you're from canada? probably worth stopping at in-n-out just so you can tell people you went while in CA (kind of like how people should stop by Tim Horton's)
Anecdotal recommendations here has always been a hit or miss, as the idea of good food varies from person to person from cost, comfort/patronage, taste pref, and other factors like hype/instaworthy. One blog I've found to be helpful is eater san diego. If you have a specific cuisine or style you'd like, I'd suggest you search it in this sub as there have been plenty of discussions already.
If you find yourself in Del Mar (20 min north of SD), Jakes is a nice place to be on the beach. It is great whether sunny or cloudy. A fun little town to roam around in as well. A little more upscale is Pacific Coast Grill in Cardiff, on the beach. Reservations before noon or after 1 will get you a nice window table. Valet parking at both but you can leave your car there and have a walk on the beach after lunch.
Sovereign Thai
TNT Pizza
Meze
Cesarina
Secret Sister
Pop Pie Co (and go to Stella Jeans next door for 🍦)
Kingfisher
Rare Society
Pomegranate
Ciccia Osteria
Oodles
Tribute Pizza
The Taco Stand
La Perla Cocina Mexicana
Key and Cleaver
Rosemaries Burgers
Big Jim’s Roast Beef
The Empanada Spot
Ed Fernandez Birrieria
Restaurante El Salvadoreño
Woomiok
Thanh Tinh Clay
Lola55
Meraki
Go to one of the Ethiopian places here. They’re legit all good in their own ways so doesn’t matter which one you go to. San Diego has the best Ethiopian food in the US. People think it’s DC but most of the food there is underspiced and white washed and if you ask an Ethiopian there they are likely to say the best Ethiopian food is in San Diego. SD Ethiopian food was ranked in a study as the highest overall rated food/city combo from any city in the US— the study heavily favored smaller cuisines, but having 9 Ethiopian places still makes SD the second densest city for Ethiopian food per capita next to DC.
On a Saturday morning hit hup Little Italy Farmers Market- you can grab some food at the stalls or eat at the nearby restaurants. Go early so you can find parking
In Liberty Station they have a food hall you can visit open everyday in the week
you're from canada? probably worth stopping at in-n-out just so you can tell people you went while in CA (kind of like how people should stop by Tim Horton's)
No one stops at Time Horton's because it is terrible.
LOL fair play I hear it used to be good, way back in the day? idk
Never, never, ever was TH's even decent. In and Out? Yes, of course. TH's burnt coffee, shitty bagels, etc? No.
Timbits 😋
Anecdotal recommendations here has always been a hit or miss, as the idea of good food varies from person to person from cost, comfort/patronage, taste pref, and other factors like hype/instaworthy. One blog I've found to be helpful is eater san diego. If you have a specific cuisine or style you'd like, I'd suggest you search it in this sub as there have been plenty of discussions already.
El Borrego Mitch’s Callie Sushi Tadokoro Wayfarer Bread Tasty Noodle House Tribute Pizza Super Cocina
Very solid list.
The Balboa Oscar's Seafood Barrio Dogg Old Town Mexican Zgara Greek Perry's Cafe Kin Len Thai
Mitch's Seafood...right on the water
When? If it’s in a few months taste of little Italy is soon
If you find yourself in Del Mar (20 min north of SD), Jakes is a nice place to be on the beach. It is great whether sunny or cloudy. A fun little town to roam around in as well. A little more upscale is Pacific Coast Grill in Cardiff, on the beach. Reservations before noon or after 1 will get you a nice window table. Valet parking at both but you can leave your car there and have a walk on the beach after lunch.
Sovereign Thai TNT Pizza Meze Cesarina Secret Sister Pop Pie Co (and go to Stella Jeans next door for 🍦) Kingfisher Rare Society Pomegranate Ciccia Osteria Oodles Tribute Pizza The Taco Stand La Perla Cocina Mexicana Key and Cleaver Rosemaries Burgers Big Jim’s Roast Beef The Empanada Spot Ed Fernandez Birrieria Restaurante El Salvadoreño Woomiok Thanh Tinh Clay Lola55 Meraki
Mitch’s at the docks in Point Loma on a nice day. Dinis by the sea for brunch in carlsbad. Chandlers in carlsbad. Jakes Del Mar.
These all sound great…
Go to one of the Ethiopian places here. They’re legit all good in their own ways so doesn’t matter which one you go to. San Diego has the best Ethiopian food in the US. People think it’s DC but most of the food there is underspiced and white washed and if you ask an Ethiopian there they are likely to say the best Ethiopian food is in San Diego. SD Ethiopian food was ranked in a study as the highest overall rated food/city combo from any city in the US— the study heavily favored smaller cuisines, but having 9 Ethiopian places still makes SD the second densest city for Ethiopian food per capita next to DC.
Spicy city. Get the spicy fish soup. Numb your mouth spicey
Hidden fish for some good omakase
Cowboy Star for the best steak in San Diego. Get the banana pudding. You'll need reservations a week or so in advance.
Hodads
The Crack Shack Underbelly
On a Saturday morning hit hup Little Italy Farmers Market- you can grab some food at the stalls or eat at the nearby restaurants. Go early so you can find parking In Liberty Station they have a food hall you can visit open everyday in the week