Andrew and Courtney's Local Restaurant Guidebook
Food scene
Matsu is a must-try experience if you are willing to drive to Oceanside during your stay. These aspirational chefs have executed what I believe is a near-perfect menu in balancing taste, creativity, and presentation. Very few, in my opinion, have come this close in providing a perfect dinner. I would go to Matsu without looking at Yelp or other reviews. Like a good movie, it's best to go in with no prior judgements. Get a reservation and enjoy the experience.
Matsu
Matsu is a must-try experience if you are willing to drive to Oceanside during your stay. These aspirational chefs have executed what I believe is a near-perfect menu in balancing taste, creativity, and presentation. Very few, in my opinion, have come this close in providing a perfect dinner. I would go to Matsu without looking at Yelp or other reviews. Like a good movie, it's best to go in with no prior judgements. Get a reservation and enjoy the experience.
La Jolla restaurants are either good views or good food, usually not both and rarely the latter.
Catania has both. An interesting menu of dishes you wouldn't necessarily find on every other Italian/Mediterranean/Californian menu between here and LA. Food is creative and tastes good. Be sure to get reservations for rooftop sunset views.
17 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Catania
La Jolla restaurants are either good views or good food, usually not both and rarely the latter.
Catania has both. An interesting menu of dishes you wouldn't necessarily find on every other Italian/Mediterranean/Californian menu between here and LA. Food is creative and tastes good. Be sure to get reservations for rooftop sunset views.
The best choice for tapas. Don't let the cliche name or the mundane menu fool you, the food is delicious, creative, and carefully played. Highly recommend the calamari and the pate. A great wine menu and a quiet evening for two. Reservations highly recommended unless you come right at opening.
7 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Wolf In The Woods
1920 Fort Stockton DriveThe best choice for tapas. Don't let the cliche name or the mundane menu fool you, the food is delicious, creative, and carefully played. Highly recommend the calamari and the pate. A great wine menu and a quiet evening for two. Reservations highly recommended unless you come right at opening.
Ichifuji is our new favorite omakase sushi place in San Diego. The rice is perfect. The selection is perfect. The mix of simple and complex nigiri places is perfect. Pay attention to the chefs' knife skills and how his cuts and slices change the texture of the sushi. If you're looking for the best and the most authentic sushi in San Diego, this is it. Reservations required.
Ichifuji Sushi
Ichifuji is our new favorite omakase sushi place in San Diego. The rice is perfect. The selection is perfect. The mix of simple and complex nigiri places is perfect. Pay attention to the chefs' knife skills and how his cuts and slices change the texture of the sushi. If you're looking for the best and the most authentic sushi in San Diego, this is it. Reservations required.
Soichi is on the Michelin guide, but our experience there was about average. Although not our favorite, it does come highly recommended by most locals. Reservations recommended.
12 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
SOICHI
2121 Adams AveSoichi is on the Michelin guide, but our experience there was about average. Although not our favorite, it does come highly recommended by most locals. Reservations recommended.
Authentic and delicious tonkatsu, cooked perfectly with juicy pork in a perfect crunch. No dry cuts of pork with overly sweet sauce. The chefs' had one goal in a tonkatsu staple for San Diego and they succeeded above and beyond. A local favorite that flies under the radar because tonkatsu isn't high on the list when people look for Japanese food.
EE NAMI Tonkatsu Izakaya
Authentic and delicious tonkatsu, cooked perfectly with juicy pork in a perfect crunch. No dry cuts of pork with overly sweet sauce. The chefs' had one goal in a tonkatsu staple for San Diego and they succeeded above and beyond. A local favorite that flies under the radar because tonkatsu isn't high on the list when people look for Japanese food.
Kinme comes highly recommended amongst locals, but I can't say it's the best in San Diego. Although we appreciate the chefs' vision in creating interesting menu with creative dishes, the execution in flavors needed some work. Frequently, our dishes were oversalted. Reservations required.
Kinme Omakase
Kinme comes highly recommended amongst locals, but I can't say it's the best in San Diego. Although we appreciate the chefs' vision in creating interesting menu with creative dishes, the execution in flavors needed some work. Frequently, our dishes were oversalted. Reservations required.
Yakitori Taisho is frequently claimed to be the best yakitori place in San Diego. Those people are wrong. Although very good, it comes nowhere near to Yakitori Hino. However, if yakitori is what you're craving and Hino is too busy, this is not a bad place to be.
Yakitori Taisho
5185 Clairemont Mesa BlvdYakitori Taisho is frequently claimed to be the best yakitori place in San Diego. Those people are wrong. Although very good, it comes nowhere near to Yakitori Hino. However, if yakitori is what you're craving and Hino is too busy, this is not a bad place to be.
Ju-ichi is my favorite Japanese restaurant on this continent. However. That only applies to their set menu on Sundays. The head chef brings his best to every dish. Even some of the best restaurants in the world have had a few disagreeable dishes to me, but Ju-ichi's set menu does not miss. Each piece had the perfect flavor profiles. Ju-ichi is unpretentious and you can tell the chefs' love their art and creativity.
Ju-ichi
Ju-ichi is my favorite Japanese restaurant on this continent. However. That only applies to their set menu on Sundays. The head chef brings his best to every dish. Even some of the best restaurants in the world have had a few disagreeable dishes to me, but Ju-ichi's set menu does not miss. Each piece had the perfect flavor profiles. Ju-ichi is unpretentious and you can tell the chefs' love their art and creativity.
Bar scene
Before this place absolutely exploded in popularity due to social media, it was easily one of the top 3 "speak-easy" style cocktail bails in San Diego.
If you can get a reservation during your stay it is definitely worth the trip. This place stays on theme and is an easy fun night out.
Oculto 477
Before this place absolutely exploded in popularity due to social media, it was easily one of the top 3 "speak-easy" style cocktail bails in San Diego.
If you can get a reservation during your stay it is definitely worth the trip. This place stays on theme and is an easy fun night out.