Restaurants

The most delicious dilemma facing San Diegans most days isn’t where to play, it’s what to eat. In San Diego County you’re facing nearly 3,000 restaurant choices, from drive-through taco stands to elegant gourmet dining rooms. In this chapter we’ve given you an overview of your dining options throughout San Diego County.

Certain areas are culinary hotbeds where you’ll find a dozen or more intriguing restaurants sitting nearly door-to-door for several blocks. La Jolla has long been the Insiders’ destination for culinary curiosities and excellence. But downtown’s Gaslamp Quarter has overtaken all competition. (Although a serious contender may be bringing up the rear. Encinitas Downtown Mainstreet in North County Coastal has over 40 restaurants along its 10-block strip.) In Gaslamp Quarter, more than 30 restaurants within a 16-block radius offer everything from Irish corned beef and cabbage to paella Valenciana. This long-neglected historic district has become nightlife central for Insiders, who simply spend the night in a Gaslamp hotel rather than driving home a tad inebriated late at night.

San Diego’s finest hotels are home to excellent restaurants that are so popular, maitre d’s have trouble juggling reservations for hotel guests and locals. Be sure to make reservations in advance at any upscale restaurant recommended in this chapter. Most are extremely popular.

Since San Diego abuts the U.S.-Mexico border, Mexican food is a regional specialty. Local grocery stores sell far more salsa than catsup, and jalapeño chilies, guacamole, and corn chips are among our basic food groups. For the most part, the best Mexican food is found in tiny hole-in-the-wall neighborhood hangouts. If you walk past one that’s crowded, you can be sure they serve great tacos, enchiladas, burritos, and huevos rancheros. Some more upscale restaurants are now serving good regional cuisine from throughout Mexico, and a few places specialize in serving premium brands of tequila. Be sure to sample a few fish tacos, a local specialty.

As always, remember that San Diego is a casual place. Very few restaurants have any kind of a dress code. The key phrase seems to be “casually elegant.” However, a few of the top-notch (meaning expensive) restaurants do insist that men wear jackets and that both men and women refrain from wearing shorts or jeans. If such a requirement exists, we’ll be sure to mention it. It’s not a bad idea to call ahead if you have any doubt, though.

Most restaurants accept reservations, except for the ultracasual places, and we recommend that you make them, especially on weekends. Most also accept all major credit cards; the exceptions are noted. The exceptions are usually small fast-food places that just aren’t equipped for credit cards but are certainly worth experiencing. If a restaurant is especially family friendly, we’ve mentioned it, but you’re likely to see children dining right along with Mom and Dad just about everywhere.

California has tough smoking laws. Smoking is prohibited in all restaurants and bars, unless you’re seated in an outdoor patio or terrace. Even then, your fellow diners may object if you light up.

As usual, we’ve divided the chapter by geographic region, with one slight deviation. Restaurants in the city of San Diego have been further broken down into groupings by neighborhoods for your convenience. Each restaurant has also been identified by its cuisine.

So go exploring and try something new. We know you’ll be pleased by what you’ll find.