50 Best American Restaurants in San Diego

“Excellent food and very good service. Everything was delicious and the portions were huge. It was expensive for breakfast, but great for a special occasion.“

“Service and ambiance, exceptional service and night life… live dj, good musical and still able to have conversation“

“Fabulous oysters! Definitely worth the wait!“

“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.“

“Great place, great food, service is excellent, everybody is having a good time and it shows, this place is a must in SD, whether you go as a couple or with friends, definitely recommended!!!“

“Happy Hour at Artifact is the highlight of my week! I always look forward to those afternoons when I can wrap up an early day at work and walk over to unwind.

Kendra and Kelly are the best—they always greet me warmly and, knowing sparkling rosé is my go-to, pour a glass right after saying hello. The ambience is light and relaxing, and the conversation is consistently pleasant and entertaining—it’s the perfect way to transition from work mode to relaxation.

All of the food here is absolutely delicious, but the ahi crudo and beet salad are my favorites. They’re fresh, flavorful, and never disappoint.

Artifact has mastered the art of creating a welcoming, delicious, and enjoyable happy hour experience. Highly recommend!“

“My husband and I had the absolute pleasure to dine at Juniper and Ivy for our 33 year anniversary. Not only did they have special menus for us, but we had a complete and very special experience start to finish.The staff were so welcoming and knowledgeable. We had what I would consider the best seats in the restaurant. We sat up at the kitchen bar, and were treated to an amazing dinner and “show “ The kitchen crew were so impressive and friendly to each other and us. We had such a great experience, that we canceled reservations at another restaurant on the same block for later in the week, so we could come back and try more. Same amazing experience at the next visit. Highly recommend, when we come back to SD we will prioritize another visit. Thank you so much for such a great experience!“

“Great food, service, atmosphere, and view.“

“Dynamic atmosphere. Luv the fact that show classic movies at the pool.“

“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. ✨🍽️💛“

“The only downside is the hired help, Ryan Bradford telling people they deserve to be killed (lynched, was his exact words) when he's posting on social media.“

“Everything about that place! Just AMAZING!“

“Cider is delicious, as is the food. As a pescatarian, I really appreciate all the vegetarian options and customizations. I joined the Cider Club and it is great. The ciders and discount are awesome but the camaraderie is the best. They also have beer, wine, and cocktails, so something for everyone! (Even N/A!)
The Mexican Caesar with a side of fries is the BEST light lunch or dinner. I keep coming back for it.
The service is always beyond incredible. Everyone is super friendly and eager to help you find what you want.“

“Great place! Excellent service! Delicious food!“

“We are from out of town and decided to stop by since it’s close to our rental. I cannot recommend this place enough. The food is so good and the service is amazing. I ordered “To The Bitter End” that was created by our bartender, Janeli. That drink is fantastic and she (Janeli) took great care of us. My husband had been traveling all day and was so hungry. We are so glad we stopped in. Thank you so much!“

“Very friendly and professional staff . Five star ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️“

“Very nice place, friendly servers!! Delicious food. MelanI from Argentina was great!! THANK YOU MELANI !!“

“I was expecting more. The calamari tasted bland. The muscles were good but my toast was burnt and bland. The desert with the coconut and lime was tasty. Our service was average.“

“Dining and sight-seeing... Delicious and Beautiful“

“Passed through while on tour and had to stop at the Philly bar to feel like we’re back home! Best vibes and even better staff and brews and pretzels!!! Such a great environment, wish we could have stayed longer! Can’t wait to come back :)“

“Second visit in a week, this time for Happy Hour with friends. It was fantastic! We all thought the food was excellent and the drinks were good too (great HH schooners). Everyone agreed this will be our go-to spot in the future. It's a fun atmosphere and vibe. Despite all tables being full and a small crowd at the bar, everyone is able to talk and be heard easily as well. Can't wait to try brunch with the family.“

“Very popular spot good food minus the onions“

“Good food and coffee, perfect set up for business professionals, meetings, laptop work etc. good vibes overall, staff is super friendly as well. I randomly found this place on Google and a year later it is still my favorite place to work from. “

“Great location in Fashion Valley inside Town and Country Resort. Service was very good and food was excellent. We sat outside so could hear the music from the pool and bar area. We enjoyed top hits from 80's and 90's, but it may be too loud for some. Music stopped at 8 PM. Validated parking is easy and plenty of it and just a short walk between garage and restaurant. I definitely recommend it.“

“We tried a few dishes at Watercolors during our stay at the Carte Hotel San Diego Downtown, Curio Collection by Hilton. The hummus was solid—pretty much what you'd expect from a dip-and-bread starter. The braised beef ragu pappardelle, though, was a bit underwhelming and could’ve used a bit more flavor. The steak sandwich was tasty and filling, though it had a bit too much blue cheese for our liking. Overall, a convenient spot to grab a meal, but some dishes hit the mark better than others.

Vegetarian options: There are vegetarian dishes available to order.

Dietary restrictions: This venue is able to accommodate for dietary restrictions.

Kid-friendliness: This venue is kid friendly with plenty of comfy places to sit.

Wheelchair accessibility: This venue is wheelchair accessible.“

“Great burgers, quick service. Good value for money.“

“Brunch done right with generous portion. No line on a Thursday morning. We came here through Yelp recommendations. The staff were very welcoming and came by to check on our table often. Donny was our server. Restaurant was clean and roomy. We ordered Carnitas Breakfast Skillet and Chicken Waffles. Both so good. Apple pie was good too. Not too sweet. Would come back in the future!“

“It’s definitely was a 10 & 5 ⭐️ for sure! Our server Sarah was an absolute delight & very accommodating! The food delish.. the escargot was a first & I thoroughly enjoyed (my brother a baby & missed the experience) more for me! All of the food definitely top notch!“

“Absolutely amazing food and drinks at great prices. Never disappointed.“

“I enjoyed this bar which is steps away from a beautiful path along the beach. You can't see the beach from the car but it's just steps away. I actually am a rubber duck collector which is why I wanted to stop by to get a drink with a rubber duck on it! (Note, they technically come with certain cocktail slushies but my server hooked me up with a ducky in my mocktail since I can't have alcohol right now).
We wanted to visit mostly for the duck fun but were pleasantly surprised at how good the food was. Everything was so tasty! My favorite was the ahi poke tacos but we also enjoyed the Aloha burger with upgrade to duck fat fries and the fish tacos. Every item was great. Would come back again!

Currently it's decked out for the holidays. Love the decor and atmosphere. Some places just put up a tree or wreath here or there but this place is extremely festive and I appreciate it. You can tell they really put a lot of love and care into making it as festive as possible. There's even tinsel on the legs of the tables and lots of Santa hats, ornaments, and presents everywhere. It was already so festive but I saw staff putting hats on some seats too. Even the bathroom mirror was decorated. Looks like they host trivia and other events too.

We came for a late lunch with our 7-month-old baby and it was very chill and our server was great. No high chairs but there's a changing table in the bathroom (yay). The place is clean and friendly. Looking forward to coming back and I recommend to anyone visiting Pacific Beach.“

“I was in town for the 2025 NAFSA conference and stayed at the Marriott Marquis. On my last night I made a reservation here and was not disappointed. Food and service was delicious. My family and I all had the short rib ragu, which we definitely recommend!“

“Delicious food and great beer 🍻 - looking forward to returning to try more of the menu and those yummy looking desserts.“

“Food is delicious. Hope to go back next month.“

“What a fantastic place! Food was excellent and great proportions, likely the best flatbread I’ve ever had. Staff were friendly and knowledgeable. Would highly recommend and will return if in the area again.“

“This place is awesome! Whether you are vegan or not, the food is delicious and creative! The music, the food and the atmosphere (decor) JUST TRY IT!! It’s set in a great area.“

“Excelente servicio y los platillos riquísimos“

“Our boy is raving about u guys!“

“Friendly quant restaurant a real deal neighborhood restaurant, chef comes out and talks to you real casual neighborhood vibes good food good wine what more can you want, there may be a wait for a table because it’s a pleasure to eat there :)“

“Very tasty beverages. Nice big ice cubes, made from tasty water. Friendly staff, and a back room shrouded in mystery...“

“Really sweet place. Good for families with pups, food is solid, nice kids menu (my picky kids actually finished their food!) and doggie menu (our little dog had the beef patty and gulped it down- no surprise there) Chicken wings were perfect and the beer selection is very interesting. Tried the berry lager- it was really good. Service was friendly and efficient. Lots of TV’s for those looking to catch a game with a nice, fun atmosphere. Cute neighborhood, but parking might take a minute so pack a little patience for that. Well worth it though!“

“Our waitress was so nice and attentive. Great food.“

“Delicious malts and delicious food! Homemade French fries and home made ranch dressing“

“Cheddar shrimp and grits were so good!“

“My wife and I went to this cozy place for dinner based on a recommendation. GOOD CALL! Our server was pleasant and checked in on us to make sure we were happy. The food was delivered fast and hot. We shared the 16 oz. T-bone steak. It came out pre cut, ready to share. We also ordered a wonderfully great big salad and a wonderful empanada with beef. The empanada was pleasantly spicy, but not overly. The steak came with lovely potatoes. We also ordered a side of broccolini. I’m not a big veg guy, but I have to say the broccolini was delicious. All said the meal wasn’t the cheapest, but was worth every bite.“

“Excellent service!! Extremely comfortable rooms. 24/7 service.“

“I picked up some ribs and a sandwich for dinner last night and the food was awesome as always. Portions were big enough that I had leftovers. Corbin O'Reilly and Vince always make me feel special!“

“Absolutely the most creative menu in the City! Great Atmosphere, great choices. We always leave amazed at our experience and eager to return“

“Everything about Fernside is great!“

“I travel to San Diego at least twice a month for work I always stay on shelter island and 50 percent of the reason is because of fathom. I love the food. Staff. Beer selection and the view. I often walk across the street from my hotel with my laptop. Sit in the sun. Have some food. Beer and work. I’ve never had a bad experience and doubt I ever will. My wife and I LOVE this place.“

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