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You are here: Home / Travel / San Diego Food Guide (& More!)

February 16, 2018 ·

San Diego Food Guide (& More!)

Travel

Not sure why I haven’t done this yet, but here it is! All of my favorite spots in San Diego broken down by category. I will most likely be updating this as I try more places and remember ones I am forgetting.

GOOD VIBES & VIEWS:

  1. Barbusa, Little Italy- This place is such a vibe. It’s loud, fun, food and service is amazing. Couldn’t ask for anything more. Their gluten free pizza is shockingly good and of course, the canoli nachos are a MUST!!! Make a reservation- they book up quick!
  2. Born & Raised, Little Italy- One of the most beautiful establishments I have ever step foot in. I’ve heard mixed reviews about the food for the price, but drinks on the roof is the move! It’s GORG.
  3. Coasterra, Harbor Island – My favorite spot for margs and apps! Wouldn’t recommend for a full on dinner – food isn’t that great. I go for the view (all of downtown/harbor), the spicy marg, and table side guac.
  4. Starlight, Mission Hills. It has amazing vibes, the BEST mule on earth, wonderful food, and great service. You gotta check it out – get a mule and the burger, trust me.
  5. Eddie V’s, La Jolla. Be prepared to break the bank for a BOMB steak and seafood dinner with views down the coast of the La Jolla. It’s one of the most beautiful places to have a meal, but if you aren’t ready to fork over the $$$ just go for drinks!
  6. Bali Hai, Point Loma. Home of the strongest Mai Tai in America. Pretty sure there’s a limit on how many you can order (1 or 2?). Great for enjoying the killer view with a cocktail and some apps. Food isn’t anything to write home about.
  7. Nolita Hall, Little Italy. My fav late night spot! Fun atmosphere, great cocktails and even better pizza. If you go on the weekend you will probably see me there and I will probably be intoxicated.
  8. El Camino, Little Italy. Decent Mexican food with great vibes. This is a great late night spot to grab a marg and watch the planes go overhead the open roof!

FAVORITE FOOD:

  1. Ironside, Little Italy. Looking for fresh seafood and the cutest decor? Here you go. This is top 3 fav places in SD food wise. Listen closely – get the octopus (don’t be scared), lobster roll, the fresh bread, and chowder fries. TO DIE FOR.
  2. Herb & Wood, Little Italy. Things I look for in a good restaurant: FOOD YOU CAN’T REPLICATE AT HOME. Brian Malarkey really knocked this one out of the park. The dinner rolls (not on the menu), Oxtail Gnocchi, and Venison are must orders. The best food I’ve had in San Diego.
  3. Cesarina, Point Loma- Best Italian in San Diego. It’s super authentic and the fact that they have Pear ravioli really wins me over. Highly recommend this spot!!
  4. Kous Kous, Hillcrest. Moroccan food at it’s finest. If you’ve never had it, think Middle East meets Mediterranean?? I don’t know, just go. My favorite part is the carrots they give you before your meal. Ridiculously good!
  5. Bo-Beau Kitchen + Bar, Ocean Beach. Some of the best French food I’ve had outside of France. The chef is amazing and it’s half the price of Mister A’s (the “best” French food in SD – not really this place is WAY better). Cozy intimate vibe. Get the french onion soup, beet salad, and steak frites. They don’t take reservations, but you can call ahead and put your name on the wait list.
  6. Sushi Ota, Pacific Beach. Best sushi in SD. Looks sketchy (right next to a Planned Parenthood lol) but it’s unreal.
  7. OB Noodle House, Ocean Beach. Asian/Pho. Fun atmosphere and it’s very inexpensive. Get the wings and alllll of the apps! Would recommend more for lunch.

HEALTHY FOOD:

  1. Goodonya Organic Restuarant, Encinitas. My favorite spot in SD for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They use organic and local ingredients and their food is always unreal. I get the veggie bowl, breakfast tacos, sweet potato avocado toast, and golden chai to drink. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. Also, get the gluten free cinnamon roll warmed up with grass fed butter to snack on while you wait for your food. Promise you won’t regret it. If you go on Sunday morning there’s a 99.9% chance I’ll be there….
  2. Cafe Gratitude, Little Italy. This plant based restaurant is a favorite breakfast or lunch spot for me. I mostly go for the vegan nachos….
  3. Flower Child, Del Mar. Cutest vibes here and always amazing healthy dishes. My favs are the skinny cobb with chicken or a salmon bowl with sweet potato, broccoli and the gluten free mac and cheese. SO GOOD!

CHEAP EATS:

  1. La Perla Cocina, Pacific Beach. Best Mexican food around. Get the veggie or California burrito – both around $6!
  2. Oscar’s, Pacific Beach. Ceviche and fish tacos!!! Hole in the wall spot just like La Perla, but the food does not disappoint!
  3. Vanoos, Pacific Beach. This Mediterranean deli has the best Greek salad I’ve ever had and it’s MASSIVE. You would never guess how good this place is, but trust me it’s amazing!

BRUNCH:

  1. Madison on Park, Normal Heights- Super cute restaurant with an unreal brunch menu. The Mediterranean breakfast, white bean shashuka, and churro waffles are out of this world. They have amazing cocktails as well if you’re down for a boozy brunch.
  2. Campfire, Carlsbad- LOVE LOVE LOVE this place! I dream about their cheesy eggs (add brisket). It’s “camping” themed so bring your dad – mine personally loved it. Food is bomb!
  3. Davanti Enoteca – Bloody Mary bar. Need I say more? Get the foccacia bread with honeycomb. Life will never be the same.
  4. Kono’s Cafe, Pacific Beach. Basic American breakfast on the beach. They only take cash, but you won’t spend over $5 for a meal. Take your food to the balcony area and eat right by the pier above the ocean. Can’t beat it!
  5. Herb & Eatery, Little Italy. Vibes and food are on point. In the heart of Little Italy so it’s great for breakfast and a stroll!

COFFEE:

  1. Holsem Coffee, North Park. BANANA. BREAD. COLD BREW. It’s life changing to say the least. This place is super cute and has some of the best unique coffee drinks I’ve ever had. You MUST go if you’re in SD!!
  2. Better Buzz, Multiple Locations. Super cute/instagram-able atmosphere and amazing coffee! I get the best drink ever – it’s really the best drink ever.
  3. Kumbar Coffee, Multiple Locations. If you are looking for strong, really delicious high quality coffee, this is the spot! Nothing fancy, small menu, but it some of the best coffee I’ve ever had.
  4. Dark Horse Coffee Roasters, Multiple Locations. Another small place with amazing coffee and vegan donuts!

INSTAGRAM-ABLE SPOTS:

  1. Holy Matcha, North Park. Cutest, girliest, most instagram-able spot in SD FOR SURE. The vegan matcha donut is super good!
  2. Parakeet Cafe, La Jolla/Del Mar/Little Italy. Really trendy and cute decor with a healthy menu! What more can you ask for? As you may know, I’m obsessed with their matcha. My dream order? Iced matcha with oat milk, the Mediterranean toast (sub hummus for avocado), and a vegan banana oat muffin for dessert. 10/10!!!!
  3. Communal Coffee, North Park. This place is a coffee shop that is connected to a flower shop so the vibes are definitely on point. Get the latte flight to try some different flavors – the lavender honey latte is a personal fav.
  4. Bang Bang, Downtown. Home of the Ryan Gosling bathroom. Need I say more? Don’t go for dinner – too loud and food isn’t that great. Great spot for late night drinks and a bathroom photo shoot.

WORKOUT:

  1. Hike Torrey Pines, La Jolla. Gorgeous beach hike. It’s a decent climb, but nothing you can’t do while hungover.
  2. Bike, Walk, or Run, Mission Bay/Pacific Beach. Rent a bike, take a walk or go for a run along the boardwalk in Mission Bay/Pacific Beach. The wide, flat boardwalk is great for a low impact workout while enjoying the sunshine. There are plenty of places to stop for a drink along the way!

SHOPPING:

  1. Van De Vort, Del Mar. My favorite place to shop whether I’m looking to splurge on a statement piece or get some fun trendy clothes at a reasonable price (look for their brand, VDV the label!). They also have some home decor stuff, a cute photo booth and the cutest kids shop attached!
  2. Pigment, North Park/Del Mar. Whether you want to build your own succulent garden or shop dainty jewels, you will want to spend hours in here! They have a little bit of everything.

ACTIVITIES:

  1. Little Italy Farmer’s Market. The best farmer’s market I’ve ever been to! So many different local vendors – I try to get something new every time I go and I’m never disappointed!
  2. Liberty Public Market, Point Loma. Sooo much good food. It’s like a mini Pike’s Place Market. Get the empanadas!!!
  3. Carlsbad Flower Fields, Carlsbad. Go to take pictures – that’s all you can really do there. Super pretty in the spring!
  4. Balboa Park. Tons of museums and they always have fun events going on.
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Hi, I'm Carissa Stanton aka @broccyourbody. I run my food blog full time out of Los Angeles, CA.

My goal is to be your one stop shop for all the healthy recipes you’ll need from healthified Taco Bell menu items to brownie batter protein bites. Can't wait for you to explore and find your new favorite recipe!

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Carissa Stanton
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Your favorite salad has returned for summer and a portion of the proceeds are going to @bringchangetomind, an organization dedicated to bringing more awareness and dialogue around mental health 🤍 I’m going to be at the Santa Monica location this Friday from 12-2 enjoying a salad and a nice cold bev, so come stop by to say hi, order a salad and support an amazing cause that is near and dear to my heart 🥰
#broccyourbody
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When I tell you that people were literally fightin When I tell you that people were literally fighting over the last Strawberry Cake Bar at my BBQ last night… 👀 They’re the only dessert you need this summer and I will guarantee that once you make them once, you’ll be hooked 👌🏼
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Strawberry Cake Bars
Ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened 
1/2 cup sugar 
1 egg 
1/2 cup milk, I used oat 
2 lemons, juiced 
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour 
1/2 tsp baking powder 
1 cup strawberries, chopped 
Strawberry Lemon Glaze:
3/4 cup powdered sugar 
1 lemon, juiced 
2 tsp dried strawberries, finely crushed or blended into powder 
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Best together the butter, sugar and egg. Add in the lemon juice and milk to combine. 
In a separate bowl, mix together the flour and baking powder. Add to the wet mixture and stir until just combined. Gently fold in the strawberries.
Pour the mixture into a well greased, parchment paper lined 9x9 baking pan. Spread evenly in the pan and bake for 30 minutes.
Let it cool while you make the icing. Combine all ingredients with a whisk or fork, adding more sugar to thicken or more milk to thin it out. 
Pour the icing over top and serve! 
#broccyourbody #springbaking #easyrecipes
This gloomy day calls for Chicken Tortilla Soup! I This gloomy day calls for Chicken Tortilla Soup! I can promise you that if you make this soup, you’ll never use any other recipe ever again. It’s SO good and super healthy! You must try.
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Ingredients:
1 tbsp olive or avocado oil
1 lb organic chicken breasts, substitute 1 cup uncooked quinoa for vegetarian
2 10 oz cans tomatoes with roasted green chiles
1 15 oz can black beans drained & rinsed
1 4 oz can diced green chiles
2 bell peppers chopped
1 small jalapeno chopped (optional)
1 small red onion finely diced (white onion works too)
2 zucchinis chopped
4 cups chicken broth or sub vegetable
2 tsp salt
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp paprika
1/2 cup coconut milk
2 limes juiced
1 cup tortilla chips
Toppings:
Greek yogurt or sour cream
Shredded Mexican Cheese
Tortilla chips a must
Avocado
Cilantro
Jalapeno
Hot sauce
Instructions:
Heat a large soup pot over medium heat. Once hot, add the chicken and sear for 2 minutes on each side. Then add the veggies and saute for 5 minutes.
Add remaining ingredients except coconut milk and tortilla chips, bring to a boil and then turn heat to low and let simmer while covered for 30.
Remove chicken and shred it with two forks. With the chicken removed, add the coconut milk and tortilla chips then blend the soup & veggies with an immersion blender or in small batches with a regular blender.
Add the chicken back in and serve with your toppings.
*Makes 4-6 servings!
#broccyourbody #byb #chickentortillasoup #tortillasoup #healthyrecipes #mealpreprecipes #realfood
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NEW RECIPE: Crispy Sautéed Miso Eggplant! I will NEW RECIPE: Crispy Sautéed Miso Eggplant! I will never not order miso eggplant when I see it on a menu but I’ve never thought I could recreate it so easily at home! I used @pompeian Smooth Extra Virgin Olive Oil to sauté the eggplant because it has a smooth, delicate taste and gets it nice and crispy. I love that their high-quality olive oils have the best way to use them labeled right on the front of the bottle to take out any guesswork when it comes to cooking! #ad #pompeiandifference
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Ingredients:
2 small or 1 medium eggplant, cut into 1 in chunks
Sprinkle of Salt 
3-4 tbsp @pompeian Smooth Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tbsp white miso paste
1 tbsp + 1 tsp honey
1 tbsp + 1 tsp rice wine vinegar
1 tsp chili sauce
3 tbsp green onion
Instructions:
Place the chopped eggplant on a large plate or cutting board and sprinkle with salt. Let it sit for about 10 minutes to draw out any excess moisture. Pat dry with a paper towel.
Make the sauce by combining the soy sauce, white miso paste, honey, rice wine vinegar and chili sauce in a small bowl.
In a large skillet or wok, heat the oil over medium heat. Once the pan is hot, add the eggplant. Make sure not to overcrowd the pan- it may need to be done in 2 batches. Sauté until the eggplant is soft and crispy on the outside, about 5-7 minutes. 
Add in the sauce and green onion and sauté for an additional 1-2 minutes.
Serve right away over rice or as a side dish.
Having a very mediocre time!! Having a very mediocre time!!
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