Score 86/100 · Order: Single bacon cheeseburger · $12–16
Hodad's holds the line on pricing better than most tourist-famous burger spots, and the single is more than enough food.
Local tip: Skip the fries and the total stays under $15.
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Ocean Beach · $12–16 · Ranked in 1 list
Last updated
Hodad's OB (basket) is a Ocean Beach spot ranked #7 of 8 in our Best Cheap Eats in San Diego list, scoring 86/100. Order the single bacon cheeseburger. A famous burger that's still fairly priced.
We scored Hodad's OB (basket) 86/100 in our full editorial review.
Read the full Hodad's OB (basket) reviewHodad's OB (basket) sits in Ocean Beach — coastal San Diego at the mouth of the San Diego River, 15 minutes west of downtown. The area is known for the longest pier on the West Coast, Newport Avenue antique shops, dog beach, and the Wednesday farmers market, and the feel is counterculture beach town that never modernized — barefoot, laid-back, and proud of it. Parking: Free lots at the end of Newport and near dog beach; fills fast on weekends.
Explore Ocean BeachOn our Best Cheap Eats in San Diego list, Hodad's OB (basket) lands at #7 of 8, just behind Bahn Mi Che Cali (86/100) and ahead of Konofuku / Convoy ramen counters (83/100). Las Cuatro Milpas holds #1 with 93/100, so the gap is 7 points.
See the full Best Cheap Eats in San Diego rankingHodad's OB (basket) scores 86/100 against a best cheap eats in san diego field that averages 87.5, running from 83 at the bottom to 93 at the top. That is 1.5 points below the category average, though it still finishes ahead of 1 of the 7 other places we scored. It lands 7th of 8, and the category leader is 7 points clear.
Judged criterion by criterion, Hodad's OB (basket) separates itself most on atmosphere (80/100 versus a 70.5 category average). Its softest showing is value at 84, 8.1 points under the field. Those two numbers are the honest summary: this is a place you pick for atmosphere, not for a clean sweep of every category.
| Criterion | Hodad's OB (basket) | Category avg. | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Experience | 88 | 89.6 | -1.6 |
| Consistency | 90 | 89.1 | +0.9 |
| Value | 84 | 92.1 | -8.1 |
| Atmosphere | 80 | 70.5 | +9.5 |
| Uniqueness | 78 | 83 | -5 |
Scores are Sandi Spots editorial judgments, compared against every other place we ranked in best cheap eats in san diego.
Ocean Beach is dense enough that Hodad's OB (basket) rarely needs to be a standalone trip. We have scored at least six other ranked spots in the same neighborhood, so it is easy to stack a visit with Ocean Beach Dog Beach (94/100 in our best dog parks in san diego list) or Hodad's (92/100) and turn one stop into an afternoon.
94/100 · #1 in best dog parks in san diego · Free
92/100 · #1 in best burgers in san diego · $12–16
91/100 · #1 in best fish tacos in san diego · $4
90/100 · #6 in best sunset spots in san diego · Free
89/100 · #3 in best farmers markets in san diego · Free entry
88/100 · #4 in best fish tacos in san diego · $4.50
If Hodad's OB (basket) is booked or closed, these score closest at the same $12–16 spend in the same list:
Yes, if you are in the neighborhood or nearby.
Hodad's OB (basket) scores 86/100 in our Best Cheap Eats in San Diego list (#7 of 8). It is strongest on consistency (90) and experience (88). A famous burger that's still fairly priced.
Skip it if uniqueness matters most to you — that is its weakest category (78/100).
Hodad's OB (basket) is a good fit for cheap eats. Because it ranks #7 on our best cheap eats in san diego list, it makes the most sense to pair it with nearby stops in Ocean Beach rather than build a day around a long cross-town drive. Check live hours and availability before leaving, especially for a weekend visit.
Best tactical tip: Skip the fries and the total stays under $15.
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Score 86/100 · Order: Single bacon cheeseburger · $12–16
Hodad's holds the line on pricing better than most tourist-famous burger spots, and the single is more than enough food.
Local tip: Skip the fries and the total stays under $15.
Scored with our ranking methodology — cheap-eats.
Written and fact-checked by the Sandi Spots Editorial team — San Diego residents publishing under Sleep Coast LLC. Every place we recommend has been visited in person or verified against an official source, and no business can pay for inclusion or a higher ranking. Last updated .