Restaurants
San Diego is a bustling tourist area with a wonderful warm climate, beautiful sandy beaches and jagged canyons. The cuisine is very mixed and you can choose from Mexican, Spanish, Indian and East Asian, just to mention a few.
Chino Farms in Sante Fe are well known and most of the restaurants in San Diego get their organic produce from the farm. San Diego has a big seafood restaurant industry, being so close to the sea this is no surprise. They also have a large tuna industry and the warm climate enables them to offer a lot of fresh vegetables to accompany your delicious meal.
Specialties in San Diego include tacos, burritos, pizza and seafood. The top restaurants for 2011 are broken down into various categories, making it easier for you to find depending on what you feel like and what atmosphere you are looking for. During your holiday in this magnificent city, you will not be disappointed by the choices on offer when it comes to meal times.
With twenty four hour restaurants, you are guaranteed to never go hungry. The Sage Café at the Barona Resort and Casino is a firm favourite for twenty four hour restaurants, closely followed by Jack-In-The-Box, which is centrally situated with easy access to the public transport system.
If you’re looking for a great bakery, you must stop past Dudley’s or the Lemon Grove Bakery in the Lemon Grove area. Remember all areas are easily accessible with the extensive trolley system the city has in place.
If you’re in the mood for barbecue, look no further than Phil’s BBQ Restaurant or the Barbecue Pit. Both restaurants were chosen in the 2011 best restaurants survey.
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and while most hotels will offer you breakfast, you may have chosen accommodation without breakfast and visiting the Hash House A Gogo, The Broken Yolk or the Original Pancake House may be a great way to start your touring day.
A great buffet is always appreciated and San Diego has a lot of buffet restaurants for you to choose from. Souplantation and Hometown Buffet came up tops for 2011 and shouldn’t be missed.
Chinese restaurants are available in abundance, but P.F.Chang’s, Kips Café and Pick up Stix are all firm favorites with the local residents and are centrally located, making them the ideal choice when out and about.
Some days we all feel like some real comfort food. Why not stop in at Philae’s Foggs Bar and Restaurant, Chicken Pie Dinner or Studio Diner and enjoy some traditional mac and cheese.
Everyone loves a great cupcake. Be sure to stop by Hey There – Cupcake! Or Cupcake Love when visiting San Diego, the kids will go wild for the huge selection, mind you, so will the adults.
Travelling with the family? Finding a family restaurant is no problem. The Omelette Factory, Olive Garden and Corvette Diner are all popular family restaurants with a great selection that is guaranteed to make every child happy with their dinner.
French cuisine is also popular in the San Diego area and you have no shortage of excellent French Restaurants including The French Gourmet, Blue Boheme and The Farmhouse Café.
Great Greek food is always a hit with adults and children alike, be sure to visit Daphne’s, Athena Café or Yannis Bistro will in town and enjoy some of the Greek cuisine favorites.
On a cooler evening you may want to try a traditional Indian curry, for this you must go to Royal India, which has also been voted one of the romantic restaurants. There is also Taste of India and Bombay.
Enjoy a fantastic spaghetti bolognaise or lasagna at Filippi’s Pizza Grotto or the Godfather Restaurant or have a burrito or fajita at Casa De Guadalajara, Casa De Pico or Miguel’s.
A romantic dinner out for just the two of you must be had at the Marine Room, Island Prime or George’s at the Grove. These were all voted the most romantic restaurants and are a great way to spend a romantic anniversary dinner.
Seafood is a firm favorite; San Diego is on the water so this is no surprise. The Fish Market, Anthony’s and The Brigantine were chosen as the top seafood restaurants for 2011.
Steakhouses on offer include Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Donovan’s Steak and Chop House and Outback Steakhouse, while vegetarians can enjoy the Tender Greens, Veg N’Out and Lovin Hut.
Acqua Al 2, 322 5th Avenue, +1 619 230-0382
Anthony's Fish Grotto, 1360 N Harbor Drive, +1 619 232-5103
Athens Market, 109 W. F Street (west of Horton Plaza), +1 619 234-1955
Blue Ginger 717 Fourth Avenue, +1 619 232-3888
Blue Point Coastal Cuisine, 565 5th Avenue, +1 619 233-6623, [30].
Bread on Market, 730 Market Street, +1 619 795-2730
Buster's Beach House, 807 W Harbor Drive (in Seaport Village), +1 619 233-4300
Café Chloe Café & Wine Bar, 721 Ninth Ave No 1, +1 619 232-3242
Cafe 222, 222 Island Avenue, +1 619 236-9902
Candelas Restaurant, 416 3rd Avenue, +1 619 702-4455
Cheese Shop, 627 4th Avenue, +1 619 232-2303
Chive, 558 4th Avenue, +1 619 232-4483
Dakota Grill & Spirits, 901 5th Avenue, +1 619 234-5554
The Field, 544 5th Avenue, +1 619 232-9840
Filippi's Pizza Grotto, 1747 India Street, +1 619 232-5094
Fish Market, 750 N Harbor Drive, +1 619 232-3474
Greystone the Steakhouse, 658 5th Avenue, +1 619 232-0225
Indigo Grill, 1536 India Street, +1 619 234-6802
Lou & Mickey's, 224 5th Avenue, +1 619 237-4900
Mimmo's Italian Village, 1743 India Street, +1 619 239-3710
The Mission, 1250 J St, +1 619 232-7662
Mona Lisa Restaurant & Deli, 2059 India Street, +1 619 239-5367
Osteria Panevino, 722 5th Avenue, +1 619 595-7959
Panda Inn, 506 Horton Plaza, +1 619 233-7800
Rainwater Restaurant, 1202 Kettner Blvd, +1 619 233-5757
Red Pearl Kitchen 440 J Street, +1 619 231-1100
Rei Do Gado, 939 4th Avenue, +1 619 702-8464
Bars
Cafe Noir, 447 9th Avenue, +1 619 235-0075
Gaslamp Tavern, 868 Fifth Avenue, +1 619 239-3339
Henry's Pub, 618 Fifth Avenue, +1 619 238-2389
Princess Pub, 1665 India Street (in Little Italy), +1 619 702-3021. Traditional British pub.
Sogno Divino, 1607 India Street (in Little Italy), +1 619 531-8887. Daily 11AM-11PM. Wine bar and appetizers, relaxing environment.
Waterfront, 2044 Kettner Blvd (in Little Italy), +1 619 232-9656. One of San Diego's oldest drinking establishments and best dive bars.
