Hi-Way Burger & Fry

Stopped by for lunch one afternoon. Waited around 8-10 minutes for my food. The BBQ burger was greasy and juicy. The meat was ok tasting. It needs more seasoning. The only issue is that they used shredded iceberg lettuce. I do not care for that. At least put a regular leaf of iceberg lettuce on it. Shredded lettuce is so corporate fast food. The onion rings were very good and look the way they are supposed to be made. They also came with ranch dressing which I liked. The drink was a normal fountain soda. They do have a nice bathroom though. Overall, it is a decent place to get a hamburger.

I felt compelled to write a review because I was surprised it didn't have a higher rating. Everything here is on point. The grilled chicken BLT is so so good and the burgers are delicious too. The sweet potato fries are yum and the milkshakes are legit, and chocolatey. Best part for me is the flawless gluten free bun, and runner up, steamed broccoli option. Everything is fresh and the vibe is nice, even the music is better than tolerable.

This burger and fries spot is a space oddity on Columbus Avenue, totally out of sync with the area’s Italian restaurants. Maybe it should’ve been paired with a drive-in cinema, with servers bringing milkshakes too. But hey, it’s better than yet another yoga studio—or, worse, a nail salon where women work on other women’s feet. I’ve always found that odd—personally, I just cut my own toenails with my mouth. Is there a nail salon for men? Maybe this place should have been a grooming salon for men instead.

Enjoyed really great onion rings here. You can take a clean bite through the ring and you won’t pull the whole onion out of the light batter. Fries are the same style as in n out, but slightly better (not everyone’s cup of tea). Sitting next to the kitchen you can see how much care they put into their food. I saw the cook pitting and slicing a fresh avocado, hand-breading chicken strips and individually seasoning fry orders. The prices reflect the quality of the care put in their products. Will return to try the burgers and to gorge on more onion rings.

The photos don’t do it justice but this was a really good burger. A lot bigger than I expected. I got the double with Jack cheese, pickles and peppers added (free) and with onion. The flavors were all there, the sesame seed bun went well with it. Overall I was very satisfied and happy, definitely would go again and I highly recommend it 👍🏽👏🏽

Came here for lunch (5*) and dinner (3.5*). The key difference between the two experienced is timeliness of food. They have limited staff and was overwhelmed during dinner. Our burgers came to us cold-warm which was really disappointing. Lunch was great though! We immediately noticed the crispy warm buns. The patties are decent sizes. Dinner serving seems a little bigger than lunch but I wouldn’t say either of them came out small. I’dsay come here on a slow day where you can enjoy fresh off the grill burgers while people watching pedestrians on Columbus St.

We had a very disappointing experience here. We stopped by with the intention of ordering food and were looking over the menu when my partner stepped into the restroom. While he was inside, an older man came out and started yelling that the restrooms were for customers only. We explained we were about to order, but he continued to be rude and confrontational. To make matters worse, the woman behind the counter was visibly picking her nose the entire time—while we were standing there deciding what to order and while this man was yelling at us. It was incredibly off-putting and unsanitary. Even after we said we planned to order, the man’s tone remained aggressive and unwelcoming. We ultimately decided to leave without ordering. Based on this experience, we won’t be returning and can’t recommend this place.

Wow! Delicious spicy crispy chicken sandwich paired perfectly with the sweet potato fries and the cookies and cream milkshake! I'm definitely not on a diet today, and it was well worth the splurge. Definitely going back! Buttermilk crispy chicken Pasilla Pepper, Pepper Jack Cheese and Homemade Pepper Relish and Siracha Aioli. Cookies n Cream Shake

An update is appropriate here after I ask the question, "What do you order from a burger place?" The natural answer is ..., but for me, the correct answer here is the Chicago Dog (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&start=0&select=W-Uwg_TKsXCXAgzf2S64lQ). The dog is grilled on the flat top and served with relish, onion, tomato, cucumber, pickle, sport peppers, celery, salt, and pepper. Having eaten a couple cheeseburgers last week, I knew that I wouldn't be ordering one on this visit. I've enjoyed it a couple times since my maiden visit in 2022 but today's one blew me away. I was debating whether to eat it open faced but chose the traditional way. The grill gives the meat more flavor and, with that mix of ingredients , every bite was interestingly different. I also got onion rings (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&start=0&select=cZj6ehyR-rstxuGrR8LQ8w) which comes with a small container of ranch dressing. Alternating bites while dipping the rings made for a delicious office lunch. Most of the three or less star reviews criticize their fries. For takeout, depending on your travel time before eating, I recommend getting the onion rings as they hold up better. I would probably only order fries if dining there. The cashier was nice and efficient and, when I left, the grill master was all smiles and thanked me for coming. From start to finish, a five star experience.

Ordered a chicken sandwich and fries to my desk one evening. I would say overall pretty good but not great. Nice to try something new, but probably wouldn't order again.

My daughter and I stumbled across Hi-Way Burger & Fry while in the North Beach neighborhood while looking for Italian food. The Italian places were either too busy or too expensive so we turned to Hi-Way and weren't disappointed. The customer service was great and the food very delicious. We each had a fried chicken sandwich and ate there. The food was cooked right there behind the counter and it was done just right. We also shared an order of onion rings which were equally delicious. A good place to try in an unexpected area of SF.

Delicious takeaway! The cookies and cream shake was delicious as I walked home! Couldn't wait! Ha ha Big chunks of cookies and so much goodness. The chicken sandwich with Grilled Fresh Pasilla Pepper, Pepper Jack Cheese and Homemade Pepper Relish and Siracha Aioli. Perfect crunch and not too spicy. I like it . A massive pile of sweet potato fries cooked just perfectly. Definitely going back ...

We had a very disappointing experience here. We stopped by with the intention of ordering food and were looking over the menu when my partner stepped into the restroom. While he was inside, an older man came out and started yelling that the restrooms were for customers only. We explained we were about to order, but he continued to be rude and confrontational. To make matters worse, the woman behind the counter was visibly picking her nose the entire time--while we were standing there deciding what to order and while this man was yelling at us. It was incredibly off-putting and unsanitary. Even after we said we planned to order, the man's tone remained aggressive and unwelcoming. We ultimately decided to leave without ordering. Based on this experience, we won't be returning and can't recommend this place.

I would have posted a photo of my burger but I ate it so fast I didn't get a chance to. SOOOO good! Grilled bun, grilled onions...absolute perfection!

Yummy burger/hot dog sandwich diner type vibe. You can tell they use real meat and all their ingredients were fresh and tasty. Definitely recommend for game day or late night munchies!

I will say without a doubt, this is now one of my favourite places for veggie burgers! We came in on Saturday for lunch after a friend recommend it for the quality. Serving a variety of burgers, fries, onion rings, sodas and even wine and beer, there were a lot of options. I ordered the Beyond burger and my partner decided to try the chicken parmesan sandwich, and we got a single side serving of onion rings. We also ordered a wine and beer as a treat. The place wasn't busy at all but there were definitely delivery/pickup orders that were ahead of us. It didn't take long though and we got two trays just loaded with deliciousness. Messy and saucy, yet full of amazing taste, both our sandwiches were some of the best we've ever had. The onion rings were hot and crispy and thick with batter, the best way to make them! I didn't even put any toppings on my burger (aside with what it came with) and absolutely mind blown with how awesome it was. This is definitely going to be a regular place for lunch or dinner for us.

A friend recommended this place and maybe because I ordered to-go, I thought the food here was so-so. It seems like a good quick bite if you're in the area. Nothing special with the taste or options of ordering. I thought the pictures online looked very aesthetic, but the to-go orders did not look the same (I didn't even take photos of my burger). I did appreciate that you could customize your online order and add on a lot of variety of sauces on the side. Other than that, I would probably pass on coming here (unless I was nearby and available to dine in).

Grilled Chicken California club sandwich and cookies & cream milkshake were amazing! Great retro vibes 10/10!

Love the smashed burger patties. A double cheeseburger for me and single for my lady. Has the best crunch of a burger in the city Wish the pepper jack came through a bit more so that'd be the only ding Rings were golden and crispy even after doordash delivery. They have great deals if you order through there too ;)

Try the grilled chicken club with a side shishito peppers! Very yummy and friendly customer service. Accessible restrooms and clean vibes.

I love their spicy grilled chicken sandwich with cheese and poblano pepper. And the chicken Parm sandwich is delicious too.

Cool little burger joint in North Beach. Service is a little slow but it is only because they are overwhelmed with so many orders. Good burgers take time so be patient or I recommend ordering ahead online if you'd rather not wait around. Oreo milkshake was super yummy. Burgers and fries were good too. Staff even happily re made one of our burgers because the orders got confused. All good, easy peezy, service with a smile. Few tables inside for dining in, lots of folks got take out. Free self serve pickles too :)

Not quite sure why it says closed on the Yelp app but they are open! I ordered through DoorDash bc there was a promotion and I didn't regret trying this. Fried Chicken Sandwich - 4/5: I thought the burgers were pretty big for the price. I got lettuce, tomatoes, and grilled onion onions. The fried chicken was pretty big and juicy and tender on the inside and crispy on the outside. Just a little bit on the plainer side which the sauce was stronger. Buns were interesting and very soft, ratios a little off which they didn't do two top buns. Double Cheeseburger - 4/5: I got this well done. Same with the chicken sandwich, a little on the plainer side wish the sauce had a stronger flavor. But the patties itself was juicy and tender even though it was well done. French Fries - 3/5: Got this through DoorDash so it came a little soggy, but still tasted good. Outside is crunchy and inside is soft. And it honestly reminds me of the In n Out fries.

Ordered Hi-Way through Postmates and it came within 30mins. Super quick and the order came correct! Cheeseburger: Decent cheeseburger. Came cooked medium. Prepared and packaged well. It doesn't look sloppy. It was a pretty burger! The only con was the bun. It was dry but the juice from the patty made it a little moist in the middle. It might've been over toasted. Spicy Chicken Sandwich: chicken is moist. Perfectly breaded. Well seasoned. It came really crispy! It has a nice bite from the shishito pepper and wasn't too spicy. Same con as the cheeseburger. The bun was dry. Garlic Fries and Onion rings: not too soggy. Well crisped. Very good! Overall, good spot for diner food if you're craving it. It would've probably tasted better fresh, dining in instead of having it delivered. But good nonetheless!

This is a new burger place with a little different menu, but it's old fashioned..it's probably not In n Out. The burger was supposed to be a cheeseburger but I asked them why I didn't think there was a piece of cheese on my burger and she said she put "queso" on it. The burgers and cheeseburgers are basic and not bad but a little overpriced. I mean yeah In n Out is cheaper. The burger is standard and ok...I would need to eat two but overpriced and burgers should be $5 omg $10 for cheeseburger..I'm not enticed to try it again. In North Beach.

Chicago style dogs. Veggie dogs. It seems like a chain, but I'm not so sure. They're efficient and it's clean.

It's kinda like Super Duper, a fast casual burger chain aiming to be tastier than fast food burgers at a higher price point. A standard order of Burger + Fries + Milkshake cost me about $25 (including tax), so it's definitely pricier than In-N-Out. It's tasty for sure, but for the same price range (or maybe even a little less expensive), I prefer Super Duper. Double Cheeseburger: Quite meaty and choosing American cheese makes it nice and fatty. Liked the grilled onions, to really give it a nice umami taste. The secret sauce seemed pretty scant, unfortunately, so I hardly noticed it. A solid burger. Spicy Fried Chicken Sandwich: Who knew their fried chicken sandwich is better than their burger? It's pounded thin, like schnitzel. Crispy all around, though a light batter. I loved the spicy kick that came from a whole roasted pepper on top, some red pepper spread and a spicy creamy aioli. It's not Popeye's fried chicken sandwich great, but it blows away ordinary sandwiches like a McChicken. French Fries: Felt limp like In-N-Out's notoriously disappointing fries. I get the allure of cooking fries fresh from the potato. But maybe they could still apply a double-fry technique, like popular chains, by letting the fries rest a little then re-frying? Cheese Fries: Same disappointing limp fries, but with a delicious cheese sauce. Tasted like real cheese, not that weird bowling alley nacho cheese, and had some pepper bits. Made the fries enjoyable actually, since you expect cheese fries to be a little limp anyway. Fresh Strawberry Milkshake: Definitely appreciated the freshness here with ripe bits of strawberries hanging out at the bottom of the creamy shake. But the cheap paper straw kinda ruined the experience since it got soggy very quickly and the strawberry bits got stuck too easily. They should look into wider bamboo boba straws, like Boba Guys use.

In North Beach you'll find yourself surrounded by Italian restaurants, but if you're craving a quick burger, Hi-Way is a decent option. I'd say the cheeseburger I had would fall pretty much in the middle of the pack. I liked the overall ratio of ingredients. The patty itself is on the the thinner side, so if it's a thick juicy burger is what you're looking for, this isn't it. Or maybe get the double, which I kinda wished I did. They didn't ask how I'd like my meat prepared. The burger came out well, which I'm ok with, but would've been nice to have an option. Interestingly, they use two bun tops for their burgers. I noticed this when I saw sesame seeds on the bottom bun and an unusually puffy bottom bun. On the positive side, the buns held up well, but because of the two tops, it was pretty heavy on the bread. I really liked their pickles and peppers. However, I'd suggest having them served from the counter upon request rather than the self-serve option, since I observed some unsanitary practices going on from customers. Very bare-bones inside, but there are a few outdoor tables where you can sit and people-watch along busy Columbus Avenue .

One of the better vegetarian Beyond burgers in San Francisco! And even better if you add cheese. The burgers are made on a flat top and they have a dedicated vegetarian flat top section, the bun is homemade, the fries are from real potatoes (like In and Out), they offer broccoli crowns, and the strawberry shake has real strawberries inside and Strauss ice cream. The restaurant has a bunch of indoor and outdoor seating too. Two blocks away is a city owned parking garage too, which gives this place bonus points for ease!

Pretty solid burger joint! They cook fresh, have a wide variety of styles, and service is quick! Whether you are looking for late night bites or a real american experience, Hi-Way can do it!

I usually don't write negative reviews, preferring to give a restaurant the benefit of the doubt, maybe an off night, but I have never received an order where EVERYTHING was wrong. Let's start with the two hot dogs, a Chicago dog, and a regular dog. Neither had the correct toppings and weren't very tasty. My wife ordered a fried chicken sandwich and got a double cheeseburger with flavorless fried peppers on the side. We ordered garlic fries, but got NO fries. Lastly, the chocolate shake was very watered down and had a strange consistency. It came without a straw, and after a few sips wound up in the trash. Overall, it was a horrible meal. If I could give zero stars, I would. I can understand a mistake, but this was inexcusable. I won't be doing business here again.

I really liked this place. It's kind of nice to have another option besides Italian if you're not really craving it. All the staff is exceptionally nice and very attentive. We had their cheeseburger and their fried chicken burger with a side of fries and everything was really tasty. I love the ambience inside because it's so chill and very clean which is a must for me.

The food I ordered arrived cold. WHO wants a cold hamburger and fries? Not ME. I will not and don't recommend using Uber eats either.

The 2 guys working were really friendly and made me happy to have gave them my money and on top of the costumer service the food was super delicious

Burger was good, meat was smashed and crisp. I asked for grilled onions and got raw, service could be more attentive.The associate was doing something at the register and did not acknowledge us until minutes later when she finished. Also had the organic vanilla soft serve, tasted quite like McDonald's. Cleanest burger place I've been to in SF.

So overpriced!!!! Been here a few times over the past 2 yrs. Was cheaper then and got a discount for working in the area. Seems the price is constantly going up. 13.95 for a double cheese burger and 4.50 for fries. Tack on another 3 bucks for stupid SF health tax. That's over $21.00 and plus tax and extra if you want a drinking. Stupid me for tipping 20% believing we still got a discount and wanted to give it back to the workers. Total bill came out to $52.00 and some change with all the fees for 2 burgers and 2 fries. It's a little outrages if you ask me. No wonder there were only 2 people eating there during dinner time. At least the place was clean. I can get the same burger at In and Out or Nation's and pay half the price. I will not be back since it's not worth the money!

Service was excellent, the staff was friendly and helpful. Food was good and came out pretty quick. The fries were cooked perfectly, in my opinion. If you want a quick bite that isn't pizza or pasta in this part of town, I'd recommend this spot. I hear the shakes are delicious, although I did have it this time.

We went there for lunch today. What a disappointment. The French Fries were the worst we have ever had anywhere. Undercooked, flimsy, non-crisp, flavorless pieces of cardboard. They were completely inedible. A hamburger place like this should have incredible French Fries. These French Fries were simply awful. The burgers were ok, not great. Too much bun for the small burgers. On the way out, we showed our order-taker that we hadn't eaten any of the French Fries and told her that they were inedible. She just kind of looked at us. I'm regretting my 25% tip for counter service, where you order at the counter and then pick it up at the counter. We won't be returning. Ten thumbs way way way down.

The burger was dry and the lettuce was old. I couldn't even finish it. The inside of the restaurant is nice but the food is terrible.

I've been to Hi Way Burger two times now since it's right up the street from me. The fries are fresh cut and VERY good as well as the sweet potato fries. The burgers are very tasty and you can order with grilled or raw onions. My only complaint is the meat to bun ratio. The bun is far too big and I find myself leaving half the bread uneaten. Perhaps next time I'll try the double cheeseburger. But please try this place as the food is delicious and fresh!

I was looking to try a smaller burger place in town and really loved this little place. The atmosphere was great and clean and the two employees I interacted with were very friendly. Pickles do not come on the burger automatically, so make sure to add them if you want them!!

Tasty local burger joint that has been very dependable. Since burgermeister closed years ago, we haven't had a neighborhood go-to but this is now it. Ordering online is super efficient. We love the grilled or fresh onions and special sauce!

Ordered them from UberEats for the first time. They had a deal of buy 1 get 1 cheeseburger. Tried that with fried onion rings. Surprisingly, their burgers were great. The buns as well. Most surprising is the onion ring. They're still crispy. My delivery was not the first one either. As in, my driver had to deliver another order first before coming to me. Yet, the onion ring is still very, very crisp. Gonna order from them again next time, and try their sweet potato fries. We'll see whether it's gonna stay crisp like the onion ring.

I saw this place on DoorDash and decided to give it a try. I got a discount on my first order. I got a double cheeseburger with bacon and a side of fries. The burger was thick and juicy. It a had a little too much salt but I do appreciate that it was seasoned. The condiments and topping were a little lackluster. They didn't have any strong flavor to them. A leaf of lettuce would have went better with the thick Pattie's versus the shredded lettuce that didn't hold up well. The cheese also got lost in the meat. It wasn't a bad burger but could be better. The fries were similar to In and Out but a little better. Also they were overly salty. Might if just have been an off day. I would try them again.

best burger in sf hands down, quality is always consistent. highly recommend. shakes are good too.

We live nearby and wandered onto Columbus looking for a quick bite. The cheeseburger and garlic fries for my daughter were, in her words, SO PERFECT! I had a grilled chicken club and it was just about perfect as well. The portions were satisfying and not overwhelmingly huge, the meats were juicy and toothsome, and the sandwiches held up very well to the abundant ingredients. The place is clean and cute, service was fast and friendly, and we'll be back to try more items! Thanks!

This is literally the best tasting burgers I've had anywhere else. As much as I tried to go to other places, I just keep coming back here as nothing could compared, the taste, the flavor, the texture and everything is perfect, always leaving me satisfied. Here's a sneak peek , just to mention I never get lettuce only tomatoes and raw onion because sometimes the lettuce is too wet.

Really good burgers and fast and friendly service. They even have gluten free buns! I'm a huge fan of this place.

I am on a quest for the best burgers in San Francisco. Thought I'd give these guys a try. The place is clean and bright. There's fountain sodas, and big jars of kosher dill slices and Chicago style sport peppers. I ordered a double cheese burger with bacon and fries on the side. First the fries. Fresh cut in the store, the classic America greasy fry. Almost perfect. Crispy and soggy at the sad time. Not enough(or any) salt, more on that later. The burger was big! The hearty sesame bun had some heft to it without being too fluffy or too dense. The bun was able to hold up to the juicy juicy meat almost all the way thru the meal. Condiments, bottom shredded lettuce, helps absorb the juicy, two cheeses up smashed patties, crispy on the edges, perfect medium pink in the center, secret sauce, a slice of tomato and a slice of the requested raw onion. It was a BIG mouthful, took my first bite and ....disappointment. Do you guys have ANY salt in the kitchen? The burger was delicious but dull at the same time. Salt your meat, salt your fries! Salt your sauce. The pickle slices helped. Fries 8.5/10 (10/10 with salt) Burger 7.5/10 which would have been a 9.4 with salt. Overall 9/10 due to what look like hand battered onion rings (next visit) and hand cut fresh potatoes

Good honest burger joint. Great affordable addition to the neighborhood. Clean restaurant. Friendly, hard-working staff.

Great food and friendly service. Burger and onion rings were incredible! Staff very friendly and food was prepared quickly. Restaurant was very nice looking with modern amenities.

Amazing food. The best burger I've had in a while. My roommates and I come here routinely. Excellent meal.

The home of the mediocre burger for sure. I want to like...love this place but the burger is just blah blah. They are tiny thin pieces of meat with little to no seasoning.

Good burger, good quality meat, cooked well, toasted bun. The place has basic decor and is clean. I will be back.

Probably the tastiest burger you can find in North Beach. The burger is charbroiled and I highly recommend asking for grilled onions as they do those really well here. If In n Out was 10/10 on the burger scale, Hi Way is a strong 9. The fries and fountain soda selection are also amazing.

I ordered online. I got there 5 min before my pickup time and when I ate my food it was already cold. They're really fast I guess, but I wish the wait times were more accurate then. I only walked 5 mins to Washington square park to eat and already cold I ordered cheese fries and they gave me regular fries which made me very sad. There goes my extra $1 for cheese, fluttering awayyyyy Food wasn't exceptional by any means but large part of that might have been since it was really cold. So maybe a better place to sit in and eat Staff was friendly. Good location

Portions are solid and their burger and shake were so good! It's nice you can watch your order being made in front of you. Customer service was great too.