Ocean Beach's bacon cheeseburger since 1969.
Hodad's has flipped burgers in San Diego's Ocean Beach since 1969, a surf-shack shrine of license plates and graffiti where the bacon cheeseburgers are enormous and the vibe is pure beach counterculture. A VW bus is parked in the dining room, and the line spills down Newport Avenue.
A beloved San Diego original for over 50 years, Hodad's is the 2025 Centurion Award winner.
What they're known for
- Bacon cheeseburgers
- The frings (fries + rings)
- A VW bus in the dining room
Customers said it first.
A Centurion Award verifies the public record that’s already there. Read the reviews yourself on the platforms below.
Public-record snapshot as of July 2026. Live ratings are always current on each platform.
Why this business cleared the bar.
This page was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record. Founding cohort: evaluated in 2026 on public evidence available then, labeled 2025. Selection follows the published criteria; Hodad's met them on that evidence. The business can claim the listing or ask us to remove it.
- ✓Years in operation. Operating in San Diego since 1969 — 57 years of continuous business.
- ✓Sustained online presence. An established local institution with a consistent public footprint — listings, coverage, and word of mouth in San Diego.
- ✓Established customer track record. A deep public track record: San Diego has kept Hodad's busy for 57 years.
- ✓Liked by customers and the community. Genuinely beloved by San Diego regulars and visitors alike — a bona fide community favorite.
- ✓Recognition in the local community. Named best burger in San Diego for 2025 for the bacon cheeseburger that made Ocean Beach a burger pilgrimage. No shirt, no shoes, no problem.
The specific data behind this award, and the exact thresholds, stay internal so the standard can’t be gamed. Read the methodology.
This page was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record; the business did not have to apply for it to appear. Own this business? Claim the listing to manage it, or ask us to remove it.
Award record
2025 Centurion Award
Best Burger in San Diego San Diego, CA · Awarded under the 2025 evaluationVisit Hodad's
The details, verified.
Clean, checkable facts about Hodad's.
- Legal / trading name
- Hodad's
- Category
- Restaurant
- Founded
- 1969, San Diego, CA
- Founders
- Mike Hardin
- Location
- 5010 Newport Ave, Ocean Beach, San Diego, CA 92107
- Centurion Award
- Best Burger in San Diego — 2025
- Record last verified
- July 2026
A signal you can check.
This is a dated award record published by The Centurion Awards after reviewing public evidence for Hodad's against the 2025 criteria for its market and category. The business did not have to apply for this page to appear. It wasn’t voted on or sponsored, and selection is not for sale. The criteria are public. Owners can claim the listing or ask us to remove it. If an award stops holding up, we may revoke it. For anything current, like hours or bookings, go straight to the business itself.
Frequently asked questions.
What is Hodad's?
Ocean Beach burger joint founded in 1969, famous for bacon cheeseburgers, license-plate walls, and its 'no shirt, no shoes, no problem' spirit.
Is Hodad's award-winning?
Yes — Hodad's is the 2025 Centurion Award winner for Best Burger in San Diego, a verified, criteria-based award. Named best burger in San Diego for 2025 for the bacon cheeseburger that made Ocean Beach a burger pilgrimage. No shirt, no shoes, no problem.
Where is Hodad's?
Hodad's is in San Diego, CA.
Run a business like this one?
If you’ve put in the years, you may already qualify. Evaluation is free, private, and never for sale.