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“

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

“Gorgeous view and atmosphere“

“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.“

“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.“

“Fabulous oysters! Definitely worth the wait!“

“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!“

“Everything about that place! Just AMAZING!“

“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.“

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

“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!“

“Stopped by The Melt at Del Mar Highlands and was thoroughly impressed. The BBQ Bacon MeltBurger was juicy with a perfect balance of smoky bacon and tangy sauce. The garlic parmesan fries were crispy and flavorful, making them a great side. The staff was friendly and attentive, adding to the overall positive experience. If you're in the area and craving a satisfying meal, The Melt is a solid choice.“

“There is no better spot for Cider in North Park (if not the WORLD) than Bivouac. A cozy campout aesthetic ran by the CiderQueen of SD herself, and a warm and hospitable staff to boot! The food and cider options are immense, with a delightful rotation of ciders to keep things adventurous! I’ve said it once, but I’ll say it again - if I could give Biv a SIX out of Five, I would!“

“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!“

“The best breakfast food I have ever had. My 5 year old decided on his own that he needed to tell the chef good job - he's never done that before. We had strawberry French toast, the breakfast sandwich, and a berries and cream biscuit. The coffee was decent - better than Starbucks, but nothing special. The food was outstanding. Place was very busy, definitely get a reservation.“

“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!“

“Acceptable poke. I told the counter service person I don't like spice so hold the spicy house sauce. It was still spicy even after I removed the red onions and cilantro. But that's my taste preference. Clean restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. City noise not too loud. Service level perfunctory. Clean bathroom.“

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

“Great place! Excellent service! Delicious food!“

“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.“

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

“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.“

“Tasty 😋 food, good service, popular place, and only on weekends have outside dining“

“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“

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

“Absolutely adore this spot! The staff were friendly and welcoming, making the whole experience a joy. My swoosh burger came out perfectly cooked, and the fries were incredible. The local root beer added a fun, unique touch. I dined outside and soaked in the lively Gas Lamp atmosphere, which made the meal even better. Everything I tried was flavorful and satisfying. Can’t wait to come back — highly recommended!“

“! I wouldn’t go anywhere else“

“2 Sundays a month guaranteed! We love an old school diner that gives back to the community.“

“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“

“We had a great lunch and the waiter was very polite and helpful. I highly recommend this place.“

“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!!!“

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

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

“I am late to reviewing and forgetting the servers name. She was from Maryland, and the reason we ordered more than just a pick me up coffee before the Japanese Friendship Gardens. Our server (delightful as can be and a great conversation partner) encouraged us to try the Spicy Calamari and Aquachile. It's not the best flavor pairings with coffee. So, stick with a bubbly libation when ordering these delightful dishes. The flavors, however, are divine. Fresh ingredients that remain high quality! We enjoyed a table overlooking the gardens and lucked into it without a reservation. Although, I recommend reserving in advance for optimal seating and table assurance.“

“So FRESH! So DELISH! Isabel was our servir. She anticipated our every need.“

“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 :)“

“good hospitality and service an the prices are reasonable an the food is very good an the place is nice an clean , really like an enjoy eating their , may God bless them an their families 😎“

“todo está muy rico,lo que pidan estoy segura que les gustará!!“

“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!“

“This has to be one of the best spots to get real Philly Cheesesteaks, its a very friendly and well run business, the Friendly staff was very helpful and the menu will take you back a few yrs , since their prices are way below the standard pricing, i consider this spot a must to visit if you in the area 🤩 www.djboricua.com“

“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!!!“

“If you ever thought of taking a cruise but haven't yet? Visit The Gaylord Pacific it feel like your on a cruise 🛳Iiner. It's not too busy. We ate at Treo. Several had the Wagyu Burgers and garlic fries, loved them. I tried the pasta with delicious toppings and was very impressed with how flavorful it was with great presentation. Excellent experience.“

“As a local, Freddy’s Chophouse has become one of my go-to places, usually for drinks, that are always delicious! The bar & ambiance are a vibe and the bartenders are super friendly.

This time, I decided to stay for dinner and ordered the skirt steak with fries—and wow, it was amazing. The steak was cooked to perfection, bursting with flavor, and super juicy. I highly recommend for anyone looking for great food, excellent drinks, and a welcoming atmosphere.“

“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.“

“Good brews and great appetizers. The mini-deep dish pizza 🍕 is great!“

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

“We wanted to try this place for a long time but we only had several times drink at here before. Mingei is my favorite museum in SD and a restaurant at here, it is gonna be good! Plus their drinks are pretty nice as I remember. And yes, I’ll say here’s food is worthy to try. We ordered a Vietnamese pork meatball and a choripan burger, they are all fusion style food, which I like - A lot of different culture inspired cuisine. Meatball is flavorful and burger is juicy and tender. I would like more Vietnamese flavor in the meatball like fish sauce I guess, now I feel the Vietnamese flavor is not enough. The service is nice and the atmosphere is great. I’ll definitely recommend you come to try.“

“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!“

“Bartenders were great and friendly! Fun place to watch games! Love my girl Jordan!“