Southern California Dining Guide
Fish tacos, harbor seafood, desert diners and wine-country tables.
The cooking here leans on two things: the Pacific and the border. San Diego is where the fish taco became a Southern California staple, and Mexican food of every kind runs from taco shops to chef-driven dining rooms. Up the coast, harbor towns serve fish straight off local boats, while inland the Coachella Valley grows most of the country's dates and the Temecula and Santa Ynez valleys add wine country restaurants to the mix.
The list below mixes long-running local favorites with a few special-occasion rooms. Beach places get very busy on summer weekends, and wine country restaurants often take reservations well ahead for weekend lunches.
San Diego
Burgers, barbecue, fish markets and ocean views.
A loud, license-plate-covered burger joint in Ocean Beach, known for its double bacon cheeseburgers.
A fish market and counter on the sportfishing docks, serving fish sandwiches, chowder and sushi.
A big, busy barbecue spot known for its beef ribs and sauce, with locations around the county.
A La Jolla institution above the cove, with a rooftop terrace and a more formal dining room below.
A glamorous Little Italy steakhouse with a rooftop bar and tableside Caesar salads.
A food hall in a former Navy training center building, with tacos, pasta, seafood and desserts.
Orange County
Harbor seafood, Mexican cooking and a food hall in a packing house.
A red-painted Balboa Peninsula seafood shack serving grilled fish on paper plates since 1951.
Chef Carlos Salgado's Mexican-Californian restaurant, built on heirloom corn masa made in house.
A busy Coast Highway restaurant for comfort food and cocktails in the center of Laguna.
A refined French bistro run by a husband and wife chef team at Crystal Cove Shopping Center.
A 1919 citrus packing house turned into a two-level food hall, a short drive from Disneyland.
Palm Springs and the Desert
Brunch, supper clubs, a famous deli and desert date shakes.
A Palm Springs brunch favorite with a changing menu and a bacon flight.
A concrete-walled dining room in a 1920s building on Palm Canyon Drive, with seasonal cooking.
An old-school supper club at the Ingleside Inn, with tableside dishes and a piano bar.
A Jewish-style deli and bakery known for big sandwiches and a long dessert case.
A date farm and cafe open since the 1920s, famous for its date shakes.
A Western-movie-set roadhouse near Joshua Tree serving mesquite barbecue with live music most nights.
Santa Barbara and Wine Country
Seafood on the harbor and wine-country classics.
A harbor-view seafood restaurant upstairs on the breakwater, known for clam chowder and fresh fish.
A small counter at the end of Stearns Wharf serving local crab, lobster and oysters.
Naturally leavened, wood-fired pizza in a Montecito village shopping center.
A Santa Maria-style barbecue steakhouse that makes its own pinot noir, made famous by the film Sideways.
A North County brewpub with award-winning beers and long communal tables, a block from the beach.
Restaurants change hours, menus and ownership often — check with the restaurant before you go. Listings are editorial picks, not paid placements.
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Get free trip quotes »Southern California Dining — FAQ
What food is San Diego known for?
Fish tacos and the California burrito, which wraps carne asada and french fries in a flour tortilla. Fresh seafood from the sportfishing fleet and a strong craft beer scene are close behind.
What is a date shake?
A milkshake blended with chopped dates, a specialty of the Coachella Valley, where most of the country's dates are grown. Shields Date Garden in Indio is the classic place to try one.
Do I need reservations in Temecula and Santa Ynez wine country?
For weekend lunches and dinners at winery restaurants, yes. Many tasting rooms also ask for reservations on weekends, especially for groups.