Aladdin in Hillcrest is San Diego's fully-halal Lebanese room on University Avenue, certified halal with mezze, shawarma, kebabs and Lebanese-Mediterranean classics.
Tip: All food certified halal; alcohol served on premises. The mezze platter for two is the strongest table share; lamb shawarma anchors the menu.
Address: 1030 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92103
Hamitbach in Mission Valley is San Diego's kosher Mediterranean and Israeli street-food kitchen, opened 2023, certified by Vaad Harabanim of San Diego.
Tip: Closed Saturday for Shabbat; Friday 10am-3pm only. The shawarma, sabich and Yemenite breads are the menu anchors. Family-friendly room, customisable bowls.
Kindred in San Diego's South Park is a Victorian-gothic vegan cocktail salon and restaurant since 2015, the city's most distinctive plant-based room, with inventive cocktails.
Tip: Death-metal soundtrack and gothic decor are the room's signature; reservations recommended weekends. Late-night vegan kitchen, full bar.
Donna Jean in San Diego is Roy Elam's rustic plant-based Italian room on El Cajon Boulevard, voted Best Vegan Restaurant by local press, with seasonal Italian comfort food.
Tip: Closed Tuesdays; dinner six nights, brunch Saturday and Sunday 11am-3pm. The wood-fired vegan pizzas are the canonical order, plus seasonal pastas.
Trilogy Sanctuary in La Jolla is the rooftop vegan and organic cafe atop the Girard Avenue yoga studio, with 100 percent plant-based plates, pizzas, smoothies and ocean views.
Tip: Boho-chic rooftop with ocean views; the raw lasagna and acai bowls are the strongest plates. Options gluten-free, soy-free, refined-sugar free.
Plant Power Fast Food in Ocean Beach is the original San Diego location of the 100 percent plant-based burger-and-shake chain, opened 2015 on Sunset Cliffs Boulevard.
Tip: Open daily 8am-10pm. Vegan breakfast served all day; the Big Zac burger and the chicken sandwich are the menu anchors. Multiple San Diego locations.
Kindred in South Park, an entirely vegan room, is San Diego's premier vegetarian-friendly destination, drawing both flexitarians and committed vegetarians to its menu.
Tip: Entirely vegetarian and vegan kitchen since 2015. The seasonal tasting menu and the inventive cocktails are the canonical experience. Reservations recommended weekends.