13 Best Restaurants in San Diego, California

Elegant yet unpretentious, this fine dining restaurant by chefs Choi Cheolhyeok and Silvio Salmoiraghi, integrate elements of Italy, France, Korea, Japan, and California to build masterpieces in an eight-course tasting menu. Both chefs have an impressive pedigree, formerly at the helm of Michelin Star restaurants in Tokyo and Italy, but at Ambrogio, they have joined forces to redefine modern Italian cuisine in San Diego. Prepare for a playful balance of flavors, colors, and textures that changes quarterly. The menu might feature black cod with toasted polenta, linguine with truffles, or Japanese wagyu with spinach and cognac. After eight courses, the assortment of pastries seems doable when paired with an impressive list of over 100 curated wines. Pace yourself for perfection and what might be a three-hour dining experience. An exceptional "Walk in the Garden" tasting menu is available for vegetarians. 

The large, plush booths and elegant decor at Animae suggest an air of sophistication, while the soundtrack of '90s-era hip-hop adds a flash of casual cool to keep it from ever being too stuffy. Not that such a thing is at risk at this dazzling Embarcadero bistro, which pairs indulgent, tender Wagyu beef steak cuts with a variety of dishes inspired by Japan and Southeast Asia. In fact, with dishes like the Hunan lamb chops, hamachi, and duck kimchi fried rice, it's just as tempting to forgo a single cut of meat in favor of sampling so many of their other culinary creations.

An unexpected oasis of elegance among an often too casual Mission Beach, Moe's delivers an unpretentious but classic steak-house experience. Splurge-worthy treats such as Japanese A5 Wagyu or the Bone-In Ribeye are tempered by lighter and more wallet-friendly dishes marked as "Entree Alternatives." Classic cocktail fans will appreciate the extensive martini menu and other tried and true favorites. The impressive bar with its rich wood details and high-backed leather seating is an experience in itself. Be sure to save room for the decadent desserts.

Adjacent to the Hotel Del Coronado's more casual, family-friendly Sheerwater is its more dazzling upscale restaurant, Serẽa. With tables featuring stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and a menu of sustainable, market-fresh seafood, Serẽa puts full emphasis on its seaside location. Sip a seasonal cocktail, indulge in a rich shellfish platter—either roasted or on ice—and let your server wow you with a tableside whole fish presentation, set to the sounds of nearby crashing waves.

Champions of in-season, fresh-today produce, the chefs at this cozy room in the luxurious, Craftsman-style Lodge at Torrey Pines have made A.R. Valentien one of San Diego’s top fine dining destinations. Be prepared for food combinations that are simultaneously simple and delightfully inventive—crispy skin sablefish; duck confit; prime rib with bordelaise, and an impressive collection of California wines.

Special-occasion diners, conventioneers on expense accounts, and meat-loving locals haunt this surprisingly intimate dining room for great beef expertly prepared. The wood-and-brick interior has leather accents, Western landscapes, and vintage Old West photos, and servers wear white shirts and stylish denim aprons, all creating a relaxed urban-cowboy ambience. Here, prime 35-day dry-aged beef is king. Savor choice cuts with sides like roasted bone marrow as well as mac and cheese sprinkled with barbecue bacon dust. Non–steak options include house-made pappardelle with pork shoulder and smoked cheddar as well as the grilled local carrots with black garlic. High-back booths are comfy, as are the chef's counter and the bar, where mixologists shake up strong bourbon cocktails.

Two restaurants in one share this enviable spot on the shore of Harbor Island: the splurge-worthy Island Prime steak house and the relaxed C Level with a choice terrace. Both venues tempt with unrivaled views of Downtown San Diego's skyline. Island Prime's surf-and-turf dinner menu offers a trio of fillets topped with blue cheese, wild mushrooms, and Alaskan king crab. At C Level, sharable plates are often Asian fusion-inspired, like the ahi stack with mango salsa and taro chips, or comfort food like lobster and fontina BLT. Of the nearly dozen desserts, don't miss the potted brownie banana split: homemade peanut butter ice cream over a warm brownie with dulce de leche, fudge, and brûléed bananas.

Celebrity chef Richard Blais’s addition to San Diego’s restaurant scene fills an open-beamed space with seating for 250 and an open stainless-steel dream kitchen where diners can watch the chef and team in action. Blais sources local farm-fresh ingredients for his “left coast cookery” with a molecular gastronomy twist. Oysters on the half shell are dotted with liquid nitrogen-frozen citrus “pearls,” and the popular yodel dessert is a chocolate cylinder topped with hot Valrhona fudge to reveal nitrogen-frozen balls of chocolate inside. Even familiar carne asada surprises as spicy steak tartare on toast. The comfort-food crowd might want to order from the “secret menu” with its “In & Haute” burger served with fries.

Restaurant valet parking is only $7.

One of several options inside the Pendry Hotel, Lionfish is a showcase for chef Jojo Ruiz's seafood-centric cuisine inside of a spacious, two-story room. The atmosphere is hip, yet aesthetically pleasing, though the menu itself is what's worth returning for, from the butter-poached king-crab leg to the wild mushroom and potato gnocchi.

This trendy La Jolla restaurant “plays” tribute to the past with its location inside William Kesling’s historic piano showroom where live music still plays during cocktail hour. The casual yet refined menu features dry-aged cheeseburgers, pan-roasted chicken, and unconventional Caesar salads topped with jalapeño rings and Parmesan shavings; be sure to request a side of the creamy coconut rice pilaf. Its corner location offers patio seating as well as a mid-century-meets-tropical-style lounge with a magnificent mural by artist, Eva Struble, and a travertine bar where mixologists pour Oaxacan negronis and the “Ring of Fire,” a spin on the whisky sour. Arrive by 5:30 to hear an hour set of live piano on Wednesday and Sunday and live saxophone on Thursday.

Nestled in a quieter, less-touristy section of Pacific Beach, The Fishery is a local favorite for high-end, sustainable seafood. With a fish market incorporated into the restaurant's design, the freshness of their ingredients is proudly on display, and the extensive, albeit pricey, menu offers tartare, sushi rolls, and other raw bar favorites alongside excellently cooked preparations of spot prawns, crusted halibut, and a delicious bouillabaisse. The grand seafood tower is sure to make an impression. An engaging wine list and cocktail selection round out the exceptional offerings.