Recently moved here, and want to know what restaurants are good to dine at?

Question

I recently moved to San Diego, CA from San Antonio, TX. I live in the PB area and I can't find a lot of good places to eat. Can anyone recommend great reastuarants? My favorite ethnic food is Thai. I'm hispanic and haven't found any good mexican reastuarants. Can I have help here too? Any other recommendations are good too... thanks

Answer 1

Hey Light,

Welcome to the Hood!

I'm going to go along with Elmer (No name) for his insight. I am going to add a few though.

I have often wondered why I have never received the same recommendation from others as to what the best Thai is. If someone recommends Celadon, then they hate Taste of Thai, If they recommend Taste of Thai then they hate the others... It makes no sense.

Mexican -- STAY AWAY FROM OLD TOWN! You might as well go to Taco Bell and save the parking hassles.

Italian -- I've got to include a little dive near MCRD. It's called Volare. It's super cheap, the side salads are bland at best, but the entrees are the best I've ever tasted (And there are few over $10.00) -- It's on Barnett Street, Off of Pacific Highway - Just before Midway Ave.
Italian Tapas -- A new place (2 years) is called Appertivo - 3900 Block of 30th Street - North Park area - Just north of University Ave. Entrees - Nothing over $7.00 -- Noisy, but fun and decent wine selection.

Mexican - I know it's a chain - but for better surroundings, I really like Chevy's. I really like their fish and seafood selections. I also like some of the little neighborhood places (Roberto's on El Cajon near Utah St - North Park area) still makes some of the best. ((Like Thai, everyone has their own favorites)).

SOMETHING DIFFERENT:

A little place in Golden Hill area called Turf Supper Club. You grill your own food (steaks, chicken or Kabobs) comes with salad and bread - No potato. Cheap and fun!

Misc:

Crest Cafe. Hillcrest - Robinson Ave between 4th and 5th. Bistro that has a wide selection of various tastes - rarely disappoints.

PIZZA:

Bronx - Washington St., - Hillcrest area - between 2nd and 4th! Great cracker thin slices.
Arrivederci Pizzeria - 4th Ave., between Robinson and Pennsylvania (There are two Arrivederci on 4th Ave., Don't go to the full service restaurant -- Expensive and pretentious) - Good Pastas, Great 10-12" pizza's and no attitude!

P.B.
It's been a few years -- and I would never bring my family there but they used to have fun and cheap food at P.B. bar and grill....

RESOURCES:

The Reader. They publish it every week and you will find some really fun places some with coupons. It's on nearly every street corner in P.B. as well as all over San Diego

Good Eating,

James in San Diego

Answer 2

There are a number of good thai restaurants in Mira Mesa...Spices is a good one.

For the indecisive, take a walk through the Gaslamp...there's oodles of restaurants of all varieties...though they are a little spendy in that neck of the woods.

No good Mexican....in San Diego??? Porkyland (I'm not kidding) in Logan Heights (by the base of the Coronado Bridge) is great Mexican (their chicherones rock!)...and there's a huge farmer's market at 22nd and Imperial. Take a drive down through National City and Chula Vista and you'll have Mexican food coming out your ears.

Enjoy!

p.s. I'll second a few previous recommendations
Crest Cafe - Hillcrest on Robisnson between 4th and 5th
Chilango's - Hillcrest on University between 1st and 2nd (not assembly line Mexican...specialties from all over Mexico)
Extraordinary Desserts - *drool* 5th ave and Palm *drool*

I believe the Encinitas Mexican place mentioned above is Especial Norte - Amazing food, amazingly tacky decor. A must do!

My personal opinion on Filipi's pizza is that it's quite overrated...give it a try youself, I might be completely out to lunch :)

Answer 3

There is a little place on the corner called La Playa that has good mexican food it is more toward mission beach. The Green Flash has a great breakfast and so does The Broken Yoke which is popular for mimosas as well. Another place in Mission Beach that is good is called Mission Cafe, also a great breakfast. All of these places usually have long waits though. Most dont take reservations so It is a good idea to call and see how long the wait is and ask them to put your name in. For pizza go to Luigi's (mission) or Hoboken's on Garnet. For Pasta go to Lotsa Pasta in the Von's shopping Center their meals are around 15 bucks a plate but most are totally worth it. Whatever you do, don't go to hooters or a little mexican place called Valentines unless ur completely drunk they have really good california burritos (carne, beans, cheese, sour cream, french fries, guac). Try Jordan's is pretty good in tower 23 and if you ever make your way to Del Mar go to Jakes or Poseidon's (beautiful dining on the patio dress nicer) Hope I helped. Oh and if you need directions to any of these places you can look them up online. Also, there is a restaurant review feature on yahoo. You can search places by zip code.

Answer 4

Welcome to San Diego! There are TONS of great restaurants here for you to try out (as well as a bunch of overrated ones, but I won't name names here). My favorite restaurant ever is Tapenade in La Jolla, which is verrrry expensive and serves French cuisine (dinner for 2 = $120, including tax and tip, no alcohol). California Cuisine on University Ave. is also fantastic, but pricey, and my second favorite restaurant. I also love La Paloma (upscale Mexican food) in Vista at the corner of Escondido Ave. and East Vista Way. I don't think they have a real website so there's no link for it below. Cafe Sevilla in downtown is also super for tapas.

El Callejon off the 101 in Encinitas has delicious quesadillas con pastor and is moderately priced (like $8-15 for one plate). There's another super cheap but super popular Mexican food place in Encinitas off the 101 that many people love (as you can tell from the long lines going out the door all the time)...I wish I could remember the name of the place, but I'm sorry, it's escaping me right now. I'll update this post when I remember it.
In Old Town, try the Old Town Mexican cafe for good Mexican food.

For Thai, Rama near downtown is really good. I didn't like most of the other Thai restaurants I've tried in SD, though, but maybe I'm picky.

Ok, enough restaurants for now. I'm getting hungry thinking about all this food. Happy eating! =)

Answer 5

One of the best Thai Restaurants in San Diego is Celadon. Its at the corner of 6th Avenue and University Avenue. Great food. Reservations a mush! They have a sister restaurant called Rama in the Gaslamp section of Downtown San Diego which is a little bit more expensive.

Here is a list of my favorite non-chain restaurants in San Diego:

Deli - DZ Akins
Taco Shop - Tacos El Paisa (47th & Logan)
Fried Fish - Pt Loma Seafoods
Vietnamese - Saigon on Fifth (Corner of 5th & University Ave, one block from Celadon)
Breakfast - Cafe on Park
Southern & Central Mexican Food - Chilangos
BBQ - Phils BBQ

Answer 6

You'll be hard pressed to find any Tex-Mex, what you'll find instead is MEXICAN FOOD.
You can find Taco Shops on damn near every corner. For whatever reason, Cotija seems to be better than most pure "Taco Shops"

These are more casual, sit down, inexpensive MUSTS:
J.V.'s by USD off Morena Blvd. is AMAZING!!!
El Zarape in North Park
Old Town Mexican Cafe in Old Town

Pizza:
Fillipi's (one close by on Garnet, others around the county)
Lefty's on 30th in North Park is unbelievable.

Thai:
Rama and Celadon keep getting mentioned. Yeah, o.k. but Saffron is what Thai should be: street food.
Saffron is on India St. by two better-than-average taco shops:
El Indio and Valentine's.

Finally, Capriotti's will make you a sandwich that you won't stop talking about for months. They are on University, near 6th, in Hillcrest

Answer 7

Welcome to town. You won't find any real Mexican restuarants here. They all serve American Mexican. The Casa De Pico has reopened in the Grossmont shopping center, I like the food and atmosphere there. If you like steak: Try Ruths Criss, it's right across the street from the Star of India - The big 4 mast old sailing ship on San Diego Bay. Expect 30.00 to 50.00 apiece there. I don't know about any good Thia places though.

Answer 8

There are a lot of really good restaurants here. There is Ortega off of University Avenue in Hillcrest - there is also Chilangos right across the street from Ortega which is also awesome! Thats all I really like as far as Mexican Food here...OH YEAH there is also El Zarrape off Park Blvd. They have good fish tacos for a good price.

For Japanese you can try Ichiban, also off of University in Hillcrest. For something for a tight budget you can try Sushi Deli off of Washington Street - it's quite yummy and soooo cheap!!!

For Italian I would recommend Dimille's, on Adams Avenue and Taste of Italy. For Pizza - you must try Lefty's Chicago Style Pizza on 30th Street - it's to die for!

For Thai - I heard good things about Taste of Thai for breakfast but have never actually been there.

Mmmm...and for breakfast there is the Mission - very yummy! There is one near you in Mission Beach as well as one in North Park. Hash house a go-go is good located in Hillcrest - and Big Kitchen is good and cheap - located in South Park.

There are sooo many, I feel like Im leaving some out. email if you have any questions. =-)



I am also a huge fan of Phil's BBQ.

Answer 9

You already have alot of good suggestions from others here. Mine would be a simple, quaint cajun restaurant right there in your backyard, Pacific Beach.

Check-out Chateau Orleans. Live music on weekends, friendly and efficient service- reasonably priced, a decent representation of the Cajun cooking... parking can be a bear on weekends however.

Answer 10

Try Benny Hanna's and Marie Callendar's. Have you eaten in San Diego Old Town and did not like the Mexican food there? Sorry.