Mentioned by Tripster Travel Guide
7 of the Best Places to Eat in San Diego on a Budget
"This brewery specializing in San Diego-style lagers and ales has great service, great food, and of course, great beer. The taproom is large (there’s even balcony seating) and unlike many San Diego breweries, the decor feels upscale, not industrial. Maybe because of that — and because of the welcoming atmosphere — the mix of people tends to be eclectic."
"Bartender pouring a Death Before Dying beer at North Park in San Diego. Credit: Courtesy of North Park Beer. The first thing you should know about this company is that its tasting room is big, beautiful, and definitely a place where you’d want to spend an afternoon."
"The North Park tasting room is open for curbside pick-up delivery of cans, crowlers and growlers. Local same day delivery available Thursday - Saturday for orders placed by noon. along with shipping anywhere in California."
"Karl Strauss Brewing is one of the oldest San Diego breweries on the block!. Starting back in the mid 80’s, Karl Strauss has been leading the craft beer scene before it became popular. Their craft brews have received many gold medals, including the famous Red Trolley Ale (which has been award 11 gold and 5 silver medals)."
"The downtown, Sorrento Mesa, Carlsbad, and 4S Ranch locations of Karl Strauss brewpubs are open and offerer their full menus along with barre, wine,and hard seltzer for pickup (order online) or delivery through Door Dash,GrubHub,and Uber Eats."
"302 E Broadway, Vista 92084 Although there are various brewing locations throughout the city of San Diego, Belching Beaver decided to put its Tavern Grill in the heart of North County’s brewing hub in Vista. The tavern is a rustic indoor/outdoor patio with fire pits and two spacious hangout areas, both of which your furry friend is welcome to join you in. The tavern offers lunch Wednesday through Sunday, and dinner Monday through Friday, with a weekday Happy Hour."
"The most popular Belching Beaver beer, the Peanut Butter Milk Stout. Photo credit: Belching Beaver Brewery. This brewery has one of the most unique flavored stouts and a lively atmosphere."
"Inspired by stories of Nordic Vikings, this brewery specializes in bold, strong, and unique flavors. In fact, many of its brews are named after Norse gods and mythical figures, like Loki’s Wit, Odinson, Asgard Ale, Ragnabock. If you’re a fan of Norse mythology, or the Avengers, you’ll definitely appreciate their tasting room."
"This outpost location of Escondido’s Stone Brewing Company is one of the best breweries in Downtown San Diego, and it has many of the same signature brews, special releases, and small-batch beers on its lineup of 16 taps as its parent brewery. There are also farm-fresh snacks in the bistro, and if you fall in love with a specific brew, bottles are available for takeaway. (Tip: There’s another downtown location in Little Italy on Kettner Blvd.)"
"Craft beer lovers will recognize Stone Brewing since their brews are distributed not only around the country, but around the world. Hailing from San Diego, Stone Brewing has been making beer for over 10 years and is the largest brewery in Southern California. Their Arrogant Bastard Ale became so popular, they created a separate brewing company for it."
"Starting in a small, single-unit commercial space in San Diego, AleSmith was inspired by European flavors to create its brews. Its newest, modern brewery, oddly enough on AleSmith Court, features the city’s largest tasting room and a brew system that can pump out more than 100,000 barrels per year. The company has enjoyed many accolades and awards over the years, especially for its Barrel-Aged Speedway Stout, which has a whopping 12 percent ABV."
"The William Heath Davis Historic House Museum is the Gaslamp district’s oldest surviving structure, a saltbox style home shipped around Cape Horn and assembled in San Diego in 1850. The museum has been home to many fascinating people, including pre-civil war soldiers, a German Spy and Alonzo Horton, founder of San Diego. Each room represents a historic period of the home and is filled with fascinating and amusing stories about the former inhabitants."
"Built by William Heath Davis in 1850, many fascinating people, including Alonzo Horton, have called the William Heath Davis House 'home.' You'll get to tour the home, and its decorated rooms - each representing different eras in the life of the house and its various former (and rumored ghostly current) inhabitants. Getting in: William Heath Davis House tickets are included on the Go San Diego Card All-Inclusive Pass."
"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"
"The Seeley Stable Museum is a reproduction of the Yuma to San Diego stage stop. It displays a wide collection of 19th-century transportation vehicles and equipment as well as other rare artifacts."
"This not-for-profit aquarium and zoo connects kids with the animals and plants of the California coast. Located on the Sweetwater Marsh National Wildlife Refuge in Chula Vista, the Living Coast Discovery Center offers family-friendly activities and events such as shark, ray, turtle, and eagle feedings; guided trail hikes; Overnight Adventures; and VIP Animal Encounters. Seasonal exhibits promote wildlife conservation and educate young visitors about their impact on the environment."
"This nonprofit discovery center is there to provide environmental education related to coastal resource conservation. You park in a parking lot and bus takes you over to the center. Once there you can see the sharks, visit the sting ray touch tank, and see the bald eagles they have there."
"This is located in the Sweetwater Marsh Unit of the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge in Chula Vista and is a popular choice for school trips. The experience here is pretty unique. You get to feed bat rays and have meet-and-greets with reptiles."
"The Lost Forest is a fun little area packed with extensive trails that wind through exhibits and aviaries. These trails are home to animals from the rainforests of Asia and Africa, and wind their way up into the canopy as well as along the forest floor, with arboreal animals displayed above and ground dwellers below. You’ll find monkeys, barbirusas, tigers, great apes, okapis, and several various species of exotic birds."
"Guests will feel like there are in the rain forest when they enter the Lost Forest. The Lost Forest is in the northeast corner of the Zoo. Some animals in this area include hippos, tigers, okapi, otters, birds and primates."
"Although there are quite a few bakeries, donut shops, and ice cream parlors in San Diego that offer vegan options, Starry Lane Bakery is the only place I’ve found that offers 100% vegan desserts. And, might I add, really good vegan desserts. The great thing about this bakery is that it’s good for anyone who is sensitive to food allergens, since they make all of their desserts without the top 10 most common allergens."
"Born from the minds of two sisters – one with life-threatening food allergies – all of the bakery’s products are Top 10 allergen-free. Starry Lane values the health and safety of their customers, and they achieve that through transparency and delicious food."
"It comes complete with cupcakes, frosting, sprinkles, spatulas and decorations for you to decorate your own unique cupcake treats at home."