An inventory of the most effective eating places in Previous City San Diego seems loads completely different now than once I first began going there to eat (dare I say) just a few a long time in the past.
Positive, some are touristy, however that’s a part of their attraction. Folks weave Mexican meals and maybe a fishbowl-sized margarita into their itinerary after sightseeing all through this historic neighborhood, generally known as the birthplace of California.
These days, you may go to Previous City San Diego only for the meals. To present you an thought, one of many Previous City San Diego eating places we like has a Michelin Star. You’ll additionally uncover nice spots for sushi, pasta, seafood, vegetarian and even Venezuelan fare.Â
Have you ever ever dripped your individual bone marrow over a birria taco? I like to recommend you come to Previous City to strive it. The fresh-off-the-grill tortillas with recent honey butter that you could find in just a few spots (together with primary under) are additionally private favorites.
1. Café Coyote
I really feel like a conventional Mexican restaurant must high the listing. Folks hunt down Mexican meals in Previous City San Diego. Café Coyote has been voted Finest Mexican by the California Restaurant Affiliation for twenty years.
It’s family-friendly and simple to search out. As with another Previous City San Diego Mexican eating places, you’ll wish to strive the scrumptious handmade tortillas ready day by day by pleasant tortilla makers — you and the youngsters can watch as they’re made.Â
The festive environment has strolling mariachis, effervescent water fountains, and pleasant workers. The colourful papel picado banners (cut-out paper sheets, a Mexican folks artwork basic) adorning the out of doors patio eating space add to the jubilant temper and match the informal Previous City vibe.
CafĂ© Coyote is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Home favorites embrace rolled tacos, albondigas soup, fajita veggie bowl, chimichanga, margarita shrimp tacos, chipotle camarones, and buñuelos for dessert.Â
2. Sushi Tadokoro
If you happen to’ve had a busy day of purchasing and sightseeing and wish to wind down away from the exercise of the extra touristy Previous City San Diego eating places, Sushi Tadokoro is a terrific selection.
Situated simply south of the historic district, this one-Michelin-star venue prepares conventional Japanese-style sushi in an intimate setting that places you face-to-face together with your sushi cooks.Â
This mini sushi counter gives a rotating number of fish and limitless creations to maintain patrons comfortable. Contemporary substances embrace California coast sea urchin, British Columbia oysters, and Hokkaido scallops.Â
A number of the numerous sushi prospects right here embrace grilled Chilean sea bass, saba salmon toro, omakase sashimi, and nigiri aji. Give the San Diego roll a strive—it comes with recent salsa and a lemon slice—and assist your self to some house-made gyoza, too. Sushi Tadokoro is THE place for seafood lovers and true sushi connoisseurs.  Â
3. Previous City City Market
- 2548 Congress St, San Diego, CA 92110
- (619) 995-5510
- oturbanmarket.com
- Closed Sundays
If you happen to’re a foodie who likes to strive slightly of this and slightly of that, you’ll love Previous City City Market. It’s a . This vibrant meals corridor is a group of a number of counter-order eateries serving award-winning culinary creations, simply exterior the state historic park.
Tuetano Taqueria serves birria tacos with spicy sauce and bone marrow — the last word consolation meals — and several other different gadgets, together with fish tacos and tortas. At Ruth’s No. 5, you may load up on specialty model salsas, similar to roasted salsa verde and spicy piña, and handmade tortilla chips, all vegan, gluten-free, and kosher (many are additionally halal and it’s also possible to discover them at a number of native farmer’s markets).Â
Elote serves tasty corn-centric creations—Mexican-style corn on the cob avenue meals—plus refreshing agua fresca. Mar Rustico gives plates and bowls with sea-inspired recipes. Attempt their fish tacos, shrimp ceviche, or the tremendous decadent smoked marlin burrito (the letter is a specialty).
You possibly can sip wine from sustainable, family-owned wineries at The Wine Store. Verify again often as new eateries are set to open on this eclectic corridor (and a few have already rotated out).
The Finest Locations to Keep
Prime Previous City San Diego Motels
Historic, finances, and pleasant inns and motels to think about on your trip.
4. Tahona Bar
- 2414 San Diego Ave, San Diego, CA 92110
- (619) 255-2090
- tahonabar.com
- Open for dinner/comfortable hour solely and closed Mondays
Tahona Bar is an Previous City San Diego Mexican restaurant centered round a curated assortment of over 120 varieties of mezcal. The Baja California and Oaxaca-focused menu is excellent and a bit extra upscale Mexican than you’ll discover in different close by eating places.
Attempt the corn croquetas, tempura squash blossom, carnitas bao bun, ahi tostada, or tempura nori tortilla taco. Take a look at their menu for different fusion creations, and save room for dessert—just like the chocolate plantain served over ice cream.Â
Comfortable hour (at present Wednesday—Friday) is a good time to strive what Tahona Bar is finest identified for: its mezcal. Order a mezcal flight together with your meal, or take part in a mezcal tasting (reservations are required for the tasting).Â
We’d place it greater on this listing, nevertheless it’s solely open from comfortable hour onward, and most of the people go to the historic neighborhood throughout the day.
5. Harney Sushi
Harney Sushi serves a wide array of sushi, sashimi, and different Japanese delicacies favorites, together with tempura and miso soup. Providing conventional and inventive fusion flavors, this place is good for date nights, or anytime you’re within the temper for superb sushi. It’s a favourite of locals.
The menu is in depth. Along with serving well-liked specialties—orange crush, lightning roll, Maui wowie, Bruce Lee, mellow yellow nigiri, moon dance, dragon roll, tuna maki, and extra—Harney Sushi gives cooked entrees, similar to katsu rooster, Mongolian beef stir fry, and even a bento field for the youngsters.
Add a conventional soup or salad—strive one among their specialty miso soups or the Chuka seaweed salad—or an appetizer, similar to oysters, basic tempura, or specialty edamame.
Some vegetarian and vegan choices are listed on the menu, together with avocado maki, mushroom roll, vegetarian roll, vegan rainbow, and others. The beverage choice consists of alcoholic choices, together with beers, sake, wines, and cocktails, and non-alcoholic sodas, teas, and juices (strive the lychee juice). Â
6. Casa de Reyes
What makes Casa de Reyes among the finest Previous City San Diego eating places is the festive backyard setting you’ll take pleasure in whereas eating right here. It’s only a good place to take pleasure in conventional Mexican favorites exterior in good climate. It’s a straightforward cease whereas strolling across the Previous City State Historic Park.
Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free choices are marked on the menu for comfort. Vegan selections embrace mushy corn tacos and veggie enchiladas with plant-based cheese. Gluten-free gadgets embrace shrimp ceviche, enchiladas, tacos, and rooster mole poblano. On the drinks menu, you’ll discover many alternative specialty margaritas, which you may get for the desk by the pitcher. Horchata can be on the menu.
You’ll discover all of your favorites at Casa de Reyes: rooster rolled tacos, quesadillas, steak and shrimp burritos, chile rellenos, fajitas, and extra. On the weekend, you may order breakfast gadgets till midday. Attempt the machaca burrito with scrambled egg or the egg, potato, and cheese — a preferred breakfast burrito (or all-day burrito in my household).Â
7. Previous City Tequila Manufacturing facility
Plenty of first-timers come for the view—which is spectacular—nevertheless it’s the meals and heat hospitality that retains them coming again. (Okay, and the views.)Â
Perched excessive above the historic district, overlooking rooftops, metropolis lights, and a panoramic view stretching from Mission Valley to the airport, Previous City Tequila Manufacturing facility is a good place to deliver out-of-town company. It’s additionally a incredible selection for celebrations — or simply as a result of.Â
Regardless of the prime location, the restaurant will not be pretentious. It serves scrumptious Mexican fare in a colourful setting, together with indoor seating in ample eating rooms and wonderful out of doors patio areas. You possibly can sit in a comfortable, secluded nook or at a desk with views that make you say, wow! The lighting and dĂ©cor add to the good ambiance.Â
Menu gadgets embrace Mexican fiesta ensalada, carne asada Tampiqueña, rooster or beef tamale, enchiladas del mar, blackened Hawaiian mahi mahi, Baja fish tacos, and deep-fried ice cream sundae.Â
8. Previous City Mexican CafĂ©Â
Serving Mexican fare since 1977, Previous City Mexican Café is as genuine because it will get. Handmade tortillas are ready day by day and are thought to be among the finest on the town.
You possibly can watch them being created from scratch. Each day, groups of tortilla women put together over 3,000 corn and 5,600 flour tortillas the normal means.Â
Nevertheless it’s not simply in regards to the tortillas. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Previous City Mexican Café serves numerous favorites, together with carnitas, avenue tacos, spicy tequila ribs, and shrimp tacos. Vegetarian burritos, tostadas, and fajitas are additionally on the menu.
This is among the finest eating places in Previous City San Diego as a result of you may have brunch right here day by day of the week till midday. That is the place to go in case you’re craving a breakfast torta, chorizo con huevos, or breakfast tacos. Â
9. Barra Barra Saloon
Lots of the finest eating places in Previous City San Diego provide good patio seating day and night time, however you might wish to sit inside indoors at Barra Barra. It’s a interval saloon from the mid-1800s, a timeframe that noticed Mexican and American traditions mix, situated inside Fiesta de Reyes on the north finish of the historic district.
The lined patio eating space consists of fireplace pits and neat hanging lighting fixtures, which is sweet, too. Go for the margaritas and tequila choice. Order from numerous specialties, together with queso fundido, vegetarian empanadas, Indian flatbread tacos, and Barra Barra seafood paella.
Plenty of the menu gadgets will be modified to make them vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free, so examine together with your server beforehand for solutions. Youngsters 10 and underneath eat free (one youngster per paying grownup), making this restaurant an excellent selection for households.  Â
The Finest Locations to Browse
The place to go Purchasing in Previous City
We put collectively a listing of the place to search out enjoyable items and souvenirs when you discover this historic neighborhood.
10. Casa Guadalajara
Casa Guadalajara is among the many finest eating places in Previous City San Diego due to the mix of festive decor and meals.
Whether or not you dine inside or exterior on the patio, you’ll have a pleasant sensory expertise. The colours are vibrant and cheery but enjoyable, with beautiful tile work, intricate wooden carvings, stained glass options, New Mexico coloration mixtures, and Puebla-style furnishings.
The enclosed Backyard Room patio is charming, with its hanging ferns and delightful Mexican mosaic tables. The courtyard gives an equally pretty setting, full with a 200-year-old shade tree.Â
The recipes pay tribute to the regional villages of Mexico. Attempt the camaroncitos fritos, rooster tortilla soup, tostada de Jalisco, shrimp fajitas, steak ranchero, mango chipotle rooster, tostada vegetariana, or Guadalajara omelet. Vegetarian dishes are marked VG.Â
11. Jack & Giulio’s
- 2391 San Diego Ave, San Diego, CA 92110
- (619) 294-2074
- jackandgiulios.com
- Closed Monday and Tuesday
If you happen to’re hungry for nice Italian meals, head to Jack & Giulio’s, one of many district’s eating places that doesn’t give attention to Mexican fare. This Italian restaurant gives every part from antipasto classico to rooster marsala.
With indoor and out of doors seating, this restaurant takes delight in delivering nice service. The vibe is pleasant, and the meals is incredible. Previously a preferred restaurant in Pacific Seaside, this renamed and relocated eatery has been round in some incarnation since 1961.
At its present location, the family-owned and operated restaurant has been acknowledged as serving artisanal Italian cooking by pleasant workers in a welcoming environment.
Different menu gadgets embrace Brutus salad, tortelloni verdi, lasagne della casa, angel hair mediterraneo, scampi al pesto, spaghetti al burro, and rooster piccata. An in depth wine listing is on the market, together with different signature drinks (you may get a house-special margarita). Hand-rolled pasta is made recent day by day onsite.Â
12. Congress CafĂ©Â
Rounding out this listing of finest eating places in Previous City San Diego is Congress Café, a Venezuelan restaurant behind The Whaley Home Museum providing Latin American fusion creations.
Open for breakfast and lunch, the café focuses on conventional Venezuelan cooking, sandwiches, salads, and farmers’ breakfasts.
You possibly can dine in or take your meal to go. Choices embrace Venezuelan starters—mini empanadas, tequeños (cheese sticks), fried plantains, and cachapas (corn pancakes). Major plates include scrambled eggs, arepa, grilled tomatoes and onions, avocado, latin cream, and your selection of shredded beef, black beans, or seasoned fish.Â
Attempt a grilled arepa—an artisanal dish good for brunch, product of corn flour and stuffed together with your selection of substances, together with ham, chorizo, avocado, or salmon. The Platanera arepa has Venezuelan cheese and fried plantains, whereas La Vegana has black beans, avocado, and fried plantains.
Specialty drinks embrace Mexican spiced mocha and chai tea latte, amongst different selections, or take pleasure in a refreshing pure juice created from mango, pineapple, or ardour fruit.Â
What are your favourite Previous City San Diego eating places?