A listing of one of the best eating places in Outdated City San Diego seems to be rather a lot completely different now than once I first began going there to eat (dare I say) a couple of a long time in the past.
Positive, some are touristy, however that’s a part of their attraction. Folks weave Mexican meals and maybe a fishbowl-sized margarita into their itinerary after sightseeing all through this historic neighborhood, generally known as the birthplace of California.
These days, you may go to Outdated City San Diego only for the meals. To present you an concept, one of many Outdated City San Diego eating places we like has a Michelin Star.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 personal bone marrow over a birria taco? I like to recommend you come to Outdated City to strive it.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 conventional Mexican restaurant must high the record. Folks hunt down Mexican meals in Outdated City San Diego. Café Coyote has been voted Finest Mexican by the California Restaurant Affiliation for twenty years.
It’s family-friendly and simple to search out. As with another Outdated City San Diego Mexican eating places, you’ll need to strive the scrumptious handmade tortillas ready every day by pleasant tortilla makers — you and the children can watch as they’re made.
The festive environment has strolling mariachis, effervescent water fountains, and pleasant employees. The colourful papel picado banners (cut-out paper sheets, a Mexican people artwork traditional) adorning the out of doors patio eating space add to the jubilant temper and match the informal Outdated City vibe.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 embody rolled tacos, albondigas soup, fajita veggie bowl, chimichanga, margarita shrimp tacos, chipotle camarones, and buñuelos for dessert.
2. Sushi Tadokoro
In the event you’ve had a busy day of procuring and sightseeing and need to wind down away from the exercise of the extra touristy Outdated City San Diego eating places, Sushi Tadokoro is a terrific alternative.
Situated 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 along with your sushi cooks.
This mini sushi counter provides a rotating choice of fish and countless creations to maintain patrons comfortable. Contemporary substances embody California coast sea urchin, British Columbia oysters, and Hokkaido scallops.
A number of the numerous sushi potentialities right here embody grilled Chilean sea bass, saba salmon toro, omakase sashimi, and nigiri aji. Give the San Diego roll a strive—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
In the event you’re a foodie who likes to strive a bit of of this and a bit of 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 outdoors 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 gadgets, together with fish tacos and tortas. At Ruth’s No. 5, you may load up on specialty model salsas, equivalent to 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 road meals—plus refreshing agua fresca. Mar Rustico provides plates and bowls with sea-inspired recipes. Strive 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. Test again sometimes as new eateries are set to open on this eclectic corridor (and a few have already rotated out).
The Finest Locations to Keep
High Outdated City San Diego Inns
Historic, finances, and pleasant lodges and motels to think about on your trip.
4. Tahona Bar
- 2414 San Diego Ave, San Diego, CA 92110
- (619) 255-2090
- tahonabar.com
- Open for dinner/comfortable hour solely and closed Mondays
Tahona Bar is an Outdated City San Diego Mexican restaurant centered round a curated assortment of over 120 forms 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.
Strive the corn croquetas, tempura squash blossom, carnitas bao bun, ahi tostada, or tempura nori tortilla taco. Try their menu for different fusion creations, and save room for dessert—just like the chocolate plantain served over ice cream.
Completely happy hour (at present Wednesday—Friday) is a good time to strive what Tahona Bar is greatest identified for: its mezcal. Order a mezcal flight along with your meal, or take part in a mezcal tasting (reservations are required for the tasting).
We’d place it increased on this record, but it surely’s solely open from comfortable hour onward, and most of the people go to the historic neighborhood through the day.
5. Harney Sushi
Harney Sushi serves a big selection 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 widespread specialties—orange crush, lightning roll, Maui wowie, Bruce Lee, mellow yellow nigiri, moon dance, dragon roll, tuna maki, and extra—Harney Sushi provides cooked entrees, equivalent to katsu hen, Mongolian beef stir fry, and even a bento field for the children.
Add a conventional soup or salad—strive one among their specialty miso soups or the Chuka seaweed salad—or an appetizer, equivalent to 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 (strive the lychee juice).
6. Casa de Reyes
What makes Casa de Reyes among the best 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 outdoors 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 selections embody mushy corn tacos and veggie enchiladas with plant-based cheese. Gluten-free gadgets embody shrimp ceviche, enchiladas, tacos, and hen mole poblano. On the drinks menu, you’ll discover many various specialty margaritas, which you may get for the desk by the pitcher. Horchata can also 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 may order breakfast gadgets till midday. Strive the machaca burrito with scrambled egg or the egg, potato, and cheese — a preferred breakfast burrito (or all-day burrito in my household).
7. Outdated City Tequila Manufacturing facility
A number of first-timers come for the view—which is spectacular—but it surely’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 facility is a good place to deliver out-of-town visitors. It’s additionally a improbable alternative for celebrations — or simply as a result of.
Regardless of the prime location, the restaurant isn’t pretentious. It serves scrumptious Mexican fare in a colourful setting, together with indoor seating in ample eating rooms and wonderful out of doors 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 gadgets embody 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 every day and are thought to be among the greatest on the town.
You possibly can watch them being constituted of scratch. Each day, groups of tortilla women put together over 3,000 corn and 5,600 flour tortillas the normal means.
Nevertheless it’s not simply in regards to the tortillas. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Outdated City Mexican Café serves numerous favorites, together with carnitas, road tacos, spicy tequila ribs, and shrimp tacos. Vegetarian burritos, tostadas, and fajitas are additionally on the menu.
This is likely one of the greatest eating places in Outdated City San Diego as a result of you may have brunch right here every single day of the week till midday. That is the place to go should you’re craving a breakfast torta, chorizo con huevos, or breakfast tacos.
9. Barra Barra Saloon
Lots of the greatest eating places in Outdated City San Diego provide good patio seating day and night time, however it’s possible you’ll need 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, positioned inside Fiesta de Reyes on the north finish of the historic district.
The lined patio eating space consists of hearth pits and neat hanging lighting fixtures, which is good, 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.
Quite a few the menu gadgets might be modified to make them vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free, so examine along with your server beforehand for solutions. Youngsters 10 and underneath eat free (one youngster per paying grownup), making this restaurant an awesome alternative for households.
The Finest Locations to Browse
The place to go Procuring in Outdated City
We put collectively an inventory of the place to search out enjoyable items and souvenirs when you discover this historic neighborhood.
10. Casa Guadalajara
Casa Guadalajara is among the many greatest eating places in Outdated City San Diego due to the mix of festive decor and meals.
Whether or not you dine inside or outdoors on the patio, you’ll have a pleasant sensory expertise. The colours are vivid and cheery but stress-free, with beautiful tile work, intricate wooden carvings, stained glass options, New Mexico coloration combos, and Puebla-style furnishings.
The enclosed Backyard Room patio is charming, with its hanging ferns and delightful Mexican mosaic tables. The courtyard provides an equally beautiful setting, full with a 200-year-old shade tree.
The recipes pay tribute to the regional villages of Mexico. Strive 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
In the event you’re hungry for excellent Italian meals, head to Jack & Giulio’s, one of many district’s eating places that doesn’t concentrate on Mexican fare. This Italian restaurant provides every thing from antipasto classico to hen marsala.
With indoor and out of doors seating, this restaurant takes pleasure in delivering nice service. The vibe is pleasant, and the meals is improbable. Previously a preferred 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 employees in a welcoming environment.
Different menu gadgets embody 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 every day onsite.
12. Congress Café
Rounding out this record of greatest 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 makes a speciality of conventional Venezuelan cooking, sandwiches, salads, and farmers’ breakfasts.
You possibly can dine in or take your meal to go. Choices embody Venezuelan starters—mini empanadas, tequeños (cheese sticks), fried plantains, and cachapas (corn pancakes). Fundamental plates include scrambled eggs, arepa, grilled tomatoes and onions, avocado, latin cream, and your alternative of shredded beef, black beans, or seasoned fish.
Strive a grilled arepa—an artisanal dish excellent for brunch, fabricated from corn flour and stuffed along with your alternative of substances, 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 embody Mexican spiced mocha and chai tea latte, amongst different selections, or take pleasure in a refreshing pure juice constituted of mango, pineapple, or ardour fruit.
What are your favourite Outdated City San Diego eating places?
