One block from the beach in Ocean Beach, San Diego, Hodad’s has been doing burgers its own way since 1969. No shoes, no shirt, no problem. The walls are covered floor to ceiling in license plates sent in by customers from every corner of the country. The booths are plastered in stickers. There is a van you can sit inside of. When Season 2, Episode 3 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives — “Seaside Eats,” aired October 15, 2007 — came to Hodad’s, Guy Fieri called the bacon cheeseburger a “run-down-your-arm burger” and said the place put the shama lama in the ding dong. That is the highest possible Triple D endorsement.
Hodad’s is now run by the third generation of the Hardin family. Shane and Lexi Hardin took over after their father Mike, known as the Bossman, passed away in 2015. The spirit of the place has not changed. The line is still out the door. The burger is still worth the wait.
Quick Facts
Restaurant: Hodad’s
City: San Diego, California
Cuisine: Burgers
DDD Season: 2
DDD Episode: 3
Episode Title: Seaside Eats
Original Air Date: October 15, 2007
Address: 5012 Newport Ave., San Diego, CA 92107
Phone: 619-224-4623
Website: https://hodadsoceanbeach.com/
Status: Open
About Hodad’s
Byron and Virginia Hardin started selling burgers in El Cajon in 1969, then purchased a burger stand in Ocean Beach for $600 and called it Hodad’s — a surfing term for someone who hangs around the beach but can’t actually surf. After several moves the restaurant landed on Newport Avenue in 1991, and that’s where it has been ever since.
When Mike Hardin took over after his parents, he built the restaurant into something genuinely remarkable. The Bossman’s personality, generosity, and commitment to the community turned a local burger shack into a nationally known institution. After the Triple D appearance in 2007 the line wrapped around the block. CNN named it one of the top five burger joints in the country in 2009. Foursquare ranked it 26th on their list of the 50 best burger joints in America in 2015.
In 2013 Mike added the Guido Burger to the menu — named after Guy Fieri’s nickname — as a nod to the show that changed everything. It is now one of the most ordered items on the menu. Guy Fieri was among the hundreds who attended Mike’s public memorial at Petco Park after his passing in 2015.
What to Eat at Hodad’s
The Bacon Cheeseburger is the anchor. Hodad’s doesn’t put bacon strips on a burger — they press an entire bacon patty into the mix, boiled then seared on the grill, sitting on top of two beef patties with cheese. It is messy in the best way and built for big appetites. Pair it with the Onion Rings, which have their own fan club, and a Giant Milkshake served in the frosty metal cup it was made in, topped with a scoop of ice cream.
The Guido Burger — skillet-fried pastrami on a burger with ketchup, pickles, Swiss cheese, grilled onions, and spicy brown mustard — was voted the number one burger in Triple D’s viewer-voted Top 10 Burgers episode. That is not a small thing. The Blue Jay, a bacon cheeseburger with blue cheese and grilled onions, rounds out the top picks.
No drive-through. No delivery from the Ocean Beach location. Cash, card, and a willingness to wait in line.
Plan Your Visit
Hodad’s Ocean Beach is open daily. Get there early or expect a wait, especially on weekends. Street parking and bike parking only — no lot.
Address: 5012 Newport Ave., San Diego, CA 92107
Phone: 619-224-4623
Website: https://hodadsoceanbeach.com/
Status: Open
Hodad’s appeared in Season 2, Episode 3 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “Seaside Eats,” originally aired October 15, 2007. The Guido Burger was later voted number one in Triple D’s viewer-voted Top 10 Burgers episode.
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Fuel the Obsession
Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives: The Funky Finds in Flavortown is the book for fans who want to keep hunting great burgers and hidden joints across the country. For backyard burger nights inspired by what you find on the road, his Guy on Fire outdoor cooking cookbook is the move.