169 Best Restaurants in San Diego, California

Rows of picnic tables, surfboard decor, and beer-brewing on-site have made this funky, friendly brewpub a block from the beach a locals’ favorite. The nearly 40 brews on tap include a namesake pour and other craft beers that have made San Diego a beer-drinkers destination. Between sips, nosh on munchies like garlic beer buddies, seasoned bits of pizza crust. Surfers, families, and others with big appetites order one of 16 signature pizzas slathered with toppings, available whole or by the slice until 3 pm and after 9 pm. Got a sweet tooth? Try a stout or porter float.

When fishing boats unload their catch on-site, a seafood restaurant and market earns the right to boast that they offer “the freshest thing in town.” In the late 1950s, mostly sportfishermen came here, but word got out about the just-caught fried fish on San Francisco–style sourdough bread, and now locals and visitors come to enjoy bay views, sunshine, and a greatly expanded menu of seafood dishes. A friendly, efficient crew takes orders for food and drinks at the counter, keeping the wait down even on the busiest days. In addition to sandwiches, favorites include fish tacos, seafood cocktails, sushi, salads, and fried platters of fish, shrimp, and scallops. This is San Diego's top seafood market for those who like to grab fresh fish to prepare at home.   

Located on the fringe of Little Italy’s bustling restaurant scene, this intimate Argentine steak house is named for a Buenos Aires waterfront neighborhood home to generations of Italian immigrants. The dimly lighted spot may not be as trendy as other dining spots here, but it's still a romantic and comfortable destination for visitors and neighborhood regulars. Patio seating is perfect for happy-hour munching on popular empanadas or tender marinated octopus in olive oil and garlic. The many steaks get a flavor boost from the tangy chimichurri sauce; other entrées include seafood, pasta, and the traditional Milanese, a breaded chicken cutlet.

Outdoor tables on a narrow sidewalk and inexpensive prices make this a standout. The simple menu by Bangkok-born chef-owner Su-Mei Yu has noodle soups; stir-fried noodles with chicken, beef, pork, or shrimp; and a couple of uncommon Vietnamese and Thai-Indian noodle dishes bathed with aromatic sauces.

As the sister restaurant of La Jolla’s Georges at the Cove, this laid-back restaurant is the perfect spot to chill with friends after a day in the sand and share oysters from the raw bar or rosemary Parmesan fries dipped in jalapeño ranch. Grab a seat on the dog-friendly patio or head indoors for grilled favorites including octopus, prime rib, and cast-iron focaccia with honey ricotta. A smoky element takes flavors up a notch, with nearly every dish touching the wood-fired grill. Rounding out the menu are house-made pastas and desserts prepared by Aly Lyng, the pastry chef at George’s at the Cove. Sunday brunch and happy hour (4–5:30 pm) are both on point, especially with tempting offers that include a dozen oysters on the house with any purchase of a bottle of Champagne.

Homemade crepes and fresh-brewed coffee come second to the artisanal ice cream made with just a handful of ingredients. Even vegans can get their scoop on, with flavors like strawberry shortcake, mint, cookie dough, and chocolate made with cashew milk, cocoa butter, organic carob beans, and other natural goodness.

Since opened by celebrity chef Brian Malarkey a few years ago, this high-energy flagship restaurant has become the Gaslamp’s best for food and energetic atmosphere. Foodies from near and far savor the upscale down-home fare like small plates of biscuits with spicy honey, duck fat fries, and shrimp and grits. The open kitchen serves a full range of poultry and meat dishes, while specialty cocktails from the bar keep things lively in the sofa-furnished lounge. If you prefer a quiet place to chat and dine, this isn’t for you.

This casual indoor-outdoor eatery in La Jolla Shores has a sprawling outdoor patio perfect for leisurely lunches with friends and family. Surfers and well-heeled locals populate the 50-seat patio while enjoying made-to-order organic smoothies and fresh salads, as well as scrumptious breakfast and creative lunch entrées that include flatbreads, soups, sandwiches, and the popular cheeseburger and prime steak frites. The black-cherry almond smoothie is addictive, while the tarragon chicken salad with lemon aioli, green apple, avocado, pistachios, and dried cranberries over mixed greens with a citrus vinaigrette is a tantalizing mix of flavors.

Bacon is king at this lively burger, beer, and sports bar in Liberty Station. Founder Scott Slater’s signature “designer” patty, half beef and half ground bacon, is topped with a fried egg and cheese, and sauced with chipotle adobo mayonnaise. Or design your own burger from a menu with over 50 toppings like Guinness bacon chili or bacon jalapeño jam. Even fries get a lift from bacon ketchup. While little ones munch sliders from the kids' menu, parents quaff one of the 100 craft and local beers on tap and join military from nearby bases and other sports fans following games on the room’s many flat-screen TVs. There's even a dog menu featuring the signature 50/50 patty or bacon strips for furry friends.

Bright “Brady Bunch” decor, plus plenty of sunshine and fresh air pouring through windows and skylights, are cheery wake-ups for diners at this hip neighborhood haunt for pancakes and lattes. Expect long waits for a table, especially on weekends; free coffee helps the time pass while you wait to indulge in made-from-scratch breakfast bliss.

Meatballs get a trendy spin at S&S, where the decor blends a gold-wrapped bar and geometric stools with old-time touches like a bakery area fashioned after a vintage storefront. This cozy space is the perfect spot to indulge in comfort food with a twist. First select a meatball type (pork, chorizo, beef, chicken, quinoa, or sietan) before choosing the style—sliders, a sandwich, with spaghetti, or in a skillet. The meatballs are filling, but save room for the sides, particularly the fried pizza knots. Other small plates include mac and cheese, broccolini with garlic and Parmesan, and spiced crispy chickpeas. A slice of homemade pie topped with soft serve is a great ending to the meal.

This two-story-tall restaurant and bar in Ocean Beach looks like a typical sports bar from the outside, but inside is the place to eat what many consider to be the best fish tacos in San Diego. Grab a seat at the bar and choose from an ever-changing array of fresh grilled fish from lobster to mahi. Visit on Tuesday for $4 tacos, Friday for $1 oysters, and Saturday for $3 mimosas.

This trendy 21-and-over establishment attracts a diverse and discerning crowd to a somewhat quiet stretch of India Street with its solid seasonal fare and understated mid-century vibe. The menu covers the gamut of comfort food from mozzarella and squash fritters to macaroni and cheese, juicy roasted chicken, and a fish of the day paired with a Thai noodle salad. Night owls will relish the abbreviated late-night menu served from 10 pm to midnight. Cocktails are equally seasonal, and in hot weather the Starlite Mule is the perfect way to cool off. 

This 50,000-square-foot monument to beer and good food is a crowd-pleaser, especially for fans of San Diego’s nationally known craft beer scene. The global menu features dishes like the Bavarian pretzel and Brewmaster's Beef Dip that pair perfectly with on-tap and bottled beers from around the world and Stone’s famous IPAs. Dine indoors in high-ceiling rooms guarded by etched-metal gargoyles and lit by beer-bottle chandeliers. Or, relax outdoors where parents often unwind as their kids enjoy the patio. Before leaving, browse the company store for hip logo wear like hats, hoodies, and bomber jackets.

If the chef at this La Jolla bakery looks familiar, it's because she won Food Network’s Holiday Baking Championship in 2015. Since that win, chef Maeve Rochford has made a name for herself as a celebrity chef and owner of Sugar and Scribe offering baked goods like delicious scones as well as sit-down options like lobster Benedict, Irish sausage rolls, and irresistible blueberry pancakes with fresh-plucked berries, edible flowers, and vanilla whipped cream. For a La Jolla summer cool down, try the horchata latte.

Located next to Campo Santo Cemetery, Tahona—in its architecture and design—might suggest the illusion of a snapshot of historical San Diego, but culinarily it's anything but. Offering a dining experience that centers on mezcal, Oaxacan cuisine, and locally sourced produce and ingredients, Tahona puts a new spin on Southern California Mexican cuisine. Its menu features plenty of familiar staples like tacos, guacamole, and empanadas, mixed in with innovative items like duck confit sopes and grilled octopus.

Make reservations online for its adjoining spooky speakeasy, Occulto 477, which brings an elevated sensory experience to its mezcal offerings.

With four other locations in the city—Hillcrest, North Park, and two outposts in Kearny Mesa—Tajima has become a favorite source for ramen-hungry San Diegans. Climb into a cozy booth and order a Japanese craft beer or sake before diving into one of the five types of ramen—all of which come in hefty portions with affordable price tags—including an excellent vegan version with spinach noodles. Add-ins include kimchi and fried garlic. Nonramen options span sushi, rice bowls, and karaage, a Japanese-style fried chicken served with mayo.

Pristine fish imported from around the world and presented creatively attracts crowds nightly to this intimate Gaslamp restaurant. Table service is available inside and outside where an omakase (tasting menu) or eight-piece rolls can be shared and savored; take a seat at the bar to watch one of the sushi chefs preparing appetizers. The restaurant is a favorite with Japanese visitors and conventioneers.

Dine any time of day at this French-inspired café a block from San Diego Bay, as breakfast commences at 6 am with house-made granola, quiche, and just-baked coffee cakes and croissants. Sandwiches, salads, and soups round out the daytime menu, while dinner highlights include the catch of the day; just be sure be sure to save room for the Paris-pretty desserts.

This build-your-own ice-cream-sandwich shop a block from Pacific Beach is a local favorite thanks to its homemade cookies and diverse array of ice-cream flavors, from birthday cake to peanut butter fudge. Don't miss out on their hot pressed ice-cream sandwiches!

East Village families, baseball fans heading to or from Petco Park, and happy-hour-bound singles flock to this airy restaurant with Baja-inspired food and drink. Traditional margaritas get a fresh kick from fruit juices or jalapeño peppers; other libations include sangria and Mexican beers, all perfect pairings for house-made guacamole, ceviche, or salsas with chips. The menu doesn't include enchiladas or burritos, but the well-loved lobster and surf-and-turf tacos and extensive and innovative tortas like an Angus short rib topped with pico de gallo, and side dishes including Mexican-style corn dressed in cotija cheese as well as serrano-spiced pinto beans, more than make up for it. Save room for warm, cinnamon-sugar churros.

A cozy beach cottage sets the stage for American comfort food with a California twist at this La Jolla staple. The restaurant serves lunch, but it’s the well-loved daily breakfast that has locals and visitors happily queuing—sometimes up to two hours on weekends. Egg dishes have unique fillings like soy chorizo and pork belly braised beef, and the sizable, shareable stuffed French toast is a can’t-miss. Postsurf or hike, keep it healthy with the avocado smash and smoked salmon on rosemary bread. Lunch spans tuna melts and fish tacos, while the drink menu, with Bloody Marys and hard kombucha, will have you justifying, "it's five o'clock somewhere." It’s worth waiting for a patio seat that overlooks a charming stretch of downtown La Jolla.