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 record was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record. 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.
The details, verified.
- 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
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.
Every award, on the record.
Each Centurion Award is its own dated annual record, and staying current means clearing the bar again each new year. The verification above is from the latest published award. Open a year for that year’s citation.
2025 Centurion Award
Best Burger in San Diego San Diego, CA · Awarded under the 2025 evaluation View the 2025 award →Awards run one calendar year and renew only if the business clears the bar again. Selection is by published criteria, never for sale.
Visit Hodad's
A signal you can check.
This page is the standing record for Hodad's (2025). It was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record; the business did not have to apply for it to appear. It wasn’t voted on or sponsored, and selection is not for sale. Owners can claim the listing or ask us to remove it. For hours, bookings, and live reviews, go straight to the business itself.
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 for free to manage it, correct it, or remove it. If you want the award kit (badge, certificate, and announcement), you pay after you claim. Through December 31, 2026, publishing is $99. The evaluation itself is free. The $99 covers the first year only. Renewals are $199/year. That fee never buys selection.
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.