Burger Joint

Closed as of August 2010.
The food was great, but there was a stint of 6 – 9 months where the service sucked. The register staff would just leave and come come back 10 minutes later, sketchy. Glad the Valencia location is still around. Great burgers, fries and shakes.

There isn’t much to say…
Its kind of the typical burger joint. Good burgers. Okay fries. Amazing shakes (Coffee WOOT).
Translation? 3 stars. 2 stars. 4 stars.
Keywords: Beef, Chain, Overpriced, Retro, Average.
Average pretty much sums it up. I had a burger and I was satisfied. The place doesn’t serve much of a purpose beyond that, but I would go again if I ever just needed some beef and was plopped down outside.
The employees seemed kind of out of it, and I left kind of confused about why it looked like they had just made a grocery store run for buns (small bags of buns scattered about the kitchen). They they gave us a free refill, and it all got better
…or at least back to average.

Had the veggie burger here today for lunch. 7.95 for a loaded (lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, swiss cheese) burger with fries. Not the best veggie burger, but good. The fries are just like I like them, thick, soft and not too greasy. I appreciated all the ketchup they put in the to go back with out even asking!
The order came up very quickly and the woman even brought me a glass of water and a dog treat for my dog while we waited outside. She was very friendly and introduced herself. While this entire meal was probably above my daily caloric intake, I am sure I will be back for a quick, tasty and reasonably priced take out lunch!
The restaurant has a nice corner spot on haight and large tables that seem like they would accommodate groups well.

Came here after B2B yesterday. We were looking for some decent food and all the other restaurants we walked by were packed full.
Ordered a Chicken Burger and Fries. They didn’t take a name or give a receipt to any of our group. When they delivered the orders, we had to go chase them down since they almost gave our orders to another table because they hadn’t given us anything to identify us.
Regular burger, the fries were amazing tho. Would probably go with a different option next time as it was pretty expensive and service was pretty bad.

I love Burger Joint on Haight! I’ve never been to the other Burger Joint’s but this one has always been consistently good.
I like my burgers medium rare and they always cook them the way I ask, not like some places that overcook them no matter what you request. They are very juicy. They have grilled onions for 75 cents extra and they are well worth it. The tomato and lettuce are always fresh and crispy and the fries delicious too.
One of the workers told us they are thinking of closing this location but I really hope this is not the case.
Please keep Burger Joint open on Haight or move to the Inner Richmond District where we could really use a great burger joint besides Bill’s.

Thank you Burger Joint. You don’t know me, and I hate to be awkward, but you helped me develop character and test my will power. You see, I lived less than 2 blocks away from you, I can smell your greasy burger exhaust on the street most days and its almost as magical as the siren song produced by Tartine’s exhaust fan. Its so tempting to come in and get one, but in the interest of watching my cholesterol, I successfully avoided you on countless nights.
Now, to provide you actual review; burgers are good, and plentiful for the money, I rarely need the fries but you can happily split them. The Niman Ranch beef is tasty, the buns are pretty good, but not perfect. The service could use a little boost of energy.

This was a tasty burger. They use Niman Ranch beef (even though Neiman no longer is king of his land) which is good for the (insert favorite cause). The toppings were generous and the veg was fresh.
The interior is very 50’s diner style, formica tables and booths that curve around them. They had a milkshake machine making me wish that I had better genetics, younger genetics, genetics that allowed the tapeworm in my gut to absorb all the calories.
I got the combo with fries and a drink. The total was around $ 10. The fries were nice and thick squared sticks of potatoe. Skin on. Right, because if I’m going to eat a fried «vegetable» such as a potato, that square inch of skin will give me SO much fiber. Cue the bathroom.
Like I said, the burger was good. I couldn’t finish it so I had to ask for some sheets of parchment paper, wrap it up tight like a burrito and stick it in my bag. It was good burger.

Straightforward burger spot.
I’m not sure why I don’t go here more often. Maybe I get distracted by the spreads @ Big Mouth… or the prices @ Metro Caffe… or the fat buffalo burgers @ Bullshead.
Whatever the reason, I don’t come here as often as I should.
The staff has been more than friendly and accomodating… so that isn’t the reason.
I am a big fan of «joints» too.
It isn’t much further than other burger places. in fact their Valencia Street location is quite close to my apt.
Maybe it is the fact that they don’t serve beer? Yup, that must be it. I guess I’m just a prejudice sumbitch. No beer, no good. Not that I always want a beer with my burger… I just like having the option.

My roommates and I have been known to order this place on occasion. To keep things simple I usually just tell my roommate to order me a cheeseburger & fries and whatever I don’t like on it I’ll simply take off myself. Whenever we order I always think it’s okay but not great. Part of the reason why is because we always phone in orders, don’t get over there to pick it up until after our food has been ready for a little while, and then by the time we get it home it’s a little soggy and cold.
Well I finally had the pleasure of actually eating at BJ’s when I had some friends visiting from out of town and I found the food to be much better. I can probably name more than a few places out there that have better burgers, but a hot burger the way you want (no pickles, medium-​well, and with pepper jack), fries right out of the frier, and a diet coke is pretty damn tasty anyway you look at it, so this place earns a solid four in my book.

Hallelujah to the notion that greasy burger ≠ good burger.
This is the first time in a long time I’ve had a burger than tastes like it came off the backyard grill rather than a flying pan. In addition to the lighter tasting meat, the lettuce, tomatoes, and onions were the freshest I’ve ever tasted on a burger. I requested it medium and it was a little pinker than I like, but still no real complaints there. 5 star burger no doubt.
Knocking off a star because I wasn’t a huge fan of the fries. They seemed heavily starchy and mushy, plus didn’t have the potatoey taste you usually get to enjoy at places like this.
In a great location where you can eat in Duboce Park, Alamo Square, or the GG Park Panhandle. Damage is going to be $ 12 when you throw in a drink and tip. Pricey, but for me the taste of the burger was worth it. Bonus for a super friend, super cool staff.

I have to walk by and smell the burgers here every day so I’ve given in to temptation a few times and gone in for a burger. They’re pretty good, but they also aren’t cheap as repeatedly noted here.
I do appreciate that they use better quality beef that is less environmentally unfriendly and less unhealthy than most beef is so I guess it’s worth the trade off for me. I’d rather pay the real cost of better beef than to continue to support bad agricultural practices just for the sake of getting a cheap burger without much taste.
Of course, I don’t go in here more often because of the prices, too. Maybe that’s a good thing because I’d end up fat and dead of a heart attack.
Not so big on the ambiance so I usually grab mine to go.

This joint reminded me of The Jetsons — it looks futuristic but clearly in a kitschy, fun, 60’s kind of way. It was spacious, with large booths, and impressively clean; the BATHROOM even both looked and smelled spotlessly clean.
The menu is limited, simple, but solid, and fries are included with everything. I could see my burger get put on the grill as I ordered it, and it came out fast. Both it and the large-​diameter fries were tasty. What really kicked Burger Joint up to 4 stars, though, was the milkshake. I love strawberry milkshakes but not if made with syrups. The BJ shake requires some serious Hoover sucking, but pays off — strawberry ice cream and bits of real strawberry make it worth it. After receiving that kind of satisfaction, I was not at all upset by the above-​average prices ($ 9 with tax for burger/​fries plus $ 5 milkshake). If I’m back in the neighborhood, or see another Burger Joint while I’m wandering, I’ll definitely go.

Sometimes you get hungry. And sometimes you want to satiate that hunger with red meat on a bun. Burger Joint is the place for that. I admit, it is a little overpriced, and the selection isn’t awesome, but the burgers are damn good. The fries, not so much.
The burger was juicy and the cheese didn’t overwhelm any of the flavors of the meat. It was a little greasy, but in that good way that reminds you that you’re eating something tasty. Chances are you aren’t going to this place for health food, in the first place.
It is something like 8 bucks for a burger and fries, and almost 12 bucks if you want a double, and that doesn’t include a drink. The place is super clean, though and the atmosphere is nice, kind of like an updated hipster diner. The fries are steak cut, but not seasoned enough, and were a little soggy the two times I’ve been here. They come with the burger though, so at least you don’t have to make a separate order.
All in all, this is a good place to go for a quick burger, maybe one step above In N Out.

I’m just going to repost my review of Burger Meister since these places basically seem the same.
This place is so ridiculously overpriced. Sure, the burgers are good, but definitely not worth the price.
In general, I also think the whole Niman Ranch beef thing is overrated, but I don’t feel like getting into that now.
If it’s not too late, walk to KK café on Divisadero at Haight.

We stopped here for lunch yesterday, and we had a pretty nice meal. The menu is pretty small, but I liked that you could choose the cheese on your cheeseburger. A little more expensive than we thought it would be, but our burgers were definitely of a higher quality.
I liked the set-​up of this place, with the big round booths, though I found it strange that it was so empty at lunchtime on a Saturday. Three of us got cheeseburgers (and my boyfriend was VERY happy they had pepper jack), one a veggie burger, and we all got fries. The fries are apparently fried in peanut oil. They weren’t greasy at all, which I really liked, and all of us swore we could taste a hint of peanuts. I don’t know if we REALLY could, or if it was just us imagining it because we knew they were fried in peanut oil…
Also, my boyfriend got a delicious milkshake, and those aren’t as easy to come by as you might think.

This is not fast food! In n’ Out? A click above McD’s, but definitely cruising on panache.
BJ costs more, b/​c:
Niman Ranch natural beef cooked the way I want it (RARE!)
Good version of the standard bun
the usual lettuce/​onion/​tomato
dijon mustard on request
Very good hand-​cut fries (with the peel left on) (please pass the ketchup)
good shakes
free root beer refills
They have a kid-​size burger for the smaller size customers.
It’s a good addition to the many exotic food choices of the Lower Haight.

If your wondering where to find a nice big, juicy, and most important tasty burger in San Francisco then look no further then Burger Joint. Burger Joint is my favorite place to have a burger in the Bay area by far. BJ has three locations throughout the city. All of them are small little spots that kind of look like they came right out of the 50’s. The music that they play (at least when I have been in there) has been good.
The Burgers here are amazing. The burgers are made with local, naturally fed Niman Ranch Angus beef. The meat patties are huge and taste marvelous. I have never tasted a burger from a fast food place better then ones you get at BJ. They use nice thick pieces of cheddar cheese. The grilled onions cost a little extra but are well worth the extra charge. They grill them to perfection and give the burgers a far better taste. The French fries are ok. They are nothing to get excited over. The vanilla bean milkshakes are nice and thick. They are far better then any milkshakes that you would get from a drive through fast food place.
The service is pretty good at BJ. Since they make the burgers right when you order them, and because the patties are so big you will have to wait a few minutes for your food. After your order is ready they bring it to you at your table.
There are a few reasons why I gave this place a four star review instead of a five star. One is the fries are not that good and in my opinion a perfect compliment to a good burger is good fries. Another reason is a few times I have eaten here the tables (and I mean all of them) have been dirty with a lot of old crumbs left behind. The last reason is the bathrooms. The bathrooms have always been horrifying. I would not sit on the toilet in there even if you gave me my food for free.
I highly recommend BJ if you are a burger fan. The burgers are really top notch. Just make sure you do not expect too much from the fries and make sure you use the restroom before you get there.

What a let down. I saw this place awhile back, then I saw it on Oprah’s top 10 burger joints in the nation and couldn’t wait to try it. I’ve made numerous attempts at coming here and for one reason or another, it never happened. Finally, I had a taste yesterday and was majorly disappointed.
It’s not that hard to make a burger. When you go out and get one, you’d expect them to make it better than you can. The right amount of sauce and fixins with a juicy patty… thats how I roll. I got one piece of lettuce, the meat was a lil burnt on the sides which is normally fine except the whole patty was over done, and the bun was soggy and quite greasy. I ordered grilled onions for both burgers and they must’ve added about 1 whole onion on top of both burgers. Plus it was greasy and not good at all.
The rest of the items weren’t that much better either. Fries were sooo greasy and lacking taste. Milkshake had this unknown cake like substance. I suppose it was strawberries but tasted like soft cardboard chunks. The homemade lemonade sounded promising but was WAY too tart. I had to add a good amount of water to dilute it.
Their simple menu should’ve been a simple concept with simple, good food. Not the case here… esp at $ 29 price tag for 2.

So I was expecting much more from this place. A friend told me that this place has the best fries in San Francisco. That’s quite a mighty claim, and while I don’t doubt that a little burger place could have the best fries in San Francisco, I was instantly suspicious of this claim when I walked in.
The highlight of my experience here is the friendliness of the people working. The cashier was very friendly and attentive and seemed to enjoy talking to everyone who placed an order. The cook was also nice, and he brought my veggie burger to my table. I don’t know whether that’s normal, but I didn’t expect to get any sort of service.
The veggie burger wasn’t that great. It was all right, but some other Unilocalers (I think) had said it was really good, or someone told me that (not the same friend), and it was just there. Since I always eat my sandwich before my fries, I was really excited to dig into them. But I was disappointed.
First, there weren’t very many of them. Yes, I realize that when fries come with a sandwich in San Francisco that means you’re not going to get very many of them, but the price includes the fries – and it still seems way high – so I should get my money’s worth. When I did eat them, I was pretty disappointed. They’re better-​than-​average fries, but they’re not the best on Haight Street, let alone the best in San Francisco.
So I don’t think I’ll be coming back to Burger Joint, as least while there are other Lower Haight establishments un-​Yelped by me. It’s OK, but it’s way too expensive.
And the best fries in San Francisco come from Jay’s Cheesesteak #2.

We came with a large group last night, with 2 kids, after 8PM. Good place for kids, by the way.
Limited menu: just various burgers, grilled chicken, hot dog (I wish they had a veggie dog, I would have been ALL over that!). My husband and I split a veggie burger. It came with thick cut fries and your choice of cheese. Lettuce, pickle, tomato, onions on the side. Pay a little extra and add grilled onions to your burger. They mayo your bun, so if you’re on a diet, you should tell them to hold the mayo… and hold the fries… and actually, hold everything. This is probably not the best place for a diet.
Our burger was good. Not very memorable or spectacular. But what do you expect? It’s just a burger joint. No false advertising here!
Price: a little over $ 10 for our burger, fries and a drink.
Oh! and this place is half service. Order your food at the counter and then they’ll bring it over to you when it’s ready. And they have vinegar for the fries.