50 Best American Restaurants in San Diego

“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!“

“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!“

“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!!!“

“It was the most perfect birthday dinner. Great food and service.“

“Excellent food and service. The menu has something for everyone in each category. They have options for vegan, vegetarian, gluten free and omnivores. The food is fresh and nicely seasoned. The decor is very nice both inside and outside. It's a hidden gem in Balboa Park.“

“Despite a rude “welcome” from the hostess who didn’t even bother to look up at us when we arrived for our reservation, my wife and I had an amazing time!

The rest of the staff were proactive and friendly, and our server had some truly perfect recommendations when it came to cocktails and food. The Ali’i Pau is one of the best drinks I’ve had in San Diego!

The food was great as well, from the Cacio E Pepe, to the Scallops, and the mushroom in the dishes really popped.

And then the dessert! Loved the banana cake, but the chocolate sounded just as amazing, definitely something we’ll be back to try, along side the rest of the menu ?“

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

“Shaun stands out as the most extraordinary restaurant manager I've ever had the pleasure of encountering. His service wasn't just outstanding—it was genuinely awe-inspiring. As a solo diner, Shaun made an extra effort to ensure I felt incredibly welcomed. His dedication to going above and beyond was evident in his eagerness to share fascinating insights about the kitchen, catering perfectly to my enthusiasm as a food aficionado. While the cuisine at Addison was nothing short of superb, it was Shaun's unparalleled service that elevated the entire experience to divine heights. His warm, understanding, and inviting personality made every interaction memorable. The thoughtful gesture of a sweet little treat upon departure was the cherry on top of a flawlessly coordinated dining experience. Having visited other Michelin-starred establishments, I can confidently place Addison in my top three worldwide dining experiences, largely thanks to Shaun's exceptional touch. Truly, a delightful experience in every sense.“

“Absolutely one of the best charcuterie boards we’ve ever had!! Great drinks, fabulous servers!!!“

“Bivouac Ciderworks is amazing! The ciders are great, but the customer service really stands out. The staff was super friendly, knowledgeable, and made me feel welcome right away. They helped me find the perfect drink and made the whole experience enjoyable. Highly recommend!“

“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 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️“

“The staff is really what makes this place. Im an avid music lover, so the cuban band made it feel like a little vacation. The food was great ( had the pot pie and brie) The bartender was kind, and its owned by a husband and wife, no big corporate owners/groups. The decor is fabulous, lots of attention to detail. it feels very intimate, nice place for an event! highly recommend“

“Great place! Excellent service! Delicious food!“

“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.“

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

“Came here to try out their restaurant week menu. The appetizers (yellowtail crudo; pork belly) and main entrees (chilly prawns with pasta; seared seabaass) exceeded our expectations. Desserts were pretty good. Our daughter ordered the pasta bolognese which was all three of our favorites! Will come back! Our waitress was very friendly and attentive as well!“

“A great little neighborhood restaurant. Unlike the areas closer to downtown San Diego, this area is very nice with clean streets, and no homeless tents or related smells. There was plenty of nearby free parking. The restaurant is small with indoor and outside seating, and is spotless. The service is very friendly. We got the Smoke Out Saturdays: Al Pastor Ribs plate and 1/2lb Brisket a la carte. Everything was excellent! The sides of Grilled Street Corn and Pineapple Pico Slaw were the perfect compliment to the delicious meal.

Parking: Plenty of nearby free street parking.

Wheelchair accessibility: Wheelchair accessible parking, entrance, and seating.“

“I over the drinks, ambiance and location/space. I’ll return again soon.“

“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. “

“We like this place so much we keep going back instead of trying different places nearby. The cocktail variety is excellent. People are friendly. Servers are hit or miss but bartenders are great. Food has always been tasty and plentiful. Go!“

“We ordered the beet salad with salmon and seared ahi on top. The ahi was marinated, and was outstanding. My companions said the salmon was done perfectly (crusted but not overcooked). Dessert was lime cheese cake made into popsicles. We loved them. The sou chef came out to explain what we would be getting, and they did a special order for one more for the three of us. We loved them, and I am not usually a dessert eater. Beautiful room, view, and the staff were great. The server was a hoot.“

“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.“

“10 out of 10 should I say 10 out of five any rate I'm not a really big fan of chicken strips All right go to places and already ordered chicken wings all the time but I'm a big fan of the chicken strips here they have some rhythm poppers which are wonderful I've ordered the chicken and waffle plate exceptional the waffles are nicest fluffy batters or secret recipe apparently and the loaded fries AKA kahunas or fabulous This place is a hidden gem we're going to be apparently shutting down on Friday the 31st so you guys better get down there as soon as you can to the next two days because you're going to miss out on something that's spectacular.“

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

“great service,great food, great place to meet with friends.“

“Very good food and pets happy!“

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

“Very popular spot good food minus the onions“

“Limited seating so gettingthere early is recommended. 8 counter seats, outdoor seating. Enjoyed sitting inside at lower bar; allowed us to better engage with the chefs and wait staff. Very friendly, neighborhood hangout. Interesting wine selection from smaller vineyards. Daily menu specials along with regular items. Had the tomato salad, cabbage rolls, sheepshead fish. Everything was very well prepared.“

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

“Very nice place and our waiter name Johnny went above and beyond. Super nice guy Food is delicious!“

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“Our boy is raving about u guys!“

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

“Great place. Iconic, fun, and a great escape from the city hustle.“

“Second time here. The Staff is knowledgeable, they help each other serve you. (No Cold Food Here). Room for parties on the 3 patios, running brook, with Giant goldfish in the pond that weaves under one of the patios. Huge selection of drinks, acholic and non. It's a little picturesque, where it is located, that, is the restaurant. Lunch and dinner suburb. Steaks, fish, pasta, huge salads. And, not expensive.“

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

“Friendly staff and great food. A good place to watch sports.“

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

“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!“

“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.“

“We ate several meals at Vistal while staying at the Intercontinental Hotel. All were delicious and well prepared using fresh, local ingredients. The Cinnamon Roll Pancakes at breakfast were the best pancakes I’ve ever had! Our server, Reyna, was very attentive, personable and added to the enjoyment of our dining experience. Sitting on the balcony overlooking the bay added even more enjoyment!“

“Overall excellent steak dinner“

“Great food, wonderful service!“

“This place has a really great happy hour, and the semisonic cocktail is always lovely. The bartenders are always really friendly and kind, the bathrooms are clean, and the atmosphere has a great, neighborhoody vibe. The one thing I find slightly disappointing and inconsistent is their pretzel. I really love a good pretzel, and the first time I got one it was fantastic. Crispy crust, but still malleable and a soft, tender interior. The second and third time I’ve gotten it, it was varying degrees of stale/hard. Other than that, this is a fun place to hang out with friends or by yourself for a little drink!“

“Everything about Fernside is great!“