Best Restaurants for Foodies in National City

26 restaurants available nearby

1. Animae

4.8

Exceptional(3183)

Price: Very Expensive

• Contemporary Asian • Downtown

Booked 75 times today

ANIMAE’s eclectic West Coast cuisine, layered with Asian influences, comes to life under Celebrated Chef Brian Malarkey. Applying a California cooking style to ANIMAE’S traditional coal-fired oven and grill, Chef Malarkey’s menu is as thoughtful as it is refined, elevating local produce and seasonal ingredients to create a lively and progressive culinary program.

2. Cowboy Star

4.9

Exceptional(4725)

Price: Very Expensive

• Steakhouse • Downtown

Booked 42 times today

Located in the heart of the East Village neighborhood of San Diego, Cowboy Star is dedicated to providing an unmatched attention to detail and a level of service that immediately sets us apart. Cowboy Star guests are the number one priority and guest satisfaction is the base upon which our entire concept is built. Our level of service is only matched by our celebration of regional American heirloom recipes offered with genuine neighborly hospitality. We are committed to supporting local and regional farmers, fishers and producers by cooking food that recaptures the simple and pure tastes found in locally grown, natural and organic ingredients. We strive to raise awareness of a more sustainable food future, while helping to restore a sense of community that brings us back to a more homegrown time.The Cowboy Star Menu features the finest in select natural products including Niman Ranch all natural beef from the nation's leading Certified Humane Angus herd.

3. Nobu San Diego

4.5

Awesome(3729)

Price: Very Expensive

• Japanese • Downtown

Booked 35 times today

Nobu San Diego is a foodie hotspot known for its award-winning 'New Style' Japanese cuisine. As per reviews, the food is consistently and exceptionally delicious, with each dish being a work of art, beautifully presented and bursting with flavor. The ambience is described as sophisticated yet lively, with a warm and inviting atmosphere. It's not just about the food, the service is equally praised, making it a fantastic dining experience.

4. Coasterra

4.5

Awesome(7532)

Price: Moderate

• Mexican • Harbor Island

Booked 53 times today

Coasterra is San Diego's premier bay front dining destination! We are an innovative and modern restaurant, lounge and floating event center, featuring Mexican cuisine.

5. Herb & Wood

4.7

Exceptional(6429)

Price: Expensive

• Californian • Little Italy

Booked 78 times today

A timeless, sought-after dining escape, celebrated Chef Brian Malarkey opened Herb & Wood to instant acclaim over four years ago. In that time, the restaurant has become an icon, a dining destination that has helped to propel San Diego's culinary reputation to new heights. By focusing on rustic, wood-fired dishes, Chef Malarkey's menu elevates humble ingredients such as carrots, beets, and chicken, incorporating Mediterranean flavors and a California ethos of seasonality and sustainability.

A photo of The Smoking Goat Restaurant restaurant

6. The Smoking Goat Restaurant

4.8

Exceptional(2634)

Price: Moderate

• French American • North Park

Booked 13 times today

The Smoking Goat is an award-winning California-French bistro located in the heart of North Park, San Diego. We have received the Gold Medallion for the best French Bistro in San Diego three years running. Inspired by his European Farm-to-Table up-bringing and culinary training at Le Cordon Bleu Paris, Executive Chef and Owner Fred Piehl, marries classic French cuisine with the bounty of San Diego in a way that is rustic, yet refined, imaginative, yet unpretentious. The dinners served feature in-season local, sustainable and organic ingredients and provide guests with a unique culinary experience, reminiscent of the European countryside. Boasting a carefully selected wine and beer list and chef and bartender attention to select spirits to create craft house cocktails, The Smoking Goat assures there is always the correct pairing available.

A photo of Provisional Restaurant at Pendry San Diego restaurant

7. Provisional Restaurant at Pendry San Diego

4.7

Exceptional(949)

Price: Expensive

• American • Downtown

Booked 21 times today

Provisional Kitchen, Café & Mercantile, open for daily for brunch and select evenings for dinner. Provisional is a sprawling, sunlit communal dining space featuring a Vittoria Coffee espresso bar, bistro tables, and a retail space set within a greenhouse, where guests can shop a curated collection of homeware, ceramics, apothecary items, pantry staples, and jewelry.Provisional serves some of the best cuisine in the city, featuring favorites such as housemade pasta, woodfire-oven baked pizza and Italian-inspired entrées; our lively brunch features bottomless mimosas and seasonal creations.

8. Cellar Hand

4.7

Exceptional(107)

Price: Expensive

• Farm-to-table • Hillcrest

Booked 3 times today

Nestled in the heart of Hillcrest, San Diego, Cellar Hand embodies a commitment to sustainability, craftsmanship, and community. Through a farm-to-table approach, our menu showcases hyper-local seasonal fare by Executive Chef Logan Kendall. Our extensive wine list highlights the diverse terroir of California, serving as an extension of founder’s Pali Wine Co. Santa Barbara County winery. By fostering deep connections with local artisans, farmers, fishers, and stewards, Cellar Hand strives to be a destination where guests can savor the essence of California’s bounty in every bite and sip.Enjoy our exposed kitchen, an indoor-outdoor bar, outdoor fire pits, and artwork by Nick Perr. Opened Wednesday - Sunday with daily happy hour specials and Sunday brunch!

A photo of Stake Chophouse & Bar restaurant

9. Stake Chophouse & Bar

4.7

Exceptional(1667)

Price: Very Expensive

• Steakhouse • Coronado

Booked 10 times today

Stake Chophouse & Bar is a foodie's paradise with its wide variety of steaks, seafood, and salads. It's a modern take on the classic chophouse with high-quality ingredients and a chef-driven menu. The reviews rave about the food quality and culinary competence, often comparing it to other top restaurants. The staff is consistently praised for their attentive and professional service, and the unique dining experience.

10. Cloak + Petal

4.6

Exceptional(947)

Price: Expensive

• Sushi • Little Italy

Booked 28 times today

WELCOME TO CLOAK & PETAL!Where we invite you to journey into a place of both intimacy and companionshipOur concept is drawn from our name. The word “cloak” implies secrecy, inspiring our concept of a social sphere humming beneath the levels of ordinary life. “Petal” alludes to the Japanese tradition of “hanami,” when family and friends gather under blooming cherry blossoms to savor food, drinks and fellowship.Enter our space and travel underground to décor reminiscent of an abandoned Tokyo subway, a stratum of society all its own, an artist’s dream. Cross the threshold into a mystically transformed Japanese social dining lounge which appears to be an outdoor seating area, similar to a waiting platform. Sit beneath a trellis of draping vines and teardrop lights in the intimate space we’ve thoughtfully created, and feast on authentic Japanese sushi, appetizers, small plates and drinks with family and friends.Journey down to Cloak + Petal… and come unwind your soul.

‘About the restaurant’ descriptions have been generated using an artificial intelligence model comprised of OpenTable proprietary data that has not been independently verified by OpenTable. The content is presented as-is, for informational purposes only.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

J
JoAnnvip
San Diego •4 reviews
5.0
Dined 1 day ago
Unmatched hospitality! The server was knowledgeable about the food and able to describe them well. We didn’t have great luck with the clams, they were very chewy & overcooked but the broth was delicious. They took it back and a sweet manager, (I’m forgetting names) sent a hamachi that was to die for! Everything else that hit the table was delicious and we were very impressed. The bubbly and celebration desert was super appreciated as well. Honestly made my birthday dinner feel extra special, some places really don’t go the extra mile but they sure know how to impress.
More info
Herb & WoodPrice: Expensive• Californian• Little Italy
•
4.7
B
Barryvip
San Francisco Bay Area •11 reviews
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
Great service and seating around the chef counter was a bonus. You can see all the cooking action right in front of you. The wagyu carpaccio was the highlight of the night. It just melts in your mouth. The organic pear salad was also great for sharing. However the aged duck breast and the dry-aged bone in ribeye had some tendons and chewy parts that is unable to swallow.
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Cowboy StarPrice: Very Expensive• Steakhouse• Downtown
•
4.9
A
Anne
San Diego •2 reviews
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
We went to celebrate my 45th birthday and it was wonderful! The food was excellent, our waitress explained everything and provided wonderful pro tips and at the end they brought out a birthday treat!
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Nobu San DiegoPrice: Very Expensive• Japanese• Downtown
•
4.5
E
Emily
Las Vegas •1 review
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
Amazing food and staff. It was so cool to see elevated Filipino food, and it was my girlfriend’s first time trying A5 Wagyu, she said “it was the best thing I’ve ever put in my mouth”. Will be back in 6 months for my birthday!
More info
AnimaePrice: Very Expensive• Contemporary Asian• Downtown
•
4.8
S
Stephanie
San Diego •1 review
5.0
Dined 5 days ago
Food and service was amazing as always! Chelsea was amazing at keeping us happy and making sure we were satisfied with the recent menu changes. Never had a meal I didn’t enjoy here.
More info
CoasterraPrice: Moderate• Mexican• Harbor Island
•
4.5

Best Restaurants for Foodies in National City

Price

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Top Rated

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Award-winning

Accessibility

26 restaurants available nearby

1. Animae

2. Cowboy Star

3. Nobu San Diego

4. Coasterra

5. Herb & Wood

6. The Smoking Goat Restaurant

7. Provisional Restaurant at Pendry San Diego

8. Cellar Hand

9. Stake Chophouse & Bar

10. Cloak + Petal

See what locals rave about

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