Midway Classic Malt Shop

Very warm and welcoming. Very sweet staff with amazing service. Family friendly, great food, variety for options for everyone. Very clean. 10/10 would recommend

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I you like old school malt shops this is a great choice

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

This review is long overdue! Classics Malt Shop is one of those gems that makes you so glad small businesses like this still exist. The atmosphere is nostalgic and welcoming, and you can feel the care the owners put into making it a place people want to return to again and again.
Their malts and milkshakes are incredible—rich, creamy, and made the old-fashioned way. It’s the kind of treat that instantly puts you in a good mood. And the burgers? Perfectly done, hearty, and flavorful, the way a classic burger should taste. Everything is made fresh and with so much attention to detail.
It’s not just the food though—it’s the overall experience. The staff is always friendly, the vibe is cozy, and you truly feel like you’re supporting a small business that loves its community. If you’re craving a classic meal done right, you can’t go wrong here. Highly recommend!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

LONG REVIEW AHEAD!
TLDR: 6/5 stars, perfection in all aspects, details below.

Me and my mom (longtime San Diego residents) were in the area and looking for a good burger. Normally we’d go to the In N Out down the street but I happened to see this place on Google Maps and figured what the hell let’s try it. Man oh MAN I’m so happy we did. The first thing you notice upon walking in is the great decor that really makes you feel like you stepped into an all American 50’s burger joint. The staff greeted us and were very friendly and helpful, especially once we told them it was our first time.

But it was the quality food that really sealed the deal! I ordered a cheeseburger with extra onions, my mom got the patty melt and we got a half & half fries & onion rings to share. It took about 7-10 minutes and it was well worth the wait. First off you could tell immediately that everything was freshly prepared from real quality ingredients. The beef patty was the perfect amount of thickness, well seasoned, cooked to perfection & juicy as hell. The cheese was melty and the bun was soft, warm & lightly toasted. The lettuce was fresh and, like the raw onions, provided a nice refreshing crispness upon taking a bite. The burger itself was well put together and didn’t feel like I had to struggle to keep it from falling apart.

My mom’s patty melt was just as good, in fact the toasted marbled rye bread was such a wonderfully unique and tasty choice that I may just get a patty melt for myself next time! And the fries & onion rings? Don’t get me started! They double fry their French fries which makes them equal parts crispy on the outside and soft on inside. The onion rings were wonderfully crispy as well—we both fell in love right away. It came with plenty of both for the two of us to share and walk away full.

Overall I’m ecstatic about this place. I rarely write reviews but I feel compelled to get the word out on this one. I’m going to copy & paste this review onto yelp after this. Great place to bring your family, friends, date or whoever! I also love that it’s owned and operated by real SD locals. The prices were very fair and I feel great about supporting small local businesses. Anyways, give this place a shot— you won’t be disappointed!

P.S. Next time I’m coming back to try one of those mouthwatering malt shakes or root bear floats!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

We came in for a snack- got some fries (plain & chili), onion rings, and shakes- ABSOLUTELY 100% what we were craving! The fries had that homemade taste and the onion rings were perfect- not very greasy with tender onion & a simple crispy batter.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

First off- the absolute nicest people I’ve ever had in any dining experience. Burger and fries were absolutely incredible. Stopped in bc it had high reviews and would come back in a heartbeat

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

What a spectacular malt shop - delicious food, wonderful staff and a super atmosphere.

I come here when I vacation in San Diego and the service and food are always top notch!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The staff was so friendly and the food was amazing. The restaurant itself has such a good vibe to it.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Can't say enough about the food and service. Will definitely add this one to the rotation of places to eat. Its a must try !!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Best food & service

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Fantastic staff who is super friendly from the moment you walk in. Perfectly seasoned handmade patties cooked to perfection. Crispy onion rings with seasoned fries complimented the thick and juicy cheeseburger. I challenge you to find a better place for a burger in San Diego.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Super friendly staff and very good milkshake!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Food is great and always feel welcomed when arriving.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The staff were amazing, recommendations on point! Friendly anticipated our needs. The portions were huge!! Go with an appetite!! The food is delicious, great little gem!!

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5