Since everyone has different taste in food, we have
tried to not only list our favorites but also some of the many popular places to eat in San Diego.
One of our favorites
A San Diego icon
Studio Diner - This
40's style diner wrapped in neon & chrome and built at the edge of a working movie and TV studio has better-than-diner food!
(East on Balboa 2.4 mi, right on Ruffin Road, on right)
Anh Hong Pho Pasteur - One
of our guest’s all-time favorite restaurants. Authentic Vietnamese food.
(South on Linda Vista on the
right at Mesa College Dr.)
El Portal Fresh Mexican Grill – This is our
favorite little Mexican place. It's fast food but it does have tables, beer, and the
food is always yummy. They close at around 10pm.
(East on Balboa on the left
at Genesee in the back of the Vons shopping center)
Super Sergio’s - Drive-thru
Mexican fast food open late and close to home. The cheese quesadilla is
absolutely loaded with cheese and they have good salsa!
(North on Convoy on the right)
Country Waffles
– Not far from the house, a good old fashioned breakfast diner, complete with ugly wallpaper. ;)
(map)
K Sandwiches
Now re-open! Inexpensive and authentic Bahn Mi sandwiches, spring rolls, smoothies, and many other interesting Vietnamese food items.
(South on Linda Vista on the
right at Mesa College Dr.)
Rockie’s Frozen Yogurt -
Close enough to walk to and they pile the yogurt high. They also have coffee drinks and acai bowls!
(South on Linda Vista on the
right at Mesa College Dr.)
Filippi's Pizza Grotto - An
old San Diego favorite! Again, we like them best for their pizza. They have a
location downtown in Little Italy, too that always has a line out the door.
(map1) (map2)
In-N-Out Burger – simple
menu, great burgers.
(map)
The Godfather – A local
upscale restaurant. The food and service are outstanding in this unlikely
location.
(map)
Dumpling Inn
– A very popular Chinese dumpling restaurant. Dumpling Inn, which used to be a hole-in-the-wall noodle &
dumpling street eatery, and Shanghai Saloon, which is a new trendy bar & lounge featuring a 30 taps craft beer (mostly local) and a full liquor/cocktail bar with emphasis on whiskey.
(map)
Some chains:
Islands Restaurant - (East on Balboa on the right)
AppleBee’s - (East on Balboa on the right)
Subway Sandwiches - (East on Balboa on the left
by 24 Hour Fitness OR South on Linda Vista on the left at Mesa College Dr.)
iHop – (West on Balboa on the left)
Indigo Grill – As with most members of the Cohen Restaurant Group,
it offers an unforgettable dining experience.
(map)
Cucina Urbana – Recommended
by many people we’ve met recently. They’re said to have great food and no
markup on the wine! Only a corkage fee.
(map)
The Prado – Another one in the Cohen Restaurant
Group, this place has a beautiful outdoor dining area in the rich landscape of
famous Balboa Park We found them to have excellent food and service.
(map)
Knotty Barrell – This is a gastro pub
in East Village with an amazingly delicious (and definitely not healthy ;) menu. We love their wings, mac n' cheese, and
"nachos" made from home-made potato chips, blue cheese, English cheddar, and horseradish cream. OMG!
(map)
Hodad’s – Right on the
heart of downtown Ocean Beach, they serve the best burgers in town and have
been recognized as one of the top 5 burger joints in the country by CNN!
(map)
Olive Tree Market Place –
Sure there are a million delis around, but we can never help stopping by this walk-up (only a few small seats outside) deli
if we’re in OB to get a pastrami sandwich. The cookies at the counter are also
worth the trip!
(map)
Board & Brew –
A local La Jolla sandwich shop that is expanding around town. They can be found in La Jolla and Pacific Beach.
(map)
Rubicon Deli –
This is one of our new favorites. Man, don't they make a good (and big - their half is more like a normal whole) sandwich.
(map)
Cheesecake Factory – They have a huge menu
and we haven’t had anything
there that we haven’t liked, including the service. There is always a long line to get a seat, but
they move people through quickly and if you can score a seat at the bar, you
can eat in there.
(map)
DZ Akin’s – It’s not exactly near any tourist
destinations, but it’s right off the freeway and if you’re in the mood for a large authentic
Jewish restaurant/deli, this is the place.
(map)
Harney Sushi – This small place in Old Town is always crowded.
(map)
Phil’s BBQ – One of San
Diego’s most beloved destinations for outstanding barbeque, there’s always a
line to get in. The top-selling item is the Baby Back pork ribs; an illustrious
portion of ribs smothered in a signature barbeque sauce that even attracted Man
vs. Food! See it on YouTube.
(map)
Roberto's Taco Shop –
A San Diego Mexican fast food icon, they now have locations all over town.
(map)
El Indio
– El Indio is family owned and operated and is one of San Diego's best Mexican casual dining restaurants.
They offer an array of traditional Mexican dishes from tamales to taquitos prepared daily with fresh
ingredients and tortillas made from their in-house tortilleria.
(map)
Broken Yolk Cafe – A good breakfast diner with a few locations around town.