mmm-yoso is on vacation. The part usually played by Kirk will be played by Cathy in the interim.
Its been there since 1973. No advertising. Word of mouth. You probably have seen it…
Click onto the picture…you are on Broadway in Lemon Grove, heading east, toward Sweetwater Springs Road. They have *finally* finished all that construction…there…sort of to the left, the red sign…Charley's Famous Hamburgers.
It isn't a sit down restaurant, although there are picnic tables in the back and out front. Most people seem to drive though. They all know to order, drive up and shut off the engine. You have to wait for the food to be cooked. 
This is it- you drive through on one side of this small building, or walk up to the front and order. All the cooking goes on inside there.
The menu, as seen via the Drive Through.
You will notice bacon on here, a lot.
I will admit to not bothering to having bacon on most items at restaurants, because I just can't taste it…its usually thin and fairly flavorless. Not here….The bacon is always thick, always not greasy and wonderfully flavored. This, combined with the fact that not much food is frozen, makes Charley's one place I will continue to patronize.
Lets take breakfast, for example. This is the breakfast croissant ($ 3.39) egg, bacon, ham and cheese on a fresh, fluffy croissant. {The extra charge to make a breakfast a combo is worth it if you like OJ-you get a large prepacked container along with a hash brown patty}
There is the famous Kabob-seasoned ground beef patty grilled and in a pita with lettuce, radishes, green pepper, onions and mayo.
…and bacon, of course…
This one is the single kabob with bacon ($4.49)
This one is the double kabob with bacon ($5.49). I really like the idea of radishes and green pepper on a hot sandwich. It's a wonderful flavor combination.
Then of course there is the famous hamburger. 
This is a the double cheeseburger ($3.29) The hamburger meat is more coarse ground than I have had, more flavorful and definitely not frozen.
There are of course, sides to order. 
This is the small Chili Cheese Fries ($2.49) and the onion rings ($1.99)
The chili here is unique and has a nice spice to it. They use those spicy chili beans and not much ground beef. (The cheese melted into the chili before I got a good photograph)..and the onion rings are made of whole real onions, in a cornmeal batter…nice crunch! The plain fries, I am not overly thrilled about, but they have good potato flavor.
OOOH- Look behind the onion rings. That is the plain old, simple BLT ($3.69)…SIX (6) yes, six slices of bacon on that seeded burger bun, with lettuce, tomatoes and mayo…the *absolute* best BLT …EVER.
The part of the menu you may have missed and no photograph could do it justice are the milkshakes…Oh, you *have* to try them. Fresh made to order…my favorite is the banana, made with a real banana, of course… that peanut butter shake…salty and sweet…..absolutely wonderful shakes….the root beer float…just get that as a treat one evening. Its wonderful. The one I haven't tried yet is the apple turnover shake. But, since there are apple turnovers on the menu…well, I can imagine how the shake is made and pretty much what it tastes like…that can be for next time.
So, the next time you are driving, please don't just pass by. Stop. It *will* be the best food you have had in a long time.
Charley's Famous Burgers, Kabobs and Shakes,
8213 Broadway, Lemon Grove 91945 (619)460-2690
Open 7:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m., until 10 p.m. on Friday
This sounds a LOT like the Beef n Bun over on Fletcher Parkway – especially the part about the shakes – they do a really good Peanut Butter one too. Since I live about halfway in between these two places, I guess I better try them both! ๐
Ah, Two different places, Alice. The kabob for one, bacon second and having the banana shake rounding it out makes Charley’s better in my book. The hamburger meat at Charley’s cannot compare to BNB- totally different flavor and texture. It is called Charley’s Famous Hamburgers for a reason….I was going to do a post on Beef n Bun, but Kirk is only on vacation for so long…I will say you cannot beat the zucchini sticks at BNB, though.
Hi Cathy, how are you doing? ๐
I would love to taste that Kabob (btw, what does kabob mean?) …I think I’ll also try radish slices on my burgers next time I make ’em.
Hi Thess- I am still having fun sharing my food likes with everyone. Kabobs are almost universally described as ground beef marinated overnight in Mediterranean spices. I know one of the spices is cumin and that garlic is NOT one of the spices. It isn’t peppery, either. The spices are similar to those used in gyros and souvlaki. The beef is rolled thin and flat into oblong patties. I have seen kabobs stored/refrigerated on skewers. I will work on the spice mix and see if I can be of more help. I love radishes; grow some in my garden every year, and they do go well with this flavor combination.
oh my gad charleys famous hamburger is the best
charleys famous hamburger is the best fast food i ever eat in my life ” i love it ” it is so soso good i love to go there all the time .
you should try a mini-breakfast special . you get 4 slices of thick tasty bacon with an egg , cheese , mayo , on a sesame seed bun . but to make it special you must add lettuce , tomoato , and a little mustard . it is a very tasty treat .
you should try the number “1” combo “triple bacon cheeseburger” it comes with 3 patties sfresh meat and 4 slices of bacon and cheese with lettuce , tomato , onions and secret sauce . i love it
Hi, richard, joy and verycute-yes, Charley’s has great food and I have tried the combos there also: great deals. The fries are not that great to me, though. The mini breakfast is good too. I didn’t think of adding lettuce for breakfast, but will try it. I do like the breakfast pita best. Since all of you are writing from the same IP address and know each other, I bet I’ve met you at Charley’s sometime…
charleys mmmmm it is the best fast food I ever had. It tast just like IN N out. you should try it. mmmm I wish there open now i would go 11:53pm. TOO BAD