Mentioned by Fodor’s Travel
Top Restaurants in San Diego
"Best for: a crowd pleaserLocation: 2266 Kettner Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101Menu. Fried chicken, happy hour, outdoor seating… what’s not to love at this trendy restaurant in San Diego?. The Crack Shack has been making headlines since it debuted in Little Italy in 2015 and multiple locations have already popped up around the state due to the restaurant’s immediate success."
"Crack Shack is one of San Diego’s most popular family-friendly restaurants for fried chicken on an otherworldly level. Celebrity Chef Richard Blais developed “Crack Spice” which is a proprietary blend of spices that he adds to locally raised, free-living, antibiotic-free chicken. Opt straight for the fried chicken with dipping sauces or one of the decadent sandwiches."
"What is it: This stylized outdoor coop slings fried chicken and good times. Why go: The adorable setting features picnic tables and red farm chairs set under strung Edison bulbs, a lively al fresco bar and kitchen housed in a modern barn structure. Yet, there’s some serious brawn behind all the playfulness."
"A flight is three pancakes, where you can mix and match flavors. We recommend the Oreo pancake with cookie crumbles and cream. Likewise, try the cinnamon roll pancake or pineapple upside down pancakes (family favorites)."
"Hash House is the place you go for a breakfast so huge it would sustain you for an entire month if you were a snake (shoutout to all the reptilian people out there). The guys in the kitchen are not only making the best breakfast you’ll ever shove into your face, they're also engineering geniuses who are breaking down the barriers between architecture and food by making everything on your plate as deliciously vertical as possible. Now, who's ready for a fried chicken Benedict on a biscuit with maple reduction and bacon mashed potatoes?"
"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."
"Great Maple is located in the charming neighborhood of University Heights and serves up a deliciously unique twist on modern American comfort food. This San Diego staple has won the “Best New Restaurant Award” from California Restaurant Association’s 30th Annual Gold Medallion Awards as well as two Diners’ Choice Awards in 2017 and 2018. Patrons will want to try their California chorizo scramble, which is mixed with gourmet chorizo, piquillo peppers, fresh cilantro, onions, cheddar cheese, and cilantro sour cream."
"It’s got a modern hipster diner vibe with great aesthetics & the food NEVER fails you. It’s just a classic spot that EVERYONE will like. I highly recommend the maple donuts, the squash blossom or brisket popovers, & a Bloody Mary (their bloodies are so good!)."
"Honor that awesome report card or celebrate a birthday with a glamping dinner in one of the safari tents at One Door North in North Park. From oysters and braised short rib tacos to a kids menu and ready-to-make s'mores, you'll find everyone leaves a happy camper. Make a reservation early, as the two safari tents go fast!"
"Crushed is a bar/restaurant and not a coffee shop but this trendy place in Pacific Beach is a good spot to get some work done and either have a delicious brunch or grab a beer while you finish up for the day. Their mimosas are good too!. Downside: they don’t open until 10am on Tuesdays through Thursdays (8am on other days)."
"Kids can take their pick from empanadas, bao buns, tacos, or pizza followed by sweet crepes, cookies, and bubble waffles at Liberty Public Market, which also has an astroturf outdoor space with tons of seating. Kid-friendly restaurants Officine Buona Forchetta and Stone Brewing are just a short walk away."
"Guests go to Liberty Public Market for meals, drinks, and pop-up dinners, as well as to buy fresh produce, fish, art, crafts, sundries and pastries. It’s open every day from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., though some individual vendors may have different hours."
"The city's former Naval Training Center is now home to more than 30 vendors so even the pickiest of diners will be pleased. Options include...Read More"
"Studio Diner is open late-night (round-the-clock from Thursday through Sunday and until midnight during the rest of the week) and set on a working studio lot in the Kearny Mesa business district. The menu features a wide array of great selections, made from only the freshest and highest quality ingredients. Try the turkey Reuben sandwich, T-bone steak and eggs, patty melt or other hearty fare but be sure to save room for Yo Mama's apple pie or decadent carrot cake."
"OK, now we're talking genuine diner: all steel and chrome and bay windows. Studio Diner is a true roadside diner, located off the beaten path on the grounds of the Stu Segall studios (Veronica Mars). Refurbished with a movie studio theme, Studio Diner is sleek and slightly upscale, featuring comfort food tweaked ever so slightly, in a delicious way."
"Veterans Museum at Balboa Park honors the memories of the men and women who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States as well as the Wartime Merchant Marine. The museum houses permanent, rotating and visiting collections of patriotic, military and war-related artifacts and memorabilia. *Small donation requested."
"Located in the historic Old Navy Chapel, the museum preserves and honors the memory of men and women of the Armed Forces, Coast Guard, and Wartime Merchant Marine. The collection contains artifacts, documents, photographs, memorabilia, and artwork from the Civil War to the present."
"The San Diego Union Museum enables visitors to see where the San Diego Union, the first newspaper in the city, got its start. Visitors can tour the recreated editor’s office and the original print room to see how they looked in 1868. The prefabricated wooden building was manufactured on the East Coast, shipped to California and reassembled in 1851."
"The museum showcases the region’s unique, colorful, and diverse history exhibiting artifacts, costumes, textiles, art, and photographs detailing life and development of the local area."
"The Museo de las Californias chronicles the history of Baja California from prehistoric times to the present. The exhibit kicks off with replica cave paintings, then covers important historical milestones, illustrated in many cases by realistic dioramas and scale models, including replicas of a 16th-century ship, several missions and even a freestone chapel."