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.“

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

“Gorgeous view and atmosphere“

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

“This place is just great. Come here every once in a while for lunch on the weekdays, but today, they had Chilaquiles with Carnitas. Totopos were really good, salsa was AMAZING & the Carnitas... Anyway, I really hope they have them more often!!!“

“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.“

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

“Im gonna start with great service, delicious drinks and the food was on point. I enjoyed the lamb it was amazing. Oh please if you are over 21 please order the cold brew martini!!! The best dessert for me!“

“Really enjoyed our first visit to Parkhouse. Definitely coming back. Food and drinks were delicious. The service was exceptional“

“We are from “the beef capital” of Australia and discovered The Lion’s Share during SDCC 2023. My husband has very high standards when it comes to meat (his family owned a cattle property) and he could not fault a single dish. We tried camel sausage for the first time and were amazed at the flavor. Every dish was delicious, and make sure you try the brussel sprouts. A restaurant that specializes under exotic meats that can make brussel sprouts that delicious is doing something right! It is our must visit restaurant when we visit San Diego“

“The food came out fast. We love their fries. I had customizations on my steak Mac n cheese, and it didn't come out exactly right. The staff made it right immediately after they know about it. My 2 toddlers had a good time here, too. 5 stars for this visit.“

“We visited Hoorah Cafe for brunch right after our son’s graduation, and it turned out to be the perfect choice. Even though they don’t take reservations and the place was absolutely packed with graduates and their families, the wait for a table wasn’t bad at all. It honestly felt like the team anticipated the rush — they were organized, calm, and ready for the day.

Once seated, our food took about 20–30 minutes, which was completely understandable given the huge crowd that arrived all at once. What impressed us most was how smoothly the staff handled everything. Service was warm, attentive, and genuinely friendly, even under pressure.

The food itself was delicious — fresh, flavorful, and worth the wait. They also have a great coffee bar, which made the experience even better. We enjoyed some really yummy coffee while waiting, and it made the whole morning feel relaxed and enjoyable rather than rushed.

Overall, we had a wonderful time and left extremely happy. Highly recommend Hoorah Cafe, especially for brunch, and we’re already looking forward to returning soon.“

“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!!!“

“Had a “daddy daughter” day with my dad. Spent the day at Balboa Park and wanted somewhere near but not too fancy to eat. Found Hidden Craft. The food was so good. My dad got birria fries and a salad. I got the American cheeseburger. One of the best burgers I’ve ever had!! This place is a must try if you’re in San Diego.“

“It’s a beautiful restaurant in Carmel. It’s delicious. Serving sizes are huge and healthy. I loved all the healthy choices they had. I ended up trying the beat salad. It was amazing!“

“Just spent five nights at the Wyndham Baysidd and had breakfast every morning at Hazelwoods. Great food, fabulous staff. Highly recommend them. Ann & Steve from NJ“

“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!“

“I like the attention , i like food desserts the place looks very clean“

“We ate lunch here and had the most fantastic meal. I ordered the seared ahi, we also got the avocado salad bowl and the lamb kofta. My daughter is vegan and she had a great meal ordering the tofu selection. The flavors were so well balanced and the food so meticulously prepared, it was truly a five-star dining experience. Don't leave until you've had the banana tapioca with mango on top! The setting is beautiful, we sat outside. The lemonades were delicious .If you are looking for an elevated dining experience in the park, this is your place!“

“Excellent steaks, great service and wonderful atmosphere!!!“

“Soft toasted Bagel with Cream cheese, Orange juice. Hot Coffee with honey sugar tow . Honey Sparkling Water. Daniel Smith.“

“Great place! Excellent service! Delicious food!“

“Take a date! Take a friend! Hell, go alone if you want!

This place is the most perfect convergence of awesome things all mingled into one: A lounge, a bar, an awesome restaurant, a relaxing poolside hangout, a motel, a theater, a California-to-the-core vibe, a wonderfully comfy and swanky mid-century gem, suitable for young and old alike. And best of all. it's NOT pretentious!

To me, this is the sort of place that truly gives San Diego its well warranted identity.“

“Fabulous oysters! Definitely worth the wait!“

“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!“

“We had a lovely time. The food is soso good!“

“Great food and drinks! The service is superb!“

“Amazing food and amazing staff! My husband and I went for breakfast and ordered the meatloaf Benedict and the chicken and waffles tower. They were huge portions but so so delicious! The staff was super friendly and were very happy to be at work. Highly recommend!“

“This place was delicious I had the normal melt with bacon the chef Atoy did a great job cooking our burgers timely and to the right temp
One thing to note is it doesn’t automatically come with tomato or lettuce but you can add them in for free“

“! I wouldn’t go anywhere else“

“Everything about that place! Just AMAZING!“

“Service 💯 Food 💯 Drinks 💯“

“I stopped in recently and was blown away by both the food and the atmosphere. Their burgers are an incredible deal at only $11–$12, but the quality is on the level of places that charge twice as much. Every bite tastes like something crafted with real care.
I ordered the OK Burger, and WOW, this smash burger was loaded with perfectly grilled onions and just the right amount of garlic. Super flavorful, juicy, and cooked to perfection. They also offer a great selection of cold cut sandwiches, which is perfect if you're craving something different but still want the same level of quality.
I also tried one of their cocktails made with cucumber and Empress gin, and it was fantastic. It was refreshing, smooth, and beautifully balanced. It paired perfectly with the meal.
Friendly service, great vibe, fantastic food, and standout drinks! What more could you ask for? I’ll definitely be back!“

“Delicioso y muy bien servido“

“Really pleasant staff and a great menu selection. I didn't take any photos because I dove right into the meal but it was delightful. Prices about average for San Diego area breakfasts.“

“Beautiful outdoor seating overlooking the marina. Plenty of seats for a weekday breakfast. Food is absolutely delicious! Perfect portion size for those with a big appetite. Breakfast smash was flavorful and pairs well with a cold brew. Breakfast burrito was huge(!!!) And easily shareable (which we absolutely LOVED). GREAT little breakfast/brunch spot for a family!“

“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.“

“I had an excellent experience with Alan. His service was incredibly fast and efficient, and he was very friendly throughout the process.“

“My first time I California and this was the best place! I tried a couple places and this pace had the best food and drinks! And the crew was amazing!“

“So many delicious options 😋 , fast and friendly service“

“You guys are the real MVPs Not having a special menu goes the extra mile to show that you’re willing to show gratitude to veterans. Now I’m a regular after eating here. Shout out for the flank steak last night. Our server Belle was great as well.“

“I happened to find this cidery through National Cider month this year. I was so excited to try their cider that I signed up for their monthly cider club, sadly to find out that they don't ship to Minnesota. They worked with me on sending a few of their ciders though and I was hooked!

Fast forward a few months and I happen to be in San Diego so we decided to stop in. The atmosphere was amazing! It was like finding a piece of the woods in the middle of busy San Diego. The staff was fantastic to interact with, the food was so delicious, and the cider is fabulous! I have a huge love for dry ciders and their ciders check those boxes. Even the non-dry ciders are not overly sweet. Definitely will be back and hoping one day I can get their cider back here in Minnesota.“

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

“Friendly and courteous staff, high quality and delicious food! Love their drinks and desserts as well. The menu is not overwhelming for me to choose! Lovely atmosphere!“

“We had the best waiter, Seth R. He gave me his personal favorite dish-Chilaquiles with over medium egg and carne asada. He nailed it. It was soo good, I didn’t need Cholula on it. I ate my plate so fast, I didn’t have a chance to take a photo.“

“best burger in town and the fries are amazing“

“decent seafood views are qorth the prices“

“Best ever breakfast! Large menu. Breakfast only! Reasonable priced. Great service. 💕“

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

“Very popular spot good food minus the onions“