Diners' Choice: Neighborhood gem restaurants in San Diego

OpenTable

Updated April 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are the best neighborhood gems in San Diego? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Parma Cucina Italiana

4.8

4.8 (127)

$30 and under

Italian

Hillcrest

About the restaurant

Known for the Best Lasagna in San Diego, Parma Cucina Italiana is a charming and cozy family run Italian restaurant in the heart of Historic Hillcrest.

Our traditional Italian cuisine is inspired by generations of home cooking, fresh ingredients, and simple presentations. Our specialties originate from Northern Italy. The must try lasagna is decadent layers of Bolognese and béchamel sauce. Or try our tortellini with cream and prosciutto, or our pappardelle pasta tossed with slow braised short rib and porcini mushrooms.

We have an extensive wine collection with wines from the best regions of Italy. And an Italian meal wouldn’t be complete without our homemade desserts. We suggest tiramisu and profiteroles alla nutella.

Top review

Stephen

Dined 2 days ago

Thanks yummy 3rd visit……..zzz..zzzzzzzzzzzcccccccccc

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Bazille - Nordstrom University Town Center

4.8

4.8 (193)

$30 and under

American

La Jolla

About the restaurant

Enjoy a delightful dining experience at Nordstrom restaurants, where you can savor chef inspired dishes, using locally sourced and sustainable ingredients. Come and try our signature handcrafted soups, entrees and desserts and pair it with a Nordstrom crafted cocktail, wine or beer. Call (858) 812-3582 to place your order or get delivery via DoorDash or Uber Eats. Offering Brunch until 3pm on Saturdays & Sundays.

Top review

AntoniaVIP

Dined on Apr 13, 2025

The service is always perfect. Friendliest people working at here.

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Experience

Wine Wednesdays

Experience

Weekend Brunch 11am-3pm

Experience

Happy Hour at the Bazille!

Nado Republic

4.8

4.8 (720)

$30 and under

Italian

Coronado

About the restaurant

YOUR LIVING ROOM AWAY FROM HOME EST. IN 2018 NADO REPUBLIC IS A PLACE WHERE YOU MEET WITH FRIENDS , TASTE SOME WINE COMBINED WITH TRADITIONAL ITALIAN FOODS

Top review

Tim

Dined 7 days ago

We also enjoy dining at Nado Republic. The food is always outstanding. We shared a nice red wine, the bread basket, a lovely spinach salad, and the mushroom-sausage pizza. All good!

The Switchboard Restaurant and Bar

4.8

4.8 (19)

$30 and under

Hawaiian

Oceanside

About the restaurant

A Hawaiian Inspired Cuisine nestled in a Historic Oceanside Hotel.

Top review

TeresaVIP

Dined on Apr 4, 2025

Chloe was awesome – even though they were short staffed, Chloe took excellent care of us and was both friendly and efficient. Our twin granddaughters loved their food and Hudson, our dog, loved her pup cup. Thank you, Chloe for making our lunch with our twins so special and fun!

The Space Pad

4.8

4.8 (66)

$30 and under

Speakeasy

Oceanside

About the restaurant

At The Space Pad expect to find cocktails with flavored smoke bubbles floating on top of your drink, cocktails that look like a lava lamp in your hand, change color as you drink, fruit suspensions, and spherified cocktails that you actually eat rather than drink, similar to giant boba pods each individually filled with cocktail ingredients that bursts with flavor and booze when you bite into it.

Reservations offer a 90-minute experience. WALK-INS WELCOME - Reservations not available? We always set aside space to accommodate walk-ins, first come, first served. And before or after your experience at The Space Pad you're welcome to join us at Kilowatt Brewing for our award winning craft beers, hard seltzers, adult slushies, and a bite to eat!

Top review

RandallVIP

Dined 2 days ago

A huge and fun experience. We took some new people here and they had a blast! This is a reservation only kind of place as it is tiny. Drinks are amazing and our servers were superb! Just go and have a blast!

Ketch Grill & Taps - Portside Pier

4.7

4.7 (154)

$30 and under

American

Downtown

About the restaurant

Ketch Tasting Deck offers a full-service dining experience on the 2nd floor at Portside Pier with stunning views overlooking San Diego Bay!
Brought to you by the Brigantine Family of Restaurants. For generations our family has created unforgettable experiences true to the San Diego lifestyle at our Brigantine & Miguel’s restaurants. We’ve hosted countless celebrations and poured many a round for the happiest of hours.
WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT MAKES FOR THE BEST MEMORIES AND THE BEERS THAT CAPTURE THE FEELING. IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE WE CRAFTED OUR OWN AND PUT THEM ON TAP.
From beer aficionados to casual drinkers, we’ve got everyone covered with our easy-to-love (and drink) brews made for making memories!

Top review

Richard

Dined on Apr 20, 2025

Good food, great location, service was sub-par. Overall, a nice day night location.

La Doña

4.7

4.7 (14)

$30 and under

Mexican

Point Loma

About the restaurant

Located just steps from the Pacific Ocean, La Doña brings vibrant Mexican flavors to the coast with fresh ingredients and a modern twist to Ocean Beach. From house-made classics to bold takes on traditional favorites, every bite is crafted with care and authenticity. Pair your meal with hand-crafted cocktails, a carefully curated selection of San Diego’s finest craft beers, or a refreshing classic Mexican cerveza. Whether you’re gathering for family dinner, toasting with friends, or simply savoring the moment, La Doña is where great food, good vibes, and unforgettable memories come together.

Top review

SteveVIP

Dined on Apr 15, 2025

It was good. The food was good and the drinks were great. The service was also good. I would come back again.

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Experience

Cinco de Mayo Weekend Fiesta!

4.7

4.7 (105)

$30 and under

American

Lemon Grove

About the restaurant

In addition to offering comforting American favorites, our menu provides a selection of flavors inspired by our chef’s culinary experiences, ranging from classic Spanish fare to Italian favorites. Our menu changes seasonally to feature the freshest ingredients and provide an exciting dining experience throughout the year.

The Lemon Grove Bistro is in a historic mission-style building in the heart of Lemon Grove. Since 1912, it’s been a place where locals meet and build connections, whether they were picking up their mail at the Sonka General Store in 1944 or ordering custom cakes at the Grove Pastry Shop in 2012.

Come for the food. Stay to experience the inviting ambiance of the historic building and its new garden. Let’s build community--together.

Top review

Ellen

Dined 5 days ago

Carli and Trevor our servers were great. Food was delicious. Dessert was Brown Butter Cake with Caramel and Vanilla Gelato. To die for. Will definitely be back. Thank you.

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Experience

Weekday Happy Hour

P.F. Chang's - Chula Vista

4.6

4.6 (233)

$30 and under

Chinese

Chula Vista / Bonita

About the restaurant

We are an Asian & Chinese restaurant offering dine-in, takeout, to-go, delivery, and catering. Make a reservation online to dine in. Order Asian and Chinese food delivery, takeout, and catering online or through the P.F. Chang's mobile app. Let us cater the perfect feast for you - corporate office catering menus are also available. P.F. Chang's offers a variety of signature Asian, Thai, Korean, Japanese, Mongolian, and Chinese food dishes including Chicken Lettuce Wraps, Chicken Pad Thai, Signature Lo Mein, Fried Rice, Mongolian Beef, Chang's Spicy Chicken, and Pork and Shrimp Dumplings. Order online for sushi delivery and takeout. Many gluten-free and vegetarian menu items are available. Try our seasonal cocktails and seasonal menu items.

Top review

DavidVIP

Dined on Apr 6, 2025

Service was good and the food was ok. Teriyaki chicken was a bunch of tiny bits of deep fried chicken. Only 2 real chunks of chicken. Almost like we got the left overs at the bottom of the bag. It was like popcorn chicken and all batter.

Harney Sushi Poway

4.6

4.6 (63)

$30 and under

Sushi

Poway / Rancho Bernardo

About the restaurant

Experience the taste of high quality sushi with a trendy Neo-Asian inspired décor. Harney stands as the top sushi bar and dining destination in San Diego. It's as fresh and innovative as you desire. Here, the spirit of experimentation mingles with joyful revelry, where top-notch dining expertise meets vibrant charm and flair. Our establishment features a private VIP area and an array of over 30 specialty rolls crafted and named by devoted fans. It's a symphony for your taste buds, nourishment for your soul. Since 2001, we take pride in presenting our award-winning, sustainable sushi cuisine rooted in Southern California.

Top review

CindyVIP

Dined on Apr 5, 2025

Always wonderful! Food and service never disappoint. Last night I tried their crispy rice appetizer for the first time and it is now a favorite item! Great atmosphere if you want a fun night out without the drive downtown. I love that this gem is less than 15 minutes from home.

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