Everywhere You Need to Eat in San Diego Right Now

There's upscale Japanese cuisine in Bankers Hill, Italian comfort food in Lemon Grove, and more.

Marisi
Photo by Kimberly Motos, courtesy of Marisi

San Diego may be famous for fish tacos and craft beer, but why stop there? There’s so much more to this beach town’s culinary scene than fast-casual dining (although there’s still plenty of that). We’re ready to hit the latest hotspots, from sexy date night stunners to spectacular oceanfront dining to charming bistros. The latest entries into our culinary landscape include a globally-inspired sensation in the Gaslamp Quarter, Kaiseki cuisine from a legendary sushi master, and Italian comfort food with a twist in Lemon Grove. San Diego’s restaurants are ready to step up and give you the best our region has to offer, and here is our list of the hottest, freshest, and tastiest places in town.   

Al Dente

University Heights
$$$$

Al Dente features a menu with deep Italian roots and a contemporary lean, reflecting the owners’ Sicilian and Neapolitan heritage. The centerpiece of the sleek, modern dining room is the semi-open kitchen, where you can see a range of organic, house-made pastas being fashioned. Game meat appears in Cavatelli Al Cinghiale, a dish of wild boar sausage, shiitake mushrooms, and cherry tomatoes in white wine garlic sauce. Fresh takes on familiar dishes include Duck Pappardelle, a rib-sticking dish of braised duck in light red wine sauce; Fettuccine Pistacchio e Pesto, ribbons of fresh pasta under creamy pistachio basil sauce topped with burrata cheese and parmesan; and Oxtail Ravioli served with creamy walnut sauce. Al Dente also has a roomy back patio area that’s great for groups.
How to book: Walk-ins are accepted if seating is available; otherwise, reserve a table online

Helmed by Chef Silvio Salmoiraghi of Michelin-starred restaurant Acquerello in Italy, Ambrogio by Acquerello embraces fine Milanese dining combined with French, Korean, Japanese, and California influences. Dine on Dancing with the Stars, a seven-course, prix fixe menu that may include Branzino alla Ligure featuring seabass, taggiasca olives, basil, and Nocetta di Agnello in Crosta di Pistacchio; lamb with pistachio and eggplant. A Walk in the Garden, a seven-course, prix fixe vegetarian counterpart, is also available. Add an optional wine pairing to experience Ambrogio’s array of organic and biodynamic wines.
How to book: Walk-ins are accepted if seating is available; otherwise, reserve a table online.

Courtesy of Anni Venti La Trattoria

AnniVenti La Trattoria is owned and operated by three brothers, and is named after their family's original restaurant where they grew up working, located just 10 miles from the city of Palermo. The soft green and pink color palette and flattering lighting is perfect for a romantic date night, but it’s spacious enough to accommodate group dining, too. While leaning into their Italian roots, the Gagliano brothers give traditional dishes a modern tweak, taking pride in offering a diverse selection of menu selections. Standout antipasti include Crunchy Pistachio Burrata; crisp breading and pistachio pesto adds a textural, herbaceous contrast to the creamy burrata, or Scarpetta, light whipped ricotta, confit cherry tomatoes and eggplant chips, with toasted crostini to scoop it up. Pizza comes Le Classiche, ranging from simple Margherita to Tartufato topped with black truffle, mozzarella, brie, walnuts and honey, or Le Gourmet, offering choices like Palermo, with eggplant cream, mozzarella, San Marzano sauce, basil and eggplant chips or Anniventi; bufala, porcini mushrooms, cherry tomatoes and arugula on a stuffed pistachio crust. Housemade pastas smothered in slow-cooked sauces, larger entrees and a trio of calzones round out the menu. Check out the affordable wine list for a bottle to accompany your dinner. 
How to book: Seating is on a first-come basis, or order takeout online.

Courtesy of The Desmond

The Desmond

Gaslamp Quarter
$$$$

The Desmond is the newest gem in the rebounding Gaslamp Quarter culinary scene. The mezzanine-level restaurant inside the Kimpton Alta San Diego Hotel has a chic 1960s era vibe, with sleek, minimalist furnishings and groovy tubular lighting. Acclaimed LA chef Jason Neroni and his team, including chef de cuisine Aldo Negrete and pastry chef Erin Steidley, have created dishes that are refined and global, highlighting the best of San Diego with fresh local seafood, including a large selection of raw bar items, homemade pasta, and grilled fish and meats. The seasonal menu includes starters like English pea and green Thai curry hummus garnished with wasabi peas, tendrils and olio verde, served with grilled flatbread, and burrata dressed in bbq strawberries, honey/yondu vinaigrette, Thai basil, kombu oil and lemon sorrel. Larger plates showcase BBQ Octopus with blood orange amba, olive crumble, anise hyssop and cauliflower pudding, Crispy Lamb Pavé made with milk jam, black cardamom, mint raita, date vinegar and pea purée and pasta dishes like mafaldine, yellowfoot mushrooms, brown butter/parmesan fondue, spring chives and blossoms.
How to book: Walk-ins are accepted if seating is available; otherwise, reserve a table online.

Kingfisher

Golden Hill
$$$$

Within just a few months of opening, Kingfisher had already garnered a coveted spot in Michelin’s California Guide. The gorgeously appointed dining room has an Art Deco vibe, with vivid shades of teal and seafoam, gilded accents, cozy banquettes lining the wall, and a massive center bar. The menu combines Vietnamese fine dining with French, SoCal, and Filipino flair. This includes a silky Duck Paté with herbs, chili oil, house pickles, and kumquat preserve; Wild Mushroom Congee that mingles morels, crispy garlic, garlic chives, cilantro, egg yolk, and house spicy “sim”bal sauce; and Baja Striped Seabass glazed with caramelized fish sauce, mustard greens, green onion, crispy shallots, and Meyer lemon buttered rice garnished with toasted shrimp. The Smoked Dry Aged Duck—a crispy leg confit, duck xo sauce, rice noodles, lettuce wraps, and nuoc mam chimichurri—has developed a bit of a fan following and is limited to eight portions per day, so get there early if you have your heart set on it. The cocktail program follows suit with inventive twists on spirit-forward classics and fruity tropical refreshers, including a killer Singapore Sling.
How to book: Walk-ins are accepted if seating is available; otherwise, reserve a table online.

Photo by James Tran, courtesy of Kinme

Kinme

Bankers Hill
$$$$

Kinme Omakase draws from the Kasieki sequence to create a multi-course experience that changes seasonally and highlights subtleties in technique and preparation. The tasting menu focuses close attention to detail to execute a course-by-course cultural experience. Executive sushi chef Nao Ichimura meticulously prepares the day’s catch from hand-selected fish, while chef de cuisine Kevin Alvarado showcases his classic French training and knowledge of San Diego’s bounty of produce to express seasonal flavors. To accompany the cuisine, choose from Kinme’s fine selection of vintage burgundy wines, exclusive sakes, and a curated selection of Japanese whiskeys. With just ten seats, guests dine at a central table, allowing for an immersive experience as they watch the chefs create each dish. Kinme is open Wednesday through Sunday, with two seatings per night, at 5:30 pm and 8 pm.
How to book: Reservations are released at the beginning of each month.

Photo by Mary Beth Abate for Thrillist

Lapper Kitchen + Tap

Mission Valley
$$$$

It’s always summer at Lapper Kitchen + Tap at the sprawling Town and Country Resort. The breezy, fast-casual restaurant overlooks a gorgeous swimming pool under the watchful eye of Thelma, a neon ode to Thelma Payne, the bronze-medal-winning Olympic diver whose perfect form graced Jantzen swimsuit ads during the 1920s. Chef Ernesto Hernandez’s menu is full of faves like surf and turf nachos, Baja fish tacos and Snap-O-Razzo® beef hot dogs at lunch. The dinner menu ushers in comfort food such as Jidori chicken confit, braised short ribs and Thelma’s Market Vegetable Pot Pie. Sip a refreshing cocktail or mocktail from the full bar or a Stone Thelma Blond Ale, a special brew made especially for Lapper.  
How to book: Walk-ins are accepted if seating is available; otherwise, reserve a table online.

Available for Reservations
Photo courtesy of LAVO

LAVO

Gaslamp
$$$$

Tao Group Hospitality, which operates an amazing array of beautiful restaurants and nightlife spots worldwide, brought spectacular LAVO to the Gaslamp Quarter. There’s plenty of warm, honey-colored wood and flattering lighting to go with the 15-foot ceilings, open kitchen, and long, three-sided bar perfect for watching the game or grabbing drinks with your besties. Chief culinary officer Ralph Scamardella’s menu has a number of classic Italian-American dishes like chicken parmigiana and penne alla vodka, as well as brick oven pizza. There’s also hefty steaks, chops, and racks of lamb or veal. Somewhere between the appetizers and salads falls The Meatball, a one-pound sphere of juicy, garlicky ground Wagyu atop tangy marinara and served Instagram-style in a cast iron pan. 
How to book: Walk-ins are accepted if seating is available; otherwise, reserve a table online.

Available for Reservations
Photo by Jim Sullivan, courtesy of Marisi

Marisi

La Jolla
$$$$

Making its mark in beachy La Jolla, Marisi is led by executive chef Chad Huff and beverage director Beau du Bois. Handmade pasta paired with woodfired dishes from the hearth—think mouth-watering carpaccio; seasonal agnolotti; tender king crab topped tagliatelli; line-caught fish dressed in asparagus, fennel, lemon and burro bianco; and sixty days dry aged prime New York strip. Pair your meal with du Bois’ take on a freezer Martini, force carbonated Bellini, or choose an aperitif from one of more than 30 vermouths.
How to book: Walk-ins are accepted if seating is available; otherwise, reserve a table online

Available for Reservations
Photo courtesy of Q+A Restaurant & Oyster Bar

Culinary director Quinnton Austin’s namesake Q&A Restaurant & Oyster Bar is part of the beautifully restored The Brick Hotel in Oceanside. Arguably the most extensive oyster menu in San Diego County, you’ll find Gulf Coast oysters from the Louisiana shore, East Coast varieties from the Virginia seaboard, and West Coast selections from Sequim Bay in northwestern Washington. Get them raw or charbroiled with cajun spice, garlic lemon butter, and parmesan cheese; Poppa Legba-style, grilled with sriracha lime butter sauce, ghost jerk spice, cilantro, and lime; or topped with melted cheese in Rockefeller fashion. There’s also a trio of shooters—Magnolia Shuck (oyster shooter, house-pickled vodka and French Quarter house-made bloody mix), Weezy Shuck (cognac, amontillado sherry and nonino), and Ain't Nothin' To Shuck Wit (chile- and tamarind-infused mezcal and Montenegro). Additional choices from the NOLA classics menu include catfish—either fried or with crawfish étouffée— Cajun Crab Pasta, Uptown Gumbo, and Shrimp Jambalaya Risotto. 
How to book: Walk-ins are accepted if seating is available; otherwise, reserve a table online.

Available for Reservations
Photo courtesy of Sandpiper Wood Fired Grill and Oysters

This casual neighborhood sister restaurant to La Jolla’s esteemed George’s at the Cove and just blocks from La Jolla Shores is also one of our fave spots for slurping oysters in San Diego. Savor a leisurely dinner in the cozy indoor dining room and bar or on the outdoor patio near the fireplace. Executive chef Marty Fay’s kitchen is centered around fire grilling, which touches nearly every part of the menu. There’s luscious gochujang-honey glazed Sticky Ribs, blistered shishito peppers, and cast-iron focaccia to share along with a house-made banger plate, Niman Ranch pork chop, and Snake River trout, plus slow-grilled prime rib on Friday and Saturday for mains. The cocktail menu leans toward the classic and spirit-forward, along with fun tropical favorites like Mai Tais and Colada Daiquiris, and there’s an extensive wine list curated by resident advanced sommelier Evan Vallee.
How to book: Walk-ins are accepted if seating is available; otherwise, reserve a table online.

Photo by Lucas Parodi, courtesy of Temaki Bar

Temaki Bar

Encinitas
$$$$

San Diego favorite and seafood wizard chef JoJo Ruiz is the force behind Temaki Bar: Handroll, Sushi, Sake, where you’ll experience sushi the traditional way—serving made-to-order hand rolls meant to be eaten within seconds of the chef handing it over the counter, perfectly balancing warm rice, cold fish and crisp nori. Temaki’s signature tuna roll, with its craveable spicy sauce, sustainably sourced blue crab, yellowtail salmon, and more, are menu favorites. Temaki also has a diverse selection of Japanese beer, sake, and wines from the barrel and a backdrop of eclectic art by Todd DiCiurcio, featuring locally-loved Rob Machado Surfboards.

Valle

Oceanside
$$$$

After impressing Valle de Guadalupe diners with his noteworthy Malva Cocina de Baja California restaurant over the last several years, chef Roberto Alcocer has put down roots in Oceanside with Valle, a lush restaurant with stellar views of the Pacific Ocean. The four- or eight-course, prix fixe menus feature California-sourced ingredients, with flavors that are sealed over an open wood fire and offered alongside an optional wine pairing. For the ultimate experience, book the chef’s table inside the kitchen that seats one to six guests, where you’ll be dazzled by an 8-12 course tasting menu and a guided upscale wine pairing using the highest quality seasonal ingredients from the region in each course. A full bar serves craft agave cocktails.
How to book: Walk-ins are accepted if seating is available; otherwise, reserve a table online

Photo courtesy of Wormwood

Wormwood

University Heights
$$$$

San Diego’s first absinthe bar and restaurant brings a sophisticated drinking and dining experience to University Heights. Small plates and shareable entrees feature modern French takes, including luxurious dishes like Regiis Ova Caviar served with avocado, meyer lemon, masa and feuilles de brick or confit de canard over Parisian gnocchi, banana vinegar beurre blanc, parsnips, and annatto oil. The cocktail program showcases more than 30 absinthes sourced from Europe, New York, Louisiana, and other distilleries, which you can enjoy in the traditional fashion of early 20th-century Paris, served from slow-drip fountains with a cube of sugar. Or you can choose from a cocktail menu showcasing revisited absinthe classics and a selection of non-absinthe drinks. Like its sister restaurants, Tahona Bar and Botanica, Wormwood intends to be a place of education about this mysterious, often misunderstood spirit.
How to book: Reservations are recommended and can be made online. Walk-ins are accepted if seating is available.

Available for Reservations
Photo by Arlene Ibarra, courtesy of Zama

Zama

Gaslamp Quarter
$$$$

The Gaslamp Quarter’s new hotspot showcases Asian and Latin American fusion cuisine against the backdrop of the Amazon jungle. Chef Tayuka Kudo, whose resume includes stints at Nobu and Lumi, and chef de cuisine Luis Alberto Vergara seamlessly blend the flavors of two continents, from a quartet of raw and marinated seafood, through robust sushi and maki rolls, to brawny steaks and delicate fish. Cocktails highlight refreshing ingredients like pineapple, mango, and guava, as well as strong and spirited choices with a dramatic, smoked-at-your-table finish.  
How to book: Walk-ins are accepted if seating is available; otherwise, reserve a table online.

Available for Reservations
Mary Beth Abate is a San Diego-based freelance writer by way of Chicago and Los Angeles. Her hobbies include yoga, pickling and fermenting stuff, reading cookbooks and drinking fabulous gin. Keep up with her experiments @MaryBeth_Abate.

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