The Balboa
Bar & grill · San Diego ·
Burgers, cocktails, arcade games, pool table, vintage decor
Burgers, cocktails, arcade games, pool table, vintage decor
"A hidden gem hiding in plain sight that you’ll find while going up Bankers Hill on Fifth Avenue, the Balboa stands out for its friendly service, unassuming ambiance, and highly coveted burger. The restaurant’s well-loved Original Balboa burger features the restaurant’s zesty aioli along with lettuce, tomato, American cheese, and onions on a brioche bun — all priced under $12. Pair with a brew or a cocktail, like the Balboa with Henebery whiskey, honey syrup, lemon and sarsaparilla bitters. Best to go: On Monday, happy hour runs from open to close (4 p.m. to 10 p.m.), which means that the OG burger goes for $8 a pop." - Roxana Becerril
"You’ll find friendly service in the Balboa’s bars in Banker’s Hill and Chula Vista. Their well-loved Original Balboa burger features their own aioli, along with lettuce, tomato, and onions on a brioche bun. Pair with a brew or a cocktail, like the Balboa with Hennessey whiskey and sarsaparilla bitters." - Candice Woo, Helen I. Hwang
"After a closure during 2020 as a result of the pandemic, this Bankers Hill locale is up and running again with an updated cocktail menu and a return of some truly memorable burgers including the Original Balboa burger. Bigger appetites should opt for The Centennial, a double beef, double bacon creation. This outpost and its Chula Vista counterpart are now under new ownership." - Darlene Horn, Candice Woo
"I watched the Balboa close in July 2020 when owner Tom Logsdon, faced with no option for outdoor seating and ever-changing regulations, made the difficult decision to end the Bankers Hill run—“We really thought we were done,” he said. Logsdon, who took over the Fifth Avenue bar and grill in 2015, shifted his attention to a larger Balboa in Chula Vista (which opened just before the pandemic) until his former landlord offered an adjacent space that doubles seating and made a return possible. The Balboa officially reopened in its original Bankers Hill location on Thursday, April 15 at 4 p.m.; Logsdon, along with bar manager Rob Sullivan and general manager Justin Buchanan, has revamped the cocktail list and pared down the menu to focus on the bar’s most popular burgers, including the Original Balboa burger, the Classic, and the Barbecue Bacon Cheeseburger, a change he calls “a win-win” that lets guests feel more comfortable while keeping the first location open." - Candice Woo
"I learned that The Balboa Bar & Grill on Fifth Avenue in Bankers Hill has shuttered; owner Tom Logsdon announced the closure but will continue to run his Chula Vista location on Third Avenue, which is currently offering patio seating and takeout, and he said the best shot at making it through is to "pare back, consolidate, and try to weather this storm." - Candice Woo