The 10 Best Restaurants in San Diego (2024)

James Tran

San Diego’s food scene shines better and brighter than ever thanks to a new crop of talented chefs.

Considering its proximity to Los Angeles, San Diego’s food scene has for far too long played second fiddle. Sure, there’s always been authentic Baja-inspired Mex-Cali cuisine and a handful of fine dining institutions. However, a slow and steady shift has been well underway in recent years, and today, San Diego’s food scene shines better and brighter than ever thanks to a new crop of talented chefs whose keen eye on sustainably sourced ingredients and regionally inspired menus are giving their neighbors to the north a run for their money. Here are the 10 restaurants you can’t miss on your next visit.

1 OF 10

Wolf In The Woods

One part intimate wine bar, another part haute New Mexican-inspired restaurant in the heart of San Diego’s leafy Mission Hills neighborhood, Wolf In The Woods was just named restaurant of the year by San Diego Magazine. And rightfully so. Helmed by Executive Chef Carmine Lopez, grab a spot on the front patio or inside the convivial dining room and order everything on the menu, don’t skip the citrus-cured salmon tapas, fresh baked focaccia, and sweet corn and piñon soup will have scraping the bottom of your bowl. For dessert, the Kakawa chocolate pot with Hatch chile chocolate will simply knock your socks off.

2 OF 10

Kingfisher

Vietnamese and French influences reign supreme at stylish Kingfisher. Shoot for the stars here and opt all the way in for Chef David Sims’s perfectly executed Four-Course Tasting Menu. Don’t skip the housemade egg noodles, which come topped with black truffle and littleneck clams bathed in lemongrass and coconut. For the real piece de resistance, the smoked dry-aged duck is served up on a gorgeous platter with a side of XO sauce, rice noodles, lettuce wraps, and an addictive Vietnamese chimichurri.

3 OF 10

Animae

Animae is not only one of downtown San Diego’s most fashionable restaurants, it’s the place to see and be seen in town right now. Conceived by celebrity chef and San Diego local Brian Malarkey, and at the helm, Executive Chef Tara Monsod, a 2024 James Beard Award finalist, the cuisine takes guests on a journey where modern US meets Asian fusion, and while you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu here, don’t sleep on the tuna kinilaw, coal roasted cabbage, and A5 Japanese wagyu.

4 OF 10

Callie

There’s no restaurant that pays tribute to San Diego quite like Callie. That’s thanks to San Diego local and Callie’s executive chef, Travis Swikard, whose “cuisine du soleil” features a Mediterranean-inspired menu that prominently features locally sourced ingredients from across San Diego county. Bangers here include the Aleppo Chicken, grilled lamb dolmas, lemon saffron linguine, and a dreamy Turkish rice pudding for dessert.

5 OF 10

Jeune et Jolie

Since its opening in 2018, Jeune et Jolie in Oceanside has been delighting diners with its globally-inspired French new wave menu, hand-crafted co*cktail menu, and romantic indoor and alfresco setting. The four-course tasting menu changes seasonally, but don’t skip the tuna and watermelon crudo and Liberty Farms duck when it’s on offer.

6 OF 10

Addison Restaurant

When it comes to celebrating a special occasion, Addison is an experience not to be missed. Set in San Diego’s luxurious Grand Del Mar, Addison is not only San Diego’s first Three Michelin-starred restaurant but also Southern California’s only Five-Diamond and Five-Star restaurant. At the helm, Chef William Bradley’s regionally inspired ten-course tasting menu is a feast for the senses that you’ll never soon forget.

7 OF 10

Cesarina

Roman-style cooking reigns supreme at Cesarina. Set in San Diego’s Point Loma neighborhood, with a lineup of homemade pasta, a variety of vegan options, a wonderfully diverse wine list, and an out-of-this-world tiramisu prepared tableside, this Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant is the place for authentic Italian cuisine.

8 OF 10

George's At The Cove

For more than 40 years, Georges at The Cove has served as a La Jolla institution. Spread across three levels, all of which offer oceanfront views, serving up fresh seafood and an extensive co*cktail and wine list, head up to Ocean Terrace for a more casual rooftop vibe. Otherwise, the open-air balcony on Level brings an of sophistication, perfect for date night, as does the Ocean View dining room for a more elegant affair.

9 OF 10

Valle

Infusing authentic Baja-inspired cuisine into one of the chicest locales in town, Valle opened its doors on the ground floor of the Mission Pacific Hotel in Oceanside in 2021 and has been elevating San Diego’s fine dining scene ever since. At the helm, Roberto Alcocer cooks up a multi-course dining experience that earned its first Michelin star in 2023. The menu features contemporary Mexican cuisine sourced from the freshest ingredients from around California and fuses together favorites from Baja Mexico’s Guadalupe Valley wine region.

10 OF 10

Atelier Manna

Located in the heart of Encinitas, Atelier Manna is another newcomer to San Diego’s burgeoning food scene and is without a doubt the coolest and boho-chic brunch vibe and zero-proof co*cktail spot in town. With flavors and ingredients that span several continents, from Spanish French toast and Oaxacan-style steak and eggs to anchovy toast and traditional Turkish eggs, don’t skip the prickly pear and coconut tonic.