San Diego Dining

Cardiff by the Sea		Bonsall		Clairemont
Carlsbad		Escondido		Coronado
Carmel Valley		Fallbrook		La Jolla
Del Mar		Mira Mesa		Mission Beach
Encinitas		Murrieta		Ocean Beach
La Costa		Poway		Pacific Beach
Leucadia		Ramona		Point Loma
Oceanside		Rancho Bernardo		University City
Olivenhain		Rancho Penasquitos
Rancho Santa Fe		San Marcos
Solana Beach		Scripps Ranch
		Temecula
		Valley Center
		Vista
College Grove		Bonita		Alpine
Del Cerro		Chula Vista		Borrego Springs
Downtown San Diego		Imperial Beach		El Cajon
Encanto		National City		Julian
Golden Hill		Otay Mesa		La Mesa
Hillcrest		Paradise Hills		Lakeside
Linda Vista		San Ysidro		Lemon Grove
Logan Heights				Rancho San Diego
Mission Hills				Santee
Mission Valley				Spring Valley
Normal Heights
North Park
Old Town
San Carlos
Tierrasanta

One of the delights of being in San Diego is discovering the many delicious restaurants and regional cuisines. The area is quickly becoming one of the nation’s most desired dining destinations with culinary delights ranging from high-end fine dining in La Jolla to fish tacos from the original Rubio’s.

Because of the year-round excellent growing weather, Southern California is known for its fresh vegetables, fruits, and herbs. The special combinations of these ingredients have become known as California Cuisine and there are several restaurants in San Diego where you can taste these dishes, including one in the Hillcrest area called “Region,” and another on Coronado Island at the famous Hotel Del Coronado’s new restaurant, “1500”, now offering  California and Baja coastal cuisine.

The ethnic diversity of the area is well represented in its many opportunities for dining—cuisines such as Thai, Laotian, Afghan, Ethiopian, Cuban, Indian, Chinese, Cambodian, Italian, Greek, Japanese, South American, and of course, Mexican. And there are plenty of steak houses such as Donovan’s on La Jolla Village Drive. In a recent poll, the top two restaurants in San Diego were “Bertrand at Mr. A’s” offering American cuisine, and “Mille Fleur” in Rancho Santa Fe, offering a French menu. Both were rated #1 or #2 in the county for quality of food and service.

The Gaslamp Quarter has over 100 restaurants including many on Fifth Avenue’s Restaurant Row from southwestern cooking to steak houses to great seafood. In the nearby neighborhoods, you can find cafes and restaurants, such as great Mexican food in Old Town, and new restaurants opening up in the East Village, rejuvenated by the recent opening of Petco Park. Farther east, Convoy Street is becoming the unofficial Asian Restaurant Row of San Diego, presenting a wide selection of Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese restaurants. La Jolla offers fine dining, represented by such restaurants as George’s at the Cove, Jack’s, and the Marine Room.

But there is a wide variety of dining to be experienced throughout the region. One local favorite is D.Z. Akins Restaurant, specializing in over 130 different sandwiches. And there are plenty of fast-food and chain restaurants for those on the go.

One of the delights of living in San Diego is taking part in San Diego Restaurant Week. During six days each January over 125 restaurants offer a special fixed-price, three course dinner menu for just $30 to $40 per person (beverages, tax and gratuity not included). You can dine at the city’s award-winning restaurants for a modest price and sample the best the city has to offer.

San Diego’s dining scene is as diverse as its many cultures, combining to make the city one of the great destinations for dining and socializing. An evening out in San Diego can start with a wonderful dinner at any number of restaurants downtown or throughout the San Diego area.