The Friendly

easily hands down the best smash burger in the area. i read some reviews and figured i give it a shot and it absolutely paid off. in my couple months of staying in SD we made sure to come here often. delicious, and the staff is incredible.

The Experience: Tucked in North Park with fun, hippy vibes, this spot gives off fun and laid-back energy. When I arrived, the all-female staff was vibing to early 2000s hip hop, setting the tone right away. It’s a small space with about 4-5 tables and 5-6 counter seats, so expect a cozy setup. You order at the counter (they take credit cards), and the service was super friendly and efficient. The Food: I went with a slice of pepperoni ($3.50), which was thin, crispy, and flavorful. I could’ve used a touch more sauce, but overall it hit the spot. I also grabbed their smash burger ($8) and a soda, bringing the total to about $15. The burger was surprisingly substantial for a smash, not paper thin, which I appreciated. The burger tasted well-seasoned and juicy. Solid portions and fair prices across the board. The Rating: 4.6/5 – Fun vibes, friendly staff, and tasty food. Some folks might not love the limited seating or loud music, but honestly, it adds to the charm. I’ll definitely be back.

Dude, this place has the BEST pizza by the slice and a burger that’ll leave with future cravings. Tucked in a residential zone on 30th street in San Diego, you can’t miss it - just look for the line outside. These guys hustle, whipping out a basic but ballistic burger - fresh double smash patty cheeseburger with grilled onions. No tomato, no lettuce, no substitutions and no need for it. This burger was a great, late night treat (we came in at 11:00pm on a Sat night. The pizza was so impressive! Perfect cracker but tender crust so you can fold it New York style. We have a slice of the Hawaiian and the jalapeño & ricotta. So so good. Club tunes filled the room of 6 bar stools and 6 mini table and the whole crew did a shotgun together. LOVE the guys and stoked that my hubby suggested it. We’re locals but virgins to this spot - it’s now on our favorites list!

Ok. Hear me out. This is a pizza joint, and the pizza is great. But the burger? Out of this world! My friend wanted pizza, I wasn't in the mood, so I tasted hers, and it was great, but got the burger. I may say this was the best smash burger I have every had. There. I said it.

Top contender for the best burger in San Diego. Simple, well executed, and downright slamming deal at $8 per burger. Greasy, yes. Delicious, also yes. The vibe inside is also unmatched - go get a burger there now.

Ok, pizza by the slice? For less than $4? And the slices are actually at least the size of a paper plate AND they taste good??? This is hard to find nowadays, but The Friendly's got it. We got a slice of The Becky and a slice of a red pizza with bacon, pep, and jalapenos. The Becky is where it's at -- that white sauce with the ricotta and the mushrooms, yum. The red pizza was pretty solid too. The crusts were pretty inconsistent though (hence the 4 star). The Becky had THE BEST crust -- crunchy but not dried out or burnt, had a little bit of garlic flavor too. The red pizza was missing the crust in some places, and when it did have a crust, it was soggy. Both pizzas tasted so good that I'd overlook it. Would definitely come back for another pizza fix. (Also their pizza slices are actually bigger than the plate. Overachievers.)

One of the best burgers in town. Super simple and delicious. The overall look and vibe of the place is great too. I love bringing people here.

Best smash burger I’ve had yet! Also got a slice of pizza and it was all delicious. Washed it down with a beer and definitely coming back. Chill vibes and friendly staff.

A hole in the wall, no frills spot with a simple menu of pizza and smash burgers. $11 for a burger and a Mexican Coke. The burger was greasy and flavorful. Great crust and plenty of melted cheese, soft buns and grilled onions. Easy ordering process and quick service. The music is loud, but it was good, millennial hip hop so I was happy. I'll definitely be back!

If I could give ZERO STARS I would. I am not one to write reviews often unless my experience is too good not to show love or so bad the world needs to know. I know a few bad reviews for a super popular business can hardly make a dent sometimes but a bad review is a bad review and people should still see it. We're visiting SD and wanted a burger and pizza for dinner tonight and wanted to see what the hype was about at "The Friendly". Was the burger good? Yes it was an excellent smash burger. I always give credit where credit is due, but great or not, service will always trump taste. The place was packed. There were several people behind us. We noticed that everyone who ordered after us were getting their orders before us. After 45min I finally went up to the lady taking orders and politely asked how much longer ours was going to take. When she took a look at my order after giving her my name she said and I quote, "HE DIDN'T START ON YOUR ORDER BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T LEAVE A TIP AFTER YOU PAID WITH YOUR CREDIT CARD" First of all. I'M SORRY, WHAT? I have never in my life heard a customer service response as disrespectful as that until.... I very politely responded with "I tipped cash and dropped it in your tip jar" then she came back with an even more disrespectful response and asked "HOW MUCH DID YOU TIP?" YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME. I told her how much in the nicest way possible and she said he is going to start working on it now. I patiently waited for our order, and when they rudely gave it to us I said "I didn't know tipping determines when you start on a customer's order and just so you know I NEVER NOT TIP because I know it's important and you literally saw me drop it in the jar and said THANK YOU after". She went on to deny it and said she didn't remember, but it was clear she didn't have anything else to say because she knew they were in the wrong. Working in the people business how do you even respond to a customer who basically proves you wrong and made you look stupid because you chose to give bad customer service to people who did in fact tip you for the hard work you do everyday. I mean just basing your customer service on a tip is WILD TO ME. Especially when you typically tip AFTER being served your meal. Oh but that's not all!!! I made sure to point out the fact that a TIP JAR FOR CASH TIPS is there for that exact reason right? So why would you automatically assume that we didn't tip just because you didn't see it on the order receipt? I not only ALWAYS TIP but when I drop cash in the tip jars I make sure they see me so they know I appreciate their service, AND SHE SAID THANK YOU AS SOON AS I DROPPED IT IN THE JAR. After pointing that out they didn't have anything else to say to justify their actions because what else can you say to defend your horrible customer service? So instead her smart comeback was "YOU GOT YOUR FOOD SO GET OUTTA HERE" not "we're sorry for the misunderstanding and the inconvenience, thank you for your patience." She straight up said "YOU GOT YOUR FOOD SO GET OUTTA HERE". Mind you, I was with my kids and she chose to be nasty instead of being accountable like a REAL ADULT. She's average height, tan, skinny, with curly dark hair, you'll know when you see her, but it looks like the dude flipping burgers was calling the shots and he didn't even have any response to our complaint because again how can you respond after being proved wrong. So our take on this NOT SO "FRIENDLY" establishment after looking at their IG acct is: unless you're a familiar neighborhood face or someone famous, don't even bother unless you love being disrespected. I have never experienced such bad service that it felt worse than if they had openly spit in our food.

I was recommended The Friendly smash burger by a friend and was visiting San Diego this weekend so decided to try it. I was in a time crunch with my wife and called in and asked how long 3 Smashburgers would take. The guy who answered the phone said 20 minutes so I said okay! I'll take 3, and he said 20 mins. It was 7:16 pm. We got there at 7:52 pm and my wife ran down to grab the food, and the guy said it's not ready but will come out. A couple minutes go by, I ask my wife to ask how long it'll be. She asks and a guy with wavy hair in a ponytail says "it'll be ready when it's ready". Then 3-5 mins later, he drops a bag on the counter in front of her and says "see? I told you." And turned away. I hope anyone sees that this is unacceptable customer service. My wife and I weren't even aware it is a pizza spot and she said it looked good, but we agreed we wouldn't ever try it because this guy had atrocious customer service. I hope someone in management speaks to him and shows him how to speak to customers with kindness and the appropriate attitude.

The friendly is close by but my snobbiness probably made me not choose them. I tried Tribute pizza first before them although they are a slingshot away from me. I also hate lines for getting food. So on a fateful nice Sunday, while my partner was getting his haircut at Arsenal barbershop, I suggested we order the Friendly pizza. There are several choices in the menu and it was not too busy so the pizza would be ready after the cut. It was perfect timing. I got The Works - pepperoni and sausage with mushrooms and onions and bell pepper. I got to it at home since it was still hot and fresh. Although I'm not for leftover pizza since they dry up or taste worse, Friendly's was as good as the first time and 18" bigger than the one at the other place and price is just right. Probably will order here more often and try their sandwiches too. Glad I finally tried being Friendly! Bravo!

Never disappoints!! This place is consistently good and I found myself craving a delicious flat top burger last night and came in, not as busy which was nice but the vibe was still good with delicious eats!

Casual joint on North Park serving up few items: dirty flat top smash cheese burgers and pizza. It gives dive bar vibes, and they play hip hop, pop and rnb. No frills service at the cashier, we ordered the smashburger which is a pretty simple but super tasty bite of flavor. The burger is $8 for two tender, crispy burnt end patties, grilled onions, cheese and two plain buns. It's definitely better than In n Out. I'd recommend trying, and the pizza was nothing special. Parking is horrible here, there's few spots by the restaurant itself and then good luck going to residential to finding something.

Do I dare say this is my fave burger spot in SD?! I love the local vibe of the restaurant and don't even get me started on the burger! They have a sign that says, "we respectfully decline modifications" but lemme tell you... the burger doesn't need any! Also tried the pepperoni pizza slice and I appreciated the crispy crust. Overall, such a great spot. Check it out if you're in the area!

Idk why it took me so long to write this review but if you are looking for a top 5 burger in San Diego, look no further. No modifications to the burger, don't be a wimp, jk, but seriously it's the real deal. Rules: you must eat it right away to get the full mouth watering experience and (this is the best and OG location, so come here). Seasoned thin patties with gooey cheese and this delicious aioli, it's so simple but so good - you will get messy with grease dripping, but it is fricken amazing. They have special collabs which have also been outstanding, so make sure you check out their instagram for that. Not only do they have top burgers but best NY style pizza imo. I have probably tried all of the pizzas by now and have never been disappointed - thin, crispy, unique, fresh, and flavorful. It's packed alllll the time, so everything is always fresh. One thing you will always find here is consistency, from food to service. Same cool dudes always in here which make the experience ever better.

I was recommended The Friendly by a friend who said these were the best burgers in SD so I had to try. Walking in, this place was exactly what I hoped and expected. Small diner / NY pizza shop vibes run by a couple hipster chefs which encouraged me we were off to a good start. I got the pepperoni slice and burger (both recommended). The pizza was good but not great and a little greasy. I give it a 7.2/10 on the Portnoy scale. The burger on the other hand was fantastic. Basic double cheeseburger with grilled onions with smash patties. 9.2/10 and in contention for top 5 burgers in SD. Go

Burger -9/10 - the burger was excellent; what would make it a 10 was an option for a lettuce bun or ketchup instead of mayo. I try to be gluten free so I was disappointed by them having no alternative. I'm sure they would have given me no bun if I had asked though. For a burger place, it seems weird to me that they don't serve fries, onion rings or any option to go with the burger. Parking in this area can be hit or miss

Best smash burger around. Really hits after a busy night. Lines can get long but moves decently fast and the workers are very efficient. Space is a little small but there's room to stand around outside if you need to.

Was looking for something to feed the kiddos and came upon this spot. Since it was a Friday, was pretty packed. The inside also is pretty small, and doesn't offer much seating, so it seems to be more of a takeout spot. The slices were decent and the kids seemed to enjoy so I'd say thats a win. Staff was also friendly and was able to get the line moving pretty quickly so was very grateful for that.

This review has been postponed for wayyy too long-- The Friendly has one of theee best flat-top smashed burgers in SD !! I always head to The Friendly whenever I'm craving just a basic plain old cheeseburger . There's just something so nostalgic about the simplicity-- BASIC, YET BOUGIE is what I'm describing them as ! The caramelized onions are charred sweet and balances out the juicy salty beef patty-- cheese is creamy and so dreamy-- bacon is crisp... like what else do you want in a smash burger ?! Get the OG Flat top !! The mushroom burger is also really tasty if you love fungi . This location is in north park . I've only ordered to-go for pickup, but they do have a cute outdoor dining area . I'm not sure if this location serves pizza-- but I will try it next time I'm there because I've also heard good things . Don't be so quick to judge a book by its cover, these smash burgers hit hard !

The Friendly is a staple in the North Park community. Some of the best pies, smash burgers, and service around. What other place will give you discounted beer if you shotgun it?! Their NY style pizza is 1. Huge & 2. BOMB. They will make whatever you want (I'd recommend calling ahead). They'll do half and half if you want too. They've got plenty of options for pizza by the slice. It's just a great pizza in every way. Their smash burgers are seriously some of the best around. They make each of them the same. Their patties are ultra thin and packed with rich flavor. Their American cheese is gooey and smothered on their. On the thin, soft bun is their aioli which is already delicious. I can't recommend this enough. Take it a step further and get a side of ranch, SOOO good.

I'd say I've found my favorite burger in San Diego right here. Had the Dirty Flat Top and gotta say had an amazing experience. The smashburger had crispy edges on the patty, along with a juicy interior. I think there was an absolutely perfect choice of rolls for the buns: soft, yet sturdy vessels to hold the burger's flavors together. Caramelized onions were beautifully sweet, perfectly balanced to the salt content of the patty and cheese. Garlic aioli was a great touch and contributed to the moisture of the burger. What makes this burger exceptional is its simplicity and the quality of its ingredients. Despite its concise nature, it doesn't compromise on flavor. Service is speedy quick, and they don't waste any time. I gotta give it to the staff there, their auxiliary choices are simply immaculate. The quality music builds a nostalgic and chill atmosphere. Would say this is my favorite burger experience of all time on the fact that I had my first bites listening to Johnny Mathis. It doesn't get any better than that. Additionally, I tried a slice of their pepperoni pizza, toasted off the display, and it was solid. The smashburger is definitely the star of the show. I recommend trying this spot for its delicious food, efficient service, and cool atmosphere.

The Friendly is a great hole in the wall pizza / burger joint. The ambience is laid back. Seating is limited, due to the size of the place. I came in the early afternoon, and they had a steady flow of customers. So o can imagine how busy it gets at night. The burgers are as stated, Flat aka smash. You get two patties with cheese and chopped onions. Don't ask for fries. They do not make them there. You won't need them anyways. The burger will hit your stomach hard. It will sit heavy in you. The pizza slices are served hot and with a crispy crust. They have an ok selection of beers. Oh, if you shot gun a beer. You get a $1 off. I have never seen that type of discount. I like it. Burgers are $8, which I think are a little pricey, but Everything is going up in price. It would be great if they took over the empty store next to them, and expanded. Seating and space is a must. I will come back again. Maybe are a few drinks. I'm sure it will hit the spot.

Everything about this place is fantastic. Great vibes, incredible food, and the staff is super chill. Will always be stopping by whenever I'm in SD.

The Friendly is a perfect spot for continuing your late-night debauchery with some dank food. This is a pizza spot known for its oily flat-top burgers. Usually on the weekends, you'll find a lively crowd lining up after going out at night. They are blasting music while serving up smash burgers and pizza. I had one of their classic flat-top burgers it was a great burger. Great texture on the patty from the flat-top griddle, nice and juicy and greasy. The cheese melted perfectly on top. It's a great way to finish up the night. They also have beers and other food options. The cost is not bad at all about $8 for taste and quantity. Parking is available on the street may need to do some driving around until you find it. Service is decent but I'm not sure what else you can ask for in a place that's open late into the night. They get the job done.

If you are looking for bare bones burgers, this is your joint. Two greasy, cheesy, beef patties with onions on a flat top grilled bun... no fries, and canned beer or soda are the only options.. unless you want a slice of pizza! Just a few beat up tables, and a couple of counter stools, so sitting might not be an option. Ambiance is neglected stripmall, service was at the counter, and prices are as expected... I like more sides and drink options than this place affords, but they have a good burger, just not on my list.

As a cult member of The Friendly burger, I usually hit up the Tavern! We ordered pizza when our friends were in town and it was almost as fantastic - especially the Hawaiian!! Staff is friendly and welcoming when you enter the store which is no frills / no modifications / just right!!

A year later just to say this place is a still a damn vibe. Yeah parking sucks but it's 1000% worth it. I bring anyone that visits from back home. The spinach and Ricotta pizza is my absolute go to, and of course you can't come and not get a burger. Service is always good if you haven't been why the hell are you waiting?

I passed by this joint for so many years and I seriously regret never going in. Please don't be like me. Came here on a Halloween bar crawl night after some drinking, and they recommended their burger. I will never forget this greasy burger. Sometimes, this is what's good for your soul. You order at the counter, and find an empty seat. Sometimes it does get busy, so you're left standing. I don't care if I'm outside in the street eating this burger, it doesn't matter. The time I was there, it was very rowdy inside, in a good way. This is definitely a celebrated neighborhood joint.

They do a good job for how hectic it can get. Loud music, loud customers, they just lack one more employee expediting. The cashier also expedites which makes the system far too slow. But if you're looking for fast food, go somewhere else. This place is good for the price and if you want to experience local SD vibe. If you need fast food go somewhere else, if you are down to wait, you might think its an awesome experience but most people who are starving get hangry and rate this place poorly. This place is a chill dive joint with cheap prices, so don't be so harsh on it and give it a try if you're up for a fever -dream like experience, feels like out of a movie lol. Burger is good for the price! Pizza is good for the price but tons of better pizza in little Italy. Only will come back to show people SD vibes five joint, not for the food but for the unique ambiance. STAFF IS FRIENDLY ;)

So bomb!!! I love pizza by the slice and I've been having a hard time finding a great place in SD, but this is it! The pizza is flavorful and I like the options. Not only is the pizza good but their burgers are too! Not gonna lie...I thought about how good this meal was for the rest of the day. The shop is small and the music is loud, but I personally liked that.

Warm welcoming staff. Good pizza. Amazing burger. One of the best I've had, period. Good music and very cool almost east coast vibes. Don't let the unassuming look from the street fool you. If you're in this area, order a burger and sit down for the best you've had. Pro tip: shotgun a beer and get a dollar off!

They have two items: a burger with no substitutions or edits or a slice of pizza. Both were amazing. The ricotta on the pizza gave it a freshness and it came out piping hot. The burger also super hot and fresh with crispy smashed Patties and the cheese was super melty. It had a lot onions to the point of a kick which came together great. Staff is cool and remembers your name. Quick, inexpensive, simple, and delicious

Hello everyone, I'm excited to share my personal opinion of The Friendly off University Ave since it was my first smash style burger. In case you did not know, Carnitas Snack Shack used to be at this location before it became The Friendly. So, the design layout is pretty much the same with tables and a few picnic benches as you enter. This place is DOG FRIENDLY (heck yeah!) I decided to try their OG burger which is two smashed burger patties with cheese and grilled onions. I must say for my first smash style burger it was pretty good. I do like the concept of a flat patty and crispy edges which gave great texture to the overall burger since it is VERY OILY. The buns were a bit too soaked in oil to my tasting but overall had a good taste. If you want a quick bite for a burger, I would definitely recommend The Friendly if you are in the area!

I love this burger. Everyone I've taken here agrees it's the best in San Diego. I like that they open the beer for you to shotgun it. Must try

Grown tired of thick patties. Smashed patties are the best & toasted buns! Friendly indeed are the staff(or owners). Prices are great. Appreciate the wall menu stating no modification.

The Friendly just might be a oxymoron... they aren't the friendliest... but who cares when your pizza and dirty flat top burger is about the best burger ever!!! Hot crispy, juicy,greasy, cheesy, sautéed onions, and melty cheese smothered between soft buns! The pizza is awesome too! Choose your slice, it's then put into the inferno of a pizza oven, and cooked to perfection! The Dr. green thumb was incredible! This tiny, hip, and I must say, not the cleanest restaurant, will be sure to please! Note.. seating is almost non-existent, so if you have a crowd, get it to go.

The best. Burger we have ever had! The fries and onion rings were good too but the burger is the star of the show!

This place is a must. They have, by far, the best dirty flat top burgers. Order as is. Make sure to grab a slice of one of their New York style pizzas while you wait for your burger. They also serve beer. The staff members are super friendly. They even gave my dogs pepperonis as treats.

The service was wonderful but the burger left me feeling bloated, I wanted to see what all the craze was about since I've been hearing about their smash burgers but I was left disappointed and throwing up in a parking lot. From what I can describe the burger was very oily and had me feeling sick afterwards. And 8 dollars for a smash burger is insane to me I'll stick to in n out from now on I'd rather not get food poisoning.

The Friendly serves up a great burger. Burger, cheese and onions, no substitutions, no fries, no onion rings, only pizza. We didn't get the pizza. This place is loud and the workers are louder. A few tables are available to sit at as is bar top seating, but not many. Definitely don't pass this place up. I would come ball to this location only if it's sister shop was closed.

Stumbled across this gem while out having a few drinks in the neighborhood on a Friday night. Saw many people in there and figured a bite to eat would sit well in my empty stomach. We were greeted nicely by other locals and quickly recommended the burgers. We had two burgers, two cokes and a slice of their delicious pizza. Many pizza slices to choose from. The small restaurant gives it a unique diner feel with a good prices. Pretty open setting so you can watch them make the pizzas and burgers right in front of you! The pizza is a typical flatbread pizza crust with your favorite toppings. The flat iron burger was beefy and juicy and definitely cheesy!! Needless to say, we were in and out of there with a full belly. I would come back again alone or with friends for a quick bite to eat.

I don't know if I'm burning this bridge , but I'm over it. Food 10/10 no doubt . Been coming here for years . I get the rush , I get it's packed, I get they do this day in day out . I wouldn't mind the wait, if the guys in the back gave a shit . You're in the weeds, I get it man, you have a tiny grill. Mad respect . But we're not stupid man. I've been a line cook, I know it's fun to fuck around, but homeboy on the pizza station is CLEARLY high as fuck, (no issue there ! I've worked with other guys that smoked on the job but they killed it) . This guy standing there laughing , walking around laughing. Everyone can see through the giant glass , . DAWG we SEE THE BOTTLE OF CROWN you guys are trying to hide , and the shots that are being taken. I have no problem with guys enjoying their shift . I just don't understand how your ticket line has like 20+ tickets and your flat top is empty and all the employees are all laughing and hugging in their small corner . It was hilarious . But start everyone's food man, there's literally like 40 people here waiting staring at you guys fuck around . it does not take 45 mins to make 2 smash burgers . Another old man rant, the people you let drink outside, leave all the beer cans IN FRONT?! Come on man, have a little bit more respect where you work.

I don't even think I liked smash burgers until someone was talking to me about a good burger and suddenly I wanted one. My friend suggested this place noting it's greasy and simple and that I would love it and yes - I did. They don't offer much at this location. Pizza and one type of smash burger here but I mean come on. You only need the soft buns, crispy meat, lack of vegetables, and cheesy cheesy deliciousness. No you're not here to try anything to help your diet - you're here to indulge. I liked the griminess of the place - they close at 10, though it seems like they'd open later. And it's great for making late night (10 o'clock is late) conversations with friends or cheating on your diet or having something to soak up the alcohol from Polite Provisions. It's got that same kinda character reminiscent of a diner in NYC or LA or somewhere where you feel everyone is a main character. It's cute - come when the sun sets and I'm sure the food will taste better.

Been coming here for years. Foods great and service has always been terrible. Do NOT expect them to be friendly. Ironic I know (I literally saw a register guy tell someone calling for an order to go F themselves, no cap!). If you order ahead of time there's a 30min wait till ready and then account for another 30min wait to get to the register. This is every day. It's not because the line is terribly long. They're just really inefficient. Update. So I waited the hour and a half to finally get my order and they tell me they didn't start the pizza. So I politely told the guy at the register that I didn't want to wait any longer and to please cancel my order and then he and the guy that makes the pizzas started mocking me acting like I was crying like a baby as I was leaving. I'm beyond offended. 10years I've lived in this neighborhood and thousands of dollars I've spent there and I'll never go there again. They should be ashamed. Bullying customers and neighbors is a new low.

It was my 1st time here after a Wind Down Sunday at Park and Rec. This establishment is super lowkey and can easily be missed. They don't have a parking lot, just street parking. We arrived around 7:30-8pm and it was pretty packed. The inside is small with some counter seats and probably 4 two tops against the wall. Other than that you could sit along their window sill/ front entrance too. They didn't seem to mind. I know they're known for their only burger option at this location and their various pizza options. We ordered 2 burgers and shared 4 slices of 'ZA. They did NOT disappoint.

The Friendly is the counterpart to The Friendly Tavern and serves pizza in addition to their burgers. The Friendly serves only their classic cheeseburger, no fries or sides. I went at night around 9pm and the vibe is more like a bar serving food with the music playing. Not a negative for me but for families, I recommend going for early dinner or going to the Friendly Tavern instead. The veggie pizza slice was crisped up nicely from the oven and was delicious. A solid pizza slice that I'd be happy with anywhere, anytime. But the main attraction is the Dirty Flat Top Cheeseburger. They make them all to order and so I recommend dining in and enjoying it immediately. The patty is smashed down and had that great crispy char on the outside and the cheese, mayo, onions rounds out this simple but oh so good cheeseburger.

The Friendly is one of those joints that you have to take your friends to when they come visit. That was my experience when I visited my homies in San Diego. Coming from the Bay, burgers were always just an average, convenient and affordable commodity that you would choose to eat when you were on the go or running late to an event. Can't say the same thing about this place as it's a WHOLE experience worth trying. Their flat top smashed burgers are unmatched, the ambiance makes you feel like you can stay there for hours, and their shots are also decently priced. We went on a nice sunny day in SD, and used the time to eat good burgers and catch up on old times before our night of debauchery. Although i won't be making it to my friends' next SD trip next weekend, i did ask if they can bring me back a friendly burger

$7 Burgers $3.5 pizza slices Cheap beers, $1 discount if you shotgun. The service is great for how busy this place is. The food comes out piping hot and delicious.

Came here with my pharmacist TODAY 4/24 after work, 1st timer!! And I have to say, BEST cheeseburger!! Loved the atmosphere, and the service was really nice and we didn't have to wait very long for our food. Will DEFINITELY come back again!

The burgers were good at one point but now they are greasy and salty. The place has always been loud and like a hang out spot. I don't like the fact that they raised the price of the burgers $7!!! Not worth the price tbh. Pizza is still 3.50 a slice. Service is ok. Standard.

This place is fire! The cheeseburger is so simple, but packs plenty of flavor. Nice soft buns and very juicy patty (kind of like my gf). Just a heads up, they don't add any veggies on the burger other than grilled onions. Definitely one of my top 3 favorite smash burger places that I've visited. On top of the delicious cheeseburger, I also tried the pizza which was good as well. I'm a fan of NY style pizza, and this was really similar. The dough is thin, crispy, and chewy. They also offer $1 off beers if you shotgun it over there!

I recommend this spot a million times! The smash burger was perfection!! If you're looking for a quiet lunch or dinner, not it! If you're looking for delicious, mouth watering, crispy but juicy burger, this is the spot!

What a find! If you haven't visited The Friendly, you're in for a treat. Food: check out the pizza & cheeseburger. Service: friendly informative and fun. Ambiance: great music selection, minimal seating inside and outside. Definitely coming back for more!

Dirty Flat Top never fails me. It can make a blind man see, make a short man grow tall, corrects poor vision, cures cancer, and puts hair on your chest.

Everyone has their opinion on where to get the best burger in San Diego and I can say with pure confidence that if they don't say the Friendly, they are wrong. This is the OG location with just one thing on the menu: dirty flat top cheeseburger. Don't even try ordering it with modifications. These burgers are perfection! Serious crisp on the patty but a juicy finish with the mayo and cheese. We send every person we know to try a burger from here then wait for their text about how it's the best burger they've ever eaten. They have pizzas, but the dirty flat top cheeseburger is where it's at. I personally think they taste better at this location than the Friendly Tavern. Probably has to do with the grill but I highly recommend coming to this one!

Our experience at The Friendly was...OK. We made a trip specifically to The Friendly to try the burgers. That might have been our mistake because the burgers are good, but not worth the drive. The burger was comparably priced to a Shake Shack cheeseburger and more expensive than an In N Out cheeseburger. Yet it tasted no better than the two. The buns were soft (just regular buns, not potato or brioche), and the burger patties were nicely smashed. But the cheese was American cheese, and the sauce was solely mayo. There were supposed to be grilled onions, but I couldn't taste any of it. The entire cheeseburger tasted of only one-note. It could have used the tartness of some ketchup, or perhaps a strip of lettuce. There are also no sides (e.g. french fries), and they do not offer any drinking water aside from bottled water. I do not know the bathroom situation. It only took us 5-10min to eat the fairly small burgers, and then we left. There was plenty of seating when we went around noon on a weekend. We did street parking a couple of blocks away. Service was professional, but limited to taking my order and giving me my order. I think if you are already in the neighborhood, definitely stop by for a burger and a beer. But this is not a particularly special burger that merits a special trip.