Best Restaurants In Downtown San Diego, California

Lisa Washington

San Diego, California, a city known primarily for its beaches, also has delicious restaurants tucked away its downtown area. These top restaurants offer great, diverse food to suit a variety of palates.

La Puerta

La Puerta, located in the Gaslamp district of downtown San Diego, features tasty authentic Mexican food that has made this place one of the trendy spots for Taco Tuesday. They have taco deals that come with a side order of rice and beans. The tacos are cheap on Taco Tuesday, and the margaritas are half price. But just because they’re best known for their taco deals, doesn’t mean they don’t have other delicious offerings. Another great dish is the carne asada fries. Entrance to ages 21 and up.

La Puerta, 560 4th Ave, San Diego, CA, USA

1. Café Chloe

Cafe, Restaurant, French, European

Café Chloe is perfect for first dates or for low-key but great food. This delicious French restaurant is located in the Gaslamp District of Downtown San Diego. Don’t let the size of this place fool you – the food is amazing. Depending on the time of day, you may get the Bastille Day Prix Fixe, Brunch, Summer Events, Dinner, or Dessert menu. Order the delicious French fries for an appetizer, which comes with several freshly made sauces, including special ketchups. Café Chloe’s French cuisine is priced perfectly.

2. Basic Urban Kitchen

Bar, Pizzeria, Restaurant, Italian

Basic Urban Kitchen is widely considered the best pizza place in San Diego, referred to as “Basic.” Situated in the Gaslamp district of Downtown San Diego, you can’t easily tell that this is a pizza place by looking at the outside. This hip pizza place has a pool table, a funky vibe, and posh seating along the bar. One can have a traditional red pizza with a variety of toppings or try their specialty pies, such as the Mashed. The Mashed pie is a white pizza topped with mozzarella, mashed potatoes, and bacon. On specific nights they have a DJ spinning tunes. In short, it’s a great place to unwind and eat the city’s best pizza.

3. Searsucker

Searsucker

Searsucker has two locations: one in downtown San Diego and others in Del Mar, Austin, and Las Vegas. The San Diego location is stylish and Western-inspired, and the menu changes with the season or special events happening in the San Diego area. We recommend the mussels dish with a Caesar salad (with kale for greens). The food is delicious, and the atmosphere is relaxing. It’s also a great option for business meetings and dates.

Searsucker, 611 5th Ave, San Diego, CA, USA

4. Mister A's

Restaurant, American, Vegetarian, Vegan

Mister A’s is located in the middle section of Downtown San Diego. It features valet parking along with an elevator ride to the restaurant that overlooks the city. This is a great place for dates, but also an ideal place to have brunch with your friends on a sunny day, as it overlooks the city. With a seasonal menu, there is no guarantee that what’s available today will be next month. With that in mind, we recommend coming back for the stuffed chicken with cheese – it’s simply amazing. Cheese fanatics rejoice: it also offers a fabulous truffle mac and cheese.

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