Industry Experts Name San Diego’s Best Dining Neighborhoods

As is Eater’s annual tradition, we’re closing out 2018 by surveying local food writers (including our own staff and contributors) on various restaurant-related topics, and we’re publishing their responses in these final days of the year. Readers, please feel free to chime in with your own thoughts in the comment section below.

Today’s question: What is San Diego’s best dining neighborhood?

Frank Sabatini, San Diego Uptown News: Downtown and Little Italy probably take the cake again, although it was nice to see South Park get a little boost with the openings of Enoteca Buona Forchetta, Curryosity, Fernside.

Caron Golden, San Diego Foodstuff: I am in thrall to Convoy District. I keep hearing about an ever increasing number of new restaurants to try!

Ann Wycoff, San Diego Magazine: Oceanside with Dija Mara, Wrench and Rodent. Whet Noodle, Miller’s Table, Privateer, Proof 101, and Flying Pig and more on the way.

Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune: Little Italy and North Park are in a dead heat.

Candice Woo, Eater: I could eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner for a week straight in Kearny Mesa with no complaints.

Michele Parente, San Diego Union-Tribune: Westfield UTC. It’s a mall, but no one can deny that between Din Tai Fung, Sweetfin Poké, Paranà Empanadas, Napizza, The Winery, Smokehouse BBQ, True Food Kitchen, La Colombe, and more, eating is what they’re selling there now.

Jackie Bryant, Eater: Convoy is always the best dining neighborhood in San Diego. It’s the hotbed of diversity, mastery and creativity for food in the city.

Michael Gardiner, San Diego CityBeat: Northern Baja. It’s true of the usual suspects in Tijuana (Misión 19 at the high end and Tacos Fitos at the street food end) and in the Valle de Guadalupe (Corazon de Tierra at the high end and Las Gueritas at the street food level), but it’s also true of Ensenada with Manzanilla Restaurante at the high end and La Guerrerense for street food. And there’s Restaurante Amores in Tecate which offers borderline Michelin star food offered by chefs with Michelin starred restaurants on their resumes. And there are many, many others.