San Diego Spots to Grab Great Sliders

Nov 4th 2010 12:50PM / by Nanette Wiser

We're a burger nation and crazy about downsizing our portions. The perfect solution? Sliders, traditionally a mini-burger topped with onion, pickles and relish-y sauce, have now gone gourmet all across America. Gloria Estefan's Vero Beach restaurant Oriente features sliders such as mini tuna and lamb marsala, and even a thin pounded steak grilled slider topped with seared onion and crispy potato. San Diegans embrace slider nation in their romance with small plates, tapas, grazing and sharing, so here are a few places to do just that.

Analog Bar: Lil' baby burgers on mini-sesame brioche come in twos or threes at Analog. Vegans love the roasted portobello, mozzarella, baby arugula, red onion and pesto mayo. Meat lovers swear by the barbecue pork sliders (homemade barbecue sauce, jalapeno pickle, radical slaw) or the comforting bacon-wrapped meatloaf with spicy ketchup.
801 5th Ave., Downtown; 619-233-1183

Confidential: This hip lounge serves up tasty tapas, mood lighting and lamb or Angus beef sliders.
901 4th Ave., Downtown; 619-696-8888

Madam Cora's The Marble Room Kitchen & Saloon: At the Marble Room, you'll find speakeasy flair, with Angus beef sliders made different by the carmody cheese, bacon braised onion and caper-Dijon mustard.
535 5th Ave., Downtown; 619-702-5595

Ruby's Diner: Check out Ruby's Diner, where you can nibble on three American Kobe beef sliders on grilled King Hawaiian sweet rolls, topped with tangy Ruby sauce and caramelized onions, blackened bleu cheese Cajun minis or hickory bourbon beef sliders with aged cheddar and smoky bacon.
1640 Camino del Rio N., Mission Valley; 619-294-7829 (check official site for other locations)

SlackRZ: Rosemary garlic fries make the day at SlackRZ, especially when combined with these sliders -- chorizo and cheese, buffalo or blue cheese.
4150 Mission Blvd. #113, Pacific Beach; 858-272-7543

Surf Brothers Teriyaki: Shredded sweet chicken sliders come with a scoop of brown or white rice, a surprise appearance on this yummy skewer and faux Hawaiian menu at Surf Brothers.
8590 Rio San Diego Drive #106; 619-298-4242 (check official site for other locations)

West Coast Tavern: We dig West Coast Tavern's NFL Bloody Mary bar (cheese-stuffed olives, cornichones, crispy bacon), the Angus sliders topped with manchego cheese and garlic aioli, the Niman Ranch pulled pork sliders, the eggplant and goat cheese (roasted red pepper, arugula) veggie sliders and the feta cheese lamp minis.
2895 University Ave., North Park; 619-295-1688