Italian$$$little-italy
Davanti Enoteca in San Diego is Scott Harris Hospitality's Northern Italian wine bar on India Street, with house-made pasta and the rare Genoese focaccia di.
Signature: Burrata with honeycomb, Cacio e pepe, Focaccia di Recco
Order: The focaccia di Recco with stracchino cheese; the cacio e pepe as the secondi.
Tip: Walk-ins are taken at the bar; book the patio for warmer nights and Saturday Mercato crowd-watching.
Mexican$north-park
El Comal in San Diego is the North Park family-owned Mexican kitchen on Illinois Street, a longstanding interior-Mexican counter known for carnitas.
Signature: Carnitas plate, Chilaquiles, Mole Poblano
Order: The carnitas plate with handmade tortillas; weekend chilaquiles before noon.
Tip: Cash on hand speeds the counter; the courtyard patio runs warmer than the indoor room.
Mexican$$gaslamp-quarter
La Puerta in San Diego is the Gaslamp Quarter Mexican kitchen on Fourth Avenue, the after-bar carne asada fries and Taco Tuesday institution that anchors.
Signature: Carne asada fries, Taco Tuesday, Margarita pitchers
Order: The carne asada fries to share; Taco Tuesday $3 tacos until close.
Tip: Open until 1am Fri-Sat, midnight other nights; the back patio runs heater-and-fan year-round.
Mexican$clairemont
Lolita's Mexican Food in San Diego is the Clairemont Mesa Boulevard Chicano taqueria chain founded by the Lolita Garcia family, the originator of carne asada.
Signature: California burrito, Carne asada fries, Adobada tacos
Order: The California burrito with carne asada and fries.
Tip: Drive-through and counter both fine; the 24-hour locations stay open for the post-bar burrito run.
Mexican$mission-hills
Lucha Libre Gourmet Taco Shop in San Diego is the Mission Hills Mexican-wrestling-themed taqueria on Washington Street, the Diners Drive-Ins and Dives stop.
Signature: Surfin' California burrito, TJ taco, Champion's burrito
Order: The Surfin' California burrito with shrimp; the Champion's gold booth if you book ahead.
Tip: Book the gold booth on the website 48 hours ahead; the line at the counter moves fast after 1pm.
American$$chula-vista
Galley at the Marina in Chula Vista is the South Bay marina-front seafood and American restaurant on Marina Parkway since 1995, patio over the slips.
Signature: Beer-battered fish and chips, Mahi mahi fish tacos, Blue Point oysters
Order: The World Famous fish and chips; the blackened ahi sashimi to start.
Tip: Weekend brunch starts at 9am; the bar runs a $4 beer happy hour 3-6pm weekdays.