Foodie Favorites In Downtown San Diego, California

The Crack Shack owner Mike Rosen and chef Richard Blais have created a definitive chicken restaurant. The selection of chicken sandwiches, fried chicken, salad, and sides will satisfy any craving you might have. Relatively new and open Tuesdays through Sundays, The Crack Shack has established a reputation for quality food. The Señor Croque comes with bacon, crispy chicken, a fried egg, cheddar, and miso maple butter on a Brioche bun and will have your taste buds screaming for more. The Crack Shack also has delicious cookies; among the best is the cookies and cream cookie. The service is great, the staff is very friendly, and the food couldn’t be better.

Donut Bar has the best donuts in Southern California, hands down. They are freshly made throughout the day and anything but traditional, with bold flavors such as Oh My Birthday Cake Oreo (with a full size Oreo cookie in the middle), Vermont Maple Bacon, and Chocolate Euphoria, just to name a few. The line starts to form around 5am for these delicious donuts. You can check Donut Bar’s social media accounts to see which donuts are available before you make the trip.

Hodad’s is know for delicious burgers. There are two locations: one in Ocean Beach and one in Downtown. Both are always busy, but the employees make sure to welcome everyone. The bacon cheeseburger is the way to go, cooked perfectly with cheese and toppings of your choice. While Hodad’s sets the bar high for burgers, it also makes a great chicken sandwich; the chicken breast is deep-fried to perfection. It comes topped with your choice of cheese, along with lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles, and spread. The burgers and chicken burgers are big enough to share, or to save half for later. If you don’t want to do that, there’s also a selection of mini burgers available.

Bottega Americano is an Italian restaurant located in Downtown San Diego’s East Village. The decor is amazing; it serves the best pasta and oysters in town. There is also a nice deli inside for those looking for to-go orders. Executive Chef David Warner goes above and beyond when it comes to customizing dishes. The Oyster Prosecco with cocktail sauce is mouthwatering. If oysters don’t appeal to you, then the cheese, meat, and bread plates are the way to go. The wine and champagne options range from restaurant quality to Silver Oak, Veuve Clicquot, and Moët & Chandon rosé. Seafood lovers should try the mussels over pasta, topped with a spicy homemade marinara sauce. The dessert menu is enticing as well; the flowerless chocolate cake is perfect for chocolate lovers.

This is where food and art become one. Hash House A Go Go is located in Hillcrest. This place is a triple threat, serving tasteful selections for brunch, lunch, and dinner. A menu may not even be necessary; you’ll be tempted to order based on the delicious art you see on other people’s plates. Good old Instagram offers a good visual depiction of the menu, as well. One of the tastiest meals is Andy’s Fried Chicken: fried chicken, two eggs cooked to your preference, bacon, mashed potatoes, and a biscuit, along with watermelon and juicy tomatoes. It’s food porn brought to reality that will satisfy you; the servings are large, but larger is always better. This is a great place for those mornings after a night out.