5 Best Restaurants In San Diego, Ranked

Though Los Angeles tends to get most of the foodie hype in SoCal, San Diego is another coastal city that is home to a diverse and delicious culinary scene. It might not have as many celebrity-owned restaurants or Michelin-starred spots, but it is still very worth exploring both for locals and visitors. Since it is so close to the border, expect to find some of the best Mexican food and tacos. The seafood is also supremely fresh, and there are actually tons of oceanfront eateries to choose from.

While Downtown San Diego is home to wonderful hubs like Little Italy and the Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego County encompasses everything from Oceanside to Carlsbad to La Jolla. That said, there are tons of restaurants that stretch all along the coast. Whether you're craving authentic birria from a casual taco stand or are trying to plan a special dinner complete with ocean views and white tablecloths, keep reading for our ranked list of the best restaurants in San Diego.

1. Fort Oak

Fort Oak is a solid place to kick off any evening in San Diego. The restaurant is located in an old Ford dealership which has been revamped to feature an eye-catching bright blue bar at the center of the dining room. Pull up a stool and indulge in one of its house cocktails. Fort Oak has a great selection of martinis that range from extra-briny (the Chevelle) to more citrus-forward (the Vega).

2. Bistro 39

Famed for its unique flavors, Bistro 39 takes great pride in its commitment to using the freshest, highest quality ingredients. By exclusively partnering with local companies from California farms, which deliver fresh supplies each morning, the restaurant ensures that guests can truly savor the remarkable difference in every dish served.

3. Addison

A meal at Addison certainly isn't the most frugal dining option in San Diego, but it's one of the city's most lauded restaurants for good reason. The restaurant's dining room is spacious and warm, featuring high ceilings, deep wood, and massive, arched windows. The restaurant's grandeur extends to its meals. Its nine-course tasting menu comes in at $355 a head, shifts with the seasons, and is informed by Southern Californian ingredients and culinary influences.

4. Aqui Es Texcoco

After making its way from Barbados to Mexico, the Texcoco region became known for popularizing lamb barbacoa, which involves slow-roasting meat for hours in an underground fire pit. Aqui Es Texcoco recreates this process with a specialized oven, which has helped this laidback Chula Vista spot carve out its reputation as one of the best places to get lamb barbeque in San Diego. Unsurprisingly, the lamb barbeque plate is a must-order. The dish comes with a small bowl of lamb broth, tortillas, salsa, lime, cilantro, and onion, so get ready to dish up and dig in.

5. Diji Mara

The Indonesian-inspired restaurant hosts a menu of small plates that you'll want to share with everyone you know. The ambiance at Dija Mara is casual but the dishes are celebratory. The brunch is decidedly different from most other fare you'll find in the county. It's filled with Balinese twists on brunch classics, such as the Thai sausage hash, confit tuna benedict, and kava jam toast.