, and a warm, cozy ambiance. The menu has a focus on Californian cuisine and seafood and Sunday brunch diners can choose off the a la carte menu. Sip a well-mixed cocktail and try one of the craft burgers: the Shores burger features craft Angus beef with smoked cheddar, charred onion, lettuce, pickles, tomato, and grain mustard.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Cosmopolitan Restaurant

$$$$

American

Old Town

4.0

335 reviews

The Cosmopolitan Restaurant offers lunch and dinner as well as Saturday and Sunday brunch with a menu that reflects the tastes of the Old Town neighborhood where it is located. Diners will find Mexican favorites, an American grill and fresh seafood to choose from and the menu changes throughout the year depending on which local ingredients are at their peak. Try the Churro-Speared Cosmo Burger with aged white cheddar, grilled onions, heirloom tomato, butter-leaf lettuce, and house-brined pickle - there’s even an option to add short rib, bacon, jalapeno, egg, avocado, and mushrooms!

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

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The Best Burgers