Eating San Diego
favorite former haunts
The school year is wrapping up all over North American right now which means lots of you will be hitting the road on some much-deserved vacations in the next couple months. After the new book Hungry as Hell went to the printers a couple of weeks ago, I did the same thing. My wife and I packed our bags and headed 2 hours south to San Diego for a long weekend of eating and walking on the beach. San Diego has a special place in my heart. It was the first city I picked for myself. I went to college at San Diego State University, and it was where I became vegan way back in the early OO’s. The city has grown so much since I left, with way more to do and see, but it is still a relatively easy-going mid sized city. Low-stakes LA as I affectionately call it. So in case you find yourself in “America’s Finest City”- their words, not mine- here is a collection of some of my favorite places to grab a bite and my favorite beach that’s never too crowded.
I’ve divided the list based on cuisine. I tend to prefer restaurants that aren’t all vegan but that offer vegan options because, real talk, the food is usually much better. The all-vegan places on this list are there because they’re serving up good food that happens to be vegan, my favorite kind of meal. If you are interested in more places in the city with vegan options, let me point you to Kelly Bone’s Instagram. A writer for Eater and a longtime San Diego vegan, she always has her finger on the pulse of the city’s restaurants. Have favorite spot I left off the list? Let us know in the comments!
All Vegan
Donna Jean- one of the best restaurants in San Diego and one of the best vegan restaurants in the country. Period. They opened a location in Thousand Oaks, outside LA, but their first location is something special. Go here.
Kindred- great cocktails and décor with upscale bar food. Brunch is the best meal here.
Gorilla Eat Sushi- fun sushi spot right near SDSU. I wish this existed when I went to school there.
Thanh Tinh Chay Restaurant- great Vietnamese spot with fast service. Everything is delicious and made with tons of care.
Trilogy Sanctuary- hippie-style vegan food in a wellness center that offers aerial yoga classes. Classic San Diego.
Tacotarian- I ate here first in Las Vegas and love that they expanded to San Diego. Their jackfruit barbacoa tacos are 10/10.
Italian
Civico 1845- cute spot in Little Italy featuring Calabrian food with plenty for omnivores and picky eaters. Their vegan dishes are inventive and given as much care as the rest of the dishes on their menu.
Piazza 1909- family run spot in the heart of La Jolla Cove. Ask for their separate vegan menu which has PLENTY to choose from. Try their homemade gnocchi!
Bobboi Natural Gelato- they have 2 locations, one in Little Italy and one in La Jolla Cove and their vegan options are PHENOMENAL. The combo of their Pistacchio della California and Nocciola is to die for. I would eat it every day if I could.
Tribute Pizza- family-friendly, laid-back spot in the old North Park post office. Great pizza with tons of beer on tap. Their vegan pizzas are topped with house-made cheeses which makes them so so good. Great attention to detail in every pie.
Thai
Thai Village- tiny, unfussy spot in the always hectic Pacific Beach neighborhood, right by the pier. I celebrated my college graduation here because I was obsessed with their mango curry. There’s even a version of it in our first book. Lots of vegetarian options and most stuff can be made vegan, just ask.
The Pad Thai Stand- great spot specializing in regional styles of the national dish of Thailand. What more could you want? All versions can be made vegan and the staff is always helpful.
Mexican
Pokez Mexican Restaurant- divey restaurant in downtown with strong punk vibes. Kid friendly, with an extensive menu with endless vegan options. I have a soft spot for their veggie chimichanga with an extra side of their cabbage slaw.
Don Carlos Taco Shop- tiny spot in La Jolla with great tamales and rolled potato tacos. Right up the street from the world-famous Mitch’s Surf Shop. Grab your food and take it to WindnSea Beach. They’ve got benches on the sidewalk where you eat and watch the surfers. There are tidepools to left from the stairs on Palomar Street if you time it right with the tides. Parking is free and plentiful in this fancy neighborhood. This beach is still relatively quiet and free from tourists so don’t tell them I told you, ok?
Ranchos Cocina- a North Park institution. Great décor and very family friendly. Tons of vegan options but my go-to order is the Vegan Enchilada Trio, sub the tofu one for an extra Blue Corn Avocado enchilada.
Thanks to reader Carrie for the suggestion for this post! We have a few more trips planned this summer so look for more city guides. This weekend, Sunday subscribers get a recipe for a summer staple, Grilled Coconut Cream Corn and Kebabs. You don’t wanna miss it.
I'd highly recommend it next time you're there. We've hosted many groups there & even the meat eaters enjoy it thoroughly!
Surprised you didn’t list Cafe Gratitude on your San Diego list. Always had nothing but great experiences there! ~ Josh M