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A dish of pad thai.
Pad thai.
Soi PB Thai Street Food

Where to Eat in Pacific Beach

Check out the coastal town’s top restaurants

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Pad thai.
| Soi PB Thai Street Food

Situated comfortably between La Jolla and Mission Beach, the oceanfront neighborhood of Pacific Beach was once primarily known for its nightlife scene but it's become home to an increasingly compelling array of restaurants. Find date-night steakhouses and seafood showcases as well as cozy cafes and casual spots serving a variety of cuisines.

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Ambrogio15

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The original location for this ambitious restaurant group first introduced San Diego to its Milan-style pizza, which features a super-thin crust and gourmet combinations like njduja with buffalo mozzarella, porchetta, red onions, and arugula. The kitchen also offers a thicker pizza with a whole wheat crust as well as two types of specialty foccacia. Its thoughtful and progressive wine list is another attraction.

Photo Courtesy of Ambrogio15

Birrieria & Taqueria La Huasteca

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San Diego’s birria boom includes this popular Turquoise Street shop that specializes in beef birria as well as lamb birria on top of a broader menu that features street tacos and burritos. Besides birria plates, the stewed meat features in trendy dishes like birria pizza, birria ramen, and quesabirria.

The Fishery

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Fueled by Pacific Shellfish, its own seafood distributor, this Pacific Beach mainstay revolves around fresh local catch along with area-sourced produce. Recently-installed executive chef Jon Bautista (Kingfisher, George’s at the Cove) oversees a seasonal menu that includes seafood crudo and carpaccio along with impressive whole fish dishes and more casual options like opah smashburgers and fish and chips.

A plate of spot prawns.
A plate of spot prawns.
The Fishery

Sushi Ota

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One of San Diego’s foundational sushi restaurants, whose sushi counter has spawned some of area’s best sushi chefs, is no longer under the ownership of its original sushi master although it remains a top spot for pristine nigiri and sashimi.

La Clochette Du Coin

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A favorite neighborhood destination for breakfast or brunch, with its sidewalk seating particularly popular with dog owners, this French-style cafe serves up a menu of omelets, tartines, and other dishes featuring fresh-baked pastries from its bakery arm, Hommage Bakehouse.

Coffee and pastries on a table.
Assorted brunch dishes.
La Clochette Du Coin

Costa Brava

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Hidden behind a wall of ivy is this longtime Pacific Beach fixture, a Spanish restaurant that isn’t short on atmosphere, with a menu of hot and cold tapas along with paella and other steak and seafood dishes. Want to host an at-home tapas party? Check out Pata Negra Market, the restaurant’s nearby gourmet food store.

Soi PB Thai Street Food

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The latest outpost for this Thai restaurant with locations in North Park and Ocean Beach is decorated in a similar pop art style, which functions as a colorful backdrop for a vibrant menu that includes noodle soups, curries, and signature rice dishes like its roasted pork, crispy pork belly, and Thai sausage served with jasmine rice.

A dish of pad thai.
Pad thai.
Soi PB Thai Street Food

Swagyu Pacific Beach

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Part of chef Steve Brown’s growing empire, this restaurant offers lunch, brunch, and dinner featuring his famous wagyu burgers along with other shareable plates. It’s also home to a 20-seat private dining room where Brown presides over “Study Hall”, his educational tasting menu experience that’s all about wagyu beef.

A variety of steakhouse dishes.
Assorted dishes.
Swagyu

JRDN Restaurant

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JRDN Restaurant is located at the Tower 23 hotel, offering oceanview dining and a versatile menu. The location and brunch cocktails are reason enough to want to head down to this spot for Saturday morning meal.

JRDN Restaurant [Official Photo]

Mission + Garnet Food Hall

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Open from the early morning until late at night, this massive food hall offers a variety of options for fast-casual dining, from breakfast burritos and tacos to sandwiches, hot dogs, and salads.

Two boxes of salad.
Salads from Head Lettuce.
Kimberly Motos

Kono's Cafe

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Open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. (and to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday), this popular cafe has been operating from the same location near Crystal Pier since its doors opened in 1991. Breakfast is served all day, but there’s a lunch menu, too.

Kono’s Cafe [Official Photo]

Firehouse American Eatery & Lounge

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For classic and delicious American cuisine, Firehouse is a go-to. And bonus: It’s right near the ocean, so grabbing a meal for takeout and eating on the beach makes a great pandemic-friendly date.

Photo Courtesy of Firehouse

Rocky's Crown Pub

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Is there anything better than indulging in a juicy burger? Rocky’s offers a simple yet powerful menu. Grab a beer to go along with your meal.

Rocky’s Crown Pub [Official Photo]

Ambrogio15

The original location for this ambitious restaurant group first introduced San Diego to its Milan-style pizza, which features a super-thin crust and gourmet combinations like njduja with buffalo mozzarella, porchetta, red onions, and arugula. The kitchen also offers a thicker pizza with a whole wheat crust as well as two types of specialty foccacia. Its thoughtful and progressive wine list is another attraction.

Photo Courtesy of Ambrogio15

Birrieria & Taqueria La Huasteca

San Diego’s birria boom includes this popular Turquoise Street shop that specializes in beef birria as well as lamb birria on top of a broader menu that features street tacos and burritos. Besides birria plates, the stewed meat features in trendy dishes like birria pizza, birria ramen, and quesabirria.

The Fishery

Fueled by Pacific Shellfish, its own seafood distributor, this Pacific Beach mainstay revolves around fresh local catch along with area-sourced produce. Recently-installed executive chef Jon Bautista (Kingfisher, George’s at the Cove) oversees a seasonal menu that includes seafood crudo and carpaccio along with impressive whole fish dishes and more casual options like opah smashburgers and fish and chips.

A plate of spot prawns.
A plate of spot prawns.
The Fishery

Sushi Ota

One of San Diego’s foundational sushi restaurants, whose sushi counter has spawned some of area’s best sushi chefs, is no longer under the ownership of its original sushi master although it remains a top spot for pristine nigiri and sashimi.

La Clochette Du Coin

A favorite neighborhood destination for breakfast or brunch, with its sidewalk seating particularly popular with dog owners, this French-style cafe serves up a menu of omelets, tartines, and other dishes featuring fresh-baked pastries from its bakery arm, Hommage Bakehouse.

Coffee and pastries on a table.
Assorted brunch dishes.
La Clochette Du Coin

Costa Brava

Hidden behind a wall of ivy is this longtime Pacific Beach fixture, a Spanish restaurant that isn’t short on atmosphere, with a menu of hot and cold tapas along with paella and other steak and seafood dishes. Want to host an at-home tapas party? Check out Pata Negra Market, the restaurant’s nearby gourmet food store.

Soi PB Thai Street Food

The latest outpost for this Thai restaurant with locations in North Park and Ocean Beach is decorated in a similar pop art style, which functions as a colorful backdrop for a vibrant menu that includes noodle soups, curries, and signature rice dishes like its roasted pork, crispy pork belly, and Thai sausage served with jasmine rice.

A dish of pad thai.
Pad thai.
Soi PB Thai Street Food

Swagyu Pacific Beach

Part of chef Steve Brown’s growing empire, this restaurant offers lunch, brunch, and dinner featuring his famous wagyu burgers along with other shareable plates. It’s also home to a 20-seat private dining room where Brown presides over “Study Hall”, his educational tasting menu experience that’s all about wagyu beef.

A variety of steakhouse dishes.
Assorted dishes.
Swagyu

JRDN Restaurant

JRDN Restaurant is located at the Tower 23 hotel, offering oceanview dining and a versatile menu. The location and brunch cocktails are reason enough to want to head down to this spot for Saturday morning meal.

JRDN Restaurant [Official Photo]

Mission + Garnet Food Hall

Open from the early morning until late at night, this massive food hall offers a variety of options for fast-casual dining, from breakfast burritos and tacos to sandwiches, hot dogs, and salads.

Two boxes of salad.
Salads from Head Lettuce.
Kimberly Motos

Kono's Cafe

Open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. (and to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday), this popular cafe has been operating from the same location near Crystal Pier since its doors opened in 1991. Breakfast is served all day, but there’s a lunch menu, too.

Kono’s Cafe [Official Photo]

Firehouse American Eatery & Lounge

For classic and delicious American cuisine, Firehouse is a go-to. And bonus: It’s right near the ocean, so grabbing a meal for takeout and eating on the beach makes a great pandemic-friendly date.

Photo Courtesy of Firehouse

Rocky's Crown Pub

Is there anything better than indulging in a juicy burger? Rocky’s offers a simple yet powerful menu. Grab a beer to go along with your meal.

Rocky’s Crown Pub [Official Photo]

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