50 Best American Restaurants near Poway

“This place is sooo good!! The sandwich was amazing but the customer service was even better, they’re so sweet! The entire meal with chips was $14.50 and the sandwich was 3 layers. Not to mention the free cookie the owner gave both my friend and I. This place is so homey and has a great environment and super affordable!“

“Had a great time. Food was amazing and our server Casey was even better. My wife and I will definitely be coming back to sit in her area. Mozzarella sticks were amazing So is there chicken piccata. Looking forward to trying more on the menu“

“The Not-so-Tots are great. Order them with no liquid cheese, only shredded cheese (unless you like liquid imitation cheese). The chili cheese dogs are pretty good too. The hamburgers, are pretty awful. Every time I have ordered one, the meat has been stale. That kind of almost rancid fat taste. I gave it 4 stars overall, because tater tot nachos? Doesn't get much better than that. Atmosphere is lacking, the tables are crowded together, and they're always busy, so service is so-so.“

“Great sandwiches, you can choose your toppings! family owned, clean and convenient love this place 👍“

“Great food, fantastic beer selection, phenomenal staff all wrapped up in a very cool space!“

“My fav burger. Always hot and fresh. Good people with friendly faces.“

“Fantastic food and ambiance. Very friendly and courteous staff! Kudos! Well done!“

“RIBS!!!!! Ribs!!! Ribs!!! Scenic view on my plate!“

“Ava our server was just so amazing! Such a great attitude and got our food/ beverages out in a timely manner. Definitely would give that girl a raise!“

“This is a very reserved 4 stars. Let me explain.

This place has been around for quite a while, but you not be able to tell by the overall interior appearance, it was very clean! Although, also VERY dated…

The reviews don’t lie, you get an insane amount of food!! If it’s your only meal for the day, you won’t be dissatisfied.

Look closely at the pictures! You can likely share a meal.

The food tasted good and appeared fresh. However, either the cook does not know what he is doing or just doesn’t care. If we had ordered a ‘scramble’ instead of an omelet, I truly don’t think we would see any difference. For example, the veggie omelet had the avocado cooked into it rather than placed on top.

I tend to judge the skill of the kitchen by their ability to prepare two items. Country Sausage gravy and hollandaise sauce. As these are the most technical items on any breakfast menu.

The gravy was sad, it was lacking in sausage and pepper and I felt they relied heavily on corn starch for thickening. I’m positive a roux was not involved. I don’t think I need to test the hollandaise.

All in all, it was not a horrible experience and the owner and waitstaff are extremely pleasant and attentive.

It is definitely a greasy spoon experience that will leave you well filled and ready for a nap!!“

“Great place! Excellent service! Delicious food!“

“amazing food 4 many decades in a family owned,family friendly atmosphere. a true east county gem“

“If you’re in the Poway area and need a bite to turn your frown upside down look no further. You’ll be seated fast indoor or outdoor and waited on without delay. Food is delicious and staff is friendly. Highly recommend chicken fried steak, the gravy should be the envy of every diner in Southern California.“

“the Hawaiian with crispy chicken. omg I miss that.“

“! I wouldn’t go anywhere else“

“I stopped by after a doctor's appointment and really like the relaxing vibe of the cafe. I became a fan of their tumeric honey latte and will likely be back for more. Plenty of tables and chairs, it seems like a nice place to chill at before starting your day.“

“These burgers can revive somebody. These burgers can cure cancer. These burgers can fuel my car. These burgers are so immaculately tasty. I love how crispy the edges of the burgers are, hence the name, and the seasoning and sauces in the burger itself make it so much better. They have wild loaded fries that were also super good, and so crispy. Onion rings are great too, just get them with sauce. All the sauce is on a tray when you walk in, free for grabs, and the prices aren't so high. PLEASE check this out, top burger choice of mine in SD.“

“our server Annie was so nice and the ranch is homemade and delicious. I got my free birthday burger one of the finest burgers on the menu. and I highly recommended the Rancho parkway Red Robin. food was delicious everything was good temperature freshly served quick and made to order delicious. 😊“

“I had such a wonderful experience at this restaurant! The food was absolutely delicious, especially the French fries — perfectly crispy and flavorful. The staff was incredibly kind and welcoming; they went out of their way to make me feel comfortable and even helped me when I needed it the most. Their warmth and genuine care made the whole visit unforgettable. I truly recommend this place to anyone looking not only for great food, but also for exceptional service.“

“Duffs is a great go to place for great quality hot dogs and more. smiling, friendly people work there.“

“Food is Delicious... 🥰“

“The fish special tonight was great! Thank you“

“Fabulous as always 😀 thank you“

“Wow! We had a great time at this restaurant. The view of the Rhinos was spectacular, service was top notch, great drinks and highly recommend the chicken club. We will definitely be back since we are annual pass members to the zoo and safari park.“

“it's always a great place to eat. It hits the spot everytime. Dawson was so kind taking the order. I appreciate great Customer Service !“

“Food was really good and the staff was nice besides the waitress from the most recent experience I just had here. I had just enough in cash to cover my bill without using any of my big bills or card and she goes “this is just the bill though..” Keep in mind me and my friends(4) all teenagers fresh out of sophomore year and two already tipped, I know its proper behavior to tip for each bill but I show her my wallet with only big bills left. Then she says i have to tip so she makes me break up my $50 bill for it. My friends and I just confused since she wasn’t the one that sat us and brought half of our food while a different person brought us the rest, so what’s granting you a tip?🧍‍♀️like woohoo you did the bare minimum!! Go here anyway though because the food bomb and I know i’m coming back.“

“The food was good and the service was to. The drink was a little watered down.“

“Muy rápida la atención y muy buena atención“

“A grill come small convenience store all rolled into one. Went there for some odd groceries and found that the grill was pretty good as well. There was nothing bad their. Again nothing fancy but certainly good value for money and could not complain about any of the dishes I ordered. Well worth a visit if you are in the area.“

“Great food and great service!
I had an amazing experience at this restaurant. The food was delicious, fresh, and full of flavor. The staff was very friendly and made me feel welcome. The place is clean, cozy, and perfect for a nice meal. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good spot to eat!“

“Loved everything we got tonight, the chicken sandwich, pulled pork, amazing! So were the fried Mac and cheese balls!!!!“

“Still thinking about our dinner at Addison—yep, the Michelin 3-star tucked inside Fairmont San Diego. Total bucket list moment! The uni chawanmushi and caviar rice? Unreal. Vibe was cozy-luxe, service was flawless. Took 4 hours and I’d do it all over again. ✨🍽️💛“

“Great food, big portions, good pricing for the amount of food you get“

“Absolutely the best BBQ food! Generous portions. Take-out was ready quickly. Amazing onion rings. 😋 The staff were great.“

“I love the food at this restaurant.“

“Overall a pleasant place to sit and have a beer. We did not eat here. The bar music was good and not so loud we couldn’t hear each other. Very cold in the bar with the doors open ( cold evening in March) so did not stay long. $7-9+ tax for a beer.“

“I love this place the pizza is amazing!“

“Great tasting food wonderful service“

“Carvers Rancho Bernardo is about old values and quality! We, Realtors, give a very high rating, all around, especially to the friendly and professional Staff. Unfortunately, We can not say the same for Manager. It’s obvious, he needs to learn some culture and manners from the Staff Members. We just recently heard, he verbally hurt a number of loyal Carvers’ customers, including few of us, with his dishonest and rude behavior…for no reasons, at all. To make it worse: He walks away, and does not allow the smallest comment. Mr. Manager, while you were in the first grade, we, the old Patrons created the “Desired Image” of Carvers, by our frequent attendance and positive word of mouth among Newcomers!“

“Literally one of the best cheeseburgers I’ve ever had. They delivered 25 min after my order was placed. Fries were still crispy!!! Very delicious.“

“Nice people, good food Will definitely come again“

“The young lady in the lot taking the orders on a 94 degree day was a true professional!“

“Always perfect burgers and fries at this location. Friendly and fun staff.“

“Great food and very healthy and delicious salads! The focaccia bread is to die for!“

“Good prices and good food“

“Happy to dine in again. great to see staff and great service as always.“

“Outstanding venue. First time visiting the establishment for lunch with some co-workers and I will be back for a more social setting!“

“This Applebee’s has created some wonderful memories and has very timely service even though it can get really crowded from time to time. Will is one of the best bartenders in all of San Diego.

Kitchen has gotten mostly everything my groups or myself ordered on point and really just above the standards for an American chain restaurant.

10/10 recommend“

“Exceptional Experience at Cutwater Restaurant Cutwater delivered an outstanding dining experience from start to finish. The staff were friendly, attentive, and made us feel genuinely welcome. The Halloween-themed pirate ship decor added a fun seasonal touch without overwhelming the space—playful yet tasteful. The atmosphere was relaxed and inviting, perfect for a night out. The food was flavorful and beautifully presented, and the cocktails were just as impressive. Every detail felt thoughtfully executed. Highly recommend for anyone looking for great food, great service, and a memorable vibe.“