San Diego Restaurants

Attention Foodies! Mouthing watering dishes and exotic treats await your taste bud affection. Situated on the southern California coast, San Diego is home to many diverse cultures, which have had a strong influence on the city’s cuisine choices. Visitors to this great city will be treated with a wide array of choices ranging from spicy Indian and Mexican cuisine to more upscale fare. Whatever your stomach calls for, San Diego’s restaurants are sure to have it!

San Diego Restaurants -- Playing With Fire

For those in search of some serious heat with their dinner or lunch, San Diego has many restaurants that cater to the avid spice addict. India Princess located in the Hillcrest neighborhood on 4th Avenue has many outstanding Northern Indian dishes. The menu includes favorites such as vegetable samosas, paneer tikka and tandoori chicken. The tandoori chicken is marinated in spices and then roasted in a traditional oven -- the tandoor -- which gives its name to this north Indian specialty.

Candelas, located on 3rd Avenue, fuses Central Mexican ingredients with new world style and flare. This isn’t your typical taqueria, so diners in search of a fish taco or bean burrito best look elsewhere. Chef Eduardo Baeza’s inventive concoctions include callos jean, a mixture of pan-seared scallops sautéed with cilantro, onions, lime, jalapeno chilies and a Portobello mushroom in a white wine sauce. Another fascinating entrée is the Estructura de Aguacate, a Haas avocado stacked with shrimp, crab, scallops, jalapeno Chile and parsley. And if you didn’t think that was good enough, this dizzyingly delicious creation is also served with a basil and mango vinaigrette!

Upscale Eateries in San Diego

San Diego has many fine dining establishments where visitors to the city can satisfy their inner epicurean desires. Jack’s La Jolla Dining Room is one of the best restaurants in San Diego. At Jack’s La Jolla, head chef, Tony DiSalvo, cooks up traditional American cuisine with a sophisticated twist. Some of the favorites are spiced crusted black sea bass, Alaskan halibut, triple seared flat iron steak and crispy jidori chicken. Jack’s also has a five-course tasting menu priced at $75 per person. The atmosphere at Jack’s is quite formal, so make sure you wear your best clothes (and don’t forget the tie!)

The Palm restaurant, another fine upscale restaurant in San Diego, specializes in aged USDA prime steaks, Italian classics and large Nova Scotia lobsters. A short trip from many San Diego hotels, the service is excellent and the wine list is outstanding. Some of the Italian entrees include veal martini and linguine with red or white clam sauce. And for those who want to dig their teeth into a big juicy fat steak, the 20 oz. prime dry-aged bone-in New York strip is sure to do the trick!

Down-Home San Diego Restaurants -- Southern California Style

Visitors to San Diego would be remiss not to get a taste of some classic southern California food. Fresher is one of the best examples of the southern California approach to cooking. The head chef here focuses on combining fresh organic and local ingredients to create some of the tastiest dishes in the city. The Halibut stew with beet greens, carrots, apricots and cous cous is a favorite of frequent diners. Another staple is the ricotta cheese ravioli served with chino squash, basil and walnuts. Fresher also has a raw bar where rare salmon, shrimp, oysters and albacore tuna are served in a variety of ways.

No matter what you are looking for during your San Diego vacation, the restaurants here are sure to please. If you plan on eating out, check ahead to make sure the restaurant you want to dine at has the available seating. From spicy to upscale to classic California style, San Diego is sure to satisfy your cravings!