Steeped in history, the Turf Supper Club is San Diego original DIY steakhouse with its self-service communal grill that'll help you up your BBQ game. The place oozes old school charm and serves potently classic drinks alongside food specials like a $14.75 marinated garlic New York Strip steak, top sirloin for $8.75, and Surf and Turf for $13.25. With grilling suggestions that ask you to liken your meat to the temperature of your own body parts (A rare steak will feel like your cheek, medium rare like your chin), this place really allows you to take matters into your own hands for a truly interactive foodie experience.

Contemporary cool meets the Wild Wild West to create a unique space and ultimate dining experience for those who want to be transported back to a rugged frontier era while still enjoying a polished first class meal. Many Eater readers say this is their steakhouse of choice in San Diego. Get inspired to rustle up your own down home cookout? Pop in to the adjoining retail space where you’ll find Cowboy Star’s full-service butcher shop.

It may not look like much from the outside, but don’t be fooled; Albie's Beef Inn is a sworn favorite of locals and tourists alike who’ve stumbled through the doors of this kitschy old-fashioned hotel bar and restaurant. The décor helps to set the scene with dim lighting, pin-up paintings and naugahyde booths which serve to enhance the ambiance along with the live piano music and retro dishes. Those in the know order the prime rib, which comes with the signature whole braised carrot, and few can dine here without indulging in a martini or two, or three.

When you head to this classic piano bar, the old-timey lounge ambience that greets you isn’t a part of some shtick to keep up with vintage-themed restaurant trends. You’re looking at the real deal. As far as iconic steak joints go, this dimly lit gem is as authentic as you’ll get, with a San Diego history dating back to the 1950s (and English roots that go back centuries further, with an interior decor to match). Despite being voted one of the ‘Best Bars in America’ by Esquire, this place remains as unpretentious as can be, with generous portions, stiff drinks, great live jazz music, and killer steaks—all at a reasonable price.

This Marina district location of the national steakhouse chain has long been a favorite with the expense account set, but the rest of us can get a taste of the good life during their twice a night "Power Hour", when drinks are discounted and the bar bites includes a quartet of filet mignon sandwiches or a trio of mini prime cheeseburgers.

With tables that look across to the downtown skyline, this bayfront spot wins best steakhouse with a view by a mile. Bonus feature: Their “Dock & Dine” program allows guests to conveniently dock their boats at the adjacent Sunroad Marina and head over to the restaurant to eat.

Brazilian culture has always had a contagious zest for life and a celebrated love for tradition—dance, music, family—and especially food. San Diego's oldest Brazilian steakhouse specializes in churrasco, a traditional BBQ feast. With fifteen varieties of grilled meat served to your table on three-foot long skewers—filet mignon, top sirloin, ribs, chicken, lamb and ham among them—you can indulge in as meat as you want until you cry uncle.

When you walk through these doors of this old-school restaurant, serenaded by 1950’s hits and enveloped into the dark interior, it feels like you’ve stepped back in time; you half expect to see the Rat Pack sitting at a table nearby. Some prefer this spot for a warm-hearted family dinner, others suggest it as a romantic dinner spot, but regardless of the occasion, you’re here for the prime beef steak, cooked just the way you like it. If you are in search of the classic, old-fashioned Chicago-style steakhouse, look no further.