Hi-Way Burger & Fry — Restaurant in San Francisco

What is real anymore? I thought that Flippin Burger did the best chicken burger by value, but then I had Hi-Way Burger's fried chicken sandwich. It was a good deal more expensive, $14 for the fried chicken club, but it had 2 strips of good bacon, sauce, fixings, and my chicken sandwich brain is broken. Is Hi-Way better? I think it is.

Because I'm a glutton, I also ordered a spicy fried chicken sandwich ($14) and it was also another superior fried chicken sandwich. Now I'm a bloated carcass, stuffed full of only the finest poultry.

It's a decadent life we live here. Even our American Diner food is epic.

If you're driving to Daly City or the Marina or Marin to get some rotten In N Out, you're better off staying in the city and hitting up our SUPERIOR burger joints.

Hi-Way is one of the champs. Their basic double cheeseburger was $12 and that's just the cost of a good cheeseburger. Can you believe McDonald's DARES to charge $5 for one of their nasty burgers (I know, you only order the value menu)? I haven't eaten In N Out in forever, but it was something like $6 in 2019, so I bet it's like $7 something and it's about 2/3 as good as the Hi Way Double Cheeseburger.

You want cheaper? Go to Safeway and cook at home. Go buy a whole head of lettuce and use a tiny bit for your burger. Go buy a tomato and slice it and use two pieces. Oops, you forgot ketchup and pickles? There you go. $30 to have burgers for 3 days and while you maybe saved money, you have all those dishes and you had to cook, so you're not looking so smart now jack, are you?

Just grab a Hi-Way fried chicken burger. These Mission burritos are disappointing and you know it. They charge too much and they laugh at your bad Spanish. Eat a burger, then...

It’s not that hard to do a burger and fries, so no comments on their food, but: HOW THE HECK DO YOU RUN A RESTAURANT WITHOUT A FIRST AID KIT ON SITE?!!!

I was in there this afternoon, picking up a takeaway, and as I collected my order from the counter, I cut my finger on some glass.

Zero response from the staff. A customer is bleeding and all they do is stare nonchalantly.

I finally asked them if they have a first aid kit, and no one seemed to understand what I meant. I literally had to spell it out: band-aids, antiseptic wipes … anything.

One of the staff reluctantly agreed to look in the back. He reappeared after quite a while and went about his usual business … totally ignoring me!

I had to flag him down again to ask if he found something in the back to bandage my bleeding finger. He just shrugged and said that all they have is scissors.

What?!!!

How are you guys running a kitchen with no first aid box? What happens when one of your staff has an accident in the kitchen? Should we expect fries with a dollop of blood on the side? Cuz it’s clear you sure as heck don’t care about customers injuring themselves on your premises.

Absolutely ridiculous.

The nice seafood place next door did have a first aid kit, and did give me a bandaid too. Better eat next door than this sorry...

A Modern Western Vibe with a Twist in Noe Valley

Tucked into a corner in San Francisco’s charming Noe Valley, this burger spot feels like stepping onto the set of an old Western—if the saloon served plant-based patties and endless condiments. The atmosphere has a modern-meets-classic charm, and while the staff weren’t exactly rolling out a red carpet, their neutral reception kept things casual and unpretentious.

I went for the Beyond Meat Burger, and here’s where I confess: I forgot to add cheese. A rookie mistake, and one I won’t be making again. The burger itself was flavorful, though I couldn’t help but notice that the Beyond Meat option costs more than its meaty counterpart—a quirk I’m still trying to process. Still, it earns a solid 7/10 in my book.

What really stood out were the little extras. The self-serve station was a treasure trove of condiments: mayo, chili sauce, BBQ sauce, pickles, jalapeños—you name it. And the free drink refills? Always a win. But the true MVP? The sweet potato fries. Crispy, golden perfection.

All in all, this spot serves up a solid burger experience with a side of Noe Valley charm. It’s the kind of place you’d happily wander into after a stroll, cowboy...