Bongo Burger Northside

Reviews

• TA

  Tonio Altieri-D'Alo

  Aug 5, 2026
  5.0
  Bongo Burger is still the best burger in the Bay. What makes it so good is the style. It’s not a massive, overloaded burger… it’s light (but filling), balanced, and somehow they manage to make a thin patty that’s still cooked medium-rare, juicy, and perfectly pink in the center. That’s surprisingly hard to find. The grilled onions have are so good on the burger, really make it a signature. Add fresh chopped lettuce, ripe tomato, and the classic Bongo Burger bun, and it’s just a perfect combo. Also the use of two different color cheeses really makes it visually appetizing. The fries are equally impressive. They’re crispy on the outside but somehow stay soft, fluffy, and full of actual potato on the inside instead of drying out. The cooks are talented clearly. On top of all that, the prices are incredibly reasonable, the staff is always friendly, and the vibe feels like old Berkeley in the best possible way. The Euclid location is my favorite. I grew up eating there in the ‘90s, and I’m amazed that the quality is still just as good today. Places like this are rare. I hope Bongo Burger is around forever.
• MS

  Marcus Smith-Alarcon

  Jul 31, 2026
  1.0
  After supporting and dining at all three locations for over 50 years, and knowing Ali and the other original workers, today I witnessed the rudest, meanest treatment of elders that I have ever seen at any of the bongo burgers in my lifetime. The young lady working there, was initially hostile, and snippy with a couple who came in to order, a couple incidentally that I've been seeing around here for 50 years. After they went to sit down she openly challenging them by saying, " you got something you want to say to me?" In a threatening manner. This is not the first time I've seen the bad attitude of this particular young lady who worked here at 4:00 p.m. on Friday July 31st 2026, and she's had other incidents with people. YOUNG LADY: We built this place. We supported this place when there was only one location, and have supported Ali. And that is the only reason, you have a job here, young lady. BECAUSE WE BUILT IT. I asked her to please consider in the future being more respectful towards for elders and I hope she takes my advice. I love this place with all my heart and always have, but to have someone like this, act that way, to people in their '70s, like the couple that I saw, is absolutely inexcusable. Ali, I hope you give her a lesson on how to be respectful towards elders. I know you can do it! Marcus
• PN

  Paulo Natenzon

  Jul 28, 2026
  3.0
  Please bring back the freshly squeezed carrot juice!
• SA

  Sahar Aghba

  Jul 27, 2026
  3.0
  We ordered the steak sandwiches, but the steak was extremely tough to chew and had a lot of fat. We also ordered the falafel, and it was burnt and didn’t taste right. As someone who is vegetarian and has eaten falafel many times, I would not recommend it. The worst part was what I witnessed from the staff. I saw employees wearing the same gloves while eating food in the back, wiping their mouths with those gloves, washing their gloved hands with soap instead of changing the gloves, and then going right back to preparing food for customers. They never changed their gloves. Unfortunately, this was a very disappointing experience, both because of the poor food quality and the concerning food-handling practices. I would not recommend this place.
• AA

  American Angler

  Jul 14, 2026
  5.0
  I was up on the North side boppin around with a group of Jamaican Astro Physicists showing them what a typical Berkeley hipster dofus looks like, and I'll tell you they were not impressed! This group of intellects even snubbed their noses at the freelanders at the people's park, and our walk up Telegraph Ave didn't even raise an eyebrow..they told me the people in Berkeley don't know how to be layed back, and cool like an island breeze. We settled in at Bongo Burgers up in Northside because they liked the name, it seams the group also has a band back on the island that is made up mostly bongo drums and steel drums! Everybody in the group had an amazing lunch and as soon as they were finished, the leader, Bogart passed out Ganja..(weed) to everyone, and the had a group high out on the sidewalk! I had the chicken sando and rings...it was amazing! 5 ☆☆☆☆☆'s