- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Johnny B's Burgers & Brew
Categories: Restaurants Burgers Nightlife Bars Sports Bars Restaurants American (Traditional) Burgers, Sports Bars, American (Traditional) [Edit]
8393 La Mesa BlvdLa Mesa, CA 91942
Neighborhood: La Mesa
(619) 464-2465
- Hours:
Mon 11 am - 10 pm
Tue-Sat 11 am - 11 pm
Sun 9:30 am - 9 pm
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Sun, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Drive-Thru:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
116 reviews for Johnny B's Burgers & Brew
Review Highlights
"We always get burgers and onion rings."
(in 21 reviews)
"I ordered Lynn's Awesome Patty Melt."
(in 8 reviews)
"They were generous with the bleu cheese, as well."
(in 7 reviews)
Loading...
116 reviews in English
-
Review from Jack M.
Rancho San Diego, CA
1/28/2012 8 photos
Every once in a while I have to splurge on a Patty Melt that I know is not good for me, but I just got to have it. Thankfully, Johnny B's makes a terrific melt that satisfies my sinful craving.
I ordered Lynne's Awesome Patty Melt on Rye with a 1/3 patty, Swiss, grilled onions, and when this is all prepared together, I got to tell you, we have a winner. The melt's rye bread is perfectly grilled golden brown with a great crunch, (see pic) the succulent onions are intermingled with the melted Swiss cheese, and the beef patty comes pipping hot off the grill. (see pic). I savored ever bite of this Patty Melt. The Patty Melt cost $6.25.
I also ordered some of the spicy wings. The wings are doused in their spicy red sauce then lightly dusted with flour then fried to perfection. You do not get those wings dripping with sauce that make a mess, but instead the sauce is infused into the flour when they are fried golden brown with a ting of redness. (see pic) The wings were great and had a good amount of meat on them. (see pic)
The service was very good as well. It was not over bearing and not to inattentive. There was enough time between visits that you can enjoy your meal.
Try Lynne's Patty Melt! Who is Lynne anyways? -
Review from Dan D.
La Mesa, CA
11/11/2011
Just returned from Johnny B's for the umpteenth time. It's right down the street from me, so i usually just walk there (but I do stumble back).
JB's is a cool little burger joint at the end of La Mesa Blvd, just down the street from a few LM cars (Pete's, Regal, Hoffers), across from the now defunct Gio's Wine Bar and a block from Moze Guitars.
There are a couple of cool and unusual things about JB's.
1. The owner, Johnny B, is a laid back guy who can be found here or at one of the aforementioned-bars.
2. No kids are allowed (is this a restaurant or a bar? Yes!).
3. There's a little fire pit out back on the patio that's nice to sit around while you eat/drink/BS with friends.
4. They serve a mean steak and eggs for Sunday breakfast/brunch.
Seating is fairly easy most of the time, though it can be tough on busy evenings; I've never waited too long, and there are seats at the bar where you can eat.
The kitchen and waitstaff are easy going and proficient. They get the orders right and food out to you quickly.
The burgers are nothing special. Though tasty, they're just 1/3 lb. patties on buns served in a basket with the toppings. Fries are extra and the selection of brew is limited but does the trick.
This is a cool little no-nonsense place on La Mesa Blvd. that is dependably good. It's a place where you can have inexpensive burgers and beers with friends and watch the game. -
Review from Theresa G.
La Mesa, CA
9/16/2011
A few months ago I was craving a tasty burger so I checked Yelp. I wanted something reasonably priced, near home, and better then fast food or fudruckers! Johnny B's fit all those criteria so the hubs and I decided to check it out!
The front of the joint was kind of hard to pick out in the dark. Because we went later in the day the place was fairly empty with only a few tables of what seemed like regulars in the main dining area. Once ordered our food arrived quickly. My burger was pretty damn good with my only complaint being that I had a hard time eating it! It was big and started to fall apart early on, though for some reason my husbands kept itself together! The ambiance wasn't fantastic, but I don't really care about that when the food is so tasty! -
Review from John G.
La Mesa, CA
2/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
Above average burger bar. 'nuff said.
-
Review from Joe C.
La Mesa, San Diego, CA
2/7/2012
This is my favorite burger in town. On Sunday mornings they serve great steaks if you don't feel like a burger. There are ton of TVs and the place is small so it's a great place to watch the game. And probably my favorite thing is its 21 n up so no annoying kids.
-
Review from Amber H.
Spring Valley, CA
2/9/2012
Best hamburgers and fries ever. Great prices! But I don't understand why you have to be 21 to get in just for a hamburger and fries when this place doesn't offer hard liquor nor do they have a liquor license..
-
Review from Mia R.
La Mesa, CA
1/31/2012
I love me some Johnny B's...the burgers are awesome. I have been going there for 10years. I still can't resist the burgers. Juicy delicious with a toasted bun. I get the bacon cheese burger every time, and it has never let me down. Sunday's are great, the food is good. Honestly I stopped going on Sunday because Johnny and his wife argue and it becomes very uncomfortable for the customers. That is the only reason I cant give it 5 stars. I want to be happy spending my money...don't bring me down!
-
Review from Esther F.
San Diego, CA
1/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
The food is okay nothing spectacular. The menu is limited to burgers, sandwiches and a few breakfast item. Went on a Thursday night it was pretty dead. Ordered the grilled ham and cheese with fries. Sandwich was tasty, but nothing special, fries were just normal ordinary tasting fries. They have Blue Moon on tap here so thats a plus. Aside from that my meal was just all right. I will probably be back to give their burgers a try, but not anytime soon.
-
Review from Toan T.
La Mesa, CA
1/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
Great lunch specials. The burger was good but not great. Just the normal burger, lettuce,tomatoes, onions. The fries were crisp but very little flavor. The service was just average, it took awhile for the server to come and get our order and it we had to find her to pay the bill because we were in a hurry. But overall not a 4 star place, but above a 3 star. Can I give it a 3&1/4? Because that would be just about where I would rate this place.
-
Review from Joshua M.
12/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Lots of TVs, has a sports bar type vibe to it. Burgers were OK, not great, and very well done. Probably not a place I'd go back for food, but maybe to hang out.
-
Review from Dana A.
San Diego, CA
10/30/2011
Great Burgers and Sunday NY steak and Chops. Good service, price and food.
Dana Ansell, CEO of Dakini Engineering General Contracting. (619) 697-9000 -
Review from Heather R.
San Diego, CA
11/26/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Simple menu of burgers & fries but man, do they do it well! I always get the Hickory Burger (bbq) & fries. Always delicious with always friendly service.
-
Review from Scott P.
La Mesa, CA
7/19/2011
Killer burgers. Me and the WMD like the blue cheese burger with bacon...they don't skimp on the blue cheese. I think they butter the buns before lightly grilling them? Not sure but they are super tasty. The fixings are plentiful and fresh. This is five-star burger IMO.
I'll give a bonus star for the ceramic pots filled with pickled hot yellow peppers and the squeeze bottles of chile sauce...my kind of place.
The beer list is pedestrian. Sixteen taps and only one local beer? That's a big-time fail in San Diego. Management should go across the street to Hoffa's to see what a proper SD beer list looks like.
We've been four times and service has been friendly if a bit slow. But the food is fab.
Recommended. -
Review from Mike H.
Spring Valley, CA
6/20/2011
I did enjoy the burgers there and the ladies wait staff are very friendly, however the OWNER is an ass! We, meaning a group of 15 called ahead as the OWNER requested us to on a Sunday afternoon, went there to enjoy the burgers and some had breakfast. He came over a complained that the time it took for us was taking away from his other (regular) people! SO OUR MONEY WAS NOT AS GOOD HAS THERE'S !! REALLY?
So we have never have been back...Any of us, Now granted that doesn't make a difference but I tell any one about that and try my damnest to convince them not to go back or there any way!! Sorry Jonny-B's if my money isn't good enough for you, I hope other get that message...Mongo -
Review from Laura M.
1/19/2011
Seriously delicious burger!!
It's sort of East County's version of Hodad's/Rocky's, and it's far enough away so as not to have to deal with any of the Hatfield v.s McCoy comparisons that either of the beachside burger joints must always deal with.
The vibe is definitely that of a dive bar, and when we went, it was fairly mellow inside. We sat up front, flanked on all sides by flat screen TVs, each showing a different sporting event, save for the one proudly blaring "American Idol" auditions. (PLEASE SOMEONE CANCEL THAT SHOW ALREADY. But I digress.)
Our server was FAST. She appeared as though out of thin air with waters and a smile, even leaving us our own pitcher of iced water, presumably in case she got caught at another table. (I've definitely done that as a server before--very smart.) She delivered our drinks immediately, and took our order while suggesting her favorites from the simple menu.
I ordered the bleu cheese burger, The Boy had a simple cheeseburger. I will say that our food took a surprisingly long time to come out, but our server never let our sodas dip below the halfway point, so we were happy to wait.
The burgers themselves were AWESOME. I'm a big fan of any restaurant that doesn't use gross, dry, Town Talk buns, and these were deliciously flavorful. Another plus in my book was that all the fixin's were served on the side. I have the taste buds of a five-year-old (read: no veggies for me!) so this was a great little touch for me. Only issue, and not even a huge one? My burger was a bit more done than I usually prefer...but the beef was of such obvious quality that it didn't adversely affect the flavor too terribly much. They were generous with the bleu cheese, as well!
The prices absolutely cannot be beat! My burger was $5! For three of us, no beers but three burgers, a side of fries, and three sodas, we spent $35 including tip!
They also give out a punch card for frequent visitors, one of those "buy this many and receive a free burger" things. Awesome. -
Review from Iceman C.
Alpine, CA
5/6/2011
Great lunch specials Mon-Fri. Cheese burger, fries, and a drink for $7.25! Best burger I've had in San Diego! People rave about the onion rings too, but I'm not impressed. Burgers are out of this world though!! Good selection of beer too.
The staff is so-so friendly. If you're a regular they'll give you special attention and if it's your first time, expect to be ignored. Also, don't go between 5PM-7:30PM... Horrific service... took an hour to get a burger and fries. Try to go during non-peak hours. -
Review from Dan F.
5/17/2011
Good Burgers, fries and rings. I have always gone on Fridays around 5 pm and never had any problems with service. A couple of cool things about this place they have a burger card so after you get 5 burgers you get one free. Also every year they have a customer appreciation day were they slow roast a bunch of pork and give out free sandwiches to the customers. On the same day they also discount their prices on there normal items . Check it out. Its a cool old school place to get a good burger and watch some sports.
Listed in: Bars and Breweries, Hamburglar
-
Review from Logan S.
Jamul, CA
4/28/2011
I've only been here several times and it was a lengthy time ago when I worked and hung out in La Mesa, but this location is yummy from what I keep in mind. I'm a burger lover, so from what I don't forget, I didn't have any complaints about the burgers here. Their fries are thick and tasty along with the atmosphere is good! La Mesa is often a actually quaint neighborhood and most of their restaurants and coffee shops are truly neat to hang out in!
-
Review from Sarah Jane T.
San Diego, CA
8/31/2011
Delicious food, cold beer - what could be better? I only marked down 1 star because we would have sat there and continued to drink, but the waitress gave us the check after we finished our food and didn't even ask if we'd like another beer. Wasn't a very welcoming feeling. Been here before and I know it can get pretty busy and they probably want to turn the tables quickly, but it wasn't even that busy when we were here. We'll be back, but not for the service.
-
Review from Dave B.
Updated - 6/17/2011
Took my Dad here for a pre-Father's day dinner. They still have great burgers and a pretty good beer selection. Since my last review they now take credit cards. A couple of other tips - make sure you get your frequent burger buyers card. Buy 5 and the 6th is free. And get the large fries for two people. It is plenty for two and cheaper than two small fries. Cheeseburgers are still $6 and the large fries is $3.25 vs. $2.25 for the small. A Boston Lager on tap is $4.75.
Listed in: Burger Joints
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
7/15/2008
Johnny B's has some of the best burgers in town. The day to go is Monday - Cheeseburger with Fries… Read more »
-
-
Review from Jay S.
Vista, CA
2/10/2011
Don't bother coming here during any peak times for bars. I really want to love this place, but they consistently treat me like a second class citizen when they're busy! 30-45 minutes between visits..? With an empty pint glass on the edge of the table? Are you kidding me?
I also recently had to correct the waitress when the bill came, there was a sign behind the bar that said a certain beer was on sale for $3, but she charged me $4.50. The sign was right above the cash register. Easy fix, but annoying to point out... and more annoying when she tried to correct me! After semi-arguing with her, she realized the sign was there and said, "Oh where did THAT come from?!"
That said, I've gone during off-peak hours and had great service and delicious food. The burgers are solid. I wouldn't say it's the best burger in town, but it's probably in my top 10. I'm a big fan of the patty melt personally.
They also have The Mtn which shows SDSU basketball games. Big props there. It's not a sports bar per se, but there are plenty of TVs to do the job.
3 stars for great food and The Mtn combined with hit-or-miss service (largely depending on the time you visit). -
Review from cc k.
La Mesa, CA
11/21/2011
A great local place for the over 40 crowd...love the brew and the burgers.
-
Review from John G.
La Mesa, CA
12/7/2010 3 Check-ins Here
Great, simple burgers. Cooked fresh, just good beef and toppings. Patty Melt is awesome. Hard to beat for the price, especially the lunch special: 1/3 lb. cheeseburger, fries, and a beer for $6.95.
Everything is cooked fresh at the grill right behind the bar.
Can be busy, but have never waited too long, and never without a cold beer.
Over 21 only. -
Review from Britt m.
San Diego, CA
7/2/2010
On the menus it says "45 - 60 min wait for food" which is fine since they warn you about a wait, but you would think the customer service would be better considering we are waiting an abnormally long time for our food. We have given this place 3 chances! 2 times too many!
I work two buildings down and still got back late from lunch. The waitress was extremely cold and rude and never once came to check on our drinks... we had to get up and walk to the bar to get a refill. We tried to be pleasant and continued to say thank you and smile at the waitress and still was very rude. NEVER AGAIN! IF YOU WANT GOOD SERVICE GO ANYWHERE ELSE! -
Review from Austin P.
La Mesa, CA
1/11/2011
Great burgers, ice cold beer and friendly wait staff.
Honestly their burgers are fantastic, their fries are good and the ONION RINGS.... One ring to rule them all....
Anyways. everyone is so nice, but damn man... can I get you to throw on my fuckin burger with a little more haste!?
I walked in one day on an off hours lunch, like 3:00? The guy got me a beer, I ordered and he walked around to find the cook. FIND THE COOK?! Shut the front door! Once he found them, they joked around in spanish about michael vick and dogs for a few minutes, then he threw my burger on and walked away for a few... (Couldn't the guy who took my order do the same and then go find the cook?)
Anyways besides it taking a portion of my life away waiting for a burger, it is great. Go there for an experience, just make sure you take your time!
Ohhh and don't bring anyone under 21. It is cool that there are no kids aloud and it creates a little bit more of an adult atmosphere but I couldn't take my 20 year old buddy in to have a burger... Trade offs. Great burger. End transmission. -
Review from Harlot B.
San Diego, CA
1/11/2011
My burger WAS really rare and really good.
But...the praise ends there. Although their house beer was legitimately good, everything else on tap was the usual. It's a generic sports bar with good burgers but nothing else to recommend it. -
Review from Mike H.
El Cajon, CA
10/16/2010
I can honestly say that the double cheeseburger I had at Johnnys today was one of the BEST burgers I've ever had.
I usually get a double and just take one of the patties out and eat it by itself to see how good it really is and I gotta say I was impressed.
I dunno why people are saying the service is lacking at this place ? We got great service.
My beer was still cold after it had been sitting there for 30 minutes :)
Service 4/5
Burger 5/5
Fries 4/5 -
Review from jeff l.
Updated - 5/8/2010
OK.
Went back there again today for the second time.
I give it 3 stars bordering on 4.
I ordered my burger rare.
The waitress let me do it.
Many places they will only allow you to order medium rare and sometimes only medium.
Rare it is.
The burger came back and it was actually rare.
It came with tomato, onions, pickles, lettuce.
Really decent burger and a good bun.
Great! That is why it could go to a 4 star joint.
But..... the fries are just so average even though they give you a boatload of them as a small portion.
Since I can be a picky SOB most people will give this place a 4 or 5 stars.
Not me though.
I want my burger joints to make fresh fries, double fried like Anthony Bourdain's old restaurant in NYC.
Otherwise they are only going to be average.
Why eat artery clogging food if it isn't primo stuff?
3 stars for you!!!
Next!!!!!!1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
3/17/2010
As they say.
It is what it is.
Which is a dive local bar and burger joint.
I went there last night at… Read more »
-
-
Review from Ben W.
Kearny Mesa, San Diego, CA
7/19/2011
BEST BURGER IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY! Amazing Onion Rings too! I love that its 21 and up. Has an awesome old school sports bar feel. if you're in SD and just want a good burger but not from a fast food chain, I'd 100% recommend this!
-
Review from Misty W.
La Mesa, CA
Pitcher of Stella, burger with extra, extra onions and fries/onion rings...classic!
-
Review from Cynthia C.
La Mesa, CA
This place is so delish!
Finally tried it out, I've been eying this place for years.
Ordered a burger with bacon, and got a large order of fries to share with the hubby. Coke for me, beer for him.
The place has a fun vibe to it. If you watch True Blood its like the Merlotte's of La Mesa, down to the server uniforms.
Got my burger and is was so good and juicy and I have to say just about perfect. Comes with grilled onions and all of your toppings on the side so you decide to add them or not. Like I said before the burger was super juicy and full of flavor. I'll go as far as saying it's the best burger I've had. Down to the warmed crispy rimmed bun!
The fries are good but could be better. In this circumstance the great burger makes up for the not perfect fries. All this paired with a cup of iced cola. My goodness it was heaven. Felt like I was somewhere else sitting at the bar section facing the outside street.
Will definitley come back and if you become a regular make sure to get Johnny B's punch card, the 6th burger is free! -
Review from Carrie P.
El Cajon, CA
3/31/2011
My husband and I first walked into this place about 10 years ago, pretended to get a phone call and immediately walked out. It was dark, quiet and kinda creepy looking. But after having been told by a few different people that their burgers were delicious we decided to follow our mothers' advice and "not judge a book by its cover", dropped the kids off at Grandma's and went there for lunch. We sat on the patio outside around the outdoor fire pit and I ordered the Hickory Bacon burger with a side of onion rings and a tea. Hubby ordered the Bleu Cheese burger, fries and a soda. Their drinks are huge - which is a major + for my husband.
The burger came and it was decent size. Nothing monstrous, but surely good size. And then we tasted it- Oh.My.Gosh. We are both born and raised in SD and we would agree that Johnny Bs serves the best burger in town. The sauce on the burgers is amazing. And the fries are thick and the onion-ring batter is wonderful.
Nice to have a place where we can't take the kids... and on the other hand we don't make it in as often as we'd like *because* we can't take the kids.
This is a small place and the servers are nice but not "In And Out" nice. Someone said it best- not a touristy spot, but a local fave. -
Review from Mr. Vinegar Y.
El Cajon, CA
5/19/2009
Burgers: check. Beer: check. Atmosphere: check. Class: check.
Did you just finish putting a lift on your truck and don't feel like getting dolled up to take your lady out? Was your day of delivering lumber a little too long and you need to unwind in-uniform? Like sitting amongst real people who talk a little louder, drink a little taller and enjoy a good crowd like you? This is that kind of restaurant.
Don't look to Johnny B's for fine dining, because that it ain't. There are about a dozen reasons to go there, most of which revolve around a need for big tasting food (burgers, fries, onion rings), a completely blue-collar kind of class, a reasonable selection of beer, local flavor and a comfortably low-impact dining experience.
The reviewers who panned Johnny B's for being low-tech and not having a credit card machine are missing the point - this place is a low-tech kind'a joint. That's something you should be impressed by, not ding them for - how hard is it to keep things simple nowadays?
As far as Henry's rumor goes, losing Johnny B's would be one more nail in the charm casket that's eating away at La Mesa's potentially interesting downtown heart. Fire that turd of a mayor first, and bring in more joints like Johnny B's (and bring back the burrito place that just folded). This is a cornerstone of La Mesa's potential funkiness that must be tried by everyone who claims to be real, honest or to enjoy a little something simple. -
Review from Jenna C.
4/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
I pride myself being a healthy eater and avid exerciser... but I DO love a good cheeseburger. I contemplated ordering the "burger salad," but a friend who frequents this place regularly recommended the patty melt. A hamburger, onion, and swiss on toasted rye bread. I tried to make myself feel better by getting it on wheat bread. But they probably slathered that wheat bread with butter... but it was worth it! And the fries were amazing. For six people, we shared two orders. The first order came out a little cold, but the second order was perfect! We sat outside, and with the perfect San Diego weather, I felt like I was on vacation.
-
Review from Rob H.
El Cajon, CA
9/29/2008
After reading the reviews on this place I decided to go check out the Raider/Chargers game (9/28/08) here. First thing I noticed when I got there is one, it's very small and two, it's not diverse at all! This is definitely a "local's spot, and it seems like that locals consist of Hicks and Lesbians (not cute ones either). Since I was starving I ordered a "hickory bbq burger" & fries. The burger was actually good, the fries are similar to what you find in the freezer section of your local grocery store.
After finishing my food, I pulled out my debit card to pay for the check. The waiter "sorry, only cash." Then pointed me to something they call an "ATM" machine, believe me you've never seen one that looks like this. The problem is it DOESN'T dispense cash, you swipe your card, put in your amount, then it gives you a receipt, and then you turn that in, and the waiter then gives you cash.. You're probably reading this like what!? Exactly, that's how I felt when the waiter was explaining this to me, bottom-line BRING CASH if you plan on eating/drinking here.
I give this place 2 stars, one because the burger was good, and two because the place was clean, and had TV's everywhere to view the game. -
Review from Robert C.
5/24/2010
Johnny B's is rad. I don't really know how else to say it. They have a good selection of beer, some tasty burgers and fries all at a decent price. They usually have some kind of special, so you'll always find something good if you're not looking to spend too much. I have been to this place countless times, always enjoyed the food and lots of beer options is always nice. Had the pleasure of making it to their customer appreciation day and let me tell you, I felt appreciated. Prices were back down to 1999 levels, and while I will not fall into the trappings of a Prince reference, I will tell you I enjoyed myself a little more than usual.
It is 21 and up all the time, despite serving food, so that is a little disappointing for those with little ones. They finally started to take cards, which is great because it was cash only for the longest time. I have been coming to Johnny B's for years and have always enjoyed everything about it, as far as Downtown La Mesa goes this place is my favorite. -
Review from Melissa R.
La Mesa, CA
7/8/2008
I have to say I have been meaning to write this review for quite some time. We (group) have been coming here on a regular basis for a minimum of three years. We are usually there once a week but have been known to go overboard with up to three times in one week. I guess if it were terrible we would have found somewhere else to go.
This is a bar that serves food, not to be confused by a restaurant that serves beer. If you are planning on going for a nice upscale dinner then this is not the place for you.
Great burgers, grilled cheese and BLT's, the Sunday brunch is not too shabby either. Who can complain when a mimosa is served in a pint glass????
I am marking one star off for the inconsistency of the service. They have had some recent turnovers so some of the "usual" servers have left.
Not enough to keep me away and cash only people, just deal and plan ahead or visit an ATM before coming. -
Review from Sean O.
La Mesa, CA
3/25/2009
I honestly do not know how this place stays in business. I am a local too and this is the last place I would go to. I have really been giving this place a shot over the past 6 months, but I can't waste my cash here anymore.
1. Slow Service (It is time to reitre the bitter old wait staff)
2. Pre-formed frozen patties (Burgers should not be in their name if they serve Hockey Pucks!)
3. Cash Only?! (It is the year 2009. Build the credit card cost into your pricing and make it convenient to spend money there! Unless your hiding something from the IRS.........)
Good beer selection though. Their House beer is awesome. I'll Miss it. -
Review from Alton L.
La Mesa, CA
6/14/2007
I live a block away from this burger and brew heaven. The hamburgers are hard to beat and they have a decent selection of beers! Some of my friends consider their burgers the best in town yet I have my reservations. They have the Pads in HD which is a bonus as well!
My only con is their debit/credit card process. They don't accept them! If you want to pull cash from their ATM, you run your card and take the receipt to the waitress and they pull cash from their register. Odd way of running things. To keep things simple, just remember to bring some cash! -
Review from Randy B.
El Cajon, CA
4/28/2010
To me, if you want to determine places that have good burgers, you have to judge them based on a simple basic burger/cheese burger. None of this fancy all dressed up, enhanced 'specialty' burgers, but start with a simple hamburger on a bun with cheese.
I don't know if Johnny B's burger patties are generic frozen, fresh, special blend or what ... but what I do know is that when I want a good burger & don't want to travel to the beach area, here is where I come. Some of the things that makes Johnny B's better than other places I've tried is that they have a nicely toasted bun, & their lettuce, tomato & onions always seem to be fresh cut. Sounds simple enough, but to me when you can do simple & make a good product why would you try to complicate it with more 'stuff''. Look at "In-N-Out Burger", they've built an empire based on 'simple & basic'.
Sure the service isn't always fast, at times there doesn't seem to be enough waitresses, but when you consider the fact that they are going to be limited to their small grill & cook station, just relax & enjoy the company of those you came with.
Their lunch special is a great deal & I like the crisp shoestring fries. There is a reason this place is always high on San Diego's "Best Burger" list.
