Custom Burger Menu

  • 1. Select Your Burger
  • 2. Get Creative
  • 3. Top It Off
  • 4. Sauce Things Up
  • 5. Name Your Bun

Healthy Meal suggestions for Custom Burger

  • 1. Select Your Burger
  • 2. Get Creative
  • 3. Top It Off
  • 4. Sauce Things Up
  • 5. Name Your Bun

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  • Garren ..

    Nice, clean looking burger joint convenient if your staying at the Best Western Plus Americana. Staff was friendly and helpful. Got Angus burger, sweet potato fries. Fries were excellent and the full order is enormous. The burger was great too with the multi grain bun (feels healthier, lol). But I did not get my BBQ sauce that I ordered. Also checked in on here and got a free fountain drink. Prices are actually pretty good for a custom burger joint.

    (4)
  • Rafik H.

    Great Burgers and specials !

    (5)
  • Sam D.

    The best part about Custom Burger is in the title. You can make whatever burger you want, and they offer you little sheets of paper to select the ingredients. I think this, in particular, is a nice touch because then I don't have to be "that customer" that's asking for specific things on the burger. I can just hand them my paper and be on with my day. It's like robbing a bank with a note, but I have to give them money and then they have to give me a burger. The burger was pretty good. Nothin' too fancy here, but definitely satisfies burger cravings.

    (4)
  • Kym M.

    Atmosphere and the staff were great. The breakfast, the cowboy scramble, was merely ok. The potatoes were not cooked enough and drenched in oil had absolutely no flavor. The meat in the scrambles eggs was good but the eggs also were dripping in oil with no flavor. The oil even overpowered the taste of cheese. I'm all about a greasy breakfast, but when it's basically served in a bowl of oil....it's dissapointing. I had such high hopes. I'll still go to try the burgers though but steer clear of breakfast unless you like bland.

    (2)
  • Zoe M.

    Very pricey burger but it was delicious and the 1/2 order of fries I got were just as big as the full order. It's a one timer for me.

    (3)
  • Blake B.

    The name of this place says it all. If you're into burgers and you want to make it your own you need to check out this place. I wouldn't say it's the greatest burger I've ever had but making it completely custom is pretty cool. There are so many options to choose from to that I can't even describe it here, you have to check it out yourself.

    (3)
  • Paul D.

    Had a burger topped with the Kobe beef, grilled onions, and mushrooms, etc with curly fries. Bonus points: the medium rare burger was "actually" medium rare. Why do so few know how to do this correctly? Great job. My only complaint, and it's minor comes to burger assembly. Hint: put the cheese on top of the mushrooms so they don't fall out of the burger while eating. Other bonus: they brought the fries to the table when they were ready. So, while waiting on my burger (short wait anyway), I had some hot crispy fries to munch on. I'll definitely be back One funny thing I noticed browsing reviews while waiting for my meal, most of the negatives are from people who ordered something other than a hamburger. Why would you go to a burger joint and not order a burger? People confuse me sometimes....

    (4)
  • Jimmy K.

    Burgers are pretty average. Both the burger and the bacon were pretty dry. Fries are pretty good though. Probably wouldn't come back except that it's so close to my place.

    (3)
  • Jason B.

    Have it your way. No longer here: gawker.com/you-can-no-lo… Still going here: customburgersf.com/#!men… Five steps include grilled chicken, hoisin glaze, grilled pineapple, sauteed onions, homemade BBQ sauce and multigrain buns. Together it made for a way good burger. So many options come at a very reasonable $8 price which includes a pickle spear. Burgers are delivered to your table and there is a bit of a fun retro red theme. Leave room for a Ghirardelli brownie. Rich, moist and so full of chocolate. Way to go.

    (4)
  • Rob G.

    Let me start off by saying these sweet potato fries are superb! I also got a burger on multigrain bun with pineapple, onions and chipotle mayo and it was excellent!!

    (5)
  • Karen C.

    Nice place to make your own burger and some yummy sweet potato or/ and regular fries with dips. Price is reasonable. Not expensive

    (4)
  • Ebon T.

    Black olive tapenade on the regular burger was fantastic fries were good and the curly fries were excellent as well. Restaurant is connected to a hotel and also opens to the outside. We were staying in the best western and this place was close. We will definitely eat here again.

    (5)
  • Matthew G.

    This place used to be good and a lot of fun, but not so much now. Very nice people working here who don't seem to have a lot of direction. The fountain drinks are WAY watered down. Sweet potato fries are mealy. We'll assume they still use good quality beef, but the bun could have been fresher, or barring that, toasted. With so many other places to go for a burger that are better values/better quality, there's not a whole lot of compelling reason to patronize "Custom" Burger. Unfortunately.

    (2)
  • Ron M.

    Great burgers, decent deals, and good variety is all you need when eating at a burger shop; and Custom has all three.

    (5)
  • Kevin S.

    Make-your-own burgers places are cool. Real non-fast food burgers are great. And for that I give this place my appreciation. Grab one of the paper forms from the counter and write down all of your own specific cravings to incorporate into your burger. Well, be frugal, because you can't have everything. The value for one of these burgers isn't really reasonable once you start adding to the starting patty. $6 for a basic burger that you can build yourself (other "base burgers" can become WAY more expensive) is fine, but when it only comes with 3 toppings and then you have to pay a whole dollar for cheese the price starts to jump. $7 for a cheeseburger, ok. But if you want lettuce, tomatoes, onions, AND something else to make your burger a little special, it climbs to $8. I got the regular beef burger with red onions, pineapple, and the hot chilis spread with the BBQ sauce and it was very satisfying after a long morning full of hunger and boredom while stuck in a stuffy dark classroom. However even though I consider my choice in toppings to be very synergetic, there was still something missing from the burger. The flavors were there, they just didn't wow me, and I felt like I was a pretentious Food Network judge being boringly unimpressed with a slightly better than average food of the common people. The patty was juicy, the pineapple sweet, and the peppers packed a lot of heat, but I felt that with only 4 flavor profiles (including the sauce) there was nothing special about this custom burger. Sure I could have added more toppings, but in the spirit of finding budget meals I decided to stick with the minimal offered. The appearance was rather blah too (I uploaded a picture of a green blob on top of a brown circle on a bun on a wrapper). My friend ordered their curly fries though, and those were very good, so I'm shying away from a 2 star review and going for A-OK because of those. This place is a bit overpriced for the quality compared to other burger places I've been to, but I'll probably come back to experiment some more if I'm tired of my regular places. Oh, and check in on yelp and you'll get a free fountain soda.

    (3)
  • Omowale O.

    I actually did not have a burger at Custom Burgers. I had the special of the day which was some sort of buffalo chicken sandwich, fries, and a cup of soup. The food was actually really good. I liked the location. At night the surrounding area can get super sketch but this was close to my hotel so it didn't feel too dangerous walking to it. 3.5 stars only because customer service could be a little warmer and the basic fries are just ok.

    (3)
  • Kelly G.

    I just got french fries so can't say much but they were bomb fries! The store smelled amazing. I definitely want to return for burgers.

    (4)
  • Paul C.

    Nothing special. Pretty expensive for mediocre. They closed on the day of the pride parade. They claimed to be understaffed, they never opened the lounge. The front desk told us everything would be open.

    (3)
  • Jordan H.

    The burger tasted fantastic. I got the angus with blue cheese, tomatoes and jalapeños. Basket of sweet potato fries. They made It quickly and I was originally grateful for it. The problem is I asked for medium done for the beef and most of it is raw. Like literally cooked only just past being bloody. I tried to fight my way way through it but I simply can't. This sucks because everything outside of that was so great. Unfortunately the most important aspect of all... Safety of meat is not there.

    (1)
  • Regina D.

    Great simple customizable fresh burger without any hassles using a slip. While the portion size is mediocre and the price a little over reasonable, the flavor is packed. Try the curly fries.

    (4)
  • Heidi P.

    I was hoping 3rd times a charm. But the service here is sooooo freakin bad I will never be back. Excuse me but if im literally paying $21 for a birger and fries I expect at the VERY least eye contact. Not to mention a please after they drop that giant price bomb on you and a thank you when they throw your number at you. Nothing. Not one of these things happened any of the 3 times I have been here...seriously? $21? I dont care. How good the burger is and its really not THAT great...good not great. By the time Imade the 6 min walk home my bun was soaked. I wont do it again! 1 star is for the fries (as long as you order them crispy)

    (1)
  • Travis A.

    Good prices and Pretty good hamburgers. So if you're looking for a good fast place to eat go here

    (3)
  • Mikey L.

    Excellent sweet potato and regular fries, hot and crispy. Lots of cool sauces to choose from. Burgers are hearty, even the veggie patty is tasty. Prices are very reasonable by SF standards.

    (4)
  • Mitzy M.

    Four stars seems too much... but Three stars too little. Damn you lack of half stars! Stopped in here on a rainy night before heading to Mr. Smith's and just craving any kind of food and beer! Low key, not busy place that had food on one side, and a bar on the opposite side partitioned by a wall. Cute setup. We both got the philly cheesesteak special with fries and it was quite delicious! Paired with a Sierra Nevada Torpedo IPA and I was very happy. The downside was the tap was not working very well, so our beer was limited to one. I would return here again if I was in the area, but wouldn't go out of my way.

    (3)
  • Howard H.

    I had the Kobe beef burger with arugula and BBQ sauce. The meat was pretty good. My medium rare burger was juicy, but not nearly as juicy as a 4505 Meats burger. It was nice that they had arugula as a choice for greens. The peppery flavor of the arugula really helped to enhance the flavor of the beef. They should replace their buns. The sesame bun is lackluster. It's a mass produced, off the shelf bun. It tastes stale and dense. It really broke the whole burger for me. If they had a light brioche bun, this would have easily been a 4 star burger.

    (3)
  • Meghan H.

    I just moved to the area, and I wanted to eat some hug for lunch besides subway. I went to custom burger because there aren't that many options in this area. I ordered a veggie burger with tomatoes and lettuce and jalapeños. It was so gross. The veggie patty was disgusting and the burger kept falling apart and leaking sauces. I'm never going there again. I guess I'll just stick to subway.

    (1)
  • Brandon G.

    Pretty weak burger spot. Seems like they microwaved some frozen Tyson chicken, threw it on a bun and called it a day. Interior decor was cheap and cheezy, and not kept up. So many other better burger joints, try Super Duper to start.

    (2)
  • Rafhael S.

    The service absolutely terrible. I called in ahead to pick up and ended up waiting 45 minutes once I got to the restaurant, and that was 15 minutes after the call. I'm not one to bitch about wait time, had the restaurant been packed, but it was completely empty with what to me looked like a staff of people not wanting to do anything. They messed up the order before mine, which was also delayed and by the time I got home, my burger looked like it was super saucy in blood and moo-ing, medium well does not mean still kicking - fyi. By then I just laughed it off because at least I knew the disappointment carried through. I live across the Street from this place and the only benefit it has, to me at least, is reassuring myself that I'm not that desperate to eat a burger. And if I'm craving one , just walk to Super Duper- cheaper, faster and way more tastier.

    (1)
  • Jesse S.

    Most important thing you need to know: Overpriced! -Cheapest, regular, plain burger w/ no cheese starts at $6.99 (and climbs to $11.99) -Add Cheese: $.99 -Add More than 3 toppings: $.99 -Add More than one spread: $.99 -This does not include fries or any other side One burger w/ Swiss and small fries was over $10. Not including a drink. And the burger was just okay. Fries were super generic, frozen steak fries. The place was totally dead at 1PM on a Tuesday. Very stale, sterile atmosphere. This is the type of place where you get full and yet you want to eat the rest of your fries and the rest of your food just to get every last penny's worth of what you just paid. Super lame.

    (1)
  • Perris B.

    Had a awesome turkey burger and sweet potato Fries that were out of this world. If your looking to get a burger with unlimited options this place is for you!

    (5)
  • Mandi T.

    This place was right across the street from where we were staying in the bay - the carriage in. Burger with grilled onions bacon and mushrooms on a potato bun. Pepper jack cheese. Got the house sauce as a companion to my burger. Deep fried pickles with a ranch dipping sauce. Perfect after half marathon meal, post carb and protein load. LOL. I thought everything was pretty tasty, then again I was starving. My friends LOVED the place and would totally return. They got my meal to go and waiting for me in the room. :) A little pricey though. However, they have pretty decent hours, plus serves beer and wine - which is necessary for burgers and grub.

    (4)
  • Grayson E.

    Good place to stop in for a quick bite. You build your own burger using their handy checklist, pay at the register, and find a place to sit while you wait for your order. I typically go for their 1/3 lb. Angus burger, but many people like the American Kobe. There are several toppings and sauces to choose from so you can be creative with your burger. I typically order onion rings - they're awesome! Sweet potato fries are also very good.

    (3)
  • Ryan R.

    3.5 stars only because it is way over priced. I am surprised that i enjoyed their burger. Its not for everyone tho. Maybe because they can pretty much put anything on your burger. I ordered the kobe beef patty with mushroom and jalapeños and ketchup - cost about $17. That is pretty expensive. I really enjoyed my combination of mushroom and spices, but i cant recommend it to everyone because it expensive. If you want to try it just to try it it is fine to go there atleast once.

    (3)
  • Leif D.

    Good choice of toppings, patties, and condiments. Little too bloody for a medium rare.

    (4)
  • Rishikesh T.

    Pretty good selection. Since I'm Low-Carb/Keto and vegetarian I got the veggie burger with no bun. It's quite easy to add healthy toppings at not too high a price, and the sauces were great. Otherwise standard fare for burger salads. I got food to go since I was eating at a friend's house.

    (4)
  • Pedro D.

    I don't know if make sense to pay 12$ for a small tasty burger with a freedom french fries and it was pure flesh and healthy. When you walk into the place, you have to order at the counter then they give u a number to place on your table so they can bring the dish to you and there is not a lot going to a town full of" start-up douchebags who helped to raise housing costs." I left full and happy to come back again. Cheers

    (5)
  • Josie C.

    Awesome variety to create the ultimate custom burger! Loved the way I was able to create a delicious veggie burger, portions are big, priced just right!

    (5)
  • Samantha K.

    Good burger - made your way. Custom Burger is attached to the Best Western so the place draws tourists as well as people who live in the nearby condos. Nice ability to mitx and match things to make your own burger. Asked for my burger medium, and perfectly cooked Sorry to say the person who I was with also had their burger cooked medium - but it looked more medium rare than medium (although he said it tasted good he wished it were a bit more cooked.) Great sweet potatoe fries, ability to have a nice glass of wine and beer, and good service (even though you order at the register they deliver to the table). Comfortable seating.....atmosphere good. So these things offset the burger patty cooking issue cited, and still made me rate it a 4 Price is about a $1.00 more than the gourmet burger at Carl's and although they have pricier items on the menu such as Kobe beef burger, salmon burger - I consider this place reasonably priced for the much better quality; ability to have your burger your way; and quality of ingredients - so thus the 4 stars.

    (4)
  • William L.

    Decent burgers that are rather expensive if you actually want toppings (aside from the standard lettuce & tomato). The patty is nothing to write home about but you will leave full and satisfied. The portions here are HUGE. They give you way too many fries and way too many onion rings but hey, no one's complaining. If you want to grab a quick burger and beer then give this place a try. If you are a gourmet burger junkie then you should probably look elsewehre.

    (3)
  • James P.

    Burger is average and topings are additional to the already expensive prices then fries are also additional. Service is quick so if in a hurry its ok!

    (1)
  • Jay T.

    I only ate here for breakfast (I know, I know, it's a burger joint, what do I expect? But that's why I'm noting it first), but I was underwhelmed. Actually, the French Toast I had was fine. Or maybe it was pancakes. Whatever, the point is the food was not memorable. What is memorable was the fact that the menu states that they have Ghirardelli hot chocolate. Sounds good, right? So I ordered some. And watched as the cashier pulled out a pack of Nestle hot chocolate and used the little milk frother thing to mix with it. Talk about don't piss on my boots and tell me it's raining! One star deducted for lying about what kind of chocolate is used.

    (2)
  • J M.

    I was torn on how to rate this place. I stayed in the Best Western to which the restaurant is attached, so it was the most convenient food I was aware of during the week I was there. UItimately, I give it 3 stars - not bad, but nothing to write home about. I feel like maybe I didn't quite do it right because they had a lot of customizable options, but I went with the standard bacon cheeseburger (the first night). The burger was good, big, but nothing remarkable. The fries seemed previously-frozen and were soggy with grease, which was clearly not hot enough. Breakfast was actually a little better... if you don't mind a puddle of oil. I had an Americania Bfast sandwich that was delicious, probably because the fat with which it was drenched. I felt like I needed a shower after; too bad I was on my way out, to work. The prices were, in my opinion, higher than the "quality" justified. I paid $14 for an $8 burger and fries. I'd go back just for the convenience factor, but not if I had another viable option.

    (3)
  • Erick L.

    I had dinner here last night. The food was just ok. The bun was cold, the bacon was not crispy at all, the mushrooms tasted as if they came from a can,and the fried egg was completely over cooked. It was not an enjoyable experience for my partner and I. We did however like the curly fries and onion rings, but thats about it. Too expensive for mediocre food.

    (2)
  • Teese N.

    Deep fried pickles. Sadly, that's the only thing I can really remember from this joint. Plus: Custom burgersss, duh. Oh, and tons of sauces for your choosing. Cons: Meat patty wasn't that great. Definitely not a juicy burger if you're ever craving for one. For that price $$, not worth it to me. Unless your having some serious deep fried pickle craving.

    (2)
  • FoodDudeS F.

    Good concept, mediocre execution. I like the variety of choices, and I'll admit that my 1/3 lb. burger had a nice thickness to it that is sorely lacking at other places. But... would it have KILLED you to have thrown the bun on the grill for a minute? Don't you by now that a hot hamburger on a room temp bun is a MAJOR LETDOWN? It just becomes DOUGH with meat inside it. Speaking of major letdown: the french fries were very ordinary, very pedestrian. The whole place seems to exist to feed European tourists who are passing through, spending their time at Good Hotel or The Best Western, so I guess their approach is, "Why should we bother? None of these folks are coming back and there's always a new batch of Euro-trash coming next week." And it shows. There's a real lackluster attitude in the staff. The whole place is depressing. FOLKS, there is good food in this city, and you don't even have to walk that far from your cheap hotel on 7th Street to find it. Try Pearl's Burgers (0.3 miles away) or try Show Dogs (0.3 miles away.) OR, someone convince the management of Custom Burger to take a few extra steps to make this place better: warm the bun, learn how to cook fresh fries, not frozen ones out of a bag, and give your workers something to live for. The place is a fr**kin' bummer. PS: Pickle spears on the side are NICE, but pickles slices, that can go on a hamburger as a topping, are better.

    (2)
  • Leah K.

    I've been wanting to try a Goober burger and this place was perfect for that! They made the hamburger just the way I like it and gave me peanut butter (a very good helping I should add!) on the side so I can add the amount that I want to my burger. A goober burger is a fried egg on top of your hamburger with all the normal fixings and peanut butter. If you are a peanut butter lover like me then you should try it! Not only was the burger delicious but I loved the fried pickles. Instead of slicing the pickles in thin small round pieces and deep frying in a crispy layer of batter they actually fry up spears! Awesome! I ate nearly the entire basket of fried pickles myself! Yum.. and now I am hungry!

    (4)
  • Michael R.

    I usually always order take-out from these guys because I live close; so keep in mind I've never had the "sit down" experience. The restaurant itself appears very clean and is attached to the Best Western Americana Hotel in the Soma district. The burgers are pretty tasty! You can literally create your own burger with a number of ingredients, though I never do because of the expense. I pretty much always go for their Cheddar Meal (10.99), which includes fries and a fountain drink. There are no substitutions to the combos, but of course you can add on, which is nice (I usually add a fried egg). The third star is given for their little known dinner menu. Sure, "Custom Burger" will draw you in for--what else? Burgers. I assume for the guests of the hotel the dinner menu is a bit more popular. There are some tasty main entrees, dinner salads, soups and sandwiches. Everything I've ordered from the menu has been *quality* (or at least tastes quality), something you don't always expect at a burger joint. One major downside to this place is the wait time. I've personally (as well as observed other customers) wait up to 20-25 minutes for their food. I would blame it on being there "on a bad day", but I come here a lot and it appears to be a consistent problem.. The cashier can seem a bit stoic but she's really sweet once she warms up to you. Strike up a conversation!

    (3)
  • Daniel S.

    tuesday's special sandwich, buffalo chicken with avocado, swiss, and ranch is EVERYTHING.

    (4)
  • Jan M.

    I've been a few times and will keep coming back for the easy, customizable burger in upper soma. It's always fresh and the ability to pick and choose means plenty of healthy options.

    (4)
  • Brusso L.

    The first glance at Custom Burger you know it's a quality gourmet burger joint. Their simple and unique burger menu goes with the simple and unique decor. Their burgers are one of the best in the city and the condiments are some of the freshest I've ever had on a burger. They prices are low to medium but worth every penny. If you care for a top shelf high quality drink, head to the Custom Lounge next door!. The staff is very professional and the kitchen seems very organised and clean.

    (4)
  • Courtney F.

    Great little place to have a good burger! You can choose to have a regular beef burger or even chicken, turkey or salmon. You can customize what they put on the burger and they have some specialty things like Chipotle Ketchup to add to your burgers. This place is specialty burger place. Delicious burger and loved the Sweet Potato Fries. They do serve alcohol, which I didn't expect and was a pleasant surprise.

    (4)
  • Joanna L.

    *sigh* Custom Burger, I wanted to like you. You're a funky little spot...kind of retro, kind of modern. Heck, you're attached to a Best Western. But, alas, the only flavor I found with you was in your decor. Your burger is the blandest thing I have ever eaten. I got a glimpse of what life would be like if I did not have taste buds, and, let me tell you, it is not a life worth living. I ordered the Angus beef on a wheat bun with lettuce, tomato, and garlic aioli. Kind of boring, I know, but I prefer to let the meat be the star of my burger experiences and I never load up on toppings and sauces. I was waiting for juicy deliciousness when I bit into my burger and instead I tasted...nothing. Seriously, nothing. The beef wasn't seasoned or juicy, the bun was dry, the tomato was that gross pinky-orange color, the lettuce leaf was not in fact a leaf- it was the rib- and the garlic aioli? Oh no, that was not aioli. That was glumpy Miracle Whip and it was gross. French fries? I love them and can eat about two hundred of them in a sitting. At Custom Burger, I ate two. 'Nuff said.

    (2)
  • Zack Y.

    I would have gave 4 stars because the food is good. But the service is poor. We were a party of nine and we had to all eat separately. Definitely not suitable for groups. Otherwise everyone enjoyed his meal. I had the Cesar salad with grilled chicken and it was big and simple but tasty.

    (3)
  • John H.

    I mean, the burgers are fairly good. Not great, but good. The thing is, these people have gotten so confused about basic pricing that it's almost offensive. To give you an example, you get one sauce for free, and you pay 50 cents for each extra. Ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise are sauces. So, just to get the basic free condiments that come by default on pretty much every burger everywhere else costs a dollar extra. And it's not like they're fancy. The bottles are out. It's Heinz, French's yellow, and Hellman's. I tried to point this out to the kid who charged me $8 for the angus patty to start (not even their best beef,) and he told me "well it's because our meat is so good." They charge fifty cents for mass produced commercial ketchup ... because of the quality of the meat. You get three toppings for free; after that it's a dollar apiece. Lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles are toppings. So, forget the meat and the bread; just getting the sauces and the vegetables you're used to from McDonalds' adds two dollars to the already frankly exorbitant price (no, Custom Burger, a small patty of local beef does not cost eight dollars.) Cheese is another dollar. Bacon is another dollar. And, I'll be honest. It just wasn't a great burger. I was at a bowling alley a couple days ago that gave me a larger burger for half the price which was substantially better. (I think it was called Mission Bowling Club, but I'm new to the area, so that might not be right. If you see Nixon with squid arms on the walls, that's the place.) Frankly, the burgers at national chains like Fuddruckers' are even pretty substantially better, let alone the Super Duper a mile away. It seems like no surprise to me that this place was a ghost town at dinner time in SoMa; at these prices, I have a hard time imagining their clientele is any kind of repeat business. I was asked for $14 for a moderately good bacon cheeseburger made out of not-fancy beef. "But it's locally organically grown by" who cares, it wasn't that good. And then they wanted another $4 for a "large" relatively small fries? I work less than a block from this place, and I love hamburgers. I don't think I'm going back. The kid at the counter was really friendly and helpful, though. Three stars for fairly good food, minus one for wildly inappropriate prices.

    (2)
  • Ivan L.

    What an odd little spot! Part burger shop, part bar, part Scientology reading room! The burger menu is a "build you own" kind of thing: choose meat, toppings, veggies, bun, etc. I'd recommend going for something a bit special: bacon & cheese or an egg or something. The burgers are really pretty average on their own. Sweet potato fries are slowly becoming common in SF but Custom Burger does them perfect. The bar isn't standout in anyway, kind of a place without character. But you can have your food delivered there which kicks things up a notch. Where it gets weird is beyond the bar. A room of mouldering 50s retro dinner Americana and a strange lobby/reading room. What's the plan for these haunted spaces?

    (3)
  • Ashley S.

    They have pretty decent burgers and their onion rings and pretty darn good and decently priced for being in downtown SF and attached to a hotel. Would definitely recommend

    (4)
  • Allison v.

    I braved walking through Mid-Market to get to this restaurant, and I'm glad it was worth it. I ordered an Angus burger with cheddar, lettuce, tomato, and jalapenos. It was juicy and smoky, but my husband's American Kobe tasted even better with its sweetness. I wish I'd ordered the Kobe even though I think "American Kobe" is an oxymoron. The half-and-half basket was a good size. To top off our meal, we ordered vanilla and strawberry milkshakes which were a good thickness but still drinkable through a straw. The waitress was really helpful and competent which is sadly rare these days. The main drawback is that we averaged $40 for the two of us.

    (4)
  • Kate W.

    custom burger is alright, pretty good. not horrible and not fantastic. i always get a gardenburger so that's all i've had. the fries are good, but something about them seems off to me. i like the whole make your own burger thing, it's just that the gardenburger is slightly bland. also, things are a bit overpriced. the small basket of fries (which is actually quite big) at $1.50 is a deal though. i'll definitely be going back because i am in that area a lot and it's good, it's just not great.

    (3)
  • LT B.

    Despite the location not being in the greatest neighborhood, I will venture back here anytime! I love the custom menu. My first time last night was a little overwhelming when I first walked in and saw all the menu components, but after 10 min I was ready to go. I can see how one could get carried away with putting all the toppings together to make a disaster combo. The side order of sweet potato fries were good, but not as good as Taylor's Ultimate Refresher. I ordered the salmon burger w/ hoisin glaze, green chiles, and balsalmic onions. SO GOOD. I'm already planning out what I'm ordering the next time I go! The prices weren't too bad - you pay for the customization and it's well worth it! I saw the breakfast menu and it looked really over priced.

    (4)
  • Gramme F.

    I was so looking forward to this being a regular lunch spot in the relatively barren area, but I have to say, I won't be rushing back. Whenever I go to a burger place, I get what I call a 'control burger:" nothing fancy-just a burger with regular trimmings and cheese. One of those and Coke set me back over $10.00, which is just too steep for what, in the end, was just a mediocre burger. A little over cooked and not presented all that nicely. And for that amount of money, I don't think it would hurt them to add a couple of fries. I'm glad they have an array of exotic trimmings, which I think is good in theory, but in the end, it turned out that having an egg and pineapple on my burger. Unless they do a mild price reduction, I think Custom Burger might be off my list. Oh, well.

    (3)
  • Marcus C.

    I just had one of the most expensive lunches ever. Custom Burger is a great idea, and I did dig the burger I designed, but really, how did my lunch get to be nearly $20? And I may have missed it on the order slip, but I don't think I had a chance to designate how I wanted my cow cooked. I only realized the omission when I received my well-done burger. I like my beef a little bloody!

    (3)
  • Walter G.

    Well, I guess I'm gonna be a fatty now! This joint opened a week ago, and it's located on my bock! I had one of the best burgers I have had in a long time, and I am by all means, a burgerphile. The missing star is on account of the long time I had to wait for my burger. The manager made it her case to apologize personally to all the starving patrons and give us a card for a free meal! I sampled 2 of the sauces and they were perfect. Everything was perfect! I think my new calling is to be a Burger Stylist.

    (4)
  • Stu M.

    This place could have very easily gotten five stars. It certainly has its most important component down pretty well: They make a damn tasty burger. If everything else was just "good enough" then I'd be giving four or five stars. But here is what drags them down (in list form): - They don't ask how done you want your burger. Isn't this the most common burger customizing option? One side of my burger was well done, the other side was probably medium. The uneven done-ness level wasn't a big deal though since the whole thing was tasty and juicy. - The fries were pretty tasty, but some of them on the bottom were a little mushy. I think everyone prefers crispy fries. - I chose American cheese but my burger arrived with no cheese instead. When the burger arrived it was very tasty and I was hungry, so I got through about 2/3 of it before I realized that there was no cheese. I got $1 back. - They don't serve root beer. A burger is basically the most American of foods, so why not serve one of the most American of drinks? Even just one kind of premium bottled root beer would have been good, or Mug on fountain. - I asked for a Diet Coke, and got a regular Coke instead. - Mr. Food Runner Man wasn't rude, but he wasn't friendly either. Despite that long list, I did enjoy my lunch. This just won't be a "go-to" place for me.

    (3)
  • Tiberius A.

    I really wish we can give 1/4s and 1/2s...thus, I give this new burger joint a solid 3.5. I got the exact burger I ordered - was a heart attack as a lot has already mentioned, not a bad thing so if you want that really filling burger here's your place. Very filling and the fries are very yummy - I'm glad the cashier suggested it. Conveniently, it is connected to a bar/lounge. Pretty happy to have another option here in SoMa just yards away from the house. I took out, but would be very comfortable hanging there with friends any day of the week. And for those veggies, they have veggie burgers. Good luck!

    (3)
  • Will A.

    Custom Burger doesn't make a horrible burger, and they definitely live up to the promise of a custom-ordered burger with tons of toppings, different patty types, sauces, etc. Unfortunately they cook the burgers to a very dry medium-well which is the perfect match for the dry and crumbly buns they serve it on. Custom Burger doesn't rate well compared to Chez Maman, Father's Office, Earl's, and I even prefer In-N-Out. So a big thumbs down for the burger, but the sweet potato fries are good.

    (2)
  • Anthony S.

    To those of you who wrote negative reviews about Custom Burger - I'd be more worried about having a heart attack because of attitude than the hamburgers and fries served here! Please keep this in mind: THIS PLACE IS IN SOFT OPENING! It's been running for less than a week. Perfection is not going to happen on the first day or even the first week - especially in a part of town so desperate for food choices, and if you're complaining about the price of the burgers you'd better head to McD's or Burger King. This is a GOURMET burger restaurant! I know several of the people who work there. They have worked VERY long days and nights to get it open. Yes there are issues to take care of, but I encourage everyone to give it a try. Imagine the frustration of the employees who are trying to make it the best experience possible for the patrons - but you won't see it on their faces! The service is wonderful with smiles and good attitudes all around. They are working hard, people! To those of you who obviously sat in the restaurant with your laptops and wrote your reviews (you know who you are!) I suggest that you go open your own restaurant and make it perfect from day one - not one issue. Then you can criticize this place all you want. The full finished product is yet to come. Give it time. Give it a chance. Walk in with some extra time and a little patience. I promise you will be glad you did - and save room for a milkshake!

    (5)
  • Jeff H.

    If you're a burger freak, TRY THIS place. If you have the need for a plethora of meat choices, crazy sauces, buns a plenty, and a stack o' onion rings... check it out. You will not be disappointed by the food but you may suffer from overload as there are way too many GOOD things to choose from. How many kinds of Mayo can one place offer? And how often do you get the choice between Kobe and Black Angus beef? Only CB can answer that question. I will be going back....

    (4)
  • Justin K.

    Get your burger just how you want, absolutely novel. Tons of items to choose from that come free with you burger, too. I get the basic 1/3 angus burger on wheat, with marinated balsamic onions, green chile, and tomato with garlic aioli, and it's awesome. Fries and onions rings are great too, but make sure you have someone to share them with, especially the onion rings.

    (5)
  • Grant D.

    what i like about this place: - it is very user friendly. they have big signs telling you where to stand and what you can order. they even have a little slip of paper you circle for the items you want on your burger. - lots of choices, means lots of people can find exactly the taste they are looking for. they have a good selection of burgers (including veggie) and cheeses, a generous array of toppings (including arugula, marinated balsamic onions and sauteed mushrooms), special sauces and buns. - i like the decor- it's working an updated 50's diner look, kind of classy but with formica tables and a little upscale look, extra points for the cloth napkin, but the trays they serve their burgers in are a little difficult to eat out of- i would prefer a regular plate. - the prices are totally reasonable: i get a lemonade, veggie burger with cheese and above mentioned toppings and a side of fries for under 10 dollars.

    (4)
  • Jaime Patricio M.

    I was comparing this to Holy Grill; they have the same average rating; I find this suprising--Custom Burger is much better. Holy Grill pre or post new management or ownership seems so un-inspired despite its excellent and outpost location. Custom Burger is truly about building a burger to your liking; I like all of the options including a Brioche bread and sauteed mushrooms. I have read a lot of critical reviews but not sure why they are so sharp. The approach and offering shows a passion for their mainstay product. The options are nice and present a much better value than Holy Grill - a few blocks to the south. I like the height of the burger and felt the quality and quantity ratio was quite reasonable. The fries both potato and sweet potato was were both nice; they were wands of delicious potassium; I took note of the sweet potato and was glad they were not soggy or weighted down; a mistake made by many but not here. I enjoyed my burger here and looking forward to going back for an American Kobe burger and to try their onions rings.

    (4)
  • Ming L.

    A burger made your way...sounds pretty good. Actually, it's just OK. I had the Angus burger with mushrooms on Brioche and had a side of sweet potatoe fries. The burger was a bit over cooked for my tastes, but the sweet potatoe fries were pretty darn good. Kudos for having a good variety of burgers (salmon, turkey, veggie, angus, kobe, etc...) and toppings, but it's a bit expensive for just a burger.

    (3)
  • Danny C.

    my grandmother lives across the street from custom, so i've been here a few times, and it has been quite good. i had angus burgers on the multigrain bun, and my toppings have included arugula, fire-roasted salsa, roasted chiles, and grilled pineapples. the burger is pretty big, and i asked for mine medium-rare and got the it perfectly done each time. yes, the burgers and drinks are pretty pricey, especially for the neighborhood, but the waitresses are always friendly and the burgers hot and greasy. if you're in the mood for a nice, fat burger that you wouldn't mind waiting about 5-10 minutes for, but made with what you want, this is the place for you. also, their sweet potato fries are incredible. they get a star alone just for having those ridiculously good fries.

    (4)
  • Evan K.

    Wow, what a confoundingly awful idea: let me choose a bunch of strange things that I'd never usually put into a burger... and charge me mad cash for each one. I don't know how to customize my goddamn burger, do it for me! I'm a lazy uncultured idiot who should never even attempt to customize anything that I eat. I will fail! Garlic aoli? I don't even know what that is. The meat was burnt. Too many bright lights. Are you also telling me that this is a lounge? Who the hell would drink here? Can you think of anything more depressing?

    (2)
  • Charles D.

    the burger was juicy. the sweet potatoes friends were crispy. the ambience was hip. the vegetables were fresh. the price was reasonable. the buns were seeded. the location was prime. the service was great. the 4 stars were well earned.

    (4)
  • Bonnie R.

    Thank you Custom Burger. I love you.

    (5)
  • Steve G.

    Had breakfast here after a great night partying pre-Folsom. Something about late night carousing makes me wake up famished. Custom Burger is in the hotel where we are staying and has some of the same retro-Ikea-don't take it all to seriously approach to decor. I have read the of the great burgers but will not be trying them out. If you can't handle breakfast you kinda just suck. They serve poached eggs in a cereal bowl because they are swimming in water like those poor last corn flakes in a bowl of milk. Oh...btw how hard is it to do toast? Hard,dry,cold bread is NOT toast...it is prison food. Bacon when it is too crispy is just burnt so the cooks here decide to err on the side of caution and only cook it long enough to be the consistency of snot. The shot glass of coffee was just enough to give me the energy to go somewhere else for a real breakfast so I smiled at the guy who was wearing a t-shirt telling me that jeezus will save me if I just believe who was clearing the tables and left....I was left wondering if he wore the t-shirt just for all the pervs in town for Folsom or if that is he usually Saturday attire? Ummmm....they do have nice windows.

    (1)
  • Ben G.

    This place is actually like a 3.5 but I'm rounding down. First I want to say I'm stoked that there's any development whatsoever in this long-neglected area of SOMA, and it's nice to see Joie de Vivre come in and refurbish a couple hotels, in a vague approximation of LA's Downtown Standard. But the comparison is unflattering, both for the hotel and restaurant -- unlike the Standard's over-the-top, highly tasty and surprisingly cheap restaurant, Custom Burger is a bare-bones modern interpretation of the burger joint, one step above a burger cafeteria. Its design is clever and the check-box order system is cute, but unfortunately, both the plain-jane gray walled environment and the food end up seeming a little bland. Sweet potato fries are interesting but way too sweet, regular fries are, sadly, sub In-n-Out. Burgers are okay but a little dry, and what's with the weird sour pickle? Pickles are my favorite, but blechhh. Moreover, everything is way too expensive for this still-borderline-crack-house location. Take the prices down 20% and it might be a 4-star bargain. I like the design, I like the idea, and I've had a couple totally decent meals here. But I wouldn't make it a destination if I lived more than a few blocks away.

    (3)
  • Jun B.

    You would think you would be able to customize the way you want your burgers cooked since it is CUSTOM Burger after all but it turns out that you do not get that privilege. You can pick and choose everything else from the meat to the bun but beware they BURN your burgers!! Our burgers were so well done, so charred and so dry. The lethargic cashier who took our order did not even offer to ask us how we want our burgers cooked. Not sure if he forgot or if he was just so out of it. The only saving grace is the ketchupotle sauce and the sweet potato fries. And the decor is pretty. White walls, red chairs and their lone mustard-man artwork on the white walls is cute. But I don't think I'll ever come back. Been there done that.

    (2)
  • Aaron L.

    Had the lamb burger here which was simply scrumptious. Toppings were perfect, cooking was perfect. The fries came out in a Frjtz-like style, wrapped up in paper and served with sauces. Again, tasty. In all, a great place to indulge your inner-carnivore.

    (3)
  • Zac B.

    they are really close to where I work. They are really expensive, but its a pretty good burger. Nice atmosphere. Their WIFI never works but there a few open wifi access points near by. They have american kobe if you like that. Sauces are good but I never know what to get. You have to choose one but I usually just want plain mustard and nothing special. Stay away from the veggie burger at all costs. The "tower of onion rings" is good but it will probably kill you from fat intake if you eat it alone.

    (4)
  • Ted G.

    One of the best burgers I've ever had in the city. They certainly have more than enough options: veggie, beef, lamb, turkey, several types of buns, lots of great toppings. They only issue with the place is that you can pretty easily make yourself a $15-20 burger. But the food is great. As many have said, get the sweet potato fries, you won't regret it. Having the bar/lounge next door is great too. Highly recommended if you don't mind paying a bit of a premium.

    (4)
  • Brittany L.

    Way too much money, but does that really surprise you? There are "bougie" burger joints littered all over this town! The sweet potato fries are really nice, and I love all the "fancy" options to customize your burger. The veggie burger tasted very fluffy and delicious, and my boyfriend and I larded it out with pineapple, red pepper feta, hot green chilies, and a bunch of other shit that should never go together on a burger. The garlic aioli was a let down, but the blue cheese sauce was so sick and terrible for me that I ate it right up! You'll have killer gut rot afterwards, but it's all yummy going down. I don't really understand the trend of sterilized interior design. I felt really exposed and gross eating here. Order out.

    (4)
  • Ms C.

    Clean, bright, spacious place next to some bar + motel. You can customised the ingredients to whichever you like * i liked it! Clean burger, i can't say it's a 5 star burger, but it's descent & polite. a bit pricey for a burger, but it's worth to try & to come back into :p~~ the staff are mostly nice people, they deliver it to your table. Yummie, I'd come back again sometimes. It's definitely in my list to come back again.

    (4)
  • John S.

    I had the lamb burger and a basket of sweet potato fries. I had to wait a little bit longer than I wanted to but it was worth the wait. The sandwich was fresh, the fries disappeared into my stomach, overall a good experience. The set up was really nice too, AND they had a bar next door. Definitely a win.

    (4)
  • Norm L.

    I went to Custom Burger the first month they opened and was extremely disappointed. The mushrooms were from a can and I specifically asked if they were and the cashier said they're fresh. Once I bit into my burger I knew they were from a can.(I get sick from canned mushrooms). I approached the manager and he insisted they're fresh. What a way to start a business. I had to scrape them off. Also the kobe patty was charred and overcooked...how can you do that? Although they may have improved by now I have to say never again. I will stick with Joe's Cable Car!

    (2)
  • Mila B.

    Yup yup, pretty pricey place. I got my custom burger (angus burger) and half and half fries for a total of $14.17. =/ didn't even get a drink. You get to choose the meat you want: Angus, Kobe, Lamb, Turkey, Chicken, Salmon or a Veggie burger (priced between $5.99-11.99 depending on meat). Then off to choose the varieties of cheeses, toppings, sauces and your choice of bun. It kind of tasted like Bistro Burger burgers but definitely better especially since you get to choose from different toppings. A star for the FIRE ROASTED SALSA! Minus one star for the pink in some of the parts of my meat. I think I saw that they only had 2 choices of salads. They serve wine by the glass. They do have desserts but I think it was only a Brownie topped w/ ice cream..oh and shakes which I totally forgot that I wanted. Dammit. Anyways.. the fries are pretty good.. but the Sweet Potato fries are the bestest! YUMMI!!

    (4)
  • Jason A.

    Decisions, decisions, decisions. Pick your pencil and menu pad then gaze at the almost endless combinations that are possible at Custom Burger. For those that can't make up your own mind, they have a daily recommendation on the counter. I'd live life a little dangerously and combo up a few things that you normally wouldn't try. My last visit was medium rare Kobe Beef on Brioche topped with an egg, grilled onions, swiss cheese, and Garlic Mayo. With options like the Turkey or Salmon Burger, some non-meat lovers are welcomed to visit. Their fries are worth upgrading to the bigger size, even if your diet says you shouldn't. Move past the mundane burger joints and visit Custom!

    (4)
  • M Y.

    Good burgers but not AWESOME. I like how you can customize your burger. I would've given them 4 stars because of the cashier that doesn't pay attention to what you checked marked on order slip. How can you screw up on that???? I checked off sharp cheddar, not swiss cheese! I checked off lettuce, not jalapenos! I didn't order bacon, either. And the bun is supposed to be multigrain, not potato pepper! I wasn't going to make them change order 'cuz i've waited too long. If you want a seat, go b4 12p. I will try them again, since my fav place Balompie have closed. Also, a bit pricey. $11 for burger, fries and a drink......they already took $2 off for the month of March.

    (3)
  • J A.

    The bun is slightly toasted, SO good.

    (4)
  • Heidi K.

    Super yummy turkey burger! So many options for toppings. And a FULL BAR. This place is rad!

    (5)
  • Antichris E.

    I went back here again, and it's still over priced. However, they currently have a special that gives you $2 off if you by a burger, fries, and a drink. I'm giving it 3 stars because the burgers and fries are decent. I've also gotten over the fact that the price of beer here is really high for a burger joint, and have switched to drinking ice tea.

    (3)
  • Jewel R.

    The burgers are quality (whether meat or vegetarian), and you get to build your own burger from the bun up - which is great. The fries - especially the sweet potato fries and dipping sauces are deliciious. You can even get a 1/2 and 1/2 order (regular and sweet potato fries) if you are trying them for the first time. I work in the area and think It is worth the $$ - but save it for that "special" lunch day - this is not an anyday place to go - unless you usually spend $12 - 15 on lunch.

    (4)
  • Dang L.

    Very good burgers not to mention you can have any type you want with a wide selection of ingredients and sauces to go with it. I've only had the beef but the Kobe sounds great, and my coworkers says the chicken and veggie are both exceptional as well. This place can get crowded with little seats and happens to be a bit pricey up to $13 if you're going to have a burger, half order of fries, and a soda. I recommended it if you're feeling like some good fatty burgers though.

    (3)
  • Nelle A.

    a modified burger doesn't mean appetizingly awesome or tasty and this joint truly exemplify an unexceptional, trying to be chichi with their ground meat & vegetarian sandwich. since they make your sandwich according to your personal preference, they have this "checklist"( that reminds me of a "select menu" they give to patients confined in a hospital) which you pick what you want to be on your preferred burger. so there i was checking off what kind of pattie, condiments, sauce & bread i want to have on my very own personal burger, plus i ordered a "tower of onion rings" and sweet potato fries. i was totally foiled with the whole meal! it was BLAND!....the fancy sauces that supposedly bursting with flavor was distasteful & dull. the frozen onion rings were hard and the fries were super greasy. the beef burger was not appetizing. not only that, breads and patties are not always available for you to have..which they also clearly stated on their checklist.. and that was just awful!!! overall, this place is average...a perfect place to people and to tourists who are staying at the hotel who doesn't know what a real burger should taste!

    (2)
  • cindy c.

    mmmm...burger...this place has the right idea letting you pick out your fixings. the sweet potato fries are delish and so are the shakes! try the mystery sauce on your burger...

    (4)
  • Jeff M.

    We have eaten at Custom Burger multiple times on visits to San Fran in both 2009 and 2010. I really can't complain about the standard burger menu at all. Great burgers cooked any way you like it "select" as you like toppings. Great fries and killer onion rings. The staff has always been friendly and treated us well. My only reason for not giving it a 5 Star - they have odd hours were they close from like 3pm to 5pm every day and we ate breakfast there one day...average at best. Scrambled eggs and hash browns...both of which seemed "cooked in advance and heated/stale".

    (4)
  • tom s.

    I hate to give any place 1 star, but I must in this case... the food was just too terrible. I ordered: The burger - angus beef, pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, sauteed mushrooms, with roasted garlic aioli on a potato pepper bun. The burger had a nice texture, but there was absolutely no taste. The burger actually shocked me by it's utter lack of taste. It was watery and very, very bland. The mug of chili - probably the worst chili I've ever had, and I've had some bad chili. It had a sour taste to it. If it wasn't spoiled, it was teetering on it. I had 1 1/2 bites and couldn't stomach any more. The fries - half regular, half sweet potato. Nothing special, pretty average. Unfortunately, I'd have to say that this was the best item that I ordered. I went with a friend, who ordered a burger as well.. The bill was $32 for the both of us. A little pricey, but it would have been well worth it for a good burger, but not this. Please not this. Never again for me..

    (1)
  • Bren L.

    I was pretty hyped to go to this joint after my coworker raved about it. now, i dont know many burger joints except bistro burgers and barney's so i would pick this over the other two. there are a lot of choices so that's always a plus but most importantly, they have sweet potato fries (my fav); the regular fries were pretty good. i didnt get a chance to try out the onion fries, from what i hear it's pretty good. if you're in the neighborhood (more seedy area of SF), i would definitely recommend checking it out!

    (3)
  • Chris C.

    The Fiance and I were in the City and needed a spot to have dinner. After a quick Yelp search the fiance suggested that we stop off at Custom Burger since it was close to both Bart and our appointment. When walking inside Custom Burger I got the feel that I was at a mini version of The Counter. And that's what Custom Burger is, a small little place (I'm guessing seating for maybe 20) that offers gourmet options for your Burger. The decor is done in one of those industrial-new age combined with a dinner look. It works for a place like this. The one thing I was disappointed in was that the place seemed a bit dirty to me. And by dirty I mean that while the place looked clean except for the several tables that still had people food on it and those that were "clean" didn't looked wiped at all. Upon coming into Custom Burger you are greeted with a board that goes over your options for your burger. Prices here are on the high side. You're looking at anywhere between $6 - $13 for a burger depending upon your option whether that be a salmon, veggie, chicken, lamb, or regular beef burger. They do offer different cheese to go on your burger from just regular american cheese to feta, blue cheese, and Pepper Jack but you do pay extra along with items such as Avocado, Beans, and bacon (looking at $1 - $1.30). Then you can top it off with 3 toppings (extra is $0.50) such as marinated onions, lettuce, pineapples, and peppers. With that you get choose one of 12 sauces from Blue Cheese, BBQ, Ranch, to the more exotic like Ketchipotle and Pesto Mayo. And then a selection of 6 breads from basic sesame to multigrain. I ended up ordering the Lamb Burger with Feta Cheese topped with Marinated Onions, Mushrooms, and Arugula on a Multigrain Bun with Pesto Mayo sauce and the Fiance got the Veggie Burger with Pepper Jack Cheese with raw onions, tomato, and arugula on a multigrain bun with Chipotle Cilantro Mayo. We put in an order of Onion Rings with BBQ sauce along with our orders. When we got here the place was half empty (around 8PM). We were able to find a seat and waited for our meal. Unfortunately no one cleaned any of the tables and we had to clean on ourselves in a spot that we liked. The food probably took about 5 - 10 minutes to get our burgers which was fine. When we got out onion rings and burgers I have to say I was impressed. Plenty of food for both of us and we got a pretty large stack of onion rings. We decided to dig in. My lamb burger was good. A bit on the dry side and overcooked but lamb is hard to cook in that format. The marinated onions and mushrooms were a bit greasy and soaked into the bread making the burger really messy. They did give a big chunk of sliced feta cheese instead of the crumbles so that was a bonus. The finance Veggie burger was good. Looks like they make it there instead of giving her a Boca Burger. Everything went well though unlike my Feta, it was hard to find the Pepper Jack Cheese. We both really like the onion rings. One of the good things about it was that you could bite into it and not take the whole onion ring with it. The BBQ sauce was good but we ended up using the Chipotle Cilantro Mayo as our dipping sauce because it was better. We could have taken home food, but didn't want to travel with it on BART so we just forced down as much as we could and left extremely stuff. At the end of the evening it ended up costing about $27 including tip for the jar. As for the rating, the food was good and having the choices to "Customize" your burger was fun, but come on, $27 for 2 burgers and some onion rings seem a bit much for me. While I liked the decor, it could be help a lot of Custom Burger was more prompted in cleaning and wiping the tables. Service, well it's equal to sitting in at a Carls Jr. Put in your order and they bring you your food. Not much to it. I probably would have given them either 2.5 or 3 stars but got to knock them a star because the food there is very greasy and while it didn't bother me, The Man with an Iron Stomach, my finance was paying for it when we got home. Custom Burger might be worth a try to check it out once or twice but definitely have had far superior burgers at half the price and shows that flashy ingredients doesn't always equal very good. Custom Burger gets 2 stars and might be worth a stop if in the area and just looking for a burger.

    (2)
  • og c.

    Great veggie burger, & the cashier gave me a discount for whatever reason, sort of a mini knock off version of ketchup in LA.. A for taste B for effort.

    (4)
  • Isabelle B.

    After dining out for several nights in a row in very noisy places and becoming quite frustrated, I found this place within walking distance of my hotel. It was quite a relief. Custom Burger was only half full on a Sunday evening which probably explained the low noise level. I loved that idea of building your own burgers (at least, you know that you are getting a fresh burger) and the sea-salted fries were good.

    (4)
  • Christopher L.

    1st let me say that i'm not a fan of ground meat so no burger joint will ever get 5 stars i think this place is good, but i was sober and so the meal was only ok. you should probably go here drunk.

    (3)
  • Clover Dan ..

    jeesis you yelpers can't get to the point, can you? :: painfully slow service :: mediocre burger execution despite claims of fresh, local ingredients :: floppy generic fries :: way too f-n expensive. a burger and fries for lunch shouldn't cost me $12. i fear i will ultimately end up back here as it is at the end of my street, and cross my fingers that these are just growing pains. it has only been open for three days, after all.

    (1)
  • Jonathan L.

    LOVE IT! so many delicious options, a fantastic veg. burger, and the FF's are solid gold.. CHOMP!

    (5)
  • Matt H.

    I've gotten to the point where I'm not yelping unless it's either really good...or really terrible. So, I'm happy to report a new discovery that I made today after hearing a bit of buzz about this place, and I'm pleased to report that it does not disappoint. Custom Burger is a smallish 60's style (50's? dunno) diner gone gourmet. What I liked about this place: my first impression, which was a friendly, cozy dig with the staff very welcoming and helpful in explaining how the menu works. We went for dinner and the place was not crowded at all, which was a HUGE plus and an extra star because I really hate going to places and waiting in line to be seated and then yelling over the table..kind of takes some of the fun out of the dining out experience if you ask me. What I liked even more: the food. So you basically just write up a ticket (check boxes) of what you'd like on your burger. Selections are totally gourmet. I had a lamb burger with Point Reyes blue cheese, black olive spread, and a few other goodies. The fries were delicious and the onion rings were very tasty also. The wife loved her veggie burger, and I'd like to stress that it isn't always easy to please her, so this is very exciting indeed. Will definitely be coming back.

    (5)
  • Christina L.

    big burgers and big price i've walked by this place a number of times and was very curious... "custom burger" .. reminded me of "the Counter" ( yelp.com/biz/the-counter… ) in Santana Row, San Jose... i had fun there, so i thought it would be fun here... but meh.. the burgers were bigger and i think tasted better. I had the ANGUS BURGER which was 1/3 lb and it was a nice satisfying slab of meat. i added GRILLED PINEAPPLES and GRILLED MUSHROOMS and BLUE CHEESE SAUCE. i liked the blue cheese sauce a lot.. but the other options were merely mediocre. only 2 free toppings and 2 free sauce. i felt like they charged extra for evvveerrryyyy little thing, hence the title "custom" ... being the miser that i am and not wanting to pay extra, i had a burger w/ no lettuce and tomato... BLASPHEMY!!!! i also had the FUNNEL CAKE ... it was small, but cheap... came covered w/ a parsimonious helping of powdered sugar.. extras, eg chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, etc, were an extra quarter. wasnt a great dessert... maybe i dont really like funnel cake... it's just fried dough right? to wrap it up, the food wasnt bad at all... but the price left much the be desired.....

    (3)
  • Brian K.

    I saw this place on TV and thought I would give it a shot. First thing when you arrive you are confronted with the massive menu of choices.. 15 minutes after I arrived I was ready to go. I went with the lamb burger, cheese, bacon, jalapenos, mayo and it was tasty. I also got a basket of sweet potato fries. Over all this place is great. I wish the Burger Joint on King by my house was like this place rather than serve that crap they call a burger. The only down side with this place is the price. Once you add all your toppings on the burger it costs about 15 bucks plus the fries!!! Good stuff as a treat once in a while; one of the better burgers in the city.

    (4)
  • David G.

    Love it! So I wasn't in a vegan moment, so headed to Custom Burger as I'd heard it was really great (and had taken the place of what had previously been a tacky restuarant). It wasn't crowded, so I decided to order (great fun as you have to write what you want down and then hand it to the counter people) an angus burger with bacon and sharp cheddar cheese along with creamy mayo and arugula instead of lettuce. Much better than some of the dates I've been having lately!

    (3)
  • Christine S.

    This place is awesome! Coming from me, that is a huge compliment, because I barely eat red meat and don't really like burgers. Anyway, that being said, this place is exactly what the name says. The customizable options are extensive and delicious, and I would consider this a high end burger joint. I had mine with gorgonzola cheese and carmelized onions and a bunch of other goodies too. I can't wait to try the lamb burger!

    (4)
  • Stu S.

    I am so happy that Custom Burger came to be. I love people who give me choices about things I love and Custom Burger is all about choice and the selection of choices is outstanding and from the best stuff available. A choice of meat, fish, poultry. veggie, then a choice of home made buns, toasted to perfection, great cheeses, and a choice of sauces and produce, with a unique stack of great onion rings or fries in a clean, well lighted and fun environment make this the best new addition to the thriving burger scene in San Francisco, A must visit for anyone who loves GREAT burgers. They have a very cool bar adjoining the burger emporium and you can enjoy wine, beer or a drink in the turquoise glow while savoring your Custom Burger.

    (5)
  • Anthony W.

    Very good burgers, but ticking off those items on the order form adds up quickly. I'd be happy to visit this place to satisfy my burger cravings, but considering the price... no more than once a month.

    (4)
  • David M.

    Discovered this place with some friends at work today ... and what a find! This may just end up being my regular haunt. Had an amazing chicken burger with avocado, bacon, lettuce, tomato and chipotle mayo. The onion rings are the best ever! And the space, service and vibe was right on! Everyone in our group was happy and stuffed when we left! Been to several gourmet burger bars around the country -- NYC, Las Vegas, LA & Chicago ---this one rocks! N.B. The adjacent Custom Lounge looks very cool ... I'm looking forward to trying it out one evening soon. They carry the "custom" theme into the drink menu. (I'm ready to create my own custom margarita!) And the same food menu is available there as well.

    (5)
  • baillie p.

    I would go further and say this place is terrible. On the surface it looks great. The place is nice looking. The options look promising, but in the end it was...gross. First of all they give you numerous bun options, which sound great, but they were obviously pre-toasted, but then served cold. I would even go as far to say they were stale. The meat was also obviously pre-cooked and then reheated for our orders. It was overcooked, dry and low quality meat. Even our sodas were flat. On the upside the toppings (tomato, lettuce, etc) were fresh and the fries were good, but not good enough to make up for the lousy burger and relatively high price.

    (1)
  • Amy E.

    To be honest, I went there to get the Tower of Onion Rings after I saw it in a picture. The onion rings were a 4 out of 5. The beer selection (or lack thereof) was horrible - I think there are 2 kinds and I made a strategic error in ordering the powerfully clove-flavored Gorden Biersch Hefeweisen (blech!). It started out cheap - ok, 6.99 for the veggie burger - but after you add cheese (.99), onion rings (4.99) and the aforementioned beer (5.75 - ?!!), suddenly you've spent $20 on what is still fast food. The modern diner decor doesn't make up for it. For the vegetarians, I think that is the Boca burger (not the ubiquitous Gardenburger).

    (3)
  • Fady A.

    Great place for a burger, due to the fact that you can create a unique burger that you might not try @ home. Great place, nice people; will go back!

    (5)
  • Matt W.

    I had a good burger here with lots of fun choices. The sweet potato fries are pretty yummy as well.

    (4)
  • Ameer N.

    this place looked real cool. split right down the middle it was bar/cafe in one! you can make a custom burger, it's not the best but it's fun.

    (3)
  • Kelli R.

    Great idea, in theory. The reality: it's in the Best Western on 7th Street. You are paying for the novelty - building your own burger, OK onion rings presented in a tower. If you happen to be in the neighborhood, check it out. I'll continue to get my burger fix at Barney's.

    (3)
  • christopher a.

    the most important part about ordering a burger here is to not forget the key staples to burger condiments and sides. for example, i forgot to mention i wanted lettuce on my burger. with that said, the burgers are not excellent by any stretch of the imagination. i enjoyed browsing the long menu of custom items more than the burger, which was worth the experience, but after eating my burger, it left me wanting another, real burger. if you want to get lost in a sea of choices, and play the hamburger RPG, then come here, if you want an unimaginative yet ultimately delicious burger, do not.

    (3)
  • Chad C.

    One of the better burger spots in SOMA. You have the ability to create your own burger from Angus beef, to Lamb. With an assortment of sauces, vegetables, and cheeses to choose from. The place is also connected to a full bar. SO if you want to sit down for a cocktail, the bartender will take your order and deliver your food to you while your watching the ball game. This is now on my list of go to places for dinner.

    (4)
  • CTP p.

    i know some folks are complaining about the wait-- but since i went here for dindin i was more than happy to slurp on a caiprinha in the custom bar next store while waiting for my delish burger. i opted to not get too crazy with my order- 1/3 lb angus beef, no cheese but the blue cheese sauce, red onions, lettuce on a potatoe pepper bun. it was cooked to perfection, served piping hot and nice and juicy. i received lots of sauce therefore i was able to dip my sea salted fries in both the ketchipotle and the blue cheese sauce. the boy got a bit more wild adding feta, avocado to his burger with the brioche bun. his selection was dreamy although a bit on the creamy/rich side. i am stoked to see this place in the hood- service was great. i was told they had a very long but good second day being open. the bar has a cute, sorta boutique hotel in LA vibe-- makes sense since it sounds like all the ramada inn, best western hotels on 7th are in for a revamp. rumor on the streets is that Joui de vive will be freshening up this strip including SOMA pizza on the corner of 7th and mission. i am applauding any additions and expect custom burger to succeed.

    (4)
  • Amy K.

    Wow, underwhelming to say the least. I like the concept of custom ordering a burger - only problem is that my customized order was COMPLETELY wrong. I mean, the waiter brings me the burger, looks at it, looks at the order (he must realize that the burger is completely wrong) and then hands it to me as if I might not notice. I immediately tell the guy it's completely wrong and so he brings me another one a while later that is at least correct, but tastes not so great. The burger was way overcooked even though I specified Medium Rare (I like em bloody). The sharp cheddar cheese was practically non-existent - as were the other condiments. The bun was toasted, but cold. Overall, a bad tasting burger in a place that specializes in burgers. Also, it would be one thing if this place was particularly busy, but it was absolutely dead. We asked for another order of fries (be warned that a "basket" of fries is not what you would normally expect a basket to be), and it didn't arrive until we were almost done eating. Overall, the place needs some work. The lighting is way too bright, the service is not great, and the main attraction, the burgers, were less than appetizing.

    (1)
  • Derek C.

    That was one tasty burger.

    (4)
  • Alisa M.

    great burgers, great fries, great price. you can custom order exactly what you want. i order takeout a lot - it's always ready in 10-15 minutes. sometimes they have salads, but sometimes not. that's why i'm giving them 4 stars rather than 5. but i guess you go there for the burgers (which are great), so maybe that isn't fair...

    (4)
  • Britney K.

    mmm! delicious burger that isnt gigantic, with bacon and cheese and chipotle mayo..all reasonably priced! love it.

    (4)
  • Andrea R.

    We were in San Francisco for a mini-break over New Years weekend, and we stayed at the Good Hotel right across the street from Custom Burger. Originally we went to Custom Burger only because of its convenient location, but after going there one time during our 5-day trip, we managed to get back 2 more times because we enjoyed our food so much. We opted for veggie patties, which were delicious--so note to vegetarians, you are not excluded!--and we were pleased to find the toppings to be varied and tasty as well. The ambiance was the only thing lacking (we found the GIANT canvas featuring a man in a mustard bottle costume to be a little disconcerting), but the food more than made up for it. We plan on visiting again next time we're in SF.

    (5)
  • Ace. K. M.

    Nice idea. Mediocre execution. Angus burger patty was crispy, dry, and lukewarm (not hot). Amount of toppings were meager. I wonder if they are assembling burgers with pre-cooked patties, rather than cooking them to order...

    (2)
  • Courtney S.

    I had high hopes because I love a good burger on occasion. Now I know -- this isn't the place to get it. I ordered my burger medium rare (in big block letters on the form) and it still came out medium well. I'm usually not one to send back food, but overcooked red meat is not worth the calories, so I took it to the counter to very nicely ask for a new one. When the counter guy couldn't find my original order slip, he came and sat down with us and cheerily wrote up a new slip. No problem. "And oh -- we still haven't gotten the side of fries we ordered." That was the second time we asked; they hadn't come with the rest of the meal the first time. Not longer after, a person I assumed was the manager came out to apologize and said they would have my new burger right out, so I thought everything was OK, no hard feelings. Well, "right out" took long enough that everyone else was done with their food by the time my burger arrived, but no big deal. (Still no fries.) Then I take a look and it had raw onions instead of the balsamic marinated that I ordered and the wrong kind of bun. I took off the onions and got a cup of balsamic ones at the counter and reminded the guy yet again about the fries, at which point he told me we had not ordered fries, even though he had asked during our original order which burger they should go with. He's starting to piss me off now, but whatever. I went back to the table and took a big bite and... ...it was RAW. Uncooked. Not even rare, much less medium rare. Cold, blue-in-the-middle RAW. A raw burger with the wrong toppings and the wrong bun and when the server finally brought out the fries she actually said, "I don't even care who these belong to" and tossed them in the middle of the table. At least we finally got them, because I was scared to eat the burger or take it back again so the fries were my whole dinner. None of my 5 dining companions had quite as bad an experience as I did, though one of them said, "Mine wasn't exactly what I wanted, but it was fine." But isn't "exactly what I wanted" sort of the point? I know I'm never setting foot in there again.

    (1)
  • h. w.

    i came to custom burger to find the place empty @ 3pm. after nearly $30 i could see why....next stop IN-N-OUT!!! they got our order wrong, and i got it wrong...too much $$$ for a couple of underwhelming burgers....never again, never again!

    (1)
  • Danny C.

    This place is decent, but somewhat eclectic. The entrance is similar to a clean McDonalds, but deeper into the restaurant lies a cool bar/eating area complete with dim blue lighting and easy listening music. The food was good, if a bit overpriced. I only got a burger and it ran me just under 10 bucks. The whole draw of custom burger is that you can customize your burger (Bill and Ted era Keanu Reeves says: woah! sweet!). Can't you do that at any other place, though ("no onions, please")? I can't strongly recommend this place, but I can't dismiss it either.

    (3)
  • Randy W.

    Yes, its pricey but that's to be expected in this neighborhood. Its a block from my house and use to be a bland hotel restaurant called Peppers so this is a move up. Its open late which is also a plus. The burgers are fresh and the sweet potato fried are yummy. The regular fries are just okay. I like all the extras and the sauces are a nice touch. The place has a decent feel and was fun when we were there; a combination of foreign tourists, hipster preparing to party and locals. My bf doesn't like the wire baskets and asked for a plate. I don't care; its just a burger place!

    (4)
  • Robert U.

    They do make a fine fine burger would have gone to 4 stars but there are enough burger places I like better. Went there yesterday for lunch, split the mediteranean salad which was very nice and fresh, then each got burgers. The options are great and I cant imagine that anyone that goes in there wouldnt have a tasty burger.

    (3)
  • Wesley J.

    Ed U - thank you for such a great review. Saves my fragile fingers from tapping out all of the same things you already said! Bottom line: great burgers, great selection, great location, great service! I have now been here 6 times since they open. Usually, I get the turkey burger with a variety of toppings. The overall quality has been top notch EVERY time! I haven't tried the lounge yet. Maybe one of these days. Thanks again Custom Burger!

    (5)
  • John E.

    Awful. i knew it would be pricey. but wanted to see what it had to offer. so went last week. ordered Kobe beef, medium rare with cheese, etc. got a charred - not just broiled - medium burger. no pink at all, dry inside. whatever the Kobe beef would taste like i don't know, because the burned charcoal on the surface overwhelmed everything. and there wasn't that much beef to start with, a half-inch patty. on top, the cheese was just one skimpy slice. you can't charge that kind of price and deliver such a bad job - not even once on a bad day. got the combo fires. the sweet potato fries were nice, seemed fresh cut. but the regular fries had obviously spent too much time in the frig, if not the freezer. you're much better off going to Bistro Burger in Westfield Center two blocks away. it's not cuisine, but a decent 3/4 inch juicy burger cooked correctly at a fair price.

    (1)
  • C L.

    Kudos, to the guys who opened up this joint in SOMA. I love my burgers and this place is okay. No need to drive into the Mission to get a decent burger. Upside is they have a bar next door to enjoy. I do think this place is better than The Counter.

    (3)
  • Lucius A.

    Seems like a good idea, build your burger how ever you want. Lots of choices. The room was so bright we went into the bar ext door. Bottom line was that the food did not deliver. It was kind of pricey; 2 burgers and fries for close to $30, and more importantly it did not taste good. I felt kinda gross for a few hours after eating it. I would have no desire to return.

    (1)
  • AJ C.

    Had the 1/3lb burger, and it was undercooked, kinda mushy. The Brioche bun fell apart. Tasty lettuce, tomatoes, and onions. Service was very good. Not at all worth the price, in my opinion. Personally, I'd rather have someone else think about the best combination of ingredients and then charge a reasonable amount, but maybe that's just me.

    (2)
  • Melind H.

    I have only been once and definitely plan on going back. I had the chicken burger...DELISH. The only complaints...too much bun, I ended up taking the top off and eating it with a knife and fork, all of the sauces have mayo in it (I realize this isn't the healthiest joint in the city, but if you are offering veggie, salmon and chicken burgers you are going to get a few people who don't want a variety of MAYO on their burger), and the portion of fries was a little week (but the sweet potato fries were EXCELLENT). Also, LOVED the 50's decor. I know it is cheesy, but I love when the designers make an effort...even if you are really there for the food. I hope these things get corrected none are deal breakers, I still am going to hit up Custom Burger regularly.

    (4)
  • Mara K.

    You think you want to go here but you don't. Seriously, it is a fabulous idea, and it sounds fun, but it is just disappointing. It is a little pricey for a very mediocre burger. Want a pickle with your burger? You may or may not get one - just depends on how the kitchen feels that day. Want silverware & a napkin? You may get one, or you might have to find a server, chase them down & see if they will give you a utensil. Want a refill on that bottomless coke? Good luck - you have to wait in line where there is one cashier. He is helping everyone else first and he may get to you before your food gets cold. Or not. Want your burger cooked to medium rare? Or medium? Good luck with that too. I am not convinced the kitchen understands what that means. We asked what was going on the night we came because the service was just so non-existent. They said they were still ironing out the kinks. But then we aked how long they had been open & the guy said August '07. 4 months to iron out the kinks? This isn't fine dining people. We are talking BURGERS. And very medocre ones at that. For $8 to $15 it should be much better.

    (2)
  • Words O.

    I thought the Burgers were excellent and the place has a very trendy feel to it. But almost $40 for two burgers, onion rings and a glass of cheap wine. Not the best deal but darn yummy. Three stars.

    (3)
  • Tom W.

    The burger was ok but way over-priced. I paid $9 for a very simple burger. What killed me was the extra avocado, which costs $1.29 and was only a tiny sliver of that delectable vegetable. I am willing to bet that Custom Burger eked out 10 slices from that poor sucker. Not a bad business-- buy an avocado for a buck and turn around and resell it for $13. I won't be coming back any time soon.

    (2)
  • Carolyn B.

    so many choices, i was instantly overwhelmed and nervous that i would only be able to fit so much on my burger and therefore miss out on all of the other toppings and offerings that they have! custom burger is exactly that - choose whatever you want. they have beef (angus or kobe!), turkey, salmon, veggie, and more... and thats just the burgers. the toppings, sauces, and bun choices are endless. i went for turkey burger, with avocado, jalapenos, pepper jack cheese, and tomatoes on a sesame seed bun. looking back, i think i chose 1 too many toppings becuase it was messy and hard to eat. but i think i would choose too many again becuase it was also delicious! definitely get sauce on the side too - i got the cilantro pepper something or other which was tasty. just right to dip my fries in... oh yeah and the fries were good too! by the way, i can only speak for the lounge side becuase thats where we ate - prompt service and interesting beers on draft!

    (4)
  • Kevin G.

    Maybe if Char hadn't hyped it up so much I wouldn't have been so disappointed. I ordered my burger on brioche and instead of spongy cake-like buns I got stale and chewy fish food. If the brioche is from 3 days ago, just tell me and I'll happily eat my burger off anything else. Make bread pudding with it, feed it to the pigeons, throw it in the trash...do anything but serve my $8 cheeseburger on it. Our server handled it very graciously, but by the time we got our burger back it was cold. What came between the buns probably wouldn't have redeemed the meal anyway, even if it was warm. Shouldn't the default temperature for a gourmet burger should be medium? If you take away the fully-stocked bar, the cute baskets of fries, and the clever way they serve onion rings on paper towel dispensers, what you are left with is a very mediocre burger. I've never had a good experience at one of these types of burger joints where they give you a form for you to check off everything you want on it. How good can a burger possibly be if the cooks are forced to make different combinations all day instead of focusing on just a few guaranteed sellers? When you try to please everyone, you end up pleasing no one.

    (2)
  • Eileen C.

    So happy to have found Custom Burger. We each went for the standard angus burger (using sustaniably raised beef from Golden Gate Meat Co. no less), which was cooked perfectly for me (medium well). Had everything I wanted, nothing I didn't. Fries were good but the sweet potato fries were SO good. Ketchipolte dipping sauce--unbelievably yum. Friend reported the peppercorn ranch was excellent as well. Liked to old-school no frills diner feel. Simple, fast and delish. What more could you want? A martini you say--then just pop next door to Custom Lounge.

    (5)
  • Rahul D.

    good place to go if you want a big fat burger. lots of combo choices, a little pricey. delicious for the most part. the staff are usually nice and quick.

    (4)
  • I L.

    I had lofty expectations from this joint and unfortunately they didn't come through... I spent almost $13 for a burger and fries - NO Drink. Now, I don't have a problem shelling out cash for ground meat and some bread as a matter of fact I recently had a comparable burger (price wise) at Zuni Cafe a couple weeks ago (definitely worth every penny!). Anyway, where was I going with this review? Oh yeah, my experience sucked. I got the burger home and the bun was completely soggy (I live 5 minutes from the joint). The fries were pathetic-- like the kind you get at an amusement park but cold. I could go on and on but I won't waste my time. I will say that the chipotle mayo was the best part of the meal. Head over to Burger Joint, Chez Mama, Zuni or Mo's in North Beach if you want a good burger.

    (2)
  • Mindy S.

    Before any bashing I must say I dig the concept of this place and I hear this place is new so growing pains can be expected as far as service and getting things right. Our lackluster experience was met with an apology and explanation that they were short on cooks. Tons of unique toppings to choose from without having to deal with miscommunications with your server since you simply check some boxes! A model that would seemingly leave little room for error. I'm psyched to eat a Mindy Burger. Onto the aforementioned bashing. For a place that specializes in "custom" burgers I was surprised that it took 45 minutes to receive our burgers (despite the fact the place was pretty empty), which showed up in a staggered fashion leaving two of our party of four to salivate while we simply threw manners out the window and started eating so that the already luke warm burgers and cold buns would not get even colder. Not only that, they got the order completely wrong on 2 out of the 4 burgers! What? Not just over/undercooked (which they were) but completely wrong toppings. Two burgers were sent back. The fries, which were also sent back, were actually cold cold and i'm not exaggerating. I was dumbfounded at how cold the french fries were. They had to be sitting there for over an hour. All of this said, i truly enjoyed my yummy tasting burger. The others, however, did not enjoy theirs. Nor did they enjoy the ambiance here. The lighting needs to be reworked. The feeling you get upon entering this place is one that makes you want to turn around and escape to the beauty and comfort of 7th Street. The lounge area was a bit more welcoming so we had our not-so-custom burger experience there and enjoyed some great cocktails. I will give this place 2 stars instead of 1 for the fact that i liked my burger, I liked the concept and I have a lot of hope for this place to survive because I like me a Mindy Burger.

    (2)
  • Breanna L.

    I went here for a quick dinner with a friend before SkeeBall league on Wednesday night. It's close to my office and he had been there before, otherwise I probably never would have found it as I am vegetarian and don't ordinarily keep my eye out for restaurants whose name has 'burger' in it. I am a minimalist, so I loved the clean, white interior and the huge community-style high table and bar stools in the center. The allure of Custom Burger is that you can, well, customize your burger. You can choose from several different types of meat patties (or a non-meat patty if you're like me), and then load up with toppings and sauces as you please. I created the following: veggie patty, pepper jack cheese, fresh tomato slices, roasted green chiles, sauteed mushrooms and chipotle cilantro mayo. We also got the sweet potato fries with Ketchipotle and the Secret Sauce (my friend asked right after ordering it 'So what's in the Secret Sauce, or can't you tell us?). They also have a selection of beers to complement your burger. The food came out relatively fast, and everything looked and tasted fresh. Normally, to me, a veggie burger is a veggie burger, but Custom Burger knows how to kick it up a notch, and I can honestly say that was perhaps the best veggie burger I have ever had. The fact that I helped create it may have had something to do with my satisfaction, but regardless it was delicious. Although the restaurant is counter service, the staff still came by to make sure everything was ok and to refill water glasses. I am a sucker for sauces, so having 4 to choose from to dip my fries in was amazing. The prices aren't cheap my any means, so you just have to pay attention to how much you're piling on your burger if you're trying to keep your bill low. I would recommend Custom Burger for a quick, easy dinner to dovetail into other plans.

    (4)
  • Larry R.

    Yum to Custom Burger. The burgers are fancy, but if you're a veggie like me and have the veggie burger and skip the cheese you can get it for only $6.50. There are all these options and Custom Burger virgins may be a little confused, but one of the employees usually comes out to guide them through and fill out the paper form and figure out how to customize their burger. But I am experienced and usually can just reel out what I want until I get to step 3 or so and have to select all the other toppings. My usual is a veggie burger, either lettuce or pea sprouts, the balsamic onions, and one of the varieties of peppers like sweet piquillo. I like the ketchipotle - like ketchup, but with some chipotle kick, and it's all encased in a multi-grain bun. I can taste it now! And if I want to splurge, I get the half-and-half potato and sweet potato fries. I work South of Market and it's on my way home from work so I stop by probably once a week. I think I need one now.

    (5)
  • Jane W.

    Love this place! Really good alternative burgers (turkey, veggie) altho my partner loves his juicy beef burger...and the best sweet potato fries ever. Also, late night hours that are very convenient...and the neighborhood is so undiscovered.

    (5)
  • Christopher S.

    Clean, cool atmosphere. I've had much better burgers for less. $5 for a Coors Light?! C'mon it's Coors Light. The fries were good, though. I'll give them a chance to work out the kinks and try again later.

    (2)
  • Kyra b.

    i'm in the 'hood and i know all the burgers around. usually i go for brainwash cafe's burger, well done with cheese and bacon and the works. pretty tasty, pretty messy, pretty expensive. and the fries are just ok and the salad is whatever. just lettuce and the same dressing all the time. so when i spotted custom burger i'm all like, cool, new burger spot in the 'hood! gotta remember to check that out sometime. it's on 7th between mission and howard in the bottom of the big pink hotel, in the spot where different restaurants have always been and where i would never go.. it's a hotel restaurant place and you just don't go to those places, right? strange location but hey, 1 block from my house and it's burgers so i gotta do it. i go in and it's modern and simple, clean and interesting, cool, unique.. hmm, so intriguing and you get to customize your burger.. took a minute for me to figure it out and i just quickly kind of chose whatever from the numbered sequence of choices menus (choose your burger, then the toppings, then the bun, etc.) because my mom was on hold on my cellphone and i needed to get back with her. i could not believe at the register that my burger (no fries, no sides, just burger) and diet coke total was $12.22. shit! waaaay more expensive than anywhere else but it looked great anyway and at least, i thought, i would be in the know about the place for future reference, maybe a lazy date place, etc. i get the burger home and sink into the. best. fucking. burger. oh my god, worth every penny. i'm going again this weekend if not before. i'll skip the diet coke so it's a little more affordable.

    (4)
  • Aaron W.

    This is an awesome place for lunch. The fact that you can customize your burger the way you like it, is totally awesome. The choice of meats is nice. The sweet potato fries are the bomb. The only downside is it's a little pricy. So not an every week kind of a thing. But you must try it.

    (4)
  • Alex G.

    I came here last night for a couple beers and I am definitely coming back. Awesome food great drinks and Issey the bartender was fantastic!!! Good mix of locals and convention people. Oh and did I mention that they have a coin op laundrette!!!!! You can grab a couple drinks and food while you do a load of wash!!!!

    (5)
  • kevin l.

    Good place if you're alone and need a quick bite. Burger bar basically. You do have to make sure they give you your complete order. Somehow they forgot to complete my order.

    (3)
  • Drew H.

    Custom Burger was visited by the San Francisco Burger Blog: sanfranciscoburgerblog.t… Maybe it was a bad day, maybe all the employees had grandmothers die overnight or maybe they just didn't like us, but it was not the greatest of restaurant visits. All of our 1/2 lb. Kobe burgers were charred and blackened to the texture of shoe leather. Luckily, the 1/3 lb. Angus burgers were almost all prepared properly and still had some juice in them, but that was of little comfort to those of us who shelled out the extra bucks for Kobe beef. The sides are good and came out quickly and the restaurant is clean and comfortable, but the tendency to overcook the burgers is disappointing. Be sure to tell them to cook it Medium Rare and even then it came out more well done. More at the site!

    (2)
  • Soop S.

    This place is great. Call ahead if you're in a hurry. Cool space to hang out and take a long lunch if you have time. Great customer service, yummy beautiful burgers. Prices on par with the area.

    (4)
  • Danster L.

    The San Francisco version of The Counter Burger. This customizable burger joint is definitely much cheaper than the Counter and the burger is much bigger. Yes size does matter and so does taste in this struggling economy. I had the angus burger with arugula, grilled onions, provolone cheese, applewood bacon and blue cheese sauce. The flavors from my toppings made a big difference otherwise it would have been a 7 dollar In n Out burger. I enjoyed the great atmosphere where you can just eat and lounge around for a long time. The beer battered onion rings had to be the best onion rings I've had in a long time. They are huge and crispy. Service is top notch with the staff knowledgeable of their menu and being able to answer all my questions. The other cool thing is that there is a game room next door in which customers can check out games and literally play for hours. That's what my friends and I did and winning Connect 4, a great burger and great friends is priceless!

    (4)
  • Mr R.

    If your hours say you're open until 3, don't close the kitchen at 2:15 and then tell people who arrive at 2:30 kitchen is closed. We trekked like 6 blocks down market to eat here to find they had stopped serving early... and for no real reason.

    (1)
  • Danielle C.

    Great place to come if you want to est healthier or pig out. I love that you can pick everything about your burger, and they have great items to choose from. Great sweet potato fries and sauces!

    (3)
  • Grimace B.

    I was skeptical about this place. It's a small dingy type of deli looking place, that is also connected to the Best Western it resides in. It was actually really quite good! had the grilled chicken sandwich one day and the 1/3 angus burger another. Both were good, but my angus burger came out a bit overdone (other reviews seemed to say the same thing) On the plus side, won't need to worry about undercooked raw meat! Grilled Chicken Sandwich was really great though. Fries were delicious as well. I also actually really enjoyed their bottomless brewed iced tea (unsweetened) Prices seemed a bit more expensive... meals cost about $12-15 dollars for burger, fries, and drink... Definitely was good, and the wait wasn't too long. 15 minutes about on average. Would eat here again.

    (4)
  • Farrah F.

    Very solid 4 stars! I'm only taking 1 star off because for the price, I would've loved my at least 1.5x larger than it was. I wasn't full, even after the onion rings and fries that we all split, so I drank a whole ton of water to fool my stomach into believing that it was. ;_; Anyway, I came here with one of my super-awesome buddies. It was his first farewell gathering, so we had a hugeeee group of people. Our waitress was amazing--super polite, friendly, attentive, and very helpful in suggesting sauces. She deserves a bunch of stars just on her own. I got the lamb burger with pesto mayo, grilled pineapple, mushrooms and some other vegetable (this was 3 weeks ago and I haven't been sleeping, so my memory is shot) on a whole wheat bun. It was definitely rather tasty and I loved the pineapples and the lamb, but I just wish it'd been bigger. Another friend ate his own burger + half his girlfriend's burger and said that would've been the perfect amount if it'd been morphed into a single burger, but alas. Then again, mayhaps you shouldn't listen to me because I eat like a dude. mmph. I just had water since I'm not a fan of alcohol, but I think I do recall people liking the drinks they ordered. If you have a small appetite in comparison to a big wallet, along with a craving for burgers, you should come here. :] They're connected to a hotel so they have super-clean bathrooms. Just ask for the code. :O

    (4)
  • Felisha T.

    Fantastic turkey burger.

    (5)
  • Darren A.

    Great concept to build a unique burger with quality ingredients; however it's a little over priced and the cafeteria setting is not really my thing.

    (3)
  • Kellie A.

    Very good select-your-own stuff burger joint. 3 star due to the price...I know I'm in SF and all, but damn, it could have been a little better. For two of us (two burgers, one basket of fries, 2 drinks) it was $30! Again,it was good, but we can do better. It just happened to be in walking range of where were playing all day.

    (3)
  • Scott L.

    Solid. Too often when you eat a burger from a place like this, the sheer amount of food is overwhelming. The beef angus patties are big but not huge, tender but don't fall apart, and buns are toasted deliciously. I ordered a mushroom swiss burger with chipotle ketchup and honey mustard with fries and a coke ($13.88) and it filled me up perfectly. A bit pricey, though there are cheaper meal deals for more standard fare. Polite staff, clean location.

    (4)
  • Eric A.

    This place would actually get more stars if the service was faster and prices weren't so over inflated. I do like their chicken burger, and their sweet potato fries are great as well. But if it wasn't for the 1/2 off I received, I would not be happy paying $30 for the meal and lack of haste I experienced. If i wanted to pay that much for a burger I'd go to Pearl's, which btw was WAAYYYY better.

    (2)
  • Marie P.

    Went here because I am a Burgermama...I must say the place has a great simple clean vibe to it. It's a bit pricey too my liking but employees are nice and I like the fact your can build your burger. Gonna give it another try though.

    (3)
  • Crys L.

    What we got: Angus burger with Tillamook cheddar, sauteed sweet yellow onion, sliced avocado, roasted garlic aioli sauce on a potato pepper bun. ($9.27) Angus burger with Tillamook cheddar, beef & black bean chili, sauteed sweet yellow onion, roasted green chiles, and peppercorn ranch sauce on a potato pepper bun. ($9.27) Chicken "burger" with red pepper feta, arugula, raw red onion, tomato, and roasted garlic aioli on a potato pepper bun. ($8.98) We also got one half-basket of salt & pepper fries ($1.79) and one diet Coke ($1.99, "bottomless") and two waters. The burgers were all fantastic, the toppings were generously piled on, and the portions were big enough that three damn-I'm-lightheaded-when-did-we-last-eat-let's-­find-something-quickly appetites were satisfied and then some. The half-basket of fries (and they also offer sweet potato fries and onion rings, by the way) was more like what I'd normally consider a full serving. They offer multiple types of burgers: angus, american kobe beef, lamb, turkey, chicken, salmon, veggie; and their topping options rock! There are all sorts of cheeses, chili, bacon, eggs, avocado, black olive tapenade, grilled pineapple, hoisin glaze, pesto mayo, Red Tail Ale bbq sauce, etc. They offer a handful of beers, chili ($4 cup, $7 "mega mug"), salads, fair trade and locally roasted coffee, lemon bars & shakes & cookies for dessert, and a kids "slider" meal special with fries and a drink ($5.99). Clean dining room and restroom. Minimalist decor, simple color scheme (mostly red and white), easy-on-the-eye, appealing. Room for groups, elevated table-top in the middle of the room with bar-stools if you prefer. The counter workers are very friendly and helpful, smiling and cheerful, attentive and ready to refill your soda or what-have-you if you start heading toward the counter. No wait-til-I'm-done-chatting-with-my-coworker or you-again-whaddya-want attitude, which is refreshing and oddly hard to come by at counter-service food places. Parking is street parking, but we had no trouble at all finding a spot. Highly recommended, great value. You could get a cheaper burger, but it probably wouldn't be this good and you wouldn't have nearly as many topping options! I'm thrilled with this find, and will definitely return -- soon!

    (5)
  • Jacquee P.

    Lamb burger Hoisin glaze Red onion Grilled pineapple OoooOOooOOooooooOOooh. If you come with a friend or dine alone, get the half SP, half regular fries. Bathrooms are weird. You get a "card" key and go into the hotel lobby. I really enjoyed my creation. DON'T GET THE WHOLE WHEAT BUN. PEE-EW.

    (5)
  • Kevin T.

    Props for being open after the folsom street fair. Im not gonna lie, I stumbled in here after drinking way too much and decided to follow someone else in. Although I may be a little too buzzed to be writing this review, I still managed to take a couple of seconds in between fistfuls of burger to take note of what I was actually putting into my mouth. Granted, they give you a sheet to pick EXACTLY what you want on your burger so you can't really be mad at anyone but yourself if it tastes like shit. I guess I lucked out because mine turned out pretty solid. Mind you, it was far from AMAZING but after an afternoon of beers and body shots the greasiness was extremely welcome. I probably wouldn't make the trek over here any time soon, but it's worth a shot if you find yourself in need of something oily at seven in the evening.

    (3)
  • Adam B.

    Higher quality ingredients and more variety than its competitor Bistro Burger. This type of place is always hard to rate because a bad flavor profile is probably your own dang fault for picking the wrong combination of components. For the neighborhood, it's a great quick meal when you're not feeling Vietnamese. Angus Burger: Standard and probably the most boring patty option. Their sear technique and juiciness factor aren't rant worthy so best to choose something else from a more interesting animal (or plant) options. Lamb Burger: Just one bite with carefully selected toppings can make you swear you're at a Middle Eastern joint enjoying this classic American shaped meal. Vegetable Burger: Not terribly firm, but nice flavor. Way better than those frozen Boca discs. I find bacon pairs best! Sweet Potato Fries: So this is not novel anymore, but I definitely appreciate them. Something about that texture contrast of the skin against the sweet potato meat and covered in some large salt granules. Potato Fries: Not soggy and not crisp-tastic. A very common fry. At least they give you a lot of cool dipping choices.

    (4)
  • Jefferson L.

    Good, basic breakfast - eggs, sausage, pancakes, granola, etc. My All-American breakfast, with large OJ, came to $13.95. My pet peeve is the low-quality jam they serve - and only one flavor - strawberry. It's #1 ingredient is sugar. #2 is water. Yuck. Marmalade anyone? Could I get a shout-out for honey? Honk if you love fruit jam with actual fruit in it..!

    (4)
  • Mike H.

    4.5 stars! So good, which was totally unexpectedly of an empty restaurant and location. Don't let its proximity to the Best Western fool you. Great burgers are eaten here. After searching for nearby restaurants on yelp, I thought it was a lunch-only spot because it was completely dead at 6pm. But it had been my call, a spur of the moment decision to meet up there with a friend. By the time we left at 715pm, 3/4 of the tables full, and I was completely vindicated for picking Custom Burger. The selection for burgers is surprising - Kobe and Angus, lamb, turkey, salmon, chicken, veggie - plus nearly anything else I could imagine on a burger. I got lamb, and she picked Angus. We could have ordered 2-3 completely different burgers, meat included. I love lamb burgers...This one didn't disappoint. As good as it was though, the Angus burger tasted even better! And not just because of the roasted peppers. Fortunately the fries come out first - great idea. No need to wait for the fries just because of the burger, right?! They were very good but not as good as the burger, relatively speaking. The sweet potato fries were apparently good too.

    (4)
  • Ed U.

    "Open, Open, Open"...Face pressed against glass...No, not Mervyn's. It may be hard to believe, but this place has been open for about 35 minutes, and here I am about to pop its Yelp cherry. Yes indeed, I was just the second customer they had, and I do live rather close by. OK, OK, I can see it from my window and have been licking my lips since I saw the new awning a week or so ago. Yelping anxiety got the best of me, I suppose. Replacing the ill-conceived Pepper's Bar & Grill, which apparently couldn't survive on the dribble of European tourists too scared to go toward Civic Center, Custom Burger is a much-needed addition to the eating scene finally popping up around the monolithic Federal Building on 7th Street. It's in that salmon-pink Moroccan monstrosity, Best Western Americania, where I overheard a New Jersey tourist once say with alarming conviction - "This here is where dem gays stays, y'know (raises his pinky), and da straight ones, dem goombahs stays across da street at da Best Western Carriage Inn." Be forewarned it is a splurge to get a burger here but quite a treat given the multitude of fresh ingredients on hand. You get a little form like a DMV test and one of those miniature golf course pencils. The choices are a bit overwhelming. You can decide between the Angus Beef ($6.99), Chicken or Salmon ($7.99), Veggie ($5.99) or go all the way for the American Kobe Beef for a whopping $11.99. OK, I had to try the Kobe...my roots, don't you know? They charge an additional $0.99 for cheese, which runs the gamut from American and Swiss to the more artisan Point Reyes Blue. I went for Pepper Jack. From that point forward, the rest of the toppings are blessedly free, and the range is pretty astounding...things like black olive tapenade, hoisin glaze, sweet piquillo peppers and ice box slaw. You get three for free, so I added arugula, sauteed mushrooms and roasted green chiles. Then you get a free sauce, a mind-boggling selection of 14 from which to choose ranging from the exotic like Chana Masala Sour Cream to the down-home like Red Tail Ale Barbecue Sauce. I went for the Chipotle Cilantro Mayo. There are even four buns from which to select - potato pepper, brioche, sesame seed and my final pick, onion. The stars must have been aligned because that was one really delicious burger perhaps because the taste combination was so unusual and completely at my discretion. Of course, I had to try their $3.99 Sweet Potato Fries, pricey yes though it came with its own sauce. I went for the Roasted Garlic Aioli. Next time I need to try their $4.99 Onion Rings presented in a meticulous stack like a really fattening Christmas tree. And to top it all off, they gave free refills on my $1.99 Diet Coke. OK, I'm sold. FOOD - 5 stars...quite an amazing burger and truly customized...you give up a few extra shekels but quite worth it AMBIANCE - 4 stars...clean, white space...plenty of tables SERVICE - 4.5 stars...fast and amazingly efficient considering I was only the second customer they ever had TOTAL - 5 stars...SoMa needs you...thanks for coming and hopefully sticking around!

    (5)
  • Melissa R.

    Amazing, and I mean amazing customer service! Delicious, amazingly delicious burgers and fries. I was so impressed by the employees. Especially one of the chefs, who came up to the counter and chatted with us. They genuinely care about their customers. This will be a "must eat" everytime we visit SF. They've earned themselves a loyal customer. Thank you!! (and thanks for the brownie!)

    (5)
  • Wilhelm Y.

    Business was bustling on Custom Burger's second day of existence. Nearly every table was occupied when I dropped in late this afternoon about 2:40 PM. After surveying the menu and the options I chose an Angus beef burger, cooked medium well with jalapeno jack cheese, leaf lettuce, sauteed mushrooms, sauteed yellow onions on a seeded bun with chipotle cilantro mayo on the side and an order of onion rings with the Red Tail Ale Barbeque Sauce and a "bottomless" soft drink. It seems when the restaurant got busy as it was the service when spiraling downward. My server apologized for the lengthy wait (24 minutes). My burger must have been ready to be served for quite a long time, and it probably sat somewhere cooling as the cooks waited for my onion rings. The meat was too pink to be medium well, the onions were cold, the mushrooms were cold and they omitted the lettuce. I could tell the ingredients were quality ingredients, but when I spend $16 + for lunch I expect much better. The burger was still warm and juicy and the meat had very good beef taste. The nice, soft bun was topped with a mixture of poppy seeds and sesame seeds. The onion rings were stacked on a metal stand with bigger rings on the bottom and smaller rings on top. As Ed U. reviewed it looked like a Christmas tree created of golden brown onion rings. The rings were excellent; the onions were hot and creamy inside a crunchy, crackly shell. I was not too fond of the sauces. The Red Tail Ale Barbeque Sauce was overly sweet and had no smoky flavor to it. The chipotle cilantro mayo unfortunately compares to the onion ring dipping sauce served at Burger King restaurants except with a little added zing. No refill. Towards the end of my meal the busperson was nice enough to ask if I wanted a soda refill. I gladly accepted, but he never returned with my glass or the refill! Beware of falling objects. As I sat enjoying the last of my onion rings a wooden letter "M" hanging from the left wall (spelling out the word "CUSTOM") came crashing down on the top of the head of the poor woman sitting two tables in front of me directly underneath the signage turning an ordinary afternoon into utter chaos. I'm glad the woman was not hurt badly, and I was happy to see the management and the staff were very attentive in making sure the lady was alright. I took the event as a sign to leave. There is much that can be improved here, and I'll give it some time before I return. This place is promising, but I think I'll stay away for awhile.

    (3)
  • Fong L.

    heaven = beer + burger :) One of my top 5 burger joints in the city, Custom burger lets you choose between beef, lamb, and turkey meats and all sorts of toppings, including my favorite: fried egg. I can't remember all of the options (there are a lot) but you really can't go wrong with their fresh ingredients and absolutely made-to-order burgers. Their sides are also really well done and freshly made (fried pickles, fries, sweet potato fries, onion rings, all really good). You can get a beer from the bar next door and bring it into the burger area, or you can also bring the burger into the bar next door. Among my top 5 burger joints, only Custom Burger and Nopa will let you have a beer with your burger. I sincerely can't say anything bad about this place. They get everything right. Toasted soft bun. Fresh cooked to order, thick, juicy burger. And most of the toppings you could want (no roasted beets though :\)

    (5)
  • Sara S.

    Amazing burger! It was the best turkey patty I've ever had, with american cheese, and a whole wheat bun, with mayo and their "special sauce". It was soooo satisfying! And best onion rings I've had since I've moved to the city! Cute modern feel to everything, and great service! Slightly pricy, with not the largest selection but it caters to most cravings for a burger. Don't forget to fill out the "What's your Dream Burger?" flyer so you can get a free cookie for your walk home, or wherever your adventure may be taking you.

    (4)
  • Justin S.

    I went to my Dr. for my yearly physical and when asked if I had been eating my vegetables I responded, "At least three times a week for my burger fix." She didn't find it funny. I started this week off with Burger Bar and have been looking forward to new flavors for a while. If you have adverse effects to thinking about what you want on your masterpiece this is not the joint for you. When you come in there are abundances of choices from types of meat and (yes Dr. Chinn) vegetables too a multitude of cheeses, sauces and buns. And if your really feeling crazy you can toss on avocado and bacon and wow did I see eggs? Pick you bun and your good to go. I had the Kobe Beef with mayo, red onion and tomato. This was a tasty burger but it failed one major burger tasting test. There was no juice in the meat. I don't recall being asked if I wanted my meat bloody as hell or burnt to a crisp. My GF and I shared a large sweet potato fry but they don't compare to Pearls on the sweet potato fries or juicy burgers. It was dry and lacking of flavor, epically for Kobe. I'll be back to try other combinations of awesomeness and I know my girl wants a funnel cake. I mean really where can you get a funnel cake besides the state fair?

    (3)
  • Shawn C.

    This seems to be more of a hang-out place rather than a practical take-out place. On a not-too-busy Sunday night, it took exactly 38 minutes to pick up an order of two burgers. The food is good quality, but nothing super-fantastic. I tried the lamb burger which was was cooked just right. And options like sautéed mushrooms and bleu cheese really hit the spot. I just wish the portions were a bit larger if you're gonna shell out over $10 a burger. If I try take out again, I might try to order ahead next time to speed things up.

    (3)
  • whitney m.

    Seriously worst service I have ever had. The bartender Sapuna was so rude. She yelled at us from the bar when we were over sitting at a table to take are order. She was the only bartender but for maybe 10 people nothing crazy. She was nagging at us to sign are bill when we only had it for a couple mins. And when we all ordered are drinks seperately she got pissed when we wanted to pay seperate and complained you are making this difficult for me. Sorry you have to do your job. That's never been a problem anywhere else I have gone. Then to top it off we ordered are food the guy doing food orders and the bartender got in to a fight in front us. About who should have taken are order as they stared and pointed at are table and another table. She was horrible. Ruined are night. Aren't bars suppose to be fun? Guess they missed the memo.

    (1)
  • amanda W.

    This is a burger fans fantasy come true. This place's menu speaks for itself. Food was top notch and delicious. Who doesn't want to create their own burger?! I will say their sweet potato fries are the best I've had to date. Go here. Stuff your face. End result? Happy lil food coma :)

    (5)
  • Nicole M.

    Just went to Custom Burger for the first time. it's a lot like my beloved Counter, meaning you can pick and choose between a variety of burgers (lamb, Angus, Kobe beef, veggie, chicken), cheeses, toppings (red onion, grilled sweet onion, avocado, bacon, etc...), sauces (ketchup, ranch, BBQ, chipotle mayo, etc...) and buns (seeded, whole wheat and potato). Basically, you fill out a sheet that has all your available options and create the sandwich that's perfect for you. I've found that a light touch works best. when you pile on the toppings a) it can get really pricey, and b) you end up with a big mess. Two or three toppings (at most) and a good sauce make for a better burger. My burger was tender, juicy and topped just right. The way they serve things (with a knife and fork) make it easy to adjust amounts easily. Once you have your burger down, there are a plethora of sides including french fries with sea salt, sweet potato fries and onion rings. I loved the onion rings. they had a terrific texture and just the right amount of breading to onion ratio. They were a little drab tastewise. I like mine with a little seasoning, so kid of wish they had more flavor of their own, but they are wonderful with the sauce of your choice. we order the 12 ring size, but probably would have been better off with the 6 ring size. Only go for it if you;re hungry (or have friends to help). I didn't try the milkshakes or indulge in a funnel cake or brownie sundae this time, but they are all great options. All in all it was a good experience. In the future, I'm hoping to branch out a bit. Brownie Sundae here I come...

    (4)
  • Katie P.

    Awesome burgers, but a bit pricey. And is it just me or is it not really a custom burger?! They should call it custom condiments or something. I mean, they do have a turkey and veggie burger option, and you can change the bun, but not much else is too "customized" and pretty much each customization you get is an extra $.50 - $1... but hell, its a restaurant style burger right?! In the end, our bill was pretty fat, but the portions were too. I of course chowed down my burger in a matter of minutes, but strangely enough my boyfriend got pretty full. Oh, and Custom Burger, I do greatly appreciate the bacon on the menu. That made me immediately happy before I even saw anything else on the menu. mmm... bacon...

    (4)
  • Christopher H.

    I like this place but it's a little pricey.

    (3)
  • nick d.

    40 minute wait for a freakin overpriced burger? and we came before all the people from the pride parade came. and we had to remind the guy about our fries. maybe if they brought out the fries right away so we had something to munch on, not 50 minutes after we ordered it, we wouldnt be such unhappy campers. garlic aioli was good though. curly fries were good. burgers were decent. 3 to 4 stars if the wait didnt suck.

    (2)
  • L S.

    Pretty darn good burgers. Yes, they're pricier than in-n-out but very good and tons of interesting choices. The onion rings are ammmmmaaaazing. Seriously. Eat them. Eat them now. The adjacent Custom Lounge is actually kind of awesome. When my husband and I lived in this neighborhood we would hit up the lounge for some drinks and onion rings - good prices for drinks and really great bartenders! You can get the whole menu at the bar as well - FYI. It's a mix of locals and tourists that I find very pleasant and interesting for people watching/snooping. Definitely worth a try. Also - get one of the specialty ketchups with the rings. You're welcome.

    (4)
  • Kristin F.

    "Custom Breakfast, too!" states the sign I stare at from the large glass windows as I work all day. It taunts me. I am hungry right now, and would adore a "Custom Burger." I finally ventured here with my work crew one night when Mr. Smith's was closed on a Monday (sad). We went to the bar, which is very hotel-like and casual. The good news- they had Henrick's and Tonic! I was also lucky enough to snack on the fries. Have I tried a custom burger? No. But I think I know where I'll go for lunch. I suppose this is a good people-watching spot as well. I can currently hear screams, I've even spotted some pirates, flashers, and the occasional man in a live bird hat.

    (4)
  • Michael K.

    Service is so bad I am surprised they are still open. I only went to them because a friend in the area recommended based on how much he knows I am a closet burger eater afficianado, and their extensive selection and customized menu. But they ruined it before I even took a bite. I had to beg to order and had to check on its status three times before I finally got called. They get one bonus star for the sauce selections for their fries...and thats being generous.

    (2)
  • Sara V.

    SO. TASTY. Probably incredibly fattening but delish. More on the expensive side of things I would say. I give it 3 stars because of the price and they took a while to get the food. For as few people as were in the restaurant later in the evening, it should've been faster service. I would eat there again though.

    (3)
  • Natalie J.

    I don't believe in spending the equivalent of my cell phone bill on lunch!!! Umm...I could be wrong, but paying $7.99 for a salmon patty with no bun (yet) and no toppings at all (including ketchup) seems a bit nuts! A completed salmon burger will run you around $12.50 without cheese. Don't ask for fries or else you will be adding another $4.00 to the bill. You're thirsty? Why not add a $5.00 fountain or cooler drink to your order? Extra special sauce for the $32.00 meal you just paid for...??? Ok, just pay an extra $.50 per container. This place stays in business because of tourists. I see them there every day when I pass by on my way to work. Not my choice of eateries! I'll stick to home made salmon burgers from Costco.

    (2)
  • Raquel R.

    Man oh man oh man oh man! Burgers tasted good, and felt good. Highly recommend the sweet potato fries.

    (4)
  • Yulree C.

    I was fortunate enough to stay at a hotel right across the street from this place, or else I would have never experienced the glory of the custom burger. Here's what my custom burger looked like: kobe beef, garlic aioli sauce, blue cheese, sauteed onion and mushrooms, and avocado. In addition to this burger, I also shared a half/half fries (half sweet potato, half reg) and a tower of onion rings. CALORIC OVERLOAD, I know. But I had just finished a major project and I needed to celebrate. Plus, I was in another city. I was wishfully hoping to leave the calories behind when I went back home. Wishfully. Hoping. I would've given this place a 5 if they hadn't overcooked my patty.

    (4)
  • Neda M.

    hamburger is delllllicious fries are OK price is higher than what you usually pay for a hamburger 'cuz you pay for every ingredient here. it's a clean and spacious place.

    (4)
  • Fong C.

    All I remember was that they were so generous with the sauces. The sweet potato fries is also good there.

    (4)
  • Rajkumar J.

    Have tried their angus and kobe beef burgers and built my own burgers. The meat was grilled to perfection and got to our tables in good time. A tip would be to chose cheese and bacon on your burgers. Your taste buds will love the juiciness even if your arteries won't thank you. Also chose the half half fries: regular and sweet. A bit pricey for burger but well worth it.

    (4)
  • Angela M.

    Might be the best burger I have ever had in northern california. Absolutely love all the options to customize your burger almost in every single way! wish there was one closer to me in Los Angeles!

    (5)
  • Ruiqiu K.

    I'm so glad I never stepped in here during my brief time working down the street. I would have been in here weekly if my waistline and wallet can afford it. I truly had no idea what this place was about. I saw it attached to the hotel, and figured that it was just your run-of-the-mill hotel restaurant. I would pass by in the morning, so I mainly saw people eating their eggs and bacon and whatnot. And I had no time for a "sit-down" restaurant before work. Since I was staying at the Good Hotel across the street, I had a hankering for a burger. I spent a good few minutes examining the extensive menu board. Thankfully I didn't immediately "order" -- I would have missed the fact that there is an ordering system of sorts: The menu is on a pad of paper, and you circle the things you want to customize your burger. Then you place your order. I like that they offer salmon, vegetarian, and turkey patties. And they have toppings/sauces from hoisin to pineapple to fried egg to chipotle mayo to "ketchipotle". I loved their onion rings. And drinks come in a very tall glass. Pricing: San Francisco 'gourmet burger' pricing.

    (4)
  • Anna L.

    I leave Bloodhound, three tequilas in, and clumsily hobble over to this place. I ordered medium rare. Got medium rare. Say, WHAT?! And best sweet potato fries I've tried to date. I hear inebriation enhances your sense of taste. So this review is totally valid, folks.

    (4)
  • Lisa H.

    I feel like a spy, writing a review while munching on french fries in the very establishment I'm reviewing.. a perk of dining alone I guess. I have very mixed feelings about Custom Burger. I'd orginally decided on a 2.5 star rating.. but then Fido walked in and their rating jumped up a star to 3.5! I love a place you can take your dog- as I've said time and again. (Perhaps Fido was a plant, the owners of Custom Burger pay Fido in doggie bags to walk thru every 45 minutes to improve their ratings with animal lovers). Anyways Custom Burger is exactly what it's name leads you to believe- a place where you can customize your burger- your way- just not right away. The guy Cris who reviewed them most recently must have friends who work here. The kids who were behind the counter appeared to have no reaction to my presence. "Do I order from you" I asked? "Oh yah, hold on" a sheepish shrug- shuffle shuffle. It took a minute for me to realize I was supposed to follow her because we weren't at the register. Oh. So I got a turkey burger, added avo. Picked my 3 toppings. Got a diet coke. And a side salad. Total was $16.70. Gave her a $20 and said "keep it". Hot damn it was like the sun breaking thru the cloudy skies over Noah's Ark. The transformation was incredible. Suddenly I was worthy of ice in my diet coke! (Apparently the ice bin was empty and no one had wanted to fill it until I gave them an above average tip for counter service). I was given a number to place atop my table. I guess that's what it was for. Although it coulda just as easily been to pick my nose with cuz no one told me nothing. About 5 min later a young lad brought me my salad. No dressing. I realized I hadn't ordered one (you guessed it cuz no one asked what kind I wanted) and asked the kid for some honey mustard. After informing of the proper proceedure for salad ordering he left and got it for me. Gee thanks, my fault. Got it. I didn't like it much so I ordered fries too (another $3, $1 of it being tip). Again no thank you. I asked but did not receive a dipping sauce. Whatever, there's ketchup on the table. Wrong again! But a gentleman 3 tables over hopped up and brought me his with way more friendliness than the employees were showing me. The burger was good. The fries were good. Nothing about this meal was worth $23. In fact it makes me really angry that I paid that much. Back to 2.5 stars and holding. The decor was cheerful but the mustard painting will recur in my nightmares for months I'm sure. And the crowd.. hipsters mostly, a few odd tourist types, and oh wow a family that def spent too much time on 7th if you know what I mean.. Mommy's a hooker. Daddy's a pimp. Baby's gonna need therapy before he's outta diapers. Anyways I may come back sometime. When I'm feeling independently wealthy. But only because I can bring the puppy..

    (3)
  • Poppy C.

    I had the angus burger (6.99) with pt reyes blue (1.50) tomato, grilled sweet yellow onion and sauteed mushrooms. roasted garlic aoili on the side. the basket of half sweet potato half regular fries was deceptively filling. bottomless soda (1.99) I wouldnt hang out in this neighborhood late at night (I'm a chicken) and unless someone else is paying I probably wouldn't go back too often (I'm cheap). overall, very tasty burger, next time lambburger with feta and raita.

    (3)
  • Michael L.

    Building a "custom" burger is not only fun, but it tastes that much better. The staff is very friendly and the place is clean.

    (4)
  • Helen L.

    Yes, this is definitely one of those places where I leave hating myself. The burgers are good, but not the best I've ever had, nothing outstanding. I like being able to customize a burger, but it can get a little pricey since after three toppings, they start charging per topping. The sweet potato fries are lovely, just lovely. This is what makes me hate myself! The burger itself is already a belly full, but I insist on ordering fries. I can't always finish my meal, but my attempt to finish my meal makes it difficult to return to work alert. I probably shouldn't be blaming the restaurant for my gluttony. It's just easier than admitting my greed.

    (3)
  • Dave C.

    I havent tried the burgers yet but i did try the french fries,onion rings and clam chowder. Drinks are all free refills fyi. I got to choose 2 different sauces for my fries. I had to try the garlic aioli with my fries and the bbq sauce for the o-rings. Everything was good here. Garlic aioli was great. Got complaints all night about my garlic breath. I will be back to try the burgers.

    (4)
  • Chris T.

    Horrible service. . . unfriendly staff. Burger was very dry. . . bacon was burnt. I would not recommend if you are in the mood for a good experience with a good burger.

    (1)
  • Natassia S.

    Delish! I usually get the Buffalo burger as my meat. It's always super flavorful and has a very fresh taste. Tonight I got that with sweet onion, mushrooms, garlic sauce, lettuce, avacado, on a seeded bun. Super awesome! Great service, nice staff, clean bathrooms. Atmosphere is minimalistic and has kind of an empty-space feeling, but the burgers are so yummy I don't even care. :)

    (5)
  • Maria C.

    There are far better burger joints. I stopped here for lunch a few months ago. I asked for a well done burger, they assured me that's how they cook them, and what I got was medium at best. Not the best quality beef, and not much flavor, either. Sure seemed like a mass-produced, frozen patty. Custom Burger is a Counter Burger knock-off, but it's nowhere near that good. I stopped here only because I didn't know the area at the time. In retrospect, I should have kept walking. With so many awesome food choices in SF, I won't be coming back here ever.

    (1)
  • jason y.

    My friend and I wandered in for breakfast. After being informed that I could not have a bacon cheddar burger for breakfast (it broke my heart), I went ahead and ordered an omelette with salsa, bacon, and cheddar (next best thing, kind of?). I tacked a coke on top of that and received a bit of sticker shock when it was all said and done. After a bit of a wait, the cashier informed me that the salsa had gone bad, so after a bit of rifling through the ingredients, I asked them to sub in some onions. The omelette came out with the bacon and cheddar cooked in and the onions on the side. Sorry, but that's a whole world of lazy. Aside from that, the country potatoes were pretty solid and the toast was toastlike. The omelette had real bacon and cheddar and was pretty good, but it wasn't nearly amazing enough to justify the price.

    (2)
  • theresa d.

    I've always heard and read that this place is kinda pricey for a burger, but I decided to go with my coworkers for lunch because they tell me its worth it. Luckily when I was there a big sign on the door said that if you bought fries with your meal then they would take $3.00 off your meal for the entire month of Feb. SCORE! The great part of this place is that there is a little menu where you can circle what you want on your burger, they have sweet potato fries, the sodas are bottomless, and you can sit in one of the lounges on the side to eat. I had the Angus burger, with sweet onions, mushrooms, lettuce, jack cheese, and pesto mayo on a potato bun with an combination order of sweet potato fries and regular fries. The burger was delicious and juicy and it had just the right amount of toppings for its size. I hate it when I'm eating a burger and the filling falls out and causes a big freaking mess, and this burger didn't do that. I love that they don't put the condiments on the burger, but they offer them as sides. Overall it was a good meal, I'd go back for a burger again, and I'd even pay full price. But since there is a deal this month, I highly suggest you go there now. And while your at it, don't bother with the regular fries when you can get sweet potato ones instead.

    (4)
  • Harry B.

    Chicken burger was tasty with chipotle mayo

    (5)
  • Hyung L.

    So one caveat about my review. I rolled up to Custom burger with a buddy of mine who swore it's the best burger's he's had in SF. That's not the caveat. The Caveat is we were both stinking drunk. So I'm curious since I drive by this place ALL the time and have wondered. My buddy Troy is blathering on about how good it is. Whatever he's drunk. We walk in and you pick up a form. Wth am I filling out an application. Nope. You're choosing your meat and delicious toppings. They have Angus, lamb and something else I forgot. I got the Angus with cheddar cheese most of the fixings and for good measure because I wasn't quite unhealthy enough yet, a fried egg. To ease the gargantuan burger into my stomach we also got onion rings and a half and half basket of fires and sweet potatoes fries with ranch to dip it in. We're both growing boys so yes we needed all that food. Then the big surprise. Take you number and go into the next room and what do we have? A BAR! Yes folks a bar. I'm drunk which means I require more alcohol any time I'm within 20 feet of a bar. So we order another round of coctails that with each sip makes my whole body convulse but my brain says "keep drinking you wuss". The food finally arrives and the angels sing. Then the grunting begins as we scarf down our food. That was an awesome burger. I just wish I could have savored it for longer than 3 seconds. Next time I'm going back sober.

    (5)
  • Wolfy W.

    We call in our order for two custom burger, a Kobe burger and a Angus burger both 1/3 lbs and a few toppings on each. We also order 2 half basket fries and a milk shake, total was over $33!! Since we order it to-go, they had our order ready as promise and the service was good. Back at the office, the burger were OK, not great. The meat was average and it taste OK again, fries were OK, but was a generous portion. Way to much to pay for these burgers (quality -wise), this is NOT like Burger Bar in Vegas!!!

    (3)
  • engly C.

    The burgers are pretty greasy and doesn't seem all that fresh overall. There are def better places.

    (2)
  • Wendy L.

    My mother keeps telling me to save my soul and go vegetarian. Thank you Daoism and your theories of salvation. Sadly, I can't seem to kick that ground beef craving. So Custom Bruger, yea you were handy after that long argument with my mom over my Daoist soul, Saturday-night temple, all mixed with ethnic guilt. Good burgers, but I did not find substitute salvation in them (some tasty sweet potato fries though). I've been back twice since and still can't find the right, blow-my-mind burger combo. I'd still IN-N-OUT before Custom, but I don't doubt the convenience of having Custom Burger right in SOMA.

    (2)
  • pilou o.

    So, the best burger starts with the burger right? As a medium rare girl I get infuriated by cooks that serve me medium-well burgers. I stand on my head trying to make that clear to these fry cooks. And................medium well it was. Annoying because I could tell the burger had a nice flavour. The fountain sodas were disgusting. The fries were great. I would go back for them if in the area. Too bad the owner doesn't know how to hire functional employees.

    (3)
  • rob m.

    After getting off the Bart, i stopped by here to check out their burgers. I've seen the place when i walk or drive by and been wanting to. I took the plunge. One thing this place has going for itself are options. And lots of them. I stood there for a few minutes perusing the menu against the wall. But before I even got that far - i had to try to figure out the ordering scheme. Each part of the menu is a component of your burger a-la assembly line. Once i had the process down i settled for a turkey burger with chipotlup or ketchpotle or whatever the name of the sauce was on their sesame bun with basic items. Approximately $11 later i was set. That was just the burger too btw. No fries. No drink. I figured "well it is a custom burger. Any customization is usually pricier. It'd be nice if they had a preset menu i could choose from." After I sat down, i noticed the preset menu. Nowhere near the same area of the other menus mind you. It was a lonely three item menu at the bottom of the counter: hamburger/cheeseburger/kids meal. There was so much going on up on the wall above that it consumed my ability to look down apparently. Oh well, so be it. After about 5-7 minutes i received my burger. Good ration i thought. It definitely smelled good. That is until I actually took a bite. Oh man. Turkey was a bad choice. It tasted like they let the patty steam a bit too long. Are they supposed to steam patties? I'm no professional burger cook, but that did not taste right to me. The spices on the patty were not all that great either. Not sure what type of concoction they got going on in the kitchen or if the spices were a generic bunch of spices they toss on all of their patties, poultry or meat, but it did not go so well with the turkey. In the end, I was stuffed, but dissatisfied by the taste. I did tell myself that i must give a menu at least three tries so I will come back and try different combinations and patties. They have nice people working there although they seemed to be mean mugging a bit but it could just be cause i have a mean mugging type of face, not sure. Oh there's a bar right next door too if you need to wash away the pains of a bad burger and I got a chance to check out their bathrooms: clean and clean. :)

    (3)
  • Mike W.

    I was such a big fan of Custom Burger I wound up eating there both nights I was staying in San Francisco, part out of convenience, and part out of sheer love of the fully customizable burgers. The name says it all "Custom Burger", you pick your bun, your meat, your fixens, and your condiments. This is a great opportunity for burger lovers to experiment a bit. The only complaint I have is that I am lead to believe they prepare their all of their burgers in the same place or with the same utensils. The beef burger I ordered the first night had a distinct fishy flavor that I was not fond of, but could tell it was only present due to some sort of cross contamination with their fish burgers.

    (3)
  • Shannon B.

    Best salmon burger I've ever had. The high quality ingredients served to provide a classy and delicious burger experience. The sweet potato fries were the bomb. My hubby had a lamb burger that was truly well done, just a touch of pink throughout. Extra points for Custom Burger for taking my burger back to the grilled when I said it wasn't hot enough. The server was nice about it and brought it back lickety-split.

    (5)
  • Loi L.

    The burgers here are good, but it's pretty pricey. I would come back often, since it's so close to home. They have a lot to choose from and it really is custom. You get to choose the meet, toppings, sauce, etc. They charge extra for certain options, extra toppings, or sauce. So be careful because the price can add up quickly if you're not careful in customizing your burger. Fries and drink is extra. The sweet potato fries are tasty, if you like sweet potatoes. They also have some other items I might next time, like the shakes and desserts. Good place to try a burger if you're in the area.

    (4)
  • Robert S.

    I live right around the corner from here but had yet to try it. It's pretty awesome how the process works for custom burger. Basically you get to build your burger, step by step with quite a bit of options. My burger was really tasty and fresh. Because each topping costs extra, the burger can get a bit pricey but it was worth it. Also the sweet potato fries were really tasty. I will be coming back very soon.

    (4)
  • Anthony G.

    Delicious! This place serves awesome burgers and outstanding sweet potato fries. Low price for an excellent meal. I've been here twice and will be here again.

    (5)
  • Michael S.

    "Best burgers in town," my friend said. "You gotta try it," said another. Okay, I've read many reviews on here and I have to agree. The novelty of putting some of the ingredients on here is fun, but I'd rather go down to Cable Car Joe's on Mission and spend less for a better burger.

    (2)
  • Vicky L.

    Yum yum yum, all around. Creating my own burger is like picking out a whole outfit from scratch (and like, with an unlimited budget). It's THAT MUCH FUN. The burgers are a hefty size, and it was so good that I managed to scarf it down and eat half a basket of fries, which were delicious with my garlic aioli sauce. I highly recommend trying out different combinations of things that seem.. weird with a burger. Cute little place with awesome burgers. Hooray!

    (4)
  • M W.

    I went to San Francisco on vacation with a friend and after hopping off the Bart we used the Urban Daddy App to help find some hangover food (drinking the night before a flight: bad idea). Custom Burger looked like a great option. At first. the prices seemed a bit high, especially for the extras and toppings, but we chose the higher quality beef so I expected the price to be a little more. We also like a lot of toppings, and I wanted to try the jalapeno poppers and my buddy wanted the Seasoned Fries, so when we finally hit the register i was prepared to spend a little more than usual. I was SHOCKED at the price for 2 burgers and two sides and drinks. $40. I thought to myself these had better be some damn good burgers n fries. You'd think for a $12 patty the cashier would ask 'how do you want that cooked'. We were sure to let them know exactly how we wanted it cooked. "Seasoned Fries" were just plain, regular fries. We didn't touch them. Super disappointing. The Jalapeno Poppers were perfect. Even though the beef was edible (I would question if it was Kobe), they only gave us half our toppings. So while eating we calculated the missing items: about $3.00 each in missing toppings. Being starving and hungover, i didn't bother trying to correct it because then we'd have to either wait another half hour for replacements or just shut up and eat it. For the money we spent i was really pissed off by the time we left. UPDATE: I dropped this shithole down from two stars to one star after reading other reviews and seeing that they've been having the same, uncorrected problems for four years. Appalling that someone out there is still eating here and keeping this place in business.

    (1)
  • Alex C.

    Been there six times. Because I occasionally work nearby. Mostly OK. Concept is great but execution sucks. Employees have been consistent in making sure I feel like I'm interrupting them. ooh I'm too stupid to verbal my order so I'll write it down for you. Burgers OK but can't touch Burger Joint, whole wheat buns and good meat that has been peppered and salted while on the grill. No matter how "Custom" your burger is, if it isn't good to start with and not cooked with care, it will CustomSuck. Now for the dish. First time I went there I heard good things about the place and ordered a burger and chili. The burger was ok but someone just took dried beans and added them to the chili, I was lucky I didn't break a tooth!! Dried beans!! Uncooked, dried beans, WTF!! How stupid do you have to be to pull that off?? Pretty stupid. And how about that lady that worked there that wouldn't sell me a hamburger? It had to be a cheeseburger. I said no cheese about ten times and she kept on asking me what kind of cheese I wanted on my cheeseburger. I kept on saying hamburger no cheese and she was ready to kill me. The other customers were howling with laughter like it was a Monty Python sketch. Sure enough I get to my truck and it's a cheeseburger.

    (1)
  • Paul S.

    I went back to Custom Burger for a second time and this time was MUCH better. The meat was lean and cooked to perfection. I had a bad experience the first time but I always like to give a second chance. Now I give them 4 stars for meeting my expectations.

    (4)
  • Nancy H.

    I very rarely go out and order a burger. But when a good colleague said that's the place she wanted to go for her Congrats/Farewell lunch.. I was all for it. They have one of those menus where it's "Build Your Burger". Different choices of meat, toppings, sauces and extras.. the prices are not bad.. slightly pricey.. but very good. Our small group ordered three burgers... I can't remember what she ordered, but she seemed very happy.. as my boss was with his burger. I ordered a 1/3 angus beef burger with ketchipeno (jalapeno ketchup), mushrooms and jack cheese. Loved it. It was done very nicely (even though they didn't ask how well we wanted it cooked). Tower of Onion rings was pretty fab.. same with the half-n-half basket of sea salt fries and sweet potatoe fries. Definitely will come back again if ever in the neighborhood and need a burger fix. :)

    (3)
  • Jennifer T.

    This burger joint is expensive and the burgers are not that outstanding. It costs around $10 for a hamburger with a few add-ons. I rather go to Pearl's now that it's open. It smells weird the one time I came here! Not coming again.

    (2)
  • Invisible J.

    I think most folks are getting this right - the food here is OKAY, not great. 3 stars seems right. Does anyone else think it's really weird that the Sweet Potato Fries are SOO GOOOOD and the regular fries are just so regular? I mean, how do you make one great and the other just mediocre? It'd be like going to a breakfast place and, "Oh they make the BEST waffles, but they're pancakes are just so-so." What's up with that? Yes, there are problems: asking HOW would you like your burger cooked? (even though every f**kin' burger is always going to be well done no matter what) would be a nice touch. YES, having the pre-set / prix-fixe menu somewhere VISIBLE as opposed to being completely out of the way would be nice. That being said, they have decent enough burger and fries. I like the potato bread bun. And, let's face it, the prices are high 'cause they're there to take money from tourists. However, if you're stuck in that part of town, and it's late at night, and you want something to eat, this place ain't bad. It ain't great, but it ain't bad. (Probably a good spot to pick up on European people, if that's your thing.) I wouldn't make a special trip to Custom Burger - as has been stated PEARL's is Better, Super Duper is Better, Big Mouth Burger is Better - but for what it is, in that part of town, it ain't bad.

    (3)
  • Monica C.

    Tried this place a couple times being around the corner from home. We are not fast food burger loving people (as in McDonald's etc.) but this seemed promising. Wrong. :( i should have just accepted the first not-so-awesome burger i got. Must have been in a good mood TWICE to allow them the chance to prove themselves. They are definitely better than i remember fast food joints food tasted, but for the price i expected better. MUCH better. The worst part is the bread was thawed stale shitty bread. You charge me how much and you couldn't even get decent bread? Meat was terrible too. FAEL on so many levels. If you are drunk and don't care bout $.. sure... it will be delicious! If not and its daylight, I suggest walkin down to the corner (Howard) to Tony Baloney. Sandwiches there are delicious and fresh!

    (2)
  • Angela L.

    While exploring our neighborhood, we stumbled upon this little gem. The concept is simple: pick the meat, cheese, veggies, sauce, and bun. They assemble, you enjoy. The burger was really delicious and I like how you can customize it to your liking. We got the regular fries which wasn't anything to write home about; next time I'll have to give the sweet potato fries a try. The thing I am most excited about for my next visit is the funnel cake! It looked straight out of the state fair. Yum! I know some people complained about the service/employees, but I didn't have much trouble. Didn't get any attitude from the employees, but the food did take a little while to come out and we were getting to-go. That would be the only thing I would want to improve.

    (4)
  • Danny S.

    the food here is allright, by allright I mean ALLRIGHT. My office is around the corner so I usually call the order in. If I had to wait there for my food I would go insane. They need to streamline the ordering process, for a place that values reducing waste the waste a lot of paper ordering peoples burgers! The sweet potato fries are good!

    (3)
  • G J J.

    Good veggie burger. A bit expensive. Fries are good.

    (4)
  • Will A.

    I really liked this place. It sort of pops out of nowhere and they even have an adjacent lounge bar. I love their "build your burger" method of ordering, and it does allow you to sort of garanimalize (is that even a word?) it. But don't blame them if you want to try something with bacon, pesto mayo and honey mustard and it offends your sensibilities once you realize that 5 cool things don't necessarily have to be consumed in the same meal. Their sea salt fries didn't jump out at me, but the sweet potato fries were good. Service was very friendly, and your only concern should be your crazy-ass imagination (i.e., putting condiment choices that don't work) or a rookie orderer going in front of you who can't grasp the flow-chart model of food ordering. Looked like cool beer selection, but I just went unleaded caffeine to get me through a long day.

    (4)
  • Carla O.

    Good food, but it just takes too long!! Waiting 25 minutes for a burger is not nice =/

    (2)
  • phillip w.

    I've only had take-out from the place and I am guessing if I ate in the store maybe my experience would of been better. But then again I didnt even walk that far to the place where I was planning on eating so maybe it would not have made much of a difference. I can say that the beef was good, and its a great idea that you can pick your own toppings. But keep in mind..the price does add up. Their sweet potato fries were alright and I guess getting soggy really quickly didnt really help. maybe next time it will be much better..

    (3)
  • Nish N.

    I'm not sure what the 5 steps to a more fulfilling love life or a better job are, but at Custom Burger, there are exactly "5 steps to creating your perfect custom burger." I'll list them here but when you order - whether at the counter or from a waiter in the lounge area - you'll get a pad and pencil to fill out. Ok, so here's my experience: 1) Select Your Burger - I almost went with the American Kobe Beef, but chose the Lamb Burger, a little overdone but well spiced. 2) Get Creative - add some avocado, bacon, even a fried Petaluma egg. me, I was happy with just adding Pepper Jack Cheese. 3) Top It Off - up to 3 additional toppings, no extra charge, so I got a fresh tomato slice, sauteed mushrooms and sweet piquillo peppers. Yum! 4) Sauce Things Up - some interesting choices, like Cucumber Raita, Red Tail Ale BBQ, but how could I resist the Secret Sauce. In retrospect, my friends and I suspected it was 1000 Island Dressing, hmm. 5) Name Your Bun - choice of five, I went with Onion Poppy, toasted real nice. Overall, this was a solid burger experience. Again, you can order at the counter, which might seem more conducive to a burger joint, but we sat in the lounge, where you can order alcoholic drinks (probably better for dinner time, or even before going to Mr. Smith's or Mezzanine). I ordered Onion Rings, which were crispy and piping hot, and a Coke (crisp, man I hate it when i get a flat soda). The one downside, all this customization comes at a price. My lunch was a little over $20 with tip, since the rings were $5 (a big serving though), and the burger about $12.

    (4)
  • Catherine O.

    If Xzibit could provide me a pimped out burger he'd probably say something along the lines of: "Yo dawg I heard you like burgers, so we put a burger in your burger so you can eat while you're eating!" Customer Burger is pretty much the "Pimp my Ride" of Burgers...except Xzibit & MTV won't be there to pay for my meal. You can choose from a variety of meats, toppings, and sauces. Meats include selections such as angus beef, kobe beef, lamb, turkey, & even veggie! You can choose from different cheese selections such as cheddar, swiss, american, feta, jalapeno, bleu cheese. There are also a variety of toppings from arugula, black olive tapenade, applewood smoked bacon, avocado, and much more! Choose a type of sauce to go with your burger too! Don't forget to pair it with either the sea salt french fries, sweet potato fries, or onion rings! For $13 I ordered a lamb burger on a potato pepper bun topped with sauteed mushrooms, bleu cheese, arugula & onions. With a side of garlic aioli sauce and half a basket of sea salt french fries. It's a bit pricier than most burger joints, but for the price I paid, it was well worth the quality and custom selections! Just remember the more you add on, the more you pay! I'd like to point out the well designed restaurant. It was very modern, and fun! The set up was nice, and was clean inside. The worker was very helpful with suggestions, and the service was fast & friendly. Looks like Custom Burger also owns a Custom Lounge (their bar next door). I wonder if I can pimp my drink out on that side....

    (4)
  • Kyle P.

    Holy Guacamole! The food is GOOD! I love the ability to customize my order (Imagine that, being able to customize your meal at a place called Custom Burger?) As a creature of habit, I tend to get the same thing every time and every time it's as good as the first time. I'm very keen on this. Knowing that whatever I order it will be cooked and assembled with the same methodical attention to presentation and flavor. Btw, the turkey burger is divine!

    (4)
  • Ruby H.

    Custom Burger is only a hop skip away from me, so I've had their burgers more than a few times. Building your own burger is pretty fun, but I really feel like the burger would be executed a lot better if they just had set burger choices so that the things in the burger are proportioned nicely. It sucks ordering from this sort of menu sometimes because they might skimp on some things & then overload on others. With that said, I am a huge fan of their sea salt fries, sweet potato fries & onion rings! Their sweet potato fries & onion rings are magnificently crispy & they stay that way for a while (even if I order it to go), so that's a definite plus in my recordbook. The sea salt fries are actually just ok, but I like ordering them for variety. PS - I'd skip on the whole wheat bun, its really not very tasty. :( PSS - My new favorite ~customization~ is: angus on potato bread w/ bacon, arugula, jalapenos, raw red onions & bbq sauce. OMG.

    (4)
  • A. S.

    Food was mediocre at best considering the prices. Sure you can add whatever you want to your burger, but everything you add ups the price even more. To top it off my burger was practically burnt. They're right around the corner from me and I'll never go back.

    (1)
  • Jennifer H.

    Customer Burger has yummy burgers and best is you can create your own. You choose the meat/veggie option, the sauces, toppings and bun. You can add fries, they even have yummy sweet potatoe fries, and drinks. The only thing is that CB is kind of expensive (if you get a burger with fries and a drink you'll easily pay more than $10). Also, the basket they serve the burger in is kinda in the way of eating the burger at times, but oh well. I think the burgers are super yummy and I love going here. I couldn't afford to go here everyday, but once in a while when I want a super yummy burger with all the stuff on it that I WANT, this is the place to go!

    (4)
  • Maximillian M.

    I was pleasantly surprised, not expecting much. I had an angus burger with the Petaluma fried egg (what's special about that, I don't know) on a potato bun with sauteed mushrooms, sauteed onions, and olive tapenade with garlic aioli on the side. And a Big Daddy IPA. An excellent--albeit pricey--and delicious meal. Don't care for the boring semi-McDonald's-ish interior much.

    (4)
  • M M.

    I guess I must've really lucked out both times I ate here because my food was great and I didn't think it was too expensive considering the quality, portions or variety. The salmon burger and turkey burger were delicious and yes, you pay extra for fries....but it's for a TON of fries and they're really good. The huge drinks have unlimited free refills too. My burgers were moist, the fixin's were delicious and the buns were super moist and fresh. As a side note, I find it interesting that some of the same people who complain about prices at Custom Burger have no problem awarding 4 or 5 stars to restaurants where you pay through the nose for "ambiance" rather than the food. Just sayin'.

    (5)
  • Ann L.

    My friend and I went here for dinner after checking out the Asian Art Museum Thurs night. I wasn't that hungry since I ate some food before coming here but I still managed to try 2 things. So you get a paper menu and do 5 steps to custom your burger: 1. Pick type of burger. They use Golden Gate meat Company local, naturally raised beef. 1/3 Angus Burger, American Kobe Beef, Lamb Burger, Turkey, chicken, salmon, veggie All burger cooked Medium-Well unless requested. 2. Pick toppings which is between .99-$1.99: American cheese, applewood-smoked bacon, beef & black bean chili, feta cheese, fried petaluma egg, pepper jack cheese, pt. reyes blue cheese, sliced avocado, swiss cheese, tillamook sharp cheddar. 3. More toppings: up to 3 toppings included at NO Additional Cost. Extra toppings .50 ea. Arugula, balsamic marinated onions, black olive tapenade, fresh tomato slice, grilled pineapple, hoisin glaze, ice box slaw, jalapenos, leaf lettuce, pea sprouts, raw sliced red onions, roasted green chiles, sauteed mushrooms, sauteed sweet yellow onions, sweet piquillo peppers 4. Pick a sauce. One sauce FREE, extra sauce .50 ea. blue cheese, chipotle cilantro mayo, cucumber raita, Ketchipotle, ketchapeno, mayo, pesto mayo, roasted garlic aioli, secret sauce, spanish romesco, red tail ale bbq sauce. 5. Pick a bun: onion poppy, sesame seed, potato pepper, multigrain, brioche. I wanted a lamb burger but they didn't have it when I went, so I picked salmon burger $7.99, got 3 free toppings that's included w/ price: black olive tapenade, fresh tomato slice, leaf lettuce. They ran out of sauteed mushrooms when I went. Sauce I wanted roasted garlic aioli - ran out, got chipotle cilantro mayo, bun was multigrain. My salmon burger was a bit dry, had to use lots of the chipotle cilantro mayo. Bun is too big!! Didn't eat it all. Also got a veggie lentil chili which comes w/ a side of raw onions, cup of sour cream, cup of cheddar cheese, and 2 toasted sliced baguettes. small was $3.99/large $6.99. It's like a veggie stew w/ tons of lentils, pretty healthy if you don't add the cheese or sour cream. they got salad: caesar $7.99 and Mediterranean chopped $8.99 shakes: vanilla beans, Ghiradelli chocolate, Cal. strawberry $4.29 pies: organic apple crumb or flavor of the week $4.99/ a la mode $1.25 more cookies: oatmeal or chocolate chip $.89 They take credit cards, my total was $13. One unisex bathroom across from the Custom Lounge. Hrs: Lunch 11-4 Dinner 5-9:30m, Fri close at 11pm Next to Best Western, walking distance to Orpheum Theatre and Asian Art Museum.

    (3)
  • Aaron V.

    I just had a pretty darn good burger here, albeit an expensive one. They give you a ton of options including arugula, kobe beef, pesto mayo and whatever else you could imagine. All in all there's about 50 different ways to customize your burger. It can leave your head spinning and it took me about 5 minutes to get everything worked out. I decided on a Kobe beef burger (might as well get the full experience) with bacon, sauteed mushrooms, pesto mayo and an onion poppy bun. The menu mentioned that all burgers are cooked medium-well unless requested otherwise. I wrote on my order "medium-rare" and told the lady taking my order that I wanted it medium-rare since cooking Kobe beef medium-well should be a crime. It came out medium-well which was disappointing. Overall, I was satisfied with this place. My burger was overcooked and the fries were a bit soggy. Still, I feel this place is within striking distance of making a five star burger. They just need better quality control.

    (3)
  • O'Shea J.

    The talk among local foodies these days is the opening of Burger Bar on 10/16 inside Macy's Union Square. Until that opens, this will suffice. Ordering is straight forward - on the counter are a bunch of memo pads and you basically circle your toppings and build the burger to your liking. I went with the Angus chuck which right off the bat was $6.99 - I couldn't bring myself to paying $11.99 for the American Kobe - and from there, the price goes up depending on what toppings you choose. In the end, my total was $12 for a combo of burger (angus, sharp cheddar, arugula, sauteed onions), fries and soft drink. There are several sauce choices - I chose the "secret sauce" which is a chipotle-cilantro mayo. This paired very well with the peppery arugula and fries. The chuck is flamebroiled - you can smell it - but I wish there was space on the order form to request medium, medium-well, etc. Mine came out well done which was a bit on the dry side - they get docked one star for this - but all in all a very capable burger. Despite being attached to Best Western, there is no parking lot. Street parking can be difficult depending on the day and time (I found a space right outside w/ an out of order meter). There is also a lounge with a full bar to the left of the dining area. Although I usually have something on the rocks for Friday lunch, I passed this time around. A delicious burger, tons of choices, and a clean, modern interior makes for a solid dining experience.

    (4)
  • Tom H.

    Ok, so here's my first custom burger order: 1. Lamb 2. Sauteed mushrooms + caramelized onions + lettuce 3. Blue cheese sauce 4. Onion poppyseed bun It was damn tasty. The lamb was cooked perfectly, not too well done, still juicy. The blue cheese sauce was the perfect amount of tangy. I bypassed fries to avoid bloat, but did snack on Nish's onion rings, which were good and not too oily. Now, while my meal was pretty spotless, I did notice that a few of my lunchmate's orders didn't come out quite so smoothly. There was a complaint about an overdone kobe burger, despite requesting it medium rare. One person's onion rings got forgotten initially, but they eventually made it out. Not unforgivable mistakes, but since this is a place that urges you to customize you order to the hilt, it might be nice if they paid extra attention to getting it right. They did just open, though, so hopefully they will work out the kinks with time. All I know is that I will definitely be coming back for more lamb burger.

    (4)
  • Iain T.

    I really like the idea of a totally customisable burger and this place does it very well. You fill out a card and hand it in and voilà, ten minutes later the burger appears. There's a good range of meats and toppings to go for and the burger itself was well cooked and to order. That said the toppings were a little unmanageable and half of them fell out before I got them into my mouth. This is one to eat with a knife and fork. The fries were also very tasty and come in abundance, I went for the half basket and that was more than enough. Our to go order was well packaged but as I said, you're better off eating in to get the full experience.

    (4)
  • Gil S.

    A hip, loungy, quirky (American Kobe? Homemade pies? Kabli chana sauce anyone?) burger joint with an attached bar. Kind of antiseptic but that's better than bacterial bloom, no? Third day open, seven Yelp reviews, nothing worked. The register was broke, customers walking out after half an hour wait despite promises of a refund, fry cooks broke rank to grab the manager, a cheerful young man straight from Joie de Vivre corporte who was visiting every table to apologize for something, to inform him of something horrible going down on the line. Did I say Joi de Vivre? Guess I did. This humble SOMA burger joint is run by the people who bring you...Saha, Cortez, Americano, Millennium, Bambuddha. So anything less than perfection is a disapopintment. Technically it was perfect. Burger made just right with spotless, fresh, crisp organic arugula, grilled hand cut dreamily sweet pineapple, a fabulous barbecue sauce made of local Red Tail Ale beer, all on a delicious hours-old sesame roll from Bay Bread, But it was all too pristine. I wanted some salt, I wanted some smoke, I wanted the taste of years of bacon fat and rusted iron. I wanted kitchen sweat. Give it time, give it time. Meanwhile, guests at the Best Western are overwhelmed and excited, they booked a $48 room on Priceline and instead of steamers full of scrambled eggs and processed cheese in the lobby they get an up to the minute trendy restaurant with professional white linen service that costs as much as their room. Which brings me to the real complaint. Everything here is yummy, and I know they will do a great job once things settle down. But they charge $5-6 for routine bottled beer, $8 a well margarita, and wine prices are $6.50 to $12. People could go to Absinthe for that. People have been shot for far less. As I type this Moby is playing in the bar, happy but disoriented visitors are talking business in German, and an older lady with a giant butt just waddled up to the check-in desk in sweats. If I were on a budget vacation I would be happier than a sea lion to be here. As a local....eh.h....

    (3)
  • E-dough R.

    I'm currently working in the TL and I'm making a habit of hitting up the local eateries. Although its bad to always compare places, when there is Pearls Burgers a few blocks in the other direction, I just cannot help but compare the two. Custom burger definitely has a good burger and some good sweet potato fries (I like the fries at Custom more than Pearls), but Custom is lacking the Buffalo meat. Not only that, I ordered a simple burger, a soda and fries yesterday and ended up paying around $16 dollars!! Granted the food was good, but 16 bucks for a burger and fries!?! I didn't even get bacon or avocado on that burger....(that would have been like 18 bucks!) I would recommend checking out the lounge though and picking up the burger and beer combo for 10 bucks on Monday and Tuesday nights (that seems like a much better deal). Otherwise, its a good burger, not quite as good as Pearls, but still good. I would probably come here more often were it not for the price.

    (3)
  • Katie P.

    $30 for a burger, fries and 2 beers. Yes, I made the mistake of customizing without adding, that's part of it... But the Kobe beef burger tasted like it was pre-made / frozen, the fries were bland, and the bun was soggy. This may seem like a small detail but the burgers come in these metal wire baskets, so when you try to cut it in half you end up ripping everything apart. I guess I should have known it would be mediocre when we walked in at 8 on a Saturday and the place was empty.

    (2)
  • Laurence W.

    I love checking off little boxes and I love combining random ingredients that don't belong anywhere near eachother (i once had kahlua in a pasta sauce, but i can't say that i actually recommend it). This should have been a no-brainer hit. Instead, it was merely amusing but not delicious. The kobe beef tasted the same as the angus, which was generally "eh". The sweet potato fries, onion rings and regular fries were all kind of "eh" as well. The toppings were fun (grilled pineapple and bacon was a good combo). The bottomless coke was nice, but no bottomless root beer? Sauces were a resounding "eh", with the ketchup-chipotle being the winner at our table and the garlic aioli a unanimous snore. I'll go back. It was fun. But I won't be happy about it.

    (3)
  • steve m.

    o.k. Its close, its good, and I can take it home. I love the fact that i can get what i want put on it and its not fast crappy food. They also make killer frys, yamm frys and onion rings. so if you close to my house stop in there first and bring me a treat.

    (4)
  • Lisa Z.

    I'm loving all these new burger joints. Very fun. My favorite so far has been Custom Burger, and not just because they are insanely close to where I live. One HUGE plus: sweet potato fries. I am on an enormous SPF kick, and I love getting my fix here. Ok, so technically, I have only eaten bites of my friends' burgers (have never been too hungry here... yet). They were always delish. My friend's veggie burger was actually pretty close to the best I have ever tasted. Custom burger, I am a big fan. Except that painting of the mustard dude kind of freaks me out. I won't lie. All in all, great place to grab some grub (AND SWEET POTATO FRIES Y'ALL)

    (4)
  • Rich W.

    I'm a big fan of Custom Burger! At Custom Burger you grab a menu and check the boxes to build your burger. My burger: Angus beef, BACON, pepper jack cheese, raw onions, sauteed onions, lettuce, mayo on a potato bun. Side 1/2 stack onion rings wash it down with a coke. My meal was about $15.00, it's a bit pricey - but very tasty! I'll be back...

    (4)
  • Brett W.

    This place didn't blow me away, but it also didn't disappoint me. The place itself was relatively clean, and it was fun to fill out the ordering card for the toppings. My burger was regular sized and the toppings were how I ordered them. The one surprise was the Ketchotle sauce that I ordered. Yes thats ketchup and chipotle together and it was quite tasty. If you're hungry and in the area, then this place could satisfy, but I wouldn't make custom burger your go to eatery.

    (3)
  • Jeremy N Phyllis R.

    We had some great burgers, and the onion rings and chili cheese fries were really good too. A-little on the pricy side but well worth it. Staff could have been a-little friendlier, Will come back to eat here again.

    (4)
  • Beth R.

    We had breakfast here one morning...the omelet was very good. Select from a huge variety of condiments, veggies & cheeses to make it your own. Looks like lunchtime is similar, only difference being the burgers instead of eggs, of course. Kind-of overpriced though...especially since you go up to the counter to order and no-one waits on you.

    (3)
  • Tian X.

    I feel like this place really should have been a lot better than it turned out to be. The setting is relatively upscale and comfortable, there is a wide assortment of beverages to pair with your burger, and there's a lot of nice items you can stack on your burger. Even in the den of lions, they offer a veggie burger for your less carnivorous friends. The idea of a build-it-yourself burger is just brilliant so what could possibly go wrong? The idea of Custom Burger was just so brightly illuminated that it cast a shadow upon its actual execution. I found myself deeply disappointed with my dream burger. The angus beef patty itself was thick, moist and delicious, and the melted slice of swiss cheese on top was joyfully creamy. However, the mound of mushrooms sprinkled on the beef patty clearly came from a can and the multigrain bun had strong hints of industrialized agriculture.

    (3)
  • Joel S.

    Awesome restaurant. You choose your own meat cheese condiments toppings and bread. Oh I didn't forget about the sauces did I? Probably the best part of this place. I got the chipotle mayo...Oh Em Gee! (Read below for my total pimping of this sauce) Nice service, excellent food, the fries were built just like I like my women...well proportioned, and hot. Everything was cooked to perfection. If I'm in SF again I'm definitely going to Custom Burger. This section is dedicated to the Chipotle Mayo sauce: The feeling you get when you first taste this sauce is almost like the feeling you get after your first kiss. A little bit weird, kind of excited, but overall feeling great. Dip your fries in it, put it on your burger, you can't go wrong. It's like they took mayo and chipotle sauce, combined them, fed them to pigs, turned those pigs into bacon, drained the oil from that bacon and made this sauce. The sum of this sauce's parts are definitely greater than it's parts. I hope I haven't hyped it up too much, it's really a good sauce.

    (4)
  • Claire C.

    Stopped by here around 8:30pm after biking back from REI. It was clean, brightly lit, and totally empty. The prices looked okay, but I could see that any customization would quickly triple the price of a burger. So my buddy and I both just ordered the bacon cheeseburger combos for about $12 each. It wasn't anything special- an overcooked burger with some leathery bacon. The server was friendly but disappeared after serving, never to be seen again. Maybe I'm just a cheap idiot for not sampling all the customization possibilities, but next time I'll stick with In-and-Out.

    (2)
  • Jason B.

    There isn't a whole lot to dislike about CB. In fact, I can only think of 1 thing really. The price... Unless you create yourself a very basic burger and go against the whole idea of a "Custom Burger", you can end up spending $15 easy for a burger, fries, drink combo meal here. However, just as the name implies, CB is a place for people who like the occasional burger that's stuffed with all their favorite toppings. And they do have quite a few choices, so you can create just about any burger you want. Make sure you come hungry and bring a $20 bill with you at the very least. Also, try the sweet potato fries instead of the regular ones. They are awesome!

    (4)
  • Dave S.

    I'm not sure if this joint will survive in its current form. While I like the "Choose Your Own Adventure Burger" option, this place is located in a Best Western and when we visited, it was populated with confused tourists who seemed to pine for a nice simple list of choices like Denny's. There are 16.7 million possible burgers if my drunken math holds up. The same thing happened at the bar next door with the "Cocktail erector set" (not as dirty as it sounds). At least the bar menu provides you with some house specials to serve as defaults. I tried the lamb burger with feta, pea sprouts, and basalmic onions. Mmmmm delish. The sauteed pea sprouts alone will have me coming back for more. My stalwart dining companion tried the Kobe beef which wasn't worth the extra 3 bucks. It didn't taste any better than ground chuck. A really good burger doesn't need condiments, and this needed condiments to have much flavor. The prices are fairly high and a burger and side will set you back $15 easy. Cocktail prices at the lounge next door are $9 and the pour is reasonable. Staff are friendly and helpful. I still would rather eat a Clarke's, Barney's, Taylor's, or Joe's Cable Car burger any day of the week, but this is a good pre-show dinner place if going to Mezzanine or Club Six.

    (4)
  • Sonya M.

    So I'm thinking, you must be pretty lame if you give Custom Burger a bad review. You made it, duhhhh... figure it out, dude. But then I'm thinking, I liked everything I chose for my burger... the garlic mayo, the bacon, the sauteed mushrooms and onions... but still wasn't all that thrilled. The mushrooms were cold. Cold like they were sauteed some time ago and sat in a bowl until my order. I could be wrong, but I'm usually not (just ask my husband). And the Ikea furniture, totally uncomfortable. The staff was totally nice and helpful, but how annoying is it to listen to them explain the ordering system to every tourist that walks in? I mean, I wasn't annoyed when he explained it to us, but by the 4th time I heard it in 10 minutes, I'm like "come on guys, get with it". Seriously.

    (3)
  • Larry A.

    Best burger in San Francisco. Hands down. It sorta reminds me of the Plutos salad bar, only unhealthier. ;) The best thing about CB is that you can "customize" your burger a bazillion different ways. 7 different kinds of local meats, 6 different cheeses, 5 different kinds of buns, and an unbelievable assortment of toppings ranging from your basic American cheese to fried petaluma egg to roasted garlic aioli. Yes, you can be as creative as you want to be, but for some that can be understandingly intimidating. I'd love to see another CB in other parts of SF.

    (5)
  • Ruthie Y.

    This place has got in down! Don't let it's storefront fool you...its plain storefront gives way to a hit, comfortable interior and a delicious menu. The staff is consistently friendly. They'll serve up a burger just the way you like it...from the burger meat/meat substitute to the type of bun you want it one. Chose from fancy toppings like black olive tapenade and arugula, or straight-up burger-builders like tomato and onion. The sweet potato fries and milkshakes are good too, but the burgers are really where it's at.

    (4)
  • Gourmet Princessa L.

    I can't believe I haven't Yelped this place yet having been there so many times now. I love the concept of building your own burger. At Custom Burger, they make it so easy for their customers to be creative about their burger. You pick up a pad of form filled with items for burger. You choose the kind of meat (beef, Kobe beef, lamb, turkey, chicken, salmon or vege burger), then you pick your cheese to go on top of the meat patty (American, Swiss, Blue, Cheddar and Pepperjack). Once you decided the 2 most important ingredients, you move on the pick your choice of toppings, which ranges from the regular tomatoes and lettuce to salsa, sliced avocado, sautéed yellow onions, sautéed mushrooms, arugula, and roasted green chili (man, I'm impressed that I actually remember most of the items on that list). Of course is not a burger without the good sauce and they offer like 8 kinds of mayo based sauce. All of those selections can go between your choice of either potato pepper bun, whole grain bunsor the traditional sesame seeds bun. On my last visit, I ordered a lamb burger with Swiss cheese, arugular, roasted green chili with cucumber raita (diced cucumber in Greek yogurt sauce) in a sesame seeds bun. I was so proud of my combination. It was delicious and the lamb patty was moist and well seasoned. That's the thing about Custom Burger, the combination choices is endless so you can never have the same burger combination twice unless you want to. If you go, don't forget to add an order of their onion rings, thick cut fries or sweet potatoes fries. I recommend getting a half-n-half (half regular fries and half sweet potatoes fries). Oh! So...good. And their onion rings are sweet onions coated with a nice coat of crispy battered fried to crispy golden brown perfection. Wash all the good food down with milkshakes to complete a traditional American comfort food meal. I also think that this is a great place for vegetarians as they serve vege burger and with all those toppings that are vegetarian based, vegetarians will never find themselves shying away from the typical burger joint that only serves meat patties. My aunt and couple of my friends are vegetarians and now they, too, can go hang out with me and grab a burger for lunch. Moderate prices, clean environment, good service, excellent food catered to your own cravings. What more can I want for a burger place?

    (4)
  • Caitlin M.

    Okay, friends. Everyone is talking about the burgers, because it's a burger joint, so clearly, that's what they do best, right? WRONG. This place has the most perfect, remarkable, wonderful, amazing, PERFECT onion rings I've ever had--and trust me, I'm a girl who's had her fair share of onion rings. Here's the thing. They're big, but light and crispy. The batter doesn't overpower the sweetness of the onion, and it's just the right level of salty/savory. And here's the most important point of all. Are you ready? Really? Okay, here goes. When you bite into the onion ring, you bite DIRECTLY through the perfectly tender piece of onion inside. I know. It's amazing. That never happens; you're always left eating the whole onion and then eating the crispy batter part afterward, and it's almost as sad as eating a whole bite of cake on your over-large cupcake (see yelp reviews regarding cupcakes for more details). Oh and there are about 10 different sauces you can choose from to pair with your onion rings, but I am particularly partial to ranch. On everything. I'd be happy to drench my life in ranch dressing, if it were salty and crispy. Wouldn't that be nice? Salty, crispy, ranch-dressing-y life. Custom Burger helps me get a little closer to that lofty goal, one onion ring at a time.

    (5)
  • T C.

    Good burgers. Good onion rings. OMGWTF they have funnel cakes!!!!!?!?!11! Had a regular burger w/mushrooms, arugula, cheese, grilled onions. Nothing fancy, well made, tasty. The sauce (pesto mayo) was on the side (dude, I wanted that in my burger so the bun wouldn't get as soaked through as it did), which I thought was a bit odd. Add a small order of onion rings (good, not great - breaded, not beer battered) and it comes out to about $11 - not bad and about average for a FiDi burger+side, but maybe a tad pricey for this area, but then not bad for a hotel restaurant, soooo we're back to even. While waiting for my order I saw on the menu that they have funnel cakes. I totally would have ordered one, if it wasn't lunch time and I'd just ordered a good sized burger + onion rings... Next time though, it's on.

    (4)
  • andrew a.

    How have the ratings for this place be soooo low this place is super clean. The Cleanest burger place I've found in San Francisco. So many options and wait time isn't even long. They have the crispest onion rings and I'm a sucker for onions. First off the only reason anybody should ever have trouble with this place is because you might have had the wrong burger cause of the possibility's. A full 1/2 pound of american kobe beef is usually my choice. They have actual sweet potato fries that are delicious and not overwhelmingly sweet. You can also get half and half which is half regular fries and half sweet potato fries, if your interested in trying some sweet potato. Can't go wrong having options on how you want that burger done right. All in all this place will always be my favorite burger joint in San Francisco!!!! PERIOD!!!!

    (5)
  • Ken p.

    It's just shy of a 4, more than a 3.5. The decor is clean and bright, if not a little un-imaginative. But on to the food Love the build it concept, i mean, why shouldn't we have it our way.....well I guess that someone has that trademarked... The burgers were solid, though I'd say that Burgermeister had them beat, flavor for flavor on the meat. I did have a Golden Gate meat regular angus, and I think that part of the problem was that I didn't ask for it medium rare, but it came through as medium, which killed some of the flavor. The toppings are good, and the sauces are flavorful, really tasted home made. The best of the night is the tower of onion rings. These, though a little heavy on the batter, not bad, were still warm and crispy and the onion teared off without coming out, really great flavor. Some people complain on price, but I think it is fine, I mean, its more the McD, but come on folks, the quality is there.

    (4)
  • G K.

    Decent burgers and eclectic toppings. Samuel L Jackson would surely appreciate. youtube.com/watch?v=ecc0… They do ding you for the bottled beer, 5.75!! tho. Bright lights and white shiny walls are diner-esque, maybe good for an OR or Hydroponics, but not for dining, wear shades. All in all a good to have place in SoMa.

    (4)
  • nomi c.

    I feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone. Urbun Burger is the darling of the burger masses. Custom Burger not so much. Is it all the drinking that goes on near Urbun Burger as it's on Valencia? Are people bothered by the 'hood of Custom Burger? All I know is that my guy & my former roomie and I all agree - Custom Burger is the Burger shiznitz. When they had Buffalo, it was freaking heaven. But Lamb burger w/ feta is still pretty damn awesome. And their milkshakes are crack. Unfortunately the first one's not free but they probably don't need to be. Crazy tasty. Several people mentioned mixed up orders. I haven't had that happen. Maybe I'm lucky. Maybe the Burger Gods smile upon me. Or maybe the Burger Gods actually *hate* me because I'm pretty sure Custom Burger is responsible for several of those pounds I'd like to loose.

    (4)
  • Naomi T.

    Best veggie burger ever! Best fries! Best cocktails in the lounge!!! Really love this place!

    (5)
  • Jayson V.

    Holy crap this place is good! If you ever wanted to "build your own" burger, I can't think of a better place. Seriously, just look at the burger menu-pad: jdvhotels.com/pdf/dining… That's crazy! I recently got a Kobe Burger, on a sesame bun, with an egg, bleu-cheese, bacon, olive tapenade, sauteed onions, sauteed mushrooms, and bleu-cheese sauce. It was... life-changing. Really. The half-and-half basket of fries (half sweet-potato, half-boring-potato) are awesome. I recommend the Roasted Garlic Aioli to go with those. Also, they funnel cakes for dessert. How can you beat that? It's also attached to a full lounge for those who want to get their drunk on. All in all, a really good place.

    (5)
  • D K.

    My favorite burger joint in this part of the city. We were present on Sunday at lunchtime, so the wait was very short to order and we received our food quickly. Fries and onion rings - the fry oil was not so old as to spoil the taste. I did the American Kobe with Tillamook cheddar. I could have eaten two orders of burger and fries, but managed to find enough self control to stop.

    (4)
  • Lupe P.

    Yeah, it's a little expensive, but I like the concept. Plus, in this part of SF, there really are not a whole lot of lunch options other than the Westfield mall. I had the basic angus burger, and I added mushrooms, BBQ sauce, lettuce, tomatoes, and swiss and cheddar cheese. My friend and I split the basket of fries. I would definitely come here again for lunch, although I can't say it would be in my regular rotation. Overall, it was a Civic Center lunch for Ferry Building prices.

    (3)
  • Alfonso L.

    Pros: Fresh tasting, moist burgers (mine was Angus) Excellent fries (liked the idea of half-orders and mixing types of fries --sweet potatoes for sure Great list of toppings...mine was pepper jack, sweet onions, chipotle mayo, leaf lettuce Cloth napkins Presentation of items, esp the metal basket of fries Fries much superior to Burger Meister and Barney's Decent prices --the basic burger is $6.99 Cons: Service a tad slow but not terrible Annoying habit of "Custom" employees barging in on your table to refill your ketchup or salt shakers without as much as an "Excuse Me"

    (4)
  • Darrien A.

    This is a clean place with decent burgers with the nifty bonus of being able to customise the heck out of them. The fries are average, the staff are okay (not rude, not really friendly), and the 20 minute wait is fine if you're expecting it or call ahead. However, the real problem is not the wait or quality of the food but the price of your meal. It's a strong price tag for produce that simply isn't that good, isn't cooked that well, served that quickly, or in a terribly appealing place. Perhaps if the produce and cooking were better, it would feel worth it, but being able to chose your toppings doesn't overcome how mediocre everything else is. I haven't found a better burger place within a few blocks of it, but there's much better, much cheaper options throughout the city.

    (2)
  • Yeeman N.

    Beware of the heinous burger you can create given a voracious appetite and a fairly large selection of ingredient combinations. Other than falling into my own trap, I'm pretty sure if I had ordered a fairly normal burger that it would be much tastier than what my imagination had invented . The fries were pretty perfect.

    (3)
  • Vishal P.

    This place is great. Any combination burger you want or one of their specials.

    (4)
  • Michael M.

    Here's the idea .... you order your burger and customize it. Sort of like buying a car. Hence the name! You can choose from Kobe or Angus beef, chicken, turkey, lamb, Bocca or Veggie. Then you can choose whatever you want on it, various cheeses, spreads, veggies, and breads. I think I'll try the lamb, but I'm not sure how to customize it, since I don't want to mask the gaminess of the lamb. I wanted to go pretty basic, and had a bacon Swiss Angus burger, with sauteed sweet onions, lettuce and tomato. It was a pretty good burger for the somewhat seedy area. I don't care what that big "green" Federal building does to the area ... it's still 7th and Mission. Anyway, I also had the "SECRET" sauce ... but here's the secret ... it's just 1000 Island dressing! No surprise there. Maybe I'll be more creative and get Garlic Aioli next time. The fries came in this mini "fryer basket" which was neat. I opted for the Sweet Potato and Regular Potato mix. Those Sweet Potato fries were some of the best I've had ... not too thick and not too thin. Orders of fries come with a dip, just like Fritz. I choose the Pesto Mayo, and you should too. Clean setting, and a bar right next door. It's a bit more than three stars, but the fries merit a bonus. You can park in the hotel parking lot next door with a purchase.

    (4)
  • Marsha Z.

    ...Not bad, but not great, either. The sweet potato fries seem too perfect in looks and texture, perfectly crisped and orange. I doubt they're freshly peeled. The veggie burger was fine, but that's not saying much. The garlic aioli consistency was like dipping into a vat of thick, melted butter. Pearl's, I believe, still has the edge up in food quality and prices. They may lack customization, but sometimes it truly is better to keep it simple, stupid.

    (3)
  • Gina W.

    Wow! I was really surprised how great the service was and how delicious their fries were especially their sweet potato fries! I joined AGI/A Good Idea group of volunteers to hand out hygiene products to the homeless people in the south of market area. After we finished, we all went to Custom Burger for food and drinks. The bartender Lisa was very friendly and attentive. I ordered a glass of house wine with the special AGI price. That was surprisingly good. House wines normally aren't my preference. I also order a basket of fries, half skin-on fries and half sweet potato fries. Very good!! Make sure you order the garlic aioli sauce to go with your fries. Normally I don't eat my fries with sauce, but this one was good! I'm planning to go back to try their regular cocktails.

    (4)
  • Pete M.

    I've been only once but I so want to go back. By the time I was done adding things to my burger it came to around $10 which isn't bad for the size and tastiness. I got the 1/3 lb Angus Burger with Pepper Jack Cheese, arugula, and sauteed sweet yellow onions on a multi-grain bun.....hold on, gotta wipe off my saliva. This was one of the better burgers I've ever had in SF. It was not dry at all...cooked to perfection. The toppings were generous as I even licked some off the paper because they fell off the burger. Shit, I may have even eaten the paper too. I also got sweet potato fries that were excellent. Not too much salt added, perfect. By the way, in response to another Yelper below, how is that you are surprised that "sweet" potato.fries come out too "sweet"? You can always order non "sweet" potatoes....anyway... The one negative was that I felt the need to get up and check my car every few minutes because of the shady characters that lurk on this block. Sure, some of it was paranoia but if you would've seen some of these dudes you would understand. I can't wait to go back and experiment with some of the other ingredients available. They also have chicken burgers, salmon burgers and a kobe burger thats like $12 just to start (ouch!)

    (4)
  • alli c.

    I wanted a Goober Burger (Peanutbutter Burger) and they actually made me one. It was DELICIOUS!! Custom burger - INDEED! Thank you Custom Burger for making my dreams come true.

    (4)
  • Sammi H.

    Amazing food, but the bigger girl behind the counter seemed miserable and extremely unhappy. I brushed it off until she told us they were out of mushrooms, my boyfriend and I stood there deciding whatelse to get so we asked what her opinion on what went well with the secret sauce. She told us that it was "pretty much just like 'Big Mac' sauce" and offered nothing. If you hate your job, get a new one. Working in customer service is pretty much just bullshitting, especially if you want tips. She made me feel awkward just to walk up and ask for a refill. Hopefully next time the service wont suck so much.

    (3)
  • Bethany K.

    i was craving something unhealthy and remembered custom burger. some visiting friends had loved & blogged about it, so took the ~1 mile trek from work to get my very own custom burger. walking from soma down howard to 7th street is no longer a good idea. ever. especially for a girl by herself. however, walking back on mission was a little less crazy. the area's not too populated and a litto shady... so be careful if youre going to walk in that area. i should have known better! however, once you walk into the restaurant, its super bright with a lot of white/yello and cheery... kind of reminds me of ruby's? or in&out? its really friendly, i saw the workers clearing tables and checking in with various customers and asking about their trips to the city. i ordered to go (1 hour lunch break, yo) and it was brought out fairly quickly and they separated my sauces and fries and such wonderfully. this is what i ordered: 1/3 angus w/ american cheese, fresh tomato slice, leaf lettuce, sauteed mushrooms, and peppercorn ranch sauce on a multigrain bun and a side of half/half fries (half regular half sweet potato) ... i got immediate gratification with the fries because i could eat them as i walked back to the office, and they were great. piping hot, steaming, crispy. i think the sweet potato fries were a little better (maybe crispier, which is how i like my fries) but both were great! got back to the office and tried the burger... it was very good. i wasnt expecting revolutionary, but maybe if i had eaten it right away it would have been so. i really liked the peppercorn ranch & the veggies were fresh & crisp. serving size= too big for me... i ate half and saved half for later. overall, a good experience & tasty food. thank you custom burger!

    (4)
  • Petri Y.

    This place is good but not worthy of a 4 star rating in my eyes. The burgers are made to order with all the fixins ala carte. It can get pricey after you add all the cheese, sides, drink, probably like $15. The burgers are however quite juicy, hot and the onion rings are great. I like the slice of pickle that comes with all burgers. If you are in the neighborhood this is a good choice but wouldnt go out of my way to eat here.

    (3)
  • Lauren S.

    Custom Burger is like that boiling hot Hungry Man TV dinner that just came out of the microwave- it looks so delicious that you try to eat it without letting it sit for 1-2 minutes, and you inevitably end up burning your tongue because you want to get a taste of the steaming fried goodness. The place makes the best burger I've ever had (turkey burger with swiss, tomato, and ranch dressing on a brioche bun), but I swear I can't truly enjoy it because I have to take out a second mortgage just to eat the goddamn thing. So I always end up getting (figuratively) burned by its deliciousness. At first, when you're standing there at the counter, it doesn't seem like it costs a lot- $6.99 for a burger? Not bad. Then you go to check out with your small fountain drink and small fries, and your eyes pop out of your head when the cashier dude asks you for $27. Meh. As much as the concept of this place rocks- and trust me, the customization options are great (Hoisin sauce? Buffalo burger? Chipotle mayo? You got it!), I can't justify giving it more than three stars. Go here, try it out, love it, but don't get hooked- you can't afford it. Or, if you can...shit, buy me a turkey burger.

    (3)
  • Alan M.

    Despite various co-workers and friends cranking on Custom Burger's prices, up until today I've still liked CB and I go every now and then to get my order of onion rings on. I'm fairly used to their rather slow kitchen, and I don't even care about the burgers ... I just want what I think are the best rings in SF. But today the system broke. After walking my 4 blocks there into a nearly empty restaurant, I order my burger and half-order ORs thinking I'll get back out fairly quickly. But nope. Not only do I wait over 10 minutes for the order, but I'm served a bag of fries -- which good as they are -- are not the reason I went to CB in the first place. And when I point out to the manager that I ordered ORs, he points out on his slip that it's FFs and he hasn't made a mistake. No, the mistake obviously took place at the register where, I guess, the order taker mis-heard my saying "half-order onions rings" for "full order french fries". Yes, the manager eventually offered to give me ORs, but it would take another 5 minutes, and that's not what I should have to deal with. I'm not the kind of person who's highly critical of service, but this isn't the first time I've waited this long for food at CB in a rather barren dining room. And then to see one worker ring up my order wrong and a manager not take more authority of the situation is sad. I'm finally there with the rest of my friends who don't want to go back. I'm really tired of poor service, and today -- like those other days I've spent there -- is probably my last time at CB. Time to find a new habitat for onion rings. Any suggestions?

    (2)
  • Adam D.

    This is another prime location for work welcome/farewell lunches: great burgers, decent beer selection, and ample seating (at least every time that I've gone). My favorite thing about Custom Burger, though, is the selection of interesting sauces. Ketchapeno or Ketchapotle anyone? The sauces also complement my second favorite item: sweet potato fries.

    (4)
  • Jordan F.

    It's alright. The buffalo is good and the burgers are a nice size. However, creating your own burger seems like a fad that will soon fail. It gets pricey and seems a waste of paper to write down my order.

    (2)
  • Lise L.

    I have a new favorite veggie burger! Well, not really. I should say I have a new favorite PLACE to get a veggie burger because this place offers that rarity of rarities - a wide range of veggie burger choices! OK, yes, they also have two kinds of beef , fish and turkey as well, but in my world, all that matters is the veg patty. I am blown away that there is not one, not two, but three spicy peppers to choose from. Of course, I didn't choose - I put all three on that baby and it was damn good. Especially so with grilled onions, pepper jack and chipotle aioli as well. A vanilla shake cooled things off nicely (ya ya ya, the pregnant chick is soooo off Weight Watchers!) The fries are good, although I prefer frite style. The onion rings looked great and I am ordering those next time. My only complaint is that while the containers are cute, they aren't very practical. Service was fast enough and everything was fresh and hot when delivered to our table. Im sure it helped that we were there for a late lunch, so there wasn't much of a crowd to speak of - just a group of cops and a couple others. I love this place so much I am lobbying to institute Custom Burger Fridays at work starting next week! Yay!

    (5)
  • L P.

    Menu: complex and pricey, city prices Staff: accustomed to explaining how things work to newbies. Friendly folk on repeat visits. Burger: basic beef with peashoots, grilled onions and mushrooms with Ranch sauce on multi-grain bun. My burger was a thick patty like the kind you see in BBQ/HB Bibles. They cooked to order for me when I asked. Medium is the default. Observations: The buns are fluffy and unlikely to hold more than 3-5 toppings in a creation. Olive tapenade turns a bun black and soggy. Grilled yellow onions are only slightly heated and not carmelized. Sample of red pepper was perfectly roasted and peeled. The fries arrived perfectly cooked, crisp on the outside and tender on the inside fries. They were served in a cute mini fryer basket. The toppings were generous and even though half of it fell out, there was plenty to complete in the burger. Staff gave us extra dipping sauces (comp) to experiment with. My shrooms seemed to be criminis (baby portabellas) and very very good and dense. No canned stuff or white mushrooms here. Peashoots provide lots of iron and fiber which clean your system like oatmeal does. The tower of onion rings comes on its own cone of silence. Silence is when people are munching happily. This was also the messiest HB sitting I've ever experienced and the tables are a little high (makes me feel like I'm 5 yrs old) but the booths make it a little more comfortable to sit at the table. Judging some of the very tall hunkies, I'm guessing the height is for them. Your hunk sightings may differ depending on your time of visit and who's in town. Even the furniture can be customized. A large party easily rearranged the 2P tables to get out of the sun and be in 1 group. I saw cops, local workers, hotel guests, and visitors. For the restroom, walk past the lobby door (there are only 2 doors so your chances of success are 50:50) to the Front Desk of the hotel. Let them know you are a customer at the restaurant (the sauce running down your shirt ought to suffice for proof). They'll issue a temporary key. Downside: too many choices can be overwhelming. If you don't know your ingredients, ask for help or stick with something you know actually works. It's all about Free Will and experience. Experience is getting something unexpectedly and BARF is a usual consequence from awful combinations. They cook what the customer requests and don't judge. It's 3 blocks south of Civic Center BART. Depending on your time of visit, it can be beautiful and peaceful or stinky, and disturbing. 1st visit was on a beautiful lazy Sat afternoon. Another visit was early evening and had to run past men in the alley who were doing stuff best done in private. (eeeewwwww) All the running should count as a workout prior to a big meal.

    (3)
  • Zack M.

    I live practically across the street- so the place is a mainstay for us when we have no food in the house and/or are not feeling creative. I almost gave it 5-stars, but I gotta reserve that for the special places. The Onion rings? AWESOME! A lot of options for everyone. For a SF-person, I think I am pretty plain, but I've rotated around the board quite a bit. At first I WAS locked in on an Avocado/Bacon/Swiss burger with ranch. Then I went on a green-chiles/sweetonions binge. Now? Huge fan of Bacon/Cheddar/BBQ sauce with Jalapenos (seriously- try it). But basically- you got options, people. It's a bit pricey for a burger, but the food is good, people. You'd spend just as much on a middle of the road joint in SF in pretty much any other style of cuisine. People just expect it to be cheap because you order at a counter and it's a burger. The take home- Whatever you do, whatever you order, do not leave without trying the onion rings. Mmm, mmm, good.

    (4)
  • Jonas E.

    Very good burgers for the price but in my opinion not the greatest though I did like that they had peppercorn ranch, win! Well I really liked the way it's all set up. First you get a pad of paper with the kind of burger you want and what toppings you feel go good with the burger or whatever concoction that might spice up the burger. The funny thing is you get to pick what kind of bun you want and for me I chose the sesame bun, why make it confusing? Anyway the fries are great with any sauce you want but the wait for the food can be really lame so I took a star off because they could have done better with the service since there wasn't that many people in the place but they did want to make it good so they did.

    (4)
  • Brook V.

    Do I have to give any stars? If it's possible to deserve zero stars, this place deserves it. I used to live a few blocks away from Custom Burger in the SOMA district of San Francisco. I was super excited when it opened too since there aren't too many good places to eat around there, but I honestly came to hate this place....maybe because my hopes were so high and then dashed. When they first opened, they had a pretty good veggie burger that was different than I had eaten anywhere else - very full of veggies. It wasn't usually cooked right (kind of mushy), but the burger itself was tasty. Then they switched to a different veggie burger that was disgusting and usually burnt to a crispy critter. When I complained about it, they seemed to know already because of all the complaints they had already received. But in the following months, they never switched back. My husband is a carnivore, and he tried every single burger they had on the menu. The verdict? Not good. The best one he had was the original veggie burger...but as you already know, they took that one away. So my advice, stay far far away. If you go inside, it's looks soooo promising that you'll get your hopes way up only to be very disappointed. Don't do that to yourself.

    (1)
  • Forest S.

    The burgers are top-notch but it's pretty damn expensive.

    (4)
  • Andrew N.

    Good burgers. Had to remove a star because they stopped selling my favourite Izze drinks and then told me that their replacement was a San Francisco original, but I checked in to it and actually they started in New Jersey.

    (3)
  • Jamie W.

    I like choice in meats for sure ... though the price quickly ticks up if you want something besides the angus burger at $6.99. The toppings are pretty unique, and this is where the 5-stars were earned. Chipotle mayo, olive spreads, chiles, cole slaw ... a bunch. Bottomless soda for $1.99 is always a winner for this Diet Coke addict. I hope this place does well ... the food is certainly good enough and the interior is fine. Give 'em a try if you're at Mr. Smith's or somewhere else nearby.

    (5)
  • Carolina C.

    I will not be returning to Custom Burger any time soon, despite it being right around the corner from where I work. My burger came out cold, and missing the mushrooms I indicated I wanted. I also did not get the full basket of half-and-half fries that I ordered. When I (politely) asked the server for the fries and my missing mushrooms, he asked me what my number was (he had just taken it off the table, so I didn't know, and it wasn't on my receipt). I told him I wasn't sure, started fishing for the receipt, and let him know it was a full basket of half-and-half. I also asked him for a plate and silverware, since I was sharing the burger and wanted to cut it in half. He takes away the burger, and brings it back with a few mushrooms half-hazardly thrown on top. He also brings out the plate and silver, but no fries. I ask for the fries again, and show him my receipt. After this second request he brings out a half basket of plain fries. I again tell him, no, I ordered a full basket of half-and-half. By now I have been able to take a bite of my burger, and find that it's lukewarm at best. These burgers aren't cheap, and I refuse to pay for a lukewarm burger, no fries, and poor service. I go up to the counter, bitch about my burger being cold, and again request the fries I paid for. I get my burger back, which was at least hot. He finally brings out the proper order of fries, which at this point I'm at the end of my lunch break and not even interested in eating. At this point I had requested the proper order of fries FOUR times. On top of all this, I am seven months pregnant (so food is very important to me!) and the server was rude and condescending when I requested a decent hot meal and the items in my order that I paid for. Bah. I will not be giving them my business again.

    (2)
  • Kiristen R.

    I went last night because out of town friends are staying in the attached hotel. I'll say 3.5 stars. Not bad at all. I agree with previous reviewers - if your burger sucks, it's your fault since you made it. I didn't mind the price - it was $30ish for myself and my fiance but if we wanted to save money, we coulda gone to Jack in the Box or McDs. I had a salmon burger with lettuce, red onions and tomato with cucumber raita. I was pleasantly surprised by the salmon patty. I thought it'd be dry but it was nice. Much like a moist croquette. My fiance had something like a Hawaiian burger: beef, bacon, pineapple etc. He scarfed it down. Sweet potato fries are yum. Try them with the honey mustard dipping sauce. The garlic aoli was also a nice compliment. Finished with a Diet Coke and a Corona = Nice late evening meal. Next time I'll try their funnel cakes! Only negative: the pickle garnish was sweet :( nothing to lose stars over but still. FYI - pickle lovers. I think that In N Out has the best burgers ever. Barney's Gourmet Burgers is a close second but this place did not disappoint.

    (4)
  • Jennie H.

    I would be willing to pay the price here if the burger was amazing, but it wasn't. One could say it's partially my fault because I pick everything about it, but that's really not the case. My sauteed mushrooms definitely came from a can, for $1.50 I should get more that 2 measly strips of bacon, the turkey burger's flavor was overwhelming, and the whole thing fell apart on the first bite because the bread was so dry. Best part of the meal? The fries. And on a side note, I don't care how classy you are trying to be, under no circumstances should a bottle of Coors Light cost $5!

    (3)
  • Nicolas H.

    One of those many places that I really want to like, but its just not quite where it should be (yet). First off, yes, its at least a $10-$20 burger depending on what you add. Not terrible, but way overpriced for the meat that you get. I got the lamb and it was actually cooked nicely. For one of my toppings I chose tomato which i thought was a safe bet compared to some of the other items. Unfortunately, the tomato was so green that i actually had to check to see if they served green tomatoes (nope). I also chose the brioche for the bun, which was actually better than the burger. My friend, however, got the "Kobe" beef, which was burnt. His fault for not returning it and actually ordering the "Kobe" in the first place, but they also switched our burgers when they served us and had the wrong sauces. The fries were at least decent...

    (2)
  • Christina C.

    half and half fries and loads of dipping sauce!!! Ooo and SEA salt a huge plus in my book (its better for you) They didn't mess up on my med burger ( which tends to happen way to often at other places.) and its super clean :)

    (4)
  • Jennifer O.

    Do you know what it's like to go to a burger joint with your Muy Thai boxing trainer*? Yeah basically you fight another couple rounds after your session: ROUND ONE: *ding* Jennifer enters the ring...JapanaBaconandEggBurger enters. Jab (Kobe), jab (bacon)...land a kick(Petaluma egg.) ROUND TWO: *ding* Jennifer enters the ring...TexaCaliBurger enters. Jab (Angus), cross (Pt. Reyes Blue Cheese), hook (avocado) hook (avocado), uppercut (bacon) ROUND THREE: *ding* Jennifer enters the ring...TastyHeartAttackBurger enters. Jab (Kobe), left hook (Beef & Black Bean Chili), body kick (Pepperjack Cheese), liver shot (bacon), uppercut (bbq sauce) ROUND FOUR: *ding* Jennifer enters the ring SemiHealthyMedi enters. Jab (Lamb), right hook (feta), body kick (roasted garlic aioli) *ding* (fighting the fries), *ding* (fighting the cheddar), *ding* (fighting the onion rings), *ding*, *ding*... 10th ROUND, THE TKO: Turkey Red Pepper Feta Tapenade Arugula Balsamic Marinated Onions Roasted Green Chiles Multigrain Bun Took a Red Tail Ale BBQ Sauce on the chin JENNIFER WINS!! FAT LOSES...trainer eats fries. *said trainer is AWESOME, see my AlterCenter review, and hey, only 2 blocks away! Mark Mian, ladies and gents...

    (4)
  • Daniel C.

    The lamb burger is one of the best burgers i've ever had. The patty carries a lot of flavor. It's charbroiled to perfection. If you add the right toppings, it can really be a taste explosion in your mouth. The veggie burger isn't shabby either. Tastes better than the boca burger you can buy from safeway. Their half/half fries basket is pretty decent as well. I just wish they gave you more dipping sauces. The prices of a fully customized burger can run as high as 10-something...which is a little pricey, but hey, at least it tastes better than the burgers from the typical diners.

    (5)
  • Kenneth L.

    I thought I'd pop in here to try out a burger since it's close to where I volunteer. It's a quaint diner type feel, stainless steel tabletops, red bar stools. They give you a number when you order. I don't think it's that great a place though, especially after going to the Counter in Palo Alto. The burger patty is good-- it's seasoned with some sort of grill seasoning and the charcoal flavor is good, and the toppings are fresh, but the potato pepper bun I got was pretty soft and didn't hold up so well, and I don't think it's too hard to put together what they put together. I still have yet to try some of their other offerings, but it's not a place for which I would give a strong recommendation.

    (3)
  • Michael W.

    They don't ask how you want your burger cooked and even when you specify medium rare, it comes out well done (all 5 times i've been here). Get some real plates and not cheap ass paper in a metal basket that rips. Their fries are pretty good though.

    (2)
  • Willie R.

    Yummers! The burger was very tasty. Turkey burger, onions, lettuce, tomato, and pineapple on a wheat bun. It was definitely a TASTY burger. No Bueno! I ordered right after my friend and he was done with his burger by the time I got mine. Definitely a reason that this is a 2x a year stop. Time for a new grill man.

    (3)
  • Rob G.

    They don't open until 5:30pm on Sunday afternoon, when the streets are full of people. I was in a rush, and was craving a burger.. I looked on Yelp to find a place in the area that wasn't fast food, and selected this place. We arrived at 5:05pm, (since 5:00 is the open time they have listed here on Yelp) but couldn't get past the chainmail curtain. I understand they aren't to be held to the hours posted on some 3rd party website like Yelp, and I understand why they might be closed during the mid-afternoon hours on weekdays - since many people are working then, but on weekends? They're just losing out on potential business for themselves.

    (1)
  • Derek O.

    Well if I were rich I'd give it an additional star. However I am a middle class drone with a working class income and a ruling class appetite. Not sure how that happened. Ask my fucking parents. Anyway, my roundish pile of ground bovine parts ($10.99 shiatsu'd bovine parts mind you) was quite tasty. Actually come to think of it, the patty was more of an ovaI. Home of the Oval Patty. There you go. A bit of marketing genius free of charge. I ordered medium rare and indeed when I touched my burger(thats right I touch my burgers) it felt the same as when I touch my First Dorsal Interosseus (hand web muscle) while giving the crip sign. The burger itself wasn't terribly overpriced, for an american version of kobe beef, but the cute lil' bag of mediocre fries was priced beyond reason. The drinks too. Yup. If you accessorize your burger this place will bend you over and violate you prison style. I was walking funny for a week with the pummeling they gave my money slot. I have to admit I was raped deliciously. As for the staff, the meaner they are the less I have to tip. Bad service is kind of like a coupon in my book. Don't hate me. Like I said I'm on a working class income. (Though I suppose bad tipping is more of a ruling class trait.) This staff was indifferent and half ignoring me. Fine with me. I pitched in the 75 cents change and fled with my burger boutique bag in hand.

    (3)
  • Jen F.

    My custom burger was wild salmon, hoisin, pineapple, and pea sprouts on a multigrain bun. I also ordered a side of half n' half fries with blue cheese dipping sauce. The sweet potato fries are excellent, while the regular ones are just "meh!" The dipping sauce wasn't anything special. I was disappointed in my salmon burger. Being a PNW girl I expected too much and had envisioned an actual salmon fillet. The thin patty was very small and was WAY too small for the bun. I thought of the "where's the beef" ad when I cast aside the leftover bun. On the other hand my dining companions seemed happy with their 1/3 pound angus burgers with various toppings. If I ever find myself at Custom Burger in the future, I'll stick with beef and update accordingly. But my advice to prospective diners is to avoid the rip-off that is the Custom Salmon Burger.

    (3)
  • J T.

    Stopped by there because its in my neighborhood and I like to try the local places so I thought I'd give it a shot instead of heading down to McCormick and Kuletos for their awesome happy hour menu. So I got the basic burger, added cheese, picked my toppings and ordered my fries. the basics. to go. 11 bucks for the same mediocre food I could get anywhere for 6 bucks. The meat was fine. The bread, potato bun, was fine, the tomato, was only one little slice as was the cheese.... cheapskates. and the lettuce was that soggy green leafy type. barf. Who in their right mind wants to eat this kind of lettuce on a burger. Burgers are suppose to be served with crisp iceburg lettuce and at least two nice slices of tomato. If you order cheese on a burger and pay an extra buck it should have at least two slices, considering I can get 16 slices for 3 bucks full retail. I'd at least like to be abel to taste it. ( bring your own maybe?) I will give them two stars because the place was clean and the chipotle mayo was awesome. The fries. People, can we please get over this fresh cut peel on faux rustic/wholesome nonsense when it comes for french fries. That's not how the french make them A good french fry should be shoestring variety, they need to be par boiled, chilled, dried, deep fried, cooled and deep fried at higher temp before serving. soggy mush fries must die now. Overall, I give this place a great big nothing special. yeah they say they buy the stuff local and blah blah blah, but who really cares where it comes from. I want it to taste good. For such a big foodie town, I sure have eaten a lot of mediocre food in the last decade. Maybe all the good food is being hoarded by the 50 dollar lunch places.

    (2)
  • Dwayne A.

    It tasted great but it was so freaking expensive. Nice to get the different sauces... Adding fries felt like a cost-prohibitive extravagance, like adding GPS onto the rental car or something and that sucks at a burger joint. I'll go back when I accidentally forget how overpriced it was, or I'm craving a fried egg on my burger, whichever comes first.

    (2)
  • mack m.

    The dining room is as bright as an operating room. Eat in the bar where the lighting is softer and you can enjoy a fine cocktail by Howard the barman (he makes one of the best Manhattans in SF) along with your burger

    (4)
  • Mike W.

    Soooo good. The best sweet potato fries I've ever had. The spicy ketchup's are amazing.

    (5)
  • Bucky K.

    7 types of Meats x 15 Toppings (3 of which you can choose at no extra cost) x 11 Premium Toppings (each cost extra) x 12 Sauces x 5 Buns= If I do my math correctly, and if I don't I don't care... this is a website involving words not numbers so just take your calculator and your pocket protector, lather it in air, and shove it up your..... 69,300 COMBINATIONS!!! All this means is that if you or your date are indecisive people: STAY AWAY!!! For realsies, if I am stuck behind you waiting while you try and create the Sistine Chapel of burgers which you think involves debate and more debate I will round house kick you to area of your spine where the cervical and thoracic sections meet. (CTLS!!! yea for collegiate acronyms!!) My creation was as such: American Kobe Beef, Applewood-Smoked Bacon, Balsamic Marinated Onions, Blue Cheese Sauce, & a Multigrain Bun. As you can see, they do have some high-end (and local when available) choices for your consumption. Tasty?? Yes! The best burger in the city?? No. I would still come back here for a burger at any and all meals. They do have egg available as a topping so that is good for breakfast no??? For a side I ordered a milkshake (yes it is it's own food group!) and a basket of fries. Half regular and half sweet potato. My wife prefers sweet potatoes.... she's a weird chick and I wish I had a better explanation... The space is very modern and clean with bold lines incorporated. Weird because it is part of a chain hotel (that is going under changes also). Has an art deco feel to it which goes well with the Americana menu. It was pretty damn bright in there though. Tone it down a notch. Or you can just drink enough alcohol which is also on the menu and tone it down yourself.

    (4)
  • Zac H.

    I have always been disappointed in the lack of decent food within walking distance of my apartment. I finally shlepped half a block to the end of my alley into Custom Burger and not only ran into my friendly neighbors there, but had a pretty good burger too. Why have I avoided this place for a year? Oh yeah. No atmosphere. Blank white walls and bright lights. Oh well, hungry tummy trumps aesthetic concerns. I ordered a basic bacon cheeseburger. Chedder, onions, arugula etc. Apparently its $3 off any burger in the month of February if you order fries and a drink. Woohoo! So I upgraded to KOBE beef. neat. I also opted for Ketchipotle (Ketchup & chipotle drr). That wasa wise choice. The burger was good. Nothing surprising, but certainly good. My only gripe was that they don't ask how you like it cooked, and mine came medium when I would have preferred medium rare. Maybe I should have thought to ask, but that detail cost them a star. Sorry if that comes off sounding petty, but its an important detail. I'll give them another shot and see about getting that medium rare patty. The onion rings also look remarkably good. I may bump them up a star if Custom Burger impresses during round two, but so far, its just a good spot for a quick bite - not worth a special trip.

    (3)
  • Huey K.

    Basically, this place is like The Counter remade as a fast food burger place. Ordering is similar: We filled out a menu, checking off the standard and premium toppings we wanted. I thought the Angus Burger was quite good, and my buddy and I enjoyed the half and half with the sweet potato fries. However, when I went to the bathroom, I was surprised to discover that there was both a games room and a lounge. I suppose if I were staying at the attached Best Western hotel, I'd think these were cool features, but I couldn't shake the feeling this place was trying to do too much with its space.

    (4)
  • Ashley Q.

    I'm definitely on this 'create your own' burger bandwagon. A burger any way I want it? Yippeee! Custom Burger was good, not 'let me blow your mind', but good nonetheless. The burger: They have many burger options, kobe, turkey, veggie, chicken, wild salmon. The buns were fresh, supposedly they bake them fresh daily. The sauces were a good variety of simple favorites along with a few creative twists. I think there could be a bit more selection in the sauce department. The fries: Sweet potato fries. Enough said. The decor of the burger joint is simple, almost stark. There is a lounge adjacent to the restaurant, which has a full bar. This burger joint is in somewhat of an odd setting, inside a hotel. They share the bathroom with the lobby of the hotel. There isn't much else around the area, but at least that makes for easy parking.

    (4)
  • emmy f.

    They serve breakfast here, too. I don't like burgers, and i don't l'ike their salmon burgers, but their pancakes are quite good. Omelettes are unimpressive, but their homefries are yummy, tastes like burger king, and i mean that in a good way.

    (3)
  • Peter C.

    I have been here a few times now, and I will continue to go back. Pros: 1. Custom burger means you make something to fit your taste 2. Interesting options means endless combinations to try out (salmon burger, buffalo, peppercorn dressing, sweet potato fries) 3. bottomless soda is the most oft missing component from any quality burger place 4. Custom Bar is attached and lets you watch the game as you munch, or order a beer/greyhound if you like. Cons: 2. Service feels stunted. Not bad, just lackluster. It takes a bit for them to get around to helping you and there is not usually a big line of people or anything. 3. Twice now they were out of what I ordered, and only could tell me after placing the order, paying, and waiting 10 minutes for the food. Basics like this should be easy to know about. I would recommend this place, but not as much more than a nice burger stand. It's not a restaurant, and not a destination, but worth the food and price.

    (4)
  • Ken B.

    two words - FRIED PICKLES. they are pretty amazing, battered in some spices and just delicious. i live near by and its convenient when i'm craving a good burger and fries. try the turkey burger - its better than the beef and handmade. the toppings are great, as well as the sauces. you can easily rack up a pricey bill for a burger and fries combo so be selective with the toppings.

    (4)
  • Jenny K.

    I agree with Eddie H.'s review. I would also add that the wait to order was too long. There should probably be at least 2 cashiers working during peak meal hours. Flavor-wise, my burger was good but not great. I liked the onion rings and sweet potato fries a lot. Great concept but needs a little time to work out the kinks.

    (2)
  • Dudley F.

    I haven't had a negative experience at Custom Burger to date (fingers crossed). Dining is about the experience and I think part of this fun experience is "building your own burger." There is a wide selection of meats, cheeses and other toppings (from the traditional to the more exotic) to choose from, and the burger is a good size. The sweet potato fries and milkshakes are delicious. The giant painting of the mustard man is hilarious! The staff is friendly and the food arrives at the table in a timely fashion. The restaurant is always kept clean. My only gripe is that it is a bit overpriced... but who cares when you want your perfect burger with the toppings you want.

    (4)
  • Michelle B.

    Get. The. American Kobe. Living across the street from this place has made it a pretty common place to eat. Normally we go here after a rough day at the office when there is need for something comforting and yummy. I have had the turkey, the angus, and the kobe, I plan on trying more options soon. I am really into the whole custom part of it. I had never had egg on top of a burger before coming here, and now I'm addicted. Another high point for me is the bar next door. I love to order up and then head in for a cocktail (or five) before heading home to call it a night. And when we come here it almost always turns into a night. The sides are amazing as well. I thought I didn't like onion rings. Custom Burger proved me wrong, much to the excitement of my onion loving fiance. I reeaalllllyyy like the sweet potato fries as well. All of the sauces are pretty on point too. I have never had an off day here. My only advice is that if you have a preference to how your burger be made - tell them. It is better to ask than to get something you didn't want, and it shouldn't hurt their rep either.

    (5)
  • Kevin H.

    Blah, blah, blah...fill out a menu with LOTS of options... Blah, blah, blah...gourmet burgers... Blah, blah, blah...steep prices... But none of that really matters. Ya know what does? Three words: Chipotle cilantro mayo. (And I don't even LIKE cilantro!) If I was forced to eat only one condiment endlessly until I died from clogged arteries and/or malnutrition, this would be it. Custom Burger's chipotle cilantro mayo may possibly be the greatest, and most important contribution of Western Civilization. Trust me.

    (4)
  • Jennifer E.

    I definitely won't be back. I had pearl's the day before, so in comparison, this didn't stand a chance. It was under-seasoned, and wayyy under cooked. Which is surprising, since it took FOREVER to get the burgers. I wish they had *some* combos pre-done, so you could order off a menu if you didn't want to pick and choose.

    (2)
  • Ken G.

    I like this place - the burgers are good and it's great that you can choose how they're made. You get to decide on everything from the bun, to the type of burger (beef, buffalo, chicken, veggie, etc.) to the cheese and the toppings. The space itself is modern and cool. The SoMa area near the Civic Center doesn't have too many good restaurants, but this is one of the better ones.

    (3)
  • Shaun L.

    Three stars: The retarded proximity. I live literally a thousand or so feet from the joint. It's good. It's good food. And you CAN ask how to have your burger cooked. I have even ordered a glass of wine for the wait to get the food to me in the bags. The Sweet Fries Rock (and YOU CAN ASK FOR THEM WITHOUT SEA SALT). The thing that kills me about people who order is this: You never ask. *ever* You know what kids? If you just ASK they will make it the way you like. Hell, you are walking into a joint that gives you checkmarks on how you like your food. I'm sure if you WRITE it down or tell the CHECKOUT person you will get your food the WAY YOU LIKE IT. Don't take stars off because you don't know how to ask for your food. That is pretty much YOUR FAULT. Take points off for shitty service. Take points off because even though you ask what for what you wanted? It still taste like POO. Takes points off because the food is just too damn expensive. Two points off for the latter. The food is just too expensive for anyone who is not living in the hotel for a weekend and instead lives a thousand feet away. I have seriously contemplated this now that it is established and open: Spend 30 bucks on two burgers to walk home being a few thousand feet away...or walk the block and a half up to Burger King on 9th. It's a beautiful establishment, filled with super nice people and great service and food...built for the people who are residing above them who don't wish to venture out beyond 7th Street. I LIVE a thousand feet away from the place. I know my hood. All too well. The price keeps people who live around the area OUT. Shame. I have the cash to pay for it. But not on a regular basis. I will deal with Burger King or make my own gourmet burgers and use them for special occasions.

    (3)
  • Katherine N.

    Yes, Custom is everything everyone says , it's good food and a bit pricey for a burger . But, I love the idea of it and it's really clean and new and so 50's and Diner... With all the choices to create your own burger it's totally SF, Cali. I like the bar next door to watch sports and meet up with friends AFTER school, unlike other students at a different school that I won't mention who drank during school hours!

    (4)
  • S W.

    Fine enough. All I remember is the a full order of chili fries can is enough for two meals. Ginormous.

    (3)
  • E.Mo. ..

    I love a good burger. Well, I did love a good burger...these days, I just appreciate a place where I can hang out with my friends and drink beer or wine whilest they eat good burgers. HOWEVER, coming from the pov of "veggie burger" alone, I just had an excellent meal. This was actually a veggie burger. There was carrots, beans, corn, peas, grains...all mashed together in a way as though it seems like I was eating a burger. It fell apart the same way a meat patty does, but it tastes like the garden. Amazing. I'm so happy that Custom Burger opened in my hood. I'll be a loyal customer for a while.

    (4)
  • Kathy L.

    I got the most basic burger - american, beef, sesame bun, "secret sauce" aka thousand island, lettuce tomato. I thought it was okay but not something I would crave or come back for. The fries were kind of soggy, though I thought it was nice that they offered sweet potato / regular potato half and half basket for those of us who are indecisive. If you liked custom burgers...like lamb, pt reyes blue cheese, salmon, etc. and jalapenos on your burger, arugala instead of leaf lettuce, then maybe you'll like this place even more. I pretty much got the equivalent of a cheesburger meal from in-n-out for $12 . During lunch, you can add 1/2 order of fries (plenty for 1 person) and a fountain drink for $3. Surprised they've been here for 3 years....never heard of them, but then again, the neighborhood around here isn't exactly bumpin'.

    (3)
  • Cindy P.

    I live in the GHETTO--not too far from this place actually. While trekking home in the early evening from the Love Parade, now freezing because of the wonderful SF weather change from warm to ass-cold, we remembered there was a new burger place nearby. We walk in and stare at the menu, posted up above like a McDonald's. It was quite an impressive selection. The restaurant was really shiny and clean too. Not realizing there was a sign on the counter in front of us that said we had to fill out our own burger orders on a notepad, a worker came out and handed us said notepad. There was a huge list of stuff to choose from to customize your burger--hence the name, duh! In the end though, our order ended up being pretty damn pricey for a meal in the ghetto and the burgers were just OK. If I ever walk by this place again and am hungry, I'd go back but I'm not sure if I would ever find myself craving this place.

    (3)
  • danny e.

    Fun looking place, actually I really liked the design. The burgers... well... they weren't bad... but really not that great. I ordered the turkey burger with pepper jack, balsamic onions, sauteed mushrooms, with the multi-grain bun. The turkey burger was ok, I actually think Loris Diner has a better turkey patty, but custom burger seasoned theirs nicely. The pepper jack was good, nicely spiced, enough so that I had completely forgotten that I ordered it and when I picked at it and tasted it, I was pleasantly surprised... I like me, I can surprise myself! The balsamic onions weren't cooked enough for my liking. They were nicely marinated but only partially cooked/grilled. The mushrooms were fine. The over all experience was enjoyable. I am willing to go back, because I want to try a burger with the roasted pineapple... but not anytime soon, not in the next month anyway. PS: The folks working there were quite nice.

    (3)
  • Maureen M.

    This is a wanna be Counter. . . sorry peeps. But everything looks and sounds good, but really the burgers don't have flavor. I like the sea salt on the french fries. and this place is WAAAAAY overpriced! 2 custom burgers (lamb & kobe) with toppings and a soda and beer = $37! for 2 people!!!!!! only!!! DAMN I won't be coming back here. and you can't find extra napkins anywhere!!

    (2)
  • Kevin C.

    Yes, it's a little more expensive than some other great places, but Custom Burger makes a damn fine burger. I called for takeout tonight and had a great experience. The place is clean, and has an attached bar, which is very modern and slightly too swank for the neighborhood. Well, it's not the old SOMA anymore, is it? We split two beef burgers, because to me it's not a burger without beef. One had chili and red peppers with balsamic vinegar soaked onions, and the other had bacon, cheddar cheese and sauteed onions. They have a wide selection of tasty sauces, which really worked -- the roasted garlic aoli (sp?) and the pesto were both great, both for dipping the fries in and for spreading on the burgers themselves. Was it worth $22 for dinner for two? Yes! I've had some good burgers (Zuni, Slow Club) -- and this was darned close for a takeout joint. Thumbs way up!

    (4)
  • Damian E.

    French fries are the most fundamental part of the burger experience but the fries at Custom Burger lack umph. They aren't crispy at all and you taste half cooked potato. Some people like that but not me. As a person who's 6'4", I found the tables too high. The place was empty and it took quite a while for my food to come. The burger was quite good--thick, juicy and the toppings were delicious. With a bit more revision, this place could be a real gem of SOMA.

    (3)
  • christopher h.

    I see this place like pimp my ride for burgers. I like that you have so many options for your burger. The regular burger isn't all that big thou, so if your a fat kid I suggest getting a bigger burger. I also ordered onion rings, chili, fries and sweet potato fries. The chili sadly was probably the best part, they have good chili here. I wanted to gorge on food while here, and I accomplished it so this place is okay in my book.

    (4)
  • Joon Y.

    Feel like making a custom burger? Well the name says it all doesn't it? I love this place. Great service, great menu, and the burgers are superb. Clean, however the place doesn't seat too many folks but that's what take-out is for. =) You gotta try it out at least once and you will be hooked!

    (5)
  • Teddy d.

    BEEF BUN CHEESE KETCHUP MUSTARD HOLD THE MAYO LETTUCE AND TOMATO U ARE GOOD TO GO. the end (service was quick)

    (4)
  • Steve C.

    Been here twice so far. This place is competent and clean but I don't think it competes with the other SF burger joints that are serving up drop dead delicious burgers at the same price point. This is the only decent burger joint in my neighborhood, and I'll come here when I'm too lazy to walk up a hill to get to one of the five-star places.

    (3)
  • xo x.

    I trail the mighty Ed U. on the scene of the crime, the place is brand new indeed, read Ed's review for the gory details yelp.com/biz/WTYx-OBaINm… - you basically get to customize your burger, how clever - see my steps pic yelp.com/biz_photos/WTYx… I had a 1/3lb angus burger, omg I'm about to pass out from the cholesterol. It was quite good though and now we can all have a medium rare burger like civilized people. Ditto for arugula. I had pepper jack, red onion and sauteed mushroom. The arugula and cheese and the beef were amazing. The onion coulda been better and the mushroom just took up spice One sauce is offered with the burger but it goes a lot better with fries, Frjtz style. I list some ok sauces below The Potato Pepper bun was fine but kinda fell apart. The burger is served with a giant pickle, deli style. That's a bit off but actually a refreshing palate cleanser of sort All in all a really good burger obscenely close to where I live. It is the definitely the gourmet kind The decor is pretty sterile, it reminds me a bit of Taylor's in the Ferry Bldg, just in the middle of my beautiful ghetto (things are slowly improving). Service could be better, it's mostly slow, gotta give em some slack considering it's been one day It took freaking 20min for my order so remember fast food this ain't. Oh and you'll love the price, all that jazz was $13.53. I'd go back though, it's a mean burger, you prolly hav to hit the gym though Bonus: they serve beer, wine, also have salads and desserts (+shakes) Fun: the M from the CUSTOM fell when Wilhelm visited, also today, see yelp.com/biz/WTYx-OBaINm… Note: credit card transactions show up as Soma Pizza (for now), I think that's affiliated to the pretty terrible pizza parlor down the street (another Joie De Vivre takeover?) I went back for some fries and shake, a cool $8.45 (ouch). The shake was not much to write home about but it was huge. The fries were fresh but some were soggy, lame Summary Ok - angus beef - shakes - hald and half fries (half potato, half sweet potato) - arugula - egg - sauteed mushroom So so - lamb, pretty gamy and I like lamb - sauteed onions, a bit too greasy - hoysin glace, over powering - buns fall apart (onion and potato) Nah - kobe beef, tastes pretty normal to me Sauces (not sure why but my experience with these is not very consitent, anyway, these can be ok to really good) - Chipotle Cilantro Mayo - Pesto Mayo - Roasted Garlic Aioli Extra credit - they serve breakfast (eggs and stuff) in the am, great for the hotel patrons mostly To try - salmon

    (3)
  • Mike O.

    Tried their breakfast. Ughh. Way beyond crispy (just plain burnt) bacon and slimy undercooked eggs. Yes we did come in late for breakfast but that not really an excuse, sorry.

    (1)
  • Nene K.

    This place is awful. I wanted to try it b/c it's close to my work but it turns out that it is overpriced and not worth the money. The veggie burger looks and tastes like meat although the lady on the phone assured me that it wasn't. If I wanted meat, I wouldn't be a vegetarian now would I, Custom Burger?? In any case, PLEASE avoid this place. Go to Big Mouth on 24th and Valencia instead if you want a real burger.

    (1)
  • Don H.

    Custom is a 2-part space, half lounge - darker, mostly blue, with the bar along one wall; half burger joint - bright, white, with a huge menu for customizing. The entire place is pretty small - perhaps 30 seats total in each half, and it's tucked into a space in the Best Western Americania hotel, a large, pinkish, rather ugly hotel just close enough to Market to be out of the nasty part of 7th. The first thing you'll notice when you walk in is a huge menu all across the back wall. First, you grab an order card & pencil, then build your burger: choose the meat - they've got regular Angus beef and American "Kobe", as well as lamb, salmon, turkey, veggie... Then you pick the various free options: 3 toppings, like black olive spread, balsamic marinated onions, pineapple, piquillo peppers, as well as the basics. Next you can add a sauce (which comes on the side) like Thai peanut, ketchupotle, Chana Masala sour cream, BBQ sauce, etc. They also have some non-free toppings, like various cheeses, avocado, applewood-smoked bacon, etc. Finally you pick your bun - sesame seed, onion, potato pepper, and basic - and indicate how you want it cooked, from medium-rare to well-done. Burgers range from $6 for a basic one, to $11 for the American Kobe, and they're very very good. They seem to be all about 1/3 pound (after cooking) and it's a perfect amount of food - not too big, not too small, and well-balanced relative to the bun size & topping quantity. I had a lamb burger with swiss cheese, olive tapenade, grilled onions and piquillo peppers. Delicious. They also have a few basic sides, including regular skin-on fries with sea salt, and sweet potato fries which were awesome. Fries also come with a free sauce. We tried the ketchupotle, which was like ketchup with a light kick and great peppery flavor. They've also got a suprising selection of around 6 wines by the glass, and beer also. Or, you can go next door into the lounge... The lounge takes the custom theme to most of its drinks - customizable martinis, margaritas, mojitos etc. They've also got a selection of house cocktails - some basic, some slightly custom, like the Custom Caipirinha, which has cachaca, peach juice, ginger, and lime, and is quite tasty. It also doesn't taste very strong, though I think that's the fruity mixture, not a lack of booze. Cocktails average $9. It's not in the most auspicious of locations, but the food was great, and being able to combine a delicious burger with some great cocktails makes it even better. Definitley worth returning to.

    (4)
  • Stephen L.

    Custom burger has good greasy burgers. You go through this process of selecting options, such as blue cheese sauce, thousand island dressing, carmelized onions, tomatoes, lettuce -- it's a bit of a form you have to fill out. Fun! In reality, the freedom to choose your own burger is the freedom to mix things that are all OK, but not synergetic. When I order food, I want the professionals to decide what goes well together. Custom Burger tries to be trendy and fun, but is slow, slightly pricey, and somehow inauthentic for its neighborhood.

    (3)
  • Kaitlyn G.

    Very good burgers. One thing though - they are a bit pricey BUT, you get what you pay for. I love the fact that you can "pick" how you want your burger. I've even stopped by to order their half and half fries (regular and sweet potato fries). You get to choose a dipping sauce to go with it. Their onion rings are good too! Bottom line: this is a must try place but bring enough cash (they also take CC's) with you as it can cost up to $15-18 per person with a burger, drink and fries.

    (4)
  • Alexis B.

    Updated 10/16: I was right. Come here with no more than 4 people and it won't be all crazy. Without the stress of my boss I realized how awesome the sweet potato fries are. --------------------------------------------------­------------------------- I love the decor of this place. Old school diner meets swank bar. I also love this idea. It isn't a crazy good burger, but they have 6 different kinds (maybe 8?) of burger and one of the toppings is grilled pineapple. Rockin. I only wish it could be better executed. My boss took us to eat here so there were about 10 of us. The way they take orders is fine for I would say up to 4 people on the same bill. So our order was was long, involved and got lost track about 3 times. And then a couple of peoples were still off. But what was lacking in process was made up in service. We got free cookies out of this (probably because my boss complained but whatever) and they checked on us a bunch to make sure we were ok. And linen napkins and silverwear which I thought was a bit overkill but in the end was awesome. And because they gave us free cookies I'm totally going back and giving it another go. I'm sure it would be a better experience if it was just me and a buddy. Next time I go it will be the lamb or salmon buger. Drool...

    (4)
  • Zachary B.

    My fiance and I just moved in across the street from Custom Burger and looked forward to trying it out. We hit it up on Friday around 8:30 and it definitely wasn't as busy as the above Yelp horror stories indicate - I imagine the crowds have died down and the staff have gotten better at serving their patrons since opening. Aside from the Kobe burger, the prices are very much on par for what you will pay in the city for a good burger (i.e. Taylor's Refresher, Burger Bistro, Yes Burger, etc...). I went with the Angus with Jack cheese, arugula, applewood smoked bacon, ice house slaw and sauteed onions. I was wary that my burger would be lost in all of the add-ons, but I was happily surprised to have the perfect proportion of add-ons to juicy beef. I must say my burger was one of the best I've had. Ever. I immediately instructed a friend who was in transit to our new apartment stop at Custom Burger to try for himself. He stopped by our new place and hour later with the Kobe Burger and agreed it was well worth the price. Having worked in the SF restaurant industry and possessing a much more advanced palette than I, my friend confirmed my suspicion that Custom Burger is truly a gem.

    (5)
  • Solbiato S.

    I eat here frequently. I agree it is not the greatest. But it definitely fills the turkey burger void. Best burger (and sweet potato fries) in the soma area.

    (4)
  • Andy H.

    Delicious everything! The burgers are yummy as ever and I've never been let down. Now it is a bit expensive, but the food really is good. I've been here several times and I plan on revisiting several more.

    (5)
  • Em P.

    Nobody was more excited than Neil and me, because we live in the hood and it was sounding like the best casual dining option in SoMa. We've been 3 times. 1st time, w/in week of opening: One of us got normal burger, other got Kobe beef--couldn't taste difference. Both burgers way overcooked. Onion rings good. Friendly, but REALLY flaky service. 2nd time, went to bar for drink and snack of sweet potato fries. Drinks and bar service good. Sweet potato fries yummy. 3rd time, hoping burgers and service on the food side would be better, but it was the same f-ing story. Overdone burgers and super flaky service. Plus--I swear, I learn a lot about a restaurant by trips to the restroom--I saw into the kitchen and they were pulling out fries from the freezer. So sad! If In-N-Out can manage fresh fries, why can't a "gourmet" burger place? Who knows what else is frozen--probably some of the meat, too. I'll go back to the bar, b/c the martini was perfect (209 Gin is my new favorite) and I guess I'll eat pre-frozen sweet potato fries, but only b/c I'll be drunk.

    (2)
  • Wan T.

    I really liked my vegie burger. The vegie patty was overcooked, so it was hard & crispy, but surprisingly it kinda worked with the rest of the ingredients because it held up to the ketchup, mushrooms, & sauteed onions. Very tasty. I liked the sauces too--especially the ketchupeno & the chipotle mayo. We ordered the fries, sweet potato fries, & onion rings for the table. I liked the onion rings the most, but thought the sweet potato fries were really good with the chipotle mayo. Now I'm in a bit of a food coma, but would definitely eat here again.

    (4)
  • Anne Q.

    I'm an indecisive girl when it comes to picking what to get at a restaurant. Custom Burger has probably one million and ninety-two different combinations of a burger one can make. This makes Custom Burger an overwhelming food spot for me. For those that like their burgers the way they like 'em this spot is spot on. There are multiple types of burgers (Kobe beef, turkey, chicken, buffalo, etc), with multiple types of cheese (swiss, feta, blue, jack, etc), with multiple types of toppings (lettuce, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, peppers, egg, yes, egg, salsa, avocado, etc), with multiple types of spreads (aiolis, ketchups, mustards, secret sauces, etc), all of which you can put on multiple types of buns (fresh-baked wheat, potato pepper, brioche, etc). But the main drawback is that it can get quite expensive the more you add on to your burger of desire. Also (perhaps it was because it took me 1/2 hour to decide what to put on my burger) they were out of a lot of items when I ordered so I'd recommend going earlier than the 9 p.m. stop I made there. Finally, the sweet potato fries are really good when cooked pretty well done. I got a combo of 1/2 regular fries and 1/2 sweet potato fries and I totally should have gotten 100% sweet potato fry. (I went once and they didn't cook either kind of fry long enough so you may want to ask for them to be crispy.) They will include a dip (same choices as the spreads they put on the burgers) with your fries. I like dips so this made me happy. But do I like the choice of 20 different dips? I'm not so sure. That part took me 15 minutes to decide.... However, after 45 minutes of contemplation to reach my ultimate creation, the delicious burger and sweet potato fries gets Custom Burger 3 solid stars. (Note: A person that is decisive, eats earlier, and is independently wealthy wouldn't be amiss to give Custom Burger 4 or 5 stars.)

    (3)
  • Dave C.

    They're new. They're working out the kinks. I'm going to give it another try in a few weeks. This place has a lot of potential, but 2 things disappointed me and my group. 1) Our burgers were served luke-warm. For how long we had to wait, we were expecting "hot off the grill". 2) The $3.50 fries were a TINY portion. C'mon guys! If your customers are already dropping a lot on the burger, you might as well hook em up with a nice big helping of fried taters. It really doesn't cost you anything. We brought both items to the attention of our server, who was very interested in hearing our opinions. Hopefully, they'll take our suggestions to heart for next time.

    (3)
  • Adrian L.

    Let me preface this review by saying that I did not actually try a burger here. I only stared at the veggie one Jason B. was eating. Came in here for a pre-dinner drink one Friday night (I mean, what burger joint doesn't come equipped with a full bar??) and shared a couple of basket of fries with tasty dipping sauces. I was expecting the place to be more of a hole-in-the-wall type of establishment, given that it's a burger joint catering towards the SoMa/Financial District crowd. Surprisingly clean, modern decor. I definitely need to come back for a burger... and a drink.

    (3)
  • Tedi O.

    This place is a rip off with BAD service. It's like Sliders but expensive. The way they set up their menu is a tad confusing and a waste of paper. My boyfriend and i spent over $25 for two burgers, a "basket of fries", and one soda (free refills--woo.) they charge you for extra toppings or sauces---whhaaatt..... all an all this place is a joke.

    (1)
  • Jim L.

    Thank you Roxy for recommending this place! Build your own burger, customize it, go ahead it's great fun. Pricy but fun and you won't regret it because the taste is just well, juicy great, as any burger should be. Pick the bread down to the type of pickle and so many condiments to choose from! The lounge next door looks fun too. I know it takes a while to get my burger because you must be slicing that beef right off that fresh cow carcass so I don't mind waiting and no, I would rather not see that cow pre-mortem, but thanks for the kind offer waiter.

    (4)
  • Jay U.

    On paper, this place sounds great, but in reality it just didn't quite get there. There wasn't anything special about this place, including the food, ambiance, and service. The location happened to work for today, but I hope I don't find myself around that area often and definitely not at night. Overpriced for everything being so average. Won't recommend it, but in a pinch I suppose it did what it needed to - fill my stomach.

    (2)
  • Maggie C.

    Place looks brand new & clean, but really close to the tenderloin disctict. Homeless were going through the trash outside when we left. Impressive selection of toppings/sauce, but our kobe beef burger was so over cooked I couldn't tell if it was even beef. Pros: Cutomize the burger ANY way you want it to and many many toppings to choose from. Yummy sweet potatoes fries Cons: Waited very long for our burger and over cooked. Seems like their kitchen staff can't keep up the speed when the line got long. They servie beer & wine but full bar next door @ Custom lounge

    (3)
  • Dave H.

    Overall, its a great experience. I have been more than 20 times and my only complaints are limited: * 3-4 times, a topping was missing. If you get take out, check your order! * make sure you ask if they are out of any of the toppings when you order - I hate putting together a masterfully crafted order, and then finding out that they are out of chilis. I then have to rethink my order completely, but that's just me. This has happened a few times. * 10% of the time, they overcook my burger (medium rare is what I prefer). However, this happens at fine dining restaurants when I order meat frequently, so it doesn't bother me. It is not a chronic situation, but it can happen. Pros: * the bar staff is friendly - I have a much better time sitting at the counter in the lounge and ordering my burger there. * I personally really like the serving baskets. They are a nice touch, and I find them very useful (I like the little dipping sauce attachment.) * wide array of toppings. They are plentiful! In order to get the full 5 stars, you have to be perfect on everything, and they only fall a little short. I prefer their burgers to most everywhere else - its darn fine and infinitely flexible. They have been adding a few toppings & sauces, so they continue to tune their menu.

    (4)
  • Beccie F.

    i'll start off by saying two things: it's down the street from my workplace, AND, they have SWEET POTATO FRIES. i'll follow that up with the fact that their veggie burgers are amazingly savory. i'll follow THAT up with the fact that... come on, dude, you're basically making your own burger. i love being able to pick every last little detail of my meal and having it put together the way i want it. who doesn't? i'll end with saying... dude, this shit is expensive. i can't afford to be spending over $7 on a dang burger and some fries for lunch, bro. three stars because i get to put together a delicious sandwich (that i can scarcely finish) AND i get muh sweet 'tater fries!!! the two stars withheld because seriously dude..? you just broke my wallet. good thing the burgers are so big that you might not be hungry the next day... 'cuz you won't be able to afford yourself a lunch then.

    (3)
  • Aaron F.

    I can't remember if I liked the turkey burger or not. All I remember is being horribly ill for the next 4 days. Luckily I'm a pretty healthy guy because I think the food poisoning could have put a hurtin' on someones grandma. Seriously though do you want to hear anything else I want to say about it, that I got horribly ill is all you need to know from me. I refuse to go back when my co-workers suggest it.

    (1)
  • b s.

    i love the concept of this place- build your own burger. The staff is really nice and I've eaten here a dozen times. However, they have got to fix the buns. They all tend to fall apart too easily- last time I was there we even got a bun with a hole in it. I'm sure they would have replaced it had we asked- but it's too much trouble when you're hungry and just want to eat your food. UPDATE: Took a client here last week- not only did they get the order wrong...I was banished to the land of bad buns and not-cooked-to-order-well-done-burger once again.

    (3)
  • Karen K.

    Solid place for a great burger. When we first walked in, we were greeted with a friendly and enthusiastic employee who explained how Custom Burger works. You fill out a checklist of the type of burger you want including the meat, how it's cooked, toppings, sauce, and type on bun. The basic cheeses cost 99 cents extra and you get to pick 3 toppings and one sauce for free. Some of the more premium toppings like bacon and avocado are extra, but the basic list should satisfy most people. You order and pay at the counter and then a server brings the food to your table. Credit cards accepted. I ordered the 1/3 Angus burger (medium rare) with pepper jack cheese and sauteed mushrooms, sauteed onions, and tomatoes on an onion bun with pesto mayo. $7.99 plus tax. The burger was AMAZING. Absolutely terrific. The meat was juicy and very tasty. I hate it when burgers are dry and overcooked, but this was cooked to perfection. It was very moist and pink. Fantastic! The cheese was melted just right and went well with the toppings I chose. The bun was warm and soft. For those that think $8 is too much for a burger, you have to understand that this isn't McDonald's or Carl's Jr. You do get fresh, high quality meat and a huge variety of toppings to choose from. We also ordered the sea salted skin-on fries and they were very good. The fries were of medium thickness and the night we went, they were perfectly fried to a light golden brown. The piping hot fries were served in a cute little miniature fry basket. The portion was $3.50 and is enough for two people. You get a choice of one dipping sauce (extra sauce is 99 cents). I went with the masala sour cream which was a bit spicy. I thought it was ok. The onion rings ($4.99) were served stacked on a rod that looked like one of those vertical paper tower holders. In fact, that's probably what it was. These were just ok. They tasted a bit generic and looked a little too pre-packaged. We went with the blue cheese dipping sauce and that was pretty good. For dessert, we ordered a slice of peach pie ($4.99) with vanilla ice cream ($1.25). The pie had lots of big slices of fruit and was served hot. It was okay and I felt the price was a little high on the pie. Bottomless fountain sodas are $1.99. The restaurant also has a variety of salads and chilis, but we didn't try any of those. The service was fantastic. The cashier was very friendly and the servers are eager to please and was on top of the soda refills and extra paper napkins. I was surprised that we got cloth napkins and silverware, but it was an added touch. I didn't think the wait was long at all. We weren't in a hurry, but I definitely didn't think we were sitting there forever either. The interior of Custom Burger is very simple and modern - decorated with white, gray, and touches of red. There are high ceilings and large picture windows that overlook 7th Street, which is not as crappy as some of the other streets in the surrounding neighborhood. There is also a large communal table in the middle of the room. Overall, I'm very happy with Custom Burger and look forward to coming back for another great meal. Update 9/14/07: Went back for a second visit around 10pm. The service was not as enthusiastic as opening week, but still friendly and timely with the drink refills. They were out of mushrooms and sauteed onions (huge bummer!), however, it was good to know that despite not being able to order my two favorite toppings, the burger was still great and cooked just right. It wasn't crowded at all, but maybe it was still too early for the after-bar /club crowd. They close at 11pm anyway.

    (4)
  • Hen A.

    modern and contemporary twist to burger dining....bright, clean and ultra chic...checklist menu order.....patty, options, toppings, bun, fries and drink...mix 'n' match and add...small warning...price increases with adding...take a number and wait....open seating....starting with angus burger...no question of grilling preference..optional fried egg an additional $dollar...pick of olive, pineapple and ketchupeno....basket of sweet potato fries...a diet coke thirst...custom burgers tasty self creation....ketchupeno tasting bit odd...luckily served on the side....sweet potato fries perfectly orange golden crisp...fountain diet soda refreshing....$twelve total, but $three off february special for the month...guessing $fifteen norm for regular pricing of this meal ordered....already brainstorming next burger creation...angus, egg, pineapple, hoisin glaze and mushroom!....

    (4)
  • Senor Q.

    My burger + soda cost more than $14. That's just unacceptable. They have a menu where you can choose exactly what you want on your burger, but I found that it gave me too many options and led to an inferior meal than I would have had if they had chosen the toppings for me: salmon burger:::blue cheese::::avocado....wait, this won't taste good. One positive: sweet potato fries. It tries to be upscale for a burger joint (clean looking decor, sans serif font). But no amount of ambience can make up for "acceptable" food at outrageous prices.

    (3)
  • Kati V.

    This restaurant is a lot of fun - and from what I understand they've really found their rhythm since they opened a while ago. Essentially, it's just what it sounds like: you can customize your burger - but to the extreme. You can choose a meat (or veggie) option to start: Kobe beef, turkey, chicken, lamb, Portabello mushroom, etc. etc. And that's just the beginning! The variety of cheese, sauce, and topping choices is truly staggering. You could make thousands of different burgers with the choices available. Just make sure you specify how you want the burger cooked - and don't settle! If you're paying for Kobe beef, then it should be cooked exactly the way you want. Don't worry, I found this place to be totally into that idea, and my Kobe burger was actually a perfect medium-rare right out of the gate. Be warned: If you're an indecisive person (like me!) the experience can be a little overwhelming. I wanted to try everything. My advice - go with a few pals, get different things, and share. The ambiance of this place is great, too. You can eat in the diner-style restaurant side, or you can take your burger through to the connected bar, which continues the "custom" theme with choose-your-own drink options (I never knew you could stuff so many different things into green martini olives). The bar staff is attentive, and very welcoming of people bringing in their burgers. Our bar waiter even grabbed utensils and ketchup for us when we forgot ours. He also offered us tastings of some very nice red wines while we debated what to drink. Bottom line: eat here. It's fun.

    (4)
  • Susan M.

    Great employees. Helpful. Sweet potato fries are the best!! Onion rings are cooked to perfection. Try the warm brownie and milk shake. Wonderful. The burger buns are a little to large for my taste. Too much bread. The burgers are tasty and the topping selections are interesting. I would eat there every day if I could.

    (4)
  • Gene X.

    OK I've been wanting to go in here since I saw it open up. I finally had the chance today coming back from getting a haircut after I found Boxed Food Company was already closed - doh Anyhow, the interior is very modern and clean and white. The ordering looks more intimidating than in actually is and the ingredients and such are really good here. I had a few nibbles of their fare at the SOMA Grand opening party and wanted more. I made a pretty basic burger this time and it was really good - nice and juicy even though I forgot to ask for it medium rare, and although it's not the cheapest burger it's solid. I know Joie de Vivre is revamping the pink hotel it's connected to so I'm looking forward to how that'll change the overall vibe. It's nice and low key right now which is how I like it.

    (4)
  • Wilfred C.

    A friend told me about the place and we dropped in a few days ago for lunch. I definitely appreciate the variety of meat and buns to choose from (multigrain buns? score). Judging by the other reviewers, I must have came in on a good day because everything was great: custom angus burger, with a fatty slice of tomato, secret sauce, and mushrooms. I could have added more toppings at no extra charge but I played it safe for my first visit. Also half basket of sweet potato fries (a lot for even a half basket), and iced tea for $12. A little pricier than other burger joints but not greasy, so it was well worth it.

    (4)
  • Guava C.

    I love the idea of building your own burger. I usually know exactly what I want on a burger and so I was not disappointed when my lamb burger with all the lovely fixins came out. The sea salt fries and sweet potato fries were excellent. The food came within 5-10 minutes which is not bad at all. Unfortunately, the place did not have clean napkins which is totally inexcusable. If you are going to be serving burgers that are potentially huge and messy (because this customer, after looking at all the toppings decided to go crazy), you better have clean napkins! I love the fact that they use cloth napkins (I guess to be green??) but my napkin plus the napkins of my friends had some sort of hair/DNA/ stain on them. My napkin had something that looked like dried snot on it. When we asked for new napkins, the ones we received were equally disgusting. Yelpers, if you wish to dine here, please bring your own set of clean napkins.

    (3)
  • Charles U.

    They had the right idea when they opened this place. Having the option to build your own burger from the top down seems like a high-maintenance person's dream come true. However, that also proved to be my downfall. I was on the right track with the cheese, bacon, sauteed onion and mushrooms... then i saw the hoisin glaze! Mmmm! How could an Asian boy resist putting that in? It didn't turn out so well... but that was my own fault. So I'm not going to take away a star for that. However, the way they put my burger together: with the sauteed onions and mushrooms soaking the bread with their watery juices did not do anything to improve it. The buns were literally mush in my hands. Minus 1 star. And the meat was overcooked to the point of being almost burnt on the outside. Another minus. Nevertheless, I think the price is fair considering the amount of food and the choices you have.

    (3)
  • Josephine H.

    I read about Custom Burger on Tablehopper and was super curious to check it out. It sounded awesome - create your own burger with endless amount of toppings, sauces, and cheeses. I stopped in midday over the weekend. Luckily it wasn't crowded but I did read a few yelp reviews that it can get crowded during lunchtime and to beware of the dent in your wallet for just one hamburger. Alas, it was like heaven checking off the slip and adding all those yummy toppings. Hmmm...bacon. Best bacon I've ever had. It was thick apple smoked and so delicious against that pile of beef. I made the mistake of adding a bit too many things and the marinated onions ended up overpowering everything. After scraping those aside, I enjoyed this juicy delight with a fork and knife. Fries were thick, crispy, and extra salty. We also got a small cup of chili which was really good chili but really filling. It was chock full of beef and beans. Definitely a hearty meal on it's own. Just beware of all the boxes you check. It can get pretty pricey for just one little beef burger - especially if you have the kobe beef. Non-beef eaters - check out their chicken, veggie, and lamb options as!

    (4)
  • Mark B.

    Going in, expect to drop $20 for a burger, fries and a soda. Is it worth the $20? Maybe, it depends on how you build it. When you walk in you are presented with a sheet of options to build your burger. What kind of meat? Condiments? Toppings? Cheese? Bun? So many questions! What you'll end up is with a pretty tasty burger. Their in-house condiments, like ketchup+chipolte, are pretty good for both the burger and dipping fries. Is it worth $20? Maybe, but pricey no matter how you order your burger. Minus one star for making refills of diet coke such a pain in the ass. You have to wait in line, which can often be long, or be lucky enough to flag someone down who happens to catch your diet Coke craving eye.

    (4)
  • Jonathan H.

    I'm going to give this place 4 stars simply because it is a shining star in an otherwise useless part of town. Finally I have a place to go and get a decent burger and fries without having to walk 4-6 blocks. The food isn't that great though. So far between my girlfriend and I weve tried three burgers here. - Angus burger: cooked the way i like it, good taste, lots of gourmet ingredients to put on top. The brioche bun fell apart while I was trying to eat it though. - Veggie burger: You'd expect a veggie burger to at least be in the form of a pattie, but not here. This veggie burger is actually a mush of vegetables and some adhesive sauce. If Sloppy Joe turned vegetarian, he'd probably make a burger like this. - Chicken burger: Not a chicken breast but rather a ground pattie of chicken. It was pretty small and didn't taste much like chicken. I think i'll stick to the angus. Oh yeah, AGAIN my brioche bun fell apart!! - Fries: pretty decent but not astonishing. Theres this awesome pesto mayo there though, I highly recommend it if you want to get fries or dip your burger in something tasty. The Ketchupotle sauce is just ketchup, I don't see anything remarkable about it. I think ill check out the lounge during my next 3 hour conference call, so at least i'll have a steady stream of alcohol to keep me from dying of boredom.

    (4)
  • Tiffany D.

    they have funnel cake!! i just realized this the last time i went, but didnt get to try it because, as always, i ordered too much food and was too full for dessert. i had a basic bacon cheeseburger with bbq sauce and shared the half reg fries half sweet potato fries and a chocolate shake with friends. burger was delish, esp since i had had a few drinks that awoke my appetite, and i am always STUFFED. milkshakes are great too! this place is just like the counter, but not as popular for some reason...perhaps it's the location. i only frequent this place bc it's close to my school, but it's not a bad place to go. will be back next time to visit the mustard man (i like that giant poster!) and to try funnel cake.

    (4)
  • Cristopher K.

    i feel like i should of liked this place more, maybe cause i wasnt that hugnry, had hella china fud at 11pm last night like hella options, but like too many, its like a burger. its not like fine dining. i dont like having to deciede all this crazy stuff its like i want a burger with stuff on it and make it good not like oh fine sir id like a kobe buger with tilmaokk chees and fancy shamcy bree with argula and some other crazy mayo, and how is your portfolio i guess what im sayin is that if you are a ypupie youd like this place but considering its on 7th and mish wtf solid onion rings but seriously id rather goto fuddies, innout, clown alley, nations, bistro burger, polkers, sliders, and proably most other burger places

    (3)
  • A L.

    I work two blocks down and I feel like it's time to give this place a try. The place is nice and clean, but the prices are just off for burger and fries! My meal came up to $15+ (yes, just for a burger and sweet potato fries) and the patty was too well cook!

    (2)
  • Cheryl D.

    I ate in the bar - to the left to the left... the decor is - throwback diner SOMA style- woven green chairs - retro diner chrome tables with a cool green striped finish on top... and the floor - like a shiny turquoise bowling ball floor. the right wall has padded diamonds in light blue and green - really nice for this part of town. I like the ordering process - my bday companion Mey checked the mysterious Other Box and wrote in salmon - yes - you can get a salmon burger here pescatarians. Another mentionable is you can pick your bread - they have intersting choices. Bartender/waiter - we were there about Midnight - was super helpful and friendly. I had the sangria and it was cool - not too sweet. I'll have to try this more - but I'll say 4 stars because you don't have to walk to Chico's on Sixth, which can be an adventure, to get some late night grub. Warning - Midnight street cleaning - get out when they close and move the car. The metercarts, even at 1200AM are on you. We saw one as we said goodbyes.

    (4)
  • Lindsay A.

    I love it when I get to use an order form to order a burger - it makes the options seem endless! I ordered a standard cheeseburger with special sauce and shared a basket of half and half fries. I love that you can order half regular and half sweet potato fries. The sweet potato fries were really good, the regular fries were OK, those could have been a little crispier though. The burger was delciious and juicy and I really enjoyed it. I would definitly be back for more.

    (4)
  • Angela K.

    After a few experiments I finally sorted out my favorite Custom Burger. Go turkey, why A) because I love beef and I can tell you the Turkey is good and B) it's seasonally appropriate. Now add pepper jack, arugula, grilled mushroom, grilled onions then put it on a sesame bun. Fantastic! Also they don't say on the menu but you can get a half order of onion rings which I suggest for smaller appetites. Or you can add a half order of sweet potato fries for variety fans. Be advised that lunch will run you around 15 bucks or more so if you're living on the cheap, this isn't your place. Also there is a bar attached.

    (4)
  • Joel A.

    You mean I can have my burger the way I want it? Sign me up! The number of choices can be a little overwhelming, but in the end you feel like a culinary mad scientist putting together the perfect sandwich. We enjoyed the two burgers we created -- one was kobe beef, mushrooms and garlic aoli, and the other was a salmon burger. We also enjoyed the fries. You can order a basket with both regular fries and sweet potato fries. With the amount of stuff you can pile on a burger, they can be rather messy. If you eat at the restaurant, they give you cloth napkins to use -- a nice and necessary touch.

    (4)
  • Rachel J.

    I normally wouldn't give a hamburger place THIS many stars, but I have to say, I really enjoyed myself today for lunch at Custom Burger! Since my dad lives in SOMA, he's talked about it a few times and wanted to take me out. It was me, my dad, and our boyfriends (yes, I said boyfriends :)) As soon as I walked in, I dug the clean atmosphere. Oooohh burger with pineapple chunks, sweet potato fries, onion rings, warm brownies. And a coke with ice, please! The lady who rang us was super funny and sweet, good people. Food was promt and lookin hella good! Pretty messy, just how a hamburger should be. They understand that, as they have classic white cloth, not paper, napkins. HUGE drink. I would say Custom Burger is in competition with Sliders for when I'm jones'n for that classic American comfort food...

    (4)
  • Kelly Y.

    This joint is a much needed addition to the neighborhood. Especially if you are down here and need a quick bite before a Show at the Orpheum or Golden Gate Theatre. My picks: - Point Reyes Blue Cheese - Kobe Beef - Ketchipotle sauce.. + - side of Onion Rings. If you want to specify how ur meat is cooked, you have to ASK.

    (4)
  • Todd F.

    I'd compare Custom Burger to a high end burger king...you're getting it your way, but its actually made with edible ingredients. I think they are trying really hard to be an upscale burger joint but the consistency isn't there to %100 deliver on it. They give you a sheet of paper to fill out how you want your burger prepped but a glaring omission is a check box for how you want your meat cooked, which is arguably the most important part of your bilf. You can specify how you want it to the cashier, but it always seems to get lost between the register and the cook because at least 2 of the 4 burgers we go in there and order at a time are consistently wrong. I haven't had a "disappointing" burger here, its just that i also haven't had one that makes me want to slap a bum hanging outside in excitement either.

    (3)
  • Ziad E.

    I love the concept, but I was thoroughly unimpressed with my first visit. The burgers were tasty but three out of four were overcooked, and the fourth was WAY undercooked (raw enough to be sent back). Our fries took about 15 minutes longer than our burgers, and the whole thing was far from inexpensive. I like the wide variety of choices and wouldn't care so much about the prices if the food and service were better. I will say that the fries were very good (when we finally got them). I plan to visit Custom Burger again and update my review--perhaps we just caught them on a bad day.

    (2)
  • Martin S.

    great burger great fries nice friendly staff--with a sense of humor even--can you imagine that? a little pricey (although we also had some wine) but was worth it I will be back

    (4)
  • Clive L.

    We had a craving for a good burger one night and decided to try Custom Burger. Our expectations were fuilfilled. These burgers were the best burgers I've tasted in a long time. The process of ordering is easy and if you want to eat there, the lounge next door is very cute.

    (5)
  • Romeo And Lola K.

    Decent burger at a reasonable price. Clearly the draw of Custom Burger are the plentiful options and toppings. We enjoyed our sauces (blue cheese and garlic). Good sized portions. We loved their fries, both the sweet and regular potato (ours were not soggy). Cloth napkins were a plus! Service was good; staff was pleasant and helpful.

    (3)
  • Lita T.

    I had a gift certificate for $25 there, so that's what got me in the door. What's gonna get me back is the yummy burger with all the sides, sauces and the sweet potato fries! At first I was confused on how the heck to order, but I saw some guys working on their order sheet and figured it out. They have a pretty big menu including salads, selection of fries, onion rings, chili, cookies, wine & beer. I ordered the veggie burger on potato pepper bread w/ Point Reyes Blue Cheese topped with jalapenos, tomato slice, lettuce and sauteed sweet yellow onions. Then I ordered some sauce, thinking they were gonna pile it on, but no, they give it to you on the side. Lots of interesting sauces. I chose Cucumber Raita and pesto mayo. I don't know what I was thinking...I just wanted it all! it just all looked good! I'm kinda glad they didn't put it all together. I also ordered the sweet potato fries with a side of ketchipotle and roasted garlic aioli sauce. so far, it was a little over $10, so I also ordered the Really Good Caesar salad and a mug of Veggie Chili. It's alot of food... and I got it all for about $27. I brought it home and so far all I had was the veggie burger with fries... OMG, it was so good! That Point Reyes Blue cheese was very nice. I'm happy I still have the sauces to work on later. Their roasted garlic aioli is very tasty... and that ketchipotle, very interesting and good! My dog Mimi could not get enough of the fries! she also loooooved the vege meat... Cucumber Raita very refreshing. I can't wait to have the salad and chili for lunch tomorrow. I'm still full from that burger I ate about 5 hours ago. I got my order to go. Service at counter was nice. The counter boy was a little confused when I presented the gift certificate, but he figured it out, no problem. I sat for about 5-10 minutes while they made up my order and the guy who brought over my order was very nice. He's the only one that I got a chance to look at his name tag. Aaron was his name. Nice old man. I will be back again..........! You guys have to check it out. **UPDATE *** I went back again about 2 weeks ago. I still love them! Fab Burgers! I brought the burger and fries to work, and everybody was like, OMG that looks so good... and I told them, yah, it is! My order taker was Olivia and she was sooo nice. Good customer service. The older manager guy was there and he handed my order, reassuring me, "everything is in there!" They are just nice there. Hurry, go try!

    (5)
  • Jonathan B.

    "Custom Burger" is quite the misnomer for this little diner in SOMA. Their burgers are no more custom made than at most places. The only thing that sets them apart is the paper where you make your selections and their variety of sauces. Fuddrucker's, although not the best burger, still beats this place when it comes to customizing your own. With a clueless staff and a strange location, I'd be surprised if this place lasts much longer. Did I mention there's nowhere on the ordering card for how you want your meat cooked? I was given a very well done patty with mine...yeah, no thanks, I won't be back.

    (2)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :7:00 am - 10:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : No
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Lunch
    Parking : Valet, Street
    Bike Parking : No
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Good For Dancing : No
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Happy Hour : Yes
    Best Nights : Sat, Sun
    Coat Check : No
    Smoking : No
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : Free
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : No
    Drive-Thru : No
    Caters : Yes

Categories

Burgers

Burger or Hamburger is savored as the most desired fast food meal in the United States. A hamburger is basically a sandwich prepared by stuffing ground meat patty, generally beef, between two slices of a bun cut in half. Hamburger is also famous for its seasoning. Most popular condiments used in hamburgers in the United States are mustard, mayonnaise, and ketchup. Besides ground meat patty, hamburgers are also stuffed with lettuce, onions, tomato slices, pickles, and cheese.

Hamburgers are also categorized into two types in the United States. Fast food hamburger and individual hamburgers served at restaurants are two basic types of burgers served in the United States. The individual hamburgers served at restaurants are prepared using everything including lettuce, onion, tomato, and sliced pickles as well as melted cheese on the patty or crumbled on top. American restaurants also serve veggie burgers for those who don't relish meat. Cheeseburgers are also hot favorite in the United States.

McDonalds is the most popular fast food burger restaurant serving different types of burgers in the United States. On the other hand, there are several restaurants such as Burger King are famous for serving the best hamburgers in the United States. Most burger restaurants in the United States often serve hamburgers with French fries and other condiments. If you have a liking for burgers in the United States, then you won't be disappointed. You can easily find the best burger restaurants in your city on our Restaurants Listings directory. Check the reviews and ratings of the top burger restaurants and savor yourself with the best hamburger in the city.

Custom Burger

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