The Balboa South — Restaurant in Chula Vista

Balboa South has a spacious, dimly lit atmosphere with plenty of seating—whether you prefer tables, high-tops, or bar stools. The place is definitely designed for socializing, with TVs playing sports games and a lively but not overwhelming vibe. The staff was friendly upon arrival at the bar, and I immediately appreciated the variety of local beers they offer. While they do serve cocktails, they don’t have a hard liquor license, so all spirits are agave-based with an ABV of around 20%.

Food-wise, Balboa South specializes in burgers, and their reputation for them is well-earned. I ordered the Original Burger with garlic fries. The bun was soft and tender, but the burger itself leaned a little too salty for my taste. The prices also felt higher than other spots offering a similar experience. However, their zesty aioli was phenomenal—I just wish they gave you more. The small ramekins they use don’t hold much, which was a bit disappointing.

Service was a mix of great and not-so-great. The owner, Mariana, and the general manager, Angel, were incredibly welcoming and went out of their way to check in. They even told me about an upcoming dog menu featuring puppy patties and possibly dog ice cream—exciting news for this pet-friendly neighborhood, especially with a dog park just a block away. However, my experience with the bartender was less than ideal. He was friendly at first, but when I asked for a simple substitution, his attitude noticeably shifted. After that, he never checked back in or even refilled my water, yet he made sure to stop by at the end to push a cheesecake on me for some sort of competition.

Overall, I’d return for the warm hospitality from Mariana and Angel, but my hesitation lies with the bar service. I’m always looking for a go-to neighborhood spot for a beer and a bite, and while Balboa South has potential, I’d hope for a more consistent...

Ughhhh, I didn’t want to give such a low star rating, but eek! I’ve had Balboa South as takeout, and it was actually really good so that is what brought me back- although it’s been a couple of years.

Let me just start off by saying that the customer service was immaculate and exceeded expectations. There were a few different servers who checked on us and they were very attentive. I believe one of them may have been a manager, and he was very kind and accommodating. I really appreciate excellent customer service these days, so they definitely didn’t lack in that category.

We came on a Friday evening and sat outside in the back patio. The nice, cool air & breeze was great. The indoor portion of the restaurant did not have air condition, I’m not sure if it was broken or they just don’t have it running. But it was very uncomfortable and stuffy.

Now for the cocktails and food. My tamarindo margarita was absolutely awful. It didn’t have any taste to it! It was pretty much watered down. The food was meh. The garlic fries were the best thing we had. The classic Balboa burger just didn’t hit. The patty was overcooked and dry, the whole burger fell apart. There was nothing really keeping the lettuce, tomato, and onion together- not even the cheese. If there was supposed to be sauce, it didn’t exist. You can see in my pictures that the buns are totally dry. The BLT didn’t have any mayo either. It was so dry I think part of it stayed lodged in my esophagus. I had to gulp down my watered margarita, and I didn’t even get buzzed from it! It wasn’t terrible but it’s definitely not the same taste I remember a couple of years ago. Chula Vista doesn’t have very many burger joints so it’s a bummer it was a letdown. Just try to kick it up a couple notches. You have a great thing going, but you need to install air condition and jazz...

Short answer first: if you haven't been to The Balboa yet, you're doing yourself a great disservice. In addtion to a respectable tap list (unavailable at the time of writing), the burgers and fries are the stuff of dreams. These are substantial, flavorful and well appointed burgers that are flawlessly executed. Pick your burger of choice and pair with a side of garlic fries to round out the experience... if you dare. These are not the only garlic fries around, but there is no shortage of garlic and I would be hard pressed to find a better cooked batch from another establishment. Social distancing will be made that much easier after an order of these fantastic fries and the amazing dipping sauce that accompanies them. What is it? If I only knew. All that really needs to be known is I could drink this stuff... I implore you, resist the temptation to do so.

Shifting to the staff, I've been here a few times prior to Covid and only once during (trying to stay inside as much as possible). Each time the employees I've interacted with have been friendly and welcoming. When the business was operating normally, weekends would be wall-to-wall packed, and weeknights would be nothing to scoff at. Honestly I can't wait to have a seat at the bar or rack the billiards table again.

The experience is a great example of hospitality, and the reason small businesses such as these are crucial. I'm currently riding high on post-burger bliss as I write this review but this is one of a handful of local gems that I would be devastated to lose, especially knowing that given normal operating circumstances The Balboa would be nigh unstoppable. Do yourself a favor, support your locals and have an amazing meal at...