The Balboa South

Ughhhh, I didn’t want to give such a low star rating, but eek! I’ve had Balboa South as takeout, and it was actually really good so that is what brought me back- although it’s been a couple of years. Let me just start off by saying that the customer service was immaculate and exceeded expectations. There were a few different servers who checked on us and they were very attentive. I believe one of them may have been a manager, and he was very kind and accommodating. I really appreciate excellent customer service these days, so they definitely didn’t lack in that category. We came on a Friday evening and sat outside in the back patio. The nice, cool air & breeze was great. The indoor portion of the restaurant did not have air condition, I’m not sure if it was broken or they just don’t have it running. But it was very uncomfortable and stuffy. Now for the cocktails and food. My tamarindo margarita was absolutely awful. It didn’t have any taste to it! It was pretty much watered down. The food was meh. The garlic fries were the best thing we had. The classic Balboa burger just didn’t hit. The patty was overcooked and dry, the whole burger fell apart. There was nothing really keeping the lettuce, tomato, and onion together- not even the cheese. If there was supposed to be sauce, it didn’t exist. You can see in my pictures that the buns are totally dry. The BLT didn’t have any mayo either. It was so dry I think part of it stayed lodged in my esophagus. I had to gulp down my watered margarita, and I didn’t even get buzzed from it! It wasn’t terrible but it’s definitely not the same taste I remember a couple of years ago. Chula Vista doesn’t have very many burger joints so it’s a bummer it was a letdown. Just try to kick it up a couple notches. You have a great thing going, but you need to install air condition and jazz up the food.

Super cool scratch kitchen, make their own patties, buns, etc. Angel treated us quite nicely at the end of our ride the other day, hosting us well with attention and delicious food. Had the burger, lettuce style, worth it! Had a couple of my buddies garlic fries, and while not normally my thing, also delicious. Check em out, highly recommended, love the unique mural on the patio, especially the Bullet Bill and Pacman! Thanks Angel and your staff, we will be back!

Located at Chula Vista's 3rd Avenue. Best burgers! Owner is very creative with its menu by providing new ideas. Garlic fries recommend. Staff and owner are very welcoming.

Some of the best burgers and fries in Chula Vista. The meat patty was so juicy and flavorful. Went there on a Friday night with a friend. Great service, nice friendly waiters. The only thing negative I can say is that the tables feel sticky for some reason. This is the second time I have been here and the first time the table felt the same way also. The tables aren't dirty, I think it's the paint. The wood tables are painted black and have this odd feel to them. It's the strangest thing. Anyway, back to the food....DELICIOUS.

Guests were welcomed into a clean, neatly arranged dining area. The staff worked in a professional manner, ensuring orders were collected efficiently and delivered without errors. The food menu leaned on familiar selections, with each dish arriving in good condition and at the appropriate temperature. The portion sizes were neither too small nor excessive, offering a balanced approach. Service interactions remained polite and minimal, which allowed the focus to stay on the meal. The restaurant maintained a relaxed atmosphere with steady service throughout. It was a suitable choice for those seeking a comfortable dining experience without unnecessary complications.

5 stars all around. Service was amazing with Keren as a very friendly, attentive waitress to me and my dog! This place hit the spot for me. Delicious pastrami burger, garlic fries and an IPA. They have a dog menu too, so my dog enjoyed a puppy patty. Worth a visit! Well priced. Whole meal for me and my dog was only $33. Definitely will be back again. Plenty of street meter parking at only 25 cents per 30 minutes up to 2 hours.

This place is great, me and my family always enjoy our visit. I’ve had the regular burger, which is outstanding. But what I really want to highlight, is that it’s definitely the best vegan burger that I’ve ever had. The homemade black bean patty is on point and I look forward to it every single time. Anyone vegetarian or vegan should check it out for sure! 🌱 🍔

First day in San Diego on vacation and wanted to try this spot as it is rated highest burger resturaunt in Chula Vista. Ordered food for 3 people, and while the others enjoyed their food, there was MAJOR ISSUES. I have severe allergies to dairy products so I always request my burger to be cooked seperately or without butter or something simple. The man who answered the phone originally (who was rude) assured me repeatedly that the burger would be cooked on its own on a separate grill. Yet when the burger had come the bottom of it was covered with cheese after I made it obvious of the allergen concern. To add insult to injury we were also missing a whole order of french fries. When called to complain, the GM did give a full refund and was very apologetic and the food that was correct was delicious. Basically moral of the story if you have an allergen or dietary concern I would NOT trust this place with your food.

We're here all the time...was a busy night and they held it down. Awesome food, drinks and service. Good job!

I have been working long hours preparing for an event, so when a friend called to meet up for lunch, I was like let's go the The Balboa South! Perfect Sunday afternoon to get out and enjoy the day! I was craving their Centennial burger; two patties, double bacon, double cheese, and the most delicious garlic aioli! I usually get extra on the side to pour on with each bite! The flavors compliment each other! I also love their garlic parmesean fries! Enough for two if you order the large. The staff is always welcoming, fun, and great to talk to! Cako loves coming here for her puppy patty! She also only lays down when she loves someplace. They have great tables outside, and in the back. The owner just showed me their extended dining room where you can have private parties! I love that they are dog friendly...and they love Cako! Now, I'm wondering if I should go down and get a Centennial today. Maybe make it a regular Sunday thing....hmmmmm Cako would approve!

* Great customer service * Good food * Good vibes all around Still a great spot for happy hour or dinner -- this place never disappoints! The burgers are tasty, the fries are yummy, and now they even have milkshakes! The atmosphere is always vibing, and the customer service is on point. We love Kareen -- she definitely took care of us and made the experience even better. Can't wait to come back!

It's always fun to stop by after a good few miles walking Tonite we having a Balboa salad And chipotle dressing and ceasar dressing And for her a salty crew beer Service is always he best here And watching the game tonight. Dodgers won! Such great services here So friendly too And clean it our spot close to home And our walk and run club

Delicious burger and fries! Great selection of beers. Great outdoor seating in the front so you can keep an eye on bikes or bring along the pup. Service, above and beyond, Angel was nothing short of amazing. It is so hard to find good service but he was a breath of fresh air. Took the time to talk to us, recommend things, crack jokes, and just friendly. Our experience with him made it! We will be back when we are in town for sure.

Well, well, well...THE BURGERS HERE ARE GREAT! We stopped here for Friday Night dinner because we just wanted a good burger. Everyone is always raving about this place, so we came here. The parking is Chula Vista 9a-6p is metered along this street, so keep that in mind. We pulled up at about 6:40p and found a meter spot right out front, score. No meter fees after 6p is great. We were immediately welcomed by a hostess/server upon arrival. She had great energy and found us a table right away, then seated us. We sat at a table for two in the corner, not ideal but it worked for us. The nice hostess/server took our drink order shortly after she seated us. The menus are small, concise, and right to the point. There is a Happy Hour called the "Chisme Hour" and they have a list of featured $5 cocktails. We ordered: 1 BBQ Bacon Burger + Extra patty, Garlic Fries, 1 Pastrami Burger, "La Guera" (Vanilla BDay Cake) shake, and the Chocolate & Peanut Butter Shake. We were checked on every 5-7 mins by the great staff. Everyone was so customer service oriented and very much interested in our comfort as diners. Our shakes came out first and we took them down right away, like dessert before the meal; perfect. Our food arrived in about 12-15 minutes. THE BURGERS are LARGE! The garlic fries are potent and could have used more salt, and still good. My daughter's BBQ Bacon double patty was not seasoned well, but the toppings helped with the experience. My Pastrami Burger was good. The pastrami is a bit thickly sliced for my taste, and it is tasty. Overall, the customer service is great here. We were in and out in about 40-45mins..which was super quick. There is Latin Pop, Reggaeton, and Salsa music played while dining. Thanks for the good time, it was a short time, but good.

When we get a chance to make our rounds on Third Ave, Balboa South is one of our go-to spots. We came in as a party of 12 with only 40 minutes until closing, and Angel still welcomed us in with no hesitation. He guided us to the back, made sure we had menus in hand, and ensured our orders were placed before the kitchen closed. To keep things easy, we went with the Tuesday family meal deal: four Balboa burgers and two large bowls of fries. The food came out quickly. The burgers were well-seasoned, and the aioli added a perfect balance to the flavor and toppings. The fries -- both the salt & pepper and garlic -- were crispy and perfectly cooked. (Get the garlic fries -- they're a must. So garlicky, in the best way.) Even after closing time, we never felt rushed to finish our food or drinks. Angel gave us phenomenal service, and the rest of the staff was super friendly and welcoming.

Love this location right in a good spot in downtown third ave. The environment was nice they also had a large party doing a paint event and it had no impact on the other side for those not part of that group. Service was quick and my burger was really good! The garlic fries are delicious.

Went to restRoom. & they even got a pay phone inside. they not just creative to make their burger recipe amazing, but also the arts and creativity in the restaurant as well. again, overall. the service is amazing. Staff and management treated their customers like true family. & ofcourse the burgers are soo good!

I had a lot of hype worked up in my brain about this place, because I have seen it posted in a lot of review sites, and a lot of people recommended it to me. I am normally a smash burger fan. With that said I really appreciate the simple menu. The pastrami burger was absolutely delicious, and really flavorful, and so well done. I think we would get just the sandwich next time instead of the hamburger as it added 3 or4$ to the base cost. I also had the Balboa hamburger and that was delicious. The meat inside was so well seasoned and all of the toppings were on point. I wish they asked how I wanted it cooked as I generally like my meat medium rare but it was a perfect medium! We also ordered the salt and pepper fries and the garlic fries and both were hot and tasty. I ordered a side of aïoli for my fries, but the sandwiches came out with ranch and ketchup, which was I thought was a really nice touch (without having to ask.) I also had a Harland hazy which just happens to be one of my favorite beers. I wish that there was a few more beers on tap, but I'm not going to complain too much about that. The inside decor is so well done and clean, and I really love that the guys who served us, the main guy who seated us was wearing a red chef coat and was so professional! Everyone working was so smartly dressed with really cool (high quality) looking aprons. It's again just a really nice touch and you can tell that these guys really take a lot of time, pride and care into what they do! With that said for two sandwiches (burgers) one hazy and one tea came out to be $60 which at this point I understand costs have gone up a lot, but I still felt like it was a lot of money $20 for a hamburger in Chula Vista with a side of fries. At the end of the day it's kind of my "maximum price point" I'm really willing to pay for a burger, so if I am going to pay that much it had better be good, and it really was!! With that said I will be back!

Great customer service! Fun environment! Excellent Pastrami Burger! One of my favorite spots! Highly recommended place!

Came here a while back to celebrate an engagement. It was Saturday evening, so the place was pretty busy. Even though it's a bar, this place did well in accommodating and welcoming our group with kids. The staff was friendly and attentive. The food was delicious. I tried their burger and a salad... and I'd definitely come back to have it again. The mood was definitely lively and social without any of the rowdiness. A nice local spot. There is also an outdoor covered patio area out back, but it wasn't in use during our visit. Street parking and a parking lot (for pay I think) out back.

Burgers were on point, customer service good, shake - incredible. Various places to sit gave us good vibes.

This is one of the best burgers so far! I love how thick, juicy, and flavorful the patty is!! Not overcooked, it's perfectly grilled and pinkish just how I love it. The garlic fries are very garlicky hahah we love it! The dip sauce is addictive! Must visit!

"Thank you for the outstanding service and great food! Our group of 20 was well taken care of, and we truly appreciate the attention to detail. We'll definitely be back!"

First time customer, So Dissatisfied! But Sat at the bar, ordered my drinks. Then placed my order. Sandwich was okay, I asked for pastrami sandwich, and I received a pastrami burger . Server did not come back and asked how I liked the order knowing it was my first time. I ask the guy who was making the sakes if this was a family owned, his response was, I guess you can say that, you meet the owner. I'm gonna assume it was the female who took my drink order and food order and answered my questions on the sandwich I odered. She came back in from outside holding a dog next to her chest on top of her, I call unsanitary, she asked her babe to hold the dog, he too held the dog, while he's behind the bar making drinks on the clock. Again, sanitary, for the people around the bar eating. It took him 5 minutes if not longer to ask if I wanted another drink, who he game my drink the other person next to me. He forgot it was my d rink. "Wow"! Not one server, Or the "so call owner" came by to ask us if we needed anything or our tab. I had to ask another server besides the server I asked for water, for my tab. If she was the owner, she completely ignored us for no reason. I am very dissatisfied with their service and will not be returning. I also will be spreading the word to my family and friends. Thank you MC for responding back. I myself have their dogs and I'm dog friendly, my issue was holding g a dog on your apron and handed the dog to your so called manger behind the bar. About my sandwich I order non burger bun, after the fact you stated the bread is made fresh daily and it's a hamburger bun. Anyways... you saw I left 1/2 the sandwich on the plate . As an owner, your first reaction should have came by to ask, if there was an issue. I'm so disappointed and dissatisfied by you as an owner and Manger.

I was actually going to a different dog friendly restaurant and parked infront of this place and decided to give it a try since it was dog friendly also. I am glad I did because the burgers did not disappoint. The menu is small and simple but very tasty. Service was good and I was able to sit outside with my puppy and enjoy a nice lunch.

Love this place. The food is delicious, the staff is awesome and we are always treated like family. Awesome place to watch the Padres game too.

The best burgers and milkshakes in San Diego. Head out and see Angel and the team!! Excellent service.

Arrived and sat at the bar, Angel took care of us, he was awesome and very informative. The ambiance is great not too noise and plenty of tv's to watch the baseball games. Finally, the burger was very tasty and also found out their centennial burger is the best in town. Warning it is a big burger.

Balboa South Bar & Grill Owner: Mariana My husband and I love the Vibe on 3rd Avenue in Chula Vista. After attending the Lemon Festival, we finally decided to try the burgers at Balboa South Bar & Grill...and we were not disappointed! The burger was juicy and flavorful, and the garlic fries were delicious. The customer service was excellent, and the ambiance was hip, clean, and full of energy. A special highlight was meeting Mariana, the owner. She was so warm, welcoming, and genuinely friendly....it made the dining experience even better. I also loved all the fun quotes posted outside, which added to the charm! I'll definitely be back with family and friends, especially on a Tuesday to enjoy their burger special!

Everyone here is super nice. They have a fantastic salad, wonderful garlic fries and great tea. My friend said that the beer was great. Food came out quick. Will definitely be back. That chipotle ranch dressing is fantastic!!!

I love supporting local businesses, especially when you find out that the owner is an alumnus of your high school. We decided to sit at the bar for some beers and burgers with some friends. The dark interior of the restaurant had a hip vibe which was the perfect setting for our lunchtime catchup. We noshed on our Balboa burgers and garlic fries and had a great afternoon in downtown CV.

Angel was 10/10 service. Traveled from the east coast and we'll travel here again to come here and be served and fed like family.

Came in for Fathers Day with all my girls. We all tried a tasty beverage my daughter had a marg Mom had a mango michelada and I enjoyed a Society ipa while we waited on our burgers. They came promptly and I must say I was blown away by the quality and flavor of my brunch burger and the garlic fries are a must try loaded with a pack of punch which comes with zesty ketchup and the house aioli. My 1st time and I already want to revisit. Balboa South is doing a great job and I highly recommend for burger aficionados and foodies alike. Five stars

First off, I really liked the atmosphere of this downtown spot but to be truthful this place feels more like a bar than a restaurant. I really root for local businesses, so I was hoping that this spot would match all the hype. Not sure what makes this place a "craft burger" spot when they only offer 5 burgers and 2/5 are basic burgers. Burgers do taste good, and I do enjoy the in house buns and all the ingredients taste fresh - especially the patties. Servers were polite and food came out good. I came on a hot day, so we had to sit outside due to no A/C. A little disappointed that my water glass was not clean as well. Would I come here, probably yes.

Man hands down one of the best burgers I've ever had. I walked in knowing they have received multiple awards for best burger in San Diego and I walked out knowing why, the chilaquiles burger was something different not your regular burger but different in the best way possible. So much flavor I highly recommend it. The service provided by every employee we came across was also amazing

Great hamburger bar in Chula Vista, I ordered a double double animal style just like you would at In-N-Out and some fries The burger was delicious and very filling, totally worth it. I recommend stopping in and ordering the exact same thing.

Absoluetly love this place and their service! Been going for years. Great beer selection too. My favorite burger is the Centennial Burger.

Located in downtown Chula Vista off 3rd Ave. Street parking can be scarce but, they do have a parking lot located behind the building that offers free parking after 6pm! They offer indoor, bar, and outdoor seating. Bar offers good margaritas for a decent price and an amazing pastrami sandwich! It can be super crowded depending on when you go and music is loud. My girlfriend and I sat at the bar next to each other and we had to yell at each other to have a conversation. Bartender/Owner Angel was AMAZING! It was super busy that night and we had waited for our food for almost an hour. We brought it to Angel's attention; he got right on it to find out why it was taking so long then he discounted a couple of our drinks due to us waiting so long. Even though we waited so long for our food, it was well worth it! The pastrami sandwich was AMAZING and the fries were cooked perfectly! Sandwich was STUFFED with pastrami! Besides the music being too loud for my liking, definitely give this location a try for their amazing food and strong drinks!

On Sunday there's only one place you want to be. Balboa is a great atmosphere for the entire family. Burgers, brews and shakes. This is the spot.

The Balboa South, is my favorite burger joint!! Seriously the burgers here are to die for they also have sandwiches if you like to be on the healthy side. The beer 'Barrio Lager is very tasty along they're garlic fries. The Owner Mariana is always there delivering EXCELLENT! customer service. You pick to seat outside or inside I always sit outside my favorite as you can enjoy the scenery of 3rd av. Thank you Balboa!! Customer service 10 Food quality 10 Service 10 Taste 100!

The Original Balboa Burger is definitely in my top 5 burgers, and I love supporting local business--especially knowing the owner's story. I've always had a great time when I go, but today was a little different. We started off on a good note. The bartender seated us quickly, and our server took our order shortly after. They mentioned the Monday family meal deal, which sounded perfect: four burgers and two large fries. The food took a while to arrive, and when it finally did, it was cold. I let the server know, and they took it back, but unfortunately, it was still cold when they brought it out again--both the burgers and fries. I wasn't sure if the server forgot to bring the food out in time or if they just served us old food, but I didn't want to make a big fuss, so I decided to eat it anyway. Halfway through my burger, I wanted to ask for ketchup and ranch, but the server never came back to check on us. By that point, my appetite was already gone because of the cold food and service. I ended up asking the bartender for my check and boxes, and they handled it immediately--props to them. I don't know if the server was new, overwhelmed, or just busy, but next time, I'll definitely sit at the bar where the service is better. As for the cold burger, it's the first time this has ever happened, so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. I'll still come back because the burger and beer are solid, but I'm sticking to bar seating from now on.

If you haven't been here, get here! There's a reason why they're one of the best burgers in San Diego County. Beers, micheladas, palomas, and some seltzers ensure you have a tasty beverage to accompany your meal. All the burgers are delicious but my favorite are the Balboa burger and the patty melt. Their fries are also delicious. The servers are personable and when it isn't busy, will chat with you and make you feel like you're part of the family. The space itself is quite large and when here with kids I enjoy sitting outside but my favorite place to sit is the bar. They have sports on several TVs and it's a prime people watching spot. Lately they've been running a fast food burger makeover special and according to the husband, they're legit. Can't wait to see what specials they cook up next!

We had always heard that the burgers here are really good. That's what they're known for. But what blew me away was the service. They were very accommodating, friendly, and went above and beyond to ensure our party was happy. We were able to reserve either the left inside section of the restaurant or the patio for 45 guests. Everyone was able to have their own separate tabs if they wanted. We were allowed to bring in a cake/dessert and have the section from 5-10. The place is clean & has plenty of seating and they had a dj. We had a really good experience and we will be back! Thank you Balboa South!

I love the new location of Balboa South! The location is perfect to watch the ball game. And The burgers are so delicious! It was exactly what I was looking for in a burger! The service was on point too. From the moment I stepped in, to when I left, everyone one was so friendly and attentive. And I love the women's bathroom. And they made it so cute!

This place never disappoints and always makes me feel like family! Best hamburgers and best customer service in Chula Vista. Always feel welcomed and love the ambiance! If you haven't tried these burgers, I highly recommend....a must try and will not be disappointed. One of our favorite spots to come and eat with the family :)

The ambiance of the place is great, good crowd, not too rowdy, sports on the tv, and music playing. Beer and different options is plenty to choose from and very good. The customer service is also good, they seem kind and down to earth. Despite all this, the burger was just not there for me, I would say 7 out of 10. The bread was thick, the meat was a bit crunchy, I would not recommend.

Great Burgers, awesome service, and ambiance is fun and casual. Definitely highly recommend their Bbq Bacon Burger! Hands down an all around great burger joint!

Great friendly staff. I would return just because of them. And the food is another reason. I had a very delicious burger, wished they did a little more than 1/3 oz patty. If you like garlic, must order the garlic fries...may not be the best choice for a first date.

Had a meal to go, spent almost $100. For the positives, staff super friendly and place looks clean. For the negatives, it's the food. I got a pastrami burger and asked for medium rare on the cooked patty. Pastrami super stuff and not tender at all, burger patty completely overcooked and dry with no seasoning. Really sad. The kids said the same thing about their burgers and chicken sandwich had no seasoning. Garlic fries were not fresh and at room temperature with no real garlic flavor, no sauces on the side. Only ketchup in the box. Not sure if the cooks ran out of seasoning. We really wanted to like this place. But won't be back as to Burger King whopper having more flavor.

Keren gets a kiss on the forehead! She hooked me up with extra cherries for my spiked horchata and their secret menu. Thank you!

Always great burgers. Garlic fries are a must. Not a full bar, but burgers are better washed down with beers. Friday lunch special is a great deal. I wish they opened for lunch more days of the week. My co-workers and I would go more. Their ingredients all taste super fresh. You don't get a gut bomb after eating there.

Best bathroom in recent memory! And the brioche buns and garlic fries hit hard! Very memorable establishment.

First of all, you gotta come here meet the owner and all the staffs. They are friendly and welcoming. You'll be greeted with the warm smile, they make great recommendations and let you sample the beverages. They share about the history on the hallway of kisses. So get your person and share a kiss in the hallway... I'm a snob for restaurants restrooms and the women's was clean, had a chair, diaper changing station and was well maintained. # impressed. They are adding more murals to the wall. This adds to this chic, effortless &mysterious vibe. I was there for it and can't wait to go back. The black and blue hard cider had this lingering aroma that made it addictive. It wasn't overly sweet but it wasn't super tart. It was just perfect for a warm day. My friend had the mustgrove mango and enjoyed it. It is a light and refreshing beer. I needed to take it up a notch so the black and blue suited me nicely. All the staff were I am attentive. They kept coming out on the patio checking out on the customers there and that include the customers which were a few dogs. It is a dog friendly place and I believe the only one you can go inside with is if it is a service dog. The patio is available for use in a great space to host an event. It already has a Bluetooth radio outside so you can play your favorite music. The owners said that the patio can be hosted out there for free too. That is not a bad space to host an event and not be charged for the venue. It would also bring them some good business. The garlic fries were seasoned to perfection. No complaints on my end. It was cool to walk into the establishment and see a variety of individuals. They have a few huge TVs and a space which I heard is karaoke and it seems like they just have a fun time. You might get lucky and find street parking in front but if you don't there's a parking lot in the back. I can't wait to go back and and have a burger! All I can say this place has a super chill vibe, the music was good, friendly staff and customers!!!

We ordered the Balboa Burger and the Centennial Burger, both so good! Burger patties were nice and juicy and love the zesty aioli. Make sure you order the Garlic Fries, they're bomb!! Great burger spot!

We've been to this place a couple times and the food and service is always good. I usually order the patty melt and the garlic fries which is delicious but I've had the burger and the salt & pepper fries as well and that was just as good. This is a laid back restaurant with good service and great food. I would definitely recommend going.

So today I tried this new restaurant that had these unbelievable delicious hamburgers with a side garlic fries!! The food came out great and quick. The staff is extremely helpful and nice

Recently moved into the neighborhood and since I LOVE hamburgers I have to say the burgers are top notch quality, no kidding around! Not limpy but fat, juicy and full of flavor. The garlic fries and milk shakes are also a must have. On 2 occasions I've invited family and they also loved it. The servers are super friendly including the General Manager Angel also top notch! Now the cost...BEST price in town! I HIGHLY recommend! Oh and the ambiance is pretty chill. Almost forgot to mention I've also had veggie bean burgers...to bean tasting. Don't know how they do it but whoaa just a hint of bean flavor, you'll love it. Anyway, thank you Balboa South!