10 Top Places to Eat in the Gaslamp Quarter
When you make a trip and book a San Diego walking tour, one of the best places to grab a bite for dinner is the historic Gaslamp Quarter. As you soak in the nightlife and the Gaslamp’s rich history, eat a delicious dinner at one of our top 10 spots for dinner in Gaslamp San Diego.
Lou and Mickey’s
Courtesy Lou & Mickey’s Facebook.
Lou & Mickey’s has been a mainstay for meat lovers for the past 10 years. Located right by the classic entrance to the Gaslamp Quarter as well as the San Diego Convention Center. This place is everything you’d expect from a classic steakhouse with old-school vibes, with bright white tablecloths and a large patio with palm trees and convention center views.
In addition to the tried but true Filet Mignon, Prime New York Strip, and Top Sirloin with Lobster, the restaurant also has dry-aged meats for up to 35 days, like the Prime Kansas City Strip Steak and the 32 oz. Prime Porterhouse!
Not much of a steak person? There’s still a happy hour from 4-6 on Mondays, where you can get discounted cocktails, some apps, and lighter bites to share, like oysters, beer-battered fish and chips, or crab cakes! What’s more, after spending your happy hour here, there are also several places nearby to check out if you’re looking for a speakeasy in San Diego Gaslamp.
Cafe Sevilla
Photo courtesy of Cafe Sevilla
Food, drinks, and live music collide at Cafe Sevilla, one of the top restaurants in the Gaslamp Quarter. Cafe Sevilla serves up authentic Spanish ambiance in their tapas bar, restaurant, and nightclub. You can share paella-style dishes with your group for around $50-$100.
There are endless choices when it comes to the menu — they have 30+ award-winning tapas dishes such as their Spicy Octopus Ceviche, and the Ahi Tuna Tartare Tower, Some of their mouth-watering paellas include the Seafood Paella “Marinera” with clams, shrimp, salmon, prawns, calamari and mussels as well as the Lobster & Iberico Pork Belly Paella with cold water lobster tail, Ibérico pork belly, Ibérico sausage, Ibérico chorizo, clams, calamari & mussels served over black rice and drizzled with romesco aioli.
If you love to dance, join them for live Latin music seven days a week, flamenco dinner shows on the weekend, salsa classes, happy hour, and much more!
Lumi by Akira Back
Get ready for an il-LUMI-nating experience at Lumi, a rooftop restaurant specializing in Japanese and Peruvian-inspired Nikkei cuisine. The gastronomical stylings of Lumi are brought to you by world-renowned celeb chef Akira Back, who is the chef behind the Las Vegas Michelin-starred restaurant Yellowtail in the Bellagio.
Feast on flavorful dishes such as yellowtail pizza, fresh sushi rolls like the Surf and Turf, served with king crab, NY strip, asparagus, avocado, garlic ponzu, and leek miso sauce, and bask in the outdoor views of the Gaslamp District while sipping Akira’s signature cocktails and sake.
You’ll love a night out in this vivid atmosphere with traditional Japanese architecture and vibrant pops of color. The DJ sets the beat and the vibe to enjoy innovative plates and drinks with any company.
Lavo
Another culinary juggernaut located in the Gaslamp Quarter is LAVO San Diego. Located on a prime corner of the Gaslamp neighborhood, this Italian-styled restaurant has an open kitchen, dining room, and a 3-sided bar to watch your favorite sports teams while you dine.
Southern California flair meets old-world Italian flavors with dishes such as their iconic 1 lb. Wagyu Meatball, their brick-oven pizzas like the Angry Maria (Calabrian Chili, Tomato, Vodka Sauce, Basil Pesto, Fresh Mozzarella), Spinach and Artichoke pizza (Mozzarella, Roasted Garlic, Black Olives, Mushroom), and the Funghi (Wild Mushrooms, Blended Mozzarella, Cremini Crema).
If you’re a pasta aficionado, you’ll love their handmade pasta like the Manicotti de la Casa (Ricotta, Mozzarella, Spinach, Pecorino, Marinara) and the Garganelli Melanzana (Tomatoes, Calabrian Chili, Roasted Eggplant, Bufala Mozzarella).
Meze
Via High Rise Life
Get a taste of Greece in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter at Meze Greek Fusion. You’ll get to sample tasty Greek wines as well as a variety of menu items incorporating flavors from all the Greek islands.
“Meze” means small plates, but each of their dishes packs a big punch of flavor. You have many ways to enjoy Meze’s culinary creations — start with small plates with pita and hummus, eat your own individual plate of modern Greek food, or eat family style.
A few of the popular family packs include a pack for 2 ($34.99) or 4 ($58.99), complete with chicken, filet or gyros with rice pilaf, Greek salad, tzatziki, and pita. A few of our drink recommendations are the Septem Microbrewery Greek IPA, and a glass of Rosé of Agiorgitiko (from Nemea, Greece).
We love the food so much here that it’s a stop on our Brothels, Bites, and Booze tour. We’d love to taste Greece with you, so book now to join us! Kalí óreksi! (Good appetite!)
Watergrill
Photo courtesy of Water Grill
Located steps away from Petco Park, Water Grill is one of the premiere seafood restaurants in the Gaslamp Quarter.
Watergrill creates its menus daily from San Diegan fishermen’s catch of the day. Some of their most popular dishes include Spiny Lobster in the Fall and Wild Salmon in the spring.
Everything down to their appetizers places an emphasis on using the freshest catches from the sea — including the Clam Chowder with applewood smoked bacon and the Atlantic Cod Fish Tacos (Beer battered, cabbage slaw, roasted salsa, crema).
If you’re a sushi lover, they’ve got a robust selection of unique rolls to try, including the Honeymoon Oyster (freshly shucked oyster with uni roe, tobiko, ikura, and quail egg) and the Bluefin Toro Tartare (green tea nori, warm sushi rice, quail egg, sweet soy sauce).
In addition to the ever-changing menu of fish entrees, Water Grill has fresh and local shellfish and crustaceans to feast on. If you want to dine at a restaurant paying homage to the long-standing history of San Diegan fishermen, Water Grill is a must!
Lionfish Modern Coastal Cuisine
Take a trip to the Pendry Hotel, one of the best hotels to stay in San Diego Gaslamp District, and enjoy the fresh catch of the day at Lionfish. The two-level seafood restaurant prides itself on fresh catch and sustainable fish under executive chef and San Diego native Jojo Ruiz.
Feast on modern coastal cuisine featuring fresh-catch cooking and seasonal ingredients with a creative twist. In addition to fish and seafood, you can enjoy prime meats as well as fresh appetizers, such as their oysters, perfect for sharing with the group.
A few of the most popular dishes are Specialty “King” Salmon Sashimi (Chili Garlic, Bubu Arare, White Truffle Honey Ponzu, Market Truffle), Spicy Grilled Octopus (Fermented Chile, Crispy Garlic, Crispy Potatoes, Cilantro Aioli), Swordfish Al Pastor (Avocado Chimichurri, Pineapple Shoyu Glaze, Pineapple Aji Panca), and the fresh catch of the day (check their menu!).
Some of the popular entrees are the Wild Mushroom & Potato Gnocchi (Wild Mushroom, California Seaweed, Humboldt Fog, Dashi Pan Sauce) and the Prime Tomahawk Chop (Crispy Potatoes and Onions, LF1, Horsey Ranch, Koji Chimichurri).
Lionfish also specializes in hand-crafted cocktails made by highly experienced mixologists to go along with your seafood fare!
Zama
Latin American and Asian food collide in a setting inspired by the jungles of the Amazon at Zama. This Gaslamp Quarter restaurant is brought to you by the owners of Greystone Steakhouse, Farmers Table, Allegro, and more!
The unique blend of Latin American style food with the addition of Mexican and Peruvian dishes such as ceviche, agua chile, and tartare, as well as a sushi bar, lend themselves as an amazing contrast to the lush jungle-themed restaurant. It’s a great place to dine in during a special occasion.
You can make the experience your own by picking from the menu options from their Raw & Marinated options: ceviche, yellowtail crudo, and tuna sashimi. For Zama Bites to share with the table they have everything from guacamole with uni foam, charred octopus, caviar, and wagyu tartare.
For the “Carnes”, you have everything from Prime Filet Mignon, to Australian Wagyu Strip Loin A-9 and Zama Short Ribs. The JapaZama sushi options vary from everything to a vegetarian roll — with Mushrooms, Kaiware Sprouts, YamaGobo, Avocado, Mango, Asparagus, Soy Paper, and Poblano Sauce, to a Rolls Royce Maki — with Chopped Soft Shell Crab, Asparagus, Avocado, Cotija, Wagyu Strips, Truffle Aioli, Chives, and Deep Fried Onion.
There is no wrong option when it comes to any of the dishes at Zama!
Bandar
A more rarely explored taste is that of Persian food – and you can find it at Bandar in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter. Bandar brings the art form of Persian food’s exotic flavors for everyone to enjoy a light and flavorful meal. Their can’t-miss dishes include the flavors of saffron and lime, and they are also known for their fresh Filet Mignon Beef, Lamb, chicken, vegetables, and basmati rice.
All of their entrees are charbroiled and made with fresh, healthy, and gluten-free ingredients. Start your meal off with Dolmeh (stuffed grape leaves) — which is a mixture of split peas, tarragon, basil, parsley, cilantro, chives, rosemary, and basmati rice, all cooked in grape leaves.
Beef lover? You can’t go wrong with the Filet Mignon Shish Kabob — marinated chunks of filet mignon charbroiled & served with grilled vegetables (tomato, onion & bell pepper). If chicken is more your style, you’ll enjoy the Zereshk Polo — charbroiled Chunks of Chicken Tenderloin served with Rice and Barberry (Sweet & Tart Red Berries). Or, keep it really Persian with their Lamb Shank simmered in fresh tomato-based sauce.
Osteria Panevino
A list of the top dinner restaurants in the Gaslamp Quarter food tours would not be complete without a nod to Little Italy’s slew of Italian restaurants. One of our favorite Italian restaurants in the heart of Gaslamp is Osteria Panevino.
This restaurant has been serving up Italian dishes you’d see at a dinner party in Italy for over 30 years, and the family-style experience has everything to do with the upbringing of Executive Chef and owner of Panevino, Vincenzo Lo Verso, who was born and raised in Sicily where he was surrounded by two things: family and food.
Some of the most popular homestyle dishes on the menu are the Ossobuco Milanese — veal shank slowly braised with red wine over saffron risotto, as well as the Ravioli Aragosta — ravioli stuffed with lobster in a creamy sauce served with asparagus.
Top your meal off with one of their signature cocktails or a glass of wine from their selection of bottles from Italy, France, and New Zealand, to name a few!
We hope this list has you ready to eat your way through the Gaslamp Quarter! If you’d like to have a little help exploring all things Gaslamp, purchase our Gaslamp Quarter Guide or join us on our Gaslamp walking tour — Brothels, Bites, and Booze!
Written by: Melissa
Melissa hails from San Jose, CA, and has been a San Diego local for five years now after a 10-year long pit stop in Los Angeles. In L.A., she began her writing career crafting digital content for a wide range of clients, including The Real Talk Show, Sharon Osbourne, Hank Azaria, Time Life, and Cardinal Financial. She’s excited to be able to use her passion for writing to introduce people to some of the best spots in San Diego, many of which she has already frequented or has on her ever-expanding list of things to do … In her spare time, she enjoys taking her puppy Milo to all of the best dog beaches in SD, grabbing a glass of wine or a cup of joe at new places, and hosting watch parties for The Bachelor/ette TV show.
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