If you ask me, Solana Beach is one of the most underrated cities in California. As a San Diego native, I’ve loved spending time in this quintessential So-Cal beach town over the years.
From spending countless days frolicking on Pillbox Beach to shopping in the Cedros Design District to seeing shows at Belly Up Tavern to sipping craft brews at local taprooms, I have made a lot of memories in Solana Beach.
There are a lot of things to do in Solana Beach and eating is one of the best! For such a small part of San Diego, the food scene here is always evolving and never disappoints. From Japanese and Thai food to Mexican and California-coastal eats, it’s well worth stopping off in Solana Beach just to sample one of the many local favorite restaurants.
If you’re planning on visiting North County San Diego and wondering where to eat, here are all of my favorite restaurants in Solana Beach!
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1. Claire’s on Cedros
The small but mighty Cedros Design District is home to quite a few cool cafes. But if you’re searching for the best breakfast and lunch spot in the area, try Claire’s on Cedros. This place prides itself on utilizing regionally sourced ingredients and goods, including free-range eggs from nearby Romona and breads from SD-based Bread & Cie Bakery.
Peruse the menu and you’ll find classic California egg dishes and sweet pancake and waffle creations for breakfast, as well as fresh salads, sandwiches, tacos, and burgers for lunch. And if you want to make things boozy, they have a full bar serving up everything from mimosas to margaritas!
This place does get busy, and while you can’t make reservations you can join their waitlist online.
2. Pizza Port
Ask any local, and chances are that Pizza Port is on their list of the best restaurants in Solana Beach. Set right on the 101 near Pillbox Beach (aka Fletcher Cove), Pizza Port has been slinging out their classic pizzas to hungry locals since 1987.
In the ’90s, they had the brilliant idea to start brewing their own beers on-site. And the rest is history.
Fast-forward to today, and this place remains a local favorite. Head here on a weeknight or any time on a weekend and it’ll be buzzing, so expect to get cozy with your neighbors out on the patio (dogs are welcome out here too!). This place is no frills, so just place your order at the counter and wait for them to call your name while you sip on one of their cold craft beers.
And if it’s super busy, you can always order a Pizza Lahaina and Swami’s I.P.A to go.
3. Fidel’s Little Mexico
This is San Diego, so no list of must-try Solana Beach restaurants would be complete without a Mexican restaurant or two! First up is Fidel’s.
Like most North County San Diego natives, it’s a place I always go to with my family whenever I’m back in town. Tucked away down an unassuming alley in Eden Gardens, Fidel’s Little Mexico has been around since the 1960s. This place is now considered one of the best restaurants in all of San Diego, and it’s always a festive spot to gather with a group.
They have happy hour specials four days a week in their lively upstairs bar. Head downstairs and you can dine on authentic Mexican fare inside or out in the lovely courtyard.
My favorite dishes include the Chile Relleno Burrito and Super Quesadilla, but my family’s favorites range from Albondigas Soup to Chile Verde to Queso Fundido. The menu here is huge, though, so you’re bound to find something delicious!
4. Tony’s Jacal
I cannot in good faith mention Fidel’s and not mention its next-door neighbor Tony’s Jacal. I love them both!
This family-run establishment was started in 1946 in a modest family home. The home has since been expanded several times, and diners still flock here to enjoy incredible Mexican food in the homey indoor dining rooms and flower-studded outdoor courtyard.
As with Fidel’s, I’ve been eating here with my family for as long as I can remember. From the enchiladas and tacos to the fajitas and platos tradicionales, everything here is made with love.
While everything I’ve ever tried here is superb. People do come here for their famous chile rellenos. You can order them the traditional way with ranchero sauce or do as the Solana Beach locals do and order them with mole sauce for $1 more!
Insider tip: They do have specials on certain dishes every weekday.
5. Samurai Japanese Restaurant
If you’re looking for restaurants in Solana Beach where you can grab some seriously good sushi, look no further than Samurai. Established way back in 1979, this is another local favorite. It does get crowded during peak times, but you can always make a reservation online.
You can opt to sit in one of the booths, at the sushi bar, at a teppanyaki station, or at the co*cktail bar. I personally love sitting at the sushi bar, where you can watch the sushi masters in action.
Samurai offers all of the classic sushi and sashimi options you can think of. That being said, it’s well worth trying their more deluxe rolls. I highly recommend the Chef’s Special – a California roll on the inside and cooked scallops with an addictive “dynamite” sauce on the outside. It’s indulgent and delicious.
From the Spicy Tuna Special Roll with seared albacore to the Vegetarian Caterpillar Roll with cream cheese, veggies, and avocado to the traditional Japanese entrees, there’s something to suit all tastes here. Oh, and don’t forget to pair it all with a bottle of sake!
6. Ranch 45 Local Provisions
For something farm-fresh and healthy, you’ll want to try Ranch 45 Local Provisions. This is one of the most unique Solana Beach restaurants and it’s all about serving up seasonal locally sourced cuisine to the community. As they put it, their mission is to be an “extension of the farms we use through the food and drink we serve.”
Head here for breakfast and you can choose from farm-fresh dishes like the Cowboy Breakfast Sandwich with local eggs, bacon, and cheese or the Avocado Toast with cherry heirloom tomato relish. Or if you’re looking for lunch fare, you’ll find a variety of creative sandwiches, burgers, and tacos on the menu.
They also have a great all-day kids’ menu, as well as a simple dinner menu featuring items like sliders, steak, and kebabs.
7. Brigantine Seafood & Oyster Bar
Perched on a bluff overlooking the Del Mar Racetrack and Del Mar Beach, Brigantine Seafood & Oyster Bar is where you want to go for your Solana Beach seafood fix.
Visit the Brigantine for lunch or dinner and you can choose from a long list of seafood-centric dishes like Brig Clam Chowder and Crab & Shrimp Cobb to start, followed by Crab Stuffed Jumbo Prawns or The Brig’s Famous Fish Tacos (they’re so good!) as mains. Of course, you’ve got to order an obligatory Oyster Shooter to go with your meal.
Do note that the Brigantine is valet only. Street parking is hard to come by, especially during the summer when the Del Mar Fair and Del Mar Racetrack are in full swing.
8. Bangkok Bay Thai Restaurant
If you’re in the mood for Thai food, Bangkok Bay Thai Restaurant is the perfect pick. The menu at this casual and cozy eatery is absolutely huge to the point that you’ll have a hard time choosing. But expect to find all manner of fragrant curries, noodle and rice dishes, and Thai soups, salads, and starters.
Of course, if you ask me, the Tom Yum soup, Som Tom papaya salad, and northern Thailand-style Kow Sai Noodles are always a good idea!
If you can’t decide, try something from the “Bangkok Bay Specialties” section, like the coconut milk-infused Massaman Beef or the curried Panang Salmon. Come here for lunch, and you can get great deals on the lunch specials, too.
9. CUCINA enoteca Del Mar
You’ll find CUCINA enoteca Del Mar at the Flower Hill Promenade just off the 5 freeway. This is one of the coolest restaurants in Solana Beach if you want to mix and mingle with friends over food and drinks.
This place is all about serving seasonal locally sourced Italian dishes, as is apparent by their house-made charcuterie, sausage, cheese, breads, and pastas. But it’s not all about the food!
You’ll also find over 200 wines on the menu, mainly from California and Italy, as well as seriously good seasonal co*cktails. Head here from 4-6 pm on Tuesday to Friday, and you can take advantage of their happy hour specials on food and drinks.
There you have it! A local’s guide to the best restaurants in Solana Beach, CA. Which one(s) do you want to try?
Justine Lopez Justine is a writer and editor who always seems to take the unconventional route in life. She also suffers from a serious case of wanderlust! In 2013, she left her hometown in California and set off on a yearlong round-the-world journey with her now-husband – they never looked back. Since then, she’s lived the expat life in Indonesia, Cambodia, China, Vietnam, Mexico, and now Dubai. Along the way, she's written and edited for magazines, newspapers, and websites in Asia and beyond. When she's not stoking her wanderlust by working on travel articles for Wandering Wheatleys, Justine is busy caring for her many foster cats in Dubai, seeking out all the delicious vegetarian food, and taking every chance she gets to explore a new corner of the world!
