FOTB- Hodads

We head down to Ocean Beach, “one of the last classic surfing towns in Southern California” for a review of Hodads. Drive down Newport Ave. and you’ll find yourself checking out headshops and mom-and-pop shops until you see Hodads.

The Food: 5/5 Stars
Hodads Double Bacon Cheeseburger hits it all! For $9.50, you get a monstrous burger that has great taste. The thick beef patties are cooked just right, the cheese perfectly melted, and mixed with thick slices of bacon, the flavors just meld together for a delicious explosion of taste. My mouth is watering just thinking about how good it was... You can get it loaded up with everything, and they don’t skip on the condiments, so the burger is brought out and looks as if it’s going to burst apart. It doesn’t burst, but the buns can’t withstand the punishment of so much food. The burger starts to fall apart as the buns soak in everything and begin to disintegrate, so you find yourself shoveling in the food before everything falls apart. The onion rings also merit description.


<--What we saw



The Drinks: 4/5 Stars
People who have eaten at Hodads recommend their delicious shakes. But our decision was made by our waiter; we asked what the better choice was and without hesitation, he responded, “The shakes are good, but not as good as a beer.” Hodads has a large selection of over 20 beers to choose from. Unfortunately, what it makes up in quantity, it lacks in quality—most of the options are standard fare. They do serve draft beers in mason jars- very cool!

What she saw-->


The Atmosphere: 5/5 Stars
Hodads is a small burger shop located in OB, a funky place with a lot of character. So it’s no surprise to find Hodads doesn’t lack in the character department either. Inside you’ll find that the walls are entirely covered in vanity license plates (who doesn’t love “I♥FTCHX”), keeping you entertained for your entire meal. Or if vanity plates aren’t your style, you can grab a seat that faces outside- the people who walk through OB are often as eclectic as the mix of vanity plates. Or maybe you want to eat your burger in a former VW bus, the options are all there. The staff is all really friendly and talented; I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone carry a dozen burgers at the same time before.
Overall: 4.5/5 Stars
Hodads is a “must go!” If you like awesome burgers, you need to go. Even if you are far away, but crave a delicious burger, Hodads should be on the shortlist of destinations. One warning: Hodads has been nationally recognized on Food Network and CNN.com, so don’t be shocked if you find yourself waiting in a long line (I’m all in favor of locals getting to cut ahead of foreigners, so let’s hope that we can make it happen).