Hodad’s on Newport Avenue in Ocean Beach has been a San Diego burger institution since Mike Hardin opened it in 1969, serving the hand-formed burgers in a surf culture setting that has made it one of the most beloved and recognizable restaurants in a city with a serious burger culture. It appeared in Season 17, Episode 11 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “All San Diego, All the Time,” which aired August 5, 2013. Guy Fieri found a San Diego burger counter doing things the same way they have been done since Nixon was president — hand-formed patties, quality beef, and the Ocean Beach surf shop atmosphere that makes eating a Hodad’s burger feel like the most San Diego thing you can do.
Quick Facts
Restaurant: Hodad’s
City: San Diego, California
Cuisine: Burgers
DDD Season: 17
DDD Episode: 11
Episode Title: All San Diego, All the Time
Original Air Date: August 5, 2013
Address: 5012 Newport Ave., San Diego, CA 92107
Phone: 619-224-4623
Website: https://hodadsoceanbeach.com
Status: Open
What to Eat
The Hodad’s Burger — a hand-formed beef patty with the full Ocean Beach treatment of cheese, bacon, and the toppings that San Diego surf culture has been adding since 1969 — is the signature that has made this counter one of the most celebrated burger destinations in California. The Double Bacon Cheeseburger is the full-commitment option most first-timers are steered toward and rarely regret. The Onion Rings, hand-battered and fried to order, are the side that belongs on every Hodad’s order. The Milkshakes, hand-dipped with quality ice cream, are the dessert that closes every proper Hodad’s meal. Find a San Diego hotel on Trivago.
Plan Your Visit
Check the website for current hours and additional locations. Lines form on weekends — arriving early or late is recommended.
Address: 5012 Newport Ave., San Diego, CA 92107
Phone: 619-224-4623
Website: https://hodadsoceanbeach.com
Status: Open
Flavortown Approved
Hodad’s is one of the great American burger institutions. Stream the All San Diego, All the Time episode on Amazon and bring the burger spirit home with Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Burger Joint Seasoning.
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Hodad’s appeared in Season 17, Episode 11 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “All San Diego, All the Time,” originally aired August 5, 2013. Mike Hardin opened the restaurant in 1969.