Brian Nagele
Have you always had a desire to check out “America’s Finest City”? Or maybe you are a surfer traveling to San Diego to see the fantastic waves and go for a ride? There are many reasons that people come to visit the beautiful, sunshine-filled city of San Diego. This unique gem is located in Southern California, and it’s a place that visitors won’t easily forget.
When in the city, don’t forget about the top-notch food options available to you. The area boasts cuisines of all types but excels in the area of steakhouses. With every cut and side dish imaginable, you won’t leave this beautiful city hungry. To help you navigate a large number of restaurants, we have compiled a list of the best steakhouses in San Diego for you to explore during your visit. Continue reading below to learn more about these fantastic selections.
Born & Raised
1909 India St, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: 619-202-4577
Visit Website
Located right in the center of Little Italy, Born and Raised offers both an indoor dining room and outdoor dining options. Known for their large portions and highly rated food, the restaurant has a constant barrage of guests moving through their doors. While the establishment comes with a laid-back vibe with no dress code, they do require reservations. Although the restaurant serves every cut of steak, one of the most popular dishes is the Beef Wellington. Additionally, many guests do not leave until they have ordered the trendy carrot cake for dessert. With a full-service bar, you can relax with your dinner and your favorite drink and enjoy the beautiful decor that Born and Raised have in their dining room.
Lou & Mickey’s
224 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: 619-237-4900
Visit Website
Executive chef Seth Vider serves up great steak entrees at Lou & Mickey’s, located on Fifth Avenue at the Gaslamp. With both indoor and outdoor options for seating, you can enjoy the hand-built, old-times aesthetic of the interior or take in the saltwater air of the exterior. In addition to a lunch and dinner menu, Lou & Mickey’s also has raw bar selections. However, some of the most talked-about meal items are the filet mignon and the Prime Australian Rack of Lamb. While the atmosphere is casual, many diners dress in suit jackets or business casual apparel.
Greystone Prime Steakhouse & Seafood
658 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: 619-232-0225
Visit Website
When searching for steak in San Diego, especially within the Gaslamp District, Greystone Prime Steakhouse & Seafood is located just down the road from Lou & Mickey’s. The building that Greystone is located in was previously City Hall and now holds restaurants and retail businesses on three separate floors. Owner Vincenzo Loverso opened Greystone to provide a fine dining experience for those residing in and visiting San Diego. One of the most popular menu items that customers come in search of and that I personally love is the restaurant’s Wagyu Beef. Greystone serves three different kinds of Wagyu Beef daily and a selection of other prime choice cuts.
Island Prime
880 Harbor Island Dr, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: 619-298-6802
Visit Website
If you are looking for a steakhouse dining option that gives you an up-close and personal view of the water, then Island Prime is the one. Built on stilts to overlook the San Diego Bay, the restaurant gives off the feeling that you are sitting on top of the water. Executive Chef Deborah Scott creates impressive dishes, ranging from her famous pepita and sesame-crusted brie to the “Eye of the Ribeye.” While the restaurant does accept reservations for lunch and dinner, they also hold a happy hour that many guests enjoy. While there is a limited menu during this time, they have smaller portions of popular dishes at a reduced price.
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
Multiple locations
Visit Website
If you are looking to get the largest portions possible at a steakhouse, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar will be a good bet. Also located in the Gaslamp District of San Diego and very close to Petco Park, the restaurant is known for excellent meals that will leave you full but also wanting more. While Fleming’s is a national chain, they are not located in every major city. Therefore, when you have the ability to dine at one, you shouldn’t turn it down! I never do! Consider getting the 35oz Prime Tomahawk, one of the top steak menu items you can choose from and one that I constantly crave.
Cowboy Star Restaurant and Butcher Shop
640 Tenth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: 619-450-5880
Visit Website
Located in East Village, Cowboy Star Restaurant and Butcher Shop pride itself on offering a neighborhood fine dining experience. While the menu is simple in design, it provides specialty ingredients and recipes. Additionally, you can customize any dish to your liking with a variety of specially made sauces. Having a western flair to the fine dining experience, Cowboy Star offers up high-quality cuts of beef like Wagyu Skirt Steak and Cattleman’s Cut Bone-In Dry Aged Ribeye. They combine it with comfort food sides like macaroni and cheese and creamed spinach. Not only will you have an exceptional experience, but you will also have the comforts of home during your meal.
Fogo de Chão Brazilian Steakhouse
668 Sixth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: 619-338-0500
Visit Website
One of the unique attributes of Fogo de Chão Brazilian Steakhouse is that they offer an all-day happy hour at their bar on Saturday and Sunday. Therefore, guests can come in and enjoy a drink for a reduced cost at any time during those days. This family-owned business started in Brazil and expanded to several locations in the United States after gaining notoriety from politicians and tourists who experienced their menu in Sao Paulo. At this restaurant, guests can participate in the Churrasco Experience, a tableside service of the highest quality steaks and meats that the restaurant offers. As a prix fixe menu, it is customized to your table and continuously served.
Rei do Gado Brazilian Steak House & Seafood
939 Fourth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: 619-702-8464
Visit Website
As another Brazilian steakhouse option in San Diego, Rei do Gado also offers Churrasco cooking, using a dedicated gaucho and a tableside flame to cook the food for guests. This experience gives guests the feeling of being in Brazil without leaving San Diego. With its location on 4th Avenue, down the street from Balboa Theatre, Rei do Gado is an excellent option for dinner before or after a show. In addition to the Churrasco cooking and individual entrees, the restaurant also has a dinner buffet with various meats, salads, hot dishes, and sides to choose from over multiple trips. This option allows you to try out several authentic Brazilian dishes at a time.
The Butcher Shop
5255 Kearny Villa Rd, San Diego, CA 92123
Phone: 858-565-2272
Visit Website
As a double award winner for Best Casual Steakhouse in 2016 and 2018, The Butcher Shop is a top choice for an incredible dinner in San Diego. Locals flock to the restaurant to partake in their signature Prime Rib and Creme Brulee offered daily. With its vintage interior of leather booths and wood paneling, as well as the exquisite plating detail, stepping into The Butcher Shop makes you feel like you’re in a classic movie. Located in the Kearny Mesa district, the restaurant is right off Highway 163, making it easy to identify in a large city.
Larsen’s Steakhouse La Jolla
4301 La Jolla Village Dr Suite 1050, San Diego, CA 92122
Phone: 858-886-7561
Visit Website
Having started as a neighborhood meat market, Larsen’s Steakhouse quickly became a restaurant sensation. In watching his parents run the meat market from a young age, Fleming Larsen knew the industry from the inside out once he hit the adult years. He then took that talent and poured it into a high-quality steakhouse in Southern California. At Larsen’s, the attention to detail is so important that they require a highly skilled butcher to be on location at all times to monitor the different aspects of the meat, including the airflow, temperature, and humidity levels. Some of their top sellers include the Prime Dry Aged Filet Mignon, as well as the Porterhouse for two. When wondering where to get steak while in the area, don’t hesitate to visit Larsen’s.
Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse
901 Bayfront Ct Suite 105, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: 619-272-5060
Visit Website
Executive Chef Pablo Ibarra provides an incredible meal during the upscale dining experience you will receive at Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse. This steakhouse is a great option for date nights or celebratory occasions with their strictly enforced upscale dress code. With its location at Lane Field, the restaurant anchors the Intercontinental San Diego and offers an exquisite view of the water. One of the most popular nights to visit Del Frisco’s is on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, as the venue offers live music for the dinner crowd to enjoy. At Del Frisco’s, you can indulge in a hand-cut Prime Strip while listening to beautiful music and taking in the calming water views.
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
1355 N Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: 619-233-1422
Visit Website
As a popular and high-end chain restaurant, Ruth’s Chris Steak House can often be found in large cities. Known for its fantastic menu and sophisticated experience, the restaurant has garnered an esteemed reputation. Open only for dinner, Ruth’s Chris offers a happy hour from 4-6 PM on Monday through Thursday. Founded in New Orleans, the restaurant is currently located in 21 countries worldwide. Their menu focuses on prime cuts of steak, including specialty cuts. Some of the top menu options include the bone-in Filet, the bone-in New York Strip, and the Tomahawk for two. Located down the street from the Maritime Museum and near to the cruise ship ports, it’s an optimal spot for dining in San Diego.
Turf Supper Club
1116 25th St, San Diego, CA 92102
Phone: 619-234-6363
Visit Website
Nestled within the historic district of Golden Hill, Turf Supper Club offers a unique take on steakhouse dining. With a self-serve grill and a variety of high-quality raw meats, you are in charge of preparing your entree to your liking. As a long-standing establishment in the San Diego area, Turf Supper Club is a popular restaurant for tourists and locals alike. When you enter the restaurant, you can select the type of meat you would like, including top sirloin, filet mignon, skirt steak, and pork loin chops. You can also choose from a variety of hand-cooked sides to complete your meal.
Morton’s The Steakhouse
285 J St, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: 619-696-3369
Visit Website
As another popular chain with a positive reputation for incredible steaks and meals, Morton’s The Steakhouse is definitely an option you want to visit when you have the opportunity. Located right next to Fleming’s Steakhouse off of Harbor Drive, Morton’s is easily accessible from the freeway. The unique menu offerings that Morton’s has will make you want to stop in every chance you get to try out more. The Wagyu meatball appetizer, as well as the Maine lobster ravioli, make for excellent meal starters. As far as entrees, the Côte de Boeuf and the Wagyu Filet Rossini are top choices.
Bully’s East Prime Bistro Sports Bar
2401 Camino del Rio S, San Diego, CA 92108
Phone: 619-291-2665
Visit Website
As the final steakhouse option on our list, Bully’s East Prime Bistro Sports Bar offers a daily happy hour and specials. Located in between Normal Heights and University Heights, Bully’s resides right off of I-8. Although it also serves as a sports bar, the restaurant is a family experience. With that, they provide a children’s menu and items that cater to a wide array of guests. The most popular item on their menu is the Prime Rib. In the early 1960’s it was common to see it at Sunday dinners and buffets. Bully’s took that and incorporated it into their menu, bringing it front and center to their diners.
