San Diego Foodie Adventure: Top 10 MUST-TRY Places to Eat on Your First Visit!

Heading to San Diego for the first - or 31st time - and looking for some gems? We've been coming to the city for years and have finally put together our BEST places to eat in San Diego, so YOU can eat like a local in California.

CHAPTERS:
0:00 Intro
1:35 Mexican Food
3:47 Burgers
7:07 Breweries
8:22 Neighborhoods
9:30 Table with a View
11:05 Winner!!!

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Alicia lived in San Diego for years and now her family live there so we've been trying out the best places to eat for more than 15 years! We've finally made a video to let you know where to go, rather than going to the place that's round the corner.

There are some amazing restaurants in San Diego - it's a foodie's heaven. Sometimes it's hard to know where to go on your first visit to America's Finest City but we've compiled a list of our favourite restaurants on this food tour. Let us know what your favourite places are in the comments!!

Places we went:

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[LifeOfReillyTV]

What are your favourite restaurants in San Diego that we need to check out? Who did we leave off our list?

[zarquondam]

The secret to getting into OB Hodad's without a line is to go at an off hour -- in the afternoon, after the lunch crowd and before the dinner crowd. Admittedly this may not coincide with your stomach's schedule; but if you grab a light snack at lunchtime, that could tide you over till a mid-afternoon visit to Hodad's.

[TravelAgentCale]

I have spent a ton of time in San Diego and these tips are spot on! Great advice & safe travels!

[ralan]

I live in SD for 40+. You nailed it, all great restaurants.

[jourdanwells]

When I visit San Diego I'm definitely going to check Phil's BBQ. Ribs are my favorite food. Thank you for such a great video

[sandiegoscott]

The cost of living here is so high you’ll never see locals out at those restaurants. If I went out to all those places I’d be living in a tent at the beach 😅

[theroadrunnerjarhead]

If you like Asian food, go to convoy street in Claremont mesa. There are Asian restaraunts everywhere.

[alexwallace]

Good video and great to see a family enjoying dining out.I used to live in San Diego many years ago.I have fond memories of Old Town, Hillcest, NorthPark, Banker's Hill and Mission Hills!

[josefwang]

Check out the pho in little Saigon, check out the tacos in national city and the fabulous Chinese and k bbq on convoy. Checkout the Laos, Vietnamese, Ethiopian and Cambodian food in city heights. Check out the Mexican food in Chula Vista. Also fine dining in La Jolla. The best part of the experience with the food in SD is DIVERSITY.

[victorialadybug]

I'm planning a trip back to San Diego in a few months. Thanks for the dining tips!

[SSDB]

Charley's Best Bread in PB, Buona Forchetta in South Park, and Dirty Birds in Pb. Thank me forever 😉😎🤘

[melissasilva]

I’m visiting San Diego in 2 wks- can’t wait to give a try . Looks delicious

[lisamariee]

El Cuervo Hillcrest (Anything with their unique style of Carne asada),

K-Sandwiches Linda Vista (BBQ pork or chicken Banh mi, Boba tea and Vietnamese eggrolls, pork loaf),

Rocky's frozen yogurt Linda Vista (half Vanilla/half Strawberry swirl),

Pho Hoa- Huong restaurant Linda Vista (Fresh Pho your protein of choice),

Super Sergios Drive through Kearney Mesa (Carne asada fries, Carne asada burritos, hard shell chicken taco, cheese enchiladas, rice and beans, Chile relleno bean and cheese burrito etc...)

These are some of my favorite local places. Simple nothing fancy but you can taste the authenticity and quality.

I miss San Diego so much. Native now living in in Asheville NC

[glo]

Casa Guadalajara is our must go to for our family In Old Town. Also Phil's BBQ is our favorite must stop.

[emmawarrington]

Currently in San Diego ending a wonderful roadtrip from San Francisco, your videos have been so helpful and a joy to watch! I wanted to share some feedback on Slaters 50/50 though ☹️ they didn’t have the option to create your own burger at Liberty station (old barracks) and the food wasn’t great unfortunately. I can’t help but think it must have massively gone down in quality since your last visit. Don’t get my wrong my burger was still nice, I went for the BBB bacon from the menu and swapped out the egg for onion rings but service and food just wasn’t anything spectacular which is a shame as I had such high hopes…. Now Phil’s bbq on the other hand! Thank you for the recommendation WOW!!! That place can take all my money! Our trip is coming to an end now and I’m so not ready to leave the wonderful San Diego yet!! I get why you love it so much. Thanks again for all the amazing videos which have really helped us plan our 3 week long trip!

[SkaterLoverboyz]

Hodad's is pretty good! But personally I find their milkshakes the best on the menu! I ordered the strawberry milkshake and it was massive! It was topped even higher than the cup itself and had a cup on the side for what couldn't fit on top. My dad, my brother, and I barely finished it. Super delicious.

[paulomartinez]

You have to try tacos el gordo down in Chula Vista. Best ones you will ever try

[lifeab]

Have lived in San Diego since 1966 and am a total Foodie; you missed a couple of great "normal priced" spots: Casa De Pico in La Mesa Grossmont Center. Absolutely fantastic Mexican food. Local company with Pico and also Casa De La Guadalajara in Old Town and Casa di Bandini in Carlsbad; Also another Absolute tradition is Fillipi's Italian in Little Italy on India Street near Down town. The Pizza is absolutely fantastic. Another Favorite place is Hob NOb Hill IN Banker's Hill, towards Down town from Hillcrest.

[elgenpatterson-caesar]

You guys need to try the salt and pepper chicken wings from Royal Mandarin in National City. I swear you will fall in love with this dish.

I also recommend Cucina Urbana in Bankers Hill if you love Italian food 😊

[reggienovenario]

Phil's is ok.. but for me.. its Rei de gado in downtown. All you can eat Brazilian bbq. Go to place for any special occasion.