This group of 29 restaurants reflects the best of San Diego’s diverse dining culture — covering cities across the county while spanning a range of price points, cuisines, approaches, and neighborhoods. Every few months, The DHC Group adds a few restaurants that have become favorites or have stepped up their game. A few restaurants have been retired from the map — not necessarily forever — just to make room.
Valle
Open for: Dinner
Price range: $$$$
Valle, the first Oceanside restaurant to receive a Michelin star, comes from chef Roberto Alcocer (who also cooks at Malva in Valle de Guadalupe). The landmark restaurant has helped transform the small surfing town into a recognized dining destination. Alcocer transports his modern Mexican cuisine stateside, showcasing his approach to Baja and Californian ingredients in meat-based or vegetarian tasting menus with optional wine pairings that spotlight Baja California’s Valle de Guadalupe’s wine region. Grab a seat at the chef’s table for an inside look at the bustling, well-oiled kitchen. Seasonal menu highlights include plates like local spiny lobster and wagyu carne asada.
Know before you go: Grab a reservation before the sun sets to take in the view over the Oceanside pier from the outdoor patio or a table near the window.
222 N Pacific St, Oceanside, CA 92054
Matsu
Open for: Dinner
Price range: $$$$
A core institution in the Oceanside fine dining scene, chef William Eick commands a Japanese omakase tasting menu with 10 courses, showcasing seafood, seasonal vegetables, premium meats, and dessert. For a splurge, upgrade to the A5 Wagyu add-on for $55, or opt for the a la carte menu for something more customized. The range of dishes can include tuna, wagyu, and miso in deceptively simple preparations that highlight the main ingredients and strive for a zero-waste ethos. One highlight is the sunflower, ika, rayu — an intricate plate using the entire sunflower plant and cuttlefish, presented like a cuttlefish burrito and dusted with dehydrated sunflower leaf. Also, try the oak-grilled sablefish, prepared with a technique that puffs the fish’s scales out like a pinecone. Look for special events like chef and Japanese sake collaborations.
Know before you go: A warm place for a celebration with a special date or close friends when you want to hear each other’s conversations.
626 S Tremont St, Oceanside, CA 92054
Tanner’s Prime Burger
Open for: Lunch, Dinner
Price Range: $
Beef tallow is the name of the game at Tanner’s Prime Burgers, a casual burger joint that’s been recognized by the Michelin Guide. Chef Brandon Rodgers (The French Laundry, Benu, In Situ) partnered with Eric Brandt of Brandt Beef to launch this Oceanside restaurant after hosting pop-ups at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. The simple interior features retro flair, with white tables and red stools, as well as indoor and outdoor counter seating and a spacious dining patio. Tanner’s serves its smash burger on a pillowy brioche bun with a USDA Prime Brandt beef patty, beef bacon, New School American cheese, lettuce, caramelized onions, and a drizzle of Tanner’s sauce. Don’t be shy about dabbing on some Tanner’s Prime Hot Sauce for an extra kick. An order of tallow-fried fries is essential on every visit here. Save room for a creamy milkshake, or the restaurant’s signature Fatty Patty, an ice cream sandwich with vanilla beef tallow ice cream between chocolate chip cookies.
Must-try dishes: Prime burger, tallow fries, and Fatty Patty
510 Vista Way, Oceanside, California 92054
Jeune et Jolie
Open for: Dinner
Price range: $$$
One of the select handful of restaurants in San Diego to earn a Michelin star, this restaurant is a bona fide destination in Carlsbad. Helmed by executive chef Eric Bost, (whose newly opened restaurant Lilo just won a Michelin star), the modern and elegant French table showcases seafood and seasonal vegetable dishes through a Southern California lens. Choose from a four-course tasting menu served in the dining room or on the lovely patio or order a la carte plates at the bar, where you can also indulge in excellent cocktails, zero-proof options, or absinthe from a custom fountain. Make sure to indulge in the raw bar with a selection of oysters or croque-madame with kaluga queen caviar.
Know before you go: Ideal for a date night celebration, the modern French restaurant bursts with romantic vibes.
2659 State St Suite 102, Carlsbad, CA 92008, USA
Manna
Open for: Breakfast, Lunch
Price range: $$
Manna, a Michelin Bib Gourmand-recognized brunch restaurant, started as a stopgap for chef Andrew Bachelier (previously of Jeune et Jolie and Cucina Enoteca) as he worked toward launching his larger restaurant partnership with pro skater Tony Hawk. It’s safe to say that this North County daytime cafe, Eater’s 2023 winner for Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year, has already become a beloved fixture in Leucadia. Diners have fully embraced Manna’s feel-good menu, which includes comforting savory pork belly congee, seasonal salads, and Turkish eggs with chili garlic butter. In the next couple of months, look for chef Bachelier’s forthcoming restaurant, Chick N Hawk, with the Birdman up the street in Encinitas.
Must-try dishes: Locals come for the unparalleled Turkish eggs and Manna bowl. Don’t skip on a vitality tonic, including ones made with Steady State coffee.
1076 N. Coast Highway 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
Market Restaurant & Bar
Open for: Dinner
Price range: $$$
Chef Carl Schroeder, whose extensive culinary experience includes working with famed chefs Michael Mina and Bradley Ogden, remains faithful to a hyper-seasonal cooking style inspired by local farms, including the nearby Alice Waters-endorsed Chino Farm. With its sophisticated ambience, the suburban restaurant draws a loyal crowd. The restaurant offers a three-course tasting menu in the dining room, while a la carte service is available in the bar and lounge. A full sushi menu is a big star for offerings in the lounge. Don’t skip the wine and cocktails from its robust menu.
Must-try dishes: Applewood smoked salmon, hamachi sushi, cherrywood roasted rack of lamb.
3702 Via De La Valle, Del Mar, CA 92014, USA
Addison Restaurant
Open for: Dinner
Price range: $$$$
Guided by longtime executive chef/director William Bradley, Addison is San Diego’s only three-Michelin-starred restaurant. The culinary team leads diners through an elaborate $385 ten-course chef’s tasting menu, spotlighting local California ingredients and produce. While the menu rotates with the seasons (expect the spring menu to change three times), highlight dishes include the pillowy shellfish chawanmushi with broccoli and bok choy, Regiis Ova reserve caviar with koshihikari rice, smoked sabayon and sesame, and sourdough bread made with goat’s milk. A curated wine pairing is available at an additional cost. Make sure to try a libation from the spring cocktail menu like the Snap Pea, made with blanco tequila, lime, snap pea, muskmelon, and aloe.
Know before you go: Plan for the tasting menu by booking reservations well in advance. Arrive early for a drink at the lounge in the dining area for the full experience.
5200 Grand Del Mar Way, San Diego, CA 92130, USA
George's At The Cove
Open for: Lunch, Dinner
Price range: $$$
A landmark La Jolla restaurant, George’s at the Cove has been going strong for over 40 years now. The culinary team is led by chef Trey Foshee, executive chef Masa Kojima, and pastry chef Anna Adams.
The restaurant’s three levels, each with different vibes, all have sweeping views of the Pacific shoreline. The rooftop Ocean Terrace features a full bar and a new snacks menu with fresh anchovies, sardines, mussels, and grilled cheese. Right below is the newly renovated Level 2 dining area and bar with a high-top counter facing the ocean. Hit up the spring and summer happy hour for half-price beer and wine, along with bar bites. The lowest level works well for large gatherings.
Must-try dishes: For lunch, don’t skip the lobster roll and rockfish tacos. For dinner, try the seared rare yellowtail or prime flat iron steak.
1250 Prospect St, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
Nine-Ten Restaurant and Bar
Open for: Lunch, Dinner
Price range: $$$
From this elegant and contemporary restaurant, chef Jason Knibb and team execute dishes from an eclectic menu that spans the globe, using hyper-local ingredients. It’s no surprise the folks at Michelin have recognized this La Jolla restaurant as a guide inclusion. While Nine-Ten offers lunch and weekend brunch as well as a great bar menu, dinner is its main event with highlights that include Knibb’s signature Jamaican jerk pork belly, as well as his takes on the Italian classic cacio e pepe and hamachi sashimi served with marinated baby shitake mushrooms to kick off the meal. For a truly remarkable meal, splurge on the “Mercy of the Chef” dinner, a six-course culinary adventure that offers dishes not on the regular menu.
Know before you go: When you want to truly impress guests with chef Knibb’s plates, ambiance, and a pleasant after-meal saunter around La Jolla Cove, Nine-Ten is where you want to book.
910 Prospect St, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
Shan Xi Magic Kitchen
Open for: Lunch, Dinner
Price Range: $
Peer through the oversized glass window and into the kitchen at Shan Xi Magic Kitchen, a Chinese restaurant on Convoy Street, to watch cooks deftly stretch dough into lengthy hand-pulled noodles, before dropping them into an awaiting pot of boiling water. The specialty of this family-owned restaurant is the cumin-lamb biang biang noodles, which are tossed with cumin-spiced lamb and pepper flakes. Also, try the beef brisket hand-ripped noodles, served over the same wide, chewy noodles that retain a pleasant, bouncy texture. For non-noodle options, try the stewed pork burger or the spicy cumin lamb burger. Add in an order of lamb skewers and dry-fried green beans to round out the meal.
Know before you go: If the long noodles feel unwieldy, ask for scissors to trim them to size.
4344 Convoy St, San Diego, CA 92111
Paradisaea
Open for: Dinner
Price Range: $$$
Nestled in Bird Rock, Paradisaea is a breezy, floral, birds-of-paradise-themed restaurant in the iconic Piano Building. After starting as chef de cuisine in 2024, Denmark-born chef Anders Jensen now leads the kitchen, serving a menu influenced by French technique and Baja and Nordic influences. Start with the colorful Jalapeno Caesar salad with lemon anchovy and the Thomson Heritage beef tartare served with rye toast points before moving on to fish dishes or steak frites with duck fat fries. Make sure to try the Copenhagen sourdough bread, a nod to Jensen’s heritage. The bar menu features playful items, such as newspaper-wrapped fish and chips and goat cheese croquettes. Don’t skip the cocktail menu, which offers a robust non-alcoholic selection.
Know before you go: Try to snag one of the two chef’s tables to watch the open kitchen in action. Diners at the tables have the opportunity to sample dishes from both the bar menu and the main menu.
5680 La Jolla Blvd, La Jolla, CA 92037
Yakitori Tsuta
Open for: Dinner
Price range: $$$
One of the most exciting openings in 2024 is San Diego’s first yakitori omakase restaurant, headed by the venerable chef Tatsuro Tsuchiya, who has spent time at Sushi Tadokoro, Yakitori Yakyudori, and Yakitori Hino. The elegant space seats eight people at the counter and four guests at a single table. Needless to say, reservations are hard to come by, so book early. Seats are released 30 days ahead. Over two hours, the chef will parse out 18 to 20 dishes during the omakase meal. Available at both the 5:30 p.m. or 8:15 p.m. seating, the omakase, priced at $115, is worth the adventure. Chino Farms’ seasonal produce is used for the starters and is found in the chawanmushi. Forget beef, pork, or fish — only chicken and vegetable skewers are served, followed by refreshing, tiny desserts.
Must-try dishes: If you do the omakase, you’ll get to try all the dishes. If a la carte is more your speed (only available at the 8:15 p.m. seating), be sure to order the chawanmushi, chicken broth, chicken liver, and chicken skin.
3860 Convoy Street, San Diego, California 92111
The Fishery
Open for: Lunch, Dinner
Price range: $$
For a city of its size, San Diego has too few restaurants dedicated to showcasing local seafood and the bounty of the West Coast. This family-run Pacific Beach institution is currently helmed by chef Mike Reidy (Callie, Ironside, Melisse), who joined last year. The casual restaurant is also a seafood distributor and retail market, ensuring that the freshest catch lands on the menu. All the fish and shrimp are wild caught, and the names of the local purveyors (fisherfolks and farmers) are acknowledged on the menu. The local seafood, oysters, and ocean-themed cocktails, like the Selkie Song, are made with Bimini overproof gin, Taiwanese sunset oolong, and seaweed.
Must-try dishes: Indulge in the shareable seafood tower, which has a little of everything, and pair it with a Tiny Martini made with Layback vodka and oyster shell vermouth.
5040 Cass St, San Diego, CA 92109, USA
Sushi Ichifuji
Open for: Dinner
Price range: $$$$
There is no shortage of sushi bars in San Diego, from the everyday to the sublime, but Sushi Ichifuji has risen to the top of the pack while remaining an accessible and attainable reservation. The 10-seat sushi counter, manned by two skilled itamae with decades of experience between them at revered local Japanese restaurants like Soichi Sushi, Sushi Tadokoro, and Taka Sushi, is a showcase for a nigiri-focused omakase menu and a more elaborate eight-course menu that changes with the seasons but always includes impeccable fish, creative appetizers, and homemade desserts like hojicha panna cotta, and yuzu cream sorbet.
Know before you go: The omakase menu changes seasonally, so going every few months isn’t a crazy idea. Don’t skip on the sake, which comes from small-batch distilleries in Japan.
7530 Mesa College Drive, Suite B, San Diego, CA 92111
Soichi Sushi
Open for: Dinner
Price range: $$$$
Nestled on a quiet street in Normal Heights, this gracious, family-run Adams Avenue sushi bar boasts a Michelin star. The menu includes a range of omakase options, ranging from the petite omakase for $60 to the premier eight-course omakase experience for $169. Master sushi chef Sochi Kadoya showcases delicately prepared appetizers, nigiri, and sashimi offered alongside a well-curated sake selection. Also on the menu are a la carte items like special futomaki rolls, tempura, and ankimo, monk fish liver with a dash of the chef’s house-made ponzu sauce.
Know before you go: Reservations are tough to get, so if your Soichi Sushi craving must be satiated right away, just know that take-out orders are limited to two to three per day.
2121 Adams Ave, San Diego, CA 92116, USA
Et Voilà!
Open for: Dinner
Price range: $$
This neighborhood bistro, run by a veteran of the city’s best French restaurants, has ample charm and Parisian bistro vibes. The dim, moodily lit atmosphere also makes it ideal for date night. Its relaxed bar and comfortable dining room are a fine setting for French classics that include escargots, coq au vin, and mussels. Be sure to order the sky-high, made-to-order souffles that people make special trips to try. The happy hour is another reason to come through, with a full array of cocktails, wine, beer, and a robust food menu, including escargot, seared shrimp, and pork baby back ribs in a bean casserole.
Know before you go: If you’re planning a date, make it on a Tuesday night when a bottle of wine and three courses are priced at $55 per person.
3015 Adams Ave #103, San Diego, CA 92116, USA
Wolf In The Woods
Open for: Dinner
Price range: $$$
Nestled amid the Craftsman-style homes of Mission Hills is this snug wine bar and cafe that’s become a neighborhood favorite and popular date-night spot. The European bistro feel is punctuated with New Mexican artwork. The cuisine blends European, New Mexican, Hispanic, and Native American influences into its inspired cuisine, which informs the tapas-style menu from executive chef Carmine Lopez that includes sweet corn and piñon soup, ground lamb braised with New Mexican spices, and Hatch chile chocolate pot de creme.
Must-try dishes: Sweet corn and piñon soup, ground lamb braised with New Mexican spices, Hatch chile chocolate pot de creme.
1920 Fort Stockton Dr, San Diego, CA 92103
Fort Oak
Open for: Dinner
Price range: $$$
This sophomore entry from chef Brad Wise behind Trust Restaurant Group is a well-loved staple in Mission Hills. Housed in a former 1940s Ford dealership, there’s an oval-shaped cocktail bar that fits nicely in the showroom that once sold cars. With an upscale dining room, outdoor dining space, and chef’s counter perch, the restaurant offers a range of hearth-driven meals. Start dinner here with a selection of dishes from the raw bar like scallop aguachile and ahi tartare before digging into mains like pork chop with black garlic sauce and New York strip steak.
Must-try dishes: New York strip steak, oysters, scallop aquachile.
1011 Fort Stockton Dr, San Diego, CA 92103, USA
Sushi Tadokoro
Open for: Lunch, Dinner
Price range: $$$
Well-crafted nigiri sushi is one of the attractions at this Michelin-recognized restaurant, which tops many sushi aficionados’ lists for its adherence to traditional Japanese style and technique. Classic edomae sushi is the ethos here, meaning the raw fish is served simply with rice seasoned with vinegar. Tucked away in Old Town, the setting is sparse and intimate; all of the fireworks are reserved for what’s on the plate. Menu options include omakase at the sushi bar or the table, as well as a la carte sushi. Be sure to try the sea urchin sushi, a specialty here. Chef Tadokoro selects the seasonal sea urchin from Hokkaido and California for the best flavors.
Know before you go: Parking is tight in the modest strip mall where Sushi Tadokoro sits, but nearby street parking is usually available.
2244 San Diego Ave, San Diego, CA 92110, USA
Tribute Pizza
Open for: Dinner
Price range: $$
Though it was initially built to honor some of the world’s great pizzerias, this North Park restaurant has earned respect for its own menu creations, from homemade bread and farmer’s market-sourced vegetable plates to its “Neo-Neapolitan” pies that range from creatively-topped weekly specials to classic pies. Choose your own adventure with pizza styles, including neo-neapolitan, Grandma style with a rectangular pan, or New York-style pan. Popular favorites include the Margherita and Dirty Dancin’, made with house-made Italian fennel sausage, jalapenos, and pineapple (not from a can, as it states on the menu).
Know before you go: Pizzas are made by hand and can take up to 45 minutes, so be sure to order an appetizer if you’re peckish.
3077 North Park Way, San Diego, CA 92104, USA
Cesarina
Open for: Lunch, Dinner
Price range: $$$
Having just celebrated its six-year anniversary, this vibey neighborhood trattoria in Point Loma charms with Roman romance and hospitality. From the lush vines and flowers trailing down the trellis in the cozy outdoor patio to the indoor dining area with rose-colored booths, bistro tables, and casual bar counter, it is ideal for a refreshing apertif or solo dining. The restaurant features an inventive menu showcasing pastas like pappardelle and ravioli, along with robust vegan and gluten-free options. A must-try is the popular cremini sauce, made with shitake and porcini mushroom sauce, on a pasta shape of your choosing. Don’t skip the tableside tiramisu, made with house-made ladyfingers, no matter how full you think you are.
Know before you go: If you can’t get a table, head down the street about a mile away to their sister restaurant, Elvira. The casual hideaway also has house-made pastas along with wood-fired pizzas.
4161 Voltaire St, San Diego, CA 92107
Cori Pastificio Trattoria
Open for: Dinner
Price range: $$
Since opening in 2019,Cori Pastificio Trattoria, a cozy Italian restaurant, has showcased Sicilian dishes from chef Accursio Lota. While the interior shines with sunny colors, the outdoor patio space is warmed with heaters and string lights. The house-made pastas are made on the premises each day with heirloom Sicilian grains and local seasonal ingredients. Try the yellowtail crudo, Thompson Heritage Farm porchetta, ancient grain tonnarelli pasta, and the award-winning seafood carbonara pasta. Well-received by locals as well as the international culinary community, this North Park treasure has a vegan menu and Sicilian desserts such as the ruota menfitana, a ruota shell filled with sheep ricotta, candied oranges, and prickly pear juice.
Must-try dishes: Be sure to try the seafood carbonara pasta, made with ancient grains. It’s a dish that made Chef Lota the winner of a global pasta competition.
2977 Upas St, San Diego, CA 92104, USA
ARTIFACT at Mingei
Open for: Lunch, Dinner
Price Range: $$
Artifact anchors the Mingei International Museum in Balboa Park, showcasing ancient cooking methods, flavorful spices, and bright botanicals as a nod to the dozen or so museums that surround the restaurant. The menu offers an edible history lesson, tracing the evolution of dishes across the globe. Be sure to try a few dishes from the dumpling category, which spans gyoza, pierogies, and somasas with turmeric. Short rib resting on a bed of egg noodles and crispy tofu with gai lan in fermented black bean sauce are also highlights at Artifact. Keep an eye out for monthly regional dinners, which focus on specific cuisines from around the world, ranging from France to West Africa.
Know before you go: Artifact offers a weekend happy hour from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. from Friday to Sunday.
1439 El Prado, San Diego, California 92101
Morning Glory
Open for: Breakfast, Lunch
Price range: $$
Awarded Bib Gourmand status by the Michelin Guide, this perennially popular brunch spot stands out for serving a breakfast menu with global influences (think egg-fried rice and breakfast carbonara) and compelling cocktails in a pink-hued, fantastical setting. It’s also plenty irreverent, with menu section titles like “Eggs a la Benedick” and a weekend-only breakfast dim sum cart service that runs from open to noon. Mimosas to kick up the morning and a selection of hot chocolates in unexpected flavors complete the picture. Don’t miss out on the soufflé pancakes, ginger fried rice with pork belly, khachapuri with mozzarella, feta, garlic, olive oil, and egg.
Know before you go: The only way to get a weekend reservation is to pre-order “The Family Affair” group meal for a table of two or three. Options include steak and eggs, lobster omelet with sturgeon caviar, or fried chicken extravaganza.
550 W Date St, San Diego, CA 92101, USA
Animae
Open for: Dinner
Price range: $$$$
Named as San Diego’s first James Beard Award finalist, executive chef Tara Monsod helms San Diego’s Filipino- and Asian-inflected steakhouse. Cooking the restaurant’s most compelling menu to date, Monsod’s cuisine brings a new perspective to Asian classics with dishes like tuna kinilaw, short rib kare kare, Taiwanese fried chicken, and crab fried rice. The modern, opulent dining space with sky-high ceilings, huge windows with velvet drapes, and cushy, curvaceous booths adds to the ambiance of a night out with elevated comfort dishes. Stop at the gorgeous bar for bites and cocktails. Don’t skip desserts like ube profiteroles and buko pandan.
Must-try dishes: Don’t miss out on the pork tomahawk tocino, brightened with a red beet glaze and accompanied by a citrusy mango sawsawan, a Filipino favorite that chef Tara has incorporated into the dinner menu.
969 Pacific Hwy, San Diego, CA 92101, USA
Callie
Open for: Dinner
Price range: $$$
Still one of the city’s most coveted reservations, Callie has become an essential contributor to San Diego’s restaurant culture. Chef Travis Swikard’s compelling California-Mediterranean cuisine lets local ingredients shine, making the East Village food scene a whole lot brighter. Be sure to start with the house pita and dips like hummus and avocado labneh. The menu is punctuated by stellar pasta and dishes like Aleppo chicken and harissa-grilled lamb chops. To try a bit of everything, order the five-course feast for $80, accompanied by an optional $45 wine pairing or a $35 non-alcoholic pairing.
Know before you go: For those who fear parallel parking in East Village, an underground parking garage sits in the same building as the restaurant. The restaurant even validates tickets.
1195 Island Ave, San Diego, CA 92101, USA
Fish Guts
Open for: Lunch
Price range: $
Chef Pablo Becker starts most mornings with an early trip to Tunaville Market to pick out fresh fish from legendary fishmonger Tommy Gomes. Moving quickly to keep the fish fresh, Becker heads back to his taqueria, Fish Guts, to prepare the city’s best fish tacos. The local white fish used for the Estilo Baja tacos, usually rockfish or sheepshead, is portioned out before being battered with a mix of flour, Modelo, bread crumbs, and French mustard inspired by a trip to Ensenada, Mexico. Just before the fish is ready, Blecker prepares the coleslaw and assembles the taco on a fresh corn tortilla made with masa from a local vendor. The outer coating is not too thick, and the fish is tender, practically melting in slivers with each mouthful. Add orders of smoked monchong fish dip, Baja-style battered shrimp tacos, and freshly fried fish and chips to round out the meal. Signature drink options at Fish Guts include a smoky mango margarita made with agave wine and fresh juice or a classic michelada.
Must-try dish: You can’t drop into a place with “fish” in its name without indulging in a fish taco.
2222 Logan Ave (Ste 1), San Diego, CA 92113
Serea Coastal Cuisine
Open for: Breakfast, Dinner, Weekend Brunch
Price range: $$$$
The iconic Hotel del Coronado’s anchor restaurant is also a showcase for the region’s best seafood. With views facing the Pacific Ocean from almost all the tables, the interior is decorated like a beach house with a tiered outdoor patio so everyone gets a view. Executive chef JoJo Ruiz (Lionfish, Joya Kitchen, Temaki Bar & Grill) has a long history of supporting local fishermen, whose fresh catch is cooked whole and served tableside just steps from the beach. On the menu are seasonal dishes, such as the “Greek Freak,” crusted tuna with crispy dolmas, grilled swordfish “piccata” made with horta, lemon, capers, and avgolemono sauce, and Greek grilled chicken with lemon mustard sauce.
Know before you go: Book a table at sunset for spectacular views while sipping on refreshing cocktails like the spicy hibiscus margarita.
1500 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118, USA
Aqui Es Texcoco
Open for: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Price range: $
Birria might be the Mexican slow-cooked meat dish of the moment, but barbacoa — particularly barbacoa de borrego (lamb) — might reign supreme. Traditionally roasted for over seven hours in an underground fire pit and covered with maguey plant leaves, the kitchen uses a specialized oven to replicate the flavors. This roomy Chula Vista restaurant has been focused on lamb barbacoa for nearly 35 years, turning out tender, succulent barbecue that’s best had as a build-your-own taco experience, served with fresh tortillas, salsa, garnishes, and a side of rich lamb consomme, but it’s also excellent as a filling for crunchy flautas or cheesy quesatacos. Although lamb is king here, don’t miss the zucchini flower or huitlacoche quesadillas.
Must-try dish: Start with the lamb barbecue plate to establish a baseline if you’ve never tried barbacoa before.
510 Broadway, Chula Vista, CA 91910
AM I missing any of you favorites? Let us know in the comments below.