O'Brien's

Nice local pub spot to pop in and grab a beer. Nice selection of local breweries. Relaxed atmosphere and friendly bar keep. It can be a little slow to get your order in but the food comes up quickly. Beer battered fries were great.

Wonderful bar in Kearny Mesa. Friendly staff. Good prices and welcoming atmosphere. Paid parking lot or free street parking. Outdoor seating available. Good breakfast options.

Time for a pint! Head to O’Btirns and grab a glass of your favorite beverage, with a good selection of brews and N/A as well. Indoor and patio seating available. Good place to watch your favorite teams and grab a bite. Rotating specials are featured on the board out front. The lot is quite busy as far as parking, so if it’s the weekend and you see a foot on the street snag it!

They have a really good beer selection, they have my favorite Belgium beer (Delirium). Food comes out great big portions and tastes fresh. Service is friendly and give a warm welcome. I think the atmosphere can be enhanced a bit with its seating arrangement to being a bit more open and social bar in the later evenings.

Accidentally stumbled upon this as I was looking for a good Asian spot to eat on Convoy. I saw this place and its name sounded familiar from years ago. Lo and behold, it’s THE O’Brien’s. Probably not as legendary these days as it was back in the 2000s when it was one of those truly special places to find truly special beers. The Pliny, fried chicken sandwich, and tots were all delicious. And as an bonus, this is a Liverpool FC fan club/bar! Update for Feb 2025: as awesome as I remember, Pliny the Younger release was great fun. Menu is top quality pub food. Plenty of regulars, characters, and hipsters but you go here for the beer not the people.

All beers. Good selection. Decent price. I was told Pliny the Elder is always on tap. I did not have the food. Service was good. Atmosphere good too. Patio area is great to hang out with friends, have a beer and enjoy a conversation.

This is a awesome pub and was voted best pub in America 2024 and 2025 they always have amazing selections of Great beer!! I highly recommend you swing by when your in the neighborhood. There's also plenty of amazing restaurants in the area!!!

You come for the beer and the selection is great

This is hands down the best beer bar in San Diego. They rotate taps frequently (as soon as one of these amazing, rare craft beers are tapped out, they put a new one in). The food is also great; the burgers, fries, everything is what you'd exactly want to pair with your amazing beers. They have plenty of TVs and since they're mostly a soccer bar, if there's a soccer game, especially a US game, it'll be more than packed (people standing or even overflowing to watch the game/soak up the atmosphere).

1st time visiting this establishment For wings & a beer Wednesdays are wing night you get a percentage off of your order . Service was pretty good bit of a line kind of confusing at 1st TV"s are all over so games galore I think I saw board games also The house lager is great nice , cold and crisp. I wish the garlic wing had more of the flavor With a bit of salt, pepper to taste but check it Do get the sauce on the side for dipping

The food today at O'Brien's pub was pretty good. When you order a Coke, you get it yourself at the self serve soda area there's cups there to go boxes and everything so now you know. Don't ask the bartender because well you can figure it out The ambience here is Irish pub ambience get a Pepsi and enjoy

Food is very good . Service was good . Late in the afternoon it gets busy. Ambience loud music and talk. Cute pub though. I liked it.

Love coming to this local spot because we can watch MLS here!!! they've got such a welcoming vibe for anyone looking for a drink, some food and the game-whichever that may be. Their fried pickles ain't too bad either. They're very generous with the portions on their sandwiches, so bring an appetite! Also-great service!!

I don't know anything about the beers they serve, but the Pork Belly Fries were gawd-awful. Apparently "Big Nate's Sauce" is a mix of red paint and acetone. Over and out.

USA Today, the newspaper of airport lounge warriors from the 2010's, knows their demographic well...the well traveled consultant looking the right selection of IPA forward pints needing an American burger cooked to the discerning standard of any Marriott, Westin, Sheraton or even Bar One SD. A classic beer pub nestled in a plaza with many authentic options - Asian, Korean and Mexican, this spot does not disappoint. Pliny the Elder is on tap here too.

We came on a Friday night to watch the Padres game and it was surprisingly not busy. We ordered a patty melt and the morning bird. Both were very good and exactly what you need watching a game and having a drink. The place itself is very cozy. We sat inside but the patio is heated and there are fun lights strung around. Inside the tables weren't sticky or anything and there are enough TV's that anywhere you are sitting you'll be able to see at least one game. We've never heard of this "Pliny the Elder" but we got it over its rave reviews and we think it has surpassed our expectations. We highly recommend that :)

Cool spot with a great beer selection, haven't tried the food but I've heard good things.

It's rated as *the* best pubs in the country by USA Today. As in like #1. That may be overstating it a bit, but I did have a wonderful experience and it was delightful. But it's a pub in busy little strip mall. The staff is excellent and the beer choices were solid. Good variety of light and dark. All around solid spot and would come back!

This place is great for trying new beers and eating great food. It was Russian River- Tion Weekend and we tried a flight of different beers and some fish and chips. The service was great and fast. The best part was the ambiance was chill and felt like a local bar where everyone knows each other.

First time here, and it was not clear if we were to order at counter, or had a table server. Seated ourselves, since there was no one around, and went to counter after some time passed to ask if we place order at counter or not. Turns out, someone will come come to us. It took about 3 minutes, which wasn't bad and quite attentive after that. Smoking is allowed on outside patio. Definitely a sports bar. FYI. Food was great. Had the patty melt and it was piping hot for quite some time after receiving. Fries had some kind of weird taste, but hubby couldn't tell. Need to check out at the counter. We would come back for the beer at least. Great selection, something for everyone.

You guys seriously need to fix your closing hours. My wife and I came by after checking Google Maps -- it says close at 11 p.m. We showed up at 9:30, but your bar staff was rude to my wife and said close at 10. That's disrespectful and completely misleading to customers.

Still have great beer choices from some of California's best breweries. That's why I continue to come back. The food specials are amazing. If I was going to eat here tonight I would get the lobster nachos, however just stopped in for a beer. Great dog friendly spot with heated patio.

The beer selection is great and the food is pretty good. I've been there twice, dog friendly, and would be a more regular customer if the parking didn't suck.

Great food, very laid back place, great beer list as well. I love the daily specials. Signey helped us out and she was great. Will be back

Love this place! The staff always remember us and our dog which is always super welcoming. The beer selection is amazing and you have to try the loaded tots for an appetizer! If he is around, the owner Tyson, always takes the time to say hello. You guys deserve all the awards! Cheers!

Stopped by with a buddy for the first time. I always see this place packed and can see why. They have a great selection of beers, and from the whiteboard/chalk menus, it looks like they change regularly. Like a lot of SD beer drinkers, I appreciate craft IPAs, so I was excited to see some unfamiliar names. The group inside when I went seemed to be a more mature crowd. And from the reactions I saw between some customers and servers, it looks like there are number of regulars who come in, which is a good sign to me. As for food, we got a basket of garlic parm tots and the Mo' Pastrami sandwich. Both were just okay in my opinion, I felt the sandwich was lacking something. Maybe just some spread (like the Dijon they put on it) because it was a little dry. My friend however really enjoyed it, so maybe it was just my half. We also got the buffalo chicken sandwich which I REALLY enjoyed. The chicken was cooked perfectly and the buffalo flavor was present without being too overwhelming. Overall I enjoyed my experience here and will be back for a few beers on these warm(er) summer nights.

I love this beer bar. With a taplist like this, it's no wonder fans voted it best in the U.S. two years in a row. Hopefully you are fortunate enough to come in when Angela is working. She brings the pep, knowledge, and personal touch that makes this pub feel like you're home.

Everytime I come here, it feels like the cheers of San Diego, except with a better beer list and more dogs. Staff is always friendly and knowledgeable, even when super busy. I feel like a kid in the candy store, trying to choose a pint, because their list is so good. I like to switch between one of their several great IPAs, cask, and bottles. The food is always good here. They have daily specials with good flavor combos, often spicy choices. I like the Friday steak special. My mom and I share it. The atmosphere is like a typical pub. I like the covered outdoor patio too. They open early for some futbol games and there's screens indoor and outdoor.

Burger is delicious. Great beer on tap. Friendly for dogs. Sports fans! Watch football, soccer too!

We have loved, loved, loved O'Brien's for over 10 years. Unfortunately, the prices have risen too much-$17 for a burger, fries are an extra $8- and parking is even more impossible since it's all paid parking or bike lanes, so we haven't been in many months. I would go back tonight, even pay for parking, if a burger and fries didn't cost $25.

We were anxious for lunch after my granddaughter's softball game and initially went to the Taco Stand, but their lack of adequate seating caused us to look elsewhere. Then we found O'Brien's Pub next door and decided to give it a try. What a great find! We were greeted by friendly staff. After surveying the menu I ordered the double dip torta (like a French dip sandwich) and it was excellent. I will definitely consider O'Brien's Pub if I'm in the area.

I came with a friend to O'Brien because they said this place has the best beers in San Diego. It was indeed impressive, with a wide variety of different beers to choose from. As my friend walked me through the history of their favorite place to hang out, from the beginning of this bar to its transition to the current days, I was fascinated by the tales and stories depicted on the walls of decorations. They mentioned that this was only a fraction of its origins. The place was soon filled with its loyal patrons. I also learned how O'Brien has been instrumental in pushing the brewery scene from the beginning and has helped San Diego become a brewery capital! This is what my friend shared about the hands that brought breweries to San Diego. I was amazed by the information! Usually, you would order your food and drinks and pay at the counter. However, the wonderful lady at the counter informed us that we could order our beers and meals at the table. This was a sweet deal, especially as I looked around the room filled with treasures and wonderful decorations of memorabilia. I also learned from them about the row of glass mugs hanging by the bar, reserved for regular patrons. It was pretty cool to see.

Went to O'Brien's for the Russian River tap takeover, and what a fantastic time. They were crazy busy but both the waitstaff and the kitchen kept up nicely. Staff was super attentive without being too over-bearing - they checked on us but not to the extent we felt rushed or being pushed along. Of course the Russian River beers were flowing and the crowd was amazing - friendly and full of laughter. The food was good and a good value. I had the pastrami sandwich; packed full of a huge amount of pastrami and perfectly toasted bread. Hubby has the smoky southwest burger which was flavorful but my husband would have liked the patty to be larger. Onion rings were good...and large portion size. All in all a fun time and flavorful food!

Fantastic two year celebration of best US beer bar this evening. Packed venue but the servers were on their game. Never had to wait more than a minute or two to place an order. Sadly the wait staff turn a blind eye to smoking on the patio. Absolutely gross in this day and age and ruins the taste of fine beer for patrons within 25 feet of the lit cancer sticks. Please Tom Nickel and company, take note. This is not representative of the best beer bar in America.

Great experience! Our waitress--Angela--blonde w/ baseball cap gave us super service including which way the wind blew, beer and cider info...we had a small group for a birthday party and the food, drinks and service were excellent...Number One? No surprise!

Their corned beef on St.Patrick's Day was BOMB! It is as my first time here and I will be back.

This pub makes the best sandwich and burger. The morning bird chicken burger is to die for. Still dreaming about it. It came out look better the 99% of the burgers out there. I don't know ow who the chef is, but they are good. Don't sleep on their beer batter fries they are excellent.

Wing night, 6 wings for $4.50. Pretty solid. Not gourmet wings but bang for your buck. Nice vibes outside too.

The O'Brien's burger was good but Patty Melt bread was burnt when I got home. Tater tots were good but next time will eat there so food is hot. Plus is great beer selection and they had Pliny the Elder.

Beer, beer and beer, their selections are on point. Incredible brews, great pub food, fun atmosphere. If you like IPA's and wings, this is your spot

Wonderful craft beer selection with a great patio to catch some sundown rays after 6 pm. 30 craft beers on tap with many IPAs making up the list. Ordered the 1/2 pound pastrami sandwich was awesome. Good marbled meat, great bread, heaping lettuce, tomato and sauce. Key observations: Service is great. Parking is a bit of a problem, but manageable. Good Wi-Fi access. Password is Nickelbeer Good background music to enjoy your beer with Dog friendly

I was referred by a friend to check this pub out. We ordered food only. For a pub, the food was great! We ordered 12 wings, burger, cheese curds, and tater tots. We came on a special day because News 8 was there. The pub was busy but our order was taken quickly and our food arrived in a timely manner. The parking can get a little congested because it's in a little plaza, but there is some street parking. The pub is small, but the energy felt high spirited. There was a lot of local people supporting the business.

Some of the best chicken wings around!! They are very crunchy and a few flavors to choose from!

What a fun awesome place!!! came here on a Monday night as a post bday celebration. Everything was on point and the service, friendliness, food, atmosphere hit it out of the park. our group was about 6 of us, you ordered at the bar, they have a great selection of beers, they have a good amount of tvs, so we were able to catch the game. this next part, our food literally came out five mins ish later... Hot,fresh ,juicy and delicious.... For a group of 6... thats amazing!! Our server was pretty awesome as well as she was the only staff on the floor. To top it all off.... As bday surprise... She brought us beer samplers... With a candle on it.. Thank you soo much obriens pub! Cant wait to come back!

They are the best beer pub in the nation for a reason! No complaints here. Loved the pork belly fries, they are the best and satisfied my carving with a nice cold beer. Customer service was out of this world and will be coming back!

The beer is great! Terrific selection! Not sure about the food. Fish and Chips looked like chicken strips. I'll be back to try the burger and wings.

It's hard to find parking whenever I came here however it was not the case this time on a weekend. And most of the time it's about their drink menu which has listed a good number of beers. This time also ordered chicken strips which were to compliment the drinks. The seating area is a bit distanced now from each other. There is a hand sanitizing station right at the entrance which can't be missed and a staff member will take it from there.

Great food, great service and better ambiance! We stumbled upon this pub on our way to another restaurant and couldn't resist. Ordering was easy, service at the counter was great and friendly. We got tenders, a burger, Irish fries and beer. Everything was 10/10! We sat outside and watched the game. The ambiance was great - super friendly and fun atmosphere. A+++ on the Brioche bun.

Food is really good. Beer selection is good. Service is where this place can struggle. I just left, it's 335pm on Tuesday, and while I'm waiting to close my tab and leave, behind two guys in line at the register, the employee behind the bar says, "what are we drinking? Or are you guys just standing there for some other reason?" A patron at the bar asked, What? She said audibly, "oh not you, I was talking to the Idiots in line down there"... Not cool. That would never happen at the Regal Beagle in SD.

This place is really chill and really cool. I came here to watch the Padres game with a friend and it was a great vibe. The drinks were very affordable and the bartender was very nice and attentive. Overall it's a fun little pub and I'll be back.

I've Cold beer and the best atmosphere. Get in there for a great soccer game as well! There are really good specials every day and they are dog friendly!

Great service and delicious food! I love the buffalo bacon chicken salad. The servers are friendly and I had a great experience.

A group of friends usually make it down every week for a quick Tuesday meetup. We always have a good time. Our beertender Janna is always welcoming and attentive. She is one of the many reasons that we continue to come back. Good food, great service (thanks Janna!), and great people all around make this our go to.

2 stars is the highest I can give this place. The food and drinks are so good, but the management at this facility is absolutely terrible. I've heard TORI speak of the other employees like the aren't even there, calling some of them dumb and dumber or degrading them and speaking to them like they're idiots. The fact that she speaks poorly and trashes her employees to the customers is so sad. What kind of business owner allows this type of behavior? This is one way to keep me away. Those employees are hard working and so nice and to be treated with such disrespect is so disgusting. Something needs to change. I would rather have bad food than see this type of behavior. It's brings the moral down for everyone. For such a fun and welcoming place it's sad that one person has to ruin it and all it takes is 1.

food is only good to drunk people. chicken dry like turkey and nothing looks like their menu. or even taste like it should.

O'Briens is my of my top go-to beer bar in SD. Exceptional selection of beer, a lot of stuff you can't find as regularly in the area. The staff is equally amazing. Food-wise I've really enjoyed everything I've ever had and that spans about a decade of coming here; from wings, burgers, tortas to salads. In the more normal days of pre-COVID they had some great beer takeover events and can't wait for the next Russian River -Tion.

This review is a long time coming. My husband and I love O'Briens! The service is always outstanding and the food and beer are so good! I remember the first time eating at O'Briens (years ago) and was so surprised about how delicious the food was! If you're a soccer fan, the games are a blast! Everyone dresses up and chants! If you're an american football fan though, they don't show the games on Sundays FYI. They change up their beers often and are always great. As for the food, I've loved everything I've tried. Their salads and soup specials are always delicious. As are the burgers and of course fries (especially the beer buttered garlic fries). But I'd say the superstars are the Pepe Torta and the Lobster BLT. The torta is like a French dip - very good and very filling. My absolute favorite is the lobster BLT! They used to sometimes have the LBLT as a Saturday special. My husband and I would check their Instagram page every Saturday to see if O'Briens listed that sandwich haha! Now, they permentantly added the LBLT to their menu so we get to enjoy this sandwich whenever we want! Yay! It feels light so you're not tired after eating it. They also use a LOT of lobster and it tastes great! Super fresh, not fishy at all. Highly recommend!!!