Classics Malt Shop

I’m going to keep this simple! If you’re in the vicinity of SeaWorld, you need to come and check this place out. Small place but will not disappoint. Owners are down to earth and, I felt, want you to have a great experience all around. We were a group of nine and even though we had to sit in different tables we all came to the same conclusion, this place is great!!!

We literally arrived 10 minutes before close and we’re served no problem. Great food, we were looking for diner food for the night and found it! The owner served us and was very friendly. I would recommend this place for some good chow!

This place is super cute and the service was great. The food took a long time and it was good but not great. My son really liked his burger and all the toy cars. I got a patty melt and the meat to bread ratio was waaaay off. We got a chocolate shake and it was really creamy and chocolatey.

Ok, so these burger places around San Diego don’t even come close to how good this place is. We are talking the best in town maybe even state.
Home made burgers, made to order!
Fresh cut fries anyway you could love them.
The malts! This is one is a must and Farrell’s has been gone a long time from since I remember but omg the malts and the ice cream took me back to my childhood xoxo
I couldn’t eat my food fast enough, it was so good!
Got the western, bbq sauce, onion ring, and bacon! Yum yum yum juicy tender finger licking every bite.
Chili cheese fries, wow!
The portion are perfect, although since I can over do on eating food that is so fabulous I’d prolly say I gotta share a burger n fries lol
To Jeff! Congrats on the new upgrade, you are wonderful and just made Sal and I day just that much better xoxo
To Miguel, what a way to work the grill and presentation of the food, outstanding!
Well we be back?
Uhhh that’s a oh heck yeah!!!
Till next time, Unilocalers… this place is a must!

It’s been about 3 years since I’ve been to Classics Malt Shop and it’s better than I remember — which is saying a lot. I’ve raved about this place since it’s original location where the Buffalo Wild Wings now resides. This location is a bit larger and now has its own restroom. Atmosphere is still the same cozy shop that has that sweet 50s vibe to it. It was good to see Jeff again and it was cool that he remembered me from so long ago. Honestly, the service is impeccable. Jeff makes you feel like a good friend or relative coming to visit. I’ve never had this experience anywhere else and it’s one of the reasons I have such fond memories of this place.
The food is still incredible for the price you pay and tastes better than I remember. I had the western burger and a chocolate Malt. You can easily split it all but with that flavor and quality you won’t want to. The malt was amazing and is still my favorite in San Diego. The burger was exquisite and the fries were just right.
Tldr; Quality ingredients and a lot of love make this the place the best burger and malt shop I’ve ever been to.
I don’t want to hype this place too much but it’s hard not to. Bookmark this place and check it out next time you want a quality burger and malt/​shake.

Perfectly prepared burgers, fries and cheese Steaks the shakes are awesome and the service is excellent they make sure you are happy with your meal. I can’t wait to come back.

This is the mom and pop corner diner that you read about. Truly a family-​based atmosphere, and the most courteous and friendly team that runs this place.
Arrived an hour and a half before closing, turned out that the store was closing a little early for a family event, but upon finding out that my friend and I only wanted to stop by for dessert, the manager was happy to oblige. He made our shakes and malts w/​the utmost of detail and care, and made it a point to tell us to take our time and enjoy our drinks. No rush at all. Class act.
Go here for a meal, or go here for dessert. Either case, you won’t go wrong.
Affordable prices. Great atmosphere, friendly environment. It seriously feels like you’re eating at a family diner, which is both fun and tasty!
Location is great in between a lot of places you’re probably running errands. If you’re done w/​your chores, stop by here and get your meal or a treat if you’re already done w/​dinner.
Highly recommended across the board. Support a family run, local business.

This is my counter-​argument when people say In N Out is the best. If I still lived in SoCal, I would take tourists here. It’s tied for the best burger I’ve ever had. My wife’s gym was across the street, and she worked in Point Loma, so we hit this place up quite a few times. They used to have ostrich and buffalo burgers. They’re OK. But their classic burger is the real gem. I wish I could teleport to Point Loma right now.

This place is a fun little place with good burgers. The guy behind the counter, who I believe is the owner, is amazing at customer service. If you are looking for a place to hangout be released and feel invited this is the place to go.

Tried out this spot after a long day at the office. Service was great. Greeted walking in and the staff was super friendly. They got the customer service aspect down pat. Food was good. My cheeseburger was solid. It could’ve used a bit of seasoning. The chocolate shake was on point but somewhat pricey. Lots of parking available as this is in a plaza. The look of the interior is that of a classic diner thus the name. Repeat spot for sure.

I love coming here… the food is great and the friendly service is always here… I see why this place has been here for so long… the owners never forget a face and welcome all customers as if they were family… if you haven’t been here yet… make it a point to come here…

Wow with a capital OMG!!! This place does not disappoint! Great prices, even better food. We were at Sea World for the day. The food there is crap and a total rip off. So we left the park, drove 5 minutes and had the experience of a lifetime (not kidding!).
Best burger, hands down, in Southern California. The food is fresh, hot and the service is supreme! They are friendly, quick and pleasant.
Do yourself a huge favor, stop in, and come back, often!!! I will drive the 80 miles from Riverside for a Slap burger again, count on it!

My boyfriend and I came here yesterday for some burgers and this place did not disappoint. I got the Caliente burger which had a chipotle mayo sauce and pepper jack cheese and jalapeños. My boyfriend got the Western burger which had onion rings and bacon. Both were delicious but I think I prefer my burger just because it came with greens and lettuce while the Western burger didn’t have any of that. The onion rings were good, not soggy and not too oily. The burger themselves were medium done which is just the way I like. Our order of fries were abundant even for two people and it was best dipped in their ranch. Idk if they make their own ranch or buy it but their ranch is so so good.
Honestly the burgers are good but the reason for the 5 stars is definitely hands down the man behind the counter who took our order. He was super cool and even gave my boyfriend a free Coca-​Cola when we left. There are so many Coca-​Cola subliminal messages here which effectively worked on my boyfriend in the end.

Classics Malt Shop sort of reminded me of a poor man’s Corvette Diner because of it’s 50’s charm/​decorations and standard American menu. We were greeted warmly and I ordered the regular cheeseburger with fries. After about 15 – 20 minutes it was time to chow down!
The burger itself was very well constructed with the meat to bun ratio being top notch. (I can’t stand when there’s this itty bitty patty and a overwhelming amount of bread.) To my delight the patty was was seasoned with a slight crust around the edge. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the fries with bits of skin still attached.
Don’t bypass this place because of it’s unassuming strip mall location. I hope to come back soon to try their shakes and/​or malts next time!

Best service. Amazing burger. Delicious malt. A must go-​to hidden gem.
Emphasis on the fantastic service & burger!!!

This place is amazing small little place in a big shopping center… but once you walk in its a blast from the past. 50z era… amazing service and the food… fresh and full of flavor. Must try the root beer float… it’s like being a kid again in here :-)

I’m honestly not sure how this little shop stayed off our radar for so long. We’re always in the area, so it surprises me that we never stopped in for a bite before this.
Still, we’ve now been, so all is right with the world.
We went kind of late one weeknight, about half an hour before they were supposed to close. There were a handful of people scattered around the dining room, and they all seemed to be regulars (as evidenced by their interactions with the owner as the night drew on.)
We sidled up to the counter to review the menu… so many options! I really wanted to be good that night and order a salad, but the burgers were calling my name, and the ice cream concoctions were whispering sweet nothings into my ear…
Having decided that I was going balls out, it was just a matter of deciding what to devour. I ended up with the mushroom burger and the root beer freeze, and the hubs went with the cheesesteak and a malt. We tacked on a basket of fries and onion rings, then made our way to a booth to wait for the food.
Before I knew it, he was calling us up to the counter to get our baskets. And when my husband set my burger down in front of me, I had to laugh.
The thing was massive. It had mounds of mushrooms, which were spilling off the side of the burger patty. It had large strips of bacon (which I had not expected; I had chosen the mushroom burger over the bacon burger, but ended up with both, anyway!) And, piled neatly next to my massive mound of meat was a small stack of fries. I looked at that and wished my husband best of luck polishing off the basket of rings and fries we had ordered as a side.
The flavor of the burger was very good. I mean, VERY good. I’m not sure if it was the patty itself, or a combo of all the fixings on top, but the burger was delicious. But again, it was so damn big that I just couldn’t finish it.
My husband did enjoy his cheesesteak, but said that he’d likely try something else next time. He’s a very picky cheesesteak eater, for someone who’s never even been to Philadelphia.
The fries were good, a bit soggy, but still good. The rings were by far my favorite; I love any onion ring that isn’t battered like a fast-​food ring (you know the ones, crumbly texture and bland flavor?) I’d ask to sub the rings for fries every time!
Before I close out this review, let me sing the praises of the ice cream creations. Well, of my ice cream creation, at least. My husband got a malt — hard to mess those up. He loved it, yes, but it was just a malt.
My drink, though. Let me tell you! I honestly didn’t know what a freeze was when I ordered it. The owner did take the time to ‘splain it to me, but hearing about it is not the same as tasting it. Mine was the root beer version, and it was like a float without the hassle of the unmelted scoops of vanilla. (I can be so precious sometimes, can’t I?)
He said he can make a freeze with any flavor combination that you can think of. Now that I know what it is, and what to expect, I say this: challenge accepted!

Honestly, I haven’t been able to get this place out of my head…
Unemotionally? The food quality is A-​MA-​ZING. I’m one of the most finicky eaters alive and I’m pretty sure I ate all of my food and some of my boyfriends before he was even half way done Melt in your mouth flavor. Sides of zucchini typically are mushy and the fried batter is gross… Here??? Not.Even.Close. The batter on the zucchini is some kind of wizardry performed by the gentlemen behind the counter … I’m not joking.
Emotionally? You can feel the love, you can taste it, you can see it, you can smell it, and you can most definitely hear it.
I’ve always lived up the street from these guys, at one point I would park in their shopping center EVERY DAY & I always wondered what the food would be or taste like… After about an hour of going through Unilocal reviews on burger places in ocean beach, we came across this place and I was immediately drawn, without thinking twice (I normally second guess everything)
You see. I’m always a little timid on trying new things, seeing new faces and my boyfriends very similar. When we walked into this place, I felt like I had grown up with these guys… Its amazing how comfortable and secure I felt in here… And the amount respect the people who worked here have earned from myself and my boyfriend is impeccable ‚(considering we spent 20 min max in there).
These guys reach into your soul. They literally snap you out of whatever life has thrown at you and fill you with love and encouragement. Its such a welcoming environment. I walked into this place hungry and ready for bed and left grinning ear to ear, appreciating life from different aspects. Its amazing how a little care and honesty will go a million miles. To think… It all started with them not charging us for our full bill and making sure our drink was full when we left …

When it comes to burgers, I like to study both the innovations and the classics. To wit, I enjoy places like Classics Malt Shop that hearken back to the old days of diners, drive-​ins, and dives prior to the arrival of Guys with bleached, spiky hair.
At the same time, it’s easy to see burgers imagine burgers such as these as the old-​timey inspiration for modern chains such as Five Guys or even In N Out. Classics’ patties, however, convey a much richer flavor more emblematic of contemporary and expensive designer burgers without the messy amount of juice that open typifies the latter. While the buns seemed to have come out of bags, the quality was high enough that I couldn’t tell.
And, because I like skins and I like dirty, the dirty fries here are not too bad either.
Summary: Classic rocks.

If you are looking to eat a tasty homemade style burger then this is the spot! The food was absolutely delicious and service was awesome! It definitely deserves the five stars.
It’s a diner spot with cute classic Coca Cola décor on the walls. They have stool seats going around the counter and booths to sit. From the minute we walked in the owner of the place was super friendly. He offered us water while viewing the menu and let us know to ask if we have any questions. He accommodated all requests with orders. Once we ordered he told us to have a seat and we could pay after. Food came out pretty quickly after.
I had the turkey burger with Swiss and usual toppings. The meat was seasoned perfectly!!! It was a fresh bun and served with seasoned fries! It reminded me of a home BBQ burger which I love! The sweet potato fries were also tasty. They also have veggie patties if your not a meat eater. Everyone enjoyed their food and came out happy. With such great service and food next time I’m in town I know where to go for a great burger.

I was craving for one thing for dessert and came here all for one thing, Milkshakes!
Customer service was really friendly and quick, the BEST part is they use Thrifty Ice cream!
Comes in a 16oz or 24oz!
I got black cherry malt too. The shop is in a corner so it’s somewhat difficult to find at first. It’s also small so it gets packed and busy, I consider this a good sign.
I def. Want to come back and check out their menu next time if I get a chance to sit down and enjoy it!
The malt itself was super thick and creamy and flavorful especially since they use Thriftys! So when you want a classic milkshake, no better place to go than here! Yum.

If great service alone kept businesses open then Classics Malt Shop would be open forever. If food alone kept businesses open then Classics Malt Shop would still be open forever. In fact it kind of has. It was in one location a parking lot a way from this location for 20 or so years and closed down because the building sold and then a few years ago reopened in a different building same shopping center. I remember eating here with my boss over 10 years ago and being struck about how awesome the owners were.
A co-​worker of mine brought up that he just ran into this place after going to the chiropractor and they had fallen off my radar as I thought they had closed for good.
So glad that they opted to reopen. The owners really are the nicest men I have ever met at any establishment ever. The guys at my work like to go to lunch EARLY. So we arrived a full half hour before they opened. The owner came out and gave us menus and said he would hurry and try to open as quickly as possible. Who does that? No one I’ve ever met. Opening a few minutes early yes. But not 30 minutes. Well he let us in and then locked back up. He figured we might be in a hurry and went to work making our burgers.
I ordered the junior burger because I wasn’t too hungry since it was pretty early for me but what I was served was plenty of food. All their burgers come with fries. And they have some terrific fries. I like crispy fries with the skin on which is exactly what they serve. They also give you the option of sweet potato if that’s your bag. Their burger (well at least mine) is served medium well. My co-​workers ordered the heartier burger with bacon and you could tell they thoroughly enjoyed them.
And who goes to a classic malt shop without ordering a malt? Well I did but then I had a sip of my co-​workers and regretted it. because I didn’t order one of my own. They make chocolate malts exactly the way I love them. Vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup and malted powder. Perfecto!!! You would think it would be simple but a lot of places get it wrong.
Classics Malt shop is simple. But with exception al service and food. Love it.

These guys are great! I stopped in for lunch and ordered the the patty melt and upgraded to onions instead of fries. The patty melts was prepared the traditional way with sauteed onions, with melted Swiss, a beef patty served on rye bread or marble rye in fact, in this case.
The patty melt was delicious. I added some pickles that came on the side, to add some texture. The beef patty was tasty and juicy and with the melted Swiss right underneath it and over the onions, well it was no doubt a great combination. The marble rye had just the right toast, to hold up the the meat’s juices, had a slight crunch, and tasted great.
The only thing I would recommend would be them to better place the patty on the bread or smash it down a bit so that it covers the width and length of the bread better. I say this because, after they sliced my patty melt in half, one half covered well with the meat and the other just had a small piece. In the end, I would like to see a larger patty, perhaps 2 oz more.
The onions rings were well prepared. They had good color, retained very little oil, were crisp, and the onions inside were tender and sweet. They were good eating with the mustard. I would order these again in a heart beat.
Service was upbeat and friendly. The food is made to order, so be patient as it may take a little more time, than a fast food joint.