Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
oChef » Carl’s Jr – San Diego
Carl's Jr - San Diego
Photo from Carl’s Jr
Carl's Jr at a glance
San Diego Mid-City
- 🍔 Fast-Food-Restaurant
$$
Price per Person $11–$20
mentioned by 51 of the guests
#744 out of 755 places to eat in San Diego
#18 Fast-Food-Restaurant out of 18 in San Diego
Poor
3.3 out of 10
Food
Service
Ambience
Value
260
Reviews
21.5%
Satisfaction
Often praised
- Delicious burgers
- Tasty chicken
- Friendly staff
Frequently criticized
- Poor service
- High prices
- Unpleasant atmosphere
The restaurant, a Fast Food Restaurant in San Diego’s Mid-City neighborhood, is your go-to spot for a quick bite. Whether you’re craving a satisfying meal on the go or need a convenient stop, Carl’s Jr. offers a casual atmosphere perfect for any time of day.
You’ll find it easy to grab what you need with various service options available.
Overview: Introducting Carl's Jr
Carl’s Jr presents a mixed experience. While many patrons appreciate the quality of their burger offerings and some find the staff quite friendly, there are notable concerns.
The restaurant’s cleanliness is occasionally praised, contributing to a pleasant visit for some. However, the overall impression is often marred by significant issues.
Many customers report disappointing customer service and express frustration over the perceived price for what they receive. The general atmosphere also frequently falls short, leading to a less than ideal dining environment.
Poor
3.3
out of 10
260
Reviews
21.5%
Satisfaction
196
negative
8
neutral
56
positive
Overall, Carl’s Jr receives a rather low Restaurant Score of 3.3, indicating a generally poor experience for many. This is further reflected in a Customer Satisfaction rate of just 21.5%, suggesting that a significant majority of diners leave feeling unsatisfied.
These figures are drawn from 260 customer observations, with 56 positive remarks against a much larger 196 negative ones. Looking closer at specific areas, Food (4.7) stands out as the strongest point, often described as average, with many enjoying the offerings.
However, Ambience (3.7), Service (2.4), and especially Value (2.1) all fall into the poor category. The frequent complaints about slow or rude service and the feeling of overpaying for items significantly drag down the overall perception.
What people like
- Delicious burgers
- Tasty chicken sandwiches
- Occasional friendly staff
What people don't like
- Poor customer service
- High prices, poor value
- Unpleasant atmosphere
Given the Recommendation Score of 3.4, Carl’s Jr might be a place to consider if you’re specifically craving their well-regarded burgers or chicken sandwiches and are prepared for potential trade-offs. It’s not a strong endorsement for a consistently positive dining experience.
However, if consistent service, good value, and a pleasant environment are high on your list, you might find this location disappointing. It’s best approached with tempered expectations, perhaps for a quick, specific craving rather than a full dining outing.
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Verdict: Our expert take on Carl's Jr
Food (4.7 out of 10)
mentioned by 64% of the guests
When it comes to the food, opinions are quite a mixed bag. While the overall score sits at an average 4.7, customer satisfaction is a bit low at 38.2%. However, based on 34 positive remarks out of 89 total, many customers rave about the delicious burgers, often served hot and fresh.
Specific favorites include their charbroiled burgers, plant-based Beyond Burgers, and the much-loved crisscut fries, with many praising the overall quality. On the flip side, with 51 negative comments, there are significant concerns. Common complaints include food being cold or lukewarm, quality issues like stale chicken or soggy bread, and frequent errors with orders, such as wrong fries or missing items.
Some even found the taste disappointing, citing issues with fish sandwiches, chicken wraps, or poorly applied sauces.
Food
89
Reviews
38%
Satisfaction
51
negative
4
neutral
34
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Burgers are delicious
- Food served hot
- Crisscut fries loved
What people don't like
- Food often cold
- Quality can disappoint
- Orders often wrong
Often praised
- foodLoved my food, very well put together
- burgerI really love the burger at this place. However, the service was the worst.
- FoodFood received a high rating of 4
- Bacon Swiss Hand battered ChickenThe Bacon Swiss Hand battered Chicken is the best I've ever had
- California Classic double cheeseburgersimply THE BEST fast-food burger i have ever had!
- French friesThe French fries were good
- Guacamole burger comboBecause the new burger was good.
- Santa Fe chicken sandwichmake the best Santa Fe chicken sandwich I have eaten 100/10
- burgersthe burgers are all very good
- char broiled chickenThe char broiled chicken was very tasty
Frequently criticized
- foodI do not recommend this restaurant in the mornings; the workers were very lazy and the food was very cold. In the evenings, they take a little while, but the food is very good.
- chickenwhat little chicken in the them was Very Dry and Chewy
- friesThe manager eventually provided my correct change and, after some back-and-forth, confirmed I hadn't received my fries. She then gave me my large fries, but with barely any sauce, requiring another trip to the drive-thru. This restaurant appears to be understaffed, and the service isn't very good.
- quesoapparently $2.49 worth of queso
- 3 piece chicken tender3 piece chicken tender, it was more like chicken nuggets
- baconMy experience with the new sourdough star was disappointing. The bread was soggy, the meat was dry, and the bacon was limp and rubbery. However, the French fries were good.
- breadThe bread was soggy
- breadingmostly hard breading
- burgershe forgot to put in the bag
- burgerscan’t even explain their burgers
If youre craving a good burger and dont mind a bit of a gamble, you might find a hot and tasty meal here. However, be prepared for potential inconsistencies in food quality and order accuracy, especially if you're particular about your sides or sauces.
Service (2.4 out of 10)
mentioned by 84% of the guests
While the overall service experience here certainly has room for improvement, there are some positive notes! With 17 positive remarks out of 141 total comments, customers occasionally highlighted awesome service from friendly staff like Elizabeth and Ethan. Some also appreciated the convenience of the self-order station and a helpful lady who assisted them.
However, the service score of 2.4, indicating a poor performance, and a low customer satisfaction of just 12.1%, clearly show significant issues. A staggering 121 negative comments frequently cited rude staff, long wait times, and wrong order issues. Poor management and a general lack of service were also common complaints, suggesting much room for improvement.
Service
141
Reviews
12%
Satisfaction
121
negative
3
neutral
17
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Friendly staff
- Helpful individuals
- Self-order option
What people don't like
- Rude staff
- Long wait times
- Order errors
Often praised
- ServiceService was also rated well at 4
- staffthe staff was very friendly
- ElizabethHer name is Elizabeth and she was able to help me.
- Ethanthe only person providing good customer service is Ethan
- awesome serviceThank you for the awesome service
- cooktell the cook how great it was. Made her smile.
- customer serviceCustomer service was great in restaurant and late night thru drive thru great customer service.
- ladyThe lady was helpful helping us find the restroom
- order inside to goif you want more fries order inside to go
- robotshave robots doing these fast food order, they probably would come out better, faster
Frequently criticized
- customer serviceMy experience at this restaurant was marked by terrible customer service. We waited more than 35 minutes to receive our order.
- serviceWorst fast food service in the world
- staffIncredibly rude staff that does not know how to say thank you or your welcome.
- waiting timeHowever, the service was the worst. I waited over 20 minutes to be attended to, and the lady didn't even come to the counter to ask what I wanted. Honestly, it was the worst service, right now.
- managerI was then told by the manager that they do not give discounts on combo meals.
- customersIt's YOUR STORE (FRANCHISE) #1100613, so you should take care of your CUSTOMERS. This AREA has absolutely NO CLUE how to DEAL with CUSTOMERS and how to appreciate them. APPRECIATION goes a LONG WAY.
- ordercheque my order and le dije que me había falta ranch
- workersI do not recommend this restaurant in the mornings; the workers were very lazy and the food was very cold. In the evenings, they take a little while, but the food is very good.
- cashierVery rude cashier
- drive-thruspent 50$ in the drive thru, got no receipt, no straws, and short a sandwich
Given the poor service score of 2.4 and low customer satisfaction, be prepared for potential issues like long waits or incorrect orders. While some staff are praised, the overall sentiment suggests service is a major gamble here, so manage your expectations.
Ambience (3.7 out of 10)
mentioned by 25% of the guests
When it comes to the vibe, there are a few bright spots, with some guests enjoying the chance to sit out on grass and appreciating the overall cleanliness of the restaurant. Out of 19 total observations, 5 were positive, noting it as a good place with a decent atmosphere. However, the overall sentiment for ambience is quite low, with a score of just 3.7, indicating a poor experience for many.
Unfortunately, the ambience seems to be a significant letdown for most, reflected in a poor customer satisfaction of 26.3%. Many found the location sketchy, the dining room small, and the place dirty, with tables and seats often unkempt. There were even mentions of a hostile environment and issues with restrooms, suggesting a need for considerable improvement in the overall dining atmosphere.
Ambience
19
Reviews
26%
Satisfaction
13
negative
1
neutral
5
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Sat out on grass
- Restaurant cleanliness
What people don't like
- Sketchy location
- Dirty tables/seats
- Hostile environment
Often praised
- AtmosphereAtmosphere:5
- atmosphereAtmosphere:4
- good placeIt's a good place
- restaurant cleanlinessthe restaurant is clean
- sat out on grassSat out on some grass
Frequently criticized
- AtmosphereAtmosphere was a significant letdown, scoring only 1
- atmosphereThis place just felt empty 🫙 maybe in need of breath 🫁 of fresh air
- dine in areawhy the dine in area is not closed
- dining roomdining room at this location is very small
- doorsthey locked the door already at 8:33 Pm
- hostile environmentain't no way anyone should be working in an hostile environment
- locationSketchy location
- location in San Diego CountyThis is the only location in San Diego County that does this.
- napkinsNo napkins by the soda machine
- placethe place was pretty dirty
If a pleasant atmosphere is high on your priority list, this might not be the spot for you, as many found the ambience lacking. While there are a few positive notes, the general consensus points to a less-than-ideal environment, so manage your expectations accordingly.
Value (2.1 out of 10)
mentioned by 12% of the guests
When it comes to value, it seems theres not much positive buzz. Based on 11 customer observations, no one found anything particularly positive to highlight regarding the pricing or deals available here. However, the feedback on value is overwhelmingly negative, with a poor score of 2.1 and customer satisfaction at a dismal 0%.
Many felt the price was too expensive, noting issues like the lack of a military discount or discounts on combo meals. There were also complaints about being told they were out of value items and unexpected charges, such as a charge per side. '
Value
11
Reviews
0%
Satisfaction
11
negative
0
neutral
0
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
What people don't like
- Expensive pricing
- No military discount
- No value items
Often praised
No positive aspects so far.
Frequently criticized
- priceEven at 2 for 6 bucks, they're overcharging you
- EBTthey took ebt, but they wouldn't accept mine
- charge per sidethere would be a $.50 charge per side
- combos are already discountedsince the combos are already discounted I’m getting a better deal.
- discounts on combo mealsthey do not give discounts on combo meals.
- expensiveNot worth how expensive it is
- gas spentgas spent
- military discountAnd did not get the military discount.
- money and timeBig waste of money and time
- value itemsMy experience at the restaurant was disappointing. At 5: 10 PM on August 7th, I was told at the drive-thru that they were "out of value items. " This was unexpected, and since their menu screen was cracked, I couldn't explore other options.
If youre looking for great value or expecting discounts, this might not be the place for you. Be prepared for potentially higher prices and a lack of budget-friendly options, as many customers felt it was a waste of money and time. '
How are the prices at Carl's Jr?
On average, you’ll spend around $20 per person – from 51 guests. That puts the restaurant in the $11–$20 category. For a Fast Food Restaurant, that’s mid-range, maybe slightly above.
Looking at what people usually spend, most prices cluster right around this $11–$20 average, showing a consistent mid-range experience, though you can find a few cheaper bites and some slightly pricier options too.
Here’s a quick look at what guests spend per person, based on the latest 51 reviews.
See how this restaurant’s value stacks up against similar spots in San Diego.
For a Fast Food Restaurant, we think the pricing feels fair. Its a good spot if youre looking for a reliable meal that wont break the bank, but isnt the absolute cheapest either.
Customer Reviews: what people think about Carl's Jr
Price per Person
- $41–$50
Service Intent
- Quick Meal
Visit Type
- Takeout
Meal Type
- Lunch
2
Third Time's the Charm? Not at Carl's Jr.
This was my third visit to this Carl's Jr. location, and unfortunately, my order was wrong again. I ordered a combo with large fries, but they forgot to include my fries. It seems like the employees here are consistently not paying attention, as they always mess up orders.
I hope they can do better.
- order2
- fries1
- employees2
Service Intent
- Quick Meal
Visit Type
- Takeout
2
Burger Order Error, Poor Service Recovery
My experience at the restaurant was marred by a significant service oversight. Lorely forgot to include my burger in the bag, requiring an additional 5-mile round trip. Given the wasted time, gas, and the negative mood this created, I expected some form of compensation, like a complimentary soda.
Despite this issue, I was told to 'Keep up the great work. '
- burger2
- service1
- time wasted1
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Service Intent
- Food Exploration
Group Size
- Solo
Visit Type
- Dine-in
10
Best Carl's Jr. in San Diego!
My experience at this Carl's Jr. in San Diego was outstanding. I found it to be the best Carl's Jr. I've visited, with everything I ordered being 10/10. Specifically, the Santa Fe chicken sandwich was exceptional, earning a personal rating of 100/10.
The food quality, service, and atmosphere were all top-notch.
- food10
- Santa Fe chicken sandwich10
- Service10
Price per Person
- $31–$40
Service Intent
- Quick Meal
Group Type
- Couple
Group Size
- Couple
Visit Type
- Dine-in
1
Terrible Experience: Bad Service and Sickening Food
I would give zero stars if possible. My experience at this Carl's Jr. was the worst. The cashier with a yellow ribbon in her hair had a terrible attitude.
After the bathroom code wasn't working, she gave my partner a really bad attitude. When he said thank you, she walked off, being disrespectful and not acknowledging him. To top it all off, the food made our stomachs hurt and feel sick.
- cashier attitude1
- disrespectful1
- food1
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Service Intent
- Quick Meal
Visit Type
- Takeout
Meal Type
- Dinner
2
Disappointing Queso and Missing Sauce
My experience at this restaurant was quite disappointing. I found the portion size of the queso to be extremely small, especially considering its price. For $2.
49, I received what felt like a minuscule amount, which was significantly less value than a larger, cheaper can of queso from the grocery store next door. Unfortunately, the queso wasn't good anyway, so it wasn't a major loss. Adding to the disappointment, my mobile order for chicken tenders was incomplete; they failed to include the honey mustard sauce, even though it was clearly visible on the order screen behind the counter.
This resulted in a very sauceless meal.
- queso2
- honey mustard1
- sauceless meal1
What Carl's Jr offers
Crowd
- Family-friendly
- Groups
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
Children
- Kids' menu
- Good for kids
- High chairs
Popular for
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Breakfast
- Solo dining
Amenities
- Restroom
Offerings
- Quick bite
- Late-night food
- Coffee
Dining options
- Breakfast
- Counter service
- Dessert
- Dinner
- Seating
- Lunch
Service Options
- Drive-through
- Dine-in
- Takeout
- Delivery
Parking
- Free street parking
- Free parking lot
- Usually plenty of parking
Atmosphere
- Casual
FAQs
What dining and service options are available at Carl's Jr. in San Diego?
At Carl’s Jr. in San Diego, you can enjoy various dining options including breakfast, lunch, and dinner with comfortable seating. For your convenience, the restaurant offers drive-through, dine-in, takeout, and delivery services, ensuring you can get your quick bite however you prefer.
Is Carl's Jr. in Mid-City a good choice for families with children?
Yes, Carl’s Jr. in Mid-City is considered good for kids, offering a dedicated kids’ menu to cater to younger appetites. High chairs are also available, making it a family-friendly spot for a casual meal.
What is the overall customer sentiment for Carl's Jr?
Carl’s Jr has an overall **Restaurant Score** of **3.3** and a **Customer Satisfaction** of **21.5%**, indicating a generally poor experience. While **Food** (4.7) is its strongest area, **Ambience** (3.7), **Service** (2.4), and **Value** (2.1) all score poorly.
What do customers enjoy most about the food at Carl's Jr?
Many customers frequently praise the **burgers**, with some calling them “very good” or “the best.” Specific items like the Bacon Swiss Hand Battered Chicken and Santa Fe chicken sandwich also receive positive remarks.
What are the main complaints regarding Carl's Jr?
Common complaints revolve around poor **customer service**, including rude staff and long waiting times. Customers also frequently express dissatisfaction with the perceived **value** and the general **atmosphere**, often describing it as dirty or unpleasant.