Is there parking at Draft South Mission?

Yes—free parking right outside their doors, which is a huge win if you're hitting the spot after the beach or during peak boardwalk hours. Street parking in Mission Beach can be a nightmare, so this is genuinely one of the place's best perks.

Do I need a reservation, or can I just walk in?

They take reservations, which is smart to use on weekends or during busy beach season—the place is lively and can pack up fast. Walk-ins are welcome on slower weeknights, but expect a wait if you roll up during prime dinner hours.

Start with the burgers—people rave about them, especially the blue cheese burger with crispy, well-seasoned fries and thick bacon. The wings, cheesesteak, and sandwiches also hold their own. Heads up: portions run small for the $20-ish price tag, so come hungry or order extra sides.

Is this place good for kids and dogs?

Absolutely to both. It's a neighborhood staple that welcomes families and has a patio facing the beach, which makes it a natural post-beach stop. Dogs are cool on the patio, and kids get the casual, no-fuss vibe plus an ocean view to keep them entertained.

Do they have vegetarian options?

Yes—they offer vegetarian options and fresh salads, so you won't be stuck with just burger scraps. The salads get solid marks for being fresh and well-presented.

What's the atmosphere like, and when's the best time to go?

It's a lively, casual sports bar with serious boardwalk and beach views from the patio—great for groups or a laid-back weeknight out. Go during off-peak hours (early lunch, early dinner on weekdays) to avoid crowds and get faster service; the weekend vibe is fun but busier. Winter holidays bring over-the-top Christmas decorations if you're into that.

Are there any downsides I should know about?

Service can be hit-or-miss—some visitors praise it as quick and attentive, while others report slow table clearing and billing errors. A few reviews mention flies being an issue. The burger patties run smaller than expected, so manage your portion expectations going in.

Draft South Mission — Restaurants in Mission Beach, San Die…

“Draft South Mission stakes out the boardwalk corner where burgers run thick-pattied and the patio faces more skaters than cars.”

Most Mission Beach spots either chase sunset angles from rooftops or shrink their format to sliders and small plates. Draft holds the middle ground: full-size burgers, American bar-grill staples, and a front-row seat to the boardwalk parade without the rooftop markup or the architectural gimmicks. The patio reads closer to Venice Beach people-watching than fine-dining theater — kids, dogs, post-surf traffic cycling through while cyclists and rollerbladers pass five feet from your table.

The burgers arrive proper-sized, not slider-compressed, with thick-cut bacon that actually crisps and steak fries that hold seasoning better than standard boardwalk fare. The blue cheese burger runs a smaller patty than the bun suggests, but the toppings carry enough weight that it doesn't read skimpy. Portions tilt modest for the $20 range — this isn't the spot where you're banking leftovers — but the quality holds steadier than most beachfront operations where proximity to sand becomes an excuse for mediocrity.

The cheesesteaks and wings pull reliable weeknight-casual orders, nothing that rewrites the playbook but executed clean enough that regulars keep them in rotation. Vegetarian options exist beyond token salads, and the kitchen handles breakfast through dinner without obvious drop-offs in effort. Service pacing swings inconsistent — some shifts move quick, others forget the urgency that comes with flies and heat — but the trade-off for free parking steps from the door and direct boardwalk access softens most operational rough edges.

Christmas season brings decorations aggressive enough to warrant the drive alone. Otherwise, this works as the go-to when the group includes kids, dogs, or anyone who wants a burger with a view but doesn't need the rooftop ceremony or the slider precision that neighboring spots engineer into their core offer.