Guidebook for San Diego
Food Scene
This is a well-known spot in Hillcrest with great food and HUGE portions. Gets super crowded so go early (8:30 am is about when the lines start) or sit at the bar.
185 locals recommend
Hash House A Go Go
3628 Fifth AveThis is a well-known spot in Hillcrest with great food and HUGE portions. Gets super crowded so go early (8:30 am is about when the lines start) or sit at the bar.
This new restaurant in Mission Hills is within walking distance of my house. Don’t wait too late on the weekends because it fills up quickly.
71 locals recommend
The Patio on Goldfinch
4020 Goldfinch StThis new restaurant in Mission Hills is within walking distance of my house. Don’t wait too late on the weekends because it fills up quickly.
They have the best bacon breakfast burrito in San Diego. Hole in the wall next to the freeway in Mission Hills (San Diego Ave and Noell St). I love this place and used to eat here every morning on my way to work. If you like eggs, bacon, warm tortillas, and large portions this is for you. Can’t speak for the rest of their lunch/dinner menu though—pretty greasy. Opens at 7am.
7 locals recommend
Dos Brasas Mexican Food
1890 San Diego AveThey have the best bacon breakfast burrito in San Diego. Hole in the wall next to the freeway in Mission Hills (San Diego Ave and Noell St). I love this place and used to eat here every morning on my way to work. If you like eggs, bacon, warm tortillas, and large portions this is for you. Can’t speak for the rest of their lunch/dinner menu though—pretty greasy. Opens at 7am.
Good coffee, tea, and healthy breakfast foods. I recommend grabbing a coffee and then walking down to the ocean.
13 locals recommend
Cafe 1134
1134 Orange AveGood coffee, tea, and healthy breakfast foods. I recommend grabbing a coffee and then walking down to the ocean.
Well-known coffee shop in Coronado with good diner food. Clayton’s opens around 6am and gets very crowded on the weekends (get there by 8am if you don’t want to wait), especially during the summer.
30 locals recommend
Clayton's Coffee Shop
979 Orange AveWell-known coffee shop in Coronado with good diner food. Clayton’s opens around 6am and gets very crowded on the weekends (get there by 8am if you don’t want to wait), especially during the summer.
Upscale cafe on the north end of Coronado. Emphasis on wellness, organic coffee & tea, namaste—stuff like that. I only mention it because my mom and girlfriend like this place.
30 locals recommend
Tartine
1106 1st StUpscale cafe on the north end of Coronado. Emphasis on wellness, organic coffee & tea, namaste—stuff like that. I only mention it because my mom and girlfriend like this place.
Great fish plates and fish tacos. Gets crowded from 12-1pm but if you call ahead you can go to the front of the line for pick-up.
100 locals recommend
Blue Water Seafood Market & Grill
3667 India StGreat fish plates and fish tacos. Gets crowded from 12-1pm but if you call ahead you can go to the front of the line for pick-up.
The place for classic Mexican fast food in Mission Hills that’s been serving burritos and horchata for 50+ years.
44 locals recommend
El Indio Mexican Restaurant and Catering
3695 India StThe place for classic Mexican fast food in Mission Hills that’s been serving burritos and horchata for 50+ years.
Contemporary tacos and burritos, kinda pricey. Can get really crowded but worth going if the line isn’t too long.
139 locals recommend
Lucha Libre Taco Shop
1810 W Washington StContemporary tacos and burritos, kinda pricey. Can get really crowded but worth going if the line isn’t too long.
Consistently good, always healthy, has been a regular addition to my diet for several years.
51 locals recommend
Saffron Thai
3737 India StConsistently good, always healthy, has been a regular addition to my diet for several years.
A new-ish taco stand adjacent to Saffron that has excellent ribeye and shrimp tacos. Inexpensive. I would go here before Lucha Libre.
12 locals recommend
Karina's Ceviches & More
3731 India StA new-ish taco stand adjacent to Saffron that has excellent ribeye and shrimp tacos. Inexpensive. I would go here before Lucha Libre.
Seafood and farm-to-table in Mission Hills. Friendly, neighborhood ambiance; upscale. Classy and good for drinks too. Within walking distance of the house.
48 locals recommend
Brooklyn Girl
4033 Goldfinch StSeafood and farm-to-table in Mission Hills. Friendly, neighborhood ambiance; upscale. Classy and good for drinks too. Within walking distance of the house.
Awesome Italian food in Banker’s Hill (near downtown), strong wine selection. Would work well for a business dinner. You’ll want a reservation.
108 locals recommend
CUCINA urbana
505 Laurel StAwesome Italian food in Banker’s Hill (near downtown), strong wine selection. Would work well for a business dinner. You’ll want a reservation.
Delicious contemporary food in Little Italy. Upscale—would work well for a business dinner. Check for reservations.
123 locals recommend
Juniper & Ivy
2228 Kettner BlvdDelicious contemporary food in Little Italy. Upscale—would work well for a business dinner. Check for reservations.
Delicious contemporary food in Little Italy, less upscale than Juniper & Ivy. Check for reservations.
151 locals recommend
Craft & Commerce
675 W Beech StDelicious contemporary food in Little Italy, less upscale than Juniper & Ivy. Check for reservations.
Another Little Italy gem with great food. Check for reservations.
61 locals recommend
Prepkitchen Little Italy
1660 India StAnother Little Italy gem with great food. Check for reservations.
Awesome food, good beer, casual atmosphere. Good for small groups (1-4 people). Sit outside and watch the seals and pelicans try to snag fish from the charter boats.
77 locals recommend
Mitch's Seafood
1403 Scott StAwesome food, good beer, casual atmosphere. Good for small groups (1-4 people). Sit outside and watch the seals and pelicans try to snag fish from the charter boats.
“Country-chic bar & eatery preparing a new American farm-to-table menu for breakfast, lunch & dinner” within walking distance of my house.
42 locals recommend
Farmer's Bottega
860 W Washington St“Country-chic bar & eatery preparing a new American farm-to-table menu for breakfast, lunch & dinner” within walking distance of my house.
Award winning new brewery in North Park that was started by my girlfriend’s friend. Ask for Todd or Stephanie and tell them that Elyse sent you. They just opened a location in Pt Loma that I haven’t been to yet, but a Mitch’s/Eppig food & drink combo sounds pretty great.
9 locals recommend
Eppig Brewing North Park
3794 30th StAward winning new brewery in North Park that was started by my girlfriend’s friend. Ask for Todd or Stephanie and tell them that Elyse sent you. They just opened a location in Pt Loma that I haven’t been to yet, but a Mitch’s/Eppig food & drink combo sounds pretty great.
Casual, trendy, great tasting Mexican food and tequila. It’s also a few blocks from Eppig (hint, hint…).
102 locals recommend
Cantina Mayahuel
2934 Adams AveCasual, trendy, great tasting Mexican food and tequila. It’s also a few blocks from Eppig (hint, hint…).
Drinks & Nightlife
Funky dive bar within stumbling distance of my house (corner of Washington and Goldfinch) that has karaoke on the weekends. Can be a fun place to end the night.
45 locals recommend
The Lamplighter
817 W Washington StFunky dive bar within stumbling distance of my house (corner of Washington and Goldfinch) that has karaoke on the weekends. Can be a fun place to end the night.
Sightseeing
Historical old-school CA hotel with a classy, mellow atmosphere. Strong choice for watching the sunset, date night, nightcap, etc…. Can get hectic in the summer.
519 locals recommend
Hotel Del Coronado
1500 Orange AveHistorical old-school CA hotel with a classy, mellow atmosphere. Strong choice for watching the sunset, date night, nightcap, etc…. Can get hectic in the summer.
La Jolla
Pretty beaches with tide pools—good place to walk/run along the beach.
Coronado is awesome. You can go to the beach, ride bikes around the island, play bocci ball, do a yoga class at the Del, surf/take surf lessons, etc…then hit the Del for drinks. There’s also a golf course on the island and a Sunday concert-in-the-park series during the summer. Hollands bike shop next to Clayton’s diner has bike rentals.
487 locals recommend
Coronado Island
Coronado is awesome. You can go to the beach, ride bikes around the island, play bocci ball, do a yoga class at the Del, surf/take surf lessons, etc…then hit the Del for drinks. There’s also a golf course on the island and a Sunday concert-in-the-park series during the summer. Hollands bike shop next to Clayton’s diner has bike rentals.
Check the Del Mar racetrack schedule! Go to a race and then stay afterwards for a concert.
180 locals recommend
Del Mar
Check the Del Mar racetrack schedule! Go to a race and then stay afterwards for a concert.
Entertainment & Activities
Go to dinner at Brooklyn Girl and then watch a movie at the open-air theatre across the street. Reserve tickets at www.topspresents.com.
22 locals recommend
Cinema Under The Stars
4040 Goldfinch StGo to dinner at Brooklyn Girl and then watch a movie at the open-air theatre across the street. Reserve tickets at www.topspresents.com.