
We asked our community what’s the best meal they’ve ever had in San Diego and you all came through. If you’re a bonafide foodie in San Diego then do you know these 50 essential San Diego restaurants? Filled with tons of Mexican, Italian, Seafood, and so much more, this is our guide to the can’t miss restaurants according to locals.
1. Point Loma Seafood, Point Loma
Type of food: Seafood
Best dish: Crab sandwich
Location: 2805 Emerson St, San Diego
2. Rosemary Trattoria, Coronado
Type of food: Italian
Best dish: Tiramisu
Location: 120 Orange Ave, Coronado
3. Bluewater Boathouse Seafood Grill, Coronado
Type of food: Seafood
Best dish: Trout
Location: 1701 Strand Way, Coronado
4. Buon Appetito, Little Italy
Type of food: Italian
Best dish: Mushroom Asaragus Risotto
Location: 1609 India St, San Diego, CA
5. Kono’s Cafe, Pacific Beach
Type of food: Breakfast & Lunch
Best dish: Breakfast Burrito with Green Chiles
Location: 704 Garnet Ave, San Diego
6. Juene et Jolie, Carlsbad
Type of food: French
Best dish: Seasonal menu with a wine pairing
Location: 2659 State St Suite 102, Carlsbad
7. The Marine Room, La Jolla
Type of food: Seafood
Best dish: The lobster
Location: 2000 Spindrift Dr, La Jolla
8. Island Prime, Harbour Island
Type of food: California
Best dish: Bone-In Ribeye
Location: 880 Harbor Island Dr, San Diego
9. 333 Pacific, Oceanside
Type of food: Seafood
Best dish: Fried Calmari
Location: 333 N Pacific St, Oceanside
10. El Tianguis, Mission Valley
Type of food: Mexican
Best dish: Rolled tacos
Location: 7995 Civita Blvd Unit #1, San Diego
11. Bushfire Kitchen, Del Mar
Type of food: American
Best dish: Gaucho Steak Sandwich
Location: 2602 Del Mar Heights Rd, Del Mar
12. Bleu Boheme, Kensington
Type of food: French
Best dish: Steak Frites
Location: 4090 Adams Ave, San Diego
13. Buena Forchetta, South Park
Type of food: Italian
Best dish: Spaghetti Bolognese
Location: 3001 Beech St, San Diego
14. Warung RieRie
Type of food: Indonesian
Best dish: Nasi Rames
Location: 8906 Hammond Dr, San Diego
15. Izakaya Masa, Mission Hills
Type of food: Japanese
Best dish: Sushi
Location: 928 Fort Stockton Dr, San Diego
16. Jake’s, Del Mar
Type of food: Seafood
Best dish: Sunday Brunch
Location: 1660 Coast Blvd, Del Mar
17. Cowboy Star, Gaslamp
Type of food: Steakhouse
Best dish: T-Bone Steak
Location: 640 Tenth Ave, San Diego
18. Born and Raised, Little Italy
Type of food: Contemporary
Best dish: Wagyu Steak
Location: 1909 India St, San Diego
19. South Beach Bar, Ocean Beach
Type of food: Mariscos
Best dish: Fish Tacos
Location: 5059 Newport Ave, San Diego
20. Havana 1920s
Type of food: Cuban
Best dish: Cubanita Empanada
Location: 548 Fifth Ave, San Diego
21. Cafe 222
Type of food: American
Best dish: Chicken Fried Steak and Waffles
Location: 222 Island Ave, San Diego
22. Trust
Type of food: New American
Best dish: Braised Oxtail Raviolini
Location: 3752 Park Blvd, San Diego
23. Fort Oak
Type of food: Wood-fired American
Best dish: Monday $1 oysters
Location: 1011 Fort Stockton Dr, San Diego
24. Asti Ristorante
Type of food: Italian
Best dish: Pappardelle alla Vodka
Location: 728 Fifth Ave, San Diego
25. Camino Riviera
Type of food: Mexican
Best dish: Birria Bao
Location: 2400 India St, San Diego
26. Davanti Enoteca, Little Italy
Type of food: Italian
Best dish: Foccacia di Recco
Location: 1655 India St, San Diego
27. Kunduz Kabob, Lakeside
Type of food: Middle Eastern
Best dish: Lamb Kebab
Location: 12128 Woodside Ave, Lakeside
28. Monzu, Downtown
Type of food: Italian
Best dish: Pasta with Bolognese
Location: 455 Tenth Ave, San Diego
29. Animae
Type of food: Asian
Best dish: Pork Tomahawk
Location: 969 Pacific Hwy, San Diego
30. Taste of Thai, Hillcrest
Type of food: Thai
Best dish: Fried Rice
Location: 527 University Ave, San Diego
31. King and Queen Cantina, Downtown
Type of food: Mexican
Best dish: Birria
Location: 1490 Kettner Blvd, San Diego
32. Nonna + Zuchero
Type of food: Italian
Best dish: Short Rib Ravioli
Location: 1735 India St, San Diego
33. Sadaf, Downtown San Diego
Type of food: Persian
Best dish: Chicken Koobideh
Location: 828 Fifth Ave, San Diego
34. Javier’s, La Jolla
Type of food: Mexican
Best dish: The margaritas
Location: 4301 La Jolla Village Dr Suite 1000
35. Siamo Napoli, North Park
Type of food: Italian
Best dish: Pizza
Location: 3959 30th St STE 105, San Diego
36. Barbusa, Little Italy
Type of food: Italian
Best dish: Sample Board
Location: 1917 India St, San Diego
37. Eddy V’s Prime Seafood, La Jolla
Type of food: Seafood and Steak
Best dish: The Shellfish Tower
Location: 1270 Prospect St, La Jolla
38. The Taco Stand, La Jolla
Type of food: Casual Mexican
Best dish: Burrito
Location: 621 Pearl St, La Jolla
39. Dobson’s, Downtown SD
Type of food: Regional
Best dish: Mussle Bisque Cup
Location: 956 Broadway Cir, San Diego
40. Hidden Fish
Type of food: Japanese
Best dish: Omakase
Location: 4764 Convoy St ste a, San Diego
41. The Fish Market
Type of food: Seafood
Best dish: Garlic Prawn Linguine
Location: 750 N Harbor Dr, San Diego
42. Casa de Pico, La Mesa
Type of food: Mexican
Best dish: Fish Tacos
Location: 5500 Grossmont Center Dr, La Mesa
43. Miguel’s Cocina
Type of food: Mexican
Best dish: Combination Fajita Plate
Location: 1360 N Harbor Dr, San Diego
44. San Diego Chicken Pie Shop, University Heights
Type of food: American
Best dish: Chicken Pot Pie
Location: 2633 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego
45. Taqueria Revolucion, Chula Vista
Type of food: Mexican
Best dish: Birria
Location: 3001 Bonita Rd, Chula Vista
46. Callie, Downtown
Type of food: Mediterranean
Best dish: Aleppo Chicken
Location: 1195 Island Ave, San Diego
47. Juniper & Ivy
Type of food: New American
Best dish: Carne Asada Crudo
Location: 2228 Kettner Blvd, San Diego
48. Costa Brava
Type of food: Spanish
Best dish: Patatas Bravas
Location: 1653 Garnet Ave, San Diego
49. Sufi
Type of food: Middle Eastern
Best dish: Kebab
Location: 5915 Balboa Ave, San Diego
Special mention:
50. Marrakesh
No longer open but a San Diegan favorite that we all miss.