Hollywood Burger Bar
4211 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland, OR, 97213
Hollywood Burger Bar Menu
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Address :
4211 NE Sandy Blvd
Portland, OR, 97213 - Phone (503) 288-6422
- Website https://hollywoodburgerbar.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :7:30 am - 5:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : No
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Drive-Thru : No
Caters : No
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.
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Sara V.
Went in here yesterday for the first time in a year and the decor is much more austere now, no longer Betty Boop themed :( I believe this place is under new ownership. The food is still good though and the new, longer hours are much more accommodating. But I will miss Betty Boop!
(4)john l.
Great Burgers. Everyone in Portland needs to go here at least once cause it's so damn CUTE!!!!
(4)Hank C.
Needed to find lunch spot within walking distance from where I was staying in Portland. Ducked into Burger Bar. Order Burger, Fries and Chocolate shake. Burger bad, fries bad, shake bad...It was unbelievable. Is this Portland? Then I overheard waitress say they now open at 7:30 AM instead of 7:00AM, no business. I instantly knew why. Also, they close at 4pm. Hmmm. Think by end of the year, their hours may be from 11:59AM to 12:05 PM.
(1)Patrick N.
Old School and great burgers and simple menu. This place rocks!!! only crappy part is they close real early.
(5)Jacob G.
I heard this place had the best burgers in Hollywood, and I have to say that they're pretty good. And the place is basically the kitchen and a counter. That's all you need to serve some good diner food.
(4)Emily S.
This is my favorite place to get breakfast in Portland. Never mind that the owners are terribly friendly and I absolutely adore them... but they have killer hash browns. And who the hell doesn't like hash browns?
(5)Chris H.
I recently got a message from the owner of this place. He seemed generally concerned that I had a bad experience. This kind of concern about ones place of business is something I appreciate. I still had a generally unappealing experience here, but the conviction of the owner made me think about giving the place another try. I was also wrong in my review, this place does not use SYSCO to supply their meat apparently they use "Frank's Choice Meats", my mistake.
(3)Lauren G.
Great food, great people!
(4)Shawni L.
eh. I go back and forth on this place. cheap food a little better than fast food quality. they only take cash and close at 4pm so I rarely get to go. my son loves the hot dogs
(3)Orian I.
I love kitsch, and they serve it, in a pile. so, after reading some other reviews, I gotta say shrug. I thought the burger would be grilled, it was griddled, and I gotta say mine was well done but not leathery. the meat itself was juicy and tasty. the bun nice and toasty. all and all a good solid burger. I noticed most of the regulars ordered potato salad, and not the fries. understandably, the fries were kind of meh, not horrible mind you just kind of nothing. The real jewel here was the chili. I dunno what they do with it but it's thick, tasty with maybe molass? sooo good. I will go back mostly cause i love small business with character like that.
(4)Lemonleen C.
Best drive-in, roadside-style burger I've ever had located in a heart of a city. If you like the third-pound pub-style burger with the huge buns, this isn't your place. If, however, your best summer memories involved the family packing up the station wagon and pulling into a drive-in for an aromatic hamburger wrapped in paper, then this is heaven. The burgers are big, but not disproportionately so. And the meat carries the flavor of a seasoned grill. Someone else mentioned that the burger was dry. On the contrary, mine dripped down my fingers. The fries are good, too. Not the thin shoestrings, but thick and crispy.
(5)Daphne O.
Enjoyed many breakfasts here while spending 2 weeks in Portland. Between my husband and I, we tried every breakfast combo on the menu except waffles. Each one was very, very good. Theres nothing fancy about them. Just good 'ol home cooking. Lots of locals dine here and everyone is treated like an old friend. Be advised, this is a small diner. I don't think I saw a table that would seat more than 4 people and really no room to put tables together. Sit at the counter and enjoy the folks!
(4)Joshua M.
Another dry overcooked crunchy leather burger in my search for Portland perfection. It does perhaps offer people watching appeal, as the clientele was definitely an odd mix while we were there. But to be honest local kitsch only goes so far with me. Sure I can appreciate the hole in the walls, and the dives, but this place just doesn't do it for me. Just taking a look at the dust and blatantly obvious cobwebs latched on to some of the hanging decorations on the ceiling make me wonder just exactly how clean is that kitchen? Hmm. The service was alright, although two of the employees were having some sort of disagreement over something, and they weren't making much of an effort to keep it from the customers. Also things to take note of, it's a cash or check (personal checks? really?) establishment, and there is no bathroom inside. Is that even legal? It's rare for me to disagree completely with almost every single review written about a place, but in this particular case I a little baffled about what people love about it.
(2)Andrew A.
They have the location, history and vibe, but lack...anything memorable in terms of food. You'd think it was located in mediocracy themed Westside. Old locals love it, "foodies" don't.
(2)Andrew H.
I love me a good burger. The thing is, I wasn't even looking to eat a burger. I wanted to find a place to eat and I was actually thinking Chinese food, if I could find it. I was over in Hollywood heading to Grocery Outlet but I wanted to get something to eat first. I get off the bus up at 42nd and I smell burgers from across the street. Hollywood Burger Bar calling my name. Damn they sucked me in..... It looks like an old school soda shop minus the soda jerk. A half circle of stools around the grill and work area plus a few other tables and one outside. The place is SMALL but they have a decent sized menu including breakfast items. You can get sandwiches and fish items but being the name has burger in it? I went with that. It did take them some time to get over to me, and two others that came in after me had their orders taken before mine... so I actually had to let them know I was ready to place an order. They have a good list of burgers on the menu and two specials. I went with the Hawaiian burger special( with swiss, ham, pineapple and teriyaki sauce), they also had a New Yorker burger special(cheese, grilled onions and mushrooms) and I got a glass of lemonade. I could have opted for a shake but I was thinking the burger and fries were going to fill me up pretty good. And I was right. Big food, fries extra crispy(which I asked for) and an array of hot sauces to choose from. Secret Aardvark and some Tabasco kept me happy. The burger was great! You can't go wrong with a good combination of sweet, tangy and lots of meat. Good place, inexpensive food and friendly service (once they got to me). I'd go back. Enjoy.
(4)Maja R.
I just had breakfast here for the first time two weeks ago. My boyfriend and I now have "our own" Sunday morning breakfast spot. The big bar tender (play on the name wink) behind the counter made the absolute best French toast. Had it both times I was there. Next time I'm going for the waffles I keep hearing about. Con's: Dated and Seating, however its a old school diner, not some massive food chain restaurants, the food is actually hand prepared by people (I hear the burger meat is from a local farmer and never frozen) not just packaged from a distribution center and placed on a plate to look pretty. Good food, good people. End of story.
(4)Eli S.
This place def needs to up their game! If I'd noticed Killer Burger before I'd already sat down I'd have been the wiser. Burger Bar sounds so "craft burger" but it's absolutely the opposite. Diner style and mediocre at best. For such a prime location this place needs a serious upgrade in most ways!
(2)Jeanette R.
Stopped in for a breakfast burrito while waiting on a prescription. It was your basic diner food, nothing amazing, but nothing lacking. The atmosphere was definitely un pretentious, and there were a lot of older folks having a good time. The only thing I flat out didn't care for was the terrible pop music on the radio, but that's not why I came in, so I can't really fault them for that. Would go again if in the area.
(3)Lee K.
There are two things that immediately sold me on Hollywood Burger bar: 1) Their iced tea is real. And tasty. It doesn't come from a soda fountain concentrate machine, it's not infused with flowers or fruit or exotic spices. It's tea, and it's good tea. 2) The gentleman asked me if I wanted any condiments for my meal. I asked for mustard. He responded with "What KIND of mustard?" and rattled off a list of about half a dozen options. I was in love. The burger was great. They don't seem to be trying to reinvent the wheel here. There is no Thai-Salvadorian fusion burger. They're a burger joint that happens to be really damned good at what they do and content/confident enough to stick with it; I respect that immensely as the restaurant industry continues to swallow up establishments like this in favor of some flavor-of-the-month over-engineered food concocted by a focus group. Hollywood gives you enough options so you can have some variance each time you go, but they're not overwhelming you or the menu with a bunch of unnecessary choices.
(5)Josh S.
Quintessential counter diner occupying a quaint little building in the heart of Hollywood. Short on options we stopped in for a weekend breakfast - the place is pretty tiny, mostly counter seats with a half-dozen small tables, and as a party of 3 we had limited options but fit into a table. (NOTE: if you have 4 in your group, good luck... and anymore than that would fill 1/4 of the space!) The service was super friendly, and the menu has all the classics, which is exactly what we were looking for. Our orders almost ran the breakfast gamut: omelet, overeasy eggs, sausage patty, pancakes, toast and hashbrowns. Now, envision just what a diner breakfast should look and taste like, and that's what you get! We'll be back soon - next time for burgers!
(4)Chris W.
I ended up taking two hungry boys after a basketball game and they swallowed their burgers whole. I enjoyed mine as well the burgers are really good juicy and made however you want them. The cook is very good at what he does we just had waters and our waitress was there at our table numerous times the place was about half full but she did a decent job. I do have to say one of the forks that came to our table was dirty it seems like from other reviews I read cleanliness might be a problem but outside of the fork the meal was the great the place is lacking seating and a bathroom which is too bad and the parking is the best but they can make a burger and I was more then happy with that. I'd go back again if I was in the area.
(4)Patti F.
We went here for breakfast, based upon the hash brown reviews. This is a tiny little place, so historic that they don't actually have a restroom in the place (you need to leave and go next door ;-) ). The menu isn't very veggie-friendly, but there are a few token items that can be ordered. I just had a basic egg, and hashbrowns breakfast and it was tasty - the portions were good. My only weird: since we sat at the counter, I watched the server washing dishes (apparently it wasn't that busy) by just scrubbing them with a brush (no soap). I REALLY hope I misunderstood, and then were just being prepped for the "real" dishwasher machine (complete with soap).
(3)Harry F.
Ambiance is terrible -- after sitting next to the dirty dishes for 5 minutes, we wished we had walked out before ordering. The food was ok and staff was friendly. Relatively small portions, but cheap. it could be so much better if it felt clean and professional. But it doesn't. Will not be going back until the "under new management" sign goes up. Feeling generous giving this place two stars...
(2)Shawn R.
I love the food here and the staff is really nice. Only drawback: I am fluffy and it makes it hard to sit at the counter - but I still do.
(4)Jens J.
I always assumed from driving by the Hollywood Burger Bar that this was a trendy burger joint, kinda like the one across the street that opened late last year. Awarding five stars might be a little extravagant. The food is four stars, but the cheap prices, unique interior and friendly service makes for five stars on my ledger. I ended up here this past Thursday around noon after being stunned at the discovery that the Green Castle Food Court was now out of business (visions of a pork belly steamed bun from Hot Boxx had been dancing in my head). At HBB, I was greeted by a gentleman that might have seen age eighty come and go a few years back. I could have sat at the snug bar, where there was a little gold placard that stated that one particular stool was reserved for Melanie Mon-Fri 7-8AM. But instead, I opted for a table. The interior has probably never been updated, reflecting a 1920s or 30s style. I loved that the original elaborately carved moldings were still in place. Yes, there were a variety of burgers, but the surprise was that breakfast is served here all day long! I went with the flagship Hollywood Burger, fries and a chocolate shake, billed as super thick on the menu. And they weren't a kiddin'! The shake was so thick that the top of the shake was sticking a couple inches above the cup's rim! The most amazing shake I have ever seen. Quite the buy too, going for only $3.50! You can have your shake made with chocolate ice cream, or made with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce. I much prefer the vanilla ice cream/chocolate sauce method. The burger was $5.50, and yes indeedy do, included fries! An excellent burger with an oh-so-soft bun. On the paper-covered tray, on which the burger was served, they had laid out the tomato, pickle, lettuce and white onions which I added to the burger as I saw fit. Kudos for HBB opting to serve white onions. Man, I love white onions so much better than red onions, which have become ridiculously ubiquitous these days. The fries were appropriately crispy and salty. Hollywood Burger Bar is a gem.
(5)Jasmine P.
Stopped by here thanks to the 4stars on yelp. It's cute on the inside.... counter diner type. Nice ( and patient), smiling women behind the counter when we walked in. I ordered a peppermint hot tea and my friend ordered a cheeseburger, well done to go (cut in half so we could share). My biggest pet peeve is no napkins or silverware on to go bags.... Please don't be lazy or assume your customers have that type of stuff on them lol. So onto the food. Burger: dry and not cut in half.... and nothing in bag for us to cut it with. Fries: How were half the fries ( I kid you not ) cold and soggy & half hot out of the fryer? I guess they figure to go order customers won't notice or will not want to come back for all fresh fries. Yup... I won't come back ever & will continue to highly recommend Killer Burger food is ALWAYS fresh& hot. ... All of it. We threw away half the fries and the dry burger. ... and the $ we spent!
(1)Dan H.
Another on the list of never-ending places that I've been wanting to try that I now can say I have finally tried. You still with me? This is old school Portland at its finest. You can't really get more straight ahead than the Hollywood Burger Bar. Walk in, sit at the counter, stare at the local crowd, order your burger and shake and wait for the goodness to be presented to you. I had the Original Burger ($5.25) with fries and a chocolate Hollywood Triple Thick Shake ($3.50). The burger was good. Nothing amazing, but a good solid burger. The shake was as advertised. Thick. I'm still drinking it. Most of the seating here is around the counter which takes up most of the restaurant. There was, I believe, one table in the back. Maybe two. Service was prompt and friendly. Prices are reasonable and if you like ma and pa type places, you will definitely like the Hollywood Burger Bar. A simple review for a simple joint.
(4)Candice Z.
The hubs and I came here for breakfast a few weeks back... and got there about 20 minutes before they stopped serving breakfast! It was perfect. The food was great, and huge portions for not a ton of money. I got the #1 Breakfast with hashbrowns, eggs, bacon, and pancakes. My husband got the #2 which was country fried steak, hashbrowns, eggs, and pancakes. I barely finished mine and he left about 1/2 his pancakes because it was so much food. Definitely had some food babies going on when we left. This is such a great hole in the wall place, and I could see myself coming back over and over again.
(4)Nicole M.
Such good basic food, the people that work there are SO friendly and customer service oriented, and you can order online which I love! You get a ton of food for your $ I think.
(5)Aaron H.
Fantastic food! One of the best burgers I've had in the area; ordered exactly the way I wanted it, and it was amazing. Took it to go because it was cramped in there however; they offered me water and to sit down while I waited, and gave me a to-go menu for the future. Very friendly staff. :)
(5)Alena C.
I had the Chicken Cordon blue sando with fries. It was yummy, but my guy ordered the reg hamburger and I was jealous. And he wouldn't share. Oh, and it's cheap and kind of old timey. Not the best, but pretty good, and cheap!
(3)Anjaneik T.
Nice people here at Hollywood Burger Bar... yummy food also.. great service and food makes me want to come back
(5)Frank K.
Only driven by here 'bouta Go-zillion times!! So finally had the time to perform a "Drive-bye Fruiting!!". And here was this parking space right out front open.. It was foretold that I was due for a gut bomb, NOW was the time, and THIS was the place!! Nice little place. The kinda place you expect to see "Wimpy" over in the corner with a pile of "Burgs" in front of him and with Catsup (or Ketchup? whats the diff??) stains on his tie. The very nice, seasoned waitress didn't really like it when I told her (in my very best Steve Martin/ Inspector Clueseau "put-on"), "I vood lake two bye Zee HAM-BUuuRrr-GARRRRrrrrreeeee!!" She just kinda stared at me like I was crazy, but the guy behind the grille smirked to a number three chortle. Hey, it's early and it usually takes me until a little past noon to edge out of my "Silly" mode and into a full-blown, non-refundable serious Societal grumpiness (Non Illigitum Carborundum = "Don't let the Bastards wear you down!!"). So whiles me Burgare is cooking, I looks arounds, the nice Lady sees me lookin' round and offers me the morning paper. There's a bunch of older gentlemen salted throughout the place happily chowing down some damn good looking Breakfastses (new word there Webster) and reading their own papers. I barely get through the Sports Section, Giants fading, Dodgers pumping, and Mariners in Ventricular Fibrilation!! Here comes my Burger. Ed Zackery what I wanted and ordered. Same way as when I was a kid, "Mustard ONLY, pickle chips on the SIDE!!" The burger was just like the surroundings, real "Burger" style and flair. I had to blot a bit of grease off the top, but the burger had the proper caramalization, the bun was toasted and after I got done with the mustard squirter it looked like a Picasso "self-portrait" masterpiece... DOWN it went. Can't say I enjoyed the fries as much and it was too damned early to get a Chocolate Shake, but I'll be back next time I'm in the neighborhood. Not a bad spot! The interior kinda gave me the urge to start a "Food Fight" but I swallowed that impulse down, yipped the lady and headed home for a nap.. HEY!!! Its a tough world out there and I need all the rest I can get.. ~Over n' OUT!!~
(3)Eric K.
Back again to one of my favorite neighborhood joints. Happy to see new owner hasn't changed things much. Still the best breakfast/lunch deal in town!
(5)Dyanne G.
I always tell people to try this place for breakfast. They say, breakfast? and I say, yes breakfast. Basic breakfast, good eggs, omelets , hashbrowns, pancakes etc. No fancy salmon benedict, no sprouts. Just basic breakfast the way mom use to make on Sunday mornings. We love to go before or after we hit the farmers market. Then bike all the calories off.
(4)Michelle S.
My partner-in-dine on this foray had wanted to try this place for years. For whatever reason the day we went in there was THE day. Unfortunately, it will be both of our last effort to eat here. Neither of us were very happy. The place is VERY small. My partner-in-dine was in a wheelchair. While we got in, it was only by my figuring out that I had to unlock the second door of the french type doors. We were offered no help. Then, moving around the tiny place while possible took more than a bit of finesse. Neither of us loved what we ordered. A basic cheese burger with onion rings and a Special Burger with fries. I had a chocolate milk shake. Both of our burgers were, I felt, pre-made, frozen patties. The meat was over done and tough. They did not look like a real beef patties. The onion rings were good. Not great. I like them a bit more sweet. Though, I was pleased the onions were wide and thick, and the batter was perfectly crispy. The milk shake was awful. I have rarely not finished one of these. I couldn't make it halfway. The ice cream was of really poor quality. It was almost like eating sandy fluffy mildly chocolaty fake ice cream. It had a terrible mouth feel is the best way to describe it. I suppose for someone working in the area and needing a quick and cheap meal this would be OK.
(2)R W.
This is a charming Portland original. The prices are right and the grub is good. Like the name implies, you eat at a counter/bar, so it's great for solo eating or just one other person, four or five people might be a crowd. I typically get the patty melt. It's always tasty and really hot, five feet from the grill hot. It's cash only.
(4)Melissa P.
Finally, after years of pondering and wondering, I was in the neighborhood to try this joint during its lunch-only business hours. And yep, it is a good burger. Nothing fancy, just good quality ingredients piled onto a paper lined tray and served up at a diner counter. Friendly staff, loyal clientelle that they know well, and reasonable prices. It is worth the stop.
(3)Bob K.
I have had better burgers before but these were pretty good. My wife had a chili dog and she thought it was excellent. But the atmosphere was starts if you like burger joints. The building was very unique too. I think we most enjoyed sitting at the many bar stools and talking with the staff/owners. Its a family run business with a father, his son and the son's wife. The father has got be be in his 80's and all of them were talkative and very fun to talk to. We loved it. We are considering moving to Portland in about a year and this WILL be a regular stop for us.
(4)Timothy B.
enjoyed the "special" burger today. Cheeseburger with fried egg and ham...customized it to my liking with extra onions and pickles with mayo....chips on the side with a house brewed iced tea.... Friendly and efficient service...the price seems a little high for a burger or a hotdog, however it was worth it overall. I'm looking forward to trying the chili dog and one of the milkshakes that the guy next to me ordered.....I was envious....:-)
(4)Ann H.
We stopped by for a lunch while running errands in the neighborhood. I was a little nervous when I walked in, afraid this would be the type of place where I walk out smelling like onions and grease. The service was quick and the cheeseburger hit the spot. Toasted bun, perfectly cooked patty. They have flipped a lot of burgers in their time. Fun to watch the family dynamic behind the counter. Several families with younger kids came in, who enjoyed being able to watch. Seating is limited, but it's not the type of place you hang around for a long time. No lingering grease smell when I left. I will definitely be back.
(4)Flory W.
I was taking care of my aging mom at that time, and she wanted hamburger, and I wanted her to taste her first burger, because they were generous the first time. . . .when I ate my meal once before, (my first visit) so I stopped there on my way to mom's, EXCEPT they forgot my potato salad and mom's fries. I drove 3miles (10 mins.) back and I swear I wasn't going back. If it weren't for that take-out boo-boo, that's minus a star for them! Anyway, I gave them a another chance, when we stopped for breakfast.
(3)Michael P.
1st time visiting today. Place is small but architecturally interesting. The owner, a sweet lady, gave us a little history lesson on the place which made waiting for the food enjoyable. Never had a patty melt before and I didn't regret my decision getting one. Burgers were juicy and very tasty. Service was quick, friendly and very attentive.This is a simple, no-frills burger bar you won't regret stopping in to check out. I took a star off only because it was a cash only place and we had to run to the atm first before going in.
(4)Randy P.
WARNING.... If you are looking for some gourmet burger and fries... go elsewhere. This is NOT Red Robin. If you're wanting a straight up quality burger I have yet to find one in Portland better than the Hollywood Burger Bar. I work just two blocks from here and I look forward to every time. I love their burgers, especially the BACON CHEESEBURGER. Mmmmm. This is a standard greasy spoon type restaurant. No frills... just made to order meals like they did in the 50's. My mouth is just watering with anticipation to pick up my lunch! This is truly a hidden treasure of Portland. And for those few haters of the HBB, let me tell you that I've been going here for many years and yet to have a bad burger. Seriously... overcooked??? I don't think so. Better than Stanich's and better than those gross Yaw's burgers served at the now defunct Rock N Roll cafe across the street. Give this a shot next time in Hollywood and be the judge yourself... just don't expect some 1/2 pound gourmet burger dripping with smoked gouda and BBQ sauce. This ain't that kind of place!
(5)Denise C.
Wish I could give it less then one star! Worst burger ever! It took 40 mins to get our order and the burger was on the grill the entire time. So bad. Save your money and time. Go somewhere edible. Even the fries sucked.
(1)H M.
Good burger, cool place! All of the seating is at the bar, it has a feel to it like it's been there forever.
(4)HOWIE B.
Cute, vintage building, good, standard burgers. Nice staff. Several burgers to choose from - nothing fancy and they're not amazing by any means. Excellent fries, however and for the price (around $6-9) you really can't do any better. It beats Stanich's by a mile.
(4)Chris B.
This is a very interesting place. I live close by and have driven by it for 4yrs. I finally stopped in there last week as I was hungover and dying for a good burger, fries and iced tea. The Hollywood burger bar delivered and I kicked the hangover right in the groin. The burgers are good, real good. Lunch was served on a tray with the fries thrown on and it worked.
(4)Kara P.
This place was great! Speedy service, great milkshake, plenty of bread options. I like it.
(4)Ben P.
In terms of ambiance, the HBB is a cozy, pleasant dive, and it must be noted that, when I visited, the waitress was utterly charming. Seeing as it's a burger bar, I wasted no time, and opted for one of the bar's basics, the "Patty Melt": a normal 1/3 pound beef patty, topped with a healthy portion of grilled onions and swiss, and served on grilled rye. It sounded delicious, and I have to admit that it was, indeed, fairly good. That said, when it came out, I found myself... disappointed. With every bite, I found myself thinking, "I could put together a better version of this burger, and for much cheaper!" If there's one thing you don't want to think when you're eating out for the sake of eating out, it's that.
(2)Courtney D.
Old burger joint still hip It's because of places like these that I don't like most milkshakes in town. You can get the best thick shake in the city here -- the kind that you can't down without a spoon, and it's so good that you end up spooning and gulping at the same time. They also serve some of the best burgers here. Nothing fancy, just good, juicy meat with a variety of creative toppings. You'll feel like you're sitting in an old-fashioned diner, not only because it has the same decor as it did some 30 years ago, but the wait staff is so friendly, as if you've been coming in everyday for years. This is one of the best comfort food spots around. Tip: The chicken patty melt is almost as good as the burgers.
(5)Stephanie E.
I'm a sucker for mom and pop shops. The Hollywood Burger Bar, however, is that x3. Such a cool family run business. The Betty Boop decor is fun to look at while waiting for a much-coveted seat @ the bar. True, their burgers are tasty (they're a burger place after all), but I'm really a sucker for their chili, made only on Saturdays, in a slow cooker. Add a dash of onions and cheese, and I'm in heaven. Saturday is the only time I've gone, as they close @ 4 weekdays. The crowd that gathers there, the homemade food, and getting to watch grandma scold grandpa about not getting a soda to a customer fast enough is something every true Portlander should experience. Cash only (or check, if you're in the neighborhood)
(5)Geoff G.
This place is awesome! Greasy lunch counter spot with basic good burgers. Not sure how you could not like this place. I had to fight back the urge to call the old guy 'Pop.'
(4)Andrea P.
My husband and I were in the neighborhood so decided to check it out. I had a chicken sandwich and it was really good as were the fries. My husband had a bacon cheese burger. He thought it was very good too. No, it's not Red Robin, but, the prices are much better and we enjoyed the atmosphere. The owner was very personable and we enjoyed chatting with him.
(4)Jen S.
I drive by this place every time I go to Trader Joe's, which always seems to be on Sundays. (HBB is closed on Sundays. FYI.) I got it in my head to try them a while ago, and finally, I remembered to go on a Saturday. What a random little place. Seats for maybe 30 people, mostly around the counter. Lots of Betty Boop paraphernalia (and Rosie the Riveter if I recall correctly). Most diners were alone reading books or newspapers, and I was one of them. The staff seemed to know everyone but me who walked into the joint. I liked that a lot. I sat at the counter, and the gentleman who took my order was very nice and didn't bother me while my nose was in my book. I appreciated that they had options for Boca *or* Morningstar veggie burgers (Boca burgers = bleah). The fries were perfectly cooked, and this is one of my (only) gauges for a good burger joint... seeing as how I don't actually eat burgers. It was a little odd that they were washing dishes right in front of me as I ate, but I can forgive that since I often do the same thing at home. Guess it made the experience more homey in some way. Since I don't eat burgers I probably won't be a regular, but a friend raved about their milkshakes and it's just so convenient and inviting so I'm sure I'll go back someday soon... Hopefully on a Saturday before I hit TJ's, so that I don't go food shopping on an empty stomach and end up with Cheesy Poofs and Pirate Booty in my cart. Hate when that happens.
(4)Doug M.
The Hollywood Burger Bar anchors a tiny corner in the midst of Sandy Boulevard traffic. You couldn't call it a hole in the wall because it really is its own little island in a busy intersection. You have to want to get there to get there. Excellent burgers served with your requested fixings on the side. Good sized, well fried and reasonably priced. The whole place is like being inside an igloo with a counter. The kitchen is at the center with the counter surrounding and a few tables left on the perimeter. The walls are covered with Betty Boop memorabilia and pictures of the neighborhood in bygone years. And very friendly owners/service. Even when crowded, they'll greet you with a smile and try to fit you in somewhere.
(4)Brian E.
Great for a diner style burger. Nothing fancy. Just good. Fries were hot and crispy. Best value in Hollywood.
(4)Angel S.
Juicy simple burgers. Reliable and hits the spot! Originally a trolley stop, then a beauty shop, a dry cleaner, an ice cream shop and finally, over 60 years ago, the Hollywood burger bar. Old school and friendly staff and strangers. Waffles are special and I have to try them if I can ever pull myself from these burgers... Important note: NO RESTROOMS. NOW THEY TAKE CREDIT CARDS! :-) :-) :-)
(5)Chori V.
Just got a 2.25 cup of mediocre coffee with the smallest breakfast burrito ever for 7.50 feel incredibly ripped off. The burrito wasn't bad but it was just 3 maybe 4 bites....how embarrassing...
(1)Jeff J.
Hollywood Burger Bar leaves some things to be desired, but it's got an old-school charm. - Ambiance (3/5) The restaurant doesn't try to be anything it's not. It's essentially an open kitchen with a big counter that wraps around it. While it seems like nothing has been updated in a few decades, I can tell the owner takes great pride in keeping the place clean. I did think it odd that the place doesn't have its own restroom-- I don't particularly feel like leaving a restaurant to go to the bathroom. - Service (4/5) The same people cooking the food delivered the food. It's no frills service, but the guys do chat you up a little bit. It makes the whole dining experience more homey, and it's a credit to them. - Strawberry Milkshake, $4.50 (4/5) Homemade, great flavor, perfect consistency. It would have been really nice if they had served it in a real cup, not a cheap plastic one. - Bacon Cheeseburger w/ Potato Salad, $7.25, (3/5) The patty tastes great. What a difference it makes when you make your own patties! Bun was toasted nicely. I didn't quite taste too much thousand island dressing... but... maybe that was actually a good thing? But then, it kind of falls down. The secondary ingredients (lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle) are too run of the mill and dilute the goodness of the patty. Maybe some caramelized onions would have been a good substitute? I wish they showed a little more care with the other ingredients. The potato salad is also homemade, though I found the mayonnaise to be a little heavy. - Value (4/5) Frankly speaking, I was surprised that the burger was only $7.25. While finishing the meal, I noted one of the kitchen guys discussing new ownership with a guest. It seems like a family-run operation right now, so it's a little sad to see it changing hands, particularly to someone who's apparently bringing in a cappuccino machine-- not sure how that fits the ambiance of the place, but best of luck to them!
(3)James B.
One of the worst burgers I have had and it took 40 mins to get. Everything about the burger was hard and dried out. If you like onion, this is the spot for you! Two whole slices that dwarfed the burger patty. The server and cook seemed to be unorganized and had their heads in the clouds. I love supporting neighborhood joints but this will be the last time I stop in there.
(1)Cassandra M.
Fast and friendly, I'm glad that my husband and I stopped in. The waitress was great and courteous and the cook put pickles on my grilled cheese, yum. 5 stars guys.
(5)Marsha J.
This is a longtime basic diner in our neighborhood where we have gone for diner breakfasts. The last visit showed new owners maybe? The cook was extremely rude to the waitress almost yelling at the poor woman who was saying sorry a hundred times. The place was packed and her English was poor. The cook should be ashamed......
(3)Lauren G.
Great food, great people!
(4)Shannon L.
Great service. Great prices. Great burgers fries and shakes. Someone had a waffle that looked and smelled incredible. Everything is made from scratch. How on earth this place doesnt have five star rating is beyond me. Ive seen it and wanted to go for years but never had the chance. Now it will be hard to go anywhere else.
(5)Thomas T.
My daughter works at Millers on Hollywood and finally tried here, sad I waited so long. A great little diner like the ones I grow up with. I haven't gotten past the breakfasts eggs, chicken fried steak, hash browns, or biskets & gravy. Would have given them 5 stars only biggest table is for 3 and we were 4, but then there isn't enough room for a bigger table anyway. So go support a good local place, take cash, and they are open Sundays now.
(4)Sophie M.
We LOVED this breakfast place. It was super friendly, helpful staff and great prices. Thank you
(5)Jeanette R.
Stopped in for a breakfast burrito while waiting on a prescription. It was your basic diner food, nothing amazing, but nothing lacking. The atmosphere was definitely un pretentious, and there were a lot of older folks having a good time. The only thing I flat out didn't care for was the terrible pop music on the radio, but that's not why I came in, so I can't really fault them for that. Would go again if in the area.
(3)Josh S.
Quintessential counter diner occupying a quaint little building in the heart of Hollywood. Short on options we stopped in for a weekend breakfast - the place is pretty tiny, mostly counter seats with a half-dozen small tables, and as a party of 3 we had limited options but fit into a table. (NOTE: if you have 4 in your group, good luck... and anymore than that would fill 1/4 of the space!) The service was super friendly, and the menu has all the classics, which is exactly what we were looking for. Our orders almost ran the breakfast gamut: omelet, overeasy eggs, sausage patty, pancakes, toast and hashbrowns. Now, envision just what a diner breakfast should look and taste like, and that's what you get! We'll be back soon - next time for burgers!
(4)Cassandra M.
Fast and friendly, I'm glad that my husband and I stopped in. The waitress was great and courteous and the cook put pickles on my grilled cheese, yum. 5 stars guys.
(5)Marsha J.
This is a longtime basic diner in our neighborhood where we have gone for diner breakfasts. The last visit showed new owners maybe? The cook was extremely rude to the waitress almost yelling at the poor woman who was saying sorry a hundred times. The place was packed and her English was poor. The cook should be ashamed......
(3)Frank K.
Only driven by here 'bouta Go-zillion times!! So finally had the time to perform a "Drive-bye Fruiting!!". And here was this parking space right out front open.. It was foretold that I was due for a gut bomb, NOW was the time, and THIS was the place!! Nice little place. The kinda place you expect to see "Wimpy" over in the corner with a pile of "Burgs" in front of him and with Catsup (or Ketchup? whats the diff??) stains on his tie. The very nice, seasoned waitress didn't really like it when I told her (in my very best Steve Martin/ Inspector Clueseau "put-on"), "I vood lake two bye Zee HAM-BUuuRrr-GARRRRrrrrreeeee!!" She just kinda stared at me like I was crazy, but the guy behind the grille smirked to a number three chortle. Hey, it's early and it usually takes me until a little past noon to edge out of my "Silly" mode and into a full-blown, non-refundable serious Societal grumpiness (Non Illigitum Carborundum = "Don't let the Bastards wear you down!!"). So whiles me Burgare is cooking, I looks arounds, the nice Lady sees me lookin' round and offers me the morning paper. There's a bunch of older gentlemen salted throughout the place happily chowing down some damn good looking Breakfastses (new word there Webster) and reading their own papers. I barely get through the Sports Section, Giants fading, Dodgers pumping, and Mariners in Ventricular Fibrilation!! Here comes my Burger. Ed Zackery what I wanted and ordered. Same way as when I was a kid, "Mustard ONLY, pickle chips on the SIDE!!" The burger was just like the surroundings, real "Burger" style and flair. I had to blot a bit of grease off the top, but the burger had the proper caramalization, the bun was toasted and after I got done with the mustard squirter it looked like a Picasso "self-portrait" masterpiece... DOWN it went. Can't say I enjoyed the fries as much and it was too damned early to get a Chocolate Shake, but I'll be back next time I'm in the neighborhood. Not a bad spot! The interior kinda gave me the urge to start a "Food Fight" but I swallowed that impulse down, yipped the lady and headed home for a nap.. HEY!!! Its a tough world out there and I need all the rest I can get.. ~Over n' OUT!!~
(3)Eric K.
Back again to one of my favorite neighborhood joints. Happy to see new owner hasn't changed things much. Still the best breakfast/lunch deal in town!
(5)Dyanne G.
I always tell people to try this place for breakfast. They say, breakfast? and I say, yes breakfast. Basic breakfast, good eggs, omelets , hashbrowns, pancakes etc. No fancy salmon benedict, no sprouts. Just basic breakfast the way mom use to make on Sunday mornings. We love to go before or after we hit the farmers market. Then bike all the calories off.
(4)Lee K.
There are two things that immediately sold me on Hollywood Burger bar: 1) Their iced tea is real. And tasty. It doesn't come from a soda fountain concentrate machine, it's not infused with flowers or fruit or exotic spices. It's tea, and it's good tea. 2) The gentleman asked me if I wanted any condiments for my meal. I asked for mustard. He responded with "What KIND of mustard?" and rattled off a list of about half a dozen options. I was in love. The burger was great. They don't seem to be trying to reinvent the wheel here. There is no Thai-Salvadorian fusion burger. They're a burger joint that happens to be really damned good at what they do and content/confident enough to stick with it; I respect that immensely as the restaurant industry continues to swallow up establishments like this in favor of some flavor-of-the-month over-engineered food concocted by a focus group. Hollywood gives you enough options so you can have some variance each time you go, but they're not overwhelming you or the menu with a bunch of unnecessary choices.
(5)Jeff J.
Hollywood Burger Bar leaves some things to be desired, but it's got an old-school charm. - Ambiance (3/5) The restaurant doesn't try to be anything it's not. It's essentially an open kitchen with a big counter that wraps around it. While it seems like nothing has been updated in a few decades, I can tell the owner takes great pride in keeping the place clean. I did think it odd that the place doesn't have its own restroom-- I don't particularly feel like leaving a restaurant to go to the bathroom. - Service (4/5) The same people cooking the food delivered the food. It's no frills service, but the guys do chat you up a little bit. It makes the whole dining experience more homey, and it's a credit to them. - Strawberry Milkshake, $4.50 (4/5) Homemade, great flavor, perfect consistency. It would have been really nice if they had served it in a real cup, not a cheap plastic one. - Bacon Cheeseburger w/ Potato Salad, $7.25, (3/5) The patty tastes great. What a difference it makes when you make your own patties! Bun was toasted nicely. I didn't quite taste too much thousand island dressing... but... maybe that was actually a good thing? But then, it kind of falls down. The secondary ingredients (lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle) are too run of the mill and dilute the goodness of the patty. Maybe some caramelized onions would have been a good substitute? I wish they showed a little more care with the other ingredients. The potato salad is also homemade, though I found the mayonnaise to be a little heavy. - Value (4/5) Frankly speaking, I was surprised that the burger was only $7.25. While finishing the meal, I noted one of the kitchen guys discussing new ownership with a guest. It seems like a family-run operation right now, so it's a little sad to see it changing hands, particularly to someone who's apparently bringing in a cappuccino machine-- not sure how that fits the ambiance of the place, but best of luck to them!
(3)James B.
One of the worst burgers I have had and it took 40 mins to get. Everything about the burger was hard and dried out. If you like onion, this is the spot for you! Two whole slices that dwarfed the burger patty. The server and cook seemed to be unorganized and had their heads in the clouds. I love supporting neighborhood joints but this will be the last time I stop in there.
(1)Chris W.
I ended up taking two hungry boys after a basketball game and they swallowed their burgers whole. I enjoyed mine as well the burgers are really good juicy and made however you want them. The cook is very good at what he does we just had waters and our waitress was there at our table numerous times the place was about half full but she did a decent job. I do have to say one of the forks that came to our table was dirty it seems like from other reviews I read cleanliness might be a problem but outside of the fork the meal was the great the place is lacking seating and a bathroom which is too bad and the parking is the best but they can make a burger and I was more then happy with that. I'd go back again if I was in the area.
(4)Shannon L.
Great service. Great prices. Great burgers fries and shakes. Someone had a waffle that looked and smelled incredible. Everything is made from scratch. How on earth this place doesnt have five star rating is beyond me. Ive seen it and wanted to go for years but never had the chance. Now it will be hard to go anywhere else.
(5)Thomas T.
My daughter works at Millers on Hollywood and finally tried here, sad I waited so long. A great little diner like the ones I grow up with. I haven't gotten past the breakfasts eggs, chicken fried steak, hash browns, or biskets & gravy. Would have given them 5 stars only biggest table is for 3 and we were 4, but then there isn't enough room for a bigger table anyway. So go support a good local place, take cash, and they are open Sundays now.
(4)Sophie M.
We LOVED this breakfast place. It was super friendly, helpful staff and great prices. Thank you
(5)Lauren G.
Great food, great people!
(4)Andrew A.
They have the location, history and vibe, but lack...anything memorable in terms of food. You'd think it was located in mediocracy themed Westside. Old locals love it, "foodies" don't.
(2)Angel S.
Juicy simple burgers. Reliable and hits the spot! Originally a trolley stop, then a beauty shop, a dry cleaner, an ice cream shop and finally, over 60 years ago, the Hollywood burger bar. Old school and friendly staff and strangers. Waffles are special and I have to try them if I can ever pull myself from these burgers... Important note: NO RESTROOMS. NOW THEY TAKE CREDIT CARDS! :-) :-) :-)
(5)Chori V.
Just got a 2.25 cup of mediocre coffee with the smallest breakfast burrito ever for 7.50 feel incredibly ripped off. The burrito wasn't bad but it was just 3 maybe 4 bites....how embarrassing...
(1)Andrew H.
I love me a good burger. The thing is, I wasn't even looking to eat a burger. I wanted to find a place to eat and I was actually thinking Chinese food, if I could find it. I was over in Hollywood heading to Grocery Outlet but I wanted to get something to eat first. I get off the bus up at 42nd and I smell burgers from across the street. Hollywood Burger Bar calling my name. Damn they sucked me in..... It looks like an old school soda shop minus the soda jerk. A half circle of stools around the grill and work area plus a few other tables and one outside. The place is SMALL but they have a decent sized menu including breakfast items. You can get sandwiches and fish items but being the name has burger in it? I went with that. It did take them some time to get over to me, and two others that came in after me had their orders taken before mine... so I actually had to let them know I was ready to place an order. They have a good list of burgers on the menu and two specials. I went with the Hawaiian burger special( with swiss, ham, pineapple and teriyaki sauce), they also had a New Yorker burger special(cheese, grilled onions and mushrooms) and I got a glass of lemonade. I could have opted for a shake but I was thinking the burger and fries were going to fill me up pretty good. And I was right. Big food, fries extra crispy(which I asked for) and an array of hot sauces to choose from. Secret Aardvark and some Tabasco kept me happy. The burger was great! You can't go wrong with a good combination of sweet, tangy and lots of meat. Good place, inexpensive food and friendly service (once they got to me). I'd go back. Enjoy.
(4)Maja R.
I just had breakfast here for the first time two weeks ago. My boyfriend and I now have "our own" Sunday morning breakfast spot. The big bar tender (play on the name wink) behind the counter made the absolute best French toast. Had it both times I was there. Next time I'm going for the waffles I keep hearing about. Con's: Dated and Seating, however its a old school diner, not some massive food chain restaurants, the food is actually hand prepared by people (I hear the burger meat is from a local farmer and never frozen) not just packaged from a distribution center and placed on a plate to look pretty. Good food, good people. End of story.
(4)Eli S.
This place def needs to up their game! If I'd noticed Killer Burger before I'd already sat down I'd have been the wiser. Burger Bar sounds so "craft burger" but it's absolutely the opposite. Diner style and mediocre at best. For such a prime location this place needs a serious upgrade in most ways!
(2)Michelle S.
My partner-in-dine on this foray had wanted to try this place for years. For whatever reason the day we went in there was THE day. Unfortunately, it will be both of our last effort to eat here. Neither of us were very happy. The place is VERY small. My partner-in-dine was in a wheelchair. While we got in, it was only by my figuring out that I had to unlock the second door of the french type doors. We were offered no help. Then, moving around the tiny place while possible took more than a bit of finesse. Neither of us loved what we ordered. A basic cheese burger with onion rings and a Special Burger with fries. I had a chocolate milk shake. Both of our burgers were, I felt, pre-made, frozen patties. The meat was over done and tough. They did not look like a real beef patties. The onion rings were good. Not great. I like them a bit more sweet. Though, I was pleased the onions were wide and thick, and the batter was perfectly crispy. The milk shake was awful. I have rarely not finished one of these. I couldn't make it halfway. The ice cream was of really poor quality. It was almost like eating sandy fluffy mildly chocolaty fake ice cream. It had a terrible mouth feel is the best way to describe it. I suppose for someone working in the area and needing a quick and cheap meal this would be OK.
(2)R W.
This is a charming Portland original. The prices are right and the grub is good. Like the name implies, you eat at a counter/bar, so it's great for solo eating or just one other person, four or five people might be a crowd. I typically get the patty melt. It's always tasty and really hot, five feet from the grill hot. It's cash only.
(4)Melissa P.
Finally, after years of pondering and wondering, I was in the neighborhood to try this joint during its lunch-only business hours. And yep, it is a good burger. Nothing fancy, just good quality ingredients piled onto a paper lined tray and served up at a diner counter. Friendly staff, loyal clientelle that they know well, and reasonable prices. It is worth the stop.
(3)Bob K.
I have had better burgers before but these were pretty good. My wife had a chili dog and she thought it was excellent. But the atmosphere was starts if you like burger joints. The building was very unique too. I think we most enjoyed sitting at the many bar stools and talking with the staff/owners. Its a family run business with a father, his son and the son's wife. The father has got be be in his 80's and all of them were talkative and very fun to talk to. We loved it. We are considering moving to Portland in about a year and this WILL be a regular stop for us.
(4)Timothy B.
enjoyed the "special" burger today. Cheeseburger with fried egg and ham...customized it to my liking with extra onions and pickles with mayo....chips on the side with a house brewed iced tea.... Friendly and efficient service...the price seems a little high for a burger or a hotdog, however it was worth it overall. I'm looking forward to trying the chili dog and one of the milkshakes that the guy next to me ordered.....I was envious....:-)
(4)Ann H.
We stopped by for a lunch while running errands in the neighborhood. I was a little nervous when I walked in, afraid this would be the type of place where I walk out smelling like onions and grease. The service was quick and the cheeseburger hit the spot. Toasted bun, perfectly cooked patty. They have flipped a lot of burgers in their time. Fun to watch the family dynamic behind the counter. Several families with younger kids came in, who enjoyed being able to watch. Seating is limited, but it's not the type of place you hang around for a long time. No lingering grease smell when I left. I will definitely be back.
(4)Flory W.
I was taking care of my aging mom at that time, and she wanted hamburger, and I wanted her to taste her first burger, because they were generous the first time. . . .when I ate my meal once before, (my first visit) so I stopped there on my way to mom's, EXCEPT they forgot my potato salad and mom's fries. I drove 3miles (10 mins.) back and I swear I wasn't going back. If it weren't for that take-out boo-boo, that's minus a star for them! Anyway, I gave them a another chance, when we stopped for breakfast.
(3)Michael P.
1st time visiting today. Place is small but architecturally interesting. The owner, a sweet lady, gave us a little history lesson on the place which made waiting for the food enjoyable. Never had a patty melt before and I didn't regret my decision getting one. Burgers were juicy and very tasty. Service was quick, friendly and very attentive.This is a simple, no-frills burger bar you won't regret stopping in to check out. I took a star off only because it was a cash only place and we had to run to the atm first before going in.
(4)Randy P.
WARNING.... If you are looking for some gourmet burger and fries... go elsewhere. This is NOT Red Robin. If you're wanting a straight up quality burger I have yet to find one in Portland better than the Hollywood Burger Bar. I work just two blocks from here and I look forward to every time. I love their burgers, especially the BACON CHEESEBURGER. Mmmmm. This is a standard greasy spoon type restaurant. No frills... just made to order meals like they did in the 50's. My mouth is just watering with anticipation to pick up my lunch! This is truly a hidden treasure of Portland. And for those few haters of the HBB, let me tell you that I've been going here for many years and yet to have a bad burger. Seriously... overcooked??? I don't think so. Better than Stanich's and better than those gross Yaw's burgers served at the now defunct Rock N Roll cafe across the street. Give this a shot next time in Hollywood and be the judge yourself... just don't expect some 1/2 pound gourmet burger dripping with smoked gouda and BBQ sauce. This ain't that kind of place!
(5)Denise C.
Wish I could give it less then one star! Worst burger ever! It took 40 mins to get our order and the burger was on the grill the entire time. So bad. Save your money and time. Go somewhere edible. Even the fries sucked.
(1)H M.
Good burger, cool place! All of the seating is at the bar, it has a feel to it like it's been there forever.
(4)Chris B.
This is a very interesting place. I live close by and have driven by it for 4yrs. I finally stopped in there last week as I was hungover and dying for a good burger, fries and iced tea. The Hollywood burger bar delivered and I kicked the hangover right in the groin. The burgers are good, real good. Lunch was served on a tray with the fries thrown on and it worked.
(4)Kara P.
This place was great! Speedy service, great milkshake, plenty of bread options. I like it.
(4)Ben P.
In terms of ambiance, the HBB is a cozy, pleasant dive, and it must be noted that, when I visited, the waitress was utterly charming. Seeing as it's a burger bar, I wasted no time, and opted for one of the bar's basics, the "Patty Melt": a normal 1/3 pound beef patty, topped with a healthy portion of grilled onions and swiss, and served on grilled rye. It sounded delicious, and I have to admit that it was, indeed, fairly good. That said, when it came out, I found myself... disappointed. With every bite, I found myself thinking, "I could put together a better version of this burger, and for much cheaper!" If there's one thing you don't want to think when you're eating out for the sake of eating out, it's that.
(2)Shawni L.
eh. I go back and forth on this place. cheap food a little better than fast food quality. they only take cash and close at 4pm so I rarely get to go. my son loves the hot dogs
(3)Orian I.
I love kitsch, and they serve it, in a pile. so, after reading some other reviews, I gotta say shrug. I thought the burger would be grilled, it was griddled, and I gotta say mine was well done but not leathery. the meat itself was juicy and tasty. the bun nice and toasty. all and all a good solid burger. I noticed most of the regulars ordered potato salad, and not the fries. understandably, the fries were kind of meh, not horrible mind you just kind of nothing. The real jewel here was the chili. I dunno what they do with it but it's thick, tasty with maybe molass? sooo good. I will go back mostly cause i love small business with character like that.
(4)Lemonleen C.
Best drive-in, roadside-style burger I've ever had located in a heart of a city. If you like the third-pound pub-style burger with the huge buns, this isn't your place. If, however, your best summer memories involved the family packing up the station wagon and pulling into a drive-in for an aromatic hamburger wrapped in paper, then this is heaven. The burgers are big, but not disproportionately so. And the meat carries the flavor of a seasoned grill. Someone else mentioned that the burger was dry. On the contrary, mine dripped down my fingers. The fries are good, too. Not the thin shoestrings, but thick and crispy.
(5)Daphne O.
Enjoyed many breakfasts here while spending 2 weeks in Portland. Between my husband and I, we tried every breakfast combo on the menu except waffles. Each one was very, very good. Theres nothing fancy about them. Just good 'ol home cooking. Lots of locals dine here and everyone is treated like an old friend. Be advised, this is a small diner. I don't think I saw a table that would seat more than 4 people and really no room to put tables together. Sit at the counter and enjoy the folks!
(4)Joshua M.
Another dry overcooked crunchy leather burger in my search for Portland perfection. It does perhaps offer people watching appeal, as the clientele was definitely an odd mix while we were there. But to be honest local kitsch only goes so far with me. Sure I can appreciate the hole in the walls, and the dives, but this place just doesn't do it for me. Just taking a look at the dust and blatantly obvious cobwebs latched on to some of the hanging decorations on the ceiling make me wonder just exactly how clean is that kitchen? Hmm. The service was alright, although two of the employees were having some sort of disagreement over something, and they weren't making much of an effort to keep it from the customers. Also things to take note of, it's a cash or check (personal checks? really?) establishment, and there is no bathroom inside. Is that even legal? It's rare for me to disagree completely with almost every single review written about a place, but in this particular case I a little baffled about what people love about it.
(2)Courtney D.
Old burger joint still hip It's because of places like these that I don't like most milkshakes in town. You can get the best thick shake in the city here -- the kind that you can't down without a spoon, and it's so good that you end up spooning and gulping at the same time. They also serve some of the best burgers here. Nothing fancy, just good, juicy meat with a variety of creative toppings. You'll feel like you're sitting in an old-fashioned diner, not only because it has the same decor as it did some 30 years ago, but the wait staff is so friendly, as if you've been coming in everyday for years. This is one of the best comfort food spots around. Tip: The chicken patty melt is almost as good as the burgers.
(5)Stephanie E.
I'm a sucker for mom and pop shops. The Hollywood Burger Bar, however, is that x3. Such a cool family run business. The Betty Boop decor is fun to look at while waiting for a much-coveted seat @ the bar. True, their burgers are tasty (they're a burger place after all), but I'm really a sucker for their chili, made only on Saturdays, in a slow cooker. Add a dash of onions and cheese, and I'm in heaven. Saturday is the only time I've gone, as they close @ 4 weekdays. The crowd that gathers there, the homemade food, and getting to watch grandma scold grandpa about not getting a soda to a customer fast enough is something every true Portlander should experience. Cash only (or check, if you're in the neighborhood)
(5)Geoff G.
This place is awesome! Greasy lunch counter spot with basic good burgers. Not sure how you could not like this place. I had to fight back the urge to call the old guy 'Pop.'
(4)Andrea P.
My husband and I were in the neighborhood so decided to check it out. I had a chicken sandwich and it was really good as were the fries. My husband had a bacon cheese burger. He thought it was very good too. No, it's not Red Robin, but, the prices are much better and we enjoyed the atmosphere. The owner was very personable and we enjoyed chatting with him.
(4)Jen S.
I drive by this place every time I go to Trader Joe's, which always seems to be on Sundays. (HBB is closed on Sundays. FYI.) I got it in my head to try them a while ago, and finally, I remembered to go on a Saturday. What a random little place. Seats for maybe 30 people, mostly around the counter. Lots of Betty Boop paraphernalia (and Rosie the Riveter if I recall correctly). Most diners were alone reading books or newspapers, and I was one of them. The staff seemed to know everyone but me who walked into the joint. I liked that a lot. I sat at the counter, and the gentleman who took my order was very nice and didn't bother me while my nose was in my book. I appreciated that they had options for Boca *or* Morningstar veggie burgers (Boca burgers = bleah). The fries were perfectly cooked, and this is one of my (only) gauges for a good burger joint... seeing as how I don't actually eat burgers. It was a little odd that they were washing dishes right in front of me as I ate, but I can forgive that since I often do the same thing at home. Guess it made the experience more homey in some way. Since I don't eat burgers I probably won't be a regular, but a friend raved about their milkshakes and it's just so convenient and inviting so I'm sure I'll go back someday soon... Hopefully on a Saturday before I hit TJ's, so that I don't go food shopping on an empty stomach and end up with Cheesy Poofs and Pirate Booty in my cart. Hate when that happens.
(4)Doug M.
The Hollywood Burger Bar anchors a tiny corner in the midst of Sandy Boulevard traffic. You couldn't call it a hole in the wall because it really is its own little island in a busy intersection. You have to want to get there to get there. Excellent burgers served with your requested fixings on the side. Good sized, well fried and reasonably priced. The whole place is like being inside an igloo with a counter. The kitchen is at the center with the counter surrounding and a few tables left on the perimeter. The walls are covered with Betty Boop memorabilia and pictures of the neighborhood in bygone years. And very friendly owners/service. Even when crowded, they'll greet you with a smile and try to fit you in somewhere.
(4)Brian E.
Great for a diner style burger. Nothing fancy. Just good. Fries were hot and crispy. Best value in Hollywood.
(4)Sara V.
Went in here yesterday for the first time in a year and the decor is much more austere now, no longer Betty Boop themed :( I believe this place is under new ownership. The food is still good though and the new, longer hours are much more accommodating. But I will miss Betty Boop!
(4)john l.
Great Burgers. Everyone in Portland needs to go here at least once cause it's so damn CUTE!!!!
(4)Hank C.
Needed to find lunch spot within walking distance from where I was staying in Portland. Ducked into Burger Bar. Order Burger, Fries and Chocolate shake. Burger bad, fries bad, shake bad...It was unbelievable. Is this Portland? Then I overheard waitress say they now open at 7:30 AM instead of 7:00AM, no business. I instantly knew why. Also, they close at 4pm. Hmmm. Think by end of the year, their hours may be from 11:59AM to 12:05 PM.
(1)Patrick N.
Old School and great burgers and simple menu. This place rocks!!! only crappy part is they close real early.
(5)Jacob G.
I heard this place had the best burgers in Hollywood, and I have to say that they're pretty good. And the place is basically the kitchen and a counter. That's all you need to serve some good diner food.
(4)Emily S.
This is my favorite place to get breakfast in Portland. Never mind that the owners are terribly friendly and I absolutely adore them... but they have killer hash browns. And who the hell doesn't like hash browns?
(5)Chris H.
I recently got a message from the owner of this place. He seemed generally concerned that I had a bad experience. This kind of concern about ones place of business is something I appreciate. I still had a generally unappealing experience here, but the conviction of the owner made me think about giving the place another try. I was also wrong in my review, this place does not use SYSCO to supply their meat apparently they use "Frank's Choice Meats", my mistake.
(3)Anjaneik T.
Nice people here at Hollywood Burger Bar... yummy food also.. great service and food makes me want to come back
(5)Patti F.
We went here for breakfast, based upon the hash brown reviews. This is a tiny little place, so historic that they don't actually have a restroom in the place (you need to leave and go next door ;-) ). The menu isn't very veggie-friendly, but there are a few token items that can be ordered. I just had a basic egg, and hashbrowns breakfast and it was tasty - the portions were good. My only weird: since we sat at the counter, I watched the server washing dishes (apparently it wasn't that busy) by just scrubbing them with a brush (no soap). I REALLY hope I misunderstood, and then were just being prepped for the "real" dishwasher machine (complete with soap).
(3)Harry F.
Ambiance is terrible -- after sitting next to the dirty dishes for 5 minutes, we wished we had walked out before ordering. The food was ok and staff was friendly. Relatively small portions, but cheap. it could be so much better if it felt clean and professional. But it doesn't. Will not be going back until the "under new management" sign goes up. Feeling generous giving this place two stars...
(2)Shawn R.
I love the food here and the staff is really nice. Only drawback: I am fluffy and it makes it hard to sit at the counter - but I still do.
(4)Jens J.
I always assumed from driving by the Hollywood Burger Bar that this was a trendy burger joint, kinda like the one across the street that opened late last year. Awarding five stars might be a little extravagant. The food is four stars, but the cheap prices, unique interior and friendly service makes for five stars on my ledger. I ended up here this past Thursday around noon after being stunned at the discovery that the Green Castle Food Court was now out of business (visions of a pork belly steamed bun from Hot Boxx had been dancing in my head). At HBB, I was greeted by a gentleman that might have seen age eighty come and go a few years back. I could have sat at the snug bar, where there was a little gold placard that stated that one particular stool was reserved for Melanie Mon-Fri 7-8AM. But instead, I opted for a table. The interior has probably never been updated, reflecting a 1920s or 30s style. I loved that the original elaborately carved moldings were still in place. Yes, there were a variety of burgers, but the surprise was that breakfast is served here all day long! I went with the flagship Hollywood Burger, fries and a chocolate shake, billed as super thick on the menu. And they weren't a kiddin'! The shake was so thick that the top of the shake was sticking a couple inches above the cup's rim! The most amazing shake I have ever seen. Quite the buy too, going for only $3.50! You can have your shake made with chocolate ice cream, or made with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce. I much prefer the vanilla ice cream/chocolate sauce method. The burger was $5.50, and yes indeedy do, included fries! An excellent burger with an oh-so-soft bun. On the paper-covered tray, on which the burger was served, they had laid out the tomato, pickle, lettuce and white onions which I added to the burger as I saw fit. Kudos for HBB opting to serve white onions. Man, I love white onions so much better than red onions, which have become ridiculously ubiquitous these days. The fries were appropriately crispy and salty. Hollywood Burger Bar is a gem.
(5)Jasmine P.
Stopped by here thanks to the 4stars on yelp. It's cute on the inside.... counter diner type. Nice ( and patient), smiling women behind the counter when we walked in. I ordered a peppermint hot tea and my friend ordered a cheeseburger, well done to go (cut in half so we could share). My biggest pet peeve is no napkins or silverware on to go bags.... Please don't be lazy or assume your customers have that type of stuff on them lol. So onto the food. Burger: dry and not cut in half.... and nothing in bag for us to cut it with. Fries: How were half the fries ( I kid you not ) cold and soggy & half hot out of the fryer? I guess they figure to go order customers won't notice or will not want to come back for all fresh fries. Yup... I won't come back ever & will continue to highly recommend Killer Burger food is ALWAYS fresh& hot. ... All of it. We threw away half the fries and the dry burger. ... and the $ we spent!
(1)Dan H.
Another on the list of never-ending places that I've been wanting to try that I now can say I have finally tried. You still with me? This is old school Portland at its finest. You can't really get more straight ahead than the Hollywood Burger Bar. Walk in, sit at the counter, stare at the local crowd, order your burger and shake and wait for the goodness to be presented to you. I had the Original Burger ($5.25) with fries and a chocolate Hollywood Triple Thick Shake ($3.50). The burger was good. Nothing amazing, but a good solid burger. The shake was as advertised. Thick. I'm still drinking it. Most of the seating here is around the counter which takes up most of the restaurant. There was, I believe, one table in the back. Maybe two. Service was prompt and friendly. Prices are reasonable and if you like ma and pa type places, you will definitely like the Hollywood Burger Bar. A simple review for a simple joint.
(4)Candice Z.
The hubs and I came here for breakfast a few weeks back... and got there about 20 minutes before they stopped serving breakfast! It was perfect. The food was great, and huge portions for not a ton of money. I got the #1 Breakfast with hashbrowns, eggs, bacon, and pancakes. My husband got the #2 which was country fried steak, hashbrowns, eggs, and pancakes. I barely finished mine and he left about 1/2 his pancakes because it was so much food. Definitely had some food babies going on when we left. This is such a great hole in the wall place, and I could see myself coming back over and over again.
(4)Nicole M.
Such good basic food, the people that work there are SO friendly and customer service oriented, and you can order online which I love! You get a ton of food for your $ I think.
(5)Aaron H.
Fantastic food! One of the best burgers I've had in the area; ordered exactly the way I wanted it, and it was amazing. Took it to go because it was cramped in there however; they offered me water and to sit down while I waited, and gave me a to-go menu for the future. Very friendly staff. :)
(5)Alena C.
I had the Chicken Cordon blue sando with fries. It was yummy, but my guy ordered the reg hamburger and I was jealous. And he wouldn't share. Oh, and it's cheap and kind of old timey. Not the best, but pretty good, and cheap!
(3)HOWIE B.
Cute, vintage building, good, standard burgers. Nice staff. Several burgers to choose from - nothing fancy and they're not amazing by any means. Excellent fries, however and for the price (around $6-9) you really can't do any better. It beats Stanich's by a mile.
(4)Andrew A.
They have the location, history and vibe, but lack...anything memorable in terms of food. You'd think it was located in mediocracy themed Westside. Old locals love it, "foodies" don't.
(2)Angel S.
Juicy simple burgers. Reliable and hits the spot! Originally a trolley stop, then a beauty shop, a dry cleaner, an ice cream shop and finally, over 60 years ago, the Hollywood burger bar. Old school and friendly staff and strangers. Waffles are special and I have to try them if I can ever pull myself from these burgers... Important note: NO RESTROOMS. NOW THEY TAKE CREDIT CARDS! :-) :-) :-)
(5)Chori V.
Just got a 2.25 cup of mediocre coffee with the smallest breakfast burrito ever for 7.50 feel incredibly ripped off. The burrito wasn't bad but it was just 3 maybe 4 bites....how embarrassing...
(1)Andrew H.
I love me a good burger. The thing is, I wasn't even looking to eat a burger. I wanted to find a place to eat and I was actually thinking Chinese food, if I could find it. I was over in Hollywood heading to Grocery Outlet but I wanted to get something to eat first. I get off the bus up at 42nd and I smell burgers from across the street. Hollywood Burger Bar calling my name. Damn they sucked me in..... It looks like an old school soda shop minus the soda jerk. A half circle of stools around the grill and work area plus a few other tables and one outside. The place is SMALL but they have a decent sized menu including breakfast items. You can get sandwiches and fish items but being the name has burger in it? I went with that. It did take them some time to get over to me, and two others that came in after me had their orders taken before mine... so I actually had to let them know I was ready to place an order. They have a good list of burgers on the menu and two specials. I went with the Hawaiian burger special( with swiss, ham, pineapple and teriyaki sauce), they also had a New Yorker burger special(cheese, grilled onions and mushrooms) and I got a glass of lemonade. I could have opted for a shake but I was thinking the burger and fries were going to fill me up pretty good. And I was right. Big food, fries extra crispy(which I asked for) and an array of hot sauces to choose from. Secret Aardvark and some Tabasco kept me happy. The burger was great! You can't go wrong with a good combination of sweet, tangy and lots of meat. Good place, inexpensive food and friendly service (once they got to me). I'd go back. Enjoy.
(4)Maja R.
I just had breakfast here for the first time two weeks ago. My boyfriend and I now have "our own" Sunday morning breakfast spot. The big bar tender (play on the name wink) behind the counter made the absolute best French toast. Had it both times I was there. Next time I'm going for the waffles I keep hearing about. Con's: Dated and Seating, however its a old school diner, not some massive food chain restaurants, the food is actually hand prepared by people (I hear the burger meat is from a local farmer and never frozen) not just packaged from a distribution center and placed on a plate to look pretty. Good food, good people. End of story.
(4)Eli S.
This place def needs to up their game! If I'd noticed Killer Burger before I'd already sat down I'd have been the wiser. Burger Bar sounds so "craft burger" but it's absolutely the opposite. Diner style and mediocre at best. For such a prime location this place needs a serious upgrade in most ways!
(2)Jeanette R.
Stopped in for a breakfast burrito while waiting on a prescription. It was your basic diner food, nothing amazing, but nothing lacking. The atmosphere was definitely un pretentious, and there were a lot of older folks having a good time. The only thing I flat out didn't care for was the terrible pop music on the radio, but that's not why I came in, so I can't really fault them for that. Would go again if in the area.
(3)Lee K.
There are two things that immediately sold me on Hollywood Burger bar: 1) Their iced tea is real. And tasty. It doesn't come from a soda fountain concentrate machine, it's not infused with flowers or fruit or exotic spices. It's tea, and it's good tea. 2) The gentleman asked me if I wanted any condiments for my meal. I asked for mustard. He responded with "What KIND of mustard?" and rattled off a list of about half a dozen options. I was in love. The burger was great. They don't seem to be trying to reinvent the wheel here. There is no Thai-Salvadorian fusion burger. They're a burger joint that happens to be really damned good at what they do and content/confident enough to stick with it; I respect that immensely as the restaurant industry continues to swallow up establishments like this in favor of some flavor-of-the-month over-engineered food concocted by a focus group. Hollywood gives you enough options so you can have some variance each time you go, but they're not overwhelming you or the menu with a bunch of unnecessary choices.
(5)Harry F.
Ambiance is terrible -- after sitting next to the dirty dishes for 5 minutes, we wished we had walked out before ordering. The food was ok and staff was friendly. Relatively small portions, but cheap. it could be so much better if it felt clean and professional. But it doesn't. Will not be going back until the "under new management" sign goes up. Feeling generous giving this place two stars...
(2)Shawn R.
I love the food here and the staff is really nice. Only drawback: I am fluffy and it makes it hard to sit at the counter - but I still do.
(4)Melissa P.
Finally, after years of pondering and wondering, I was in the neighborhood to try this joint during its lunch-only business hours. And yep, it is a good burger. Nothing fancy, just good quality ingredients piled onto a paper lined tray and served up at a diner counter. Friendly staff, loyal clientelle that they know well, and reasonable prices. It is worth the stop.
(3)Jeff J.
Hollywood Burger Bar leaves some things to be desired, but it's got an old-school charm. - Ambiance (3/5) The restaurant doesn't try to be anything it's not. It's essentially an open kitchen with a big counter that wraps around it. While it seems like nothing has been updated in a few decades, I can tell the owner takes great pride in keeping the place clean. I did think it odd that the place doesn't have its own restroom-- I don't particularly feel like leaving a restaurant to go to the bathroom. - Service (4/5) The same people cooking the food delivered the food. It's no frills service, but the guys do chat you up a little bit. It makes the whole dining experience more homey, and it's a credit to them. - Strawberry Milkshake, $4.50 (4/5) Homemade, great flavor, perfect consistency. It would have been really nice if they had served it in a real cup, not a cheap plastic one. - Bacon Cheeseburger w/ Potato Salad, $7.25, (3/5) The patty tastes great. What a difference it makes when you make your own patties! Bun was toasted nicely. I didn't quite taste too much thousand island dressing... but... maybe that was actually a good thing? But then, it kind of falls down. The secondary ingredients (lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle) are too run of the mill and dilute the goodness of the patty. Maybe some caramelized onions would have been a good substitute? I wish they showed a little more care with the other ingredients. The potato salad is also homemade, though I found the mayonnaise to be a little heavy. - Value (4/5) Frankly speaking, I was surprised that the burger was only $7.25. While finishing the meal, I noted one of the kitchen guys discussing new ownership with a guest. It seems like a family-run operation right now, so it's a little sad to see it changing hands, particularly to someone who's apparently bringing in a cappuccino machine-- not sure how that fits the ambiance of the place, but best of luck to them!
(3)James B.
One of the worst burgers I have had and it took 40 mins to get. Everything about the burger was hard and dried out. If you like onion, this is the spot for you! Two whole slices that dwarfed the burger patty. The server and cook seemed to be unorganized and had their heads in the clouds. I love supporting neighborhood joints but this will be the last time I stop in there.
(1)Thomas T.
My daughter works at Millers on Hollywood and finally tried here, sad I waited so long. A great little diner like the ones I grow up with. I haven't gotten past the breakfasts eggs, chicken fried steak, hash browns, or biskets & gravy. Would have given them 5 stars only biggest table is for 3 and we were 4, but then there isn't enough room for a bigger table anyway. So go support a good local place, take cash, and they are open Sundays now.
(4)Sophie M.
We LOVED this breakfast place. It was super friendly, helpful staff and great prices. Thank you
(5)Patti F.
We went here for breakfast, based upon the hash brown reviews. This is a tiny little place, so historic that they don't actually have a restroom in the place (you need to leave and go next door ;-) ). The menu isn't very veggie-friendly, but there are a few token items that can be ordered. I just had a basic egg, and hashbrowns breakfast and it was tasty - the portions were good. My only weird: since we sat at the counter, I watched the server washing dishes (apparently it wasn't that busy) by just scrubbing them with a brush (no soap). I REALLY hope I misunderstood, and then were just being prepped for the "real" dishwasher machine (complete with soap).
(3)Dan H.
Another on the list of never-ending places that I've been wanting to try that I now can say I have finally tried. You still with me? This is old school Portland at its finest. You can't really get more straight ahead than the Hollywood Burger Bar. Walk in, sit at the counter, stare at the local crowd, order your burger and shake and wait for the goodness to be presented to you. I had the Original Burger ($5.25) with fries and a chocolate Hollywood Triple Thick Shake ($3.50). The burger was good. Nothing amazing, but a good solid burger. The shake was as advertised. Thick. I'm still drinking it. Most of the seating here is around the counter which takes up most of the restaurant. There was, I believe, one table in the back. Maybe two. Service was prompt and friendly. Prices are reasonable and if you like ma and pa type places, you will definitely like the Hollywood Burger Bar. A simple review for a simple joint.
(4)Aaron H.
Fantastic food! One of the best burgers I've had in the area; ordered exactly the way I wanted it, and it was amazing. Took it to go because it was cramped in there however; they offered me water and to sit down while I waited, and gave me a to-go menu for the future. Very friendly staff. :)
(5)Alena C.
I had the Chicken Cordon blue sando with fries. It was yummy, but my guy ordered the reg hamburger and I was jealous. And he wouldn't share. Oh, and it's cheap and kind of old timey. Not the best, but pretty good, and cheap!
(3)Anjaneik T.
Nice people here at Hollywood Burger Bar... yummy food also.. great service and food makes me want to come back
(5)R W.
This is a charming Portland original. The prices are right and the grub is good. Like the name implies, you eat at a counter/bar, so it's great for solo eating or just one other person, four or five people might be a crowd. I typically get the patty melt. It's always tasty and really hot, five feet from the grill hot. It's cash only.
(4)Michelle S.
My partner-in-dine on this foray had wanted to try this place for years. For whatever reason the day we went in there was THE day. Unfortunately, it will be both of our last effort to eat here. Neither of us were very happy. The place is VERY small. My partner-in-dine was in a wheelchair. While we got in, it was only by my figuring out that I had to unlock the second door of the french type doors. We were offered no help. Then, moving around the tiny place while possible took more than a bit of finesse. Neither of us loved what we ordered. A basic cheese burger with onion rings and a Special Burger with fries. I had a chocolate milk shake. Both of our burgers were, I felt, pre-made, frozen patties. The meat was over done and tough. They did not look like a real beef patties. The onion rings were good. Not great. I like them a bit more sweet. Though, I was pleased the onions were wide and thick, and the batter was perfectly crispy. The milk shake was awful. I have rarely not finished one of these. I couldn't make it halfway. The ice cream was of really poor quality. It was almost like eating sandy fluffy mildly chocolaty fake ice cream. It had a terrible mouth feel is the best way to describe it. I suppose for someone working in the area and needing a quick and cheap meal this would be OK.
(2)Bob K.
I have had better burgers before but these were pretty good. My wife had a chili dog and she thought it was excellent. But the atmosphere was starts if you like burger joints. The building was very unique too. I think we most enjoyed sitting at the many bar stools and talking with the staff/owners. Its a family run business with a father, his son and the son's wife. The father has got be be in his 80's and all of them were talkative and very fun to talk to. We loved it. We are considering moving to Portland in about a year and this WILL be a regular stop for us.
(4)Timothy B.
enjoyed the "special" burger today. Cheeseburger with fried egg and ham...customized it to my liking with extra onions and pickles with mayo....chips on the side with a house brewed iced tea.... Friendly and efficient service...the price seems a little high for a burger or a hotdog, however it was worth it overall. I'm looking forward to trying the chili dog and one of the milkshakes that the guy next to me ordered.....I was envious....:-)
(4)Dyanne G.
I always tell people to try this place for breakfast. They say, breakfast? and I say, yes breakfast. Basic breakfast, good eggs, omelets , hashbrowns, pancakes etc. No fancy salmon benedict, no sprouts. Just basic breakfast the way mom use to make on Sunday mornings. We love to go before or after we hit the farmers market. Then bike all the calories off.
(4)Ann H.
We stopped by for a lunch while running errands in the neighborhood. I was a little nervous when I walked in, afraid this would be the type of place where I walk out smelling like onions and grease. The service was quick and the cheeseburger hit the spot. Toasted bun, perfectly cooked patty. They have flipped a lot of burgers in their time. Fun to watch the family dynamic behind the counter. Several families with younger kids came in, who enjoyed being able to watch. Seating is limited, but it's not the type of place you hang around for a long time. No lingering grease smell when I left. I will definitely be back.
(4)Courtney D.
Old burger joint still hip It's because of places like these that I don't like most milkshakes in town. You can get the best thick shake in the city here -- the kind that you can't down without a spoon, and it's so good that you end up spooning and gulping at the same time. They also serve some of the best burgers here. Nothing fancy, just good, juicy meat with a variety of creative toppings. You'll feel like you're sitting in an old-fashioned diner, not only because it has the same decor as it did some 30 years ago, but the wait staff is so friendly, as if you've been coming in everyday for years. This is one of the best comfort food spots around. Tip: The chicken patty melt is almost as good as the burgers.
(5)Stephanie E.
I'm a sucker for mom and pop shops. The Hollywood Burger Bar, however, is that x3. Such a cool family run business. The Betty Boop decor is fun to look at while waiting for a much-coveted seat @ the bar. True, their burgers are tasty (they're a burger place after all), but I'm really a sucker for their chili, made only on Saturdays, in a slow cooker. Add a dash of onions and cheese, and I'm in heaven. Saturday is the only time I've gone, as they close @ 4 weekdays. The crowd that gathers there, the homemade food, and getting to watch grandma scold grandpa about not getting a soda to a customer fast enough is something every true Portlander should experience. Cash only (or check, if you're in the neighborhood)
(5)Geoff G.
This place is awesome! Greasy lunch counter spot with basic good burgers. Not sure how you could not like this place. I had to fight back the urge to call the old guy 'Pop.'
(4)Andrea P.
My husband and I were in the neighborhood so decided to check it out. I had a chicken sandwich and it was really good as were the fries. My husband had a bacon cheese burger. He thought it was very good too. No, it's not Red Robin, but, the prices are much better and we enjoyed the atmosphere. The owner was very personable and we enjoyed chatting with him.
(4)Patrick N.
Old School and great burgers and simple menu. This place rocks!!! only crappy part is they close real early.
(5)Jacob G.
I heard this place had the best burgers in Hollywood, and I have to say that they're pretty good. And the place is basically the kitchen and a counter. That's all you need to serve some good diner food.
(4)Emily S.
This is my favorite place to get breakfast in Portland. Never mind that the owners are terribly friendly and I absolutely adore them... but they have killer hash browns. And who the hell doesn't like hash browns?
(5)Jens J.
I always assumed from driving by the Hollywood Burger Bar that this was a trendy burger joint, kinda like the one across the street that opened late last year. Awarding five stars might be a little extravagant. The food is four stars, but the cheap prices, unique interior and friendly service makes for five stars on my ledger. I ended up here this past Thursday around noon after being stunned at the discovery that the Green Castle Food Court was now out of business (visions of a pork belly steamed bun from Hot Boxx had been dancing in my head). At HBB, I was greeted by a gentleman that might have seen age eighty come and go a few years back. I could have sat at the snug bar, where there was a little gold placard that stated that one particular stool was reserved for Melanie Mon-Fri 7-8AM. But instead, I opted for a table. The interior has probably never been updated, reflecting a 1920s or 30s style. I loved that the original elaborately carved moldings were still in place. Yes, there were a variety of burgers, but the surprise was that breakfast is served here all day long! I went with the flagship Hollywood Burger, fries and a chocolate shake, billed as super thick on the menu. And they weren't a kiddin'! The shake was so thick that the top of the shake was sticking a couple inches above the cup's rim! The most amazing shake I have ever seen. Quite the buy too, going for only $3.50! You can have your shake made with chocolate ice cream, or made with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce. I much prefer the vanilla ice cream/chocolate sauce method. The burger was $5.50, and yes indeedy do, included fries! An excellent burger with an oh-so-soft bun. On the paper-covered tray, on which the burger was served, they had laid out the tomato, pickle, lettuce and white onions which I added to the burger as I saw fit. Kudos for HBB opting to serve white onions. Man, I love white onions so much better than red onions, which have become ridiculously ubiquitous these days. The fries were appropriately crispy and salty. Hollywood Burger Bar is a gem.
(5)Jasmine P.
Stopped by here thanks to the 4stars on yelp. It's cute on the inside.... counter diner type. Nice ( and patient), smiling women behind the counter when we walked in. I ordered a peppermint hot tea and my friend ordered a cheeseburger, well done to go (cut in half so we could share). My biggest pet peeve is no napkins or silverware on to go bags.... Please don't be lazy or assume your customers have that type of stuff on them lol. So onto the food. Burger: dry and not cut in half.... and nothing in bag for us to cut it with. Fries: How were half the fries ( I kid you not ) cold and soggy & half hot out of the fryer? I guess they figure to go order customers won't notice or will not want to come back for all fresh fries. Yup... I won't come back ever & will continue to highly recommend Killer Burger food is ALWAYS fresh& hot. ... All of it. We threw away half the fries and the dry burger. ... and the $ we spent!
(1)Cassandra M.
Fast and friendly, I'm glad that my husband and I stopped in. The waitress was great and courteous and the cook put pickles on my grilled cheese, yum. 5 stars guys.
(5)Marsha J.
This is a longtime basic diner in our neighborhood where we have gone for diner breakfasts. The last visit showed new owners maybe? The cook was extremely rude to the waitress almost yelling at the poor woman who was saying sorry a hundred times. The place was packed and her English was poor. The cook should be ashamed......
(3)Josh S.
Quintessential counter diner occupying a quaint little building in the heart of Hollywood. Short on options we stopped in for a weekend breakfast - the place is pretty tiny, mostly counter seats with a half-dozen small tables, and as a party of 3 we had limited options but fit into a table. (NOTE: if you have 4 in your group, good luck... and anymore than that would fill 1/4 of the space!) The service was super friendly, and the menu has all the classics, which is exactly what we were looking for. Our orders almost ran the breakfast gamut: omelet, overeasy eggs, sausage patty, pancakes, toast and hashbrowns. Now, envision just what a diner breakfast should look and taste like, and that's what you get! We'll be back soon - next time for burgers!
(4)Chris W.
I ended up taking two hungry boys after a basketball game and they swallowed their burgers whole. I enjoyed mine as well the burgers are really good juicy and made however you want them. The cook is very good at what he does we just had waters and our waitress was there at our table numerous times the place was about half full but she did a decent job. I do have to say one of the forks that came to our table was dirty it seems like from other reviews I read cleanliness might be a problem but outside of the fork the meal was the great the place is lacking seating and a bathroom which is too bad and the parking is the best but they can make a burger and I was more then happy with that. I'd go back again if I was in the area.
(4)Shannon L.
Great service. Great prices. Great burgers fries and shakes. Someone had a waffle that looked and smelled incredible. Everything is made from scratch. How on earth this place doesnt have five star rating is beyond me. Ive seen it and wanted to go for years but never had the chance. Now it will be hard to go anywhere else.
(5)Frank K.
Only driven by here 'bouta Go-zillion times!! So finally had the time to perform a "Drive-bye Fruiting!!". And here was this parking space right out front open.. It was foretold that I was due for a gut bomb, NOW was the time, and THIS was the place!! Nice little place. The kinda place you expect to see "Wimpy" over in the corner with a pile of "Burgs" in front of him and with Catsup (or Ketchup? whats the diff??) stains on his tie. The very nice, seasoned waitress didn't really like it when I told her (in my very best Steve Martin/ Inspector Clueseau "put-on"), "I vood lake two bye Zee HAM-BUuuRrr-GARRRRrrrrreeeee!!" She just kinda stared at me like I was crazy, but the guy behind the grille smirked to a number three chortle. Hey, it's early and it usually takes me until a little past noon to edge out of my "Silly" mode and into a full-blown, non-refundable serious Societal grumpiness (Non Illigitum Carborundum = "Don't let the Bastards wear you down!!"). So whiles me Burgare is cooking, I looks arounds, the nice Lady sees me lookin' round and offers me the morning paper. There's a bunch of older gentlemen salted throughout the place happily chowing down some damn good looking Breakfastses (new word there Webster) and reading their own papers. I barely get through the Sports Section, Giants fading, Dodgers pumping, and Mariners in Ventricular Fibrilation!! Here comes my Burger. Ed Zackery what I wanted and ordered. Same way as when I was a kid, "Mustard ONLY, pickle chips on the SIDE!!" The burger was just like the surroundings, real "Burger" style and flair. I had to blot a bit of grease off the top, but the burger had the proper caramalization, the bun was toasted and after I got done with the mustard squirter it looked like a Picasso "self-portrait" masterpiece... DOWN it went. Can't say I enjoyed the fries as much and it was too damned early to get a Chocolate Shake, but I'll be back next time I'm in the neighborhood. Not a bad spot! The interior kinda gave me the urge to start a "Food Fight" but I swallowed that impulse down, yipped the lady and headed home for a nap.. HEY!!! Its a tough world out there and I need all the rest I can get.. ~Over n' OUT!!~
(3)Eric K.
Back again to one of my favorite neighborhood joints. Happy to see new owner hasn't changed things much. Still the best breakfast/lunch deal in town!
(5)Candice Z.
The hubs and I came here for breakfast a few weeks back... and got there about 20 minutes before they stopped serving breakfast! It was perfect. The food was great, and huge portions for not a ton of money. I got the #1 Breakfast with hashbrowns, eggs, bacon, and pancakes. My husband got the #2 which was country fried steak, hashbrowns, eggs, and pancakes. I barely finished mine and he left about 1/2 his pancakes because it was so much food. Definitely had some food babies going on when we left. This is such a great hole in the wall place, and I could see myself coming back over and over again.
(4)Nicole M.
Such good basic food, the people that work there are SO friendly and customer service oriented, and you can order online which I love! You get a ton of food for your $ I think.
(5)Chris B.
This is a very interesting place. I live close by and have driven by it for 4yrs. I finally stopped in there last week as I was hungover and dying for a good burger, fries and iced tea. The Hollywood burger bar delivered and I kicked the hangover right in the groin. The burgers are good, real good. Lunch was served on a tray with the fries thrown on and it worked.
(4)Kara P.
This place was great! Speedy service, great milkshake, plenty of bread options. I like it.
(4)Ben P.
In terms of ambiance, the HBB is a cozy, pleasant dive, and it must be noted that, when I visited, the waitress was utterly charming. Seeing as it's a burger bar, I wasted no time, and opted for one of the bar's basics, the "Patty Melt": a normal 1/3 pound beef patty, topped with a healthy portion of grilled onions and swiss, and served on grilled rye. It sounded delicious, and I have to admit that it was, indeed, fairly good. That said, when it came out, I found myself... disappointed. With every bite, I found myself thinking, "I could put together a better version of this burger, and for much cheaper!" If there's one thing you don't want to think when you're eating out for the sake of eating out, it's that.
(2)Flory W.
I was taking care of my aging mom at that time, and she wanted hamburger, and I wanted her to taste her first burger, because they were generous the first time. . . .when I ate my meal once before, (my first visit) so I stopped there on my way to mom's, EXCEPT they forgot my potato salad and mom's fries. I drove 3miles (10 mins.) back and I swear I wasn't going back. If it weren't for that take-out boo-boo, that's minus a star for them! Anyway, I gave them a another chance, when we stopped for breakfast.
(3)Michael P.
1st time visiting today. Place is small but architecturally interesting. The owner, a sweet lady, gave us a little history lesson on the place which made waiting for the food enjoyable. Never had a patty melt before and I didn't regret my decision getting one. Burgers were juicy and very tasty. Service was quick, friendly and very attentive.This is a simple, no-frills burger bar you won't regret stopping in to check out. I took a star off only because it was a cash only place and we had to run to the atm first before going in.
(4)Randy P.
WARNING.... If you are looking for some gourmet burger and fries... go elsewhere. This is NOT Red Robin. If you're wanting a straight up quality burger I have yet to find one in Portland better than the Hollywood Burger Bar. I work just two blocks from here and I look forward to every time. I love their burgers, especially the BACON CHEESEBURGER. Mmmmm. This is a standard greasy spoon type restaurant. No frills... just made to order meals like they did in the 50's. My mouth is just watering with anticipation to pick up my lunch! This is truly a hidden treasure of Portland. And for those few haters of the HBB, let me tell you that I've been going here for many years and yet to have a bad burger. Seriously... overcooked??? I don't think so. Better than Stanich's and better than those gross Yaw's burgers served at the now defunct Rock N Roll cafe across the street. Give this a shot next time in Hollywood and be the judge yourself... just don't expect some 1/2 pound gourmet burger dripping with smoked gouda and BBQ sauce. This ain't that kind of place!
(5)Denise C.
Wish I could give it less then one star! Worst burger ever! It took 40 mins to get our order and the burger was on the grill the entire time. So bad. Save your money and time. Go somewhere edible. Even the fries sucked.
(1)H M.
Good burger, cool place! All of the seating is at the bar, it has a feel to it like it's been there forever.
(4)HOWIE B.
Cute, vintage building, good, standard burgers. Nice staff. Several burgers to choose from - nothing fancy and they're not amazing by any means. Excellent fries, however and for the price (around $6-9) you really can't do any better. It beats Stanich's by a mile.
(4)Shawni L.
eh. I go back and forth on this place. cheap food a little better than fast food quality. they only take cash and close at 4pm so I rarely get to go. my son loves the hot dogs
(3)Orian I.
I love kitsch, and they serve it, in a pile. so, after reading some other reviews, I gotta say shrug. I thought the burger would be grilled, it was griddled, and I gotta say mine was well done but not leathery. the meat itself was juicy and tasty. the bun nice and toasty. all and all a good solid burger. I noticed most of the regulars ordered potato salad, and not the fries. understandably, the fries were kind of meh, not horrible mind you just kind of nothing. The real jewel here was the chili. I dunno what they do with it but it's thick, tasty with maybe molass? sooo good. I will go back mostly cause i love small business with character like that.
(4)Lemonleen C.
Best drive-in, roadside-style burger I've ever had located in a heart of a city. If you like the third-pound pub-style burger with the huge buns, this isn't your place. If, however, your best summer memories involved the family packing up the station wagon and pulling into a drive-in for an aromatic hamburger wrapped in paper, then this is heaven. The burgers are big, but not disproportionately so. And the meat carries the flavor of a seasoned grill. Someone else mentioned that the burger was dry. On the contrary, mine dripped down my fingers. The fries are good, too. Not the thin shoestrings, but thick and crispy.
(5)Daphne O.
Enjoyed many breakfasts here while spending 2 weeks in Portland. Between my husband and I, we tried every breakfast combo on the menu except waffles. Each one was very, very good. Theres nothing fancy about them. Just good 'ol home cooking. Lots of locals dine here and everyone is treated like an old friend. Be advised, this is a small diner. I don't think I saw a table that would seat more than 4 people and really no room to put tables together. Sit at the counter and enjoy the folks!
(4)Joshua M.
Another dry overcooked crunchy leather burger in my search for Portland perfection. It does perhaps offer people watching appeal, as the clientele was definitely an odd mix while we were there. But to be honest local kitsch only goes so far with me. Sure I can appreciate the hole in the walls, and the dives, but this place just doesn't do it for me. Just taking a look at the dust and blatantly obvious cobwebs latched on to some of the hanging decorations on the ceiling make me wonder just exactly how clean is that kitchen? Hmm. The service was alright, although two of the employees were having some sort of disagreement over something, and they weren't making much of an effort to keep it from the customers. Also things to take note of, it's a cash or check (personal checks? really?) establishment, and there is no bathroom inside. Is that even legal? It's rare for me to disagree completely with almost every single review written about a place, but in this particular case I a little baffled about what people love about it.
(2)Chris H.
I recently got a message from the owner of this place. He seemed generally concerned that I had a bad experience. This kind of concern about ones place of business is something I appreciate. I still had a generally unappealing experience here, but the conviction of the owner made me think about giving the place another try. I was also wrong in my review, this place does not use SYSCO to supply their meat apparently they use "Frank's Choice Meats", my mistake.
(3)Jen S.
I drive by this place every time I go to Trader Joe's, which always seems to be on Sundays. (HBB is closed on Sundays. FYI.) I got it in my head to try them a while ago, and finally, I remembered to go on a Saturday. What a random little place. Seats for maybe 30 people, mostly around the counter. Lots of Betty Boop paraphernalia (and Rosie the Riveter if I recall correctly). Most diners were alone reading books or newspapers, and I was one of them. The staff seemed to know everyone but me who walked into the joint. I liked that a lot. I sat at the counter, and the gentleman who took my order was very nice and didn't bother me while my nose was in my book. I appreciated that they had options for Boca *or* Morningstar veggie burgers (Boca burgers = bleah). The fries were perfectly cooked, and this is one of my (only) gauges for a good burger joint... seeing as how I don't actually eat burgers. It was a little odd that they were washing dishes right in front of me as I ate, but I can forgive that since I often do the same thing at home. Guess it made the experience more homey in some way. Since I don't eat burgers I probably won't be a regular, but a friend raved about their milkshakes and it's just so convenient and inviting so I'm sure I'll go back someday soon... Hopefully on a Saturday before I hit TJ's, so that I don't go food shopping on an empty stomach and end up with Cheesy Poofs and Pirate Booty in my cart. Hate when that happens.
(4)Doug M.
The Hollywood Burger Bar anchors a tiny corner in the midst of Sandy Boulevard traffic. You couldn't call it a hole in the wall because it really is its own little island in a busy intersection. You have to want to get there to get there. Excellent burgers served with your requested fixings on the side. Good sized, well fried and reasonably priced. The whole place is like being inside an igloo with a counter. The kitchen is at the center with the counter surrounding and a few tables left on the perimeter. The walls are covered with Betty Boop memorabilia and pictures of the neighborhood in bygone years. And very friendly owners/service. Even when crowded, they'll greet you with a smile and try to fit you in somewhere.
(4)Brian E.
Great for a diner style burger. Nothing fancy. Just good. Fries were hot and crispy. Best value in Hollywood.
(4)Sara V.
Went in here yesterday for the first time in a year and the decor is much more austere now, no longer Betty Boop themed :( I believe this place is under new ownership. The food is still good though and the new, longer hours are much more accommodating. But I will miss Betty Boop!
(4)john l.
Great Burgers. Everyone in Portland needs to go here at least once cause it's so damn CUTE!!!!
(4)Hank C.
Needed to find lunch spot within walking distance from where I was staying in Portland. Ducked into Burger Bar. Order Burger, Fries and Chocolate shake. Burger bad, fries bad, shake bad...It was unbelievable. Is this Portland? Then I overheard waitress say they now open at 7:30 AM instead of 7:00AM, no business. I instantly knew why. Also, they close at 4pm. Hmmm. Think by end of the year, their hours may be from 11:59AM to 12:05 PM.
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