Diners' Choice: Californian restaurants in San Diego

OpenTable

Updated March 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Californian cuisine in San Diego? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Addison By William Bradley

4.9

4.9 (1881)

$50 and over

Californian

Del Mar

About the restaurant

Addison, Southern California’s first three-star Michelin restaurant, showcases the beauty and allure of California Gastronomy. Chef William Bradley offers his distinct culinary perspective through an experience that celebrates regional ingredients and influences. With its picturesque views of the surrounding hillside, the dining room creates a transportive setting for Bradley’s ten-course tasting menu. To further enhance the experience, Addison’s 10,000 bottle wine program showcases small producers, rare Champagnes, and new discoveries from around the world.

Since 2006, the purity and precision of Addison's approach has led to global recognition for the restaurant and the San Diego culinary scene. Addison is among an exclusive selection of stand-alone Relais & Châteaux restaurants worldwide, and, in addition to its three-star Michelin designation, is honored on La Liste. It has consistently received the highest recognition from Wine Spectator for its wine program.

Top review

LouiseE

Dined on Apr 1, 2023

worth every penny and every calorie - bravo chef bradley and staff!

The Veranda Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (1540)

$30 and under

Californian

Fallbrook

About the restaurant

While dining at the most atmospheric restaurant in Fallbrook, you can gaze at our sparkling lake and gorgeous grounds while enjoying a delicious meal prepared with seasonal produce from our on-site vegetable and fruit gardens. We offer patio heaters during the winter months and fans during the warmer months. Reservations are recommended. Enjoy a stroll through our many gardens before or after you dine at The Veranda.

Top review

MykeleVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Love this brunch spot! We haven't been since moving away 3 years ago and we're happy to see it still thriving! Love the food and service!

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Prime Rib Sandwich Dip

Baron Long Bar & Grill

4.8

4.8 (537)

$31 to $50

Californian

Alpine

About the restaurant

Baron Long Bar & Grill features a familiar food menu, along with craft beer & cocktails for friends and family to enjoy while dining in a comfortable, energetic, sociable sports bar environment. We’ve put our spin on American bar food classics using the best local ingredients and freshly prepared food that is sure to please sports fans and foodies alike.

Guests can watch the action of their favorite game on our 16 TVs located throughout the restaurant, including (10) 85” screens. Share some appetizers over drinks with your friends or order your favorite burger from our extensive food menu. The beverage menu boasts a seasonal craft cocktail menu, 16 draft beers from our showcase keg room, focusing on notable San Diego breweries, as well as two rotating taps that will pique your interest frequently.

Top review

Joe

Dined on Feb 15, 2025

Service was very prompt and polite and the food was excellent as usual, thank you so much!

Wildland

4.7

4.7 (59)

$30 and under

Californian

Carlsbad

About the restaurant

WALK-IN'S ONLY FOR BREAKFAST AND LUNCH.

WALK-IN'S AND RESERVATIONS FOR DINNER.

Wildland is an all-day restaurant, bar and bakery inspired by the natural landscape and vibrant community of North County, celebrating the creative culture of California by bringing bold ideas to timeless traditions.

Night or day, this is a place for the every day.

We open daily at 8am, with counter service up until 4:00pm, inviting you all to come in and join us on a first-come, first-serve basis for breakfast and lunch.

Reservations are available every evening, and walk in guests are always welcome.

Private Dining Room reservations are available for parties of 12-18 guests.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined today

Everything I order is a flavor explosion! Great service as well. It is very loud given the warehouse style and not easy to have a conversation, but still enjoyable.

Dolce

4.7

4.7 (718)

$30 and under

Californian

Rancho Santa Fe

About the restaurant

Dolce is a high quality, inviting atmosphere and the perfect Ranch neighborhood hideaway. Intimate and lively, Dolce offers delicious local, rustic wine-country inspired cuisine, fine wine and occasions for joyful gatherings.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on Feb 28, 2025

Wonderful dining room. Neighborhood restaurant with a lot of locals. Great service. Excellent food.

NINE-TEN

4.8

4.8 (2978)

$31 to $50

Californian

La Jolla

About the restaurant

Led by award-winning, nationally-recognized chef Jason Knibb, NINE-TEN offers the perfect combination of sophistication and casual elegance and an ideal location along lively Prospect Street in the Village of La Jolla. Recognized with MICHELIN distinction, NINE-TEN’s globally-inspired, locally-sourced cuisine features the best of the harvest from local artisans where products are selected daily for the restaurant’s seasonal menus. Dine indoors or al fresco on our sidewalk patio or back terrace with peek views of the Pacific Ocean. Heaters and blankets are available during the colder weather. Private dining rooms are also available for groups of 8 or more. Breakfast is served Wednesday through Friday, 7 am to 11 am. Brunch is served Saturday & Sunday, 7 am to 2 pm. and features $6 mimosas and $8 Bloody Marys. Lunch is served Wednesday through Friday, 11:30 am to 2 pm. And dinner service is available Wednesday through Sunday, 5 pm to 9 pm. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Top review

RosaVIP

Dined 6 days ago

Outstanding! We did the tasting menu for our anniversary. This is the second time we have done it. We loved the food and the service. Would definitively come back.

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The Restaurant at Ponte

4.7

4.7 (3780)

$31 to $50

Californian

Temecula

About the restaurant

Recognized by OpenTable as one of the top 50 restaurants in the US for outdoor dining, The Restaurant prepares wine country cuisine in a casual outdoor atmosphere. We are leading the way toward a community of wineries and restaurants dedicated to promoting local, sustainable farmers and ranchers. Our dishes feature top quality seasonal and regional ingredients prepared in our kitchen and enhanced when paired with our wines. The Restaurant is open for lunch Wednesday - Sunday 11am to 4pm and dinner from 4pm to 7pm. The maximum party we book a reservation for is up to 8 guests. Walk ins are welcome and will be placed on a wait list based on availability. The Restaurant is open in inclement weather and when it rains. Heaters are available in the winter, and misters and fans are on in the summer. We allow trained service animals only, sorry no pets.

Top review

heddyVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Love this place. Always great food and great service!

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4.7

4.7 (785)

$31 to $50

Californian

Temecula

About the restaurant

Miramonte is one of Southern California's most beautiful, dynamic and forward-thinking wineries. Our award-winning wines are elegant, harmonious and trendsetting. Our popular Bistro features delicious, innovative soulful fare prepared fresh every day. And our gorgeous outdoor verandas are a benchmark experience in wine country. We invite you to join us, and see what all the excitement is about!

SEATING:
2 hour maximum

MIRAMONTE RESERVATION POLICY:
For restaurant reservations, we offer a 15-minute grace period.

Top review

OpenTable DinerVIP

Dined 6 days ago

It's was fun and our party really enjoyed the experience.

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4.7

4.7 (610)

$50 and over

Californian

La Jolla

About the restaurant

A celebration of food, cocktails, art, and warm hospitality. Housed in the historic Piano Building, in the heart of the vibrant community of Bird Rock, Paradisaea is a destination restaurant and bar, that San Diegans frequent for crave-able, accessible fare, executed at the highest level.

Top review

RockVIP

Dined 1 day ago

The most beautiful dinning experience!! We can't wait to go again.

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La Gran Terraza - University of San Diego

4.7

4.7 (1143)

$30 and under

Californian

Mission Valley

About the restaurant

The Grand Dining Room is open for lunch Monday - Friday from 11:30am-1:30pm.

La Gran Terraza is a California bistro featuring farm-to-table lunch and dinner. The Grand Dining Room and terrace have fantastic views of Tecolote Canyon and Mission Bay. OTooles offers small bites, nightly happy hour, a cozy fireplace, local craft beers and an excellent wine list.
Visit our website for a calendar of special events.

Top review

BrianVIP

Dined on Mar 4, 2025

La Gran Terraza always does a GREAT job when they have buffets for special events. We have been to Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day and others and they have always been excellent. This was the first time we have gone for Mardi Gras and it was really tasty New Orleans cuisine.

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Experience

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Experience

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Experience

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