The Friendly Tavern

The Friendly Tavern is one of those places that looks completely unassuming from the outside. You have to walk past an odd, almost nondescript entrance before making your way to the real heart of the place--an open-air back patio with plenty of picnic tables. Inside, the setup is minimal, with only about five or six bar seats, but the real draw here isn't the seating--it's the food. Let's talk about the Smashburger, which, no exaggeration, ranks in my top three in San Diego. The crispy, golden-brown edges of the patty contrast beautifully with the juicy, flavor-packed center, creating that perfect balance of crunch and tenderness. The bun is just the right amount of soft and toasty, hugging the patty and melted cheese in a way that makes every bite ridiculously satisfying. The price? Shockingly affordable for the quality, making it easy to justify ordering two if you're feeling extra hungry. The bar itself is straightforward--no frills, no extensive spirit selection. They stick to their well liquors, so if you're planning on having a few cocktails, just be aware that some of those mixed drinks might leave you with a next-day headache. They do batch their cocktails, which is convenient, but they can run out at times. Your best bet? Stick with the beers. They've got old-school classics like Hamm's, keeping things simple and nostalgic. Just a heads-up--nothing on draft here. One of the best things about this spot is the laid-back, friendly vibe. The bartenders are super chill, the kind of guys who remember your face after a couple of visits and make you feel like a regular. It's the kind of place where you settle in, grab a beer, and just enjoy the atmosphere without any pretension. Bonus points for being dog-friendly! They even offer a pup patty, so your four-legged friend won't feel left out while you're indulging in one of the best burgers in town. One downside? Parking. But that's just North Park life--expect to circle the block a few times before finding a spot. All in all, The Friendly Tavern is exactly what the name suggests: welcoming, unpretentious, and serving up some of the best Smashburgers in San Diego. Definitely worth checking out.

Best burgers and onion rings in town! This is our favorite friendly location because of the outdoor patio seating/atmosphere and music.

Street parking, outdoor seating on picnic tables. We ordered the OG dirty flat top burger, fries, and onion rings. We got lucky as we got here around 1p on a Sunday. We did one circle around the block and found parking at the corner. I docked off one star for the rude customer service. The guy taking our order was not friendly at all and made me feel rushed trying to figure out what I wanted to order. The crazy thing is that there wasn't even a long line behind me. The food came out shortly after we ordered. They call your number and you get it yourself at the window. Sauces are extra fee. Water is self serve but they have the cone paper cups. Love the burgers here but maybe I'll try their other location next time as I think they have a bigger menu including pizza (and it's located closer to An's dry cleaning).

The name of this place is so accurate! It definitely felt like a modern day tavern for those traversing North Park. Nestled in University Avenue, you can't miss the mint green sticker bombed building with a pig on the roof, lol! Walking around the building, you will see a pickup window, bar to order, and picnic tables in the outdoor seating area. Love the open casual vibe. Food 5/5! I will say the smashburger is scrumptiousss. Perfectly crispy on the edges. Really hits the spot for a good, greasy burger! I ordered the Hamburguesa and it is perfect. It has 2 patties, jalapeños, butter braised onions, and soyrizo aioli. The jalapeños are the perfect acidic bite to cut through the richness. And also got fries on the side! Yum yum yum. Wait Times 3/5. On a Saturday, the line can get quite long. And after ordering, the wait times for food is actually longer than you expect. Prices are more expensive than a fast food joint, ($7-9 for a burger, $4 for fries), but I think it's worth the price.

I've been to the smaller location on 30th, but this location is way better! I love the patio seating and casual vibe. I had the OG Dirty Flat top and my hubby had the Shit Kicker. They were both really good - the buns, the crispy patties and aioli make it pretty much perfect. The fries were also nice and crispy. My hubby said he read something about them not offering ketchup, but there was ketchup and no side eyes from anyone when we got some. Service was fine, with only the faintest hint of "hipster/I don't care if you're here" kind of vibe. Even if it was more in your face, I'd still go back because the burgers are that good!