Emma's Recommended Spots!
Food scene
The OG location visited by Guy Fiere on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. Make sure to try the original BP shot which became so popular in the community that the owners started Skrewball Whiskey. We love their fried rice with house made Chinese sausage and their short rib entree
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OB Noodle House & Sake Bar
2218 Cable StThe OG location visited by Guy Fiere on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. Make sure to try the original BP shot which became so popular in the community that the owners started Skrewball Whiskey. We love their fried rice with house made Chinese sausage and their short rib entree
Another spot to get the famous peanut butter spot and a great location to watch the sunset from their rooftop bar. They frequently have musical guests performing as well.
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The Holding Company
5046 Newport AvenueAnother spot to get the famous peanut butter spot and a great location to watch the sunset from their rooftop bar. They frequently have musical guests performing as well.
Top ranked restaurant in OB skillfully serving up both amazing sushi and delicious tapas. Skeptical that they can do both extremely well? Be prepared to be blown away. Outdoor seating available and dog friendly. All the rolls have been great and our tapas favs are the bacon wrapped dates, garlic shrimp and mashed potatoes!
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The Joint - Award Winning Sushi, Tapas, Brunch, & Craft Beer
4902 Newport AveTop ranked restaurant in OB skillfully serving up both amazing sushi and delicious tapas. Skeptical that they can do both extremely well? Be prepared to be blown away. Outdoor seating available and dog friendly. All the rolls have been great and our tapas favs are the bacon wrapped dates, garlic shrimp and mashed potatoes!
Love Poke? This Hawaiian family will blow you away with some of the freshest fish you can imagine but make sure you get there before 6 because they usually sell out. Our favorites are the Kimchi Ahi, Spicy Salmon and a side of soy and ginger edamame. We just tried the Kalhua pork and it was so tender and juicy! This spot is grab and go style and we like to take it down to the beach barrier and enjoy waterfront dining without the fuss.
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It's Raw Poke Shop
4991 Newport AveLove Poke? This Hawaiian family will blow you away with some of the freshest fish you can imagine but make sure you get there before 6 because they usually sell out. Our favorites are the Kimchi Ahi, Spicy Salmon and a side of soy and ginger edamame. We just tried the Kalhua pork and it was so tender and juicy! This spot is grab and go style and we like to take it down to the beach barrier and enjoy waterfront dining without the fuss.
This Italian spot is very popular and for good reasons. All their pasta is made in house and even the most simple items are decadent. They even have a brunch menu. Reservations are recommended since its food is top notch and the patio area is always warm and inviting.
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Cesarina
4161 Voltaire StThis Italian spot is very popular and for good reasons. All their pasta is made in house and even the most simple items are decadent. They even have a brunch menu. Reservations are recommended since its food is top notch and the patio area is always warm and inviting.
Cute bistro located in an upscale wine store with very reasonable prices. Pick out a great bottle of wine with staff assistance and let them cork it for less than $10. That's unheard of in most places. The Seafood Risotto and Cioppino are well loved favorites.
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The 3rd Corner Wine Shop & Bistro
2265 Bacon StCute bistro located in an upscale wine store with very reasonable prices. Pick out a great bottle of wine with staff assistance and let them cork it for less than $10. That's unheard of in most places. The Seafood Risotto and Cioppino are well loved favorites.
Authentic Mexican food with great cocktails and huge outdoor patio making it dog friendly and super tasty. The guacamole is huge, the moles are classic and even the Caesar salad is unique and worth a try.
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La Doña
1852 Bacon StreetAuthentic Mexican food with great cocktails and huge outdoor patio making it dog friendly and super tasty. The guacamole is huge, the moles are classic and even the Caesar salad is unique and worth a try.
Ready for some weird ice cream?! Located right next to Cesarina and Pop Pie Co is the most amazing ice cream place with the most unique flavors. Favorites include Mango Sticky Rice, S'mores and Ube with Toffee. They’re constantly changing flavors and each one has been fantastic.
Stella Jean's Ice Cream Point Loma
4195 Voltaire StreetReady for some weird ice cream?! Located right next to Cesarina and Pop Pie Co is the most amazing ice cream place with the most unique flavors. Favorites include Mango Sticky Rice, S'mores and Ube with Toffee. They’re constantly changing flavors and each one has been fantastic.
Coast Toast! That's all I have to say about that. Just kidding, this brunch spot is local favorite and they are famously known for their version of french toast called Coast Toast.
Walking past the other tables I'm sure you'll see more than one order to get idea of how magical it is. Other favorites are the chilaquiles (Mexican breakfast nachos!) and omelettes. We normally like to put our name on the list and walk down to the sea lions while we wait. This restaurant has great outdoor seating with awesome views of La Jolla.
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Brockton Villa Restaurant
1235 Coast BlvdCoast Toast! That's all I have to say about that. Just kidding, this brunch spot is local favorite and they are famously known for their version of french toast called Coast Toast.
Walking past the other tables I'm sure you'll see more than one order to get idea of how magical it is. Other favorites are the chilaquiles (Mexican breakfast nachos!) and omelettes. We normally like to put our name on the list and walk down to the sea lions while we wait. This restaurant has great outdoor seating with awesome views of La Jolla.
No, that line rarely shortens; Yes, it’s worth a try. Visited by Guy Fiere more than once, this burger joint is serving up ginormous burgers and Frings (yes, that’s a mountain of steak cut fries and oversized onion rings). The decor is fun and the beer is good but we usually get our order to go and eat it at the picnic tables near the water. Burger and the Beach- can't be beat!
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Hodad's
5010 Newport AveNo, that line rarely shortens; Yes, it’s worth a try. Visited by Guy Fiere more than once, this burger joint is serving up ginormous burgers and Frings (yes, that’s a mountain of steak cut fries and oversized onion rings). The decor is fun and the beer is good but we usually get our order to go and eat it at the picnic tables near the water. Burger and the Beach- can't be beat!
Best tacos and burritos in OB (strictly our opinion) with a dog friendly outdoor area. Usually a line but it moves quickly and seating isn’t usually an issue. Our favorites are the Octopus Taco and the Carnes Asada Burrito with a side of fish ceviche. The Horchata with a shot of rum is delicious!
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Mike's Taco Club
5060 Newport AveBest tacos and burritos in OB (strictly our opinion) with a dog friendly outdoor area. Usually a line but it moves quickly and seating isn’t usually an issue. Our favorites are the Octopus Taco and the Carnes Asada Burrito with a side of fish ceviche. The Horchata with a shot of rum is delicious!
Reservations are highly recommended for this upscale seafood restaurant. Be prepared to be wowed with a night of delicious food and drinks.
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Lionfish Modern Coastal Cuisine
435 Fifth AveReservations are highly recommended for this upscale seafood restaurant. Be prepared to be wowed with a night of delicious food and drinks.
This delicious bakery is favorite among locals. We LOVE their cuban pastry and guava and cheese pastry. Other awesome mentions are their croissants, cookies and scones. You really can't go wrong with any of the options. **TIP** ask for the pastries to be warmed up and it'll make them even more delicious
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Azucar
4820 Newport AvenueThis delicious bakery is favorite among locals. We LOVE their cuban pastry and guava and cheese pastry. Other awesome mentions are their croissants, cookies and scones. You really can't go wrong with any of the options. **TIP** ask for the pastries to be warmed up and it'll make them even more delicious
Sightseeing
Amazing place to pack some snacks and drinks and enjoy Mother Nature’s nightly sunset show. Go early to get parking since the multiple small lots do fill up fast or walk up along the coast. There’s also a surf spot, a secret beach and caves and tide pools during low tide located here.
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Sunset Cliffs Natural Park
Ladera StreetAmazing place to pack some snacks and drinks and enjoy Mother Nature’s nightly sunset show. Go early to get parking since the multiple small lots do fill up fast or walk up along the coast. There’s also a surf spot, a secret beach and caves and tide pools during low tide located here.
Say hi to the seals and sea lions who call La Jolla home. These animals are always frequenting the cliffs around La Jolla. The easiest thing to do is to navigate to Children’s Pool and once you pass the Cave Gift Shop (for a small fee you can go down into the cave that was built for tourists in the early 1900s and later used by bootleggers) and start looking for parking. Might need to circle once or twice if it’s a weekend but people tend to come and go frequently. Once you’ve parked, follow the sound or the smell to see these animals in their own habitat. Please don’t get close though because the momma sea lions will abandon their babies during pupping season if they get scared. The huge pelicans are also cool to observe. Bring a swimsuit to kayak or snorkel with the seals and leopard sharks in the coves close by as well.
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Children's Pool La Jolla
834 Coast Blvd SSay hi to the seals and sea lions who call La Jolla home. These animals are always frequenting the cliffs around La Jolla. The easiest thing to do is to navigate to Children’s Pool and once you pass the Cave Gift Shop (for a small fee you can go down into the cave that was built for tourists in the early 1900s and later used by bootleggers) and start looking for parking. Might need to circle once or twice if it’s a weekend but people tend to come and go frequently. Once you’ve parked, follow the sound or the smell to see these animals in their own habitat. Please don’t get close though because the momma sea lions will abandon their babies during pupping season if they get scared. The huge pelicans are also cool to observe. Bring a swimsuit to kayak or snorkel with the seals and leopard sharks in the coves close by as well.
See the World Famous zoo that is best known for its amazing care of its animals. I mean, even the cheetahs have Emotional Support Dogs (no seriously, look it up if you don’t believe me). There’s plenty of things to see to fill an entire day and the zoo includes a bus tour around the park as well as the Skyfari for when you need to rest a bit.
Pro Tip- The zoo does not discourage bringing your own food and drink into the park so park a lunch, some snacks and beverages and enjoy a day alongside the animals.
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San Diego Zoo
2920 Zoo DrSee the World Famous zoo that is best known for its amazing care of its animals. I mean, even the cheetahs have Emotional Support Dogs (no seriously, look it up if you don’t believe me). There’s plenty of things to see to fill an entire day and the zoo includes a bus tour around the park as well as the Skyfari for when you need to rest a bit.
Pro Tip- The zoo does not discourage bringing your own food and drink into the park so park a lunch, some snacks and beverages and enjoy a day alongside the animals.
There’s so much to explore here that we haven’t been able to do most of it yet but a couple spots we have frequented are Spanish Village (lots of local artists) and the botanical garden Building (Big Lily pond in front). There’s so many museums and places to find a quiet spot to sit in that if you find something you love let us know so we can check it out too! There’s a San Diego Explorer Pass that lets you into a bunch of activities and can sometimes be a huge cost saver if used well.
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Balboa Park
There’s so much to explore here that we haven’t been able to do most of it yet but a couple spots we have frequented are Spanish Village (lots of local artists) and the botanical garden Building (Big Lily pond in front). There’s so many museums and places to find a quiet spot to sit in that if you find something you love let us know so we can check it out too! There’s a San Diego Explorer Pass that lets you into a bunch of activities and can sometimes be a huge cost saver if used well.
Ride The Big Dipper and walk up the boardwalk that connects Mission Beach and Pacific Beach. Fun for kids and adults there’s plenty to see and do here. I also think it’s the only place we’ve found a $10 San Diego sweatshirt (located at the shop a little ways up from the entrance to Belmont)
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Belmont Park
3146 Mission BlvdRide The Big Dipper and walk up the boardwalk that connects Mission Beach and Pacific Beach. Fun for kids and adults there’s plenty to see and do here. I also think it’s the only place we’ve found a $10 San Diego sweatshirt (located at the shop a little ways up from the entrance to Belmont)
One of the popular hiking areas, lots of trails and some of them short. There is an entrance fee if you want to park at the top or you can walk up the hill for free (after seeing the hill however I thought the $20ish dollars was money well spent to save my energy for the hikes)
Other great hiking spots are Cabrillo National monument, Point Loma Tide Pools, Seven bridges urban hike to see a bunch of surrounding neighborhoods.
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Torrey Pines State Reserve
12600 North Torrey Pines RoadOne of the popular hiking areas, lots of trails and some of them short. There is an entrance fee if you want to park at the top or you can walk up the hill for free (after seeing the hill however I thought the $20ish dollars was money well spent to save my energy for the hikes)
Other great hiking spots are Cabrillo National monument, Point Loma Tide Pools, Seven bridges urban hike to see a bunch of surrounding neighborhoods.