San Diego Food & City Guide

In this Food Bloggers Guide To San Diego, I’m sharing my favorite things to do in San Diego, including where to eat, stay & play!

Hi, my name is Whitney, and I’m obsessed with food, and the city of San Diego, so I created the ultimate foodie guide to my favorite city in the world!

From my top spots for brunch and lunch, to my favorite Italian, Mexican, Spanish, Seafood, and Chinese restaurants, to coffee shops, happy hour spots, breweries and cocktail bars, I’m giving you the inside look at where, and what, I eat and drink when I’m out and about in this beautiful city that I’m so lucky to call home! I’ve included my Must Try dishes and As Seen On Insta links to give you a closer look at the dishes I’ve featured on my Instagram page over the years!

This page is an ongoing project with monthly updates on new restaurants, bars and menu items at my favorite spots! Because one thing’s for sure, San Diego always has something new and awesome popping up!

If you want to see what & where I’m eating before it hits this page, follow me on Instagram for daily updates on things to do in San Diego, and beyond!

Check out my other food blogger guides for New Orleans, New York City and Philadelphia!

• Brunch

  • Queenstown (Downtown – Little Italy)
    • The Oink – MUST TRY! → as seen on Insta!
    • Prawn & Grits
    • Lamb Hash
    • Sheila’s Guilt
  • Coffee Cup (La Jolla)
    • Avocado Scramble – Rosemary Potatoes – AMAZING! → as seen on Insta!
    • French Toast – the Blueberry Puree is where it’s at!
    • Papas Loco with Eggs & Bacon → as seen on Insta!
  • The Great Maple (University Heights)
    • House-Smoked Grass-Fed Beef Brisket Hash → as seen on Insta! 
    • Fresh Maple Bacon Donuts
  • Nomad Donuts (North Park) → as seen on Insta!
    • Menu changes daily – I’ve yet to have a donut here that wasn’t amazing!
  • Mister A’s (Downtown – Bankers Hill)
    • Pork Belly and Sweet Potato Hash – MUST TRY! → as seen on Insta!
  • Monello (Downtown – Little Italy)
    • Nutella, Pumpkin & Ricotta Pancakes → as seen on Insta!
    • Monello Eggs Benedict with Pesto Hollandaise

Pictured: The Oink at Queenstown

Pictured: Eggs Benedict with Pesto Hollandaise at Monello

• Lunch

  • Queenstown (Downtown – Little Italy)
    • Lamb Burger & Sweet Potato Fries → as seen on Insta! 
    • Caesar Salad with Grilled Ahi → as seen on Insta! 
  • Carnita’s Snack Shack (Downtown)
    • Triple Threat Pork Sandwich → as seen on Insta! 
  • The Crack Shack (Downtown – Little Italy)
    • Brick House Sandwich → as seen on Insta! 
  • Hodad’s (2 Locations: Downtown & Ocean Beach)
    • Chocolate Shake – MUST TRY! → as seen on Insta! 
    • Bacon Cheeseburger → as seen on Insta! 
    • Frings – Fries & Onion Rings – because they’re both awesome! → as seen on Insta! 
  • Firehouse (Pacific Beach)
    • Ahi Stack
    • Lobster Roll → as seen on Insta! 
    • Bacon Fat Mac & Cheese
    • Crispy Brussels Sprouts – MUST TRY! → as seen on Insta! 
  • Rubicon Deli (2 Locations: Mission Hills & Mission Beach)
    • Dapper Dipper – MUST TRY! → as seen on Insta! 

Pictured: Bacon Fat Mac & Cheese at Firehouse

Pictured: Onion Rings at Hodads

• American

  • Cowboy Star (Downtown – East Village)
    • Filet Mignon
    • Beef Tartare
  • TRUST (Hillcrest)
    • Ricotta Agnolotti
    • Hamachi Crudo
    • Wood Grilled Octopus → as seen on Insta!
    • Hush Puppies – MUST TRY!
    • Wood Grilled Lamb Meatballs
    • Pork Sugo

Pictured: Ricotta Agnolotti at TRUST

• Indian

  • Taste of The Himalayas (Point Loma)
    • Garlic Cilantro Naan
    • Butter Chicken – MUST TRY!

• Chinese

  • Tasty Noodle House
    • Shanghai Xiao Long Bao – MUST TRY!
    • Shanghai Grilled Pork Bun
    • Ginger Scallion Beef with Noodles
    • Beef Chow Mein with Black Pepper Sauce

• Thai

  • Koon Thai
    • Roti Bread with Curry Sauce
    • Tom Ka Soup
    • Massamun Pork Shank
    • Yellow Curry
    • Thai Basil
    • Pad Thai

• Italian

  • Buona Forchetta (2 locations – Liberty Station & South Park)
    • Bucatini Boscaiola – MUST TRY!
    • All of their pizzas are amazing!
  • Davanti (2 locations: Downtown – Little Italy & Del Mar)
    • Ragu & Polenta – MUST TRY!
    • Focaccia with Honeycomb → as seen on Insta!
    • Prosciutto Pizza
    • Rigatoni with Sausage
  • Monello (Downtown – Little Italy)
    • Ragu Risotto Cones → as seen on Insta!
    • Squid Ink Pasta with Lobster – MUST TRY!
    • Monello Pizza
  • Bencotto (Downtown – Little Italy)
    • Fresh Pasta with Lamb Sauce → as seen on Insta!
  • Solare (Point Loma – Liberty Station)
    • Risotto & Scallops – MUST TRY! → as seen on Insta!
    • Pistachio & Coffee Crusted Lamb Loin (this was a special when I was there last, but if it’s on the menu, DEFINITELY ORDER IT!) → as seen on Insta!

• Mexican

  • Puesto (2 locations: Downtown – Seaport Village & La Jolla)
    • Crab Guacamole → as seen on Insta!
    • Ceviche → as seen on Insta!
    • Lamb Barbacoa Taco → as seen on Insta!
    • Lobster Taco
    • Esquite

Pictured: Tacos at Puesto

• Spanish

  • Cafe Sevilla (Downtown) → as seen on Insta! 
    • • Beef, Chorizo or Wild Mushroom Empanadas
      • Olive Bread with Aioli & Tomato Sauce
      • Bacon Wrapped Dates – MUST TRY!
      • Pollo Brocheta
    • House Red Sangria – MUST TRY!

• Hawaiian

  • Duke’s (La Jolla)
    • Mussels Adobo – MUST TRY! → as seen on Insta! 
    • Fresh Fish Crudo – MUST TRY!
    • Tahitian Octopus
    • King Ranch Beef Filet – MUST TRY!
    • Roasted Duke’s Fish

• Seafood

  • Ironside (Downtown – Little Italy)
    • Oysters → as seen on Insta! 
    • Lobster Roll → as seen on Insta!

• Coffee

  • Pappalecco (Downtown – Little Italy) → as seen on Insta! 
    • EAT: Ham & Cheese Croissant
    • DRINK: Chai Tea Latte
  • Bird Rock Coffee Roasters (Downtown – Little Italy, Pacific Beach, Del Mar, La Jolla) → as seen on Insta! 
  • James Coffee Co (Downtown – Little Italy)
    • DRINK: Cold Brew Coffee

• Happy Hour

  • Isola (Downtown – Little Italy)
    • HAPPIEST HOURS: 3-6 PM Everyday
    • DRINK: $5 Wine $4 Beer
    • EAT: $4 Bruschetta Burrata→ as seen on Insta!  $5 Pizza Margherita $4 Bruschetta → as seen on Insta!
  • Mister A’s (Downtown – Banker’s Hill – Best View in San Diego!)
    • HAPPIEST HOURS: 2:30-6 PM Sunday – Thursday at bar & patio
    • DRINK: Seasonal cocktail menu is always changing, but there are always tons of delicious options!
    • EAT: $7 Truffled Tries $10.5 Baby Kobe Beef Burgers or Seared Rare Ahi Sliders → as seen on Insta! 
  • Queenstown (Downtown – Little Italy)
    • HAPPIEST HOURS: 3 – 6 PM Monday – Friday
    • DRINK: Flights of Sangria → as seen on Insta! 
    • EAT: Lamb Sliders → as seen on Insta! 

• Breweries

  • Ballast Point (2 Locations: Downtown – Little Italy & Miramar)
    • DRINK: Sculpin IPA or Wahoo White
    • EAT: Shrimp or Fish Tacos → as seen on Insta!
  • Stone Brewery (2 Locations: Point Loma & Escondido)
    • DRINK: Stone IPA or Stone Drink By (if in season)
    • EAT: Fresh Yellowfin Tuna Poke Tacos & Charred Brussels Sprouts

• Cocktails

  • Kettner Exchange (Downtown – Little Italy)
    • DRINK: Moscow Mule – BEST EVER! or PD Collins
    • EAT: Big Eye Tuna Tacos or Double Double Burger

Beyond the Food

While eating is obviously one of my favorite things to do in San Diego, living in America’s Finest City has other perks, such as great hiking trails, beautiful beaches and tons of fun annual events! Here are some of my other top San Diego picks “beyond the food”!

• Hiking

  • Torrey Pines State Park
    • Easy hike, beautiful views, directly on the water!
  • Mt Woodson – Potato Chip Rock
    • Difficult hike, but great Instagram pic opportunity at the top 😉

Pictured: Jumps at Potato Chip Rock

• Beaches

  • Coronado Island – beautiful, long, white sandy beaches line this San Diego Island, home to the famous Hotel Del Coronado!

• Events

• • Taste of Little Italy – One day annually in Mid-June → as seen on Insta!
  • San Diego County Fair – Annually during the month of June → as seen on Insta!
  • Little Italy Farmers Market – Every Saturday → as seen on Insta!
  • Opening Day at Petco Park – One day annually in April → as seen on Insta!
  • Ice Skating at Liberty Station – annually from Nov – Jan → as seen on Insta!

 

Was your favorite San Diego restaurant, dish, brewery or event on the list? If so, rad, you have great tastes 😉 Comment below and let me know!

Didn’t see your favorite San Diego dish on the list? Comment below with your favorite spots, and must try dishes! After-all, I’m always on the lookout for my next foodie adventure and fun things to do in San Diego!