An inventory of the most effective eating places in Outdated City San Diego seems to be rather a lot completely different now than once I first began going there to eat (dare I say) a couple of many years in the past.
Certain, some are touristy, however that’s a part of their appeal. Folks weave Mexican meals and maybe a fishbowl-sized margarita into their itinerary after sightseeing all through this historic neighborhood, referred to as the birthplace of California.
These days, you possibly can go to Outdated City San Diego only for the meals. To offer you an thought, one of many Outdated City San Diego eating places we like has a Michelin Star. You’ll additionally uncover nice spots for sushi, pasta, seafood, vegetarian and even Venezuelan fare.
Have you ever ever dripped your individual bone marrow over a birria taco? I like to recommend you come to Outdated City to attempt it. The fresh-off-the-grill tortillas with contemporary honey butter that you will discover in a couple of spots (together with primary beneath) are additionally private favorites.
1. Café Coyote
I really feel like a standard Mexican restaurant must high the record. Folks search out Mexican meals in Outdated City San Diego. Café Coyote has been voted Greatest Mexican by the California Restaurant Affiliation for twenty years.
It’s family-friendly and straightforward to search out. As with another Outdated City San Diego Mexican eating places, you’ll wish to attempt the scrumptious handmade tortillas ready each day by pleasant tortilla makers — you and the children can watch as they’re made.
The festive ambiance has strolling mariachis, effervescent water fountains, and pleasant workers. The colourful papel picado banners (cut-out paper sheets, a Mexican people artwork traditional) adorning the outside patio eating space add to the jubilant temper and match the informal Outdated City vibe.
Café Coyote is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Home favorites embrace rolled tacos, albondigas soup, fajita veggie bowl, chimichanga, margarita shrimp tacos, chipotle camarones, and buñuelos for dessert.
2. Sushi Tadokoro
When you’ve had a busy day of buying and sightseeing and wish to wind down away from the exercise of the extra touristy Outdated City San Diego eating places, Sushi Tadokoro is a terrific selection.
Positioned simply south of the historic district, this one-Michelin-star venue prepares conventional Japanese-style sushi in an intimate setting that places you face-to-face together with your sushi cooks.
This mini sushi counter affords a rotating number of fish and countless creations to maintain patrons completely happy. Contemporary elements embrace California coast sea urchin, British Columbia oysters, and Hokkaido scallops.
Among the numerous sushi prospects right here embrace grilled Chilean sea bass, saba salmon toro, omakase sashimi, and nigiri aji. Give the San Diego roll a attempt—it comes with contemporary salsa and a lemon slice—and assist your self to some house-made gyoza, too. Sushi Tadokoro is THE place for seafood lovers and true sushi connoisseurs.
3. Outdated City City Market
- 2548 Congress St, San Diego, CA 92110
- (619) 995-5510
- oturbanmarket.com
- Closed Sundays
When you’re a foodie who likes to attempt a little bit of this and a little bit of that, you’ll love Outdated City City Market. It’s a . This vibrant meals corridor is a set of a number of counter-order eateries serving award-winning culinary creations, simply exterior the state historic park.
Tuetano Taqueria serves birria tacos with spicy sauce and bone marrow — the last word consolation meals — and a number of other different objects, together with fish tacos and tortas. At Ruth’s No. 5, you possibly can load up on specialty model salsas, reminiscent of roasted salsa verde and spicy piña, and handmade tortilla chips, all vegan, gluten-free, and kosher (many are additionally halal and it’s also possible to discover them at a number of native farmer’s markets).
Elote serves tasty corn-centric creations—Mexican-style corn on the cob avenue meals—plus refreshing agua fresca. Mar Rustico affords plates and bowls with sea-inspired recipes. Attempt their fish tacos, shrimp ceviche, or the tremendous decadent smoked marlin burrito (the letter is a specialty).
You possibly can sip wine from sustainable, family-owned wineries at The Wine Store. Verify again often as new eateries are set to open on this eclectic corridor (and a few have already rotated out).
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4. Tahona Bar
- 2414 San Diego Ave, San Diego, CA 92110
- (619) 255-2090
- tahonabar.com
- Open for dinner/completely happy hour solely and closed Mondays
Tahona Bar is an Outdated City San Diego Mexican restaurant centered round a curated assortment of over 120 varieties of mezcal. The Baja California and Oaxaca-focused menu is excellent and a bit extra upscale Mexican than you’ll discover in different close by eating places.
Attempt the corn croquetas, tempura squash blossom, carnitas bao bun, ahi tostada, or tempura nori tortilla taco. Take a look at their menu for different fusion creations, and save room for dessert—just like the chocolate plantain served over ice cream.
Glad hour (at present Wednesday—Friday) is a good time to attempt what Tahona Bar is finest identified for: its mezcal. Order a mezcal flight together with your meal, or take part in a mezcal tasting (reservations are required for the tasting).
We’d place it increased on this record, nevertheless it’s solely open from completely happy hour onward, and most of the people go to the historic neighborhood in the course of the day.
5. Harney Sushi
Harney Sushi serves a wide array of sushi, sashimi, and different Japanese delicacies favorites, together with tempura and miso soup. Providing conventional and artistic fusion flavors, this place is good for date nights, or anytime you’re within the temper for superb sushi. It’s a favourite of locals.
The menu is in depth. Along with serving fashionable specialties—orange crush, lightning roll, Maui wowie, Bruce Lee, mellow yellow nigiri, moon dance, dragon roll, tuna maki, and extra—Harney Sushi affords cooked entrees, reminiscent of katsu hen, Mongolian beef stir fry, and even a bento field for the children.
Add a standard soup or salad—attempt considered one of their specialty miso soups or the Chuka seaweed salad—or an appetizer, reminiscent of oysters, traditional tempura, or specialty edamame.
Some vegetarian and vegan choices are listed on the menu, together with avocado maki, mushroom roll, vegetarian roll, vegan rainbow, and others. The beverage choice consists of alcoholic choices, together with beers, sake, wines, and cocktails, and non-alcoholic sodas, teas, and juices (attempt the lychee juice).
6. Casa de Reyes
What makes Casa de Reyes probably the greatest Outdated City San Diego eating places is the festive backyard setting you’ll take pleasure in whereas eating right here. It’s only a good place to take pleasure in conventional Mexican favorites exterior in good climate. It’s a simple cease whereas strolling across the Outdated City State Historic Park.
Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free choices are marked on the menu for comfort. Vegan decisions embrace gentle corn tacos and veggie enchiladas with plant-based cheese. Gluten-free objects embrace shrimp ceviche, enchiladas, tacos, and hen mole poblano. On the drinks menu, you’ll discover many alternative specialty margaritas, which you may get for the desk by the pitcher. Horchata can be on the menu.
You’ll discover all of your favorites at Casa de Reyes: hen rolled tacos, quesadillas, steak and shrimp burritos, chile rellenos, fajitas, and extra. On the weekend, you possibly can order breakfast objects till midday. Attempt the machaca burrito with scrambled egg or the egg, potato, and cheese — a well-liked breakfast burrito (or all-day burrito in my household).
7. Outdated City Tequila Manufacturing unit
A variety of first-timers come for the view—which is spectacular—nevertheless it’s the meals and heat hospitality that retains them coming again. (Okay, and the views.)
Perched excessive above the historic district, overlooking rooftops, metropolis lights, and a panoramic view stretching from Mission Valley to the airport, Outdated City Tequila Manufacturing unit is a good place to carry out-of-town visitors. It’s additionally a incredible selection for celebrations — or simply as a result of.
Regardless of the prime location, the restaurant is just not pretentious. It serves scrumptious Mexican fare in a colourful setting, together with indoor seating in ample eating rooms and beautiful outside patio areas. You possibly can sit in a comfy, secluded nook or at a desk with views that make you say, wow! The lighting and décor add to the good ambiance.
Menu objects embrace Mexican fiesta ensalada, carne asada Tampiqueña, hen or beef tamale, enchiladas del mar, blackened Hawaiian mahi mahi, Baja fish tacos, and deep-fried ice cream sundae.
8. Outdated City Mexican Café
Serving Mexican fare since 1977, Outdated City Mexican Café is as genuine because it will get. Handmade tortillas are ready each day and are considered among the finest on the town.
You possibly can watch them being constructed from scratch. Every single day, groups of tortilla women put together over 3,000 corn and 5,600 flour tortillas the standard manner.
But it surely’s not simply in regards to the tortillas. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Outdated City Mexican Café serves numerous favorites, together with carnitas, avenue tacos, spicy tequila ribs, and shrimp tacos. Vegetarian burritos, tostadas, and fajitas are additionally on the menu.
This is among the finest eating places in Outdated City San Diego as a result of you possibly can have brunch right here each day of the week till midday. That is the place to go in case you’re craving a breakfast torta, chorizo con huevos, or breakfast tacos.
9. Barra Barra Saloon
Lots of the finest eating places in Outdated City San Diego supply good patio seating day and night time, however it’s possible you’ll wish to sit inside indoors at Barra Barra. It’s a interval saloon from the mid-1800s, a timeframe that noticed Mexican and American traditions mix, situated inside Fiesta de Reyes on the north finish of the historic district.
The coated patio eating space consists of fireplace pits and neat hanging lighting fixtures, which is sweet, too. Go for the margaritas and tequila choice. Order from numerous specialties, together with queso fundido, vegetarian empanadas, Indian flatbread tacos, and Barra Barra seafood paella.
Numerous the menu objects could be modified to make them vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free, so verify together with your server beforehand for solutions. Children 10 and below eat free (one little one per paying grownup), making this restaurant a fantastic selection for households.
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10. Casa Guadalajara
Casa Guadalajara is among the many finest eating places in Outdated City San Diego due to the mix of festive decor and meals.
Whether or not you dine inside or exterior on the patio, you’ll have a pleasant sensory expertise. The colours are vibrant and cheery but enjoyable, with beautiful tile work, intricate wooden carvings, stained glass options, New Mexico coloration mixtures, and Puebla-style furnishings.
The enclosed Backyard Room patio is charming, with its hanging ferns and delightful Mexican mosaic tables. The courtyard affords an equally pretty setting, full with a 200-year-old shade tree.
The recipes pay tribute to the regional villages of Mexico. Attempt the camaroncitos fritos, hen tortilla soup, tostada de Jalisco, shrimp fajitas, steak ranchero, mango chipotle hen, tostada vegetariana, or Guadalajara omelet. Vegetarian dishes are marked VG.
11. Jack & Giulio’s
- 2391 San Diego Ave, San Diego, CA 92110
- (619) 294-2074
- jackandgiulios.com
- Closed Monday and Tuesday
When you’re hungry for nice Italian meals, head to Jack & Giulio’s, one of many district’s eating places that doesn’t deal with Mexican fare. This Italian restaurant affords all the things from antipasto classico to hen marsala.
With indoor and outside seating, this restaurant takes satisfaction in delivering nice service. The vibe is pleasant, and the meals is incredible. Previously a well-liked restaurant in Pacific Seaside, this renamed and relocated eatery has been round in some incarnation since 1961.
At its present location, the family-owned and operated restaurant has been acknowledged as serving artisanal Italian cooking by pleasant workers in a welcoming ambiance.
Different menu objects embrace Brutus salad, tortelloni verdi, lasagne della casa, angel hair mediterraneo, scampi al pesto, spaghetti al burro, and hen piccata. An intensive wine record is on the market, together with different signature drinks (you may get a house-special margarita). Hand-rolled pasta is made contemporary each day onsite.
12. Congress Café
Rounding out this record of finest eating places in Outdated City San Diego is Congress Café, a Venezuelan restaurant behind The Whaley Home Museum providing Latin American fusion creations.
Open for breakfast and lunch, the café focuses on conventional Venezuelan cooking, sandwiches, salads, and farmers’ breakfasts.
You possibly can dine in or take your meal to go. Choices embrace Venezuelan starters—mini empanadas, tequeños (cheese sticks), fried plantains, and cachapas (corn pancakes). Foremost plates include scrambled eggs, arepa, grilled tomatoes and onions, avocado, latin cream, and your selection of shredded beef, black beans, or seasoned fish.
Attempt a grilled arepa—an artisanal dish excellent for brunch, fabricated from corn flour and stuffed together with your selection of elements, together with ham, chorizo, avocado, or salmon. The Platanera arepa has Venezuelan cheese and fried plantains, whereas La Vegana has black beans, avocado, and fried plantains.
Specialty drinks embrace Mexican spiced mocha and chai tea latte, amongst different decisions, or take pleasure in a refreshing pure juice constructed from mango, pineapple, or ardour fruit.
What are your favourite Outdated City San Diego eating places?