Dukes Old Fashioned Onion Burgers

Whenever I'm in San Diego, I always go to Hodads. Decided to venture out, and found Dukes. I'm glad I did, because the burger was amazing. Huge portion, perfectly cooked. Juicy and delicious. Made the mistake of getting the double, and also getting the chili fries. Way too much food but left happy. I would highly recommend going here if you get a chance.

Richard

3 months ago en

Duke's Old Fashion Onion Burger is a hidden gem located in the heart of La Mesa. This restaurant has a loyal following of burger enthusiasts who swear by its mouthwatering creations. Duke's prides itself on using only the freshest, high-quality ingredients to craft their delectable burgers. Each patty is meticulously seasoned and grilled to perfection, resulting in a juicy, flavorful explosion of taste. The signature French fries are crispy, golden brown, and bursting with a satisfying crunch. The menu boasts a diverse range of classic American dishes, each prepared with passion and attention to detail.Exceptional service is an integral part of the dining experience at Duke's. The friendly and attentive staff ensures that every customer feels welcomed and taken care of from the moment they step through the door. The knowledgeable staff is always ready to make recommendations or answer any questions. The prompt and efficient service adds to the overall seamlessness of the dining experience, leaving customers feeling truly valued and satisfied.Step into Duke's and be transported to a bygone era. The restaurant exudes a charming and nostalgic atmosphere, reminiscent of the classic American diners of yesteryear. Vintage memorabilia adorn the walls, creating a cozy and casual ambiance that invites guests to relax and savor their meals. Duke's provides the perfect backdrop for creating lasting memories.Duke's is an affordable destination that offers an exceptional dining experience. The prices are reasonable, especially considering the superior quality of the food and service. The generous portions ensure that customers leave feeling satisfied and content. Duke's provides excellent value for money, making it an accessible and delightful choice for burger enthusiasts and food lovers alike.Duke's Old Fashion Onion Burger stands as a shining example of culinary excellence. From the tantalizing burgers and crispy French fries to the impeccable service and charming atmosphere, every aspect of this restaurant has been carefully crafted to create a truly memorable dining experience. Whether you're a burger aficionado or simply seeking a fantastic meal, Duke's is an absolute must-visit destination. Highly recommended, with a well-deserved 5-star rating, Duke's Olde Fashion Onion Burger is a culinary delight that will leave an indelible mark on your taste buds.

Shawn

3 months ago en

Great Burgers and Chili Cheese Fries. Had a shake also and it was good too. I like the buttery buns. I'll be coming back here.

DOG

3 months ago en

I hate to put negative comments but food was not what I expected very messy an I didn't get 1 napkin, an some of the onions were burned

Juana

4 months ago en

My husband and I were wanting burgers for dinner and stopped here. Seriously, the best burger we have had in San Diego so far! I know everyone likes there burgers differently, but this was it for us! We loved it! I even shared some of my burger with my daughter who didn't want any burger, but she loved it. Highly recommend anyone try it! My husband and I both got the single burger. Oh, also we got the parmesan fries and they were so good too!Apparently, they also have a kids meal item but it isn't on the menu. We also got the Death by chocolate shake!

Danielle

11 months ago en

Phew excellent flavor an fresh ingredients made for a great burger..have to get back an try the rest of the menu.

Pete

11 months ago en

Really awesome place. Didn't expect sparks in onion burger but omg it is delicious. They have self made sauce and thoughtful idea to make the food even more delicious.

Joella

11 months ago en

Burgers are massive and very tasty and fresh. I enjoy the burgers here immensely!! However, the fries are ... just ok. Ive krdered every kind, ans theyre just a bit lackluster in flavor hoenstly, just dull... They could use more cheese and toppings on the loaded options, but wven the plain ones are just not all that great unfortunately. BUT COME FOR THESE BURGERS & SHAKES THOUGH!!

Rola

11 months ago en

Great place to go and grab a burger!!! The brown gravy is also Bomb!!! Oh and can’t forget that Lemonade, it’s ?!!! ?????? Check me out on Youtube at “POSITIVITY OUR WAY”, too!!! Let’s grow!!!

POSITIVITY

11 months ago en

Elite burger. Them little crispy bits are what life is about. They also chop up the bacon so you don’t pull it out on your first bite.

Matt

11 months ago en

1st time, Good solid Burgers.Will come again.The walls that split up the Kitchen from the Dining Area made makes you feel divided. I personally feel like us customers dont know whats going on behind the walls sort of speak. Some clear Plexiglass would do the trick.

Daniel

11 months ago en

Update:Even better now! Burger was super smashed and charred, and flavorful! Amazing!!!Original review:Super tasty and adult sized! Each patty is 1/2 pound! I got a double and I was full after eating half! The combinations of onions their sauce and jalapenos was out of this world. They say they make everything fresh and only freeze their ice cream. Definitely worth come to La Mesa for. I do concur with other reviewers that the burger would be better with more seasoning or salt on the patties. Still a phenomenal and juicy burger!

Ahmed

11 months ago en

First timer here. I had the single cheeseburger with grilled onions. Regular fries were great and a generous serving too. My friend had a milkshake and loved it! I'll be back to try more of the menu.

Jeff

11 months ago en

Had a double cheese burger, but it was huge. A single patty is probably the equivalent of a 3x3 from In n out. I'd recommend a single unless you have a huge appetite. The fries were good too. Nice to go to a unique burger spot rather than a chain. Definitely going back again.

Efry83

11 months ago en

Over priced, overcooked, dry, bland burger. Their gimmick is HUGE serving sizes... and jalapenos. Jalapenos don't a burger make. Hamburger patties a burger makes. I still trying to figure out the burger looks like it was smashed by a mallet. The entire time I was eating I was wishing I was eat a burger elsewhere.

Daniel

11 months ago en

Wow! Best burger in San Diego, hands down! Was a little iffy about the prices once I ordered but then I saw the portion size and then the price made sense. One fry feeds two and the burgers are huge! Oh and the owner is awesome and very welcoming! 10/10 will go back!!

Garrett

11 months ago en

Omg! This is probably the juiciest burger I’ve ever had in my life! They’re triple decker is totally worth it! And if you don’t like to get messy, and you prefer to use a fork with your burgers, they have lots of options! Everything is made fresh, you know, because I barely even have a freezer! And I totally recommend trying their milkshakes!

Hong

11 months ago en

I can only speak for the "single onion burger" and I don't take this lightly, but this might be the best burger in San Diego County. If this isn't the best burger in the County, it is certainly the best value burger in the County. The single onion burger is only $11 dollars. I have not tried another burger here yet, but I highly recommend the onion burger.

George

11 months ago en

Although they are not open I’ve been to the location. The owner is a nice guy and really wants to get involved with the community. Oh and he did an awesome job on the remodel

M.

11 months ago en

I went to check out Duke's, with my partner, after reading the mostly positive reviews to see if it was worthy. Oh yeah we took our dog as well. ? ?Let me start off by saying that Duke's is very clean. There are tables outside. The employees there were great. They were pleasant and welcoming.As for the menu options they are what you would expect from a burger joint. Burgers, Double Burgers, Fries, etc.I ordered a Double cheeses combo, a Double Burger, and 2 cokes. I also ordered a Patty for my dog.That came out to a WHOPPING $48+ DOLLARS! To say that I was Absolutely Floored would be an Understatement. Upon checking my receipt I noticed that I was charged OVER $8.00 for the dog Patty!Assuming that this was a mistakeI went to speak to the manager. I asked him if I was charged correctly and if that Was the price of a single burger patty I was told "Yes, you were charged correctly. That's the right price. We don't care who's eating the burger" .......... WHAT'HE?!I Just Wanted a Single Patty! ?Let me say that the burgers we had Were HUGE! But they were a sloppy mess. The "grilled" onions were only slightly grilled so they were moist and stringy. This along with the lettuce, tomato, and pickles made the burger an unmanageable mess. You Can Not put this catastrophe of a burger down. What I mean to say is that it is such a chaotic mess that IF you put this slovenly, clumsy, awkward thing down you won't be able to pick it up again.We went through a dozen or more napkins, each, while trying to ingest it.The fries were warm and nothing special either.If you decide to go to Duke's do yourself a favor. Get a single burger or cheese burger and forget the fries. Also bring your own drink.Not only will your wallet thank you but you'll leave much more satisfied.As an aside? My dog only took 3 bites of her Patty before deciding that she'd had enough and she LOVES hamburger.I guess what I'm saying is if you're craving a Delicious Burger steer (pun intended ? ) clear of this joint. Go to Crazee Burger, Hodad's, Friendlies, or IN-N-OUT.You'll spend less and enjoy the meal a Whole Hell of a Lot More.⚠️ You have been warned.

Mo

11 months ago en

The burgers are not good, there is no flavor - extremely bland even with all the toppings added. It just taste like cooked ground beef, no seasoning. The fries were ok, but came cold and soggy. BUT the service was extremely friendly and fast.

Misti

11 months ago en

Burger - thy name is Dukes!Ordered the triple cheeseburger with EVERYTHING. Maybe I was a little over enthusiastic. Once this monster was picked up, it wasn't coming back down, but what a ride! A near-perfect ratio of my Holy Trinity- onions, meat, and cheese, not to mention everything else I had them put in. At about the 95% mark, I had to throw in the towel. Too much. If that wasn't enough, I also tried the taco fries, and the s'mores quesadilla. All delicious. Arguably the best burger in La Mesa, and very much like another favorite, Burgers Fish and Fries- just a whole lot bigger.An update. Ate there again this week. Still wiping the tears from my eyes, it was better than the last. Another star.

Rob

1 year ago en

The burgers were pretty good, but very messy. Fries were a flop. We got the jalapeno and onion ones, it was just fries with a few jalapeno rings thrown on and a mess of very burnt onions.

Shannon

1 year ago en

This was my second time here. For those who had not had a first time this is a must try place. If you like a great burger go ahead and try one here. The way they cook it with onions is fantastic. I had jalapenos cooked with it as well. Fries are cut on the spot and portions are big. Enjoy

Doug

1 year ago en

Great staff, great food. Only thing I can complain about is the fact that I got full. I wish I could eat more. ?

Tommy

1 year ago en

Food is one of the most impulsive actions we take each day. Unless you've already planned your dinner and such, your impulses may be shadowed by your discipline.We went to Duke's on an impulse when I saw a friend's post from a recent visit. While the concept of onion burgers is not new, I still wanted to try this place.The last time I had a burger this good was a few years back in the now closed Whisk N' Ladle in La Jolla. That burger reigns supreme as the best San Diego burger. Duke's was impressive. The single was more than enough to satisfy. The burger comes with the traditional toppings. I added bacon to mine and we ordered the largest order of chili cheese fries ever. Our bill was a reasonable $35 for two burgers, fries and fountain drinks. This was a great burger at a great price. They have a double and even a triple but I found a single to be more filling than a double double at In N' Out.There was plenty of parking and seating and the location is open up late (10PM) a great value for such a good product. Give them a try.

Rico

1 year ago en

Best burger in the world! Do not miss an opportunity to eat at the original location! This burger is better than the ones you currently line up for. Give Duke’s a try!You will be glad you did!

Kari

1 year ago en

We decided to check out a new spot in La Mesa for dinner tonight, Duke's Old Fashioned Onion Burgers (formerly the Starbucks on Baltimore Dr. in front of the 99 Cent Store). This was easily a top 5 all-time burger for me, and I've had more than my fair share of hamburgers over the years. They use a different method of cooking the meat versus In-N-Out or White Castle when it comes to the onion incorporation. The patty eventually gets smashed into all those delicious carmelized onion strings when flipped on the flatop stove. I went with the Single Onion Burger ($8.95), and it appeared to be way bigger than described. Two people could definitely share this. I got everything on it including the jalapeños, and added bacon, which was a $1.99 upcharge (cheese is included in all burger prices.) The fries are the fresh skin-on variety, which we enjoyed with their Fiery Ketchup and ranch. And for you fries lovers, there are lots of innovation styles available. Most looked like meals of their own! Unfortunately we were so full, we couldn't try the dessert, the S'mores Quesadilla.All in all, I HIGHLY recommend this place. Duke's is a stand alone restaurant and a great addition to the La Mesa neighborhood.

Kris

1 year ago en

Got burgers to go. A bit pricey, but not a bad burger. Burger was very messy, bottom bun soggy and falling apart. Meat patty was good, but could have used more seasoning. An order of fries is enough for 2 or 3 people. Worth another try to eat there.

Elizabeth

1 year ago en

Great tasting food, good prices, and large portions. As someone who’s always asking for ranch for their fries, I loved it when they asked “do you want ranch or ketchup for your fries?”

Darci

1 year ago en

Hot damn this was a good burger!The ratio of bread to meat to toppings was perfecto mundo. LOVED the homemade pickles. Most places try and make the pickles weird by adding some secret spice. There’s we’re just perfect, simple, crunchy and complimented the burger very well.Our son loved the candy tree :)Will be back soon!

Taco

1 year ago en

Really friendly staff - they went above & beyond to make sure we had everything we needed. The burgers are MASSIVE but for the price - you should expect that. Not a place I am likely to go to often because the size is too big for my appetite & they are too juicy to try to keep/reheat & the prices are beyond my budget right now for a regular basis- it's on my list for a great treat when I can.

Jessica

1 year ago en

Underwhelming and expensive. $55 for a single burger, double burger two fries and two shakes. Fries were better than in and outs. Acceptable but not tasty. Chocolate shake tasted like pudding mix in melty ice cream. Burger we as smashed into onions had no flavor. Not even of onion. Bottom bun was soggy. Double burger was impossible to eat. Overall:;would not recommend and would not return.

Christina

1 year ago en

Great burger! Huge side of fries. The Fire Ketchup was delish. I didn't order a shake but wish I did after I saw them. I'll be back

Cheryl

1 year ago en

Yay! They are open. We tried the burger and fried chicken sandwich with 2 orders of fries and onion loaf. Super happy to have a good burger in La Mesa. Fries are real potatoes, yay! We only needed 1 order, it's a hefty order. Onion loaf good. Wishing them much success and looking forward to trying other items on the menu.

Emiliana

1 year ago en

Really good food! Burgers, fries and shakes, everything tasted awesome! Our cashier, Harmony was over the top friendly and had excellent customer service. We definitely will be back!

Ashley

1 year ago en

It’s not open yet but I’m so excited for a delicious burger and milkshake in an awesome atmosphere once it does open!!

Caitlin

1 year ago en

I really appreciated the owner. Talking to him felt like talking to family and, indeed, we found that we both had much family history in Bartlesville, which he had named a burger on the menu after. Speaking of the menu, it is one of my favorites around for burgers. I don't care to go anywhere else after enjoying the quality at Dukes.

Evan

1 year ago en

Best damn burger I’ve had in a long time!! Got the onion burger with all the toppings. It’s served on a fresh brioche bun and is crazy yummy! Large portions of fries and you have a variety to choose from, such as cheese, jalapeño, bacon, chili, etc. etc. Hand dipped milkshakes for desert…wow!! We will be back for sure to try other things on the menu.

A

1 year ago en

Service was friendly and fast, food was ready well within ten minutes of ordering. Burger was amazing, one of the best I've had. Will definitely be returning.

Simon

1 year ago en

I don't have any photos, but they would look just like the ones you see posted. Not only was the food "epic" (according to my boyfriend) ?, the service was spectacular! As we were walking up an employee was out front on his break. He greeted us and asked if it was our first time in. When we said yes, he replied, "I'm going to go wash my hands and make your burgers extra good!" He cut his break time short just so he could go prepare our meals, and then once we were eating he came out to check on us and asked if we liked it. We loved it!The burgers are huge, with juicy, flavorful patties, and the bacon was thick and crispy (add bacon!). The onions are soft and slightly caramelized, and all of their sauces are made in house. In fact, one of the other chefs came out to check on us as well and he let us know that they don't even have a freezer because everything is made fresh. The ranch and ketchup are both better than most I've tried. Their fries are really good too!! Way better than in-n-out or mcdonalds (or wherever your favorite fries are from).We also got a kick out of the word puzzle on the white board. We're still stumped by one of the jumbled words - almost solved it.Fresh lemonade was also a hit. All around we were highly impressed and will absolutely be back soon. Thank you Dukes team, you guys are awesome!

Victoria

1 year ago en

They aren’t open yet, but the decor looks great and I am very much looking forward to having a homemade burger!

Patrick

1 year ago en