The boardwalk-and-Garnet Avenue beach strip north of Mission Bay: taquerias by the pier, surf-shack burrito counters and PB Ale House on the boardwalk for the Pacific sunset.
Sushi Ota in San Diego is Yukito Ota's Mission Bay Drive room since 1990, the strip-mall sushi counter that has trained more San Diego sushi chefs than any other kitchen in the city.
Signature: Omakase, Uni nigiri, Kanpachi sashimi
Order: The omakase, ordered by sitting at the counter and saying so; the uni nigiri is the indicator of the day's catch.
Tip: Book the counter, not the dining room. The strip-mall location is intentional; ignore the parking lot and step inside.
Oscar's Mexican Seafood on Emerald Street in Pacific Beach, San Diego, the local-vote fish-taco champion with smoked and battered options for under five dollars.
Try: Battered fish taco, smoked fish taco
Pacific Beach Tuesday Farmers Market on Bayard Street in San Diego, a long-running afternoon market of certified-organic produce, meat counters and prepared food.
Oscar's Mexican Seafood on Emerald Street in Pacific Beach, San Diego, the local-vote fish taco champion with battered fish for under five and ceviche tostadas at seven.
Try: Fish tacos under $5, ceviche tostadas $7