Hayes Burger — Restaurant in San Diego

MEAT BUNS AND THEN SOME

food, delicious price, fair portion, fair service good

Expect a wait, expect to not have a seat in their limited seating area... but all is worth it! Cheeseburger + Fries all under $10.

Reminded me a of a smash up between In-and-out and The Friendly burger; a step above In-and-Out overall taste with a semi-replica flat top burger thin patty of meat+cheese similar concept from the Friendly... but less greasy and a plump'ier bun!

CHEESEBURGER - my first bite reminded me very much of in-and-out but obviously better. I then noticed the meat was thin and cheesy, just like a flat top burger. Nothing crazy special about it, it was just a classic tasting patty with cheese. The bun isn't dense nor dry, it has fluffy with a perfect lightly toast and can easily be squashed down for the burger to fit your bite. I liked how I was able to eat my burger all together and it wasn't messy or dripping with juices - a very easy burger to eat. The size of the burger may be on the smaller side for some but perfect for me. For those with larger appetites - a double stack or maybe two burgers might be more enjoyable.

FRIES - I like the fries. They were shoe string friends and when I mean shoe string fries, I mean the skinny stringy fries... I am a lover of shoe string fries so when it's served I'm much appreciative. Evenly fried and a very nice crisp all around. It's served with their spicy ketchup which isn't too spicy but you can taste a tiny bit of the heat.

Until the...

If you’re looking for a fantastic burger spot in San Diego, I highly recommend Hayes Burgers. They specialize in smash burgers, and they do them right—crispy edges, juicy centers, and packed with flavor. Some of their creations give off an In-N-Out animal-style vibe, especially the Jimi Fries, which come loaded with grilled onions, cheese, and Thousand Island dressing.

The spot has a cool, hipster feel with a young, laid-back crowd. Seating is pretty limited—just a few spots inside and a small patio that’s basically on the sidewalk—so it feels more like a place to grab your burger to go since all the seats might be taken. It’s counter service only, so there are no waiters—just order at the counter and wait for your food. Prices are reasonable, and it’s just a short distance from the vibrant murals near Chicano Park, making it a great stop if you’re in the area. Just keep in mind that parking is street parking only, so depending on the time of day, you might have to walk a bit.

If you love a great burger, put this place on your list. You won’t be...

Overpriced and absurdly slow to get your food. It took over 30 minutes once I had placed my order but there were only 7 orders in front of me. They were bringing out an order every 4 minutes and the orders were usually 1-2 burgers. I don't understand how they could be that slow, especially when the burger patties are so thin and their menu is so simple. It can't take more than a few minutes to cook through these patties. They must have been cooking one order at a time.

It's almost $7 for a hamburger. It was $11 for a double and fries. The patties are the same thinness as In N Out, but the meal was almost double the cost and took 3x longer to get. They are obviously going for copying the In N Out style as well. The burgers and fries are very similar, with the only difference being that the patties are smashed. I am honestly shocked that they are so highly reviewed. Apparently access to good, cheap burgers is extremely limited and people must hate the wait for in n out, but this place is slower so I just...