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Where To Eat & Drink During Comic-Con

by Candice Woo
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by Candice Woo

It's that time of year, when thousands of fervent fans descend on San Diego for the annual Comic-Con extravaganza. The costumed masses need to feed but it's best to forego any of the unappealing food options within the San Diego Convention Center.

No one likes tourist traps either, so we created a Top 10 list of Where To Eat & Drink During Comic-Con. These legit places are all within easy walking distance of the 'Con so refueling won't take too much time or effort; some of these spots offer deals for badgeholders while others provide a grateful respite from the costumed hordes.


-Tierney Plumb

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Note: Restaurants on this map are listed geographically.

1. Cowboy Star Restaurant & Butcher Shop

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640 10th Ave
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 450-5880
(619) 450-5880
Visit Website
Food-loving 'Con-goers should fuel up at this unstuffy steakhouse. Save your big bucks for 'Con merch, their 4 to 6 p.m. happy hour includes $5 wine and sangria, $7 special cocktails and 20% off bar bites.

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2. Cafe Chloe

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721 9th Ave
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 232-3242
(619) 232-3242
Visit Website
Take a break from the Gaslamp madness on Fifth Avenue with mussels and frites at this quiet and cozy bistro. Wine Wednesdays means bottles are half off.

3. Taka Restaurant

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555 5th Ave
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 338-0555
(619) 338-0555
Visit Website
Taka's sushi chefs are superheroes in their own right, with master hands that meticulously cut up fresh fish flown in from all over the world. Open for dinner only, this is where you'll want to unwind after a day on the convention floor.
Front of Taka restaurant

4. Basic Urban Kitchen & Bar

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410 10th Ave
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 531-8869
(619) 531-8869
Visit Website
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles love their pizza parties, and so does Munky King. The producer of limited edition collectible toys will host its annual Comic-Con party at Basic on July 18 from 8:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Munky King’s resident DJs, R-Rated and Colby, will man the turntables. Open to the public.

5. Magnolia Tap & Kitchen

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624 E Street
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 255-0925
(619) 255-0925
Visit Website
Johnny Depp may be sober now, but that's not stopping this new Gaslamp staple from naming a drink after his latest big-budget Disney Western flick. The southern-influenced restaurant will sell a themed cocktail called “The Lone Ranger,” made with rye, Pimm's, honey water, coconut water and orange zest.

6. Lucky Bastard Saloon

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840 5th Avenue
San Diego, CA 92101
Opened during downtown's most foot traffic-heavy week of the year, this new bar co-owned by a former Playmate is getting gory to celebrate. A special Comic-Con shot called Alien Brain is a graphic-looking concoction, caused by the way Bailey's Irish Cream interacts with peach schnapps, blue curacao and grenadine.

7. Jsix Restaurant

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616 J St
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 531-8744
(619) 531-8744
Visit Website
In between sneak peek movie panels, run by this Kimpton eatery inside Hotel Solamar for their Rush Hour lunch option. For just $15, get a starter (green salad or daily soup), main (burger, turkey or vegetarian sandwich) and something sweet (gelato, sorbet or cookies to go).

8. Maryjane's Coffee Shop

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207 5th Ave.
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 764-6950
(619) 764-6950
The SyFy Channel will invade Hard Rock Hotel San Diego's street-level restaurant again this year for Defiance, the network's hit thriller about a futuristic St. Louis, taking over this diner where cast and crew is expected to make cameos throughout the week. Eaters can also walk away with a five-page collectors' menu, which translates Mary Jane's hearty helpings into Defiance's symbol-based language.

9. Culy Warehouse

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335 6th Ave.
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 501-4600
(619) 501-4600
Visit Website
Samsung is taking over this downtown event space, serving up themed snacks and drinks like Mai Tai Ka-Pow!, the Samsung Zing and Cupcake Power. Freebies include a T-shirt design station and wi-fi. The space will be open July 18 to July 21, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., for badge holders.

10. The Blind Burro

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639 J St.
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 795-7880
(619) 795-7880
This East Village eatery is serving up a "zombie fish collar" special, a yellow tail collar with chipotle-orange glaze. Also on tap for craft beer-loving comic fans, a Habanero-spiked version of Ballast Point's Sculpin IPA.

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1. Cowboy Star Restaurant & Butcher Shop

640 10th Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
Food-loving 'Con-goers should fuel up at this unstuffy steakhouse. Save your big bucks for 'Con merch, their 4 to 6 p.m. happy hour includes $5 wine and sangria, $7 special cocktails and 20% off bar bites.
640 10th Ave
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 450-5880
Visit Website

2. Cafe Chloe

721 9th Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
Take a break from the Gaslamp madness on Fifth Avenue with mussels and frites at this quiet and cozy bistro. Wine Wednesdays means bottles are half off.
721 9th Ave
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 232-3242
Visit Website

3. Taka Restaurant

555 5th Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
Front of Taka restaurant
Taka's sushi chefs are superheroes in their own right, with master hands that meticulously cut up fresh fish flown in from all over the world. Open for dinner only, this is where you'll want to unwind after a day on the convention floor.
555 5th Ave
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 338-0555
Visit Website

4. Basic Urban Kitchen & Bar

410 10th Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles love their pizza parties, and so does Munky King. The producer of limited edition collectible toys will host its annual Comic-Con party at Basic on July 18 from 8:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Munky King’s resident DJs, R-Rated and Colby, will man the turntables. Open to the public.
410 10th Ave
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 531-8869
Visit Website

5. Magnolia Tap & Kitchen

624 E Street, San Diego, CA 92101
Johnny Depp may be sober now, but that's not stopping this new Gaslamp staple from naming a drink after his latest big-budget Disney Western flick. The southern-influenced restaurant will sell a themed cocktail called “The Lone Ranger,” made with rye, Pimm's, honey water, coconut water and orange zest.
624 E Street
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 255-0925
Visit Website

6. Lucky Bastard Saloon

840 5th Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101
Opened during downtown's most foot traffic-heavy week of the year, this new bar co-owned by a former Playmate is getting gory to celebrate. A special Comic-Con shot called Alien Brain is a graphic-looking concoction, caused by the way Bailey's Irish Cream interacts with peach schnapps, blue curacao and grenadine.
840 5th Avenue
San Diego, CA 92101

7. Jsix Restaurant

616 J St, San Diego, CA 92101
In between sneak peek movie panels, run by this Kimpton eatery inside Hotel Solamar for their Rush Hour lunch option. For just $15, get a starter (green salad or daily soup), main (burger, turkey or vegetarian sandwich) and something sweet (gelato, sorbet or cookies to go).
616 J St
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 531-8744
Visit Website

8. Maryjane's Coffee Shop

207 5th Ave., San Diego, CA 92101
The SyFy Channel will invade Hard Rock Hotel San Diego's street-level restaurant again this year for Defiance, the network's hit thriller about a futuristic St. Louis, taking over this diner where cast and crew is expected to make cameos throughout the week. Eaters can also walk away with a five-page collectors' menu, which translates Mary Jane's hearty helpings into Defiance's symbol-based language.
207 5th Ave.
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 764-6950

9. Culy Warehouse

335 6th Ave., San Diego, CA 92101
Samsung is taking over this downtown event space, serving up themed snacks and drinks like Mai Tai Ka-Pow!, the Samsung Zing and Cupcake Power. Freebies include a T-shirt design station and wi-fi. The space will be open July 18 to July 21, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., for badge holders.
335 6th Ave.
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 501-4600
Visit Website

10. The Blind Burro

639 J St., San Diego, CA 92101
This East Village eatery is serving up a "zombie fish collar" special, a yellow tail collar with chipotle-orange glaze. Also on tap for craft beer-loving comic fans, a Habanero-spiked version of Ballast Point's Sculpin IPA.
639 J St.
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 795-7880

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