Del Mar/La Jolla

[Mulcahy]

Hi, all. Need some help with restaurant recs in the Del Mar/La Jolla area. Husband and I are staying at the Grand Del Mar. We are game for anything, but would like recs for good waterfront dining. Also, any good taco truck recs would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[kai-m]

George's at the Cove - if you can get a table with a view on the terrace it is just great!. And the food is pretty good as well.

[kalypso]

Hi, all.  Need some help with restaurant recs in the Del Mar/La Jolla area.  Husband and I are staying at the Grand Del Mar.  We are game for anything, but would like recs for good waterfront dining.  Also, any good taco truck recs would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks!

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Addison in your hotel is very good. Pricey, but good. You're going to have more options in La Jolla than Del Mar

None of these have are on the water but they're all good

Market in Del Mar

Nine-Ten in LJ

Tapenade in LJ

As has already been mentioned George's

Azul in LJ

Whiskandladle in LJ

The Cottage in LJ for breakfast

Harry's in LJ

The Marine Room is literally right on the beach. Fantastic views, high profile (French) chef in SD and the food is really pretty good. The Marine Room is located at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club. It's really old school SD with an older, monied crowd. Everyone is welcome, unparalleled view really.

The Brigantine in Del Mar has a view and decent happy hour. I'd probably recommend it more for lunch and happy hour than dinner. Their fish tacos are surprisingly good

You can go up Pacific Coast highway from Del Mar and there are a bunch of restaurants on the beach around Encinitas. Most of them are okay, not great, but if you just want a view they'll certainly fit the bill nicely.

Taco trucks are not going to be plentiful in the La Jolla/Del Mar area. You'll need to go a lot further South to the Barrio, National City and Chula Vista for those...they're worth the drive if you've got a car.

[Mulcahy]

Thank you very much for the suggestions. Kalypso, we do have a car. Can you point me in the direction of good tacos? Thanks for the help.

[kalypso]

Thank you very much for the suggestions.  Kalypso, we do have a car. Can you point me in the direction of good tacos?  Thanks for the help.

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Here's the short list. Please be aware that most of these places are pretty far off the typical tourist track. Some of the neighborhoods are kinda seedy and a little rundown, but they aren't particularly dangrous. You'll definitely be safe.

Tacos El Paisa

840 S. 47th St.

Actually very close to where National Blvd. intersects with the I-5

La Fachada (truck/restaurant)

20 25th St

San Diego

Marsicos Godoy

651 Palomar St. #25a

Chula Vista

Marisco German

2802 Ocean View Ave.

Intersection of 28th and Ocean View, can miss it, the building is shaped like a boat

Aqui es Texcoc

1043 Broadway

Chula Vista

This place specializes in lamb barbacoa. Everything is terrific.

La Barbacoa

3502 Fairmount Ave

Only open on Saturday 8:00am - 8:30 pm and Sun 8 am - 2 pm

Does business as the Candyland Dulceria during the week

On Friday and Saturday from about 4 pm - 9:30 pm La Barbacoa becomes a cenaduria serving many of the masa based antojitos.

Carnitas Uruapan

8035 Broadway

Lemon Grove

Better for lunch than for dinner

Menuderia Don Vicente

2637 Highland AVe

National City

Not really for tacos but they make a mean bowl of menudo and pozole. This place is really busy on the weekends, so if you go then, try and get there before 10 am or the line will be out the door

Super Cocina

3627 University Ave

Also not really a taco place, but the best homestle Mexican cooking in SD. Don't be put off by the steam table service. There is a rotating selection of 10-12 items daily and they'll give you a taste of whatever you want to try. You can get combinations with 1 or 2 items. This is Mexican food that you'd be more likely to find in homes and market fondas, not restaurants.

[syrah girl]

George's California Modern and the Crab Catcher in La Jolla are both nice places to dine, there is a small outdoor patio area at Crab Catcher with pretty views, both of these places are on Prospect St. in La Jolla.

[Carlsbad]

George's casual rooftop is one of our favorites. It's better at lunch, especially a little early or late. The lunch menu is a bargain, and it's less hectic.

I'm also a big fan of Tapenade and The Marine Room.

[Fred12fred]

Don't know if this is too late or not, but for good Mexican food in the area, go to Fidel's in Solona Beach.

Probably the best sit-down Mexican restaurant in San Diego.

(Ducking down from the inevitable "Tony's better" retort... )

Fidel's

607 Valley Ave

(between Genevieve St & Juanita St)

Solana Beach, CA 92075