San Diego Reader

• Restaurant | Burgers | Mission Valley

Bunz

• 475 Hotel Circle South, San Diego, CA 92108 | Directions
• 619-298-6515 | Website

The Days Hotel (not Days Inn!) may not the be most exclusive location in town, but Bunz is a credible effort at putting a legit burger shop in an unexpected place like that. In short, chef/owner Jeff Grossman of Terra American Bistro is the driving force behind the Hotel Circle hamburger joint.

The interior of Bunz belies its history. Something about the layout of the dining area screams "Dennys!" Regardless, the current project with the space has made good use of the sunny patio and decorated the inside in a way that brings it solidly into the 21st century.

The menu is pretty much limited to burgers, fries, dogs, salads, ice cream, and shakes. Simplicity like that can be lovely, although there are plenty of variations on the available items. Burgers are the main focus, with special builds like the "three li'l pigs" that has bacon, ham, and pulled pork on top for $9.95. An "all American classic" burger overflowed its whole wheat bun and came with an excellent blend of sauces, seasonings, and toppings. The sandwich has been composed very nicely, with no one aspect overpowering the others, and the meat was of very high quality and rich in flavor.

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