Talia's Bucketlist

After moving to San Diego, I started to visit a bunch of restaurants in the city, so I can write a blog post about some great places in town. Here are 13 restaurants in San Diego you have to try! The restaurants are a mix of casual and fancy dining, as well as coffee shops and bars! Make sure to check them out when you are in town. I bet you will not regret it, because there is something for everyone! The best thing is that all of those places offer vegetarian and vegan items as well!

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Armonia Kitchen

Another restaurant that makes it to my list of the restaurants in San Diego you have to try is Armonia Kitchen. Not only are all they items from ethically sourced ingredients and super healthy, but also taste unbelievably good! We tried Armonia Kitchen for brunch and loved it so much. Everything on the menu sounds amazing and taste great! We ordered coffee and matcha, as well as some smoothies and also tried the avocado toast options and chilaquiles. Not only is the food super photogenic, but also taste incredible! The place itself has some indoor and outdoor seating options and makes a good photo opportunity too!

Tajima North Park

If you like Ramen, you should definitely put Tajima North Park on your restaurant list in San Diego list. They even have a vegan Ramen option that was really delicious! It is really hard to find good vegan/vegetarian Ramen places, which is why I am so glad I found Tajima! Tajima’s menu isn’t huge, but has everything you need and focuses on Japanese appetizers and specialty Ramen. Besides the vegan Ramen, we also tried the Tokyo Mule, the Tuna and Salmon Hand Roll, the Brussel Sprouts Tempura and the fries! All items tasted very good!

Duck Dive

Are you looking for a trendy Sunday brunch place with amazing cocktail options close to the beach? Then, Duck Dive is your place! I loved visiting the Duck Dive restaurant in San Diego, especially for a fun Sunday morning activity. The Bloody Mary’s were to die for! We almost tried their whole menu and every item was delicious! My highlight was the Chorizo Hash and Avocado Toast, as well as the Bloody Mary! Another great cocktail option is Tropic Like It’s Hot and it even comes in a coconut! The restaurant itself has outdoor and indoor dining options and is super trendy with modern bar vibe!

Mavericks

Mavericks Beach Club is the perfect place for a Friday or Saturday night out with your friends. You get great drinks, great food, live music and game nights! What else do you need? We went on weekday and experienced a Trivia night which was super fun! The Impossible Burger and the California fries were my highlight. I heard Mavericks is famous for their wings though! Definitely something you should try if you are not a vegetarian like I am. Mavericks also has a variety of cocktail and draft beers!

Lionsfish SD

One of the top restaurants in San Diego you really need to visit is Lionsfish SD, especially when you love seafood! The sushi at Lionsfish SD was so tasty and I also loved the Oysters too. But honestly, every single item we tried was so delicious and I highly recommend checking out Lionsfish SD for a fine dining experience. It is perfect for a date night and will not only convince with its tasty food options but also classy and modern interior. My favorites food items were the Tajin Seared Albacore, the All Star Sushi and the Wild Mushrooms. If you are dessert person, leave room for the Tiramisu as well!

Tasty noodles

Tasty Noodles is the perfect place if you love traditional Chinese food. It specializes in traditional dishes from Shanghai & China’s Sichuan province. I loved the authentic vibe of the restaurant and can highly recommend this place if you like Chinese food. The portions are big and everything you order is sharable which I love! We ordered a bunch of different items from the menu and loved the dumplings, the Eggplant and the Spicy Cucumber Salad!

Parakeet cafe

Another great brunch option in San Diego is Parakeet Cafe and makes it to my list of top 10 restaurants in San Diego. Not only is the interior the cutest ever, with parrot wallpaper and fun neon signs, but the food is really good as well. Parakeet Cafe offers a bunch of healthy and vegan options and great coffee as well! The presentation of the food and coffees is mind blowing as well. I loved their variety of avocado toast options and healthy bowls. Parakeet Cafe has 4 different locations: Del Mar, La Jolla, Little Italy and Coronado.

Fig Tree Café

The Fig Tree Cafe gives me all the San Diego vibes with surfboards hanging from the ceiling. Love the fun decor elements that make the place super hip! I tried their Cauliflower and Veggie Benedict and Johannes had the Breakfast Burrito with the Soy Chorizo! We also ordered the Garlic Fries! Everything tasted amazing. Next time I have to try their French Toast, which they are known for! Fig Tree is a great place for breakfast or brunch or just to chill with friends! Fig Tree also has several locations in town. We went to the one in Pacific Beach.

The Nolen

The Nolen makes it to my list of 10 restaurants in San Diego because of the delicious food and stunning skyline views. We visited for brunch but I bet this rooftop bar is also stunning during sunset. I adored the modern and stylish interior of the Nolen. The Avocado Benedict and the Loaded Tots are great options! You will love the Nolen as your brunch option in San Diego. I really loved the views of the city, you almost have a 360 view which is pretty fun!

Realm of The 52 Remedies

If you are looking for an amazing and unique bar experience, make sure to put Realm of The 52 Remedies on your list. This speakeasy bar is truly special with its incredible decor and vibe. The cocktails were really tasty and the food was great as well. We had the charred broccolini and the roasted brussel sprouts. The highlight were the cocktails we ordered though: Jungle Book and Halo Better Days.

Farmer’s Table Bay Park

Another great restaurant in town that will not disappoint is Farmer’s Table. They have a couple of locations and we visited the one in Bay Park. They have a variety of food options and everything we tried tasted amazing. They are famous for their breakfast Bloody Mary’s though, so I have to come back and try because I am a huge Bloody Mary fan! I also loved the decor at Farmer’s Table – it is so cute and photogenic! My favorite was by far the beet salad! Make sure to try this salad when you visit. We also enjoyed the bruschetta and the clams and mussels! Both were so yummy!

Romesco Mexiterranean Bistro

Have you ever had a mix of Mediterranean and Mexican cuisine? If not, you definitely need to try. I love both, Mexican and Mediterranean food which is why I really liked the delicious food Romesco is serving! It is one of my favorite restaurants in San Diego and you have to check it out, especially when you enjoy tapas! We tried a bunch of tapas from the menu, both cold and warm, and these were our favorites: Roadside Ahi Tuna Tostada, Gambas al Romesco, Sauteed Mushrooms. Romesco also has great selection of cocktails, so make sure to check those out as well!

If you liked this blog post you might like my post about the Best coffee shops in San Diego as well!

Ciao Ciao Piadina

One of the 10 restaurants in San Diego you have to try is Ciao Ciao Piadina. If you miss Europe and Italy, make sure to check out Ciao Ciao Piadina, and you will experience the Italian Tradition of Aperetivo. We tried the Vegetarian Aperitivo experience and also had a Spritz and it was so good. The vibe of the restaurant is also super cute and retro! Ciao Ciao Piadina is a nice place for some after work drinks and snacks. They even have a vespa for ops outside of the restaurant and play live music on some days!