Mama Sofia has been running this room downtown since 1974 and it is still the city's Greek headquarters. Saganaki lit at the table, grilled octopus, lamb, and a walkable distance from the Gaslamp rooms.
109 West F St, San Diego, CA 92101
Petrino's Greek Restaurant$$ · La Mesa
The east county spot the local food writers actually drive out for, family run and unfussy. Order the pork gyro plate and the lemon potatoes and do not skip the avgolemono.
A small Hillcrest counter that has been feeding the neighborhood souvlaki and moussaka for decades at prices that have not caught up to the block. Fast, generous, good before a show.
3863 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92103
Steaks in San Diego
Born & RaisedSteak house · $$$$ · Little Italy
A $7M steakhouse that looks like Gatsby's fever dream. Tableside martinis, rooftop, celebs. Peak show-business dinner.
1909 India St, San Diego, CA 92101
Cowboy Star$$$$ · East Village
A real butcher shop attached to a real steakhouse, which means the dry-aged ribeye you order was cut in the same building. Ten minutes from Petco Park and the only downtown steak room locals defend without irony.
Turf Supper ClubSteak house · $$ · Golden Hill
You buy a raw steak at the counter and cook it yourself over a communal grill in a red vinyl dive that has been doing this since the 1950s. Open until 2am, which makes it the best post-show meal in the city.
1116 25th St, San Diego, CA 92102
Rare SocietySteak house · $$$$ · University Heights
Brad Wise cooks everything over live fire and the room feels like a 1970s supper club that never closed. Get the tomahawk and the smoked bone marrow, and sit at the bar if you want it fast.
4130 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA 92103
Bully's East$$$ · Mission Valley
Dark wood, red leather, ice cold martinis and more prime rib served than any other room in San Diego. It has been the town's sports and steak clubhouse for over 50 years and it has not softened a bit.
Seafood in San Diego
Ironside Fish & OysterSeafood restaurant · $$$ · Little Italy
The best raw bar in the city, in a room wallpapered with thousands of piranha skulls. Order a tower, the smoked fish dip, and a martini, then walk the rest of Little Italy.
1654 India St, San Diego, CA 92101
Mabel's Gone FishingSeafood restaurant · $$$ · North Park
Spanish conservas, tinned fish done properly, gildas and gin tonics in a tiny blue room that earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand. Oyster hour runs 4 to 5pm daily and it is the smartest early move in North Park.
3770 30th St, San Diego, CA 92104
Point Loma SeafoodsSeafood market · $$ · Point Loma
A fish market with a counter, on the water since 1963, and the sourdough smoked fish sandwich is the single most San Diego thing you can eat. Order at the counter, take it outside, watch the sportfishing boats come in.
2805 Emerson St, San Diego, CA 92106
Blue Water Seafood Market & GrillSeafood restaurant · $$ · Mission Hills
You pick the fish out of the case, pick a marinade, and they grill it while you wait. Line out the door most days for a reason, and the mesquite swordfish tacos are the move.
3667 India St, San Diego, CA 92103
Mitch's SeafoodSeafood restaurant · $$ · Point Loma
Built on the Point Loma sportfishing dock by fishing families, so the catch comes off boats you can see from your table. No reservations, paper plates, beer in the sun, absurdly good fish and chips.
1403 Scott St, San Diego, CA 92106
BBQ in San Diego
Grand Ole BBQ y AsadoBarbecue restaurant · $$ · North Park
Central Texas brisket crossed with Argentine asado, served on butcher paper in an open air yard. They close when the meat runs out, so treat the posted hours as optimistic and go early.
3302 32nd St, San Diego, CA 92104
Coop's West Texas BBQ$$ · Lemon Grove
A strip mall shack that has been the brisket benchmark in this county for years, oak smoked overnight with a bark worth the drive. Hours are short and weekend only, so plan around it.
Abbey's Real Texas BBQBarbecue restaurant · $$ · Miramar
The north county answer to Coop's, open seven days, and the one place that will not disappoint you on a random Tuesday. Brisket, hot links and cornbread, no ceremony.
6904 Miramar Rd #211, San Diego, CA 92121
Bowlegged BBQ$$ · Mountain View
Southeast San Diego institution doing Southern style ribs and brisket with mac and cheese that people order two of. Counter service, closes at 7pm, worth building your day around.
Phil's BBQBarbecue restaurant · $$ · Midway District
Mesquite grilled baby backs with a sauce San Diego grew up on, and a line that moves faster than it looks. Right by Pechanga Arena, so it is the default pre or post arena stop.
3750 Sports Arena Blvd, San Diego, CA 92110
Breakfast in San Diego
Morning GloryBreakfast restaurant · $$$ · Little Italy
Pink neon, soft scrambled eggs, souffle pancakes and a champagne cart, all executed at dinner restaurant level. No reservations, so put your name in and drink a coffee outside.
550 W Date St Ste C, San Diego, CA 92101
Kono's CafeRestaurant · $ · Pacific Beach
Breakfast burritos the size of a forearm, ten bucks, eaten on a wall across from Crystal Pier. The line wraps the building on weekends and every single person in it is a local.
704 Garnet Ave, San Diego, CA 92109
Harry's Coffee ShopCoffee shop · $$ · La Jolla
A 1960 diner counter in the middle of La Jolla where the surfers, the retirees and the money all sit in the same room. Corned beef hash, a milkshake, opens at 6am.
7545 Girard Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037
Big Kitchen CafeBreakfast restaurant · $$ · South Park
Judy's place, covered wall to wall in photos and political stickers, and yes Whoopi Goldberg washed dishes here before she was Whoopi Goldberg. Huge plates, zero pretense, closes at 2pm.
Bakery in the morning, proper weekend brunch on a patio under the trees, all of it out of the same kitchen that makes the pasta at night. Get the pastry case order in before you sit down.