(updated February 2022)
Places to Go
Food and Drink
American | Asian | British | Greek | Indian | Pizza & Italian | Jewish | Mexican
Coffee Houses
Phil’s is definitely the best place I have had BBQ in my entire life. The meat on the ribs fall of the bone and the BBQ sauce is the best I’ve ever tasted (I usually don’t like BBQ sauce at all). Phil’s has a wonderful atmosphere and is usually filled with hungry people. Stop by, any day except Monday, tie on a bib, and enjoy some grub. I’d recommend calling in your order and then going to try and find a seat. The original location in Mission Hills is closed, but they have other restaurants in Point Loma (on Sports Arena Blvd.), Rancho Bernardo, Temecula, Santee, and at the San Diego Airport.
This is a great bakery, where you can get an awesome piece of spinach quiche. They also have wonderful bread plates, where you pick 3 of your favorite breads to try with cream cheese, butter and jam. A lot of Europeans flock to this place, speaking their native tongues. It makes me feel as if I’m in a different country. This was the first hit bakery around San Diego and its notoriety has not faded. A Peet’s Coffee is located next door as well. It’s on University near 5th.
This is THE place to go for a great sandwich. They have a great selection of bread to choose from. On Saturdays only, they also have chocolate bread available. Con Pane is located in Liberty Station off Rosecrans (Point Loma area).
Located in Liberty Station, the former Naval Training Center in Point Loma, the Liberty Public Market offers customers food from a variety of vendors. This is a great place to enjoy an assortment different cultural flavors in a beautifully renovated historic building.
If you are big on organic cuisine or just want a tasty, yet healthy alternative, try Tender Greens. They offer a variety of salads, meat dishes and yummy desserts. Vegan options are available as well. I’ve had the flank steak plate, which included a side salad and mashed potatoes (which were awesome) and absolutely loved it. Tender Greens has multiple locations including Liberty Station in Point Loma, Del Mar, Downtown San Diego, La Jolla UTC, and Mission Valley.
Big Kitchen’s claim to fame is that Whoopi Goldberg used to work there, but they’re also known for their wonderful food and eccentric owner, Judy “the Beauty” (Tres bien!). Hours are Thursday-Monday, 8am-2pm. Try Damian’s breakfast burrito, which is housed in a fried flour tortilla versus a rolled burrito. I would describe this place as a liberal, hippy hangout with a cozy atmosphere. Big Kitchen has diner, booth and table seating. Be prepared to initially feel a bit cramped, but it’s worth it for the wonderful food served. Big Kitchen has won numerous awards and was also featured by Rachael Ray on her Food Network program.
The Mission has 3 locations, 1 in North Park, 1 in Mission Beach, & 1 in Downtown’s East Village on J St. It’s a great place for an inexpensive and tasty breakfast. You won’t be disappointed by their rosemary potatoes or grilled rosemary bread. They’re great! There’s a constant flow of patrons, but you won’t have to wait too long and they will make your food likity-split. The Mission serves both breakfast and lunch and offers a variety of pastries. Day-old pastries are $1 and their specialty coffee drinks are just the right price. Check their website for special coupons too.
This is the greasy spoon of San Diego. Perry’s is a great home-cookin’ place with hash browns, biscuits, waffles, etc. If it’s good and greasy, they probably have it on the menu. The look of the building looks a bit sketchy, but the food is good. You can save a bundle on the weekday breakfasts too.
Located downtown on Island Ave., Cafe 222 is a cool hang out and many know about it. You may have to wait a bit on a weekend morning, but it’s worth it. The menu is a unique blend of healthy items, such as homemade granola, with your ordinary pancake. Cafe 222 has been highlighted in Gourmet Magazine for their Pumpkin Waffle. I believe they also have a peanut butter and banana french toast.
Not associated with our former President in the least, Jimmy Carter’s Cafe is another casual breakfast or lunch dining experience. They serve a variety of cuisine including Mexican, American and some Indian, Asian, Italian, and Chinese. Open for breakfast and brunch, Jimmy Carter’s has two locations. One is on 5th Ave. between Spruce and Redwood in Hillcrest while the other is on W. Washington. The portions will leave you satisfied, but not so full that you’d burst.
Hodad is a surfing term for a person who does not surf, but who spends time at surfing beaches pretending to be a surfer. If you’re looking for a good burger while you’re hanging out, check out Hodad’s. The original location is only a few blocks from the waves in Ocean Beach on Newport Ave., Hodad’s is an excellent place to grab a bite. I would recommend a mini burger and an order of frings (a mix of onion rings and potato wedges). If you have a larger appetite, you can attempt to order a regular sized burger. The atmosphere represents the epitome of OB with a surfing theme that attracts an array of OB-cians. Hence, it’s also a good place to people watch. There are three other Hodad’s locations: Downtown, in Petco Park during Padres games, and in Snapdragon Stadium during SDSU home games and select events.
This is a good restaurant for salad, pizza and dessert. Well, that’s the only thing I’ve had there. I’m sure they have more delicious dishes as well. Their Chinese Chicken and Thai Chicken Salads are fabulous as is the Five Cheese Pizza. Top it off with a Messy Sundae and you’ll leave full and happy.
Point Loma Seafoods is known around the country, if not around the world, as the place to go for lunch. It may be a bit pricey, but you’re paying for quality seafood. Even the crab sandwich is real crab meat. I would recommend the white clam chowder as well. It’s very tasty. Located in Point Loma on Emerson, you not only get a great meal, but you can also sit along the water as you enjoy it.
Located on Shelter Island, Mitch’s is a great place to grab fresh seafood caught off the coast of San Diego. The owners are comprised of three families who have a long history of fishing in the Point Loma area. Hours are everyday from 8am-9pm and be prepared for a line during prime lunch and dinner hours. Try to grab a seat outside to watch the fishing boats coming in during dinner hours.
Chopstix is more of an authentic Japanese restaurant that specializes in ramen and udon dishes. Plus they serve an excellent, inexpensive crunchy roll that I highly recommend. The original location on Convoy St. is still open for business and is a family-owned establishment.
If you’re in the mood for a little sushi or Teriyaki Chicken, Sushi Deli is your best bet for affordable Japanese food. With fast service and an inexpensive menu, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t check them out. I have never found another Japanese restaurant where you can get a bowl of Miso Soup for 85 cents. Sushi Deli has two locations: one in Hillcrest on W. Washington St. and the other in Kearny Mesa on Armour St. Just be aware that they close between lunch and dinner on Monday-Thursday from 2:30-5:00 p.m.
Tofu House is a Korean restaurant that specializes in Korean Barbecue (Kal-Bi), Hot Stone Mix Rice, Mix-Rice, Fried Rice, and all kinds of Tofu Soup. Their soups are served boiling-hot in clay pots. My favorite part is breaking a raw egg into the boiling broth and watching it cook. It’s a lot of fun and very tasty. Tofu House is located on Convoy St. amongst many other Asian dining establishments.
One of the few British-themed pubs in San Diego, Shakespeare’s is the best. They have a great atmosphere to enjoy some pub grub, especially Shepherd’s Pie, and watch a soccer game. If ale is your fancy, they also have a wide variety of pints. To top it off, all of their waitresses seem to have British accents. I am still trying to figure out if they’re all authentic.
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St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church Food Festival
Yasou! If you’re in the mood for some Moussaka, Baklava, or Spanakopita, get your taste buds ready for the Greek Food Festival. St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church holds one of the larger festivals in San Diego (in June). You can experience the food, traditional dancing, language, culture, and be Greek for a day. In North County (Cardiff), Saints Constantine and Helen Church also has a festival, but theirs is held in August/September.
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Looking for good Indian food? I would recommend taking a drive to Mission Valley. Located off Friars on Mission Center Rd, Tandoor is in the Ralph’s Shopping Center. They offer an array of tasty dishes at average prices. I would advise a visit on Saturday or Sunday for their buffet. It’s all-you-can-eat and includes Tandoori Chicken, Chicken Curry, Gulab Jamun (a tasty dessert that reminds me of donut holes in syrup), lentils, all-you-can-devour Naan (a wonderful flatbread), and much more. Tandoor is open from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
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With 3 locations, in Point Loma, San Marcos and Solana Beach, Pizza Nova is a top contender for tasty cuisine in San Diego. I prefer the Point Loma location, which offers a bayside view. I primarily go here for the pizza selection, from which you have a variety of options. My current top selections include the 5 cheese and the White Pepperoni pizzas. They also offer free rosemary rolls doused in oil, which are a great appetizer, as well as pasta, salad, sandwiches, and other Italian-themed dishes.
Located in North Park & Mission Hills (in the former/original Phil’s BBQ building), Lefty’s not only offers deep dish and thin crust Chicago-style pizza, but offers its patrons a piece of Chicago as well. With walls adorned with pictures and memorabilia of the Windy City, Lefty’s is a great place to grab a slice and visit with friends. They also offer great appetizers. So far, I’ve had the Loaded Fries (fries covered in cheese, sour cream, bacon and green onions) and Cheesy Garlic bread as well. Everything is very tasty.
With walls lined with boxing photos, Bronx Pizza has a great atmosphere to have a slice. But, not just any slice. The pizza here is New York style with a thin, crispy crust. Don’t be offended if the employees don’t have the best people skills. It all goes with the New York theme. Great atmosphere, great food, cash only, no delivery. What more can I say? It’s located in Hillcrest on Washington and is closed on Mondays.
Located in Little Italy, Buon Appetito is a bit of Italy in San Diego. The waiters and waitresses have Italian accents and throw in Italian words every so often. Thus, I was able to practice one of my ancestral languages. The food is awesome, especially the gnocchi.
This is a nice Italian restaurant with very large portions. Check out the pizza and add extra cheese. They have good lasagna and other pasta dishes as well. This place has a great atmosphere with wine bottles hanging from the ceiling. Drink your own and add it to the collection.
I would consider Old Venice a nice restaurant to take a date. Whether you dress up or go casual, you will feel comfortable. The food is excellent and their salads have great toppings. It’s recommended that you go for lunch since the lunch and dinner menus are similar except for the price. Old Venice is located in the Shelter Island/Point Loma area.
Even though BJ’s is a chain restaurant, I still think they have excellent pizza. You can get a tasty deep-dish pizza with a crust that is more like french bread than a hard pizza dough. It’s awesome! Plus, I would highly recommend the Pizookie, which is a dessert pizza. The bottom layer is an almost fully cooked cookie topped with ice cream. YUM!
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If you enjoy homemade Jewish style food, D.Z. Akins is the place for you. Their menu is extensive and reaches beyond the traditional Jewish cuisine. My favorite are their omelets. They also have a deli, catering, and a store where you can purchase wares of all sorts. Don’t forget to check out the rows of celebrity photos on their walls.
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Miguel’s is a great place to go for Mexican food. I love their food and their chips come with salsa and a cheese dipping sauce. Outdoor seating at the Point Loma location gives you a wonderful view of the San Diego Bay and the downtown skyline. Even though San Diego is known for having many places to eat Mexican food, this has been my favorite so far. They have good iced tea too. Other locations include 4S Ranch, Carlsbad, Coronado, Old Town, and Portside Pier.
Looking for a place for a good Mexican themed breakfast? This is it! Cafe Coyote is located in Old San Diego, on San Diego Avenue, in fact. They serve lunch and dinner as well, but I really enjoy their breakfasts. I would recommend the chili rellano omelette. It’s mouth-watering tastiness.
This restaurant is where the taquito started. It’s not too expensive, they make their own chips, and there is a good quantity of outdoor seating (across the street from the restaurant though). Located on India Street, El Indio is centered in an area with a lot of restaurants.
Once a favorite place to eat in Old Town, Casa De Pico is now located in Grossmont Center (in La Mesa). Their food is quite tasty and has filling portions. My former co-workers highly recommend the Cheese Crisp. They also have a live Mariachi band that meanders through the restaurant to serenade the patrons.
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LeStat’s is one of the few 24-hour coffee shops in San Diego. There are three locations: Normal Heights, University Heights & Hillcrest. The original location in the heart of Normal Heights offers seating consisting of funky couches and a large kitchen table with chairs. One thing that sets LeStat’s apart from most other coffee shops is the offering of nightly live entertainment at the adjoining lounge. Such offerings include an open mic night, comedy night, and tons of live music.
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Places to Go
Balboa Park is the nation’s largest urban cultural park. Home to 15 major museums, renowned performing arts venues, beautiful gardens and the San Diego Zoo, the Park has an ever-changing calendar of museum exhibitions, plays, musicals, concerts, and classes—all in the beautiful and timeless setting of this must-see San Diego attraction. Every Tuesday of the month, a different museum has free admission for San Diego County residents and active military personnel (and their dependents) as well. You could easily spend a day or 2 touring the park, reading a book in the rose garden, checking out the different cultural houses, seeing beautiful works of art, admiring the plants in the Botanical Garden, or just wandering around to your heart’s desire.
The Spreckels Organ is the world’s largest pipe organ and is located in historic Balboa Park. Sugar magnate brothers John D. and Adolph B. Spreckels donated the Spreckels Organ to the City of San Diego in 1914 for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition. Today, the public is able to attend free organ concerts at 2pm every Sunday. There are also evening events during the summer and at other times throughout the year. Visit the Spreckels Organ Pavilion website link above for a list of upcoming events.
Known as the best zoo in the world, the San Diego Zoo is a great place to spend the day. They have a wide variety of animals from all over the world. Whether you like to watch elephants, gorillas, camels or a hippo, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Make sure to pack your own lunch because they let you bring it in. It’s cheaper that way.
In conjunction with the Zoo, is the Safari Park (formerly Wild Animal Park) in Escondido. The Safari Park is an area with more open land for the larger animals to roam. You will find lions roaming the grounds and giraffes and rhinos mingling together. The Wild Animal Park has a multitude of exhibits and shows involving condors, elephants, and many other types of creatures. For an additional cost, you can take a safari tour, see the cheetahs run or even have a sleepover right at the park.
If you’re from Northern California, you could compare Julian to Apple Hill. Located about an hour east of San Diego, Julian is a former gold rush town that is not only a historic area, but also the apple growing area of San Diego County. You can take historic tours, have a tasty meal (or slice of apple pie), visit apple orchards during apple season, or just enjoy the area. Winters bring snow to Julian as well, so it’s also a place for kids young and old to play. I recommend Dudley’s Bakery for apple pie or The Julian Cafe on Main Street for an awesome meal plus apple pie. YUM!
Take a fun trip back in history. The Old Point Loma Lighthouse was used from 1855 to 1891 to help divert ships from the dangerous cliffs below. The lighthouse includes living quarters for the family that lived there, a life-sized model of the actual light and docents in period costumes. On the way to the lighthouse, you can also stop by a military cemetary. It’s all very fun and costs $5 per car to enter the government grounds even though the lighthouse entrance is free.
Located on the same grounds as the Old Point Loma Lighthouse, the Cabrillo Monument documents the life of Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, who landed at San Diego Bay on September 28, 1542. There’s a 30-minute movie to watch about his sea travels, museum and gift shop. It’s free.
Located on the edge of Pacific Beach and La Jolla, Mt. Soledad provides the best views of San Diego county since it stands 822 feet high. The mountain is so high that you are able to have 360 degree panoramic views from the beach to Mexico. Topping the mount is a large cross which some had tried to remove until the government made it a national monument due to a veteran’s memorial surrounding the cross. Yet, its fate is still in limbo. This is a must-see for any San Diego visitor.
Looking for a great area to visit the beach, see seals (but do not touch), play in the water and do some shopping? La Jolla Cove is the place to go. Visit Seal Beach to get the sights (and smells) of sleeping seals. Once the tide is low, you can also check out the nearby tidepools. Nice hotels, shopping, restaurants, and a Starbucks are also nearby. It’s just a great place to hang out. It reminds me a bit of Monterey.
Known as “The Del” or “Hotel Del”, the Hotel Del Coronado will transport you back in time. It is a National Historic Landmark and is one of the oldest and largest all-wooden buildings in California. When it was built in 1888, the Hotel Del was the largest resort in the world. Presidents, dignitaries, and the rich and famous visited the Hotel Del. The Del has been the location for a number of films, most famously “Some Like It Hot” starring Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon, & Tony Curtis. It is also believed that The Del was the inspiration for The Emerald City in “The Wizard of Oz” since L. Frank Baum did much of his writing here. Roam the grounds, walk along the beautiful, sandy beach, or ride the antique elevator. The Hotel Del is definitely worth a visit.
Looking for a great spot to watch the sunset or exercise with a great view? This is the place! At the end of Sunset Cliffs Blvd., you will find the cliffs that overlook the ocean. You’ll have to park on the side of a 2-lane road (there are some vista points) and the views are breathtaking. Sunset Cliffs Blvd. is located at the end of I-8, within Ocean Beach. Follow Sunset Cliffs Blvd., wind around past some beautiful, large homes, and you’re there!
If university campus vists are your thing, Point Loma Nazarene (PLNU), University of San Diego (USD), and University of California, San Diego (UCSD) all have gorgeous campuses to tour. PLNU is located near the ocean in Point Loma with fabulous views of the water. USD could be described as “a campus on a hill”, overlooking much of San Diego. The USD campus has gorgeous architecture. UCSD is covered with Eucalyptus trees, has talking trees and a cool library dedicated to Dr. Seuss, which contains most of his original work.
The Gaslamp Quarter of Downtown San Diego is THE place to be, especially at night. You’ll find a multitude of restaurants, hotels, jazz clubs, dancing, art, shopping, and music within the Gaslamp. The Gaslamp covers about 16 square blocks, but the heart of it is between 4th to 6th Avenues. You have to experience the Gaslamp to really get a feel of what happens there.
The World’s largest comic book convention aka Comic-Con descends upon San Diego every July. It’s held near Downtown at the Convention Center and attracts upwards of 125,000+ people over 4 days. Comic-Con is much more than comic books. If you enjoy movies, television shows, legos, comics, video games, cartoons, or collecting memorabilia, you are sure to find something to peak your interest. Comic-Con has begun to pre-screen films and tv show pilots as well. Whether you come dressed as your favorite animated or sci-fi character or in shorts and a t-shirt, you will fit right in. It is definitely an experience to behold.
This is only a handful of things to do and places to see in San Diego. I also recommend checking out the areas of Coronado, Pacific Beach (near the pier), Kensington, the Shakespearean Theatre in Balboa Park, Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, the 4th of July fireworks on the Bay, Fashion Valley Shopping Mall, the Civic Auditorium or see a Padres game at Petco Park. San Diego has a ton to offer every visitor.
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