Buona Forchetta in San Diego is Matteo Cattaneo's South Park Naples-style pizzeria since 2011, holder of the Gambero Rosso Pizza Accreditation 2022 and a Saturday-night neighbourhood institution.
Signature dishes: Pizza Sofia, Pizza Margherita, Burrata appetiser
Must order: Pizza Sofia with prosciutto and burrata; the margherita is the dough test.
Tip: No reservations on the patio; arrive by 5:30pm or after 8:30pm to skip the worst of the line.
Address: 3001 Beech St, San Diego, CA 92102
Hob Nob Hill in San Diego is the Bankers Hill American diner at 1st and Juniper since 1944, the 80-year-old institution reopened in 2025 with a throwback breakfast-and-comfort-food menu.
Signature: Monte Cristo, Biscuits and gravy, Prime rib (weekends)
Order: The Monte Cristo at breakfast; the weekend prime rib special.
Tip: Open daily 8am-8pm; the bakery starts at 6am, fresh muffins and cakes come out by opening.
OB Noodle House in San Diego is the Ocean Beach pan-Asian noodle counter on Cable Street, with tonkotsu ramen, Vietnamese banh mi and a wall-deep sake list since 2008.
Signature: Tonkotsu ramen, Banh mi sandwich, Sake selection
Order: The tonkotsu ramen with a bonus pork belly add-on; the brisket banh mi for lunch.
Tip: Wait can be long after 6pm; the Bar 1502 sister location on Niagara has shorter waits.
Underbelly in Little Italy is CH Projects' ramen shop on Fir Street, the punk-rock-leaning Japanese counter where the Belly of the Beast tonkotsu ramen anchors a small-plate izakaya menu.
Signature: Belly of the beast ramen, Pork buns, Mapo tofu
Order: The Belly of the Beast ramen with extra chashu; the pork belly steamed buns to start.
Tip: Counter seating and a beer list of Japanese craft labels; arrive before 7pm to skip the line.
Lefty's Chicago Pizzeria in San Diego is the North Park Italian beef and deep-dish counter on 30th Street, the Midwest expat institution serving Chicago-style stuffed pizza since 2000.
Signature: Deep-dish stuffed pizza, Italian beef sandwich, Cheesy garlic bread
Order: A small stuffed deep-dish with sausage; the Italian beef dipped, with hot giardiniera.
Tip: Deep-dish takes 45 minutes to bake from the order; phone ahead and pick it up hot.
Pokez in San Diego is Rafael Reyes's East Village punk-rock Mexican counter since 1994, the first vegetarian and vegan Mexican kitchen in the city and the late-night skater institution downtown.
Signature: Vegan burrito, Vegetarian tacos, Chilaquiles
Order: The vegan burrito with soyrizo; the vegetarian chilaquiles in the morning.
Tip: Cash and card both fine; the room is tiny and the look is intentionally punk-western. Counter service.
Ironside Fish and Oyster in San Diego is the Little Italy raw bar from Consortium Holdings, an India Street room with a piranha-skull installation and a wide Pacific-and-East-Coast oyster list.
Signature: Oyster tower, Connecticut lobster roll, Whole grilled branzino
Order: Connecticut-style lobster roll, hot with butter; the oyster tower to share.
Tip: Happy hour at the bar runs $2 oysters Mon-Fri 3-5pm; the back patio gets sun until 7pm.
