18 editor picks in San Diego.
18 splurge places in San Diego, editor-picked. tasting menus and the full big-night-out treatment in San Diego. All San Diego food.
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.
OrderThe full tasting menu; the seasonal caviar course is the room's signature.
TipTasting menu only; book six weeks ahead, jacket preferred. Pair with a Grand Del Mar overnight if the budget allows it.
Soichi Sushi in San Diego is Soichi Kadoya's Michelin-starred (since 2022) omakase room in University Heights, an intimate counter with a six-piece omakase.
OrderThe full omakase, sat at the counter; the local yellowtail is the room's recurring star.
TipTwo omakase seatings nightly; book three weeks ahead on Tock for either.
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.
OrderFull tasting menu, paired wine flight, optional caviar service.
TipJacket preferred; book six weeks ahead. Pair with an overnight at Grand Del Mar to extend the night.
Born and Raised in San Diego is Consortium Holdings' Art Deco steakhouse on India Street in Little Italy, with tableside Caesars, a martini cart.
OrderThe 35-day dry-aged ribeye for two, plus the tableside Caesar built at the table.
TipBook the rooftop for Pacific sunsets; the martini cart only runs the main dining room downstairs.
Sushi Ota in San Diego is Yukito Ota's Mission Bay Drive room since 1990, the strip-mall sushi counter that has trained more San Diego sushi chefs than any.
OrderThe omakase, ordered by sitting at the counter and asking the chef directly.
TipBook the counter, not the dining room. The strip-mall location is intentional; ignore the parking lot and step inside.
Soichi Sushi in San Diego is the one-Michelin-star University Heights omakase counter under Soichi Kadoya, serving Tokyo-style nigiri with local Pacific fish.
OrderThe full omakase; the local yellowtail and sea urchin courses if they're on the day's count.
TipCounter seating only; book on Tock three weeks ahead for the 6pm or 8:30pm seatings.
The Marine Room in La Jolla is Bernard Guillas's coastal fine-dining room at La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club since 1994, with waves breaking on the glass.
OrderKing-tide-table seating for the surf-on-the-window experience; the crab cake is the room's signature.
TipCheck the king-tide calendar at marineroom.com for the dramatic high-tide nights; book the window six weeks ahead.
George's at the Cove in La Jolla is George Hauer's three-level Prospect Street institution since 1984: George's Level2 fine dining upstairs.
OrderThe smoked tomato soup with grilled cheese; the roasted duck on the Level2 menu.
TipBook Ocean Terrace at sunset for the casual ocean-view version; Level2 is the fine-dining tasting menu room.
Jeune et Jolie in Carlsbad is Eric Bost's one-Michelin-star French bistro on State Street since 2018, the nouvelle-French dining room flooded in shades.
OrderThe four-course prix fixe with the wine pairing; the seasonal canele dessert if it's on the menu.
TipA la carte at the bar runs many of the same dishes for walk-ins; the prix fixe is the deepest experience.
Mister A's in San Diego is the 12th-floor Bankers Hill rooftop room atop the Manchester Financial Building, with panoramic views of the bay.
OrderThe Dover sole boned tableside; the Caesar for two with white anchovies.
TipReserve a window booth at sunset; planes from the airport tip directly toward the room during the descent.
Cowboy Star in San Diego is the East Village steakhouse and butcher shop on 10th Avenue, with an in-house dry-aging programme, an oyster bar and one.
OrderThe dry-aged bone-in ribeye for two; the Wagyu burger at lunch.
TipThe butcher shop sells the same cuts at retail; if the menu is booked, buy and cook at home.
A.R. Valentien in La Jolla is the farm-to-table dining room at The Lodge at Torrey Pines, a Michelin-Guide-listed Californian kitchen with its own herb.
OrderWednesday Garden Dinner four-course chef's menu; the wine pairing with North County producers.
TipBook the patio at golden hour for the Pacific-and-fairway view; Wednesday's Garden Dinner is the deepest value.
The Marine Room in La Jolla is Bernard Guillas's coastal fine-dining room at La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club since 1994, with waves breaking.
OrderThe crab cake; book king-tide-table seating for the surf-on-the-window dinner.
TipCheck the king-tide calendar at marineroom.com; book a window six weeks ahead for the most dramatic nights.
Born and Raised in San Diego is Consortium Holdings' Art Deco steakhouse on India Street in Little Italy, with tableside Caesars, a martini cart.
OrderThe 35-day dry-aged ribeye for two; the tableside Caesar with white anchovies.
TipBook the rooftop for Pacific sunsets; the martini cart only runs the main dining room downstairs.
George's at the Cove in La Jolla is George Hauer's Prospect Street institution since 1984, with the Level2 fine-dining room upstairs and Ocean Terrace.
OrderTrey Foshee's smoked tomato soup with grilled cheese; the local fish crudo to start.
TipBook Level2 for the tasting menu; Ocean Terrace is the casual upstairs option for sunset and a margarita.
Juniper and Ivy in San Diego is Top Chef alumnus Richard Blais's Little Italy modernist Californian room since 2014, a 1920s sawtooth warehouse with Anthony.
OrderThe In-N-Haute, Blais's elevated take on In-N-Out, on the snack menu; the seasonal market tasting menu.
TipSnack menu at the bar is the cheapest way into the kitchen; book Wednesdays for the tasting-menu option.
Mille Fleurs in Rancho Santa Fe is Bertrand Hug's French-Californian dining room since 1985, with chef Martin Woesle running a market-driven menu.
OrderThe market-driven prix fixe; the Pacific halibut when in season.
TipThe room is country-French traditional; jacket appropriate. The 11:30am Friday lunch is the value play.
Animae in San Diego is Brian Malarkey's Asian-inspired Wagyu steakhouse on Pacific Highway, a downtown waterfront room serving A5 Japanese beef and chef Tara.
OrderThe A5 Wagyu cut of the night; the lumpia and ube dessert from Monsod's Filipino program.
TipBook a window for the Embarcadero view; the bar program runs an extensive Japanese whisky list.
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