Mentioned by Fodor’s Travel
Top Restaurants in San Diego
"Owned by Top Chef Richard Blaise, think of The Crack Shack as a modern, hipster, casual eatery that takes the humble Chick-Fil-A and kicks it out of the barn and into the stratosphere. This is not fast food, this is foodie worthy chicken sandwiches and cocktails served in a fun and lively vibe. Great for families, and though not inexpensive you always get your moneys worth due to their excellent ingredients and incredible execution on their menu."
"This steadily-expanding spin-off from Juniper & Ivy’s culinary team has a foundation of fried chicken and fresh fare set in an appealing all-outdoor setting."
"This is a unique California-inspired restaurant with the chicken and the egg as the center of the menu. Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options are available, I had the chilaquiles and my kids tried a pancake flight."
"Hash House A Go Go – San Diego has been dishing up heaping portions of old, farm fresh recipes with a twist since 2000. Stop in for the unbelievable Sage Fried Chicken (and bacon waffles) or a one-pound stuffed burger. Executive Chef, Craig “Andy” Beardslee brings the flavor with his tasty, award-winning creations, while President, Johnny Rivera, ensures that everyone who visits enjoys an entertaining dining experience."
"Over in Hillcrest, check out Hash House A Go Go, which has earned four stars out of 7,198 reviews on Yelp. You can find the New American spot, which offers hashes, egg scrambles, French toast and more, at 3628 Fifth Ave."
"breakfast spot serves up generously portioned plates big enough to satisfy the largest of appetites. Andy’s World Famous Sage Fried Chicken is a must-have at this eatery, and the pancakes will satisfy any sweet tooth."
"Where: 1451 Washington St, San Diego, CA 92103 This brasserie-meets-American diner is a favorite within the LGBTQ+ community and is loved for its comfort food with a twist. The neighborhood hotspot, popular for weekend brunch, serves up fresh bacon-spiked donuts and other treats passed around the dining room on large boards. You can also enjoy a wide selection of mimosas and Bloody Marys."
"Fuel up on silver dollar pancakes, maple bacon donuts, and scramble melts at this modern brasserie meets classic dinette. For lunch, the BLT and smoked beef brisket sandwich are satiating. Great Maple has locations in Hillcrest and La Jolla, or, if you’re in the LA area, Newport Beach and Pasadena."
"This chic eatery serves a tasty American breakfast, delicious donuts and beignets served on a long slab of wood, and unique cocktails. there’s nothing that you can really go wrong with!. Located in University Heights neighborhood + UTC-area location."
"Join Flemings Steakhouse La Jolla for a three-course Thanksgiving feast for just $49 per person, including classics like the Mixed Herb-Roasted Turkey Breast, or Sliced Beef Tenderloin. Sides include delicious butter-mashed sweet potatoes or Yukon Gold mashed potatoes. And bring the kids, too!"
"The staff will always be incredibly friendly and the food tastes great too. Your dining experience in La Jolla will definitely be memorable if you try any of the restaurants featured here."
"Restaurant and butcher shop Ranch 45 in Solana Beach is happy to reopen for outdoor dining and unveil their recently renovated patio, which was completed shortly before the latest stay-at-home order took effect. The restaurant offers breakfast and lunch daily from 8PM to 4PM, along with a special dinner menu Thursdays through Saturdays from 5PM to 8:30PM, and a Sunday Supper series on Sundays from 2PM to 4PM. To compliment their menu offerings, Ranch 45 also offers a full selection of meat, wine and provisions."
"Solano BeachPick up fancies like Amhurst American Honey, Olibaja extra virgin olive oil made in the Valle de Guadalupe, or free-range eggs from Ramona’s Eben-Haezer Poultry Ranch and a full range of regular pantry products, cold-pressed juices, produce, and dairy products. How it works: Order online for pickup or delivery"
"The Wells Fargo Museum, located inside the Colorado House, features one of the company’s original 1867 Concord stagecoaches. The recreated and historically-furnished former hotel also houses actual historic telegraph machines and a variety of other memorabilia related to the banking and transportation company. Photo Courtesy of Historic Old Town Community Foundation"
"Coronado’s rich and complex history is a fascinating subject even for those that don’t consider themselves history buffs. The Historic Walking Tour sponsored by the Coronado Historical Association is a great change of pace and something your whole family will enjoy. Stroll through historic Coronado while a knowledgeable guide spills all the details behind the architecture and adventure that makes Coronado so unique."
"It is a not-for-profit organization with permanent and transitory exhibitions of local art & history and vast archives. It is a landmark Historical Association building that lies right in the center of the city. Also, there is a Museum Store that offers antique items for sale and a Museum Café in the Museum building."
"Coronado Historical Society, an easy walk from Hotel del Coronado, connects people with the city’s interesting past through museum exhibits, historic photos, and walking tours. The latter I also recommend as one of the things to do in Coronado for tourists. (Location: Coronado)"
"Bencotto means a meal "well done" or cooked perfectly in Italian. Voted Best Italian Restaurant by San Diego Magazine four years in a row, Bencotto puts a uniique spin on traditional Italian cuisine or regional specialties by offering dishes designed to share. The atmosphere is contemporary though mixed with the feel of an Old World kitchen."
"Bencotto Italian Kitchen offers traditional Italian cuisine and regional specialty dishes to share. Pasta is Bencotto’s signature dish and customers are free to order it al dente or cooked to their liking. Customers can also choose between eight different sauces for the pasta."
"An almost overwhelming medley of Spanish Renaissance and Baroque painting awaits at this museum in Balboa Park. El Greco, Murillo, Goya and Zurbarán are all here, together with Italian and Dutch Masters like Veronese, Canaletto, van Dyck, Rubens and Frans Hals. In the last few years, the museum was donated a raft of paintings from the Symbolist, Expressionist and New Objectivity movements, by Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele, Robert Delaunay, Otto Dix and Alexej von Jawlensky."
"Old Town State Park enables visitors to travel back in time and experience life during San Diego’s Mexican and early American period between 1821 and 1872. Visit restored and recreated historic buildings where you can view exhibits featuring a wide range of artifacts. Costumed interpreters relay fascinating stories and little-known facts about the rich culture of San Diego."
"Art lovers looking for a dose of culture should head to the San Diego Museum of Art. Its distinctive facade is a copy of the 17th-century University of Salamanca, in the so-called plateresque style, with finely-chiseled terra-cotta work. Busts of Spanish painters adorn the entrance, and their artworks are among the many eclectic exhibits displayed here."
"By Oleg Alexandrov (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons. Visit this vibrant, community-driven museum and get a taste of the San Diego art scene right at the source: the San Diego Art Institute. This museum's mission is to connect contemporary artists from southern California and northern Baja with audiences and to showcase art in a way that promotes cultural perspective and understanding."
"When founded in 1941, the San Diego Art Institute was called the San Diego Business Men’s Art Club, only permitting male members. By the 1950s, women were allowed in and the name had been changed. The cultural institution now showcases experimental art from a diverse array of artists from the Southern California/Baja Norte region."
"But it was clear that this gallery used some type of review management platform, as visitors had nothing but nice things to say. And although White Box Contemporary only dated back to 2011, it quickly became one of the best venues in and around the San Diego area. Opened and managed by artist and international art dealer Alexander Salazar, this was the place to be in the region for access to works from top new talent."