Where Do You Stay When Looking For The Best Restaurants in Little Italy San Diego?
We have you covered! Our team at the hostel loves food and connecting you with the best restaurants in Little Italy San Diego!
If you’re visiting San Diego for the first time, you are in for a surprise. We know you’ve heard about the stunning weather, the pristine beaches, and the world-famous zoo. You might have even heard about our sports teams.
But the little-known secret is that San Diego is a food mecca.
Whatever the cuisine, we have a restaurant that knocks it out of the park. Some would say our Mexican restaurants even dish up more scrumptious cuisine than our neighbors across the border. SoCal is also home to the famous California Burrito.
Yum!
So if you enjoy delicious eats while exploring new cultures, you’ve come to the right city. In honor of celebrating all the rich cultural cuisines nestled right here in Little Italy, we’ve compiled the best eats within walking distance. Guaranteed the food is great, but we also place high importance on good vibes when selecting locations. It’s all about the experience with International Traveler’s House.
So without further ado, let’s dig in:
You can’t talk about Little Italy and ignore the abundance of Italian cuisine. Since there are so many excellent choices, we couldn’t narrow down the selection to just one.
Davanti Enoteca
While some restaurants pride themselves on their Italian roots, Davanti’s took a different approach. Having already successfully opened a rustic Italian restaurant in Chicago, the chefs took to exploring the US exploring nationwide dining the best takes.
They brought this new style to San Diego where they opened the wine bar Davanti Enoteca.
Surprisingly, the favorite on the menu is their Bloody Mary bar during weekend brunch. The other popular local favorite is the Foraccia de Recco + Honeycomb. That being said, they rotate the menu giving diners new delicious options each time they visit.
Filippi’s Pizza Grotto
Celebrating generations of traditional Italian cooking, Filippi’s Pizza Grotto prides themselves on only serving the freshest and finest Italian dishes. Family-owned for over 50 years, this restaurant serves up simple and wholesome Italian favorites.
Even though it’s a pizzeria, the lasagna and meatballs continue to be two of the highest rated items.
Bencotto Italian Kitchen
Experience an authentic blend of Italian cuisines. Bencotto’s draws inspiration from kitchens all throughout Italy to create their “home-style” dishes. Make sure you like who you’re dining with as they encourage a “designed-to-share” menu.
The gnocchi receives continual praise. Looking to try something new? The Squid Ink Fettuccine (Tagliatelle al Nero di Sepia) pays off well for the daring foodie.
Underbelly
This isn’t the ramen you ate in college. Rather than salty, bland noodles, ramen houses serve up a bowl of hearty flavorful broth, ramen noodles, your choice of meat, sprouts, seaweed, scallions and often times hard-boiled eggs. You can customize your toppings as well as your broth base.
This authentic Japanese dish has become increasingly popular, along with the Vietnamese pho dish. Lucky for you, there are multiple options to enjoy all throughout San Diego.
With ramen being our favorite of the two dishes, Underbelly is the place to go. Should you be new to the whole ramen phenomenon, their servers will patiently walk you through all the options.
Favorites at Underbelly include Belly of the Beast, Underbelly and the Pork Buns as an appetizer. Added bonus: great beer selection.
El Camino
El Camino introduces a funky restaurant hangout to the Mexican scene. This popular destination combines authentic Mexican food, a bar and karaoke to ensure your trip is a memorable one. As a local favorite, El Camino can be crowded on weekends.
If you’re visiting during the week, take part in the SoCal tradition and celebrate Taco Tuesday. Practically a holiday, San Diego comes out in full force every Tuesday to take part in tacos, drinking and good times.
Local recommendations: Carne Asada Fries, Sweet Potato Flautas, California Burrito and the Salsa Trio.
Ironside Fish & Oyster Bar
One of the more swanky additions to the list, Ironside showcases custom interior design and an ambiance that celebrates attention to detail. Their decadent seafood inspired menu is designed to delight and enchant your taste buds.
Warning: If you enjoy your seafood with cocktail sauce, watch out. Ironside has a strict anti-ketchup stance. With ketchup as a main ingredient, this means cocktail sauce is banned as well.
Favorites include the Lobster Roll and Chowder Fries. Also, check out their $1 oyster happy hour Monday to Friday from 3 – 6 p.m.
Conclusion
This list is just tapping the surface of the good eats in Little Italy, much less San Diego as a whole. For the best local takes on foods across the city, connect with our friendly reception staff. They are here to be your resources for an epic San Diego getaway.
In fact, our staff at International Traveler’s House is so dedicated to ensuring you have the ultimate adventure during your stay, we have patterned with the best local vendors to give you an ultimate vacation! Every day our guests can sign up for activities ranging from sailing, surfing, yoga, and more.
Eating out every meal not in your budget? Then our Adventure Hostel is the place for you. We offer free breakfast daily and have a communal kitchen where you can cook up your own favorite meals.
Whether you dine out, or in with us, Little Italy has you covered.
Bon Appetit!
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