San Diego may be famous for its 70 miles of beaches, chilled-out surfer vibes, and sunny climes, but its unique position on the Pacific Ocean and the Mexican border means it’s well worth visiting to sample its unique food and drink scene alone.
From beer-battered fish tacos and french fry-stuffed California burritos to fresh ceviche, authentic Korean BBQ, and homemade Italian pastas, there’s a reason San Diego is consistently ranked as one of the top “foodie cities” in the US!
If you’re headed to town and you’re compiling a list of quintessential San Diego foods, I’ve got you covered with my local’s guide to what to eat in San Diego and where to eat it.
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase or booking through one of our links we may earn a small commission (don’t worry, it’s at no extra cost to you).
What to Eat in San Diego + Where to Eat It (A Local’s Guide!)
1. Fish Tacos at Rubio’s
While fish tacos were likely invented south of the border in Ensenada, fish tacos are arguably the most iconic San Diego food. If you want to get a taste of where the fish taco craze started in SD, pay a visit to Rubio’s, “home of the original fish taco.”
Simple and delicious, you can dig into crisp and tender beer-battered fish, topped with Rubio’s signature white sauce, salsa, and cabbage, all wrapped up in a stone-ground corn tortilla. And don’t forget that spritz of lime!
For a bit of a more upscale affair, I recommend going to Brigantine in Del Mar. Here you can socialize over their “famous” fish tacos, complete with drinks and a gorgeous view.
2. El Xolito at Barrio Dogg
If you’re wondering what to eat in San Diego for something truly local, make your way to Barrio Logan, where you’ll find Barrio Dogg. This place crosses culinary borders by cooking up what they’ve dubbed “Chicano comfort food.”
If you can only try one thing, make it the El Xolito, a rendition of the ubiquitous bacon-wrapped Tijuana-style hot dog. The El Xolito takes things up a notch by loading a bacon-wrapped Angus beef hot dog with mustard, ketchup, grilled onions, tomatoes, jalapeños, red onions, cheddar cheese, sour cream, salsa verde, and Sriracha aioli.
You’ll want to come hungry!
3. Authentic Italian at Rosanna’s
San Diego’s Little Italy might get all the attention (and you should definitely go there, too!), but for a true hidden gem, stop by Rosanna’s in Encinitas. This unassuming, family-owned and operated pasta shop has been cooking up authentic Italian dishes to hungry locals since 1987.
This place is perfect if you want to grab one of their incredible paninis or sandwiches for a picnic at the beach or want to pick up some of their homemade pizzas, pastas, and sauces to bring back to your place.
Everything here is made from scratch and with love, and trust me when I say you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to a small shop in the heart of Italy the second you walk in!
4. Local Craft Beer at Stone Brewing
Known as the “Capital of Craft,” San Diego takes its craft beer game very seriously. With over 150 breweries scattered around town, it’s impossible to try them all, but if you’re looking for must-eats in San Diego paired with a pint or two, I highly recommend visiting Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Escondido.
Stone is one of San Diego’s OG breweries, and their Escondido restaurant and taproom boasts one acre of gorgeous gardens that you’re free to roam around. If you’ve never tried their beers before, start with their famous Arrogant Bastard Ale or order a flight to find your new favorite.
Top it off with Yellowfin Ahi Poke “Nachos” and Kung Pao Crispy Brussels Sprouts to start before digging into mains like the Stone Wagyu Luxe Burger, the Birria Beef Queso Tacos, or the Hot Honey Fried Chicken Sandwich.
5. California Burrito at Juanitas Taco Shop
While we don’t quite know where the first California burrito was dreamed up, we do know that this quintessential Cal-Mex creation is one of the must-eats in San Diego.
The California burrito is made up of carne asada, french fries, cheese, and (usually) sour cream. You’re going to find taco shops all around the city serving up the California burrito. But here are a few suggestions if you don’t know where to start: Juanitas Taco Shop, Lolita’s, Rigoberto’s, and Roberto’s, to name just a few places.
6. Ceviche at Karina’s Ceviches & More
With its coastal location, it’s no wonder why seafood plays such a big role in San Diego’s cuisine. And although ceviche has its roots down south in Peru, the dish is done particularly well in San Diego. And when it comes to things to eat in San Diego for a seafood fix, Karina’s Ceviches & More in Mission Hills is a top contender.
Some ceviche favorites include the Ceviche Karina’s with shrimp, cucumber, and avocado in Karina’s signature green chile sauce and the Costeño with lime-marinated shrimp ceviche with red onions, cilantro, cucumbers, and red asado peppers in a spicy clam sauce – both of which you can get as a plate or as a tostada.
But if raw seafood isn’t your thing, the menu also features burritos, tacos, quesadillas, and more Mexican goodness!
7. Sushi at Sushi Ota
At first glance, you wouldn’t think that Sushi Ota is one of the best restaurants in San Diego. But it most definitely is if you’re in the mood for sushi!
Sushi is a big deal in San Diego and you’ll find sushi places all over town, which is why it’s so impressive that this unassuming restaurant has been going strong since 1990. Plus, I love their motto, which is: “Sushi Ota is not a place to see and be seen. It’s simply a place to enjoy some of the best sushi in town.”
Local customers come here time and again to enjoy their fresh sushi and sashimi, with favorites being the melt-in-your-mouth salmon belly and yellowtail sashimi, the Spider Roll with battered soft-shell crab, the Crunchy Salmon Roll, the Jalapeño Salmon Roll, and the Crunchy Tempura Roll.
8. All the Asian Food on Convoy Street
When it comes to what to eat in San Diego for an Asian food fix, you’ll want to beeline it to the Convoy District. This is the place to go in San Diego if you’ve always dreamed about eating your way around Asia.
From Korean fried chicken and Japanese ramen to Chinese hot pot and Thai curry, this is a part of San Diego you’ll want to return to again and again to try something new. But if you don’t know where to start, here are a few suggestions of local favorites.
Try Tasty Noodle House for authentic Shanghai cuisine, Woomiok for Korean beef bone broth soups, Dumpling Inn & Shanghai Saloon for Shanghai noodles and dumplings, Cross Street Chicken and Beer for Korean fried chicken (and beer!), Eastern Dynasty for Hong-Kong-style roast meats, and YinTang Spicy Hot Pot for hot pot, just to name a few options!
9. Carne Asada Fries at Lolita’s
Like the California burrito, San Diego takes its carne asada fries game very seriously. And while you find this Cal-Mex comfort food dish served at taco shops all over the city, Lolita’s consistently serves up some of the best.
There are five branches of this family-owned chain in San Diego. But no matter which you visit, order the Carne Asada Fries and you’ll get a plate piled high with crispy fries, Black Angus beef, guacamole, sour cream, cheddar cheese, and cotija cheese. Top it off with their house-made salsas, and you’ll be in Mexican food paradise!
10. Oysters at Brigantine
With its coastal location, spending the afternoon throwing back oysters is somewhat of an institution in San Diego, with Brigantine Seafood & Oyster Bar being a longtime local favorite.
There are eight locations in the city, but the Del Mar restaurant has been my go-to for as long as I can remember. Start with an Oyster Shooter before ordering up a platter or Oysters on the Half served simply with horseradish and cocktail sauce or Oysters Rockefeller with spinach, bacon, parmesan aioli, and Pernod.
This place is also famous for their fish tacos, so I highly recommend ordering a couple of those as well!
