On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Mon-Thu. 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Loading...
Probably what a Big Kahuna burger tastes like.
All I can say is get blue cheese on the burger and some sweet potato fries on the side. It's better than the crack they sell outside.
Also, it's all good to BYOB when I went a month ago.
THANK YOU PEARL's for letting us overtake your restaurant! (and sorry about the mess we left...)
Saturday night, about 20 of us crowded into Pearl - get this - with a styrofoam case of cold beers to celebrate the birth of a lovely friend named Amy. And hey, the birthday girl wanted to have cheeseburgers for her special day, and she was definitely going to have it her way!
These guys were SO fantastically, incredibly accomodating to our loud, obnoxious party, and even handed Amy a $20 gift certificate when I thought they for sure would have booted us as soon as we started poppin' those beers open... (seeing as how they don't have a liquor license, and we basically broke the law that night.)
The burgers were scrumptous - I ordered a 1/4 lb cheeseburger (no onions, thanks). Loaded on the ketchup and mustard and had my way with it. Split the sweet potato fries (which are crinkle cut!) and tried some french fries as well. Fries were yummy, crisp on the outside, soft on the inside. Pretty solid. Though, I will note that they overcooked the meat a tad - I asked for "medium" and it pretty much came well-done. Nonetheless, it was a juicy, flavorful, satisfying cheeseburger, which I scarfed down.
I overlooked the Kobe beef option, which apparently you can request for about $4 more. Perhaps next time. The rest of the party seemed to really enjoy their burgers, so - thumbs up all around.
Of course - what's a party without some cake?! And a "princess cake" at that. Yes - we brought our own cake. plates. knives. candles that sparkled and relit themselves when blown out. Of course, we shared a slice with the man who worked there as a thank you gesture (and apology).
Man, I'm giving this place 4 stars for the food ...and 5 stars for not kicking us out that night...
Pearl's has got some seriously awesome burgers. The way the cheese melts to the bun is absolutely perfect and the bun itself is exactly what I look for in a burger. In the two times that I've been here, I've ordered the Bula Burger and the Pesto Burger. Although an insane mess, the Bula Burger is definitely one of the best burgers I've had in SF -- one of these days I'm going to get that with the Kobe beef because I'm sure the meat would be a lot more juicy & tender. The Pesto Burger, on the other hand, was pretty bland -- I really wish there was more pesto in there and maybe some roasted garlic would've made it great.
Love the sweet potato fries. Krinkle cut, soft sweet potato fries. Awesome.
I give this place 4 stars because the burgers are definitely some of the best in SF, but only if you order the right ones. Is it better than In-N-Out (the standard upon which I measure all burgers)? Hmm... I think that's up for debate. I'll go with In-N-Out by a slight margin, due solely to the price.
Order: The Winning Burger (Bula Burger w/ onion rings and kobe beef) with Frings and a Cola
Cost: $19.20
Burger Layout: Sesame seed bun, Swiss cheese, Spicy teriyaki sauce, Swiss cheese covered onion rings, 1/2 lb Kobe beef patty (medium), Mayo, Spicy teriyaki sauce, bun
Fries: Half onion rings - Half fries
Walked right past the place when it was the destination and didn't even notice. Walked back and went in the place. Maybe 6 tables and a bar with 3 seats that faces the streets. Stared at the menu for a long time before deciding on what to get and finally decided to go with the "Winning Burger" that had apparently won at an event with celebrity judges including Bobby Flay.
The burger was a mess. I stared at it for a good minute before squeezing and attacking. The drip was immediate - mayo / teriyaki sauce coated the bottom of the basket. Amazing flavor though, so much coming from the sauce, but you still got crunch from the onion rings, the smooth cheese flavor, and the oh so tender kobe beef. The bacon provided a nice salty crunchy kick as well. The burger really was truly phenomenal, even if it was a sloppy beast.
The frings were only half necessary. I ate some onion rings and had no room for the fries... which were terribly inferior to their oniony counterparts anyways. I had also tried some sweet potato fries which were amazing. If I went again then I would go for the springs (Sweet potato fries and onion rings)
The main thing to watch out for here is the price. The meal I have described above was just under $20. I would say it's worth it to try once, but it's enough to detract from the perfect rating.
4/5
Best Burgers close to Union Square.
I've tried the special burgers but I keep coming back to the plain cheeseburger because you can hold it in your hand and taste the meat. And maybe have room for a few of the garlic or sweet potato fries. Come another day and try one of their milkshakes.
Pesto chicken is good too, as is the chicken club. But I always prefer the beef.
I just can't get enough of this place!
We buy 2 burgers for 3 people and one order of fries. And we are not small people.
Yes, it is the best burger in SF! Trust me on that, if you don't, then how about YOU try all of SF's best burger joints rated on the top of all the lists. Cuz that's what I did!
You gotta try Bula Burger with Kobe beef. This is the burger that the people at the 2009 Great American Food Festival voted as the best burger in SF including Bobby Flay. Of course, I didn't trust them either, which is why I had to prove them wrong--it's rare when I'm wrong, but they were right.
I have yet to have a burger here that can fail me. the sweet potato fries are worth splitting unless you're super duper hungry.
but make no mistake, get a shake! those are some damn good shakes.
So my friend and I came in here with the intention of splitting a basket of springs, bula burger, mint oreo shake. But uh....that totally did not happen. We ended up getting an extra basket of onion rings and garlic fries and I personally got my own pumpkin shake after downing half a mint oreo chip one.
So to rate the food I would have to say
The bula burger was very delicious! I didn't like the taste of the teriyaki sauce because it was a bit BBQy but that is just personal preference. I ordered my burger medium rare which is really more of a medium and the patty was tender and juicy but not greasy. The bacon was also nicely crispy.
The onion rings here are AMAZING. They are fresh cut and breaded and are soo addicting.
I didn't really like the fries here at all. They are gritty and bland. Just not good.
The sweet potato fries were alright but nothing to write home about.
The mint orea shake was one of the best shakes I ever had in my life.
The pumpkin shake was ok.
Also they are coming out with a new flavor shake LYCHEE!! and they gave my friend and I a sample of that. It was good!! but my favorite was still the oreo shake so far.
So to sum it up I ended up with half a burger, 2 full shakes, my own basket of onion rings and fries.
If i were you I would just get my own burger, basket of onion rings, and milk shake. You'll have no problem finishing it due to their deliciousnes. Trust me on that!
Great burger.
Do you need to know anything else? I mean, you want a great burger, you go to Pearl's.
You don't eat red meat? Turkey burger.
You don't eat meat at all? Veggie burger.
Watching your fat? Buffalo burger.
Feeing fancy? Kobe burger.
That is all.
Was lead to pearls burger via yelp and was not let down ! I ordered " the winning " Bula burger which came with Swiss cheese, bacon, mayo (can do w/o) and huge piece of burger smothered in the award winning spicy teriyaki sauce (also added mushrooms) and this definitely hit the spot ! No wonder why Bobby Flay and Anne Burrell voted this burger a winner..
Bf ordered the "Phat Bob" included bacon, onion rings, Swiss, and smothered in BBQ sauce. We also got sides of garlic fries and onion rings which were pretty good as well ! Left super full, satisfied and with leftovers for later so we decided this isn't the last time we'll be here ! Took away one star because the place is so tiny and burgers this good need a bigger spot so more people can see what the hype is all about !
I love to sink my teeth into a hot, juicy piece of meat. It fills my heart with warm fuzzies and makes me smile.
The menu is simple yet carries plenty of selections for any craving you may be having. They serve Niman Ranch Beef for their main burgers but offer Kobe Beef for added fee.
Side note: Remember when Niman was all the rage for beef?!!? Now it's Kobe? What will folks use next? A5 Wagyu? Damn...hope not. That is some expensive carnage....
The burgers were amazingly tender. Dripping with juice NOT fat and loaded with fresh veggies. The onion rings were seasoned with just the right amount of spice and had a yummy crunchiness.
I dig it.
Really, really, really good burgers. If I'm in the mood for meat, this place makes me smile. Still not better than Shake Shack in NY but it sure is better than In n Out.
Garlic fries and shakes are pretty lip smackin' as well.
Holy mother of burger goodness!
Pearl's makes one mean Kobe burger.
In fact the Kobe burger I ordered from Pearl's (which was called the Bula Burger) was voted the winner of the best burger in SF in 2008 http://www.sfweekly.co....
One of the judges in the contest was Iron Chef Bobby Flay, so I knew their burgers would be great.
The Kobe Bula Burger was amazing. The Kobe beef patty they used was big and juicy and was cooked to perfection (medium rare). Besides the Kobe beef patty this baby was also topped with crispy bacon, Swiss cheese, onion rings, mayo, and their delicious spicy teriyaki sauce. This burger was so juicy (not greasy) that when I picked it up and took the first bite all the juice from the Kobe patty dripped out of the patty, and down my hands and wrist. It was so tasty.
To go along with my Bula I also got a side of their crinkle cut sweet potato fries. These fries were great. For a dipping sauce I got a side of their homemade pesto. Their pesto is pretty good but not the best I have ever had.
To top off the meal I decided to get one of their homemade malts. OMG I truly think they have the best malts in all of SF.
What makes them so good is that they use fresh ingredients when preparing them. I ordered a peanut butter and banana malt and when they started to make it I knew it was going to be great. They started off by pouring soft serve vanilla ice cream into a big cup, then they pulled out a fresh banana, cut it up, and threw it in with the ice cream. Then they took out a jar of PB and put 3 huge scoops into the cup. To finish it off they added some malt mix and blended all the ingredients u together. Words can't explain how good this malt was, I loved it so much. Every sip I took contained pieces of fresh bananas and PB. In fact I loved their malts so much that I went back the next night and ordered a blueberry malt made with fresh blueberries.
Pearl's is a tad pricey. My burger, fries, and malt came to 25 dollars which is kind of expensive for a small, hole in the wall burger joint. I guess that since they use Kobe beef and nothing but the freshest ingredients that I really can't complain. This is one of those places that you truly get what you pay for.
To quote the lady next door to my hotel room, "Yes!! Yes!! Yes!! Oooohhh!!!" That kind of orgasmic wonderlust is usually only reserved for hotel rendez-vous's and whatever else my naughty neighbors are experiencing. Because I eat cupcakes instead of work out, my "Yes!! etc." moments are found at places like Pearl's.
Yes!!
Spicy Sly Chicken sandwich with grilled peppers, onions, cheese and spicy sauce.
Yes!!
Hand-cut garlic fries filled to the brim and served in a large, red, plastic platter.
Yes!!
Super thick, homemade (extra) peanut butter and chocolate milkshake served with an extra wide straw, so as to not suffer any of that sucksuckwheeze business.
Oooohhh!!!
All for, about, $16 despite with the high SF tax and food mark up. It's super filling, (relatively) cheap and unquestionably San Francisco-y.
Seriously, there are some thin-@ss walls here...
I find this to the second best burger in San Francisco only because they do not serve beer. But if you don't like beer with your burger then this is the place for you. The wait staff is always extremely friendly and greet you quickly with a smile on your face. I really want this to be my favorite burger joint but there are to many things going against it. It's a long walk for me to get to it and there is nothing else around it. As mentioned no liquor license. The soda machine is in disrepair and consequently the soda is way too sweet. And the restaurant is really small with maybe only five or six small tables. But the burgers are great.
Now for the review: I ordered the Prized Pearl a half order of onion rings and a soda. The onion rings were perfect and just greasy enough. And even the half order was too much for me to eat. The Prized Pearl was cooked medium with lots of juicy bacon, tons of tasty grilled onions and a generous amount of blue cheese goodness. This burger is excellent! Total $13.33
This place is great. The burgers are tasty and the buns are soft and fresh. I try to go here as much… Read more »
In San Francisco for a business trip and discovered Pearl's Deluxe Burgers on Yelp. Ordered the deluxe burger with cheese, sweet potato fries and peanut butter shake. Burger was pretty good and I really liked the crunchiness of the lightly toasted buns. I've had better sweet potato fries and didn't like that they were crinkled. I had a debate with my friend and declared out loud that "the crinkled fries taste artificial!!!" Well they do! Make sure you order the 1/2 & 1/2 fry combos. Garlic, sweet potato, onion rings, etc.
The saving grace for me was the peanut butter shake. Oh lord I think I have seen the light and will forever worship the peanut butter shake gods at Pearl's!!!
I like my meat fresh, medium-rare, made out of Buffalo, and served on good bread and under 10 bucks.
I don't care if a cow is Niman Ranch or if the cow was fed it's own calf to fatten it up. I don't care if the buffalo I eat contains the soul of a young Navajo child with a tear in her eye.
I like good food and I don't give a shit if it took a rain forest in it's production.
Pearls does serve Niman Ranch beef and I wrote the above to make a point that good taste and good food exists outside morals or ethics.
This burger place along with MSF: Mission Burger are the best burgers in the city.
When placed next to Burger Meister, Acme Burgerhaus, Burger Joint, Sliders, etc there really isn't a contest.
Damn, this place serves a good burger. We needed food before a night of celebrating and this place fit the bill -- yummy looking menu, good reviews, and fairly priced.
I got the Prized Pearl, small fries, and a drink. The burger was perfectly cooked and the patty wasn't skimpy-sized at all. The blue cheese tasted fresh and the grilled onions were perfectly cooked. Fries were a plentiful portion but were no better or no worse than anyplace else I've been to. The service was pretty quick considering the burgers are freshly made. My total was $12 and in the realm of tasty SF eating, that's pretty frickin cheap.
People aren't joking when they say this place is small -- there was maybe room for 20 people max to sit down. The 8 of us wisely chose to take our food back to the hotel.
I'm trying to think if I've ever had a better burger but nothing is coming to mind. I think Pearl will have to be a tie with St. Johns in Sunnyvale for the best burgers I've had. My entire group agreed that their burgers were awesomely tasty so I'm gonna have to chalk this one up as a win in my book.
Say oohlala to the bola!
You can always get a mushroom, pesto, and avocado chicken at any other burger joint so why would you want to get it here? GET THE BOLA. I especially loved the bacon--definitely not from an average porker. And that sauce was incredible. I was expecting some teriyaki, hawaiian taste but now I'm a little embarrassed I would make such a ridiculous assumption. The cashier never asked how I wanted my meat done so trust them that they'll make your burger how it should be eaten. No need to get onion rings or fries; the burger does you enough justice. I got the mini, and I was very content though not super full. Any burger joint where I can walk out happily without feeling like my skinny jeans are going to pop is a winner.
Moist, juicy, heart-clogging goodness.
The only drawback is how oily it is and how drenched the buns become in this monsterous oozy goodness that they call "Spicy Sly" with mounds of spicy red and green peppers, onions, and a pumpkin habanero mayo spread on the buns. If you don't think about the 700 calories, easy, you won't have a problem devouring this burger. Let me tell you, it's pretty damn good. So good that for those moments I was savoring each bite, I forgot about the downpour outside (remember Tuesday October 13th where it was POURING so hard it was scary driving anywhere). Yes, that good.
Price wise, a little bit on the pricey side at about 8 bucks a burger. We also had the spries, half fries and half sweet potato fries. I would pass on the sweet potato next time and try their onion rings instead.
The next time I'm craving a burger in the area and I don't want to cook, Pearl's is the way to go!
We had a Mushroom burger (kobe) and Bula burger (kobe) with two milk shakes.
We ordered both burgers be medium rare and they came out medium and warm (not hot). The taste was good though they were both very messy. But that's part of eating a burger, though they seem drippier than most.
The Bula burger included bacon which were a bit chewy. You can tell it was pre-made many hours ago. The Kobe meat was tasty but I wished was hot and not warm.
Milk shakes were good and thick.
Seating was okay. They had their windows and door open so it was a bit cold during our SF evening dinner.
Wow, that was one awesome Kobe Burger! It was so fresh and yummy!!! Best I think I ever had it. I definitely will come back here and have another one and try other stuff here!
That burger was so memorable! Enough said!!!!
After turning vegan back in June I tried going back to this favorite spot of mine to ask if the veggie burgers were vegan or had any kind of dairy in it. No one at the place seemed to be able to answer my question and kind of seemed like they didn't know what I was talking about. So after that I just chalked this place up as another spot I couldn't eat at. Oh well.
Even for a Vegetarian you can leave this place plenty satisfied, stuffed and still not feeling all… Read more »
Great selection. Organic Beef and Organic Chicken. Niman Ranch and a Kobe Beef.
Service with a smile and fast.
Yummy, yummy bugers. The sweet potato fries tasted like they were just cut before fying - they were very fresh.
Folks were coming in a jeans and T's as well as shiny out fits.
A great SF place to go for a real burger craze.
I believe the meat eaters would be happy about the variety of burgers offered on Pearl's menu (e.g. regular, phat, buffalo, & kobe beef).
I've only tried the regular burgers the few times I've visited. The patty is cooked the way I ordered each time; the shakes are good. I thought the Pesto Burger could use a little more taste, though. And while I'm happy that it's one of the few places that serve sweet potato fries, I must say it could use some improvements. The color & the way the sweet potato fries are cut make them look like wiggly worms...not very appetiting really. But, kids may find them fun to eat, especially around the Halloween time. The fries are sometimes undercook, so that's disappointing too.
The staff are friendly, and it would be great if they can speed up a little bit. At my most recent visit, I ordered one burger & fries, and it took 40 minutes for them to be ready. There were about 12 customers there at the time, so I thought that was rather slow.
Believe the hype. The burgers are that good.
Really great burger... I'm not a burger person. But tried spicy sly chicken one and added some mushroom with it. Umm... Yum! Super satisfied. My friend got a Turkey one, smells good too... They have a new one called Kobe... beef inside... sounds good. I think next time, I'll try that. Then, maybe the Buffalo or Turkey one... Oh, man, I hope I'd better watch out my body fat after these delicious burgers... BTW, they have very nice serves as well. Very patient about I doubt like 3 times what I really want. (Come on, normally I'm not like this, but I'm NOT a burger person!) Anyway, great tiny place with the surprising good burger.
If you love delicious things. Get the Bula Burger. You will NOT be disappointed.
This place is awesome.
Spot on burgers.
Baskets of sweet potato fries mixed with regular fries.
And the trick is to BYOB (on the low down) because everyone needs a beer to wash it down with.
Also, the word on the street is they might open another location on Divis!
Do want.
Went here last night after a night of bar hopping. NOT IMPRESSED. First off, my friend Jen pulled a chair to sit down on after walking for a long time, and all of a sudden the burger flipper who looks like a Pokemon character yells at her to get off the chair, and puts it back. The guy was a douche bag. That is really good customer service there jerkoff. So to the food. I hate to admit but it was terrible. I got a Buffalo Bacon Cheeseburger and asked for it medium well. When I opened the to go box, it was pretty much pink all the way around. It was one of those burgers where the bun is soaked in juice. I do not like my burgers cooked that way. If I did I would have ordered rare. Overall I did not enjoy the time spent ordering or the food itself. I also got garlic fries and they are pretty much regular fries with barely any garlic on them. I will not be going back to this establishment ever. If you want a really good Buffalo Burger, try Bullshead in West Portal.
Tried this place after reading the reviews on Yelp. Glad I took the advice!
The Bula burger with Kobe beef was delicious and the tangy Hawaiian sauce, Swiss cheese and bacon blended perfectly.
I got the sweet potato fries and they were just salty enough and cooked just right.
My wife is kinda picky about how her burgers are cooked (she doesn't like undercooked meat) so we asked for medium well - sure enough the Deluxe burger w/ cheese came out with no pink in the middle, just like she likes it.
She got the chili cheese fries and was a little disappointed there were beans in the chili but she liked them enough to bring the leftovers with her.
Drawbacks: There's not a lot of seating inside.
Great Burgers and selection. The prices are reasonable for the area and they have great Onion Rings and shakes!!!
Pearl's Deluxe Burgers was a let down. I was in from out of town and excited at the great reviews. I ordered the Pearl which includes crummy bacon, tasteless caramelized onion, and decent blue cheese. I upgraded to the buffalo patty which was unseasoned, but otherwise cooked reasonably well. The sum result was a "grease bomb of blandness," but at least there wasn't the card-board like taste that chain fast food tends to exude.
San Francisco if this the best you've got then Seattle has you beat. Seattle's Redmill Burgers, Blue Moon Burgers, & the signature burger at Palace Kitchen all win with one bun tied behind their respective backs.
Finally, $16 bucks for a weak burger and reasonable milkshake was too much for something that is decidedly not gourmet. I'm happy to buy and eat a $12-16 dollar hamburger if it is mind blowing.
Best burger I have had in SF (maybe anywhere?)
Located close to the heart of the tenderloin, this little gem serves up a burger that rival those coming out of some 5 star restaurants I have been to. With options such as buffalo meat and kobe beef, you can immediately tell this isn't just a divey diner.
It can be a little challenging to find parking, and space in the joint is limited, but its worth it.
Recommendations:
ITS ALL GOOD
- My gf had the burger that Bobby Flay thought was the best in SF (The Bula Burger with Kobe). I had a taste - it was pretty damn good.
- I had the Phat Bobb burger with Kobe, and loved all of it. Personally, I liked it better than Bobby Flay's favorite burger.
- My buddy had a chicken sandwich and swears we have to go back just to have that again.
- We shared an order of sweet potato fries and onion rings. I am split over which i liked better, so you really can't go wrong here.
- Finally, to just make sure I end up a diabetic, I ordered an Oreo shake on my way out. It was done before I reached my car!
If you like hamburgers (or chicken or turkey) and you haven't eaten here, you might have something wrong with you. seriously. Eat At Pearl's.
and have one of their milkshakes, there is just something about drinking a milkshake out of a boba straw that makes it all worth it.
I used to find that the amount of flavor packed into a burger is directly correlated with the sloppiness of the burger in question.
This place debunks that old truism. I was pointed toward a burger listed as celebrity chef Michael Mina's favorite, and, though its BBQ-ish, onion-ringy, top-notch beefiness made for one of the best sandwiches I've had in my life, the thing remained structurally sound throughout the eating experience. Neat trick, I say.
Also highly recommended: the chocolate shake, the sweet potato fries, and the veggie burgers. Top notch patty, says the vegetarian better half.
The best teriyaki mushroom burger I have ever had in the city!
This is as good as it gets for burger joints. Pearl's is in the highest leauge for burger quality. The burgers must weigh at least half a pound each. They are PACKED with whatever you like.
They have loads of options and combinations for you to pick from. Unless you have a huge mouth, you are going to have to cut up the burger or esle to just falls apart ont he way up to your mouth....which is a good thing. When you ask for avacado (for $1 extra) they really pile it on. It's awesome. Same with other things you want extra on it for $1.
There isn't much room inside to sit, so it's great that they have take out. They give you a lot of fries too. The fries my friends and I got were a little too soggy for my taste, but they were still good. They have onion rings, french fries, and some other fries options as well. They've got soda and other drinks like Snapple, Rockstar, etc.
It's a bit spendy, but the dangerous thing is, the burgers are worth every penny. In fact for how much quality the burgers are, they could get away with having them cost a bit more. Expect to spend $9-$13 on a combo. It's worth it. Go here, now!
Pearl's is how a burger, or many burgers (my level of consumption is quite up there), should be.
Man. Pearl's is what it's like to be very satisfied with what you've just wildly devoured, and wanting more despite the extreme protrusion coming out from your midsection. Pearl's also causes that inevitable phlegm-cough-laughter that occurs after consuming a burger, some sweet potata fries, and an oreo malt.
Also, their chili dog and chili fries are some more of my arterial vices.
Thumbs up!
Wow. Wow. Wow.
One day I decided I wanted a hamburger. So I Yelp'd it. And I came up with Pearls.
I got the hamburger with pesto sauce and jack cheese and the sweet potato fries. I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a meal so much. Worth every flippin penny.
Neighborhood: Lower Haight
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: Nob Hill
Category: Burgers
Neighborhood: Mission
Category: Burgers
San Francisco, CA
Category: Steakhouses
Neighborhood: North Beach/Telegraph Hill
Category: Burgers
It's the people that you meet, when you're walking…
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
When I'm not in the mood to wander through the…
Bay area restos are generally great for dining…
An essential guide to life as a…
Gary Danko and Michael Mina are probably great…
It's all about precision teamwork, even when you…
