Updated April 27, 2023

Looking for a great place to eat, while visiting San Diego’s Old Town? We’ve got you covered and offer many food tours in San Diego. Here are some of the best restaurants you’ll want to try when you find yourself in Historic Old Town San Diego.

The Congress Cafe

Worried about where to eat in Old Town San Diego? Specializing in Venezuelan cuisine, The Congress Cafe is located on the corner of Mason Street and Congress Street, and only a 3-minute walk from Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. If you’re a big fan of brunching, you’ll want to stop in for one of their breakfast platters like the Alma Llanera, made up of fried eggs, carnitas, plantains, a side of avocado, crema, and an arepa, of course. Pair that with a Mexican Spiced Mocha and you’ve just started your day off on the right foot. Hurry in though, they’re only open from 8am until 2pm during the week, with extended hours until 3pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

Tuetano

As one of the best places to eat in Old Town San Diego, we love Tuetano for its bone marrow birria taco! That’s right, when you order a Birria Tuetano you get an overstuffed street taco filled with tender braised birria, cilantro, and onions with a bone marrow lollipop on top. Add a little of their house red sauce for an extra kick. If you happen to be on the Old Town walking tour, you can find Tuetano on the corner of Congress Street and Twiggs Street within the Old Town Market, less than a block away from the Old Town Trolley Tours Hop On Hop Off location. Tuetano is open from 11am until 7pm Monday through Wednesday and 11am until 8pm Thursday through Sunday.

Courtesy of Conde Nast Traveler

Harney Sushi

A little further down the street, just a 2-minute walk from the Whaley House Museum is Harney Sushi. Harney Sushi serves up some of the best Japanese-inspired dishes in San Diego with sustainably sourced ingredients and flair. Try their soft-shell crab roll and ask the waiter to walk you through their extensive sake list. It’s quite the experience! Harney Sushi is located on Harney Street, so you won’t miss it. They are only open from 4pm until 10pm and tend to be very busy, so plan accordingly, especially if you’re planning Whaley House Museum, too. 

Cafe Coyote

Roll up your sleeves and ease into some of the most authentic Mexican food and tequila cocktails that Old Town San Diego has to offer. At Cafe Coyote, it’s easy to lose yourself in the ambiance with the music and the decor, while having tortillas being made fresh street-side. The whole experience is something else. Start off your meal with house chips and salsa or order some fully-loaded nachos while you peruse the margarita menu and check out their taco platters. And don’t forget the Taco Tuesday and Lobster Thursdays specials when you’re planning your next visit! Cafe Coyote is located on the main drag, San Diego Avenue, and is open 10:30am until 8:30pm on Monday through Thursday, 10:30am until 9pm on Friday, 8am until 9:30pm on Saturday and 8am until 8:30pm on Sunday. They also tend to be very busy with a wait-list since they are one of the best places to eat in Old Town San Diego, so if you can, reservations are recommended.

Courtesy of Cafe Coyote Old Town

Casa de Freds

Freds has always been a favorite with their margaritas and Taco specials. Also located on the main drag on San Diego Avenue, Freds has a fantastic Fiesta Hour from 3pm until 6pm daily, with the exception of Taco Tuesdays, where you can get Adobada Street Tacos and a Perfecto Skinny. On Taco Tuesday, it’s all about the Crispy Fish Taco and Texas BBQ Taco, which has BBQ brisket and frizzled onions, that you’ll want to accompany with a Strawberry House Margarita. Casa de Freds is open at 11:30am Monday through Friday and 11am on Saturday and Sunday. They close at 9pm Sunday through Thursday, with the exception of Tuesdays where they close at 9:30pm, while on Friday and Saturday they close at 10pm.

Casa Guadalajara

Every college student in San Diego is familiar that Casa Guadalajara is where to eat in San Diego because of their Happy Hour small bites buffet. In the bar area from 4pm until 7pm Monday through Friday, get yourself a $5 house margarita and enjoy the complimentary snack buffet, to stretch that dollar. Looking to have a sit down dinner with friends and family instead? Try their Chicken Mole Enchiladas or some of their mariscos like the Tequila Lime Shrimp. Also, try one of their specialty drinks like the Puerto Vallarta that combines pina colada and strawberry margarita, yum! Casa Guadalajara is located on Taylor Street and Juan Street just minutes from the Old Town State Historic Park, if you’re ever worried about what to do in Old Town, San Diego, and are open at 11am Monday through Friday, 10am on Saturday and Sunday, while they close at 9pm everyday.

Courtesy of Casa Guadalajara

Tahona

If you’re looking for modern Mexican food with fantastic mezcal, you need to stop into Tahona the next time you’re in San Diego’s Old Town. Try a mezcal-tasting flight to accompany your Quesabirria Tacos, Carnitas Bao Bun or the Tetela Mole Flight. Maybe book a mezcal tasting to sit down with a Mezcal specialist as they walk you through the origins of the four different mezcales you’ll be tasting. Or make it your next Happy Hour for $2 off your mezcal margarita. Happy Hour runs from 4pm until 6:30pm on Wednesday through Friday. Located on San Diego Avenue, Tahona is open 5pm until 10pm Tuesday through Thursday, 5pm until 11pm on Friday, 4pm until 11pm on Saturday, and 4pm until 10pm on Sunday, while they are closed on Monday.

El Agave

Known for its considerable tequila selection, El Agave Restaurant & Tequileria is a high-end Mexican restaurant located on San Diego Ave in Old Town, about a 7-minute walk from the entrance of Old Town San Diego Historic Park. Don’t worry if you’re having trouble choosing just one tequila, that’s why they have tequila flights to test multiples. Consider noshing on some Pork Belly Sliders or Ahi Tostadas before indulging in their garlic-chipotle Sea Bass. Love me some sea bass! El Agave is open 11:30am until 10pm Monday through Thursday and 11am until 10pm Friday through Sunday.

Barra Barra

Kids eat free with an adult! Who doesn’t love a family-friendly Old Town restaurant? At Barra Barra Saloon inside Old Town State Historic Park, you can enjoy the ambiance of the vibrant, period-centric Old Town along with traditional Mexican food and culture. Get yourself a Carnitas Taco and Chicken Suiza Enchilada combination plate with a House Margarita while your little one enjoys a cheese quesadilla. Barra Barra Saloon is open daily from 11am until 9pm.

Casa de Reyes

Right next door to Barra Barra Saloon is the must-see Casa de Reyes. Offering both indoor and outdoor seating, courtyard dining, Casa de Reyes is a traditional Mexican Cantina where you can enjoy a wonderful meal in the backdrop of a beautiful garden. Start with the Queso Fundido with Chorizo before moving on to the Molcajete de la Casa, which includes carne and pollo asada with fajita veggies. 

Don’t forget your margarita!! Additionally, Casa de Reyes offers free live entertainment on the weekends to fully immerse you in the historic Old Town experience, making this one of the best places to eat in Old Town San Diego. The restaurant is open from 11am until 9pm Monday through Thursday, 11am until 10pm on Friday, 10am until 10pm on Saturday and 10am until 9pm on Sunday; they do take reservations if you’re planning ahead. It’s also close to some of the best places to eat in Old Town, San Diego.

Courtesy of Trafalgar

Rose’s Tasting Room

Situated in Fiesta de Reyes on Calhoun Street, Rose’s Tasting Room is a quaint little spot to meet up for a drink. This hidden gem offers monthly rotating craft beer and wine as well as flights if you’d prefer to taste a variety of these locally produced selections. Unwind at Rose’s Tasting Room; they’re open from 11am until 9pm Monday through Friday and 10am until 9pm on Saturday and Sunday, with Happy Hour from 3pm to 5pm.

With Old Town being a hub of culture and culinary delights, you’re sure to find a San Diegan favorite that tickles your fancy within some of the best places to eat in San Diego, Southern California. So take a stroll, delight in the sights and revel in the mouth-watering eats and libations. So, book one of our Old Town tours or other San Diego tours with us.

Written by:

This blog was written by Aleezah Davenport. Aleezah is a native San Diegan, and a second-generation PLNU alumna. She enjoys exploring the city and taking her girls out for dinner on the cliffs at Sunset Cliffs. Writing about San Diego provides her the opportunity to learn more about the local scene, and share her newfound knowledge about her hometown – two of the things she loves most. She enjoys sharing her passions with readers, and is excited to be writing for a platform that provides fun information to a large audience.