Mentioned by Thrillist
San Diego’s 15 Best Eats Under $5
"The Taco Stand is a popular counter-order taco stand with limited indoor seating. Everything is made-to-order. We like the spicy shrimp tacos and al pastor tacos."
"As San Diego’s first vegan fast-food restaurant, Evolution has set the bar high. It was one of the first restaurants in the city to adopt completely biodegradable packaging—what appear to be plastic utensils and containers are in fact byproducts of wheat and corn which will eventually be reabsorbed back into the soil. The familiar fast-food favorites are also exceptional—from the flaky fish street tacos to the In-N-Out-style EVO Burger."
"Evolution, located in Bankers Hill, serves vegan burgers, sandwiches and wraps, small bites, cakes, and more. And when they say fast, they mean fast—they even have a drive thru. Grab a sandwich and enjoy it at Balboa Park, which is just across the street!"
"I've come to evolution many times prior to covid and had pleasant experiences. Today, was very unpleasant. Our burger was wrong.."
"Any item you would find on a typical fast food menu is proudly plant-based, non-GMO, organic and free from additives and preservatives. Get a “beefy’ patty for your burger or opt for the black bean version, on options such as the Big Zac (sound familiar?), the holy guacamole or mushroom swiss with a side of crispy fries or kale slaw. Kids can get a meal with chicken nuggets, mini corn dogs, or a cheeseburger and finish it off with a milk-shake, organic soda or kombucha."
"For a quick bite, head to this friendly counter service spot in Ocean Beach. The menu is packed with vegan versions of fast food favorites, from crispy “chicken” sandwiches to chili “cheese” fries. For those with further dietary restrictions, the entire menu is cholesterol-and GMO-free, and the fries, sauces, and even sodas are made from organic and all-natural ingredients."
"Plant Power offers awesome vegan food without GMOs or artificial ingredients. Their menu includes burgers, sandwiches, breakfast, salads, small bites, and shakes, along with a kids’ menu. Plant Power has three locations in San Diego, and their Ocean Beach restaurant has a drive thru—for those of you who need your vegan fix fast."
"Your local San Diego Subway® Restaurant, located at 2015 Garnet Ave brings delicious ingredients and mouth-watering flavors in billions of sandwich, salad and wrap combinations to you. An alternative to traditional fast food, we offer freshly cut veggies, toppings, protein and freshly-baked bread..."
"By adding your email you agree to get updates about Spoon University Healthier. Mornings usually call for a green smoothie or hearty bowl of oatmeal, but sometimes you need that sweet fix; and donuts are having their shining moment in San Diego. People are lining up to get some of the city’s best breakfast sugar bombs, and for good reason."
"Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by Le Parfait Paris (@le_parfait_paris) on May 11, 2019 at 8:26am PDT"
"This intimate and romantic, yet lively, Spanish restaurant features brick arches, dim lighting and black-lacquered ceilings. House specialties include an ever-popular and classic paella and halibut with salsa and goat cheese. The tapas bar offers more than 40 options, and the back bar is a sophisticated place where you can enjoy a pre- or post-dinner cocktail while being serenaded by local salsa, merengue and Spanish rock bands."
"San Diego is a thriving city constantly welcoming visitors from around the globe. With its endless sunshine, ocean waves, countless trails and picturesque shoreline, visitors flock to America’s finest city for relaxation, reinvigoration and rest. Some come for the laid-back atmosphere while others come for the outdoor activities."
"If you and your sweetie love a gourmet meal in a slightly refined atmosphere, Island Prime is the place to visit when you’re in San Diego. Start your meal with the seafood platter that includes oysters, crab, and shrimp, or try the crab cakes with lemon aioli. You can enjoy entrees like prime rib and mashed potatoes, salmon roulade with a basil potato puree, or fire-roasted cauliflower with Japanese eggplant."
"For dinner, I’d recommend the nearby Island Prime, where you can dine with a picture-perfect view of San Diego’s skyline. READ MORE: The Best San Diego Beachfront Hotels"
"Located at the 640 Tenth Avenue, Cowboy star is a bar that would apparently might portray an old-school steakhouse vibe, but the drinks offered here are totally new-school, offering creative spins on classics like margaritas (made with muddled green chilies) and Old Fashioned (Benchmark bourbon, simple syrup, Fee Brothers bitters), the Cowboy Star is home to every taste. This place features an on-site butcher along with an open kitchen, where you can watch all the magic happen yourself. Surprisingly the majority of the visitors coming here are tourists instead of the locals, mainly due to the posh interior and apparent retro vibe that it provides along with the great and exotic boozing options."
"Cowboy Star is a modern, sophisticated chophouse that takes its steaks and other weighty meat cuts seriously. For its lunch service, the La Jolla restaurant turns its focus to sand..."
"This Kensington shop feels a little like you are walking into a nostalgic diner with milkshake machine and all. They source their ice cream from Fosselman’s Ice Cream Company which has been around since 1919. In addition to a rotating 16 flavors served in traditional cones, cups, sundaes, cookie ice cream sandwiches or milkshakes, they also have Ice Cream Pies, Ice Cream Cakes and our favorite The Sparkler – a ginger ale float with your choice of sorbet!"
"KensingtonHandmade waffle cones and Fosselman’s famous premium ice cream make Moosie’s Ice Cream a must-stop for your snack break. Try the chocolate-covered strawberry flavor with one of their addictive brownies on the side, or their classic ice cream shop sundaes, shakes, malts, or floats in any one of 16 flavors. Easy brunch cheat—add one of their fresh sorbets (passionfruit is our favorite) to a glass of bubbly for an instant mimosa."
"It’s every kid’s dream to be treated with ice cream as yummy and colorful looking as the raspberry bowl you see in this photo. While there are many great ice cream spots in town, Moosie’s is the one that has it all - great ice cream, quick and friendly serving, sweet decor and the best price!. It’ll be a great bonus if you get lucky and arrive in time for occasional free samples; grab that chance."
"This frozen yogurt spot has been a local favorite for decades. I like nonfat peanut butter. I have been eating Froglander’s since I was in college except now they serve crepes and shakes, too."
"You can choose to customize a crepe, waffle, or their original "brick toast." They also offer a variety of drinks ranging from coffee to Nutella banana shakes, and you can add boba to any of them. After tasting your food, Up2you will make you feel like a professional pastry chef."
"Visit this Clairemont Mesa hang out to sip milk tea from a mason jar and munch on brick toast. It’s a buttery and sweet block of toast served with various toppings like ice cream and fruits. Frequented by local college students, Up2You has funky lounge seating and games to play."
"Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by UP 2 YOU CAFE + DESSERTS 🍡 (@up2youcafe) on Mar 28, 2019 at 10:26am PDT"