Restaurants in La Jolla

“An amazing restaurant! The fish is so fresh that it sparkles!! Get the omakase!! And we will definitely be back And that means traveling there from Northern California. It’s that good.”

“Very fun and lively atmosphere! The design is very well done. The food was great, I personally loved the oysters as they were served differently than I have experienced. The jalapeño Caesar salad was also amazing! Had a kick! Main dishes I enjoyed were the burger, and the chicken, very good and flavorful. Very fun and different cocktails to choose from along with fun zero proof options which is great if you do not drink alcohol. Service was spectacular, very kind, professional and knowledgeable about the menu. We will be coming back!”

“I love this place. This place have amazing atmosphere with a great vibe, plus a delicious selection of tacos appetizers and drinks.”

“Delicious, fresh food, made from scratch pasta, wood fired meat and pizzas....and outstanding service!”

“What happens when fine dining meets meal prep ? Urban plates you nailed it. Who knew best steak ive had could be prepared fast and efficiently delivered to my door. Wow 🤩 5 stars . RFK approved.”

“We came here for my wife's birthday party when we arrived we were checked in immediately. The table was set and with decorations our waiter Tanner was outstanding he was very attentive and had a great personality. This was an amazing experience we will definitely be coming back to visit again. Thank you Tanner & team for all your help to make my wife's birthday weekend unforgettable”

“Shiku Sushi has the best atmosphere for dining, from their amazing menu and service. You are greeted the minute you enter and each server has a smile for you. I love the rolls, and I try different ones each visit. Casanova, Summer Beach Body to name a few. This Sushi bar is a MUST when you're visiting. You won't be disappointed!”

“Been here multiple times now! Service is always great and the waitress in the lounge recognizes you and remembers people! Highly recommend and will be back next time I’m in town!”

“Great meal. Dessert was a wow.”

“The food was so salty! The lobster bisque and the raviolis tasted the same!”

“Amazing coffee and friendly staff! Double almond cappuccino my go to! My kids has gluten allergy and tuna melt with gluten free was the best they were happy and will be back”

“I recently had the pleasure of dining at Candor in La Jolla, and it's safe to say that I found a hidden gem. Chef Giuseppe's culinary skills are truly impressive. The arancini were crispy and packed with flavor, while the short ribs were incredibly tender and delicious. The fisherman stew was a delightful medley of fresh seafood, and even the burger exceeded my expectations. The cozy ambiance and friendly staff added to the overall relaxed and enjoyable experience. If you're looking for a memorable dining experience in La Jolla, Candor is definitely worth a visit.”

“Tahini meals have amazing flavor balance and freshness. It’s so great to have a bowl or pita with a diversity of vegetables all fresh and chopped to ideal sizes for human enjoyment.”

“Love what they have brought to our San Diego farmers markets!!!! A must for exceptional American artisanal cheeses!!!”

“Blaine was absolutely fantastic from the time we approached the counter to when he came out giving out samples of the ice cream to customers sitting on the dinning room. He was very personable! Hard to find great people working in the industry! Our second visit here and the food brought us back, as the previous visit the young girl at the counter was not very friendly.”

“We attended the 20th annual Celebrate the Craft. It was fantastic and we thoroughly enjoyed the event. The waitstaff at the bar was friendly and provided excellent service.”

“Came here for lunch and had a window view on a beautiful day. Super quick service, we enjoyed the variety, my mom had ramen, we had bento boxes with teriyaki and sashimi and our toddler loved the piggy buns. Amazing service from Rex who was professional, chill, and kind. Highly recommend, was way less busy than Dukes but quality just as good.”

“If you try this place— you will forget all others. This place is the bomb . Com!
My gf is a harsh critic too, and she kept saying “wow” “ this is so good” and I was thinking the same thing! Great amount of food. This is our second time here and I wanted to try something new, so I got the Super Delsushi Roll, that was a home run, slam dunk. We also got the Pink lady and spicy tuna roll, also delicious and great sizes.
Also the hosts was very friendly and light spirited, she made these with love and you could definitely tell! Definitely coming back as she said more things will be added to the menu and the eating area will get an upgrade. Can’t wait to be back!”

“Enjoyed it totally! 2 nd time and will go back again. Love the food and the menu”

“Great food, wonderful service!”

“AMAZING FOOD! Service with kindness and care! 10 out of 10!! Can’t wait til I’m back in town to come again!”

“Awesome food, great drinks and service! Nicole is awesome!”

“The Cottage never disappoints. Manager Jason is a terrific ambassador. Staff are always polite and professional and the food is top shelf.”

“My family and I had a wonderful time yesterday. Thanks for the great food and conversation! - The Cole's from Idaho”

“Absolutely delish and the nicest people work at the bakery..”

“Locally owned, by Lisa. She's wonderful, we've been stopping by pre-covid and post-covid for years, from Surprise, AZ. Great spot to chill at during your vacation. We will always come back by! ✌🏽❤✊🏽”

“This place is SO GOOD. I kept insisting we needed to go to La Jolla Village for our final night of dining before leaving on a flight back to NYC. My husband found this spot and am I so glad we decided to just pop over and head to the village later. This food was outstanding. We ended up ordering every ceviche available on the menu. The fish taco was one of the freshest / crispiest we’ve ever had. My husband loved his soft shell crab taco. It was a Tuesday night, so quieter save for another family and a couple of locals. Things that were said over dinner: “if we lived here, I would come here every week and sit at the counter and just order from the raw menu.” “Omg. That might be the best fish taco I’ve ever had.” My 7 year old (sometimes picky) housed 2 fish tacos (we just made sure to say no sour cream).

Basically, don’t sleep on this place. If you’re local to La Jolla, I’m jealous that you can go here whenever you want.”

“These are honestly the best salads I have ever had. They are layered and dressed perfectly. I have ordered at least once a week since their opening in OB. The staff is friendly, efficient and the space is immaculate! I cannot say enough good things about Mary’s Salads!”

“Darin was great! Thank you, our dinner was delicious”

“The atmosphere and view, food and drinks are unbeatable. Staff is friendly, attentive and knowledgeable. Cody’s is a fantastic establishment that I visit every time I am in La Jolla!”

“Best Chinese and Mai Tai's in San Diego or maybe the US”

“This restaurant never disappoints us! Always amazing food and service! Love love coming here.”

“Absolutely amazing cuisine! Exceptional customer service! I would come again!”

“Da italiana, ho cenato più volte in questo fantastico ristorante e vi dico che il cibo è ottimo. Qualità dei prodotti 🔝, servizio impeccabile. Il locale è veramente tanto delizioso. Ve lo consiglio vivamente non rimarrete delusi!”

“It is an okay place for a fast bite of sushi. Atmosphere is average. Service was average. Food was just edible. Not bad but not really good. Mediocre.”

“Went for happy hour! Such a beautiful place with an equally as enticing menu. Cocktails were great, meatballs were good, Spanish octopus was fantastic (so tender!). Hector at the bar was very warm and welcoming. Cant wait to go back!”

“Amazing food, staff & atmosphere!”

“The most adorable setting serving absolutely delicious food. Fast friendly servers are all smiles and so sweet. The coffee is incredible and if you like Unicorns, well, that's doable here too! Don't miss it. Loved our experience.”

“Simple Italian dishes done well. Local restaurant near the beach with great feel of hospitality where locals have come for years We have been there on several trips to the area and appreciate to genuine hospitality and good food.”

“I just wrote this review on Tripadvisor on 5/22/23 Title: A family run restaurant just like in old Italy! Cafe Milano is a hidden gem. After dining there for the first time and being incredibly impressed by the entire experience, I was amazed that my wife and I could get seated without a reservation. There should be a line of patrons waiting outside this establishment every evening they're open. Cafe Milano may be La Jolla’s best kept restaurant secret. First off, I love the ambience of its interior. The place is very attractively decorated in dark, earthy tones with tables covered in white cotton tablecloths with matching napkins. It is clean and very well maintained. The family members (owner, his wife, his sister, brother-in-law, and sister-in-law), do all the cooking, setting up of the tables, greeting and seating the clientele, and serving the food. Actually, there's also a family friend, Bri, who was our lovely and attentive server. It felt like I had stepped back in time to dine at an intimate ristorante tucked away in a small courtyard off a cobblestoned street in Firenze in the ‘70’s. Our dinner started with a glass of wine and a generous serving of bread. Our first course was a Caesar salad for two which was one of the tastiest Caesars I have ever had. For a main course, we both chose a grilled salmon over fettuccine with olives and capers. It was perfectly done to our liking and huge, the biggest serving of a filet I had ever had. In fact, our server offered to box up the remainder of our salmon when we were only half done, apparently because most diners can't finish it at one seating. We did. However, when we were finished, we were stuffed with no room for dessert - but Pasquale, the owner, tempted us with a piece of tiramisu that was out of this world in yumminess for which we somehow managed to find the space. I'll tell you this. When we return to place our order, which will be very soon, my dinner plan will leave room for one of their myriad dessert choices. Right now, I have my eyes on one of their three tartufo offerings.”

“Amazing food. Casual atmosphere. Great service to go along with the great food”

“Absolutely lovely experience! We were especially grateful for them accommodating us to a table that my father in law wanted to sit in. We really appreciated that, as switching tables can be a pain.”

“Such an awesome place with great food and an awesome beach setting! Whenever I come to San Diego to visit family, I will always come here after a great day on the water.”

“Our server, Eve, was phenomenal! We dined there tonight with a party of 10 which included 4 kids. Eve was on top of everything! The food was yummy and came out fast. I highly recommend Nautilus based on variety of food options, yummy drinks and excellent service!”

“Walked there from La Jolla Lutheran Church today. The service was tops. I had the Kung Pao Scallops lunch which came with soup and appetizers. It was excellent. Already planning my next visit.”

“Cashier was so nice and attentive!!! The place was lively and friendly. Excellent service and we were given our coffee and food quickly. Will definitely be coming back!”

“Simply the absolute best. Everything is ridiculously amazing and the owner ROCKS!”

“Friendly staff and good food and shake. Will be back on my next visit to SD.”

“If you’re on the UCSD campus and craving real Chinese food, this place is honestly a gem. The food is amazing, the atmosphere is warm and lively, and the employees make you feel welcome. What really stood out to me is that the owner himself walks around, talks to customers, checks in, and makes sure everyone is having a good time. It feels very welcoming.

And I have to say this, the Oreo boba here is my personal favourite!”

“Courteous, entertaining staff, they make you feel comfortable.”

“This is a family favorite. We come here every time we visit Cali”

“Don Carlos Taco Shop is a La Jolla institution for great Mexican fast food. Great friendly staff and good food. I use for take out exclusively.”

“great sandwich. best in town in my opinion”

“good service and good food”

“The go-to place for Mediterranean food! Lots of options to choose from, there's always something for everybody. Food is always fresh and tasty. Love having a bowl full of colors! Staff are friendly and helpful. Great experience overall.”

“We’re visiting from Austin Tx and decided to try Philz, it was one of the best coffees we’ve had in a long time. The pastries were so delicious as well. Everyone was so nice and welcoming. I hope you all come to Austin someday🩷”

“A special place for both long time locals and newbies. Good for a delicious double cappucino a long work session on the laptop.”

“Of the best lobster roll outside. Lobster West in La Jolla serves up a buttery, packed-to-the-brim roll that's pure happiness. It's my go-to spot in San Diego for a seafood fix. Every bite is perfection, and the staff is super friendly. You can't beat it”

“AMAZING FOOD! Service with kindness and care! 10 out of 10!! Can’t wait til I’m back in town to come again!”

“This was the most amazing cookie that I ever tried in my life, even though it was kinda hard, but you just have to warm it up and yeah, I really liked eating here. Definitely coming back for more. Definitely tell my friends about this. I’m here just for free cookie bye.”

“Excellent night out. Food was delish (mussels, barramundi, salad) and the service was even better. Suggest making a reservation - we wouldn't have gotten in on a Sunday night otherwise :)”

“I got mango Smoothie with boba. I love it.”

“Excellent food and service!”

“Okay so it's a tiny spot, I wouldnt come with a grouper larger than 4 to sit in here and eat but the food was damn good! So so crunchy and the sauces we had were great, on the higher end of wing prices but honestly very worth it. Really great flavor, didn't taste oily or like old dirty grease and seriously ao crispy you might bite your lip. Order to go for a party”

“poor service. food came not as ordered. took a long time to get food. had to flag down another waiter to get attention. party melt over cooked. 1 1/2 hour waist of time. both doors left open so we were swatting flying away from food”

“Something just very special its a vibe and you can feel.it as soon as you get in line .Best Macha by far and the most fresh pastry you can find .Cheers to the owner its a truly great find and we go often. I hear they have another location in lj village on girard. We cant wait to visit them.”

“I found out their match is from Paru on insta and double checked with the barista. Very good quality Matcha and their banana cream on top really impressed me. Definitely need to go back for its Matcha!”

“Best ice cream in town and it’s open late.”

“Delicious, hot, Chai latte. Love to stop in while visiting LaJolla.”

“Great flavours! Great atmosphere!! Great service!!!”

“Amazing pastries that melt in your mouth. This is proper French baking, not American style, so expect lots of butter in everything. It's not a sit-down place, just a counter where you buy pastries to go. The lines are long and things sell out quickly. Arrive early and bring something to read while you wait! The parking situation isn't great -- paid lot only. The lot gives you 15 minutes free but it's rare that you can get through the line that quickly, especially on Fridays. The lot across the street validates parking if you also buy from one of their shops/restaurants, but it gets crowded at lunch time.”

“A coworker ordered for our spring orientation. The pizza was amazing!!”

“really really good pizza. pizza bases made fresh on site.”

“The best homemade chili on campus by far!! It is one of RS's signature dishes. Friendly and fun staff!! Will definitely be enjoying more good eating here!!”

“Delicious döner wraps and amazing baklava.”

“Yummy and lots of flavor rotations downing on what day of the week you come. Be on the lookout on Reddit and campus for club promotions, where you can get 10-15% off”

“I want to say yes and recommend them. But I can't because I have a subscription to their coffee but they sent me the wrong coffee. it's been about a week, I've call a few times, left two voice mail messages, I've emailed as well and I have not gotten any response at all. The coffee I bought and subscribed to is good, but I can't continue to do business with a company that won't respond to their customers to fix their mistakes.”

“Excellent venue. So fun to be in such a welcoming space. Good vibes all around. If you've never been, keep in mind this is not your typical concert venue - it's very small and very much a DIY set up, which is what makes it awesome.”

“Cute place overlooking a very beautiful street in la jolla. I always get there mexican mocha, but this time i went for their pistachio latte and omg it is so delicious. their croissant with egg is the best thing on the planet.”

“This spot is definitely gorgeous for a coffee break. Awesome view and clearly a local student/staff favorite. They grilled our egg salad sandwich in the panini maker and the iced matcha latte was delicious. The crew here helpful And warm. Also very quick. I only wish there was more “bar style” seating for those who tend to linger for hours on their own instead of taking up a whole table. It’s been super crowded with no seating the last few months bc people tend to stay for hours working. Which I totally understand. But for a UCSD alum like me, I may just wanna sit for half an hour maybe an hour at most and often there is no seating. That’s my only suggestion. Add single person searing. But I’ll definitely be back and hope to come before a “rush”. The line can get very long. (I get it. I used to work in a cafe at the Price Center and it was crazy there). Also would Love if they stayed open later. One can only hope.”

“Always check your order before leaving because if they run out of something they will NOT tell you or offer something else as a replacement, which I think is pretty rude.”

“I want to say yes and recommend them. But I can't because I have a subscription to their coffee but they sent me the wrong coffee. it's been about a week, I've call a few times, left two voice mail messages, I've emailed as well and I have not gotten any response at all. The coffee I bought and subscribed to is good, but I can't continue to do business with a company that won't respond to their customers to fix their mistakes.”

“I love coming to this café! The lattes are always perfectly made, and the atmosphere is so cozy. The staff is incredibly friendly and welcoming, which makes every visit a pleasure. It's my go-to spot for a great cup of coffee. Highly recommend!”

“Recently opened in my nighhborhood. Surprisingly very delicious pizza (half chicken/half dry meat). It is now my favorite pizza already. Owners are friendly and service was pretty fast. I'll come back to try other stuff on the menu.”

“I tried the grilled shrimp taco. Nicely seasoned and the tortilla was nice. High price point with tip + tax for what it is. Wish they used more environmentally friendly products.”

“My husband and I stopped by after seeing Eddie Izzard's Hamlet right down the street. I got the Damon Bruce and my husband got thr Hollywoo. Both were fantastic (though I tried both and think i picked best). The dirty sauce was surprisingly sweet, and the only complaint I have is that it was sweeter than I would have liked. Did not stop me from devouring the deliciousness, though. I will be back if I am in the area again.”

“Located in a medical building. Not busy mid-morning. Friendly staff with made to order breakfast. The bacon breakfast burritos and salads are good with homemade chips on the side.”

“love my home away from home! amazing community, good vibes, and everyone who comes in is always so welcoming and genuine �� not too mention the coffee is the BEST on campus. trust.”

“Amazing venue and staff! 5 stars!”

“So delicious! My coworkers and I have started to go here whenever we meet up for lunch. The prices are very good given the location, and the atmosphere and service are pleasant. Highly recommend!”

“Shiku Sushi has the best atmosphere for dining, from their amazing menu and service. You are greeted the minute you enter and each server has a smile for you. I love the rolls, and I try different ones each visit. Casanova, Summer Beach Body to name a few. This Sushi bar is a MUST when you're visiting. You won't be disappointed!”

“Love the new Crispy Tofu so many vegetarian and vegan options.”

“Super cool and clean environment, one of the staff held the door for us on the way in, Perez served our food and was easy to talk to. The food was super good and good experience over all!!”

“Food is delicious! The views are spectacular! And service is always top-notch!”

“Amazing food. Casual atmosphere. Great service to go along with the great food”

“Wonderful view of the beach and ocean and great mud pie!”

“The go-to place for Mediterranean food! Lots of options to choose from, there's always something for everybody. Food is always fresh and tasty. Love having a bowl full of colors! Staff are friendly and helpful. Great experience overall.”

“We were celebrating my fiancés birthday and our server Molly was delightful. All of her recommendations were spot on. We don’t drink and she suggested the best tasting mocktails. The entrees and dessert were absolutely delicious. The view over looking the cove was romantic. Overall Molly made this an unforgettable experience and we will definitely be coming back.”

“Blaine was absolutely fantastic from the time we approached the counter to when he came out giving out samples of the ice cream to customers sitting on the dinning room. He was very personable! Hard to find great people working in the industry! Our second visit here and the food brought us back, as the previous visit the young girl at the counter was not very friendly.”

“Absolutely lovely experience! We were especially grateful for them accommodating us to a table that my father in law wanted to sit in. We really appreciated that, as switching tables can be a pain.”

“Amazing food, staff & atmosphere!”

“This is my go to spot in La Jolla. Great food, great cocktails, great wine selection. I usually enjoy Piper Champagne. Michael had excellent service the whole night. Fresh Espresso, comfy chairs with water views.”

“Great food, wonderful service!”

“The most adorable setting serving absolutely delicious food. Fast friendly servers are all smiles and so sweet. The coffee is incredible and if you like Unicorns, well, that's doable here too! Don't miss it. Loved our experience.”

“My bride and I just spent 4 nights at the hotel. It was very nice. The restaurant, to us, is the crown jewel. We had a superb dinner. The seafood was fabulous, our server (Steven) was a delight and of course the sunset! We had breakfast on our last morning and it was very good! We came here years ago when it was Elarios and we were not disappointed this time either! We will return!”

“Simple Italian dishes done well. Local restaurant near the beach with great feel of hospitality where locals have come for years We have been there on several trips to the area and appreciate to genuine hospitality and good food.”

“Contemporary decor, varied menu, great service and Delisious food!! We'll be back!”

“hadn’t been here in years but it’s still just as good! amazing location right by the beach so if there’s no seating (which there hardly is because of how busy and popular this place is) then grabbing takeout and eating it by the ocean is a good substitute.”

“I rarely find food to be memorable. This was one of those memorable experiences, worth dropping a review. The food really felt like it was made with care. It was truly delicious.”

“le noisette, caramel crepe, and an ice latte! good combination. very frenchy. so close to the cove. they have croissants, gelato, sandwiches. the staff was hot. i didnt get his name. so we’ll have to go back”

“Was in San Diego for a short trip and saw this place and decided to give it a shot. Amazing experience. The staff is so nice and even helped me pick flavors based on what I like. They ask if you have any allergies. They are so kind and helpful. This place is a gem! Will definitely be coming back here when I’m in town.”

“Kay was absolutely awesome and the coffee here was one of the best I’ve had including large chains! The espresso was perfect not acidic or Saoor very high-quality and woke me up right away. Must try!”

“I needed my protein and this Burger was my delicious fix! Prompt service for someone who was hungry. The burger was juicy and flavorable...I felt the crisp of the lettuce.”

“Super stoked they finally opened up a boba place in this center. The place is located in a shared unit (same owner I think) as Crispy Burger. Nothing better than a double smashed burger, some salty fries and power that down with an Ice cold boba!”

“I've gone here multiple times and have always encountered the same guy working behind the counter. He is always super nice and friendly, and clearly cares a lot about his job. The ice cream is overall pretty good, and the portions are on the bigger side in my opinion.”

“Service was excellent. Quick and consice. Food was everything you'd expect it to be, and the lobby was very clean. After a nice relaxing day on the beach, it was pleasant to go in and get food.”