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Meal Ticket in San Diego: Who's got recommendations?
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Meal Ticket in San Diego: Who's got recommendations?
Filed Under: Field Trip
Next week, this half of Meal Ticket is digging out of the snow and escaping to sunny, beautiful SAN DIEGO for a few days. Since it's our first time, we would love suggestions for places to eat and drink, as well as suggestions for stuff to do in general. Nine thousand fish tacos are a definite priority, as are brewery visits to Stone, Green Flash and Ballast Point. But what else? Please leave any and all ideas in the comments. Thank you!
It's kind of a cliche and a bit of a tourist trap but it really does have the most amazing views in La Jolla (and they serve Stone and Ballast on draft). Try George's for happy hour or brunch http://www.georgesatthecove.com/ Also Babcock & Story bar at the Hotel Del in Coronado if you want to see where they filmed Some Like It Hot. There are also lots of little cafes in and around Coronado (don't eat at the hotel).
Pizza Port in Solana Beach. It's well worth the trip.
Zocalo in Old Town. Great mexican food.
Also, Prado in Balboa Park.
The Fish Market restaurant right off the marina http://www.thefishmarket.com/default.aspx
I 2nd the opinion that George's, though touristy, is worth a visit (although if it's too crowded Brockton Villa is a good, underappreciated 2nd choice). South Beach in OB has the best fish tacos in SD and usually has good beers on tap, and if you time your visit right you can watch the sunset at Sunset Cliffs a mile or so away. Pizza Port is definitely the best spot for beer in the County though. The Turf Club in North Park is a funky grill-you-own-steak place that's a lot of fun. I just moved back to Philly after living in SD for ~6 years, and I have a million ideas for you: Parkhouse Eatery for brunch... Amarin Thai... breakfast burritos at Kate Sessions park... people watching on Garnet in PB... Blue Point for seafood in the Gaslamp... a day trip to walk across the border into TJ for tacos, tequila, and beer...
Catch the train to TJ for some "authentic" Mexican.
Catch the train to TJ for some "authentic" Mexican.
Alesmith-there beers are coming to Philly soon- btu taste the freshest while your there
For a fabulous view of the San Diego skyline dine at Bertrand's Mister As. It's upscale and the food is great.http://www.bertrandatmisteras.com/ If you're into desserts, you must try Extraordinary Desserts. Dishes are beautiful and delicious. They're open quite late (like around midnight). I prefer their location near Balboa Park which is quaint & charming. http://www.bertrandatmisteras.com/ Prado in Balboa Park has excellent fish tacos. This is a unique upscale restaurant that is not a Mexican restaurant....but still, I love their fish tacos! Have fun in San Diego!
For the best San Diego has to offer, expect to not spend much money. High end dining is not its forte, but ethnic hole in the walls are unbeatable there. That said, if you want a good ocean view at lunch, George's in La Jolla is probably your best bet. For a real farm-to-table restaurant, check out the Linkery. Stay away from the sausages, in my opinion, but stick to things with lots of veggies or something, those are ususally the best. They also have good beers on tap. Their blogs and daily menus are online so check it out before you go, if you go. Tacos/burritos here should generally be Tijuana/San Diego style, not the mission style you might know better. That means no rice/beans. It's purely meat, salsa, and tortilla. For the best carne asada in the county, go to Rudy's in solana beach. Get their carne asada burrito or their california burrito (sub guac for the sour cream), which is a carne asada burrito plus cheese and french fries. For lamb barbacoa (yeah, a whole lamb cut into taco meat, amazing), go to Aqui es Texcoco in chula vista. The rib is what they describe as "greasier" which of course means better. Also if you're the adventurous type, get the cabeza. Its the head of the lamb, cheek tongue, brain included. Super Cocina in University City is a great place for Mexican stew-type dishes, and you can sample anything before you order it. For a fish taco, try to make your way to Mariscos German. Their smoked marlyn taco and their gobernador (shrimp with cheese) are the best. As far as a more common fried fish taco, theirs is good too, but I also honestly think Rubio's (the chain) has a really good one. And on tuesday's they're like $1.29/taco. Many people recommend the brigantine's fish taco, but those are too expensive in my opinion. Chinese is good here, but not better than what you can get in Philly's chinatown. Vietnamese I think is better in SD (try Pho Cow Cali and K's Sandwiches if you're interested), but it's also great here so I don't think it's worth necessarily going for. Korean is good, try the Convoy Tofu House (not the other tofu house!) for their delicious big bubbling pots of tofu stew, which I haven't found in Philly. The BBQ isn't better than what you get here. Japanese, on the other hand, is way better in SD. If you want ramen, there's Tajima and Santouka. And also this new place Yakyudori ramen that I haven't tried. Tajima also has izakaya food like okonomiyaki, gyoza, etc. Santouka I can't remember all that well aside from the delicious ramen. There's also the whole izakaya thing going on with Yu Me Ya up in encinitas (possibly the nicest group of people, ask them about their sake list and you get awesome stories about each sake/type/drinking traditions/etc.) and Sakura and Otan. For some of the best sushi you can eat anywhere, go to Sushi Kaito in Encinitas. You can get their freshly-delivered list on their blog and when you go, sit at the bar and tell them to give you whatever they want. I'm tired of typing now.
Don't miss the AleSmith beers while you're out there. AleSmith X (Extra Pale Ale) is as good as it gets... see what all the fuss is about!
Have a drink at the Top of the Hyatt on the 40th floor of the downtown Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego. It is downtown's best view because it is on top of the tallest building on the West Coast waterfront. The panoramic views: to the west is over San Diego Bay, Coronado and the Pacific Ocean, south to Otay Mountain and the hills of Baja, Mexico, northwest to Point Loma and north to La Jolla's Mt. Soledad. In the foreground are the Gaslamp Quarter, Petco Park and the city skyline. www.ManchesterGrand.Hyatt.com (619) 232-1234 ext. 4914
I should also mention that Pizza Port, while purveying poor pizzas (okay they're not that bad but the alliteration was worth it), has great beers. I've seen the Pizza Port beers on tap around here quite often (especially at Local 44 for some reason), and the same guys also brew Lost Abbey beers. And I've gotten a pitcher of Pliny the Elder at pizza port for $12 (hooray local newspaper coupons!), so there's always that…
Urban Solace. Turf Supper Club. Red Fox Steak House. Bronx Pizza. Sushi Deli.
San Diego is a tricky city to navigate when it comes to eating. Lots of the best food is far and away from the downtown and beach areas, hidden in strip malls and neighborhoods that are a little less than scenic. Check out mmm-yoso for great out of the way recommendations, especially for Asian. For Mexican Mariscos German is a great seafood taco truck with multiple locations and incredible tacos and coctels. Super Cocina in Normal heights is a wonderful home style steam table place. Ba Ren in Clairemont is great - super spicy Sichuan, Chinese like nothing you've had in Philadelphia. Pomegrante is a Georgian place in North Park with incredible Russian food. Also in North Park The Linkery is farm to table place with uniquely Southern Californian lean and plenty of house made sausage. And if you feel like taking a drive down to Ensenada Laja is allegedly the French Laundry of Mexico.
For some great PRICES, perfect LOCATION and a laid back ATMOSPHERE, you can't beat La Puerta during Happy Hour (3-7pm) or during Sunday Brunch (10am-2pm). La Puerta 560 4th Avenue San Diego, CA 92101 www.taco619.com I love this place for the location and what makes it even better is the super low prices do not match the address. It's right in the middle of the San Diego Gaslamp (I still feel the "Gaslamp" is technically one block over, on 5th). I'm a San Diego native and love my town. Hope this helps. For more info on places to see and local pics, sites and more, check out my photography site: www.SanDiegoSouvenir.com (Shameless self-promotion) -Dave Christopher
is it too late? carne asada fries. you can try to get them at any taco place, but the best are at las ponchos in hillcrest (you can drive thru). seriously, get carne asada fries. roberto's for carne asada burritos, preferably at mission beach. you can get your food and eat it sitting on the sea wall. hodad's in OB for burgers and surfy vibes. the bacon cheeseburger has a patty of bacon (instead of strips). and if you are homesick, the tilted stick in OB is a philly sports-themed bar.
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