Mentioned by SmarterTravel
The Best Cheap Eats in San Diego
"If the fresh ocean air has you ironically craving BBQ, head over to the Coronado Ferry Landing for pulled pork, brisket, sausage, ribs, and chicken. Served as a sandwich or plate with your choice of three housemade sauces ranging from sweet to spicy, this casual spot is a popular choice to get your BBQ fix. Insider tip: Tables can be hard to come by during the lunch and dinner rush so come early or order online."
"For a casual dinner, check-out this local Memphis style BBQ joint where everything is made fresh daily. With spectacular park and bay views, they have over 100 varieties of beer to choose from to help you wash down the delicious food!. Don’t forget to check-out So Diego Tours for a chance to experience the best this island has to offer as part of a group!"
"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 Tasting room at California Wild Ales is now open Friday - Sunday for dine-in service, food order is required. While curbside pickup of bottles, crowlers, and growlers is available Wednesday - Sunday or order online anytime here order here."
"Tue - Wed 3:00 - 8:00 PM; Thu - Fri 12:00 - 8:00 PM; Sat 12:00 - 7:00 PM; Sun 12:00 - 5:00 PM"
"San Marcos’ Meadiocrity is selling growers and bottles to-go from their tasting room Thursday- Saturday 5pm-8pm and Sunday 3pm-6pm. They are also open for onsite service and shipping."
"Deft models their beer-brewing approach after a distinctly European style. Goldens, reds, dubbels, stouts and even a seasonal helles are usually on tap, although the selection rotates regularly. And the only thing more appealing than the beer list?"
"Mon - Thu 4:00 - 9:00 PM; Fri - Sat 12:00 - 9:00 PM; Sun 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM"
"Big things come in little packages, or in this case, restaurants. The Fish Pit is a small eatery serving up massively fresh and flavorful seafood. One of the best cheap seafood restaurants in San Diego, the Pit has a hip local college vibe with SDSU students and locals alike raving about their versatile menu of tacos, sushi, salads, and soups."
"Showcasing line-caught, sustainable fish, Fish Pit’s varied menu draws from a variety of cuisine types. On the menu, spicy tuna pops sit alongside a variety of pokes, tacos, sushi, fried rice and salads—all featuring seafood as the main ingredient. Call ahead for delivery and takeout."
"This place is fancy, young, trendy with the plates nearly as beautiful as the people. Lionfish Modern Coastal Cuisine is located in the Gaslamp area inside an ultra cool upscale hotel. Lionfish does everything from sashimi to small plates to share to full on instagram worthy entrees."
"Restaurants in San Diego’s touristy Gaslamp Quarter haven't had to try very hard in the past, but the 2017 opening of the swanky Pendry Hotel infused the neighborhood with new culinary energy. Of the hotel's six drinking and dining venues..."
"A five-minute drive from North Ponto Beach will get you to Ruby’s Diner, a perfect go-to place to after a day’s fun at the beach. This retro-style dining chain along Paseo Del Norte street has an exciting interior and serves a variety of kids’ menu items. Interesting dishes include “pigs in a blanket”, chicken fingers and Baro’s root beer float!"
"The San Diego Zoo has more than 3,700 animals, including many rare and endangered species, that are showcased within different habitats throughout the zoo. Visit Africa Rocks to spot leopards and baboons, or journey to the Northern Frontier to watch polar bears swim in their arctic plunge pool. Save your tired feet and take the 35-minute guided bus tour that explores various areas of the park or check out the show schedule where you can learn more about some of the zoo’s inhabitants."
"The world-renowned San Diego Zoo spans 100 acres and houses more than 3,700 rare and endangered animals. Plan to spend at least a half-day at the zoo to get the full experience, which includes shows and animal presentations. During the summer, Nighttime Zoo event series allows visitors to stay later into the evening."
"Visitors watch animals from an open truck, San Diego Zoo Safari Park|© Jason O. Watson (USA: California photographs) / Alamy Stock Photo"
"The Asian Passage is south of Panda Canyon and is a simulation of a tropical Asian rain forest. This scenic passage includes grizzly bears, snow leopards, and sun bears. This spectacular area also features the Sun Bear Forest, which resembles a southeast Asian rain forest, and the Hawaiian Native Plant Garden."
"The Asian Passage area includes the Sun Bear Forest, Grizzly Bear exhibit, and more. It’s a fun area to explore, and isn’t quite as big as Africa Rocks."
"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."