McCormicks and Schmick’s has one of the best burger deals in the Gaslamp, with a cheeseburger and fries for $3.95 during happy hour, but you’d better like your burger medium-well, because that’s the only way they cook ‘em.
Gaslamp
Cheap Eats Near the San Diego Convention Center
Options for cheap eats near the San Diego Convention Center (and Comic-Con) abound, if you know where to look. Most of the spots on 5th, right across from the SDCC aren’t worth your dining dollar, but there are a few gems right on the strip. If you go a little farther north, or east, that’s where you’ll really strike gold. Here are my top picks for cheap eats near the Convention Center (and in downtown SD, in general).
$5 Happy Hour Burgers at The Lincoln Room
A $5 burger is a good deal by any standard, especially in the Gaslamp Quarter. For the price, The Lincoln Room makes a solid burger at Happy Hour. Skip the turkey and stick with the beef.
Where to Eat Breakfast in Downtown San Diego
5 suggestions for a tasty breakfast in downtown San Diego, including the Gaslamp Quarter, the East Village, and the Marina district, plus suggestions on what to order and a few insider’s tips.
Everyday Eats: Azeri-style Toast from Cafe 21
As tempting as it might be to eat a cold slice of chocolate cake for breakfast (at least for me), most of the time, I do manage to make the first meal of the day count. Weekends are a different story, and call for indulgence. One of the best breakfast (or brunch) options I’ve found in the Gaslamp is Cafe 21, where you can get a plate of cream cheese and fruit-stuffed toast made from cakey egg bread for $9.
You’ve Got to Love the 3-Course Express Lunch at Jsix
At this point, I’m totally confident in saying Jsix has the best lunch deal in the Gaslamp. For $15, you get a solid three-course meal that starts with soup or salad, and finishes with dessert. Options for mains include a grilled chicken sandwich, squash ravioli, or a hefty half-pound burger. For a closer look, check out my review on AHT.
Review: Exclusive Items at IHOP Express
IHOP recently opened its first ever “Express” outlet in downtown San Diego, a new concept they’re testing for possible roll-outs in college campuses and military bases across the country. I stopped by to try some of their exclusive items: dough bites, corn cake tacos, and “cup o’ pancakes”. Find out what I thought of these new creations on GrubGrade.
Everyday Eats: Vegetable Salad at Burger Lounge
Who goes to the best burger joint in San Diego (according to San Diego Magazine, three years running) and orders a salad? This girl. And I have no hesitations about it. Burger Lounge may be known for cranking out some top-notch grass beef burgers, but for me, it’s all about the mixed veggie salad.
A Sandwich A Day: Milanesa de Pollo Torta From Bolillo Tortas
Burritos may be the most popular import from south of the border in San Diego, but tortas are gaining a foothold. A new torta shop downtown, mere blocks from the Convention Center is a good option for a quick lunch or late night bite.
Everyday Eats: Sicilian Snacks at Cremolose
At most snack bars, you’re going to find things like week-old hotdogs rotating on a squeaky rotisserie, or if you’re lucky, some lifeless french fries. In Sicily, snack bars (or tavola caldas) are stocked with much more appetizing eats. Cremolose, a new Italian eatery in the Gaslamp, seeks to recreate these grab and go goods.
