Day-by-day eating plans for San Diego. weekend classics, family routes, vegan plans, on-a-budget editions.

Day-by-day plans

San Diego weekend: tacos, beer and the Pacific ★ 4.6

First-time visitor, two days2 days

A weekend built around the dishes San Diego invented, the breweries that put the city on the global beer map, and one Pacific sunset at the surf line.

  1. Day 1: Saturday: Little Italy Mercato, India Street lunch, Convoy beer

    Morning
    Little Italy Mercato on West Date Street from 09:00, six blocks of California farmers. Coffee from Bird Rock Coffee Roasters at the La Jolla flagship before the drive in, or a quick cup at any of the Bird Rock outposts around downtown.
    Afternoon
    Lunch at Davanti Enoteca on India Street, then walk the corridor to Mona Lisa Italian Foods for a Deluxe Sub to take to Waterfront Park.
    Evening
    Drive to Kearny Mesa for dinner at Tasty Noodle House on Convoy Street, then Societe Brewing for a West Coast IPA flight in the taproom.

  2. Day 2: Sunday: Border tacos, Ocean Beach burger, La Jolla finish

    Morning
    Drive to Chula Vista for Tacos El Gordo on Broadway, the vertical-trompo adobada at 10:00 before the lunch queue lands.
    Afternoon
    Burger lunch at Hodad's on Newport Avenue in Ocean Beach, walk Sunset Cliffs, swing by Pizza Port on Bacon Street for a Swami's IPA.
    Evening
    Finish at El Pescador Fish Market on Pearl Street in La Jolla for a grilled fish sandwich on the seawall, or detour east to Soichi Sushi on Adams Avenue in University Heights for the Michelin omakase (reserved a fortnight ahead, 16:30 onward only).

San Diego three days: Michelin, Baja and Cesarina ★ 4.7

Repeat visitor, three days for the chef-driven scene3 days

Three days threading the city's three Michelin-star tasting room with Bib Gourmand neighbourhood pasta and a day across the border to Valle de Guadalupe.

  1. Day 1: Friday: Carmel Valley tasting menu, Little Italy nightcap

    Morning
    Coffee and pastries at James Coffee Co on 30th Street in North Park, then a slow walk through the neighbourhood's coffee-and-bakery corridor before the drive to Carmel Valley.
    Afternoon
    Early-evening drinks at False Idol in Little Italy before the drive north, classic Don the Beachcomber tiki ahead of dinner.
    Evening
    Dinner at Addison in Carmel Valley, William Bradley's three-Michelin-star tasting menu (Tuesday to Saturday, 17:00 seating), the ten-course room at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar.

  2. Day 2: Saturday: Tuna Harbor, Cesarina patio brunch, North Park bar crawl

    Morning
    Tuna Harbor Dockside Market at 08:00 for fisherman-direct yellowfin tuna and spot prawns. Coffee at The WestBean Coffee Roasters on Broadway.
    Afternoon
    Weekend brunch on the bougainvillea patio at Cesarina in Point Loma, the Bib Gourmand Italian room. Tableside tiramisu after.
    Evening
    Cocktails along 30th Street starting at Polite Provisions, then a Sycamore Den pool game and pre-Prohibition glasses at the Noble Experiment.

  3. Day 3: Sunday: Valle de Guadalupe Baja wine country day

    Morning
    Cross the border at San Ysidro, drive south on Mex 1 past Ensenada into Valle de Guadalupe (two and a half hours from downtown).
    Afternoon
    Lunch at Finca Altozano in the Valle de Guadalupe, Javier Plascencia's wood-fire patio with Baja-Med plates and Adobe Guadalupe wines.
    Evening
    Last stop at one boutique winery for a tasting flight, back across the border by 19:00 for a late slice at Filippi's Pizza Grotto in Little Italy.

San Diego on a budget: two days under $40 a meal ★ 4.4

Backpacker or family, two days, under $40 per meal2 days

Two days through the cheap-eat institutions: Tijuana-style tacos, California burritos, beach burgers and a Vietnamese pho bowl, all under twelve dollars.

  1. Day 1: Saturday: South Bay tacos, Hodad's burger, market dinner

    Morning
    Breakfast burrito at Lolita's Mexican Food on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, under ten dollars and the fastest line in Kearny Mesa.
    Afternoon
    Cross to Chula Vista for Tacos El Gordo on Broadway, then drive west to Ocean Beach for a single Hodad burger on Newport Avenue.
    Evening
    Grab a Dutch Crunch sandwich at Rubicon Deli on India Street for under twelve, then walk the Embarcadero at sunset.

  2. Day 2: Sunday: Pho breakfast, Lucha Libre lunch, City Heights dinner

    Morning
    Pho dac biet at Pho Hoa on El Cajon Boulevard, large bowl for under seven dollars, plus an iced coffee from Holsem on University Avenue.
    Afternoon
    Surfin' California burrito at Lucha Libre Gourmet Taco Shop in Mission Hills, under fifteen dollars and worth the take-out queue.
    Evening
    Dinner at Pokez in East Village, vegan burrito at nine dollars and carne asada at twelve, then a beer at Bottlecraft on India Street.

Itineraries in San Diego, FAQ

When is the best time to eat in San Diego?

Peak food season in San Diego is year-round.

What time do people eat in San Diego?

Local dining hours: lunch around 12:30, dinner from 19:30.

How does tipping work in San Diego?

service is typically included; small extra is welcome but not expected.

What is the one dish to try in San Diego?

Ask the next local you meet what they would order. San Diego rewards trust.

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