San Diego Restaurant Guide
This post is long overdo! Since the day I moved to California I have been exploring new restaurants and cafes. Here you’ll find a mix of healthier organic options, and some more indulgent choices as well! There are so many places that I have yet to try, and I might have forgotten some so I’ll definitely continue to update this guide. I hope you enjoy this list, and hold on to it for when we can all go out to eat again! In the meantime, a lot of these local restaurants are offering curbside pickup and to go orders, so try to support them if you can!
Goodonya is at the top of my list for good reason! It’s a local organic cafe in Encinitas, and it absolutely won me over the first time I visited. My go to order is either the Baja scramble or the breakfast burrito. SO GOOD! I also love their lattes. I usually get the Butta coffee, but lately I’ve been mixing it up with the cashew vanilla latte as well. Their delicious food doesn’t stop with their menu though! I always leave with an extra little treat. They sell Meet the Source balls, and if I’m running low on their Hydrate I load up on that also. It’s right along the coast so plan on going one morning when you have time to walk up and down the 101 for the perfect start to your day!
So I’ve never been to Italy (on my bucket list), but I can only imagine that this is the closest you will find to true Italian food here in SD. Their pizza, pasta, and wine has literally kept me afloat during this quarantine period. Highly suggest the classic margherita pizza, any pasta with the Buona Forchetta sauce (a mix of red sauce and cream cheese - YUM!), and all of their salads! This local cuisine is an absolute favorite, anytime we have visitors from out of town we take them here!
Parakeet is another local cafe that I just love! They use local, organic ingredients to serve up some seriously delicious eats and drinks. You can’t go wrong with any of their loaded toasts - whether you want more sweet like the almond butter, or more savory like the avocado - they do not disappoint. I love their warm vanilla lattes or their iced matcha lattes too! I always sub for oat milk and it’s such a delicious creamy treat. They have 3 locations in San Diego, each with a fun cute atmosphere, and plenty of places to walk around to when you finish up eating. They also partner with Vizer (currently on hold due to Covid-19) to provide pastries when you redeem your points. They offer many gluten free and refined sugar free options!
When you go to Jeune et Jolie you are going for a whole experience! The only time I have been to this restaurant was on New Years Eve, and I was SO impressed! For a packed house we still had excellent, quick service. It’s such an experience to try dishes I’ve never heard of and to become immersed in French culture. The flavors were incredible, from the mocktail I ordered, to the main entree, to the dessert! This is such a fun place for date night, and I hear their brunch is amazing too. The owners also have another restaurant right up the street, Campfire, which I hear is just as delicious and I cannot wait to go when all of this has passed.
One of my favorite breakfast spots! It’s downtown so we love going here on Saturday mornings and it’s close enough to walk to the Little Italy Farmers Market. They have classic breakfast options with a little bit of flare. My go to is the mushroom hash with goat cheese, potatoes, and kale - YUM! The atmosphere alone is enough to make me want to keep going back, as it’s located in a 2 story eclectic building with lots of fun decor and a cute little shop.
The sister restaurant to Herb and Eatery, Herb and Sea, is located in Encinitas and serves - you guessed it - the best seafood! Their appetizers alone could be my whole meal, but the entrees are so good I can’t skip those. Honestly you can’t go wrong with their seafood or their wood fired pizzas. They also serve an array of delicious cocktails, or if you're like me and you like to pair wine with seafood they have a great selection as well.
Dining at Cafe 21 is truly a unique experience. The food is as beautiful as the building, and tastes equally amazing. The menu varies from your traditional brunch, offering things like shrimp corncake benedict, lavash burrito, and bananas foster pancakes - all of which I recommend! It doesn’t stop there, their fruit infused drinks are gorgeous and taste delicious! Located right in Gaslamp, this is such a fun place to bring guests from out of town to give them an experience they won’t get anywhere else.
Taco Stand is known for their authentic street tacos. If you’re in the mood for some GOOD Mexican food, look no further. On any weekend night the line is out the door and up the street to order, but don’t let that deter you from going! The service is quick and the tacos will certainly not disappoint. My go to tacos are the carne asada, pollo asada, or the camaron. Kory usually gets the California burrito which I steal a few bites of! This is a great place to pop in after a day at the beach.
This great seafood restaurant is located at Hotel del Coronda, and you’ll want to save it for a special occasion! I’ve only been once, but I would go back in a heartbeat for the views (make a reservation to sit outside), and the delicious FRESH seafood! The food is so fresh they actually bring the fish to your table so you can see it before they cook it. Go on a warm summer night when you can stay in the area for a while and hangout on the lawn to catch the sunset after dining. Don’t forget to order a cocktail because they compliment the food perfectly.
Okay I know I keep listing brunch places, but there are so many good ones around here! This cute little cafe is located in downtown Carlsbad, and for such a small cafe it packs a big punch of flavor. They are known for their “crack” benedict - aka Cardiff crack - aka slow roasted tri tip marinated to perfectionnnn! Honestly, so good. I also love the Mexican benedict, and their iced lattes are a must.
I love this spot for happy hours! They have really delicious drinks and apps, it’s the perfect place to meet up with friends after work! Located in downtown La Jolla, it has a really cool interior, and it’s accessible to walk to different places afterwards as well. I highly suggest ordering the Scallop Ceviche and the Far South of the Border - really the perfect combo, especially during the summer!
What? I’m from Kentucky, I can’t help it that I love fried chicken. They have two cute locations with open outdoor seating, and they offer every sauce under the sun. Need I say more?
Little Italy Farmers Market
Last but certainly not least, the Little Italy Farmers Market! While this isn’t actually a restaurant they do have food trucks there every Saturday. This is my absolute favorite market, and I can’t wait until things reopen to go back and support our local farmers. I always get fresh produce, flowers, and usually a kombucha too! I love spending Saturday mornings there and discovering new local food vendors that I can support.