Food · San Diego · United States
What to eat in San Diego
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define San Diego, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Dirk Hansen, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Quick answer
Start with California burrito, Baja fish tacos and Carne asada fries. Compare California burritos, rolled tacos and fish tacos at a few neighbourhood taco shops in one evening; portions are big, so share as you go. Taco shops are counter-service and often open late or around the clock; you order and pay at the window.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- California burrito
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 2
- Tipping
- Tipping is expected: about 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, a dollar or two per drink at…
- Food experiences
- 4
9 foods to try
Street food
1.California burrito
San Diego's signature burrito wraps carne asada, French fries, cheese and guacamole or sour cream in a large flour tortilla. It is a late-night staple sold at 24-hour taco shops whose names often end in '-berto's'.
Where: Independent taco shops across the city, especially in Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach and North Park.
Street food
2.Baja fish tacos
Battered and fried white fish in a corn tortilla with shredded cabbage, a creamy white sauce and salsa, in the style of Ensenada just across the border. Grilled fish versions are common too.
Where: Beach-area taco counters in Ocean Beach and Pacific Beach, and seafood restaurants on Point Loma's Shelter Island.
Street food
3.Carne asada fries
A heaped plate of fries topped with grilled carne asada, cheese, guacamole and sour cream, invented in San Diego taco shops and best shared.
Where: The same 24-hour taco shops that sell California burritos.
Snack
4.Rolled tacos
Thin tortillas rolled around shredded beef or chicken, fried crisp and buried under guacamole and cheese, usually sold in orders of three or five.
Where: Taco shops citywide and Mexican restaurants around Old Town.
Dish
5.Mariscos and aguachile
Sinaloa- and Baja-style seafood: shrimp aguachile cured in lime with chilli and cucumber, ceviche tostadas and seafood cocktails served in tall glasses.
Where: Mariscos restaurants and trucks in Barrio Logan, National City and Chula Vista.
Drink · Vegetarian
6.West Coast IPA
San Diego's breweries helped define the bitter, piney, clear West Coast style of India pale ale, and the county has well over 100 breweries and tasting rooms.
Where: Tasting rooms in North Park, Miramar Road's brewery cluster and Liberty Station.
Dish
7.Fresh local seafood
Local catches such as yellowtail, rockfish, sea urchin and spiny lobster (in the autumn and winter season) appear on menus, along with locally caught tuna.
Where: The Tuna Harbor Dockside Market on Saturday mornings sells directly from the boats near Seaport Village; harbourside fish markets on Point Loma serve cooked plates.
Dish
8.Asian food on Convoy Street
The Convoy District in Kearny Mesa is the city's hub for Asian food, with ramen, Korean barbecue, Vietnamese pho, dim sum and boba tea along a few kilometres of strip malls.
Where: Convoy Street in Kearny Mesa, about 15 minutes' drive north of downtown.
Breakfast · Vegetarian
9.Açaí bowls
Frozen açaí blended thick and topped with granola, banana, berries and honey are the standard post-surf breakfast in the beach neighbourhoods.
Where: Smoothie and bowl shops in Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach and Encinitas.
Food experiences
Taco shop crawl
Compare California burritos, rolled tacos and fish tacos at a few neighbourhood taco shops in one evening; portions are big, so share as you go.
Brewery hopping
North Park's 30th Street and the Miramar area have dense clusters of tasting rooms; many offer tasting flights and let food trucks park outside.
Saturday markets
Start at the Tuna Harbor Dockside Market for fresh fish from the boats, then walk up to the Little Italy Mercato for produce, flowers and breakfast stalls.
Liberty Station Public Market
The former Naval Training Center in Point Loma has a food hall of local vendors inside a historic barracks building, plus breweries and galleries around its lawns.
Quick bites and street food
- California burrito — Independent taco shops across the city, especially in Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach and North Park.
- Baja fish tacos — Beach-area taco counters in Ocean Beach and Pacific Beach, and seafood restaurants on Point Loma's Shelter Island.
- Carne asada fries — The same 24-hour taco shops that sell California burritos.
- Rolled tacos — Taco shops citywide and Mexican restaurants around Old Town.
- Açaí bowls — Smoothie and bowl shops in Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach and Encinitas.
Vegetarian options
Of the 9 foods in this guide, 2 are usually vegetarian: West Coast IPA and Açaí bowls. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Taco shops are counter-service and often open late or around the clock; you order and pay at the window.
- Restaurants in the Gaslamp and Little Italy fill up on Friday and Saturday nights and during conventions; book ahead.
- Tax is added at the register and tips are not included; menu prices are before both.
- Happy hours, often mid-afternoon to early evening, are a common way to eat and drink for less at sit-down restaurants.
- Many beach-area restaurants are casual enough to arrive in flip-flops; upscale La Jolla and downtown places expect smart-casual.
Tipping
Tipping is expected: about 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, a dollar or two per drink at bars, about 15–20% for taxis and rideshares, and a few dollars per night for housekeeping.
Questions travellers ask
+What food is San Diego famous for?
California burrito, Baja fish tacos, Carne asada fries and Rolled tacos. San Diego's signature burrito wraps carne asada, French fries, cheese and guacamole or sour cream in a large flour tortilla.
+Is San Diego good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including West Coast IPA and Açaí bowls.
+Do you tip in restaurants in San Diego?
Tipping is expected: about 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, a dollar or two per drink at bars, about 15–20% for taxis and rideshares, and a few dollars per night for housekeeping.