Hodad's in Ocean Beach is the 1969 Newport Avenue burger shack with surfboards on the walls, the Guy Fieri Diners Drive-Ins and Dives stop and the canonical San Diego beach burger.
Signature dishes: Double bacon cheeseburger, Mini burger, Onion rings
Must order: The Double Bacon Cheeseburger with the works; the mini version if you want to keep walking after.
Tip: The line moves; queue at the side door for takeout. Park your car blocks away on weekends, Newport Avenue fills up.
Address: 5010 Newport Ave, San Diego, CA 92107
Phil's BBQ in San Diego is the Sports Arena Boulevard barbecue counter, a Texas-leaning shop with mesquite-smoked beef ribs, pulled pork and the famous onion ring tower since 1998.
Signature: Beef ribs, Pulled pork sandwich, Onion ring tower
Order: The Mr. Pig sandwich and a half-rack of beef ribs; the onion ring tower for the table.
Tip: Take-out from the side window has a shorter line; full table service runs the indoor dining room.
Carnitas' Snack Shack Embarcadero in San Diego is Hanis Cavin's harbour-front Mexican-American pork counter on North Harbor Drive, the larger waterside spinoff of the original Snack Shack concept.
Signature: Triple threat sandwich, Carnitas tacos, Schnitzel sandwich
Order: The Triple Threat sandwich, layering pulled pork, bacon and pork schnitzel; the carnitas tacos.
Tip: Indoor and outdoor seating with a harbour view; arrive before 7pm to get a patio table.
The Crack Shack in San Diego is Richard Blais and Michael Rosen's Little Italy fried-chicken yard since 2015, attached to Juniper and Ivy with an outdoor-only counter and a bocce court.
Signature: Firebird chicken sandwich, Coop deville (10-piece), Schmaltz fries
Order: The Firebird spicy chicken sandwich; the schmaltz fries with sherry-vinegar mayo.
Tip: All outdoors; bring a sweater for marine-layer mornings. The Coop Deville feeds a table of four.
Salud Tacos in San Diego is Ernie Becerra's Barrio Logan Chicano-style taqueria on Logan Avenue near Chicano Park, with murals on the walls and a counter built around the carne asada plancha.
Signature: Carne asada tacos, Quesabirria, Carne asada fries
Order: The classic carne asada tacos with all the fixings; the quesabirria on a Sunday.
Tip: Cash-and-card both fine; pair with a stroll through Chicano Park's mural gardens half a block south.
Addison in San Diego is William Bradley's three-Michelin-star tasting room at Fairmont Grand Del Mar, the only three-star kitchen in Southern California since 2022.
Signature: Tasting menu, Caviar service
Order: The full tasting menu; the seasonal caviar course is the room's signature.
Tip: Tasting menu only; book six weeks ahead, jacket preferred. Pair with a Grand Del Mar overnight if the budget allows it.
Born and Raised in San Diego is Consortium Holdings' Art Deco steakhouse on India Street in Little Italy, with tableside Caesars, a martini cart and a rooftop terrace.
Signature: Tableside Caesar, Dry-aged ribeye, Tableside martini cart
Order: The 35-day dry-aged ribeye for two, plus the tableside Caesar built at the table.
Tip: Book the rooftop for Pacific sunsets; the martini cart only runs the main dining room downstairs.
