The Balboa Brings Its Sought-After Burgers to the South Bay

The Balboa Bar and Grill’s long-awaited Chula Vista outpost is now open for business in the heart of Third Avenue. Dubbed The Balboa South, it’s currently operating from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Sunday and features 12-taps of craft beer and a temporary menu featuring three of The Balboa’s signature burgers and a chicken sandwich; vegan black bean patties are available as meat substitutes for any sandwich. Proprietor Tom Logsdon says the menu will expand to include the full offerings found at the original Fifth Avenue location and a few South Bay-exclusive items.

The opening at the 4,000-square-foot space marks a bit of a homecoming for Logsdon, who is a South Bay resident and native. “Chula Vista is coming into its own — it has its own funk and identity that I am close to and familiar with so I wanted to bring my business down here,” he shared. “We’re now part of Third Avenue’s renaissance.”

Logsdon also shared with Eater that he may build a separate, 21-and-up bar area behind the main dining and taproom to fill some unoccupied floor space inside the property. The proposed bar would feature a greater number of beer taps and a full liquor bar.