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A plate of melon salad. — Melon salad at Marisi.

Where to Eat in the Coastal Town of La Jolla

From street tacos to fine dining, this seaside neighborhood offers something for everyone

by Grace Cassidy and Candice Woo Updated Oct 3, 2023, 9:14am PDT

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Melon salad at Marisi.

| Mandie Geller

by Grace Cassidy and Candice Woo Updated Oct 3, 2023, 9:14am PDT

This enclave by the coast, also known as the “Jewel by the Sea”, has long been home to some of San Diego’s most foundational restaurants. In recent years, the area’s cuisine has become increasingly varied, with local restaurants and out-of-town visitors able to sample everything from street tacos to the finest dining in town. Here are some of the best places to eat west of the 5.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Sandpiper Wood Fired Grill & Oysters

The relaxed La Jolla Shores relation of George’s at the Cove recently introduced a new all-day happy hour running from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays when wines by the glass, specialty cocktails, well drinks, and draft beer are $4 off and food specials include $4 Baja fish tacos and $8 prime rib sliders along with its signature offer of a free dozen oysters with the purchase of a bottle of Champagne.

2259 Avenida De La Playa, La Jolla, CA 92037

Visit Website

Baja fish taco — Baja fish taco.

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The Marine Room

One of La Jolla’s crown jewels, the waterfront restaurant is helmed by executive chef Mike Minor, who is also heading up kitchen operations at La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club and the Shores Restaurant. His luxe menu includes dishes that reflect his passion for regional Mexican cuisine.

2000 Spindrift Dr, La Jolla, CA 92037

Visit Website

Small ice cream cones filled with various seafood. — Tartare cone trio.

Also featured in:

George's at the Cove

The neighborhood’s crown jewel, this La Jolla institution overseen by chef/partner Trey Foshee is known for its seasonally-minded cuisine and equally impressive views, which can be enjoyed on the open-air rooftop’s Ocean Terrace or its Level2 bar.

1250 Prospect St, La Jolla, CA 92037

Visit Website

A rooftop patio at a restaurant. — The Ocean Terrace.

Also featured in:

NINE-TEN Restaurant & Bar

From this elegant and contemporary restaurant, revered chef Jason Knibb and team execute inspired California cuisine. Offering breakfast, lunch, and weekend brunch as well as a great bar menu, dinner is the main event with highlights that include Knibb’s signature Jamaican jerk pork belly and his take on the Italian classic cacio e pepe.

910 Prospect St, La Jolla, CA 92037

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Marisi La Jolla

As it heads into its second year, this already-accomplished restaurant is now under the direction of veteran chef Cameron Ingle (Bestia, Blue Hill at Stone Barns), who will be steadily adding seasonal dishes to the modern Italian menu.

Open in Google Maps

1044 Wall St, La Jolla, CA 92037

Visit Website

A tiled patio in front of a restaurant. — The front patio.

Queenstown Village

Known for its whimsical design, this all-day restaurant brings playful vibes to downtown La Jolla where you can brunch beneath a botanical canopy or sip cocktails under fluffy sheep sculptures. There’s also a sidewalk cafe and coffee bar, with grab-and-go food as well as a sit-down menu.

Open in Google Maps

1044 Wall St, San Diego, CA 92037

Visit Website

Vines hang over a dining room in a restaurant. — The main dining room.

Puesto La Jolla

The La Jolla outpost of Puesto was the first of what is now quite an empire of Mexican food, with locations across California. Though tacos are its calling card, the restaurant is also known for its excellent cocktails and housemade beer.

Open in Google Maps

1026 Wall St, La Jolla, CA 92037

Visit Website

Catania

From a rooftop perch above Girard Avenue, this Whisknladle Hospitality restaurant serves an accomplished array of Italian dishes, from crudo and pizza to wood-roasted seafood, in a beautiful indoor-outdoor setting.

7863 Girard Ave #301, La Jolla, CA 92037

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Girard Gourmet

Beloved by locals, the European-style cafe has been a favorite stop for casual lunches and picnic provisions for over three decades. Utilizing produce grown in its own organic garden in Julian, its menu includes house-baked pastries and cookies, seasonal soups, and hearty sandwiches built on fresh loaves of homemade bread.

7837 Girard Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037

Visit Website

The Kitchen at MCASD

The Urban Kitchen Group (Cucina Urbana, Artifact at Mingei) brings its considerable culinary experience to this recent addition to the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego in La Jolla. Offering all-day dining, the cafe also hosts occasional multi-course dinners that revolve around a featured seasonal ingredient or global cuisine.

Open in Google Maps

700 Prospect St, La Jolla, CA 92037

Visit Website

An outdoor patio at a cafe. — The outdoor patio.

Himitsu

This Japanese restaurant, which spans an intimate sushi bar and an outdoor patio, is presided over by accomplished sushi chef Mitsu Aihara, a Sushi Ota alum who offers an omakase experience as well as sushi rolls and la carte dishes.

1030 Torrey Pines Rd G, La Jolla, CA 92037

Visit Website

A photo of himitsu food.

Also featured in:

Candor by Giuseppe

One of San Diego’s most respected caterers runs this friendly neighborhood restaurant that sits at the entryway to downtown La Jolla. Though the menu leans Italian, there’s also a great burger.

1030 Torrey Pines Rd Ste B, La Jolla, CA 92037

Visit Website

A spacious dining room with colorful art on the walls.

Also featured in:

58 San Diego Eateries Adding Takeout and Delivery Options

Ambrogio by Acquerello

Centered around tasting menus, with a four-course option offered during weekdays and a grander seven-course meals featured on weekends, this modern Italian restaurant is a partnership between the Ambrogio15 group and chef Silvio Salmoiraghi and his team from Italy’s Michelin-starred Acquerello Ambrogio by Acquerello.

7556 Fay Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037

Visit Website

A pasta dish with white truffles. — Parmigiano e menta with white truffle pasta.

Also featured in:

El Pescador Fish Market

This longtime community mainstay is a bustling space that doubles as a fish market and a sit-down restaurant. Starting with the freshest of mostly local seafood, its grilled fish plates, sandwiches, and salads are always a hit.

634 Pearl St, La Jolla, CA 92037

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Bistro du Marché by Tapenade

The adjacent Sunday farmer’s market inspired the name for this second La Jolla restaurant from acclaimed French chef Jean-Michel Didot (Tapenade), a “gastro-bistro” that incorporates seasonal ingredients into classics like duck confit, coq au vin, and more.

7437 Girard Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037

Visit Website

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Sandpiper Wood Fired Grill & Oysters

2259 Avenida De La Playa, La Jolla, CA 92037

The relaxed La Jolla Shores relation of George’s at the Cove recently introduced a new all-day happy hour running from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays when wines by the glass, specialty cocktails, well drinks, and draft beer are $4 off and food specials include $4 Baja fish tacos and $8 prime rib sliders along with its signature offer of a free dozen oysters with the purchase of a bottle of Champagne.

2259 Avenida De La Playa, La Jolla, CA 92037

Visit Website

Baja fish taco — Baja fish taco.

The Marine Room

2000 Spindrift Dr, La Jolla, CA 92037

One of La Jolla’s crown jewels, the waterfront restaurant is helmed by executive chef Mike Minor, who is also heading up kitchen operations at La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club and the Shores Restaurant. His luxe menu includes dishes that reflect his passion for regional Mexican cuisine.

2000 Spindrift Dr, La Jolla, CA 92037

Visit Website

Small ice cream cones filled with various seafood. — Tartare cone trio.

George's at the Cove

1250 Prospect St, La Jolla, CA 92037

The neighborhood’s crown jewel, this La Jolla institution overseen by chef/partner Trey Foshee is known for its seasonally-minded cuisine and equally impressive views, which can be enjoyed on the open-air rooftop’s Ocean Terrace or its Level2 bar.

1250 Prospect St, La Jolla, CA 92037

Visit Website

A rooftop patio at a restaurant. — The Ocean Terrace.

NINE-TEN Restaurant & Bar

910 Prospect St, La Jolla, CA 92037

From this elegant and contemporary restaurant, revered chef Jason Knibb and team execute inspired California cuisine. Offering breakfast, lunch, and weekend brunch as well as a great bar menu, dinner is the main event with highlights that include Knibb’s signature Jamaican jerk pork belly and his take on the Italian classic cacio e pepe.

910 Prospect St, La Jolla, CA 92037

Visit Website

Marisi La Jolla

1044 Wall St, La Jolla, CA 92037

As it heads into its second year, this already-accomplished restaurant is now under the direction of veteran chef Cameron Ingle (Bestia, Blue Hill at Stone Barns), who will be steadily adding seasonal dishes to the modern Italian menu.

Open in Google Maps

1044 Wall St, La Jolla, CA 92037

Visit Website

A tiled patio in front of a restaurant. — The front patio.

Queenstown Village

1044 Wall St, San Diego, CA 92037

Known for its whimsical design, this all-day restaurant brings playful vibes to downtown La Jolla where you can brunch beneath a botanical canopy or sip cocktails under fluffy sheep sculptures. There’s also a sidewalk cafe and coffee bar, with grab-and-go food as well as a sit-down menu.

Open in Google Maps

1044 Wall St, San Diego, CA 92037

Visit Website

Vines hang over a dining room in a restaurant. — The main dining room.

Puesto La Jolla

1026 Wall St, La Jolla, CA 92037

The La Jolla outpost of Puesto was the first of what is now quite an empire of Mexican food, with locations across California. Though tacos are its calling card, the restaurant is also known for its excellent cocktails and housemade beer.

Open in Google Maps

1026 Wall St, La Jolla, CA 92037

Visit Website

Catania

7863 Girard Ave #301, La Jolla, CA 92037

From a rooftop perch above Girard Avenue, this Whisknladle Hospitality restaurant serves an accomplished array of Italian dishes, from crudo and pizza to wood-roasted seafood, in a beautiful indoor-outdoor setting.

7863 Girard Ave #301, La Jolla, CA 92037

Visit Website

Girard Gourmet

7837 Girard Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037

Beloved by locals, the European-style cafe has been a favorite stop for casual lunches and picnic provisions for over three decades. Utilizing produce grown in its own organic garden in Julian, its menu includes house-baked pastries and cookies, seasonal soups, and hearty sandwiches built on fresh loaves of homemade bread.

7837 Girard Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037

Visit Website

The Kitchen at MCASD

700 Prospect St, La Jolla, CA 92037

The Urban Kitchen Group (Cucina Urbana, Artifact at Mingei) brings its considerable culinary experience to this recent addition to the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego in La Jolla. Offering all-day dining, the cafe also hosts occasional multi-course dinners that revolve around a featured seasonal ingredient or global cuisine.

Open in Google Maps

700 Prospect St, La Jolla, CA 92037

Visit Website

An outdoor patio at a cafe. — The outdoor patio.

Himitsu

1030 Torrey Pines Rd G, La Jolla, CA 92037

This Japanese restaurant, which spans an intimate sushi bar and an outdoor patio, is presided over by accomplished sushi chef Mitsu Aihara, a Sushi Ota alum who offers an omakase experience as well as sushi rolls and la carte dishes.

1030 Torrey Pines Rd G, La Jolla, CA 92037

Visit Website

A photo of himitsu food.

Candor by Giuseppe

1030 Torrey Pines Rd Ste B, La Jolla, CA 92037

One of San Diego’s most respected caterers runs this friendly neighborhood restaurant that sits at the entryway to downtown La Jolla. Though the menu leans Italian, there’s also a great burger.

1030 Torrey Pines Rd Ste B, La Jolla, CA 92037

Visit Website

A spacious dining room with colorful art on the walls.

Ambrogio by Acquerello

7556 Fay Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037

Centered around tasting menus, with a four-course option offered during weekdays and a grander seven-course meals featured on weekends, this modern Italian restaurant is a partnership between the Ambrogio15 group and chef Silvio Salmoiraghi and his team from Italy’s Michelin-starred Acquerello Ambrogio by Acquerello.

7556 Fay Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037

Visit Website

A pasta dish with white truffles. — Parmigiano e menta with white truffle pasta.

El Pescador Fish Market

634 Pearl St, La Jolla, CA 92037

This longtime community mainstay is a bustling space that doubles as a fish market and a sit-down restaurant. Starting with the freshest of mostly local seafood, its grilled fish plates, sandwiches, and salads are always a hit.

634 Pearl St, La Jolla, CA 92037

Visit Website

Bistro du Marché by Tapenade

7437 Girard Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037

The adjacent Sunday farmer’s market inspired the name for this second La Jolla restaurant from acclaimed French chef Jean-Michel Didot (Tapenade), a “gastro-bistro” that incorporates seasonal ingredients into classics like duck confit, coq au vin, and more.

7437 Girard Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037

Visit Website

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