After living in San Diego, we got to know the area quite well, from the beaches to the restaurants. For this San Diego Travel Guide, we are sharing five restaurants you must dine at while in this Southern California locale.
And yes, not all of these choices are in San Diego proper, although, they are all worth the adventure.
Blue Water Seafood
We first tried this restaurant after a recommendation from a friend. And, since that first visit, we were hooked! It’s no frills seafood that you can takeaway to the beach or dine in. Fresh seafood is the only way to eat seafood and this doesn’t disappoint.
“All we do is fish.”
Menu: Sandwiches, plates and soups. For lunch or dinner, you’ll be satisfied with the offerings available here.
Must Try: A fish sandwich (you can choose from multiple options) and the soft shell crab.
Location: 3667 India Street, San Diego, CA
Read more at bluewaterseafoodsandiego.com.
Haggo’s Organic Taco
One of our favorite San Diego area beach cities is Encinitas. So, when we discovered Haggo’s, it was a no brainer this would become our go-to destination. Besides the fact they work hard to source local, even growing some of their own produce onsite, they serve you from a food truck. Not to worry, there is outdoor seating. Let’s face it, within this part of SoCal, there are very few days you cannot be outside.
Be sure to check their hours, as they generally are closed on Monday and only open for lunch – with some exceptions.
“Food stripped down to the basics where the flavor is so vibrant.”
Menu: Tacos, burritos and quesadillas.
Must Try: As the name implies, the tacos! They even have some amazing veggie tacos for those vegetarians.
Location: 1302 N Coast Hwy 101 #101, Encinitas, CA
Read more at haggosorganictaco.com.
Miguel’s Cocina
Although this restaurant has multiple locations, it’s their Coronado location that has won us over. Tucked within an alley, you don’t feel as if you are in San Diego. Instead, you are in a little piece of paradise with the ocean not that far away.
“Beginning with a few classic recipes culled from our chef’s family and friends, the menu captures the true spirit of Mexico.”
Menu: Standard offering from a Mexican restaurant.
Must Try: The fajitas, enchiladas with salsa verde and margaritas. Oh, and the jalapeño white sauce served with their house-made tortillas.
Location: Multiple, although since our favorite is Coronado – 1351 Orange Avenue, Coronado, CA
Read more at miguels-cocina.com.
Saffron
Just down the street from Blue Water Seafood, this restaurant offers Thai cuisine that each and every time we visited, always hit it out of the park. Simply put, they know how to cook Thai.
“[The menu] was designed with the concept of offering food for the body, mind and soul.”
Menu: Noodle and chicken dishes, along with sides and soups. It’s also vegetarian friendly.
Must Try: Hands down – drunken noodles. The egg rolls are a nice add on too.
Location: 3731-B India St, San Diego, CA
Read more at saffronsandiego.com.
Zia Gourmet Pizza
We love ourselves a good pizza. When we found Zia Gourmet Pizza, we admit, we were skeptical about having kale or butternut squash on pizza – could it really be that good? Well, the answer is simple – yes! We do not know how they do it, but the combination of flavors on their pizzas and salads are hard to beat.
“I wanted to create pizza that wasn’t just life sustaining food. Simply said, I wanted art. Pizza lends itself so naturally to this task. It’s like a round canvas that can be dressed to fit any occasion.
Menu: Pizza and salads.
Must Try: We recommend trying a pizza and a salad. Try a combination you may not otherwise order. For example, kale can be overwhelming, yet, when they put it into a salad, we didn’t even know we were eating kale. Yum – our mouths are watering…
Location: 3311 Adams Ave, San Diego, CA
Read more at ziagourmetpizza.com.
Happy dining!
Also check out: Escape to Los Angeles – Dining, Coffee and Juice PIcks and A Guide to Dining, Juicing and Coffee in Boston, MA
