The Balboa

Name: The Balboa
Address: 1863 Fifth Avenue, San Diego, CA, 92101, US
Telephone: (619) 955-8525
Price range: $
Rating: 4.8

San Diego's ultimate burger and arcade bar experience with craft drinks and laid-back vibes.

4.8(5 reviews)

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About

The Balboa is a beloved San Diego bar and grill known for its exceptional burgers, full bar, and fun arcade atmosphere. Located in the heart of the city, this spot offers juicy, high-quality burgers cooked to perfection, alongside shareable garlic fries and daily specials. With a full bar featuring cocktails, beer, wine, and non-alcoholic options, plus happy hours, it's a go-to for casual dining and socializing. The venue includes arcade games, a pool table, TVs for sports, and a speakeasy, creating a relaxed, entertaining environment perfect for friends, families, and burger enthusiasts.

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Location

1863 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101, USA

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Information

1863 Fifth Avenue

San Diego, CA, 92101

(619) 955-8525 www.thebalboabarandgrill.com/

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Services

Signature Burgers

Juicy, high-quality burgers like the Centennial and barbecue bacon, cooked to perfection with fresh ingredients.

Full Bar Service

Offers cocktails, beer, wine, and non-alcoholic drinks, with happy hour specials and hazy beer options.

Arcade and Games

Features pinball, old-school arcade games, and a pool table for entertainment while you dine.

Garlic and Regular Fries

Shareable fries, including loaded garlic fries, served crispy and flavorful.

Happy Hour Deals

Daily specials on drinks and food, providing great value in a relaxed setting.

Efficient Ordering

Order at the counter with table delivery, ensuring quick and fresh meals for a seamless experience.

4.80 · 5 reviews

Overall rating

Lilly Fluger

via Google

· 11 months ago

I love this place. It’s making me hungry right now just thinking about it. My girlfriend took me out as a treat because I watered her garden while she was away. She said it was her favorite dive bar in San Dirgo so me and another girl went. They have a small basic menu of five burgers And then there’s add-ons and then there’s two types of fries. We shared the garlic fries which were beyond awesome I could eat them forever and on my burger I got roasted jalapeños, which is an add-on to the basic Balboa burger and I swear it was so so good. I hardly ever eat burgers and now it’s all I can think about I wanna go back there. I really recommend this place. We went at happy hour which even is a better deal, but they’re already a great deal. Two of us had hazy beers, which was so delicious. I had never had a hazy before and I got a little crazy because it was so tropical good flavored refreshing perfect for a burger. I went home and looked up hops and how it’s made and the history of it and I’m definitely going to drink some more of those for the rest of my life- anyway I highly recommend this place. We sat at a table. We did not play pool. The people there were so nice and quick and helpful. It wasn’t crowded. It’s like a secret place. Amazing what you can do with a burger when you only have a few things on your menu they’ve perfected this to ultimate deliciousness. I highly recommend this place. What a great treat!

Ray Frohnhoefer

via Google

· 11 months ago

Great burgers and drinks with daily specials and happy hours. Burgers are large and juicy. There are plenty of drink options from a full bar, including cocktails, beer, wine, and non-alcoholic options. Fries are plenty to share and the garlic fries are loaded with garlic. There is also a room of arcade games and a speakeasy now.

Stephanie Buriel

via Google

· 1 year ago

First time I ate here and loved it. I had the barbecue bacon burger and regular salt and pepper French fries. The burger bun and bacon for the burger were cooked perfectly. The serving of fries is enough for two people to share. After I ordered, the food came very quickly and was made fresh. Perfection!

Bianca Lok

via Google

· 1 year ago

Came to the Balboa with my daughters for lunch during our vacation in San Diego and we all ordered the original burger. I have to say it's the best burger I've EVER had. The burger was very flavorful and extra juicy. Thank you Balboa for this amazing experience!!

B Davis

via Google

· 1 year ago

This burger joint inside a bar/tavern really hit the spot! The burgers were excellent—super tender, juicy, and best of all, no weird hard or fatty pieces. Just really high-quality meat cooked perfectly. We got the Centennial & classic burger. We tried the garlic fries, which had great flavor—though they could’ve been a little crispier for my taste, they were still really good overall. You order at the counter, they give you a number, and then bring the food right to your table—super easy and efficient. They also have a free water station, which is great if you’re not drinking alcohol. The atmosphere is laid-back and fun with pinball and old-school arcade games right next to the seating area. There's also a pool table and TVs if you want to hang out and watch a game. Great food, chill vibe, and a solid spot all around!