Dave’s Famous Cafe

Sad to hear that they closed down. Their burgers were not bad at all and was so inexpensive! They even served stir-​fries here. The owner and his family was really nice. The food was decent and very inexpensive! The portions was a good amount. The down side was the place was a hole in the wall, they didn’t accept debit/credit…was cash only, and they closed right after lunch… was only opened for breakfast and lunch. This review doesn’t really make a difference anymore, but I wanted to still give them credit for their burgers and pleasantness. :-)

«Famous Dave’s»? You won’t expect someone of 1^st generation Asian descent running the place, but you do!
Low end menus and tables, but the food more than makes up for it. Very good value for your money. $ 4 for a hamburger and fries? It takes a few minutes longer to prepare than a fast food joint, but you can tell it’s a little fresher. Still, that’s a very good deal. The only bad thing is that it is a very poor location… some random spot in a strip mall-​looking joint area. Not really the most traffic, but worth the money if you’re in the area.

Update time I have been in more than a few times since my first review/​visit. I’m bumping them up to a 5 because of the unbelievable value for your dollar. Everything I have had is very good and satisfying. One thing I find funny here is every time I order after Dave totals me up that I have this are you serious moment, that total can’t be right., buy it is just pay the man (in cash) Like today I walk in «bacon cheese burger, fries, can of soda» Dave «$ 5.75» Am I in a time warp back to when a dollar had value? No its just Dave’s…
Another thing you will quickly notice is Dave knows everyone, and that guy can talk…
Again bring cash it is the only down side but I’m willing to deal with it in exchange for good food at great prices. Just think of it like you are back in the… oh…the mid 90’s before the rise of debit cards everyone paid cash for everything and the prices match the era (all the Fast food burgers that are $ 4.00 today were 99cents back then kids. Man I’m really dating myself, and rambling…

Great food at a great price. 3 of us had cheeseburgers with fries and drinks and it was under $ 20. The owner seems sincere with his kindness and i cannot wait to eat here again.

This place never disappoint me. Owner is really friendly. Very cheap and food is good.

Awesome place. Never expected such a great meal and value walking in. Primarily a sandwich and breakfast spot with some rice dishes. I’m a sandwich snob from the Northeast and I was blown away. The chicken torta sandwich is the best I’ve ever had and that speaks volumes being in SD.
Amazing sandwich that was prepped perfectly with generous portions. Add some fries and water and was $ 6 and change! I was so hesitant to order this kind of sandwich here and even the side salsa was delicious. I’m still thinking of that sandwich days later. Going back very soon to try breakfast. Another great hole in the wall on this road.

Got the Californian burger with bacon, and the value for the amount of food you get is ridiculous. $ 5.45 for a burger and fries? Definitely awesome. It’s cash only, but luckily I did have a ten-​spot where I normally don’t carry cash at all. The burger itself was pretty good, I’m probably not going to be visiting Five Guys for awhile now that I know this place exists. The burger being cut in half was also a nice touch, considering the size of the burger and the amount of toppings. I wanted to take a picture of it, but my phone kept freezing and it looked so good that I just ate it, and I’ll be taking a picture when I go back there. You also get a nice amount of fries, somewhere between a small/​medium size. Just like all the other reviews said, Roger working the counter was a great conversationalist and makes you feel absolutely welcome until your food comes out. I’ll be taking friends to this place for sure.

CHICKEN CURRY with rice… YUM. Delicious. I will definitely be back.

If you’re looking for the ultimate culinary experience, this ain’t the place. If you’re looking for a superb value and down-​home dining experience, then come on down.
Prices are my kind of prices – absurdly cheap with few frills on anything. Need more of these kinds of places around SD.
Quality was fine; at these prices, I’m not expecting sky-​shattering deliciousness, but I was pleased to get at least troposphere-​shattering goodness. Nice home-​made salsa to top things off.
The atmosphere was also surprisingly pleasant despite the extreme bare-​bones furnishings — delivery guys and a few other locals «in the know» were there. Felt very comfortable just hanging around for a few hours getting reading done and never felt rushed.
If I’m in the area, I’ll stop by here. Alas, they’re not open too late or I’d head here rather than Rigoberto’s.

After reading all the raving reviews on Unilocal I had psyched myself up for a GREAT burger, juice running down my arm, the whole routine.
I was slightly disappointed and it may be my own fault… I had imagined what I was going to get and when that wasn’t it I was let down.
A good, inexpensive, ½lb burger (I had the Bacon Cheddar). small side of fries served with it, with two dill pickle chips, canned drinks, or bottled water, and coffee. Prices are more than reasonable and they have an extensive breakfast menu. Very small 6 tables inside none bigger than a 4-​top and two outside. all plastic lawn furniture with a table cloth…
The owner was very nice, the food was good, fast, and inexpensive, but there are MUCH BETTER burgers in town than here.
Bottom line: inexpensive, friendly, and tasty; but not «knock your socks off» good… Would I come back?! Yes, but I’d try other items as the burger was just OK…
Sláinte!

I’ve been called a picky eater. I know what I like, what can I say? Well, just got back to SD last night and woke up hungry… Looked on Unilocal and came across this place. I was like, «Okay, let’s give it a try». And BOY WAS IT A GOOD CHOICE.
I walk in and am greeted by the owner? I don’t know, but he was working the counter. I ordered the ½ lb bacon cheeseburger. It comes with fries. What really got me was the price!
4.50 for a bacon cheeseburger with fries! Seriously? Okay, well, it can’t be that good then right?
NOPE
As I waited for the burger, the guy (whose name is Roger) sat and chatted with me about school, life, jobs, and pretty much anything that came up.
Burger came out. MAN…
Are you sure that they still make burgers like this for this cheap?
It was a very simple burger. a ½ patty with an awesome sesame seed bun and all the regulars. The fries were on the side and were crispy and good. Overall, it was just a good burger. Nothing fancy. No egg or jalapenos or anything like that. Just a REALLY good burger. I can’t believe this place wasn’t mobbed. Roger said it has been around for 18 years… and it’s still like this??? AMAZING
Food: AMAZING NUFF SED
Price: WHAT? I paid for this? my wallet didn’t get any lighter… It’s just that cheap, but not the quality.
Service: REALLY good. Hospitality you expect from a mom and pop store. AWESOME.
Will I come here again? DEFINITELY

Nice family run business

Look, I’m all for the mom and pop restaurants, and have no problem paying in cash even though it’s inconvenient for the customers. I get it, the economy is down, times are tough, Lindsey’s in and out of rehab… And I’m not totally sure what the café is even famous for, but I’m hoping it isn’t the burgers.
I ordered the California deluxe burger with bacon which generally means that no matter what, it’ll taste good. and it did! The potato bun was tasty, brushed lightly with butter, giving it a glistening golden glare. Plenty of lettuce and a healthy slice of tomato to accompany.
The only problem is that damn texture coefficient… You see Dave, no matter how good your burger may taste, if it’s greasy as a baby penguin in the midst of an oil spill, the stars above will reflect. By the time I got halfway through, the greasiness was just too much to take. I couldn’t handle that slimy feeling in my mouth and the overwhelming desire to brush my teeth.
Not a bad burger, but if i want a mom and pop handmade burger in the future, I’ll go to El Sol in Northpark instead.

Good burgers! Definitely better quality than typical fast food chains, the only thing is, it’s not hard to find good burgers in Miramar because there are so many deli’s and café’s around. But, I’d definitely come back if I was nearby. The service is good, just two people — one cooking, one serving. Another good thing, is they give the perfect amount of fries. It doesn’t seem like a lot, but it’s just enough to fill you up.
I would technically give it 3.5 stars, but rounding down to 3 didn’t seem right.

Dave’s Famous Café is in need of a little more Unilocal love. This unassuming location in one of the many unassuming strip malls along Miramar Road is easy to miss among the furniture stores, self-​storage facilities and military haircut establishments. If it wasn’t for some consistently high scoring Unilocal reviews I don’t know that I would have ever even noticed it, much less thought to try it out. Thankfully for Dave’s, and for me, I took a chance and gave it a try.
I decided that I needed a little splurge in my healthy eating plan so I grabbed a friend and decided to try lunch at Dave’s. He ordered the All American Burger: a half-​pound beef patty with cheese, lettuce, tomato, mayo and avocado. I ordered the Patty Melt: also a half-​pound patty with grilled onions and double cheese on rye. Most impressive were the prices attached to these burgers: $ 4.50 and $ 4.00 respectively. Seriously? These burgers would cost $ 8-​$ 12 at one of those «gourmet» burger chains! Awesome deal!
Anyway, my friend whipped out his debit card to pay and was told that Dave’s is a cash only establishment. Normally, this might have cost them a few points, but the owner’s response was «don’t worry about it, I’ll cover it and you can pay when you come back… because you will come back.» Bonus points for service and bonus-​bonus points for confidence! Not feeling right about that, we opted to visit the ATM in the taco shop next door, but the offer was nice.
Anyway, the order came after a short wait and the burgers were impressive in size. Upon finishing the first bite, we looked at each other, both clearly impressed. This wasn’t your typical «grab a frozen pre-​made patty and throw it on the flattop» kind of establishment. This was a large, fresh, juicy and beefy classic burger. No frills, but definitely good.
Was it the best burger I’ve ever had? No, but it was better than most. Normally I reserve five-​star ratings for the best of the best. Based on the burger alone, I’d probably give Dave’s four stars. But when you consider the great service and the incredible deal, I can’t help but give them the bonus star and a best-​in-​class award.
Well done Dave’s, well done. And you were right… I will be back.

DUUUUUUUUUUDE! You just HAVE to try this place out for lunch. They got burgers like you ain’t never SEEN. Toasted buns, meaty patties, cheese dripping out the sides like it don’t know how delicious it is. Maaaan, they don’t make burgers like this anymore, these burgers taste like they come the place where they invented burgers. You ain’t never even seen burgers this good.
Anyways, I’ve had some pretty good burgers, and some burgers are great cause they’re gimicky, but these burgers are great cause they’re simple and great. Just a regular no-​frills great tasting burger. Bring some cash (it’s a mom/​pop sorta place, so cards are out the question), some friends (they’ll thank you later) and an apetite for a great burger. Quality control is great, never had a bad burger here. I should really try some of the other stuff on the menu, but the burgers are so freaking delicious.

Total hidden hole-​in-​the wall gem. The Californian burger with a fresh bun, avocado and juicy patty is amazing. You’d be afraid just to idle up to the non-​descript counter but they deliver the goods.
Next to the infamous Rigoberto’s…you can ignore the décor and chow down to deliciousness.
Great value, cash only.

Dave’s famous café is another hidden treasure down Miramar street. It’s in the same plaza as the infamous «rigoberto’s»…but this place is for the lunch crowd instead.
Pretty spartan interior as far as seating and tables go, but totally makes up for it in the homey feel. Super friendly owner and family… feels like your dad’s cooking for you, which is awesome.
It’s also super cheap… jeeez.

I really like this little gem on Miramar Rd. Dave (at least I think he’s Dave) is super friendly and has been around this area forever. It seems that he is on first name basis with everyone that comes in…
I went to Dave’s 3 days in a row a couple of weeks ago. I had the Hot Pastrami, Philly Style and San Diego Style (Turkey with peppers, onions and provolone) sandwiches. The toasted bread was loaded with meat and was draped in delicious melted Provolone cheese. Hmmmmm…
The most amazing thing about it??? The price!!! $ 4.50. AWESOME!
Dave also has daily specials that range from lemon and curry chicken to meatloaf to burgers to stir-​fry. Dave highly recommends the burgers.
Dave is a Blues fan so expect to hear some old school blues music playing in the background.
The only downside — no fountain drinks… Cans and bottles. UGH!!!
Go see Dave… Great food at an even greater price!

Dave’s is the kind of place that you dream about. Amazing food, super cheap and always friendly. I work right nearby and never get sick of going here. The owner and his wife turn out the heady grub super consistently. They have no problem making anything you can think of. Miramar is a barren wasteland in terms of food, Dave’s famous is the shimmering oasis that delivers.
Cash only