The Balboa South

Family focused burger joint. I love Mariana and Angel. They are very friendly people. Their burgers SLAP. Paired PERFECTLY with their fries uhhhh, im in love with The Balboa South

Came across the Balboa South by pure chance. My wife my granddaughter and I. What a pleasure it was to discover this wonderful little restaurant bar and grill. Just so happened that the proprietor Mariana took care of us and what a pleasant experience we had. The burgers were great, the margaritas splendid (mango). It was a unanimous decision, we will all be back! Thanks again Mariana!

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.

This place rules. About as good as a burger can be. A pretty small menu so you know they nail it every time. They also really care about their customers and their community. A Chula Vista staple.

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 impressed me just like the original one did. The burgers are straight fire. This place has plenty of room for big parties, and small tables for singles or dates. The beer selection is good, the beer tastes fresh and clean, and even the fries were on point. They have a in & out feel to them but are way thicker! So fresh and real ingredients, its a vibe you wanna experience. The single burgers are good, but I'm a monster so I get double patties. The centennial is my go to. Today i tried it with grilled onions and grilled jalapenos! Man it was dank! A single would just make me want another but if you add grilled onions and grilled jalapeños it makes a single quite filling. I love the salt and pepper fries, but even the garlic is dank. They have plenty of outdoor seating, from the front area, to the patio in the back. This place is definitely worth trying out. Easy 5 star burger joint! Update** I came here for my birthday celebration and Angel delivered superior service. He recommended the chili cheese steak special, and it didn't disappoint. It was finely sliced carne asada mixed with the traditional toppings of a philly. To really make this visit stand out, Angel offered a complementary cake that was so delicious! This joint has leveled up! And it's so worth having as one of your favorites!!

Welcoming and friendly staff in a casual, family friendly environment with large screen TV's, enough space for larger parties, and a dog friendly patio. The burger is fresh and well prepared. I like that the meat was still pink on the inside and not overcooked. Service is super fast. There was a selection of about a dozen craft beers. Pleasant place on Chula Vista's popular Third Street.

We were totally those customers that went in 20 minutes before closing and we ordered 20 burgers let me say these employees welcomed us with open arms.. we were celebrating a birthday . The burgers are amazing and the staff was amazing . And to top it off my phone was dying and angel took care of it for me.. thank you for making sure we were taken care of .

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

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!

Balboa South has milkshakes....WHAAAAAAAATT! It had been about three weeks since we stopped by, and I really wanted that Centennial burger...double patty, double bacon, double cheese...sooooooo good! But the milkshakes were a nice surprise! I was going to get a strawberry one but our friendly server said the choco peanut butter one was her favorite. SOLD!!! It was really good and came with vanilla wafer cookies as a garnish. This just made me feel like an eight year old! Burger, fries, and a shake! Again, the Balboa South did not disappoint! They keep doing things to make me come back again and again! And as always.... Cako Approves!

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

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

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

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!

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!!!

*customer service is always *friendly ambiance * great presentation of food *spacious restaurant *micheladas are good Love coming here the ambience is always great. The food is delicious, I love how they change things up on the menu making it exciting to come back. They have cool specials for families on Tuesday this is really cool helps families come out and not break the bank. Absolutely a must try. NOTE they have secret menu just ask.

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

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.

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

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.

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!

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.

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

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!

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.

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!

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!

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!

I came in two Fridays ago to find out they had a lunch special on Fridays from 12 to 1. Its about 5 or 6 items to choose from for 15 bucks, and it comes with a pop included. I had the grilled chicken jalapeno sandwich, and the following week the pastrami sandwich. Gonna work my way through the lunch menu every Friday! The staff is very nice and attentive as well. Definitely suggest this place.

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.

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.

This May, I visited balboa south for the very first time due to seeing much support on this group for them. I just had to give them a try ! I decided to take a stroll with my level 3 autistic special needs son in his wagon to practice our outings in public. I did place my order online to make our food pick up go easily. Once arriving I was waiting by the entrance for my food pick up trying to avoid having my preverbal son yelling inside the establishment to be considerate to others eating there. My son was trying to regulate himself in a new environment and was beginning to stim by moving around more as we waited for our order. The owner actually invited us completely in to the bar area to wait for our food regardless , of my son having a hard time. He was very polite and friendly. At one point .. he reached over and gave my son a huge lollipop ! I was completely struck by his kindness since, we usually struggle with others having empathy. We truly don't have many experiences at establishments were people are understanding of my son. Therefore , I will be remembering this wonderful visit we had at this autism friendly business. The burger and fries were also amazing !

When I discovered The Balboa South, I had been craving a burger. I had gone to 2 different places and was disappointed on the taste. I had taken my best friend to lunch and when I bit into the burger, it was the exact taste I was looking for. It was juicy and delicious. The fries were fantastic. And the service was great!! I love their new location! Great place to get a burger and catch the game!

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.

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.

Excellent service Evelyn was phenomenal she made my sister's birthday extra special with the cutest cake she went above and beyond what a gem !!!

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

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.

Came in on a Sunday to enjoy the soccer game and was blown away with their delicious drinks and customer service. Didn't order food because we had just ate but everything around us looked amazing. The place is very clean, has multiple tvs and their staff is quick and friendly. Can't wait to come back and try their food. On Sundays they have a chilaquiles burger that looked and smelled AMAZING. Will be back soon.

What amazing service & food! I can't believe this place is affordable & the people are so friendly. Angel was an amazing server & he rocked with the recommendations!

Still love this place, came here for take out and it was fresh and hot. Came out before I had finished my beer. My sister is visiting and I HAD to give her a taste of this bombness.

OMG...I was skeptical that this joint could really be 5 stars but the burger alone puts it in that category. Add in really nice service and cool sports bar vibe and I would be a regular if I lived closer! Literally the Balboa had been on my radar for more than 2 decades. I knew it won accolades for their burger but I finally dragged my butt to this location as it's slightly closer to where I live. Now I'm already planning my next visit with friends. I got the centennial and my sister got the regular balboa burger. After comparing the two we determined it's 100% worth getting the bigger burger and taking 1/2 home if you can't finish. The aioli that came with the fries was so good we added more to the burger. Not sure if it would cost extra to get a side of aioli if we hadn't ordered the fries. Also I'm not one to add bacon to my burger because I don't need the extra calories but this bacon was delicious! Now everyone has a preference on fries and these are fresh cut style. I prefer double fried and coated so I might skip those next time and just order the centennial. Will definitely be back and I look forward to trying their beers on tap.

I ordered the BBQ bacon burger. The sauce-to-burger ratio was so perfect. The garlic fries were a banger, and the salt and pepper were fire too! They have a pretty big space to host events and a good kick it spot. I didn't like that I had to keep getting up to refill my own water. They may be understaff and that's why they are doing that method, but overall pretty decent burger and fries!

Located on 3rd Ave. in Chula Vista. There is metered parking and street parking. I tried out Balboa South, because we were a fan of the Balboa by Balboa park. It was a little different. We went on a busy Saturday 2pm. We were sat in a corner table. It took a minute for our order to be taken. There were a lot of families and a Padres game playing. It is a very laid back setting. I judge burger places that serve fries separately. I knock 1 star off for that. Fries should always be included. Our burgers were good. Not the same as the Balboa by Balboa park. But it was nice to give it a try.

Burgers are amazing!!!! But what was the best.. was my toddlers burger grilled cheese... WOW! lol I wanted her food more than mine. But truly, the burgers are super good and I'd love to come back again. Parking can be a hit or miss. The service was amazing and the staff there are so kind and friendly, and it's a family friendly place as well! Very accommodating for our toddler. The style is very sports bar mixed with restaurant feel!