Favorite San Diego Restaurants?
 

Thanks for the help on restaurant recommendations for Coronado. We went to go to San Diego too, ride the trolley, visit the Gaslamp District, etc. Would love to know your recommendations for good restaurants. We love good Mexican food, sangria or other fun drinks, fresh seafood, fish tacos, a tasty burger, outdoor dining, anything on the water or with a nice view, good spots for breakfast, and places to go for ice cream or gelato. Doesn't have to be fancy, just someplace with good food and a little charm? Thanks for any guidance you can give me!

There are some nice suggestions on Tripadvisor - Garage Kitchen and Bar, Juniper and Ivy, Searsucker, The Blind Burro, The Mission, The Tin Fish, Top of the Market, and Union Kitchen all look like they would be fun to try.

I'd suggest the Fish Market. Below top of the Market. Just as good but not as fancy.

Fish Market/ Top of the Market had a big fire in June and may not be reopened. They are rather touristy, near Seaport Village.
The Tin Fish has good fish tacos. Sit outside. Very casual.
Little Italy: Isola, Bencotto, Buon Italia, Ironsides( not Italian, seafood, great oysters)
Point Loma Seafood- not downtown, in Point Loma nearby. Sit on upper deck by fishing marina.
For the view back of city: Tom Ham's Lighthouse

Thank you, t - good food and not as fancy is just what we're looking for.

Happy, thanks for the info. on the fire. I checked out some photos online, and it looks like they have beautiful views. Hope they're back up and running soon if they aren't already. Thanks for the other suggestions too - I love fish tacos - seems like San Diego would be the perfect place to get some.

And there is always Rubios for fish tacos too.

Based on the articles I've found online, downstairs at FM is reopened but not upstairs.

Broken Yolk for a hearty breakfast, the classic Hob Nob Hill and Hodad's for great burgers.

Which location of Rubio's do you think would work best for us if we're in the tourist areas?

Thanks for the update on FM.

curious, I just checked out Hodad's. My husband will want to eat there for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. That is his kind of place! The burgers look amazing.

We like Bandar, if you want Middle Eastern food.

Thanks, vincenzo!

I have by no means done an extensive survey of San Diego fish tacos, but I liked Oscar's

http://www.oscarsmexicanseafood.com/

And if you are heading north, exit Birmingham to the Valero gas station, for El Pueblo's deep fried 99 cent fish tacos.

Thank you, m - that looks really good!

We love Oscar's too but they are not in the downtown area, need a car.
Rubio's are all over so google to find one near your location.

I believe Rubios sold out to a large food corporation like General Mills, their food is generic and tasteless IMHO.

Miguels in Coronado http://www.miguels-cocina.com/

and Verdes El Ranchero on La Jolla Blvd near Pearl http://verdeselranchero.com/

and Don Bravo's in Bird Rock on 5504 La Jolla Blvd are all very good. http://www.donbravo.com/menu/

I loved Juniper & Ivy (more formalish but hip) and a little noisy and crowded. I'd try to get a reservation for an early or later seating.
http://www.juniperandivy.com/

Across the street from Juniper & Ivy is Bird Rock Coffee Roaster (they close early though). Their coffee is amazing, organic and the owner sources the coffee from Central America himself.

Pt. Loma Seafood is very casual but has a lovely view of the SD Harbor and Downtown. http://www.juniperandivy.com/

The Cottage in La Jolla for breakfast & Lunch is awesome but extremely popular so again try to do very early or later to avoid some of the wait. http://www.cottagelajolla.com/

I don't go downtown too often any more but there are tons of great restaurants in Little Italy - as Happy Traveler mentioned.

http://bluewaterseafoodsandiego.com/

This was featured on Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives. I ate there once and liked it a lot.

An area of town that most tourist don't go to or know about (most locals don't either) is called South Park (a friend of mine lives there so I have been to a few restaurants in the area). It has a Portland like vibe and is a lot of fun.

Nanabee, I was surprised that Rubio's fish tacos were voted #1 in San Diego magazine.