Dukes Old Fashioned Onion Burgers

Bomb and good size burgers. The milkshake was delicious very fresh. Service was quick and they ran out of meat 3 hours before closing so we got the last burgers luckily. It’s a spacious spot with inside and outside seating but I’m sure it gets busy all the time .

Came here from a tiktok that said they have the best burger in SD. Definitely in the top 3 for me, the burger was juicy, cooked fully, and flavorful. The toppings blend well in to a delectable sauce of its own. Reasonably priced as well, with a great staff that checked on me during a busy lunch rush.

You're getting what you paid for. i really wanted a larger burger instead of my usual smash burger. something akin to a bar burger or a restaurant burger. their burgers are really large! but for a price... but they definitely do not skimp! the Regular 1 patty is super large and in my opinion for he taste worth the ~14. for just the burger alone. definitely an good alternative to 5 guys... especially if you're allergic to peanuts.

I was introduced to this place by a very well mannered young man, by the name Fahmi Abdullah. I don't know how I've been here for almost a decade and missed this place. Smash Burgers have emaculatant flavor, with tons of delicious toppings. Menu is a little small, but with the size and dedication towards their craft, who the hell needs a bigger menu. Bring your appetite for the double double onion burger. I'm too afraid to try the 3x3, because I lack self-esteem and confidence. Try this place out, if ever in the neighborhood.

This review is based off food for price and not customer service, customer service was amazing and wait isn't to bad, now that we have that out of the way let's start. First off let me tell you, you do get a 3.5% discount if you pay cash, pretty unique. Food is pricey... we live in California lets remember we have in and out around, I came in and purchased a double cheese burger and a side of regular fries (should've got parm) the total came out to around $27 after tax, pricey right? The burger was a pretty big size and the fries portion was also really good. But let's get something straight $20 for a burger it's gonna taste good.. WRONG!! In my opinion the burger lacked flavor, the fries were to well done and honestly could've also lacked flavor, the way they get the flavor with the burger is by adding Jalapeños, without adding that my double cheese burger with lettuce, pickles and onions had no taste what's so ever, I would recommend you look elsewhere, I know in and out burgers are no where near this size but I can get 3 doubles from them for the same price as I paid for one here and I can promise you I'd at least enjoy eating it...

Overall, it was just okay. The bun wasn't very good. All of the other ingredients were quite tasty. We\n Had to wait about 15 to 20 minutes to get our burgers. We thought it was a little on the Spendy side.

Burgers were fantastic and pretty huge. I got a double with bacon and jalapeños so good. Chilling cheese fries were ok but good size with good amount of cheese. Strawberry shake was awesome with real chunks of strawberries through out. Definitely worth checking out these smash burgers. 🍔

First time here and it lived up to the hype. A bit busy on Sunday, but service and food were solid. The burger is like a smash burger $13 with a slightly thicker patty. We got two single burgers with bacon ($4 extra). Everything tasted fresh, the meat was seasoned well, and the bun was soft and buttery. Plus 2 orders of regular fresh cut fries. Would happily return.

What?! My husband and I have been wanting to try this place for a long time and our expectations were... Even a few days later, I'm still struggling to find the words! One thing is true - trust the photos you see in Yelp. My husband and I both got the single burger and it was almost as big as my head! The patty looked and felt like it was about 1/2 pound of pure beef. The regular toppings by no way made it feel like there was a salad on top of a burger, which is what most places do. It was juicy, finger-lickingly delicious! We also got the garlic and parmesan fries, which was also ridiculously good. The fries weren't greasy and, with the blend of garlic sauces and parmesans... well, again, I'm without words; they were just that good. Yeah, we'll be back to try other things on the menu - we can't wait! IYKYK: Good mashed potatoes is one of great luxuries in life.

Honestly it was okay but probably won't come back. Maybe stop by if in the area. Still looking for the burger joint worth driving out of my way to. We went there like 4 months ago and I forgot to leave a review but I remember it not being that memorable.

Delicious, huge portions, and worth every bite! We stopped by Duke's and everything was so good. We had the Onion Burger Single, Chili Fries, and the Bartsville. Every item was packed with flavor and came out hot and fresh. Just a heads-up: the portions are massive--the chili fries alone could easily feed two people. Not complaining, just come hungry or be ready to share! Service was friendly, the food was fast, and we left stuffed and happy. Definitely a spot we'll come back to!

These are REAL burgers. And they are THICK (or THICC, I guess). Trust me, you do not need a double patty. I got one and gained 12 pounds. The burgers are enormous, juicy, and very delicious. They are fresh and made to order. There is not much more than I can add. They are fantastic. Because 20,000 calories in one sitting wasn't enough for one human, we also ordered the bacon cheese fries. You get a massive portion and it is plenty for two or even three to share. It is very good. And what could be better than a fresh cookie with everything in it (chocolate, coconut, you name it) after all that? The cookie was excellent. The lemonade is freshly-made. That shows you the kind of care and attention to detail you find here. They also have shakes here. They looked awesome but I didn't see any defibrillators handy and I would surely have had a massive heart attack if I had ordered a shake, too. My only teensy complaint is that the jalopenos on the burger (which are an optional topping) are pickled. As a spice lover, I only wish they used freshly-chopped jalopenos. Fresh ones are tastier, crunchier, cheaper, and spicier. This is a small, small quibble. These are wonderful, ginormous burgers. This is very much worth a visit.

Great place for old fashioned burgers and fries. Really enjoyed that they cook the onions in to the patty. Patty was cooked just right, and they also have shakes and some local sweet treats options. Family friendly.

One of the best burgers I've ever had in San Diego! Their Single Onion burger was so juicy and flavorful. Get it with everything, it's amazing! The price was very cheap for such a big burger. Definitely recommend getting the garlic Parmesan fries. Lots of fries with lots of flavor. Service was great and the place is very clean and beautiful. 10/10, burgers for the win!

I wanted to try this place as my son saw a good burger place and read the reviews. We arrived at Dukes on the San Diego le mesa area. The restaurant was busy and we reviewed the menu. I order two cheese burgers with add of bacon. The price was over 40 bucks for 2 burgers a little pricey but sat down and waited. In this place they had unlimited ranch and I got excited. I received my burger and it looked so good. I bit into the burger and loved the taste and the spread on my burger. The burger was really tasty and bun was hot and grill to perfection. This was one of the best burgers, I had while visiting in San Diego. If you are in the area and like burgers try Dukes..... great under spot in le mesa. Enjoy!!!!

The burgers were incredible! Huge with the double! I highly recommend going with an empty stomach. The staff was friendly, the gentleman who took our orders was very helpful getting navigating the menu. He seemed to truly take ownership of the guest experience.

Great burger! We got the single onion burger. It was super flavorful and a big portion! I am curious though, other people's pictures looks like their onions were just overflowing, but with mine, I could barely see it. Either way, still yummy food worth trying! If you skip the bacon, the the price for itself is pretty decent.

An Oklahoma-style onion burger spot opened up in East County in 2022 and i finally gave it a try. My single burger had a great presentation with the onions cooked into the smashed patty plus lettuce and ketchup. It was served on a puffy brioche bun. It was pretty messy to eat by hand, but it was a fun experience. I enjoyed the vanilla shake. The cheese fries were a round tin of fries with a thick layer of cheese melted on top. The fries quickly became soggy, so I wasn't a fan. But, the burger is what I came for and I really liked it.

Might be my new favorite burger in San Diego! I didn't know what an "onion burger" was but I guess it's just like a regular burger with lots of onions (and other toppings). I got the single and it was MASSIVE. You can choose what toppings you want, cheese included in the price. The bun was sweet and had a nice texture, which tied all the flavors together well. The beef was also very juicy and flavorful. The bacon cheese fries were tasty too but tasted a little more like a baked potato or potato skins, since it is baked in a tin so the fries were not individually crispy. Decent drink options including soda, tropical unsweet tea, and 2 homemade lemonade flavors. Would love to try the milkshake next time! Seating area was spatious, clean. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Easy parking. Highly recommend this spot!

I heard about this place from TikTok and from Gareth Eats on YouTube. Came here on a Wednesday night around 8pm and it wasn't too busy. There were about four groups sitting at tables and wasn't crowded at all. There's also a self-serve condiment section, so that's pretty cool. My wife and I ordered the classic onion burger, but I got a double, and the garlic Parmesan fries. The total was $46, but the portions are HUGE (which I didn't know when ordering). Seriously, I could've shared the double with her and we would've been satisfied. We couldn't finish it all, so we ended up taking it home. The burgers were good, but not great. Garlic Parmesan fries were good and hearty. The table we sat on was sticky and the bathroom paper towel dispenser didn't work. Also, the bathroom hand soap smell slightly distracted me smelling the food. Based solely on the food: it was a good experience and I'm glad I got to finally try it. I wouldn't mind coming back, but wouldn't go out of my way to do so.

Duke's Burger Review by Captain 619 Yo, dudes and dudettes of the flavor wave! Just paddled into Duke's Burger in La Mesa (5020 Baltimore, brah--mark your maps!) and let me tell ya, this spot's crankin' out burgers gnarlier than a triple overhead at Pipeline! Snagged the Double Smash--whoaaaaa--talk about a tsunami of taste! Two patties smashed harder than my last wipeout, oozin' with melty cheese, crispy edges like a perfect shore break, and a bun softer than dawn patrol fog. Dude, this burger's a mouth marathon--gotta unhinge your jaw like a great white to tackle it! The missus ordered the Grilled Hot Honey Butter (grilled, not fried--she's health-conscious, yo ), but the kitchen crew got a lil' kook'd up and sent it fried. No stress, brah! They shredded the gnar and fixed it QUICK--shoutout to the squad for keepin' it real. Pro tip: Orders might not sync up like a perfect barrel, but patience pays, bro. Her grilled version? Fuegooooo --sweet, spicy, and buttery like a sunset sesh with no wind. Total vibe? Chillaxed shack with grub so hefty, you'll need a post-burger nap on your board. If your stomach's a bottomless pit and your taste buds crave HYPE, Duke's is your North Shore. Final take: Duke's Burger = 10/10, bro. Just bring your big appetite... and maybe a snorkel for the flavor dive. Catch ya on the flip side! - Captain 619, out.

There was so much hype that I was really expecting something incredible and guess what...., it was. I got a huge hamburger, grilled onions and chili. I had to eat with a knife and fork.

Portions are spot on, great parking and staff is Quick! Value 4 ur $$. They even have a smaller version of the $13 burger for $10.

A bit on the splurge side. I felt like a double pattied bacon cheese burger with fries. I picked up a strawberry shake after. When the burger first came out, I immediately got a set of fork and knife. No way i was going to hold that thing and keep it in one piece. The burger claim to fame is their grilled onion on some nice beef patty. Was it really that good? Yah, it gave it some extra taste. Got a little greasy in the end but still good. I would've liked lettuce leaf as opposed to shredded. Would've been cleaner. The fries were very soggy and small cuts. Pretty much a plate of small fries. Not a small plate, but a large plate of small fries. The shake was super delicious though. Nice chunks of strawberries. In the end for a double patty bacon cheese burger, plate of fries and a shake came out a little shy of $40. It was definitely a lot of food, but aside from the patty, its still made from pretty low cost ingredients. The fries were soggy and small. I can't ding the shake though. Its worth trying, but I really dont feel like paying as much as I did for a burger.

The food here is delicious. Some of the best hamburgers in town. Service is fast to get you back to work from lunch. I'll be honest is casual and clean.

This place was good and had good portion sizes but expensive. We got the double onion burger, single onion burger protein style, and chili cheese fries and I it came out to around $47. I appreciate that you could customize the burger, changing and choosing the toppings. I also liked that they had protein style. I got the pickles on the side which I'm glad I did because I don't prefer those types of thicker pickle chips in my burgers. The burger itself was good, a generous size, but a little bit under seasoned for my taste. I wish there was more salt on it and more onions. I really liked the chili cheese fries. The chili was yummy and the chips were nice and soft, which I really enjoyed. There is plenty of parking and the inside of the restaurant was pretty clean. The bathroom could've used some help but maybe because it was busy. Their sauce station was nice with plenty of hot sauce options. I also like the wall decoration with candy which is a nice touch. Overall, it was nice to try this place but I probably won't be back for the price point to quality. The quality isn't bad, but it's not worth it coming too often for the price in my opinion, at least not too often.

Stopped here for lunch. The burgers here are great. They don't skimp out on the meat or the toppings and the burger bun was soft and fluffy. You can get it lettuce wrapped if you don't want the bun.

Was at Kaiser and found this it was couple minutes away and me and my daughter tried it... the burger is ok but the taste is over taken by the amount of onions and grease that's in it. Prepare to have a hard night of sleep after eating this and the fries were decent. The price is very expensive 2 burger meals with drink $60.

Get a single patty! Burger is nice and big and messy. The flavor is really good and the onions take it over the top. Different burger from what I'm used to but still tasty and filling. Service is amazing and outside seating makes it a great spot to enjoy our weather!

Fantastic burgers and even better fries! The blue cheese and steak fries were genius! Generous portions and the homemade sauces the staff was very nice too

One of my favorite local burgers! 7/06/2024. Gigantic double cheeseburger: massive in size and flavor. Well-seasoned and juicy beef with gooey cheese, 5/5 stars! Bacon cheese fries: big portion as well, but would have improved with green onions and sour cream, 4/5 stars! A single patty burger is plenty and the fries are portioned to share.

Great burger stop! One of the best smashed burgers I have ever had. Super large portions. Super fast and friendly service. They have a condiment station with ranch, fiery ketchup and regular ketchup and over 30 hot sauces. Nice and quite inside not too loud perfect for conversation. Good Ranch!

My first time trying Dukes! Staff were very engaged. A good sign of great leadership. I had the single original onion burger and it was the best smashed burger I've ever had! Literally! The price was excellent, and the shakes are amazing. I had the Shake of the month, Banana Cream! No need for dessert. Will definitely be back on the regular!

Great burger! The portions are BIG. I was in between hungry and hangry so I decided to get the double onion burger with the works. I was stuffed at a little over halfway. Saved my other half for lunch the next day. One order of fries can be easily shared by two adults. The price is decent, considering it's only a few bucks more than you would pay at Carl's Jr or Burger King. The only reason this is not a 5 star review is because in my honest opinion, I would've like a little more flavor in the burger. Seasoning could use a bit more salt. But that's my nit-picking preference and technicality. This IS a great burger. 7.5/10 is my final score.

To die for! Single Burger is filling, w any shake just hits the right spot! No more in & out for me. dukes all the way!

Food is absolutely amazing I got the chili cheese fries and they did not disappoint my husband got the biggest burger on the menu and it was not good, it was mushy and soggy and too much. It was also very pricey. There is a huge parking structure, the place looked clean, staff was friendly. Make sure to come with time as it's really busy. If we come again we will both get the chili cheese fries and recommend for that!

So I went here I had heard about it and I am my mother being from Oklahoma I knew that Onion Burgers were big there so I wanted to go and try this place out it's a little bit of a drive but not a big deal it was well worth it the burger was humongous I did the double believe me a single would be fine I was only able to eat half brought the other half home but I do love leftovers the staff was very friendly the food was outstanding the french fries were okay they have different ones there I just had the regular fries very large portion though they are hand cut but I kind of like mine fresh out of the fryer crisp these were not but they were still good like I said staff is great food is great do yourself a favor well worth the drive out there.

Definitely over hyped. They now charge $4.50 to add two slices of bacon. Beyond over priced for everything. My wife got the double and her burger was under cooked. I got a single and it was cooked well. But nothing stands out about this place. Plenty of seating. The best thing was the chili cheese fries as they do add lots of chili cheese! That was worth the money. Overall good experience but wouldn't return.

I was honestly disappointed. I had very high hopes. Staff wasn't friendly or willing to even fake it. Food took forever and our order wasn't correct. By the time we got our food we were so frustrated and regretting coming here, that we just made do with our incorrect order. Food was ok, definitely not great.

Be cautious when you order because their portions are HUGE! We ordered one single, one double, and a fry and we couldn't finish the single. They load up their burgers to justify the price point and they don't skimp out on any fries. They're perfectly fluffy on the inside and crisp on the outside and pair well with the burger. I wish I got more onions but all of the ingredients were fresh and tasty! I'll definitely be back for more. I do hear a lot about their milkshakes so that's next on my list.

My friend turned me onto this place. I'll make it short and sweet. Hands-down the best burger I've ever had in my life. I'm 67 years old and the quality of the meat was insanely deliciously melt in your mouth amazingly wonderful. French fries were so awesome as well as and I'm recommending the death by chocolate milkshake. OMG I drive from Fallbrook just to go to this place because not only is it the best burger that I've ever had in my life. It's very affordable.

Awww such sweet service! Great portions, fat burgers We loved the fries, they were perfectly crispy and not overly salted at all. Ordered 2 because we didn't expect them to come in basket. Easily could have shared 1 My boyfriend's opinion is that the meat was a little overcooked so it was kind of tough. I thought that it was fine and smoky. Not the juiciest burger though, kind of dry...I liked the onions, it is a heavy burger. I got all the toppings, they did not skimp at all! + they had a wide variety of condiments as well.

Literally one of the better burger places in town. Shout out to "Gareth Eats" for his YouTube referral. What I ordered: * Double Onion Burger - sans Lettuce (no salad greens in a burger for me) add Bacon and choke Jalapeños. Duuuude, too yummy. I'm a big fan of this kind of burger with the crispiness and the onions. The jalapeños and bacon took it over the top for me. * Spanish Fries - huge portion. Asked for and got them extra-crispy. Sadly, unable to finish between moms and I on the1st round. * for Mom - Chicken Sandwich, no sauce. She loved it for a couple of reasons, seasoning was perfect and very crisp chicken. I had a bite and agree. Note: between the unfinished fries and the size of that Double Onion Burger, I had a second meal the next day. Mom ate the other half of her Chicken Sandwich later the same evening. Things that help make this a great experience: * Loads of Parking * Huge Menu Display when you walk in the door. No guessing what you might want. * Outstanding, fast and friendly service from the cashier to the cooks. I love when the person taking my order doesn't blink an eye about my requests to make changes to my order, even after the order was already placed. * Competitive pricing - I feel like I got value for price * Clean space, that boasts a lot of seating. I think on my return trip I'm going to need to try their Oakie - which is their knife & fork Burger. Onion burger topped with cheese, served on top of a bed of french fries and smothered in country cream gravy. I mean, c'mon *** Bonus: Great job handling what appeared to be a homeless guy. ***kindness is a skill that is least appreciated and rarely lauded***

Tried this place, wasn't sure. In my book first of all , pricey. But decided to go for it. Got the one patty burger, protein style( my usual, just don't like all that bread anywhere). Onions supposed to be cooked in it. Ning flattened out patty and the the lettuce was ...romaine leaf. Not what I was expecting. Patty was fattened out, saw some grilled onions in it. Also, two pea-sized chunks of ? Let's call it gristle. Not chewable/edible. Left on the side. Tasted okay. Wasn't impressed. Fries were huge portion. Good but I could only eat half. About 8 whole potatoes worth, at least. Took other half home and warmed up the next day for that price. Got Death by Chocolate shake-was good, and definitely a lot of choosy syrup. Didnt get the whipped cream on top. Didnt have cherries-lol. Ambiance was okay. Had a lol of bench tables and a fixin's bar. What I did like was a wall with hanging baskets full of candy, Grabbed me some Smarties, Dubbie Bubble, mini duckers, sour sticks and multi colors of string friendship bracelets( grabbed a few for kids at school I work at). They had hot dog options on the menu,, too btw Overall, expensive and not worth it to me. An okay, one time experience. But, maybe it will be your jam. Sorry, Dukes, it just didn't thrill me.

Pretty bummed out over my first experience here. Was really excited as a burger enthusiast, and I've heard lots of good things about this place too. Ordered one The Double, Original Fries, and a Chili Cheese Fries. Our order took a good 30 minutes of waiting around. Finally got our food, headed out to eat in our car, opened up my burger and was surprised by how burnt the onions were. Literally so burnt, they crumbled into small bits when you touch them. I also did not feel the taste of their pickles went well with the burger so I took most of it out. The fries were good but the burnt onions were a big let down. I normally prefer fresh raw onions and this kind of solidified why I don't really go for cooked onions on my burgers. Chili cheese fries were good but overall, everything was greasy and heavy. I don't think I'd go back again unless I really wanted to give them a second chance. Nevertheless, to me, it was a burnt, overpriced, and overly greasy in-n-out or The Habit burger. They have plenty of seating indoor and some outdoor. Cant get pretty busy so expect a line. Service itself was good and everyone was friendly. They have the "sauce" section with plenty of hot sauces/ketchup/ranch.

Absolutely fantastic burger! Cooked EXACTLY how I asked for it. Food came out quickly. Burger was big and very satisfying. Didn't even need fries to go with it. Friendly and helpful staff. Reasonable prices. VERY highly recommend this establishment.

These burgers are delicious. They might add a few pounds to my hips with every visit, but golly gracious the food is delicious

I ordered the chicken sandwich as it comes, it's a big piece of chicken so the portions are good! I also tried the banana pudding milkshake, it was alright I think if you guys used a different ice cream that didn't taste too artificial it would taste much better!

Big, messy tasty burger--big enough to share. I'd get the pickles on the side next time. The strawberry milkshake was fantastic. Perhaps worth the trip from North Park

Heard about this place from super foodie Jackie Bryant of Happy Half Hour. She was right! Possibly the best burger in SD. Huge. Juicy. Delish.

The burgers are great but let me warn you, wear a raincoat or something because we shared a double onion burger and the mess was so frustrating. I mean, I don't mind some juice on my hands and using a bunch of napkins, but oh my gosh, it was a disgusting mess. I started eating it with a fork and when I asked for a knife, they look at me like I was crazy. if you like a big juicy messy burger that's great. I don't mind a messy burger, but this was just too much and we won't be going back. Service was just mediocre not friendly. If you aren't one of the regulars, they look at you like you're got two heads.

get a SINGLE ONION BURGER. Double would be too messy and overkill and ruins the ratio. I really really did enjoy the burger. I did some prior research and wanted to come here in advance. Solid little spot. Spicy Ketchup is a must!

The best burger I've had in a really long time. Also to add, it's a smashed burger which i usually don't care for but i will gladly pay the tab for this one. Ordered it Dukes way with jalapeño and every bite with the grilled onion was perfect to the finish. You would think from the size of it; it would fall apart but never had the issue and remained all together until it was gone. I know it seems a bit pricey; but for the burger alone and the flavors that come together, it's worth the buy. The chili on the cheese fries were great! Don't know anywhere else i can get it like that and the portion itself was a big serving. I like that they actually used shredded cheese to top it off with instead of nacho cheese. I will definitely be returning for the burgers and explore more of the menu

OK, hands down my favorite burger joint! Everything we ordered just hit. Savory, flavorful, filling, they don't skimp on quality and quantity. Our burgers were filled with toppings galore. The chilli cheese fries had lots of cheese throughout the chilli. My husband grabbed the food to go and we ate in the car, it was hot and delicious. It's been so long since we've been satisfied with a burger, we're so pleased and happy we came across Dukes. Pricing is a bit expensive considering it's only the burger. No fries or drinks included. Mine was a single, about $14 and my husband got the double which was about $20 and than we shared chili fries that cost about $13, our drink's were $4 each. All and all, WORTH IT! Ample seating inside, super cute theme. My husband said the service was great and everyone in there is super friendly. Will be going back for more!

Probably one of the best burgers I've ever had, and I've had a lotta great burgers. Easily in my top 10! Very glad I stumbled across this gem of a hamburger spot! Portions were huge, flavor was on point with fresh ingredients. Even the milkshake was perfect. My wife had a chicken sandwich that was also equally amazing and delicious. We will most definitely be going back for more! Helluva burger guys, keep it up!

Cheeseburgers are hands down my favorite meal, and I've had hundreds--if not thousands--over the years from all over the country. But let me tell you... Duke's Old Fashioned Onion Burgers in La Mesa just blew every single one of them out of the water. I ordered the double cheeseburger, and it was an absolute masterpiece--perfectly cooked with a thick, juicy patty that packed insane flavor in every bite. The melted cheese, the grilled onions, the soft bun--it was everything a real burger should be and more. The size was no joke either--it's a hearty, satisfying burger that hits all the right notes. The fries were clearly fresh-cut and came out golden and crispy with that perfect balance of soft inside and crunchy outside. You can taste the quality. And the cherry on top? The staff. Super friendly, welcoming, and you can tell they genuinely care about the food they're serving and the experience you have. If you're a burger lover like me, this place is a MUST. No exaggeration--this is the best burger joint I've ever been to. Duke's just set the new gold standard for burgers.

I really like portion size, all the burgers are good. It depends on what ones taste is that day. As for the shakes, they're right on point. I really wish they had a drive thru. But, overall a great place for burgers, great service, clean, and a good atmosphere. Try and solve the puzzle on the white board.