Hidden Gem Restaurants in San Diego
San Diego is a massive, open city with breaking taking views everywhere and little pockets of town with incredible dining options aplenty. Below is a list of some places you just have to try scattered throughout the city!
1. Tahona Bar
2414 San Diego Ave., San Diego, CA 92110
(619) 255-2090
Chef Adrian has knocked it out of the park at Tahona Bar taking elements of traditional Oaxacan cuisine and bringing them to San Diego. Through his time learning at the world-renowned Noma in Denmark Chef Adrian has taken elements from there and combined it with Oaxacan cuisine to create a fantastic dining experience. When you step in you are taken aback by the sheer amount of traditional Mezcal available and with dining back on the table the food is can’t miss. The corn croquetas are a must-have as an appetizer with their Oaxacan cheese, with a bechamel and panko crust with a delicious Morita aioli. The octopus aguachile is a marriage of perfectly cooked octopus with a flavorful charred citrus habanero salsa. As for the main course – tacos are the star with the quesabirria leading the charge combining beef barbacoa with wonderful Oaxacan cheese, onion, cilantro, and tomatillo salsa. And for dessert – the churro s’mores is a showstopper. If you’re of age, come for the experience of tasting traditional Mezcal with your meal – a meal you won’t forget.
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2. Alforon
5965 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego, CA 92115
(619) 269-9904
Chef George Salameh has hit it out of the park with this Lebanese restaurant – winning multiple awards all the while keeping the price of the food extremely affordable. Run by a husband and wife duo, Alforon has upscale Lebanese food all created by Chef Salameh himself from testing himself. The Sayyadieh, featured in the picture, is a San Diego favorite – cooking rice in consomme of fish, with roasted almonds and pine nuts, tahini sauce, caramelized onions, and Tilapia fish. The Ouzi Lamb was featured on Food Networks Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives and is absolutely sensational as it takes an incredibly flavored leg of lamb on top of a bed of ouzi rice, and a side of house-made yogurt. The menu is massive, so make sure to study it before visiting, but they all really touch on traditional Lebanese flavors that leave you wanting more. As for dessert, the aayash essaraya is fantastic and is the perfect way to end any meal.
3. Muzita Abyssinian Bistro
4651 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92116
(619) 546-7900
Muzita brings traditional Ethiopian food and culture to your table for an absolutely lovely meal. Muzita proudly uses locally sourced produce because their ideology includes a responsibility to the community and Earth so they even go as far as to encourage you to use your hands while you dine! As for the food itself, you can’t go wrong with anything you choose. Start off with an order of the pan-roasted mushrooms which are served with roasted spaghetti squash, and herbs. The Beggie Kilwa takes sauteed leg of lamb with their house herb blend and is served with tesmi, clarified butter, and their awaze sauce. Most dishes are served with their perfectly spiced lentils as a side dish which you must have. As for dessert – it’s everchanging so just ask your waiter or waitress and indulge your sweet tooth.
4. An’s Dry Cleaning
3017 Adams Ave., San Diego, CA 92116
(619) 450-6166
They took an old dry cleaner and converted it into a gelato restaurant, but kept the name of the former building to honor its impact on the community. Now, you can go there and have some of the best gelato in the state of California. Whether you’re looking for a quick dessert or wanting to stock up on the pints An’s is a priority. Make sure to check the menu on a weekly basis as they rotate in different flavors but they are all excellent. If it’s available make sure to get the olive oil, rosemary flavor because it will knock you off your socks taking infused rosemary milk and combining it with just enough olive oil to ensure a decadent, luxurious gelato. The banana | chocolate is a personal favorite to this writer as they drizzle chocolate on top of banana infused gelato. And if you like what you got – you can now order pints of it at a time!
5. El Pescador Fish Market & Restaurant
634 Pearl St., La Jolla, CA 92037
(858) 456-2526
Fish is the name of the game here and only the freshest fish will do as the fish is sourced daily from local fishermen and purveyors. Whether you’re looking to buy fresh fish to cook at home, preparing one of their made-for-home meals or dining in El Pescador holds themselves to a high standard when it comes to their fish. The ceviche is packed to the brim with seafood, and the Dungeness crab is delightful seafood cocktails. The sashimi plate is absolutely beautiful and comes with seasonal fish that may include salmon, tuna, and bluefin toro and comes with ginger, Soy Sauce, and a Seawood salad. The fish tacos are good, as are the sandwiches but the star of the show has to be the fresh char-grilled seafood that you can have put into a sandwich, added on a salad, or plated with a salad and rice. The Mexican Octopus comes marinated in olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and oregano and is grilled to perfection.
6. Supannee House of Thai Restaurant & Catering
2907 Shelter Island Dr.,Unit 110, San Diego, CA 92106
(619) 795-8424
Beautiful outdoor seating is just one of the reasons Supanne makes the list to go along with a fantastic traditional Thai menu. Named after the owner who is extremely active in the kitchen, Supannee also brings farm-to-table to traditional Thai cuisine and a menu packed with flavor. The Panang curry with chicken is a staple of the restaurant and consistently shines with tons of flavor, along with the special lemongrass chicken which takes minced chicken and cooks it with copious amounts of lemongrass, fresh garlic, and Thai chili. The crab pad thai and the crab fried rice are two must-have dishes for seafood lovers, and for our Vegan friends, there are several options to enjoy such as their eggplant delight.
7. Pop Pie Co.
4404 Park Blvd., Suite A, San Diego, CA 92116
(949) 524-3015
Pies, pies, pies galore with Pop Pie Company. A fast-casual restaurant right in University Heights, Pop Pie specializes in all things pie. Whether you’re looking for a savory pie their classic chicken pot pie never misses, along with the Aussie meat pie. Pop Pie also has fantastic 9” quiches, which can also be served by the slice, including a mushroom and leek quiche that comes with citrus leeks, sundried tomato, farm eggs, and creme fraiche. For those of you with a sweet tooth, the matcha chess combines matcha with honey, vanilla, and whipped cream for an absolute delight. The hand pies are also delightful including a guava cream cheese which is an interesting and tasty interpretation to the classic Cuban pastelito. As for drinks – if you’re enjoying a savory pie there is beer and wine available, and for those of you with a sweet tooth, coffee and espresso are available for purchase as well!
8. Sundara
1774 Sunset Cliffs Blvd., San Diego, CA 92107
(619) 889-0639
Slow-cooked curries, and made to naan – what else could you possibly need? Sundara is one of the top Indian restaurants in the city and consistency is the key. Start your meal off with some perfectly cooked veggie or lamb samosas with a nice flaky crust. The spicy baby back ribs are an interesting Indian take on baby back ribs and are dry-rubbed with garam masala and glazed with their house-made sauce provide a unique and tasty take on ribs. The traditional favorite tikka masala is cooked with generous amounts of ginger for a great rendition of a classic dish. The tandoori chicken is cooked in a traditional tandoor oven and is marinated for 24 hours in yogurt, herbs, and spices. If you are a rice fan, the lamb biryani and raita comes served with delicious saffron rice and brings a great punch of flavor in each bite. For dessert – try the house-made rice pudding that comes topped with almonds and pistachios, or their unique chocolate and toffee samosas.
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