As much as I love a 99 cent taco off a food truck, the best place to munch on mariscos is in Baja. There are a few tasty options right across the border, in Tijuana, and lots more about an hour south, in Ensenada. I spent 48 hours feasting on fish tacos and tostadas, ranging from deep-fried filets of shark covered in crema, salsa, and slaw, to fresh octopus ceviche. Check out all of my top picks on Serious Eats.
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.
From stunning views, to strong drinks, to a tasty burger, Bali Hai checks all the boxes. Juicy half-pounders are grilled to order and topped with a double spread of killer truffle black pepper mayo. You can get a salad on the side, but the brown butter fries should be considered mandatory, as should the tiki drinks.
I’m going to let you in on a little secret. The best chocolate lava cake isn’t at a restaurant. You won’t have to order it 20 minutes in advance and pay $10 for it. It’s at Trader Joe’s and not only is it the best lava cake, it’s the best dessert, period.
The best pizza deal in San Diego used to be at slice shops, where $6 buys you two slices and a drink… until now. Isola Pizza Bar in Little Italy has a screaming deal during happy hour: a personal-sized pie … Continued
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).
Saturday’s brunch is the reason why I’ve been eating “air sandwiches” the last couple of mornings… but I have no regrets. The meal started with “Coffee and Doughnuts” (a plate of beignets with Belgian chocolate dipping sauce and raspberry compote), followed by a BLT salad (with crispy pork belly, poached eggs, and heirloom tomatoes), and ended with a plate of French toast with Chambord reduction, mixed berry compote, and quite possibly the best topping to ever grace French toast: raspberry mascarpone.
There’s a lot going on with The Red Door’s brunch burger, but it works (and stays intact) surprisingly well. The half-pound patty is topped with aged cheddar cheese, applewood-smoked bacon, fresh veggies, a fried egg, and hollandaise sauce.
Ever had one of those moments when you wonder where a particular ingredient has been all your life? That happened to me on my latest trip to T.O. when I tried the granny smith chicken caesar sandwich at Come and Get It. Juicy pulled chicken is topped with two genius additions: julienned apple slices and a disc of crispy chicken skin.
Fast food reviews are almost always bad news, but this time, one of the mega chains really nailed it. Burger King’s sweet potato fries aren’t just ok, they’re awesome. Check out my review on Serious Eats, which also covers the two new Whoppers: the Carolina BBQ Whopper and the Texas BBQ Whopper.
