Best ceviche in San Diego (and other tourist-like questions) (Encinitas: rental car, rental)

[Ramblnways]

Hi San Diego people,

I will be taking a little road trip down to San Diego from the SF Bay Area at the end of this December. I am in search of the best ceviche in San Diego. At this point, I'll take moderately OK ceviche. The Bay Area in general is lacking in moderately OK to excellent ceviche.

I am not picky about the country of origin--I know I'm likely to get Mexican style being so close to the border. But I am part Ecuadorean so if anyone knows of a restaurant that serves Ecuadorean-style ceviche, that would go beyond my wildest expectations. And if it's coastal Ecuadorean style ceviche then I might just have to find you and kiss you.


Food and coffee question: I have searched this forum and found many many discussions on the best non-touristy things to do in San Diego, but what about the most touristy? Besides the Zoo, which I feel is a given. My husband and I are in our late 20s, into hipster coffee shops, farm-to-table restaurants, burritos, and Korean food. We will have a rental car but would like to walk as much as possible. My husband is into craft beer as well.

Neighborhood question: we will be traveling with our two dogs and prefer to stay in an Airbnb because in general, we have found those to be way more pet-friendly than most hotels. What neighborhoods would you all recommend for walkability to coffee shops that are not Peet's or Starbucks? Or even a rec for a neighborhood that has one coffee shop that I could frequent for my daily fix of coffee and people watching? We are ambivalent to being close to the beach (we have a car, after all) and noise doesn't really bother us.


Thanks in advance!

[spoonman1]

You can search Yelp for a number of cevich places. I'm not an expert, but here are some that may fit the bill.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/pisco-rotis...eria-san-diego
https://www.yelp.com/biz/mariscos-al...-2?osq=Ceviche
https://www.yelp.com/biz/karinas-cev...go?osq=Ceviche
https://www.yelp.com/biz/mariscos-el-pulpo-san-diego-3
https://www.yelp.com/biz/elis-peruvi...en-san-diego-7

[Ramblnways]

Thanks for the reply! I did do a Yelp search for ceviche specifically, but I'm always helpful locals know better than Yelp!

[RosieSD]

Originally Posted by Ramblnways

Thanks for the reply! I did do a Yelp search for ceviche specifically, but I'm always helpful locals know better than Yelp!

Try Latin Chef in Pacific Beach. Latin Chef | San Diego, CA 92109 | Menu | Order Online

Pacific Beach would be a good place to stay. Very walkable and there are a lot of restaurants and nightlife there. Also take a look at Hillcrest, North Park, and Normal Heights/University Heights for options. Lestats is a local coffee house with several locations that I personally like. (Home - Lestat's)

The only three places in San Diego that I think are totally touristy and steer clear of are Seaport Village, Sea World and Old Town San Diego.

The Zoo is fun for a morning and I wouldn't let fear of tourists scare you away. Try to go on a weekday if possible as it's usually less crowded.

The Zoo is located in Balboa Park, which is a destination of its own. On a weekend, the Prado can be a lot of fun, and I like to have drinks at Panama 66 there which has some good craft beers. There is a ton of things to do and see in Balboa Park. It's sort of like San Diego's backyard. You can bring your dogs to walk around the Prado, although that will limit you in terms of going into buildings and such. https://www.balboapark.org/explore

Speaking of your dogs, here's a list of dog parks and dog beaches in the city of San Diego. https://www.sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/parks/dogs We really like taking our dogs to Fiesta Island as it is spread out so they get good exercise. It's on the bay, not the ocean, and there is enough beach space that it never feels too crowded with dogs. Be cautious if you take your dogs to the dog park at Ocean Beach. We find the dogs can get rowdier there at times, so keep an eye on your dogs there.

There are additional dog beaches and off leash parks in many other parts of San Diego county as well, so don't limit yourself just to parks/beaches within the city limits.

Here is a list of breweries that allow dogs on their patios: https://www.sandiego.org/articles/br...breweries.aspx

The same site (https://www.sandiego.org) has tons of discount offers and good overviews of all of the neighborhoods in the City and much of the county. It is a great planning resource for anyone visiting the San Diego area. Heck, I live here and often use it myself.


The following may or may not be for you, and they are not in the city of San Diego, but if you want non-touristy things to do/see and have a spare day, these options would be worth considering.

1. If you'd like to take your dogs on a hike in areas that aren't over run with tourists, Los Penasquitos Canyon (https://www.sandiego.gov/park-and-re...lospenasquitos) and Mission Trails Regional Park (https://mtrp.org/) are both great options within a half hour drive of downtown. Both allow dogs on leash.

2. Do a winery tour in the Ramona Valley. Milagro Winery is our personal favorite, and they often have live music on the weekends. https://www.ramonavalleyvineyards.com/map/ Then head over to Rancho Cuyamaca State Park or Mount Laguna for a short hike to work off the wine. (Julian is on the way, but has become pretty touristy). You can make a full day loop out of it if you do this. Some of the trails allow dogs on leash and some of the winery tasting rooms allow dogs on their patios.

3. This time of year, the San Diego desert is starting to cool off. It's a bit of a drive (about two and a half hours from SD), but Salvation Mountain and East Jesus, out by the Salton Sea are interesting and quirky destinations for a day trip. http://eastjesus.org/ http://www.salvationmountain.us/ (I wouldn't take dogs to either of these places)

4. Anza Borrego Desert State Park is a bit closer to the coast, and one of my favorite places in San Diego County when I want to get away from the hordes. Stop at the visitors center in Borrego Springs and ask for suggestions on hikes and drives through the park.
https://www.visitcalifornia.com/dest...ert-state-park Again, allow a full day for this trip. (As long as it is not too hot, dogs could do this road trip, but bring plenty of water for the dogs).



Enjoy your trip!

[sprez33]

Cafe Secrets in Del Mar makes very good ceviche in the opinions of DW and I. It's a bit north in the seaside town of Del Mar. It's a Peruvian restaurant so I guess it's Peruvian style ceviche. (Until your post I'd been happily moving through live believing that there was just one type of ceviche. Now I have to deal with the added complexity of multiple types of ceviche. )

Given your desires, I'd recommend staying in the North Park section of town. Plenty of 'third wave' coffee shops, creft beer tasting rooms, and farm-to-table restaurants.

Coffee: Caffe Calabria, Holsem, Subterranean, etc.
Craft Beer: Mike Hess, North Park, Toronado, Thorn Street, WayPoint Public, Hamiltons (in South Park but an SD craft beer institution) https://www.sandiego.org/articles/br...reet-beer.aspx
Farm-to-Table: Smoking Goat + One Door North, Waypoint Public, Jayne's Gastropub,

[cruitr]

Rosie...
" a list of breweries that allow dogs on their patios"

Thanks for coming back!

cruitr

[echo42]

There is a Mexican Mariscos food truck in the parking lot of the Target in South Park that has really good ceviche as well as other good seafood stuff.

[T. Damon]

Originally Posted by echo42

There is a Mexican Mariscos food truck in the parking lot of the Target in South Park that has really good ceviche as well as other good seafood stuff.

AARGHH!!! SHHHHH!!!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrQSMcU_IRQ

This is why the three minute walk from my house to my local excellent Mexican Mariscos food truck the other day was packed with a line from people all over the county!!! I'm a friendly guy so I'm chatting up all the folks in line (though a little perturbed- it was 2:00, not noon!) and they were from La Mesa, San Carlos, Encinitas, Bonita... What?!-What the heck brought you all the way out here?!

It's ruined now I tell you, ruined!

Just kidding but all the dang great places in my 'hood get way too much positive press making it hard for us locals to pull up a chair whenever we like as we used to be able to.

[TacoSoup]

While both are “taco shops” both JV’s in Bay Park on Morena Blvd, and Oscars two locations in PB, one on Emerald St., and one on Turquiose St, all have delicious ceviche at a great price. Both have great reviews, especially Oscars, and JV’s has been on different food shows/networks.

My wife and I always order ceviche as an appetizer when we go out and these are some of the best regardless of price.

[echo42]

Originally Posted by T. Damon

AARGHH!!! SHHHHH!!!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrQSMcU_IRQ

This is why the three minute walk from my house to my local excellent Mexican Mariscos food truck the other day was packed with a line from people all over the county!!! I'm a friendly guy so I'm chatting up all the folks in line (though a little perturbed- it was 2:00, not noon!) and they were from La Mesa, San Carlos, Encinitas, Bonita... What?!-What the heck brought you all the way out here?!

It's ruined now I tell you, ruined!

Just kidding but all the dang great places in my 'hood get way too much positive press making it hard for us locals to pull up a chair whenever we like as we used to be able to.

yep, that's the one. really good food. I have business in the area from time to time with my rental property, so I always stop in here for lunch when Im back in the neighborhood.