Classics Malt Shop Reviews

We stayed at the Wyndham Garden Inn on Sports Arena Blvd and were so happy to find this restaurant during our stay. Such a great atmosphere with friendly staff and great food!! The fries and malt shake were so yummy!! I definitely recommend this restaurant.

I'm not gonna tell u anything u won't find out when u get there!!!! The 2 brothers are great, felt like old friends. Got ice creme here almost every night. It was amazing my kids loved the place and felt right at home due to the five-star service! I had a malt every time... Must say it was amazing! Plus the food was spot on... Give it a try and within minutes u will know what I'm talking about!!! Great job guys!!!! Keep up the good work!

This place is a hidden gem! Food is great. You can tell they care about their customers here. I would come back any day. The whole family enjoyed it.

I've been to this place about 5 or 6 times now, and for someone who lives on the other side of the planet and has only visited San Diego 3 times I think that pretty much says all you need to know! Go there, friendly great guys working the grill and such good fries! :D

Great place for a quick lunch, we had cheese steak, bacon burger, corn dog and a regular burger. Everyone enjoyed lunch. Fast, friendly and plenty of parking. We will be back during our next trip out to San diego.

OMG such an amazing experience. We were welcomed with open arms, like we were part of the family. This place was a unanimously big hit with our entire family from burgers, to BLT's to fries and the home made ranch/dipping sauces. It was an amazing meal from people to take pride in their restaurant and craft. Smaller with limited seating, if you have a party of 4 perfect, but more may need to pull up a chair or split up. This may be my go-to place when down in the San Diego area (just north of downtown/airport area). Worth the stop, even if to go.

We had a great experience here while visiting San Diego. We originally drove to this place for dinner on Labor Day but it was closed. We came back two days later and are so glad that we did. The service was amazing to start off with. The guy at the front gave us a couple menus to check out at our table while our two toddlers settled in. I went up to the counter to make our order after a few minutes. I ordered the bacon cheeseburger and onion rings. Normally an upgrade charge for the onion rings but he hooked me up at no cost for the upgrade. The burger was tasty, especially when I added some of their homemade ranch. The onion rings were crispy and delicious. My wife has a chili cheese dog and sweet potato fries that she enjoyed quite a bit. The kids split a corn dog meal, but the guy gave them individual plates and individual fries. He also gave us two drinks with the kids meal and was fine with my wife and I using the kids drinks. Finally we had a cookies and cream malt. We ordered the smaller size, but because he felt like it took a little longer than he wanted to get it to us, the guy gave us a large and gave it to us for free! The malt was glorious and satisfying. We will definitely make this place part of our regular San Diego routine!

Great burgers and malts. Took the family here after visiting Sea World on our family vacation and it was a great find. Service was excellent. Definitely recommend for anyone in the area!

The only thing I can complain about is that the service was too good. I came when it was slow, I can imagine it might be frustrating when things are busy. Definitely worth a visit!

We went here for dinner while on vacation. It is delicious and we enjoyed our time there. I got a malt and my husband got a real cherry coke. Would go back again if in the area.

The owner has a fun personality and he is very helpful. Its easy to see he loves his restaurant and people. The food is great and the malts are to die for, we had burgers and fries. The malt shop is a small place with a 60's atmosphere. It is easy to find as it is right off Midway avenue in a strip mall.

I heard a lot of great things about the burgers and fries here so I had to try it. The burgers are cooked until there is no juice so if you like fully cooked burgers this is the place. The fries are skin on and are cooked in old oil so if you don't mind the fries having different oil flavor you would like this. The shakes are not thick, we asked for extra thick and got slightly watery. Personally I have had better burgers and fries at Denny's then here. But to each there own.

I just did a burger and fries for lunch, and I didn't think it was anything special. I was not even happy with my fries, which seemed a bit cold when I got them. My brother had a banana split, and that was huge, but he said it wasn't anything special. They do have an outdoor seating area and I was able to have my dog with me, so that is a bonus in my book, but otherwise I am not sure what all the hype is about, unless all food was just average back in the day.

Burgers and onion rings were excellent, and the owner take GREAT care of his customers. The fries and shakes were not great. Skip those. Limited seating, but we had no trouble at 5:30PM on a Friday night.

These guys make you want to come back just to hang out at the place. The food is good, not great, but the ice cream is great, and the service is amazing. These guys go out of their way to make you feel welcome.

Had a good malt here, at a good price, but what was truly memorable was the Fantastic attitude of the staff here. Super friendly, they are happy to be running this operation. Highly recommended on the staff attitude alone.

If you like eating in the 50' and 60's and /or drive an antique car this is the place to come to. Please check out when a whole group bring their car by and have dinner. The guys that runs the place are awesome they will help you if you happen to be in a chair. This one is on Midway drive by Von's and next to a veterinarian.

They were closing up when we stopped by looking for a shake. The grill was cold, but they made a malt and were very friendly.

Came here with my sons for our first dinner in California. The food was great and the service was even better. Super friendly. We all had the burger and fries and they were delicious. The chocolate shakes were also a favorite. Definitely recommend this place. Cool vibe to the place

While vacationing with my wife and 2 teenage kids we were really looking for something that wasn't all tourists liking and we found it. This place was great . Service was excellent and very friendly. He even remembered my name when my order was ready. We all had the burgers and cheese fries ( that were to die for ), and we all liked it. The burger was very good and it had a unique flavor that I loved. I also had a rootbeer float that hit the spot. My wife and daughter had the chocolate malt and my son had the cookies and cream one . They all loved it. Prices are very reasonable as well . Parking was easy and the place it self was very clean and stylish. Would definitely recommend and return

Tucked away in a strip mall, but well worth the hunt. Great family run place and amazing ice cream. Large portions too.

Wow - I am impressed! We live nearby, but went for the first time about a year ago, and have been back about a half dozen times since. This has to be some of the friendliest, best service I have experienced. I can't believe that I have lived here some17 years and had never been here until a year ago. Jeff behind the counter said he's been here even longer -- 18 years. Burgers were fantastic; fries w/ skin had real potato flavor, the ice cream was delicious, and kids' meals were really reasonable - just $3.99. But, like everyone says, the real kicker is the service. Jeff immediately learned my name, and we were on a first name basis the rest of our time there. When we were going to share a burger, he split it for us and offered us ranch dressing for the fries (yum). He also gave us very generous ice cream cones for the kids (just $1.79 - must be some of the best prices in San Diego; small sodas are just $1 and coffee - 95 cents). And at the end of the meal when we had a coupon (that they had donated for our our daughter's school, and she won it in the hula-hooping contest!), Jeff cheerfully subtracted it from our bill, and even rounded down the amount we owed. Much different than the eye-rolling you can receive at some establishments when you present a coupon. Overall, you wouldn't expect to find this hidden gem in a strip mall by the old Vons in Point Loma, but you should absolutely give it a try. Thanks, Jeff; we'll be back!

First time at Classics Malt Shop - and weren't disappointed! Fabulous drinks - we had two malted shakes - both delish. Classic cheeseburger cooked perfectly and onion rings - yummo! BEST ONION RINGS I'VE EVER HAD! Light, crunchy battered, onions sliced perfectly, neither too thin or thick. Fries were very tasty, but not crisp. Hubby's hotdog delectible & they heated sauerkraut for a condiment-made it even better! Makes us wish we lived in the area, cause we'd be regulars!

This was ok food, I got the bbq burger and the bbq sauce was a little much for me. Burgers were overdone. None of us really loved our food, we didn’t get dessert so maybe that’s where they shine. Or maybe just a bad day.

Service here is off the charts. Can’t say enough how gracious and kind the staff are. The burgers, fries and ice cream are great also. Good place to go!!

Great food. Onion rings and ranch were awesome! Just good, well priced food. The guy at the counter was very friendly. Awesome place!

They were so accommodating to our tour group. They made a delicious breakfast each day, and they even treated us to a beach bonfire one night. They were great with all of the children and the chaperones. Absolutely wonderful people and delicious food. Give their business a try!

Terrific burgers, fries & yummy malts. Line out the door. It’s in an out of way spot but worth finding. We are always looking for great burgers & found another favorite.

If you are looking for a standalone place you will miss it. This is a small corner restaurant as part of a shopping strip mall. About 6 booths and 14 stools. Burger/fries/drink and shake will cost you $13. Everything is made to order so it's hot and fresh. The chocolate shake is well..awesome. Handmade, not the frozen formula you get at a fast food restaurant. Burger and fries also were great tasting. Too many fries for even me to finish.

Who needs a hot tub time machine when we have this place! From the bar stools, the regulars walking in talking to the staff about their day to day, to the Malt Shakes with cherries on top this place will transport you back to the 60’s and slap a smile on your face! The cookies and cream malt will make you rethink your need for health.... It’s worth at least some diabetes.

If this isnt the most appetizing burger you've ever seen. This burger tastes as amazing as it looks. Im not a burger person at all and this makes me want to be! Its a fun diner with the friendliest service. Im so happy i found this gem of a place, will definitely visit again.

The owner of this diner is Chaldean; making the establishment a great place to introduce youngsters of all ages (from 9 to 92) to the classic malt shop experience. The kid friendly atmosphere brings together not only members of San Diego's Chaldean community, but on any given day you might find local Portuguese from Loma Portal, matching friendly conversation banter with Jewish friends, Catholic friends, and even a WASP or two like myself; all while enjoying great burgers and shakes -- right up there with Hodad's in Ocean Beach as a must go when red meat burgers are on your agenda.

Best shakes handmade good price for all the food the staff are courteous and friendlyand lots of parking

I love the food; the workers are awesome. This is one of my top burger spots to go to. The customer service is excellent. Go here if you want a Great burger!

This place is awesome. I love the brothers!! It's a good experience every time I visit. Good food and awesome shakes :) I personally like their root beer floats.

I was absolutely dying for a hamburger when I visited this place. The burger and onion rings I had were delicious and tasted homemade. The patties were huge, and the double burger I ate was actually a little too much for me to handle, but the onion rings were - perfection! They are not the crusty type like Carl's Jr. serves but the smooth, bubbly kind, and when cooked to a dark brown color are sweet and savory all Ringat the same time. My only complaints were that the air conditioning was inadequate and the condiments came out of packets that were not cold. Otherwise, pay this place a visit if you are looking for better-than-average-burger. Oh, and the service was great, too.

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!

We really enjoyed the small town diner feel of this place as well as the food being so incredibly yummy!

I’ve eaten here a few times and it’s always been very good. This time I had a burger and fries. The hotdogs are also very good. The owner makes sure you are satisfied with your experience.

Great experience today here. Had an amazing strawberry sundae and my beautiful pregnant wife enjoyed a chocolate malt. The only thing better was the staff who made us feel right at home. It was hella busy but I ordered and had food under 5 minutes and when I tried to pay I was told to enjoy my food and pay later. They legitimately want to know you and build a relationship. I couldn’t help but look and want everything coming out. My new favorite spot.

Delicious, classic foods like cheeseburgers, hot dogs, and shakes. The restaurant itself is one of the cleanest I've been to and the staff were some of the most friendly and personable. I recommend to everyone!

Do yourself a favor & stop for a meal here. Their customer service is top notch, the food is classicly delicious, & it's definitely worth checking out. Their homemade ranch dressing is fantastic & our entire family enjoyed their meals. Highly recommend the Reuban & of course the ice cream!

A 50's dinner with roller-skating waitresses, a friendly counter staff and excellent burgers and malts make this a good choice for a light meal. Located in a strip mall, it isn't the easiest place to find but the serch was worth it.

It's hard to find a place to feed a large family for under $100. This place was absolutely perfect. The staff was so friendly, everything was clean and comfortable, and the food was great. The classic diner style made it so we had to spread out a little onto the stools bit the kids loved it. This is now on our list whenever we visit.

Typical 50s soda shop...limited menu...filled with locals...owner knows your name...great shakes and burgers..fun photos on wall...red leather booths and stools at the counter...

Classics Malt Shop is my home away from home. The food is good, the people are friendly, and you never know what classic cars or hot rods you will see out front! They bring the '50's Diner into the 21st century and serve up the best burgers west of I-5. Their french fries are made fresh at least once a day from real potatos, not something you find in a bag. For drinks they have sodas, milkshakes and malts, and can whip up some creative ice cream specials for dessert. If you are counting calories there are bison, chicken and veggie burger options, too. Its not on the menu, but they serve up a mean Mediterranean Salad, too. Jeff, Faris, Miguel and Roland will take care of you!

Pretty good food overall - I couldn't really taste mine because of a stuffy nose/sinus infection, but I had gotten the cheesesteak sandwich which my hubby stated tasted pretty good. He had gotten the grilled chicken sandwich, which he also stated tasted pretty good. The one thing we both liked is that the fries were fresh cut - not the frozen type. Small little malt shop, across from the Joanns in the shopping center - great service. Definitely recommend if you're looking for a place to bring the family.

What a great nostalgic place to eat. I am from that era where malt shops were the place to eat and to be seen. Took my Grandsons and we all had burgers, fries and milk shakes. The burgers and fries were served hot, the burgers cooked perfectly, wth an assortment of toppings offered. The fries were delicious - slightly crispy on the outside and appeared to be fresh cut. Old 45 records are part of the decor - it was a great experince! What puts them over-the-top is how friendly the staff is. We were warmly greeted, and made to feel like our business was apprecaited. I am from Pennsylvania visiting family, but will come back again next time I am here. Highly recommend!

Located in the heart of a shopping area, this american fast food restaurant is a very nice to eat and having a great time. Employees very friendly and helpful. Got some xtra cheese on my fries hehe. Prices affordable.

From east coast Visiting family. Greeted at shop by helpful, friendly staff who anticipated our every need. Food was great and service impeccable. One of the Best, most positive lunch experiences ever.

Fantastic food, exceptional customer service and great family atmosphere. We stopped by to grab lunch on our way to Seaworld and we are so glad we found this place. We will reccomend to all of our family and friends. Must try the ranch on everything!

This place was amazing. Burgers are cooked perfect. They all remember your name as you leave. People were coming getting their "usual ". If your looking for a fun, fast great food, and friendly staff don't pass this place up.

amazing food! GREAT service! owner was a stand up guy, love that its family owned. quality service & food. definitely check it out!

My daughter and I stopped in for a late lunch. From the first moment entering the shop, I knew I had just been welcomed into the community, to the family. We were promptly greeted and welcomed. We were given some advice about the menu and we ordered. The owner has a heart to serve and he wanted to be sure that we loved every bit of our lunch. The food was exceptional (we both had burgers and fries). My daughter loves Ranch Dressing and they make it homemade. All around the customer service was exceptional and every single person that came in while we were there, was greeted like family (a lot of which come in quite often and know everyone). I highly recommend Classics Malt Shop for burgers, shakes and a fantastic connected lunch. We will be visiting here again!

I can't believe I haven't left a review yet! We've been here so many times. It's a small, cute little diner. The staff is always so friendly! The food is so delicious! Plenty to choose from. We've enjoyed their salads, burgers, fries, onion rings, drinks. We love coming here.

Don't let the location of this shop foul you! We visited here on a whim because our children were wanting a hotdog. We ate so fast that I don't have pictures, but it was great. The service was outstanding! We only ordered hotdogs, but were gifted an order of fries by the cooks and they were amazing as well. We all enjoyed ice cream and shakes after. The strawberry ice cream my son ordered was a favorite and I'm not normally a strawberry fan. If you need a quick eat while in the location, give this location a try!!!

Always great food.....my Dad just tried their BLT....and real malts!!!! Friendly and a cute place. We have been going there for a while but had takeaway a few days ago.......so nice and always fresh

We had fries, onion rings, shakes, and malts and it was all good. Shakes are made from real ice cream. Fries are thick and onion rings were just right. I would recommend it.