San Diego’s Best Family-Friendly Restaurants
When traveling with a family it can be hard to pick a restaurant that everyone can agree on. To help travelers avoid settling on a known chain from back home we have created this guide to San Diego’s Best Family-Friendly Restaurants.
Our list of San Diego’s Best Family-Friendly Restaurants is broken down by neighborhood. We are picking locations that are near the major tourist attractions and the airport/downtown. In additional lists, we look at spots in some of the neighborhoods that are more for locals. Go here for our list of top attractions.
The main criteria we focused on included obviously options for kids but also has a fairly diverse menu. Thus, we did not include many of our favorite hamburger, pizza or burger places, unless they have other options. We have some places featuring ethnic cuisine, but only ones we feel are not too exotic. Most of our places are casual and relatively low cost. However, we have included a handful of more upscale choices.
In the end, most of these choices are places we have been to multiple times and the family can usually agree on. For every neighborhood, we have picked two restaurants.
Jump Ahead To
Liberty Station
Near airport, downtown, Pt. Loma
For hotels in the downtown and airport area check out our guide.
Liberty Station is right by the airport. It is a great place to stop upon arrival or departure from San Diego. There are all kinds of good places to eat so it is hard to narrow the list.
Liberty Public Market has all kinds of dining options, many of which we have yet to try. The most popular restaurant for families is without a doubt Corvette Diner. It is themed as a 50s style diner. The focus is as much on entertainment as it is on food. The Corvette Diner is probably on every family-friendly list so we felt we should mention it. In the end, we picked two other restaurants that our family really like.
Soda and Swine is a wacky place that is both casual and trendy. The focus is on a wide variety of meatballs. However, they also have all kinds of interesting small bite dishes. There is a full bar for adults and, as the name implies, tons of rare sodas and creative milkshakes for the kids. A big attraction is the massive foosball table.
Slater’s 50/50 is one of the busiest restaurants in Liberty Station. The menu is extensive, but the focus is on hamburgers. The 50/50 refers to the signature hamburger that is 50% beef/50% bacon. This is one of our favorite burger places, but we actually no longer get the 50/50 burger. See our review.
Downtown Gaslamp
Old Spaghetti Factory
Rei do Gado
The Downtown Gaslamp district is home to all kinds of trendy restaurants that come and go. Frequently we will eat at a place, only to find it is closed next time we visit.
Two places we frequent are the Old Spaghetti Factory and the all-you-can-eat meat fest at Rei do Gado Brazilian steakhouse.
The Old Spaghetti Factory is a small chain that I remember being wildly popular in the 1970s and 80s. Today it is anything but trendy. However, in the loud, expensive and busy Gaslamp Quarter it stands out as a reasonably priced option the kids love.
Rei do Gado is anything but cheap. It is both a date-night splurge and a rare treat to take the kids. Kids love it because it is all-you-can-eat meat. There is also a really good salad bar. The lunch price is about half the dinner price. You can even choose to just get just the salad bar.
Downtown East Village
Dog Haus Biergarten
Blind Burro
The downtown East Village area has been redeveloped in recent years since the opening of the San Diego Padres’ Petco Park. Now East Village arguably has more good places to eat than the Gaslamp Quarter. Unfortunately, like with the Gaslamp, these places seem to open and close at a rapid rate.
Many of the restaurants opening in East Village are newer versions of some of our favorite local places that originated in other San Diego neighborhoods. This includes one of the best burger places (Hodad’s), Mexican (Lolita’s), breakfast (The Mission and Breakfast Republic), Mediterranean (Kebab Shop) and pizza (Basic). Note, we have not had a chance to try out the newly opened Punch Bowl Social which sounds similar to Dave and Buster’s.
The Dog Haus Biergarten is actually a small national chain. The focus is on hot dogs and hamburgers. There is a big focus on beer, but they also have milkshakes and arcade games for the kids. This is a casual place with great happy hour specials. The downside is that for purposes of this list, the diversity of menu offerings is limited. There is a chicken sandwich and veggie/impossible burgers. Nevertheless, this is the most limited menu on our list of San Diego’s Best Family-Friendly Restaurants.
Blind Burro is a more upscale Mexican restaurant. Normally we like to eat our Mexican food at the more low-key places that are in every San Diego neighborhood. However, visitors often request a more upscale Mexican experience and the Blind Burro is one of our top spots. The focus is on Baja-style, but the extensive menu even has a hamburger that was featured at Serious Eats.
Downtown Little Italy
Little Italy Food Hall
Landini’s
Little Italy is another area of San Diego whose dining scene has exploded in recent years. There are many dining options. Places like Napizza, Filippis, Burger Lounge, Prep Kitchen and Daventi Enoteca have multiple San Diego locations. Celebrity chefs Richard Blais and Brian Malarkey have restaurants here, including the family-friendly chicken-focused Crack Shack (our family has never been able to all agree on chicken).
Since Little Italy Food Hall opened in summer of 2018 it has become a family favorite. It is an upscale version of a mall food court. Everyone orders from their favorite place and shares the common food area. See our overview for more information.
In an area with many pizza and Italian places, Landini’s is our favorite. Not only do they have some of the best pizza in town, but the family loves the sandwiches and pasta dishes. This super-casual place has a patio out back. I have heard rumors that there is a more formal upstairs dining area, but we have not tried it.
Ocean Beach
3rd Corner
Wonderland Ocean Pub
Near the airport, SeaWorld, Cabrillo National Monument
Ocean Beach is San Diego’s hippies’ enclave. The air is often filled with the smell of marijuana. As such, it is not among the most family-friendly destinations. However, there are plenty of casual places to eat. This includes the incredibly popular Hodad’s. This is one of our favorite hamburger places but bringing young kids hear would be a hassle. Pizza Port is a great family spot but they serve pizza. South Beach Bar and Grill is a classic, known for their fish tacos. For many years it was 21+. Now it is open to all ages, but we have yet to bring the kids here.
The 3rd Corner Wine Shop and Bistro is probably pushing it in terms of family-friendly. The menu is definitely on the upscale side. I would probably only bring mature children age 10 and up. However, if you want a nice family meal that will not break the bank this is a great option. It is a wine store, so you can pick a bottle and pay a small corkage fee.
Like many places in Ocean Beach, Wonderland is just as much a bar as it is a restaurant. However, they have a wide range of options and a solid kid’s menu. Best of all it overlooks the ocean.
Pacific Beach
World Curry
Filippi’s Pizza Grotto
Near SeaWorld, airport
Picking a top place in Pacific Beach is tough. Pacific Beach is a party town and the food reflects that atmosphere. This area is home to some great hamburgers, sandwiches, pizza and cheesesteaks. However, some of our favorite places do not even allow kids. This includes Rocky’s (hamburgers), Alex’s Brown Bag (Cheesesteaks) and Cass St. Bar and Grill. Some of my daughter’s favorite restaurants are here including Fat Sal’s and her absolute favorite, Ambrogio15.
World Curry is my daughter’s other favorite restaurant in this area. She wants to go here all the time. It is crowd-pleasing because they offer a diverse menu of curries from around the world. It is not necessarily a place you go for authenticity, but who cares if it tastes good.
Filippi’s Pizza Grotto is a San Diego institution with locations throughout the city. The original location in Little Italy has been open since 1950 and attracts crowds after several appearances on Travel Channel and Food Network. However, in our opinion, the pizza at Filippi’s would struggle to make the top 10 list in the Little Italy neighborhood, let alone the San Diego region. However, it is a family-friendly old school red sauce Italian restaurant. The Pacific Beach location comes complete with checker tablecloth and wine bottles hanging from the ceiling.
Mission Valley
Near Zoo, SeaWorld, downtown, Old Town, hotel district
This is a popular area for hotels in San Diego. See our guide to Mission Valley Hotels.
Mission Valley is where all the major San Diego freeways converge. It is home to two shopping malls and many hotels and chain restaurants. It is a place where many tourists will stay because it convenient to the airport and major attractions.
In terms of dining in Mission Valley, our family favorite is Bully’s. Bully’s is a classic restaurant that opened in La Jolla in 1967. Unfortunately, the La Jolla and Del Mar locations have closed, leaving only Bully’s East. The good news is Bully’s East is the biggest and best of the locations. Bully’s focuses on massive servings of prime rib, steak and seafood. Prices are reasonable and the atmosphere takes you right back to the 1960s/70s. It feels like the two-martini lunch place the characters in Mad Men would hang out.
Lazy Dog is a small California-based chain restaurant. It has a sports bar vibe and phone book size menu. However, we think it is much better than the similar Cheesecake Factory right down the road. Mission Valley is about these chain-style restaurants and Lazy Dog is our favorite. Kids love the build your own pizza option.
Old Town
Cosmopolitan Hotel and Restaurant
Old Town Mexican Cafe
Near the downtown, airport, SeaWorld
Old Town is the most blatantly touristy area of San Diego. This is most reflected in the large Mexican restaurants that feature mariachi bands, margaritas and bland, over-priced food. When my family visited in 1976 this is where we came for Mexican food. However, we rarely dine in Old Town and it is definitely not a place we go to for Mexican food
That being said, Old Town is about the experience. The Cosmopolitan Hotel and Restaurant is our first choice. It has some Mexican influenced dishes but offers seafood and American classics like fried chicken and rib-eye steaks. Best of all is the atmosphere, both indoors and on the outside patio. This place has been a hotel and restaurant since 1869. This is where I ate when we came in 1976 (it was a different restaurant at that time)
If we have to pick a touristy Mexican restaurant, our choice would be Old Town Mexican Café. They have a massive menu but the one thing we get here is the family-style carnitas plate. For about $50 you get a 4-person serving of pork carnitas, rice, beans, tortillas, and toppings to make your own tacos. Eating here 25 years ago was what inspired me to start making my own carnitas.
If you absolutely want the best authentic Mexican in Old Town, we recommend walking a few blocks down to El Agave. However, this is a more upscale place more suited for a date night. We have never brought our children here.
Balboa Park-Hillcrest/Mission Hills
Lefty’s Chicago Pizzeria
Crest Cafe
Near Zoo, downtown, airport
The Hillcrest neighborhood borders the northeast section of Balboa Park. It is San Diego’s prime gay district. There are all kinds of places to eat, including the incredibly popular Hash House a Go Go and Bronx Pizza, arguably the best pizza place in San Diego.
The place our family loves to go to is Lefty’s Chicago Pizzeria. Lefty’s has a range of menu items beyond pizza, including pastas, burgers, hot dogs and sandwiches. Best of all is the casual atmosphere in what used to be a house in Mission Hills. Mission Hills is one of San Diego’s oldest and most exclusive neighborhoods. See our review.
The Crest Café has been around for years. However, when it was featured on Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives business soared. This place can get crowded and recent Yelp reviews have been mixed. Like the Hash House a Go Go down the street, the Crest Café serves breakfast through dinner. Overall, we prefer the Crest Café.
Balboa Park-North Park/South Park
Dunedin New Zealand Eats
Giorgino’s
Near Zoo, downtown
As the name implies, the North Park and South Park neighborhoods border the east side of Balboa Park. This is home to many great restaurants and bars. Many of these are a little too funky for us to recommend as family-friendly. This would include the original location of Lefty’s (we recommend the newer Mission Hills location). The Station Tavern in South Park is on many lists of top kid-friendly places. However, the burger focused menu is a little too narrow for our tastes.
San Diego has a whole group of restaurants focused on the cuisine of New Zealand. The best for families is probably Dunedin New Zealand, which has a nice outdoor seating area. They have a wide range of interesting burgers, including lamb and New Zealand elk. However, the menu also includes seafood and salad choices.
For our other choice in this area, we went with low-key and unpretentious. Giorgino’s is casual and funky but has something that can please everyone in our group. The focus is on sandwiches and Philly cheesesteaks, but they have an extensive menu. It is counter-service but with a nice sit-down area. Giorgino’s, along with our favorite pizza place, Pizzeria Luigi, is in the quiet Golden Hills neighborhood at the southeast corner of Balboa Park.
Village of La Jolla
The Spot
Karl Strauss Brewing Company
If you are looking to stay in La Jolla see our guide to La Jolla hotels.
The Village of La Jolla is a tourist destination in its own right. It is on our list of San Diego’s top 10 free attractions. There are some classic high-end restaurants, but also many family-friendly places. This includes some great pizza, burger and Mexican places. However, if you want places that can probably please everyone without breaking the budget, we suggest The Spot and Karl Strauss Brewing Company.
The Spot is classic San Diego restaurant the opened in La Jolla in the 1970s. The original location was in Chicago and Chicago pizza remains a specialty. However, the menu features steak, seafood, burgers, pasta and more. Our family is always happy to come here. See our review.
San Diego is one of the leading places for small breweries. One of the oldest is Karl Strauss which has several locations throughout the city. For tourists, the La Jolla location is probably the most convenient. The food is classic brewpub style, but on the upscale end.
La Jolla/UTC
Regent’s Pizzeria
Tender Greens
Near La Jolla, Torrey Pines
UTC is short for University Town Center. This area of La Jolla is slightly inland and more of a place for San Diego residents. However, it is home to many hotels and the major UTC shopping mall. It is also next to the University of California San Diego and the Torrey Pines area (see our guide). Needless to say, there are all kinds of dining options.
Regent’s Pizzeria is in a crowded strip mall, slightly off-the-beaten-track. Regent’s has received all kinds of favorable press, but we think the pizza here is over-rated. Nevertheless, the pizza is pretty good and they have many other options and a great beer selection. Despite, its inconvenient location we come here quite a bit.
Tender Greens is right in the UTC mall by the food court. There are several locations in San Diego, including Liberty Station. For about $12 you can build your own plate with a choice of protein, green and side dish. It isn’t the most exciting place but everyone can find something they like. If you get a Go San Diego Card, you can ice skate at the UTC rink right next to Tender Greens.
Escondido
Stone Brewing World Bistro and Gardens
Killer Pizza from Mars
Near San Diego Zoo Safari Park
For hotels near Escondido see our North County Inland lodging guide.
The San Diego Zoo Safari Park is over 30 miles north of downtown. Much of its attraction is its isolated location. If you visit the Safari Park there are plenty of dining options at the park. However, there are also some places we like to visit before or after the park.
Stone Brewing World Bistro and Gardens is a place to visit AFTER a hard day at the Safari Park. It is a massive brewery which you can tour. However, it is also a huge open garden space where kids can run around. The downside is it is expensive and the menu can be pretty funky. As locals we rarely come because of the price, as tourists, we consider it a worthwhile treat.
Killer Pizza from Mars is a small pizza joint off the I-15 freeway. It is a basic pasta, pizza, sandwich joint with cool decorations and an old-school family feel. If you are coming from north of San Diego this is a great stop before or after a visit to the Safari Park. See our review.
Del Mar/Solana Beach
Near Fairgrounds/Race Track
Coastal North County San Diego runs about 20 miles from Del Mar through Oceanside. There are miles of beaches and interesting small communities like Cardiff-by-the-Sea. For tourists, the big attraction is Legoland in Carlsbad and the Del Mar Horse Track which is also home to the San Diego County Fair and other events.
There are lots of eating options in this area. Visitors to San Diego invariably ask us for a Mexican restaurant complete with Margarita’s, decorations and the works. Most guidebooks will point towards Old Town, but near the racetrack are three of our favorites, En Fuego in downtown Del Mar and Fidel’s and Tony’s Jacal in a hidden neighborhood of Solana Beach.
We picked Tony’s Jacal because of its colorful history going back to its opening in 1946. It has been called one of the granddads of Mexican food in San Diego. Tony’s Jacal is located in a historic Adobe building in the Eden Garden neighborhood near the racetrack. Movie stars would come here and the next-door Fidel’s (which opened in the 1960s) after the races. The menu is huge and is noted for turkey tacos and a legendary cabbage side salad. For a funny article on the competition between Tony’s Jacal and Fidel’s go here.
Cucina Enoteca is home to one of our favorite upscale Italian places in San Diego. However, this is also a very kid-friendly place. Kids get to build their own individual pizza. There is a wealth of Italian dishes to choose from. Our daughter was really upset because she ordered a hamburger here and then had to watch how wonderful everyone else’s Italian food looked. See our review.
Carlsbad/Oceanside
Privateer Coal Fired Pizza
Green Dragon Tavern & Museum
Near Legoland
Legoland is located in Carlsbad, about 35 miles north of downtown. Carlsbad, Oceanside and Encinitas combine to make a significant beach urban area with a population pushing nearly 400,000. This region has its own food scene with many options.
Like many places with pizza in the name, Privateer Coal Fire, is much more. The area attaches to a marketplace and wine bar and there is a range of menu items from sandwiches/burgers to pasta and small bites. However, the coal-fired oven puts out some of the best upscale pizzas in all of San Diego. See our review.
Everyone knows the important part San Diego played in the American Revolution. The Green Dragon Tavern is a restaurant and museum next to Legoland that explores that history. Kidding aside, Green Dragon Tavern is part of a movement to bring colonial American History to the West Coast. The museum is free and the tavern contains East Coast favorites like Clam Chowder, Lobster Rolls and Maryland Crab Cakes, alongside San Diego fish tacos.
For hotels from Del Mar to Oceanside see our guide to North County Coastal lodging.
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