Hodad's

Hodad's
Restaurant information
Slogan "World's Best Burger"
Established 1969 (1969)
Previous owner(s) Byron and Virginia Hardin
Mike Hardin
Food type Hamburgers
Street address Newport Avenue
City San Diego
State California
Other locations Downtown San Diego
Petco Park
Website hodadies.com

Hodad's is a hamburger restaurant in San Diego, with locations in Ocean Beach, downtown, and Petco Park. It was featured on the Food Network and was included on CNN's nationwide list of "Five tasty burger joints worth visiting" in 2009. In 2015 Foursquare ranked it among the 50 "best burger joints in America".

History

Hodad's was founded by Byron and Virginia Hardin in 1969 on the beach in Ocean Beach, San Diego, where they sold their "Amazing Burgers".[1] The name is a surfing term for a non-surfer who pretends to be one.[2] It was co-owned by Mike Hardin, son of the founders,[3] who took over the management in the 1980s.[4] Following Mike's sudden death in 2015, his son Shane and daughter Lexi became co-owners of the restaurant chain.[5]

The open-air restaurant moved three times to its current location, also on the beach.[1] In 2011 the restaurant opened a second location in downtown San Diego. [6] Hodad's began selling its products in Petco Park after signing a partnership with the San Diego Padres.[6][7]

Death of Mike Hardin

Mike Hardin was called a local icon by Discover San Diego and the San Diego Union-Tribune,[3][8] and was regarded as the "unofficial mayor of Ocean Beach".[4] In February 2015 his body was found in a hotel; there was no evidence of foul play. An autopsy determined that he had succumbed to a heart attack.[9] A makeshift memorial was created by the community in front of the Ocean Beach restaurant.[3][10] Hundreds of people attended a public memorial ceremony in late March.[11][12]

Hodad's is known for its bacon cheeseburgers, baskets of French fries and onion rings, and giant milkshakes.[13][14] In 2013 Mike Hardin created the Guido Burger (beef patty topped with pastrami, cheese, grilled onions, pickles, ketchup, and spicy brown mustard), inspired by Guy Fieri, who featured Hodad's on his show, Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.[5][8][15] (Fieri's nickname is Guido.[15][16]) The restaurant estimates that it sells between 1,200 and 1,500 hamburgers daily.[5]

Reception and success

Hodad's was featured in one of San Diego Magazine's "Everyday Eats" articles, which covers budget food options. Author Erin Jackson claimed that most of the food on the menu would qualify for it to be included in such an article, but that the restaurant's Burger Basket was a particularly good deal.[17] The restaurant appeared on an episode of the Food Network TV show "The Best Thing I Ever Ate".[18] The restaurant's bacon cheeseburger has been lauded by Guy Fieri, and in 2009 CNN included it on a list of "Five tasty burger joints worth visiting".[19] In 2015 Foursquare ranked the restaurant 26th on its list of 50 "best burger joints in America".[4] The Los Angeles Times writer Christopher Reynolds praised Hodad's food and style.[20]

A controversy faced the restaurant due to the removal of a man and his emotional support animal (ESA). The man alleged that he was removed physically and never asked about the status of his dog. When reached by San Diego Reader writer Mercy Baron, the writer found that the man inadequately demonstrated certain details. Baron spoke with the staff of the restaurant, who disputed this account. They claimed that his dog was out of control, and they offered to serve him outside, but the man refused.[21]

References

  1. 1 2 "Hodad's". Hodad's. Retrieved 2015-04-26.
  2. ↑ Motz, George (2011). Hamburger America: Completely Revised and Updated Edition: A State-by-State Guide to 150 Great Burger Joints. Running Press. pp. 21–23. ISBN 0762442344.
  3. 1 2 3 Kucher, Karen; Weisberg, Lori (2015-02-06). "Iconic Hodad's restaurant co-owner dies". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2015-04-26.
  4. 1 2 3 Garske, Monica (19 May 2015). "Hodad's Among Best Burger Joints in America: Foursquare". NBC San Diego. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 Woo, Candice (15 April 2015). "Hodad's in Ocean Beach, Saturday at Noon". San Diego Eater. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  6. 1 2 "Where Is Hodad's?". Petco Park Insider. 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  7. ↑ "Hodad's". Dining Out San Diego. Retrieved 2015-04-26.
  8. 1 2 Cantore, Chris (2015-02-19). "In memory of an OB icon". Discover San Diego. Retrieved 2015-06-10.
  9. ↑ Stickney, R. (10 February 2015). "Autopsy Results Released in Death of Hodad's Owner Mike Hardin". NBC San Diego. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  10. ↑ Ojeda, Artie (6 February 2015). "Makeshift Memorial at Hodad's Honors Late Owner Mike Hardin". NBC San Diego. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  11. ↑ Fikes, Bradley J. (29 March 2015). "Hodad's Mike Hardin remembered". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  12. ↑ Jacobs, Ashley (28 March 2015). "Hundreds pay tribute to Hodad's owner Mike Hardin". Fox San Diego. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  13. ↑ Chickowski, Ericka (2011). Moon San Diego. Avalon Travel. pp. 233–234. ISBN 1598809504.
  14. ↑ Walsh, Robb (1 December 2009). "Hodad's: Nation's Best Burger?". Houston Press. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  15. 1 2 "Friends of Hodad's". Hodad's. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  16. ↑ Fieri, Guy; Volkwein, Ann (2008). Diners, Drive-ins and Dives: An All-American Road Trip . . . with Recipes!. Zondervan. p. 4. ISBN 9780061724886. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  17. ↑ Jackson, Erin (2014-12-20). "Everyday Eats: Burger Basket at Hodad's". San Diego Magazine. Retrieved 2015-04-26.
  18. ↑ "With Bacon". Food Network. Retrieved 2015-04-26.
  19. ↑ Patterson, Thom (16 April 2009). "Five tasty burger joints worth visiting". CNN. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  20. ↑ Reynolds, Christopher (August 1, 2017). "Bite into a burger by the beach at Hodad's in San Diego". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  21. ↑ Baron, Mercy (May 21, 2017). "German shepherd creates scene at Hodad's". San Diego Review. Retrieved August 1, 2017.

Official website

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