Brian Nagele
Pacific Beach is a casual and fun neighborhood close to the beach. It’s common to see sunbathers and surfers that want to relax under the sun. There are plenty of cafes, bars, and trendy hotels nearby the boardwalk.
The popular Mission Blvd is in this neighborhood, where you’ll find the younger crowd shopping, drinking, walking their dogs, and hanging around the yoga studios.
Lastly, you can always head over to Kate Sessions Park, where you’ll find stunning views of San Diego Bay.
If you’re hungry and not sure where to go since there are a ton of restaurants in the area, we’ve narrowed down the list to the top dining spots in the neighborhood. Check out our list of the best restaurants in Pacific Beach San Diego.
Pacific Beach AleHouse
721 Grand Ave, San Diego, CA 92109
Phone: 858-581-2337
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You can find the Pacific Beach AleHouse near the seaside neighborhood of Bird Rock. The rustic exterior of the building makes the venue feel down to earth, and the interior decor is modest and straightforward.
This atmosphere is perfect when you consider that the ocean and stunning views are just a few feet away.
As you chow down on some pub grub and enjoy some of the best selections of beers and drinks, you can easily get lost in the serenity of the ocean. Try out their classic and delicious Fish and Chips; they’re everything you’d expect and more.
The Tuna Nachos are a welcomed novelty that you have to try. While you’re there, don’t forget to try out their great selection of beers.
JRDN Restaurant
723 Felspar St, San Diego, CA 92109
Phone: 858-270-5736
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JRDN is inside the Tower23 hotel, an oceanfront location that gives you views, people-watching, and premier cuisine. It’s near the corner of Felspar and Mission Blvd, by a women’s clothing store.
They specialize in seafood and sushi, and the service is quick at this upscale and trendy restaurant with indoor-outdoor seating.
The decor is modern and clean, with ample seating. According to tourists and locals alike, the atmosphere on the patio is second to none.
You’re sheltered from the ocean breeze, and they have heat lamps if it’s too chilly. They also provide air conditioning if it’s too hot out.
It’s also an excellent location for a date night. Most guests rave about the Chili Mango Margaritas and the Ahi Poke Nachos.
JRDN offers two hours of complimentary valet service as well. Don’t hesitate to have Bubbly Brunch on the weekend!
Kono’s Cafe
704 Garnet Ave, San Diego, CA 92109
Phone: 858-483-1669
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Kono’s Cafè is in a beautiful location on the boardwalk near the Crystal Pier Hotel and Cottages. You can watch the surfers perfecting their moves or take in the beautiful waves crashing against the shores.
Kono’s started as a cozy restaurant that wanted to serve cone-shaped tacos, but they eventually settled on simple American fare with a Southern Californian twist.
The interior is airy and bright with a surfing theme. The prices are pretty low for it to be a beachfront location, and the portions are generous.
You can visit this family-friendly restaurant and take advantage of their vegetarian options and kid’s menu.
Some of the most popular dishes are the Egg Burrito, Mex Burger, Kono Potatoes, and the French Toast & Bacon. You won’t be disappointed with the hot and fresh food.
Sushi Ota
4529 Mission Bay Dr, San Diego, CA 92109
Phone: 858-880-8778
Sushi Ota is one of the best restaurants in Pacific Beach San Diego. It’s a Japanese eatery that offers premium omakase and sushi.
It’s an unsuspecting storefront in a strip mall known as the Mission Bay Professional Center. It’s near the Mission Bay Golf Course and Practice Center as well.
The interior, however, is clean, aesthetically pleasing, modern, and more upscale than you would expect.
The servers are knowledgeable and always willing to make great suggestions on what you can order and the best way to eat it.
The best dishes are the Miso Marinated Sea Bass, the Vegetable Tempura, the Mackerel, and the famous Sashimi. All the ingredients are fresh and taste amazing.
Rocky’s Crown Pub
3786 Ingraham St, San Diego, CA 92109
Phone: 858-273-9140
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Rocky’s Crown Pub is near the corner of LaPlaya Ave and Ingraham St, close to The Grounds Bean Bar.
It’s an adults-only location, where you have to be 21 years and older. They offer indoor and outdoor dining in a casual sports bar setting.
You get juicy cheeseburgers and hamburgers, as well as crispy fries. The pub-style interior is fun and upbeat, but it can get a little loud sometimes.
It’s still an enjoyable place to hang out with friends and catch a few games on the TVs. The great beer selection and fast service are second to none.
Pacific Beach Fish Shop
1775 Garnet Ave, San Diego, CA 92109
Phone: 858-483-4746
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The Pacific Beach Fish Shop is near the Pacific Beach Bike Shop, on the corner of Garnet Ave and Kendall St.
They claim to have the freshest seafood east of the beach, and the customers seem to agree. The ambiance is casual and upbeat, and their restaurant is dog-friendly as well.
They pride themselves on making all of their sauces and seasonings by hand and creating the crispiest fries and onion rings by hand. Soul, salad, you name it; it’s all made from scratch at the Pacific Beach Fish Shop.
The tastiest dishes I tried were the coconut shrimp with their in-house coconut batter and the grilled mahi-mahi with their famous tropical mango salsa.
It was flakey and seasoned to perfection. They also offer seating on the patio, which is an excellent opportunity to soak in the atmosphere.
The Fishery
5040 Cass St, San Diego, CA 92109
Phone: 858-272-9985
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Located just down the street from the Pacific Beach Christian Church, you’ll find the Fishery. This restaurant is home to some of the best seafood around and exquisite market-fresh sushi entrees housed inside a middle-of-the-century brick-and-mortar warehouse.
If you’re ever in the neck of the woods, drop by and have a memorable dining experience from the time you step in until you leave out.
The atmosphere is industrious and yet elegant, pair that with the fresh food using locally sourced ingredients, and you’re guaranteed a good time. Don’t pass on the calamari fritto, oysters on the half shell, or the pan-seared ahi tuna.
Iron Pig Alehouse
1520 Garnet Ave, San Diego, CA 92109
Phone: 858-412-4299
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Moments away from the Pacific Beach Community Park is the casual and inviting Iron Pig Alehouse. The restaurant’s interior is modern, with stools everywhere which go a long way to bolster the classic pub look.
This upscale barbecue house is a great place to have a nice dinner with some casual drinks with friends and family.
While the beer selection is something to write home about, the barbecue is delicious with classics such as their Sliced Brisket Sammie, Pulled Pork plate, and savory and cheesy Mac & Cheese! The Iron Pig Alehouse is a place you want to visit the next time you are in San Diego, California.
Baja Beach Cafe
701 Thomas Ave, San Diego, CA 92109
Phone: 858-230-6315
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Baja Beach Cafè is close to Taco Bell, located on Mission Boulevard. This fantastic restaurant is right on the beach, and it features nautical decor on the inside and outside.
Their margaritas are the star of the show for many people as they serve many specialty margaritas. Here you can have classic cuisine ranging from burgers to tacos to burritos, and more.
Upon your arrival, you must try their mango margarita—it packs such a welcomed punch. The following are some food items that were most popular among locals and tourists alike: Carne Asada Fries, Fish Tacos, Shrimp Tacos, and hot wings.
The Baked Bear
4516 Mission Blvd, San Diego, CA 92109
Phone: 619-320-1237
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The Baked Bear establishment is unique in that it is a dessert shop that serves delicious, made-to-order ice cream sandwiches.
The outside of the building sports a modern look, and the inside has a comfortable vibe to it. After receiving your made-to-order dessert, you can take it to view the neighboring beach just a few feet away.
Apart from the decadent ice cream sandwiches that you can customize to suit your taste, there are other dessert items to try, such as the brownie bowl, the beautifully textured snickerdoodle, and any number of their wide variety of freshly baked cookies.
Ambrogio15
926 Turquoise St h, San Diego, CA 92109
Phone: 858-291-8650
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Ambrogio15 is another restaurant located very near the seaside community of Bird Rock. This Pizzeria serves traditional Milano-style Italian pizza.
The decor provides an experience in and of itself. The interior design is stylish—perfect for any dinner occasion.
The staff is attentive, and the service is impeccable. The wine selection is plentiful; you won’t have any problem finding something suitable for your taste.
Try the Pizza salsiccia with asiago e porcini (sausage pizza with mushrooms and cheese) or the Margherita pizza with prosciutto (Cheese pizza with ham) if you visit.
For dessert, try out the Tiramisu; you won’t regret it!
