Restaurants in Old Town (San Diego)

Rockin' Baja Lobster-Old Town

A genuine Spanish-era adobe ranchero house is home to this popular restaurant in Old Town, where San Diego began. Inside the restaurant, soft adobe-colored walls are picked out with bright murals in a patio atmosphere complete with a waterfall. Lobster tops the menu, prepared Puerto Nuevo style with a sprinkle of spices. Try lobster melts or lobster tacos. Happy Hour in the Cantina runs 3pm-7pm Monday-Friday and offers discounted appetizers and drink specials.

Cafe Coyote

A sturdy, spicy meal offered here is the Chimichange de Pollo, a deep-fried flour tortilla wrapped around chicken and topped with melted cheese, chile sauce and tomatillo-jalapeno salsa. Not sure about spicy Mexican food? A good compromise is the Carne Asada Plate, flavorful sirloin steak quick-seared and served with refried beans, Mexican rice and guacamole. Ten different beers on draft, a full bar and appetizers are available in the Coyote Cantina or served to your table. Patio dining puts you in the middle of Old Town shoppers and gawkers. Cafe Coyote opens at 7.30am daily.

Old Town Mexican Cafe

Old Town Mexican Cafe is a lively Old Town restaurant serving unique Mexican food for twenty years. Both locals and tourists flock here for great food at low prices. There are daily specials, an array of upscale tequilas decorating the lively bar area, and cheerful service. The Chile Rellenos are the best in town and the Chile Verde Pork Burrito will haunt your dreams. No reservations are accepted; expect a long wait on weekend nights.

Great Wall Cafe

Predictably surrounded by Mexican restaurants in San Diego's Old Town, Great Wall Cafe thrives because of its attentive staff and attention to detail. Gourmet meals prepared by its Hong Kong trained chef range from the traditional choices of Chop Suey and Chow Mein to the exceptional Szechuan Curried Chicken or Shrimp and Scallops. Great Wall Cafe is highly touted by local food critics.

Brick By Brick

Featuring cutting edge live music, this is a popular hot spot in Old Town San Diego. In fact, when this place was known as Spirit Club, it hosted the then-unknown band called R.E.M. The stage continues to seek talent in rock, blues and alternative modes of music to provide live entertainment for San Diego locals and tourists. With a varying entertainment schedule, guests are advised to call for previews of upcoming entertainment on the telephone hotline. A full cash bar is available.

El Agave Tequileria

This is part of the El Agave Restaurant, a great Mexican place. The whole establishment is charming and upscale with comfortable seating and a staff that is friendly and helpful. (They will tell you more than you ever wanted to know about tequila.) With more than 500 brands, this is truly the place for tequila lovers.

O'Hungry's

O'Hungry's is a wildly popular restaurant and bar with a few gimmicks up its sleeve, like the yard-long beer served in a glass tube (the tourists go wild). There is a guitarist most nights of the week. The clientele is varied, but tourists, Navy officers and college students have been known to mingle together. In addition to the yard-long beers, there is a full bar. The menu includes lentil soup, sandwiches, burgers and more.

Embers Grille

Enjoy the cozy interior or the open-air patio at this restaurant, especially nice for lunch on a sunny day. From the certified Angus steaks to the personal gourmet pizzas, everything is wonderfully prepared. Entrees run from a Thick-cut Pork Chop to the Embers Grille Combination, pairing a rosemary chicken breast, a 5-ounce steak and a quarter rack of baby-back barbecue pork ribs. The wine list is a excellent, each selection is described and suggested food pairings are provided. The restaurant also offers sandwiches and lunch specials.

Casa Guadalajara

Casa Guadalajara not only offers Mexican cuisine, but also makes sure you get a taste of Mexico when you dine here. Every day is a celebration, with renewed enthusiasm every single day. Located in the Bazaar del Mundo, the restaurant features a green courtyard, a complete hacienda look. The atmosphere enlivens with the Mariachis playing around the space. It has won accolades for the marvelous Mexican fare and regulars swear by the Margaritas. Tequila lime shrimp or chicken fajitas or Tacos every delight is genuinely Mexican!

Cafe Pacifica

With an elegant atmosphere and carefully prepared seafood entrees, this place is a top choice for elite dining. Light colors are emphasized by white linen tablecloths and white shutters. Some walls feature mirrors, while others host wine cases. For an appetizer, try the grilled shrimp cake in port wine sauce along with the griddled salmon cake, served with mango sauce. For entrees, fish tops the menu. Broiled salmon is offered with sweet peppers and Mediterranean grains, while herb-crusted halibut is served with tomatoes, garlic and basil. Cafe Pacifica has also been selected by San Diego Magazine as the city's 'Best Seafood Restaurant'.

Tickled Trout Restaurant

Located just east of the Old Town and Mission Hills sections of San Diego, this popular restaurant is decorated like a cozy English pub. Grab a tasty breakfast or stop in for lunch or dinner. Local residents are particularly fond of the various fish entrees, though a basic bar menu including hamburgers is also available. Great steak, salads and soups can be ordered as well. Whatever your culinary preference, this venue offers an ideal atmosphere for a relaxing and informal meal.

Gila House Restaurant

The restaurant is located in the Courtyard by Marriott. It is near Interstate 5, San Diego's Lindbergh International Airport, and the world-famous SeaWorld. The Historic Gila House Restaurant and Lounge specializes in Mexican and classic American cuisine, especially seafood and specialties from the South-West.