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With some notable exceptions, historic Old Town celebrates Mexican dining. Nearby, Uptown’s diverse communities offers many bars, bistros, and gastropubs, along with ethnic restaurants ranging from Afghan and Indian to Russian and Vietnamese.
Seafood lovers have long flocked to Puerto Nuevo, the “lobster village” just south of San Diego in Baja California, Mexico. When a family that operates several Puerto Nuevo restaurants opened Ortega's in Hillcrest, it quickly became a top draw for authentic Baja coastal cuisine, minus the long lines to cross the border.
Not a typical San Diego taco shop, this Mexican eatery is upstairs in a shopping complex in the middle of a tequila museum with some 2,000 bottles dating from the 1930s. The owners are equally serious about food, calling their cuisine Hispanic-Mexican Gastronomy, which means meat and fish dishes with lots of unusual spicy chilies, herbs, spices, and moles.
Don't miss this local gem serving up delicious ceviches, seafood cocktails, and famous fish tacos, available grilled or fried Baja-style. Place your order at the small walk-up window along India Street, then grab one of the (limited) seats along the adjacent outdoor terrace.
Named for a form of Mexican wrestling, this taco shop with its hot-pink walls and shiny booths was famous mostly for its lack of parking until it appeared on the Travel Channel’s “Man v Food" in 2010. The lines of burrito-crazed fans have calmed down somewhat since then, but the spicy salsa muerta is as hot as ever.
Don’t park in the gas station next door; they watch and will tow.
Despite Old Town's (somewhat accurate) reputation as a tourist trap, Old Town Mexican Cafe has been a favorite for locals and tourists since opening in 1977. Expect crowds from open until close, with a line of guests hungry for popular breakfast dishes like chilaquiles, omelettes, and huevos rancheros, as well as lunch and dinner specialties like fish tacos, carne asada, enchiladas, and much more. Wash it all down with one of their famous margaritas or michelada made with lime, clamato, and your choice of beer (any Mexican Lager strongly recommended).
Located next to Campo Santo Cemetery, Tahona—in its architecture and design—might suggest the illusion of a snapshot of historical San Diego, but culinarily it's anything but. Offering a dining experience that centers on mezcal, Oaxacan cuisine, and locally sourced produce and ingredients, Tahona puts a new spin on Southern California Mexican cuisine. Its menu features plenty of familiar staples like tacos, guacamole, and tostadas, mixed in with innovative items like carnitas bao buns and short rib birria ramen.
Make reservations online for its adjoining spooky speakeasy, Oculto 477, which brings an elevated sensory experience to its mezcal offerings.
