San Diego Restaurants

San Diegos reputation as a holidaymakers paradise has made it a magnet for top chefs and restaurateurs from around the world. Few other cities in America offer so many dining choices, both indoors and al fresco. With a bounty of fresh seafood right on its doorstep and the breadbasket of Central California within easy reach, the food in San Diego is always of the highest quality. But this popularity means that the citys best restaurants are usually booked on any given night, especially during the summer. Make your table reservations well in advance.

Local cuisine

The cuisine in San Diego reflects the citys ethnic diversity, the seasonality of vegetables and access to the bounty of local fresh produce and seafood. Naturally, San Diego offers an amazing selection of seafood, which can be found extravagantly presented in upscale restaurants as well as simply done at waterfront takeaways. Restaurants often focus on continental-style cuisine, but ethnic flavours are increasingly finding their way onto the menus.

The number one ethnic food in the city is Mexican, which is logical given its proximity to the border. You can sample every style of Mexican food, from delicious roadside tacos to Americanised interpretations. And dont miss the chance to enjoy San Diegos famous fish tacos. Other ethnic cuisine which can be readily found, include various Asian styles, Mediterranean, French and fusions of all of the above.

Where to eat

The downtown area has the greatest concentration of eateries, with the wonderfully restored Gaslamp quarter offering some 100 restaurants alone. This is the best place to start your dining explorations, but be warned: its popularity means that parking is very difficult. There are all kinds of choices in the Gaslamp quarter, from trendy cafs to family-oriented restaurants.

The 5th Avenue restaurant strip is another good place to find something to eat, especially Italian and Mexican. Some of the uptown neighborhoods like Hillcrest also have small dining scenes, usually catering to more hip crowds. Mission Valley is literally overflowing with big restaurants of varying quality, with Convoy Street as the hub of Asian cuisine in the city. No matter where you eat, the dress code is casual.