Key and Cleaver

New burger joint in City Heights that’s all about supporting the community. Been driving by this place for the last few months as we noticed this cool building had a new owner. Stopped by on a slow Saturday to get some lunch. El Fuego burger and rosemary fries, wow! So delicious. And I’ve had burgers from many places. They go out of their way to source local ingredients. From the patties to the beer and hot sauce. It’s local, it’s fresh, and you can taste the difference. The owners are a really sweet married couple running this place and care about their food and customers. Too top it all off they have an amazing upstairs location for parties or to just come chill. Will 100% be back.

I loved everything about my experience at Key and Cleaver. They’re very close to where I live and I walked past a handful of times wanting to step in. Got the chance recently and I was not disappointed. We ordered their juicy bacon cheeseburger, which came with the most delectable, crunchy and perfectly seasoned fries I’ve ever had. They make their own rosemary salt and sprinkle it all over the fries and the flavor is *chefs kiss*! The owners were so warm and fun to talk to. They were very enthusiastic when we asked for recommendations. I’m glad I live so close to this wonderful little restaurant!! I’ll be a frequent patron ❤️

Best burger in San Diego. Service was excellent, couldn’t have asked for better. Ambiance was great they have a whole vibe that I love. They also have an upstairs outdoor area that’s great to hangout and enjoy the evening. Highly recommend you check it out!

Heads up, parking in the area is super rough and you might need to walk a little further away from the bar to get picked up by rideshare, but it’s worth a stop!! I promise you, it’s the best place for drinks and a quick bite. There’s plenty of seating, tv screens to watch the latest game, and the staff are amazing!

In terms of food, the burgers were delicious - perfectly cooked and juicy, but the carb lover in me has to admit the homemade fries outshined them. Perfectly crisp - it felt like each fry was individually seasoned. Definitely get the chipotle, ranch, and the garlic aioli sauces on the side as all are made in-house and goes soooo well with the fries!!

Best for last, the drinks did not disappoint!! The Spicy Margarita did not hesitate to kick us in the throat after a few sips and it definitely helped cut down the richness of the burger and fries. My absolute favorite drink is the Basic Beatrice (who by the way is anything BUT basic). I’ll definitely be returning again to order a few more of this delicious elixir.

An instant favorite!
My experience at Key and Cleaver could not have been better. Incredible burgers and ice cold beer. It’s not an exaggeration when I say the burgers were one of the best I had, and the rosemary fries were perfectly seasoned and crisp.
The employees were great people and the atmosphere was just as welcoming.

I could not have asked for a better burger spot and I expect the best from this establishment.

It should be stated again, the food was phenomenal. I’m recommending this place to all my friends.