El Pescador on Pearl Street in La Jolla, San Diego, the day-boat fish counter pulling local catch into grilled sandwiches and ceviche just blocks from the Cove.
Address: 634 Pearl St, La Jolla, CA 92037, San Diego
Puesto's original counter on Wall Street in La Jolla, San Diego, the award-winning blue-corn taqueria two blocks from the Cove with crispy-cheese filet mignon tacos.
Try: Filet Mignon taco, Chicken Al Pastor, blue corn tortillas
Carnitas' Snack Shack on the Embarcadero in San Diego, Hanis Cavin's harbour-side window for carnitas tortas, schnitzel sandwiches and pork-belly tacos with bay views.
Try: Carnitas pork torta, schnitzel sandwich, pork belly tacos
South Beach Bar and Grille on Newport Avenue in Ocean Beach, San Diego, the 1992 Pier-side cantina behind the Mahi fish taco that locals defend by name.
Try: World-famous Mahi fish taco
Puesto's original counter on Wall Street in La Jolla, San Diego, the award-winning blue-corn taqueria two blocks from the Cove with crispy-cheese filet mignon tacos.
Try: Filet Mignon taco, Chicken Al Pastor, blue corn tortillas
El Comal on a residential block of Illinois Street in North Park, San Diego, the family-run kitchen pressing tortillas to order with mole tacos and carne asada burritos.
Try: Carne asada burrito, hand-pressed tortillas, mole tacos
Mariscos German truck on Federal Boulevard in southeast San Diego, the Tijuana-style aguachile and Gobernador-taco lifer that brought west-coast mariscos north.
Try: Shrimp Gobernador taco, fish ceviche tostada, aguachile
Rubicon Deli on India Street in Mission Hills, San Diego, the oversized Dutch Crunch sandwich counter where the Late Riser breakfast roll goes for under ten dollars.
Try: Dutch Crunch sandwiches, Late Riser breakfast sandwich
