An inventory of the very best eating places in Outdated City San Diego seems loads totally different now than after I first began going there to eat (dare I say) just a few a long time in the past.
Certain, some are touristy, however that’s a part of their allure. Individuals 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These days, you possibly can go to Outdated City San Diego only for the meals. To provide you an thought, one of many Outdated City San Diego eating places we like has a Michelin Star.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 personal 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 I like to recommend you come to Outdated City to attempt it.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 just a few spots (together with primary under) are additionally private favorites.
1. Café Coyote
I really feel like a conventional Mexican restaurant must prime the record. Individuals search out Mexican meals in Outdated City San Diego.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 seek out. As with another Outdated City San Diego Mexican eating places, you’ll wish to attempt the scrumptious handmade tortillas ready day by day by pleasant tortilla makers — you and the youngsters can watch as they’re made.
The festive environment has strolling mariachis, effervescent water fountains, and pleasant workers. The colourful papel picado banners (cut-out paper sheets, a Mexican people artwork basic) adorning the outside patio eating space add to the jubilant temper and match the informal Outdated City vibe.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 embody rolled tacos, albondigas soup, fajita veggie bowl, chimichanga, margarita shrimp tacos, chipotle camarones, and buñuelos for dessert.
2. Sushi Tadokoro
For those who’ve had a busy day of buying and sightseeing and wish to wind down away from the exercise of the extra touristy Outdated City San Diego eating places, Sushi Tadokoro is a terrific alternative.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 number of fish and infinite creations to maintain patrons joyful. Recent elements 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 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
For those who’re a foodie who likes to attempt somewhat of this and somewhat of that, you’ll love Outdated City City Market. It’s a . This vibrant meals corridor is a group 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, equivalent to roasted salsa verde and spicy piña, and handmade tortilla chips, all vegan, gluten-free, and kosher (many are additionally halal and you may as well 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 provides 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 may sip wine from sustainable, family-owned wineries at The Wine Store. Test again often as new eateries are set to open on this eclectic corridor (and a few have already rotated out).
The Greatest Locations to Keep
Prime Outdated City San Diego Accommodations
Historic, finances, and pleasant inns and motels to think about in your trip.
4. Tahona Bar
- 2414 San Diego Ave, San Diego, CA 92110
- (619) 255-2090
- tahonabar.com
- Open for dinner/joyful hour solely and closed Mondays
Tahona Bar is an Outdated City San Diego Mexican restaurant centered round a curated assortment of over 120 sorts 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. Try their menu for different fusion creations, and save room for dessert—just like the chocolate plantain served over ice cream.
Blissful hour (presently Wednesday—Friday) is a superb time to attempt 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 joyful hour onward, and most of the people go to the historic neighborhood throughout 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 inventive 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 intensive. Along with serving common 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 youngsters.
Add a conventional soup or salad—attempt one in all their specialty miso soups or the Chuka seaweed salad—or an appetizer, equivalent to oysters, basic 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 top-of-the-line 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 straightforward 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 comfortable corn tacos and veggie enchiladas with plant-based cheese. Gluten-free objects embody shrimp ceviche, enchiladas, tacos, and hen mole poblano. On the drinks menu, you’ll discover many alternative specialty margaritas, which you will 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 possibly can order breakfast objects till midday. Attempt 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
Numerous 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 superb place to convey out-of-town friends. It’s additionally a unbelievable alternative for celebrations — or simply as a result of.
Regardless of the prime location, the restaurant shouldn’t be pretentious. It serves scrumptious Mexican fare in a colourful setting, together with indoor seating in ample eating rooms and wonderful outside patio areas. You may sit in a comfy, secluded nook or at a desk with views that make you say, wow! The lighting and décor add to the nice ambiance.
Menu objects 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 day by day and are considered a few of the greatest on the town.
You may watch them being created from scratch. On daily basis, groups of tortilla girls put together over 3,000 corn and 5,600 flour tortillas the standard method.
However it’s not simply concerning the tortillas. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Outdated City Mexican Café serves varied 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 greatest eating places in Outdated City San Diego as a result of you possibly can have brunch right here day-after-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
Most of the greatest eating places in Outdated City San Diego supply good patio seating day and evening, 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, positioned inside Fiesta de Reyes on the north finish of the historic district.
The lined patio eating space consists of fireplace pits and neat hanging lighting fixtures, which is good, too. Go for the margaritas and tequila choice. Order from varied specialties, together with queso fundido, vegetarian empanadas, Indian flatbread tacos, and Barra Barra seafood paella.
Numerous the menu objects may be modified to make them vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free, so test along with your server beforehand for ideas. Youngsters 10 and underneath eat free (one baby per paying grownup), making this restaurant an awesome alternative for households.
The Greatest Locations to Browse
The place to go Procuring in Outdated City
We put collectively a listing of the place to seek 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 mixture 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 vivid and cheery but stress-free, with beautiful tile work, intricate wooden carvings, stained glass options, New Mexico shade combos, and Puebla-style furnishings.
The enclosed Backyard Room patio is charming, with its hanging ferns and exquisite 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. 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
For those who’re hungry for excellent Italian meals, head to Jack & Giulio’s, one of many district’s eating places that doesn’t give attention to Mexican fare. This Italian restaurant provides every part 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 unbelievable. Previously a preferred restaurant in Pacific Seashore, 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 environment.
Different menu objects embody Brutus salad, tortelloni verdi, lasagne della casa, angel hair mediterraneo, scampi al pesto, spaghetti al burro, and hen piccata. An in depth wine record is offered, together with different signature drinks (you will get a house-special margarita). Hand-rolled pasta is made contemporary day by 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 may dine in or take your meal to go. Choices embody Venezuelan starters—mini empanadas, tequeños (cheese sticks), fried plantains, and cachapas (corn pancakes). Predominant plates include scrambled eggs, arepa, grilled tomatoes and onions, avocado, latin cream, and your alternative of shredded beef, black beans, or seasoned fish.
Attempt a grilled arepa—an artisanal dish good for brunch, made from corn flour and stuffed along with your alternative 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 embody Mexican spiced mocha and chai tea latte, amongst different selections, or take pleasure in a refreshing pure juice created from mango, pineapple, or ardour fruit.
What are your favourite Outdated City San Diego eating places?