South Beach Bar and Grille ★ 4.3
South Beach Bar and Grille on Newport Avenue in Ocean Beach, San Diego, the Pier-side fish-taco room serving Mahi and lobster tacos until midnight every night.
Try: Mahi fish taco, lobster taco, late-night happy hour
Tacos El Gordo in Chula Vista, San Diego, the open-until-4am Tijuana-style trompo where the late-night queue runs out the door for adobada and suadero.
Address: 556 Broadway, Chula Vista, CA 91910, San Diego
South Beach Bar and Grille on Newport Avenue in Ocean Beach, San Diego, the Pier-side fish-taco room serving Mahi and lobster tacos until midnight every night.
Try: Mahi fish taco, lobster taco, late-night happy hour
Lucha Libre Gourmet Taco Shop in Mission Hills, San Diego, the wrestling-themed counter on Washington Street where Surfin' California burritos last until 11pm on weekends.
Try: Surfin' California burrito, four-dollar tacos, late-night chips and guac
Lolita's Mexican Food on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard in Kearny Mesa, San Diego, late-evening California burritos and carne asada fries until nine for the post-dinner crowd.
Try: California burrito, carne asada fries, breakfast burritos all night
Noble Experiment in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter, the keg-wall speakeasy where pre-Prohibition cocktails run until 2am behind the Neighborhood beer wall.
Try: Bartender's Choice cocktails, snacks from Neighborhood
False Idol tiki speakeasy in Little Italy, San Diego, classic Don the Beachcomber rum cocktails until 2am Fri-Sat behind a hidden door at Craft and Commerce.
Try: Don's Special Daiquiri, classic tiki, Polynesian snacks
Polite Provisions on 30th Street in San Diego's Normal Heights, the apothecary cocktail room with classic cocktails on tap and Soda Bar burgers until last call at 02:00.
Try: House-made sodas, classic cocktails on tap, soda bar burgers