Ocean Beach · Best Burgers in San Diego
Hodad's Review
Last updatedRanked #1 of 10 in Best Burgers in San Diego
The only burger that makes a national TV spot feel deserved. Thick, messy, seasoned patty with a soft bun that somehow holds together. The OB original is cash-only and worth the wait.
Score breakdown
- Taste95/100
- Value90/100
- Consistency90/100
- Atmosphere85/100
- Uniqueness95/100
The verdict on Hodad's
Ranked #1 of 10 — 92/100 in our Best Burgers in San Diego coverage
The only burger that makes a national TV spot feel deserved. Thick, messy, seasoned patty with a soft bun that somehow holds together. The OB original is cash-only and worth the wait.
What to order at Hodad's
Hodad's appears on more than one of our lists, and the pick depends on which one you are reading:
- Hodad burger — from our Best Burgers in San Diego coverage
- A double bacon cheeseburger split two ways — from our Best Kid-Friendly Restaurants in San Diego coverage
Go during off-peak hours; the OB line can stretch to the sidewalk on weekends.
When to go
Casual, counter-service spots like this one see their heaviest traffic around the lunch and dinner rush; arriving slightly outside those windows tends to mean a shorter line.
Is Hodad's worth the price?
Hodad's sits at $12–16 — the budget band for this category. Nothing else we ranked in this category lands in the same price bracket, so the comparison is against cheaper or pricier alternatives rather than a like-for-like rival.
Hodad's FAQ
Is Hodad's expensive?
Hodad's is priced at $12–16, which puts it in the budget band for this category. There is no other option at the exact same price point on the same list, so treat it as its own bracket.
Is Hodad's worth it?
It scores 92/100, 5.9 points above the 86.1 average for its list. That's a solid recommendation within the category.
What should I order at Hodad's?
We recommend the Hodad burger.
What else is nearby Hodad's?
Ocean Beach Dog Beach (94/100 in our best dog parks in san diego list) and Kotija Jr. Taco Shop (91/100 in our best fish tacos in san diego list) are also ranked in the same neighborhood, so it's easy to pair a visit.
Every list Hodad's ranks on
Hodad's shows up on 2 of our ranked lists, taking the top spot on 1 of them. Places that hold up across more than one category tend to be the safer recommendation when you are booking for a group with different tastes.
What works
- Strong taste — scored 95/100 in our ranking
- Strong uniqueness — scored 95/100 in our ranking
- Strong value — scored 90/100 in our ranking
- Top-1 finish out of 10 spots we scored in this category
Know before you go
- Go during off-peak hours; the OB line can stretch to the sidewalk on weekends.
The full review
On our weighted scale it earns 92/100 — the top score of all 10 places we evaluated for best burgers in san diego. We eat at the places we rank, pay full price for what we order, and re-score when a kitchen, chef or menu changes.
What to order at Hodad's
Hodad burger
Price: $12–16
How we scored Hodad's
Every score on this page comes from the same editorial rubric we apply to the whole category: taste, value, consistency, atmosphere, uniqueness. The criteria are weighted toward what matters most in the category, compared against every other place we ranked in the same list rather than against an abstract ideal. We eat at the places we rank, pay full price for what we order, and re-score when a kitchen, chef or menu changes. Scores are editorial judgments rather than aggregated user ratings.