San Diego Food + Drinks Worth Seeking

Beach San Diego

Ocean Beach Pier is a short walk from laid back favorites like Hodad's and South Beach Bar & Grille.

San Diego is a sprawling city that can be tricky to navigate as long as you’re willing to stray from tourist zones like the Gaslamp Quarter. No longer thank to these 14 San Diego restaurants worth seeking from Chula Vista to Rancho Sante Fe.

Establishments appear in alphabetical order, not by preference.

Aqui Es Texcoco (1043 Broadway, Chula Vista, 619.427.4045)


Tacos San Diego

Barbacoa is a weekend tradition in Mexico, but Paco Perez roasts lamb daily in a Chula Vista strip mall. His mother opened the first Aqui Es Texcoco in Tijuana in 1990, and he’s expanded on a style that honors the State of Mexico. The logo depicts a slumbering sheep, swaddled in maguey leaves, awaiting his delicious fate. Pick your favorite parts, including ribs, back, or offal-filled stomach, then form tacos with corn tortillas, papalo and salsa.

MUST ORDER: Barbacoa, Lamb Head, Grilled Quail, Huitlacoche Taco, Lamb Brain Taco, Hibiscus Sorbet

Bird Rock Coffee Roasters (5627 La Jolla Boulevard, San Diego, 858.551.1707)

Coffee San Diego

English professor Chuck Patton found inspiration in a home coffee roaster, a gift from wife Elke. He started selling beans at the farmers market and opened Bird Rock Coffee Roasters in the bucolic La Jolla neighborhood, featuring photos of farmers on the wall, roll-up garage doors, a glass-fronted Giesen coffee roaster, a pourover bar and a deluxe La Marzocco Strada espresso machine. Patton hosts public coffee cuppings on Fridays at 10:30 a.m.

MUST ORDER: Espresso, Pourover Coffee, Cold Brew

Carnitas Snack Shack (2632 University Avenue, San Diego, 619.294.7675)

Sandwich San Diego

Carnitas, the pet piglet for chefs Hanis Cavin and Sara Stroud, became a YouTube sensation, and their North Park restaurant by the same name has also achieved breakout status. The rotating menu relies on local farmers, ranches and bakeries, and in deliciously twisted fashion, showcases pork. Juicy carnitas grace sturdy tacos, pork belly joins frisee salad, and the Shack Pork Sandwich combines pork schnitzel, pulled pork and bacon. Yes, they allow vegetables at Carnitas, and in the case of Brussels sprouts, they’re deep-fried to perfection.

MUST ORDER: Carnitas Tacos, Crispy Brussels Sprouts, Shack Pork Sandwich

Chino Farm (6123 Calzada Del Bosque, Rancho Santa Fe, 858.756.3184)

Farm San Diego

Pass cloistered Del Mar communities and luxe strip malls to reach Chino Farm, 50 family-run acres that Junzo and Hatsuyo Chino purchased in 1952. Their Vegetable Shop dates to 1969 and showcases unusual produce like winged beans and red okra, plus more mainstream fruits and vegetables that tend to have more flavor and flair. The venue also hosts events for culinary giants like Alice Waters, Jonathan Waxman and Michael Pollan.

MUST ORDER: Seasonal Fruits & Vegetables

Craft & Commerce (675 W. Beech Street, San Diego, 619.269.0368)

Cocktails San Diego

Mustachioed entrepreneur Arsalun Tafazoli teamed with brothers Marshall and Nate Stanley on this multi-faceted bar and restaurant on Little Italy’s doorstep. Kooky décor includes a brick wall featuring “Demand Less” in sunken black letters, a lime green banquette painted with Steinbeck quotes, and a barfront that depicts credit cards. The food menu fuses global influences to produce delectable comfort food. Christian Siglin presides over a progressive bar program that features cocktails, with some glasses that incorporate local craft beer.

MUST ORDER: Buttermilk Biscuits, Fried Chicken, Up in Smoke, Darkest Storm

El Gallito Tortas Ahogadas (1008 Industrial Boulevard, Chula Vista , 619.397.9650)

Mexican Sandwich San Diego

Guadalajara native Ray Reed and wife Karina park their truck in a Toys R Us parking lot that faces I-5 and sell the tortas ahogadas of his youth. He has two styles, the classic drowned sandwich with carnitas, bean puree and salsa blanket, and the Gemma, named for a famous Guadalajara torta shop run by longtime family friends. This includes a milder salsa and squiggles of a unique mustard, cream and mayo sauce. Reed will gladly break out a soccer ball if asked, or sell packages of Reed’s Spaghetti, an early taste of his next fast casual venture.

MUST ORDER: Gemma, Torta Ahogada

Hodad’s (5010 Newport Avenue, Ocean Beach, San Diego, 619,224.4623)

Hamburger San Diego

There are no poseurs at Hodad’s, an Ocean Beach burger bar that gives a shout-out to surfers with nice boards who can’t catch a wave. Thankfully, there’s no posturing at this quintessential California hamburger spot that Mike Hardin and Teri Rhodes now helm. Out of state license plates line the wall, surfboards hang from the ceiling, and the most prized seats occupy a sawed-in-half surf fan. “Burger diapers” surround cheeseburgers, including fresh lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion, mustard, ketchup and state-of-the-art bacon patties.

MUST ORDER: Double Bacon Cheeseburger, Onion Rings

GUIDE CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE

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Joshua Lurie

Joshua Lurie founded FoodGPS in 2005. Read about him here.

Blog Comments

THE TORTAS AT EL GALLITO………..HO MY GOD !!!!!!!!

THE BEST………….EVER…….EVER……..

FREEWAY 5 AND. L. ST. IN FRONT OF TOYS R US STORE…….

Good list. While San Diego isn’t exactly the San Gabriel Valley when it comes to Chinese, I recently tried Spicy City and would not be embarrassed to recommend it to my San Diego friends seeking “authentic” spots. It’s reminiscent of the underrated Yunkun Garden/Yunnan Garden.

Jim,

Thanks for sharing an alternative to Dumpling Inn, the only other Chinese restaurant I’ve tried in San Diego, which wasn’t very special.

Stone has one of the best brewery/restaurant set ups in all of California. Good choice.

Zumbar is definitely my favorite, and I know I’m not alone.

I have been to Zumbar Coffee and Bird Rock Coffee many times, and while both are excellent, I have to say that Zumbar should have been number one on this list. Their espresso is unmatched, and the staff is as knowledgeable/humble as they come. The roast is spot on.

Jeremiah,

Glad to hear you agree with some of my picks. Stone has some detractors since their approach (and beers) can be so brash, but they’ve definitely carved out the nicest setting of any San Diego brewery, and it’s cool how ambitious their food and guest beer programs are.

In terms of coffee choices, Bird Rock only outranks Zumbar in the guide because they come first in the alphabet. I enjoyed both stops.

Any other places that aren’t in the guide that you really enjoy? Thanks!

I’ve been in Aqui es Texcoco and LOVE the food! I’m personally, not as adventurous to eat lamb brains but their vegetarian options are amazing as well as their care for traditional authentic Mexican food. Love them!

Patricia,

Glad to hear you also enjoy Aqui es Texcoco. You might like the lamb brains. They’re minced with epazote, onion and serrano chilies and loaded into griddled corn tortillas. Really, this brain’s about as approachable as it will get, and delicious.

Excellent selection of San Diego spots. Thanks.

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