Diners' Choice: Neighborhood gem restaurants in North San Diego

OpenTable

Updated March 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are the best neighborhood gems in North 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!

Aqua Mare Cucina Italiana

4.8

4.8 (1357)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Del Mar

About the restaurant

***AQUA MARE CUCINA ITALIANA ***

Aqua Mare Cucina Italiana by Villa Capri in Del Mar offers a menu inspired by responsibly sourced local food. It's a place to enjoy fresh, delicious plates and relax watching our beautiful view of the lagoon and the ocean. In addition to fresh fish and seafood, Aqua Mare Cucina Italiana in Del Mar serves fresh homemade pasta, risotto, chicken, steak and vegetarian options. It is open for dinner Monday through Sunday from 4pm to 9pm, and for lunch Sunday from 12:00pm to 3:00pm. Aqua Mare Cucina Italiana in Del Mar also has a large bar area with HD TVs, a Private Room and Private Patios that can be booked for banquets and private events

Top review

RichardVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Delicious food and excellent service....bar and table were excellent. We look forward to returning.... a new found favorite.

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Popular dish

Salmon

Gregorio's Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (370)

$30 and under

Italian

Carlsbad

About the restaurant

Located in downtown Carlsbad is our Italian kitchen, Gregorio’s. Formerly known as Spirito’s, we have been serving up delicious Italian food for almost 25 years. It was originally created by an East Coast couple as a way to share their family recipes. From the beginning we have had loyal clientele that continue to dine with us today. In fact, it was from being loyal customers that we decided to purchase the restaurant. We have always considered it to be our “kitchen away from home”. In 2004, Gregorio’s replaced the name but kept the family recipes we loved so much as guests and have added more of our own. Plus a much more extensive wine list & full bar! We want to encourage you to come, have a meal with us and experience our Italian kitchen. It is our hope that you will make it your own “kitchen away from home”. Our goals are simple

Top review

MikeVIP

Dined 6 days ago

We were there to see the band and it was a great afternoon. Ava was our server and she was stellar!

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4.8

4.8 (57)

$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

Jasmine

Dined on Feb 15, 2025

The food is Outstanding, by far the best sushi place I’ve been to. Every single one of the items we ordered tasted amazing.

En Fuego Cantina and Grill

4.7

4.7 (289)

$30 and under

Mexican

Del Mar

About the restaurant

En Fuego Cantina & Grill in Del Mar is one of the original restaurants in the Village. It was established in 1995 and has been serving delicious Mexican cuisine and amazing margarita's ever since. Open daily for lunch and dinner, serving Happy Hour 7 days a week from 4pm to 6pm and Taco Tuesday every week from 4:30 till close.

En Fuego Cantina and Grill has an expansive menu with classic favorites like fresh guacamole and chips, carnitas, fajitas and enchiladas. Try one of the house specials like the Chile rellenos, a traditional recipe, with battered and stuffed Anaheim chilis topped with tomatillo sauce and a three-cheese blend.

Top review

CyndieVIP

Dined on Feb 28, 2025

They have the best shrimp burritos! The salsa is amazing too!

The Switchboard Restaurant and Bar

4.7

4.7 (16)

$30 and under

Hawaiian

Oceanside

About the restaurant

A Hawaiian Inspired Cuisine nestled in a Historic Oceanside Hotel.

Top review

BelindaVIP

Dined on Jan 26, 2025

Had enjoyed twice previously for dinner, but this was the first time for a Sunday breakfast/brunch. Menus are limited but beautifully executed. Rebecca’s service was friendly and fabulous plus she was working on her birthday. Her upbeat personality is infectious. One of our 4 diners has to be gluten free and although the menu items are not marked, Rebecca was very knowledgeable about menu & prep and offered to bring a fruit bowl instead of the breakfast potatoes. It was huge, fresh and delicious. The Hawaiian breakfast plate was great & even the spam nonbelievers in our group were impressed. The table seating is quite limited so we were glad to have reserved our table for 4. The restaurant still has the retro switchboard decor, an homage to the telephone operators who worked in the building during the 40s as Oceanside was exploding in growth with the establishment of Camp Pendleton. The restaurant is located in the Historic Fin Hotel, now a Hilton Tapestry Collection, boutique hotel. Opened in 1927 & having colorful history and several owner & name changes, most recently The Dolphin. It was one of the first seaside hotels to have hot & cold running water & steam heating in each of its rooms. From modern, to seedy, to almost destroyed in a 2015 fire, to reborn in 2016, if you enjoy a restaurant/building with retro cool history and great Hawaiian/Korean food, you’ll enjoy The Switchboard. The ambiance of the Fin Hotel building and the coffeehouse next to the restaurant are added pluses.

Cococabana

4.7

4.7 (216)

$31 to $50

Tapas / Small Plates

Oceanside

About the restaurant

We operate on a first come, first serve seating policy. For parties of 6 or more, please visit us on OpenTable or visit our Events Page to inquire about special events & parties.

Housed on the Brick’s 2,100-square-foot rooftop is the Cococabana Bar, a Caribbean-style cocktail bar with its own menu of small bites.

Top review

Khalil

Dined on Mar 1, 2025

Loved this place; we had a great experience. The employees that helped us were very hospitable. Thank you.

Hunter Steakhouse - Oceanside

4.6

4.6 (1009)

$30 and under

Steakhouse

Oceanside

About the restaurant

Welcome to Hunter Steakhouse "serving the best Prime Rib in Town". We embrace our 40 year tradition as a classic steakhouse while continually renewing our commitment to small town hospitality. when you visit us in the City of Oceanside, our staff looks forward to serving you with a smile. We know that you'll find our award winning Prime Rib, hand carved steaks and chops, fresh seafood, and many other home made dishes to your liking. From our table side salad bar to our home made soups and sauces we take a great deal of pride in offering you only the freshest ingredients. We're truly honored to have you as our guests. You're family, You're invited.

Top review

Richard

Dined 2 days ago

Great steak and prime rib. Fantastic service, especially from Latia!

Puntamar

4.6

4.6 (14)

$31 to $50

Mexican

Encinitas

About the restaurant

Puntamar is more than just a restaurant; it’s an authentic experience celebrating quality in every detail. Here, fun and excellence merge to create unforgettable moments for our customers. Discover the true essence of Mexican cuisine, crafted with authentic ingredients and genuine flavors.

Top review

Mary

Dined 6 days ago

Outstanding, friendly service and they've done a nice job with the space. Even though it's sort of indoor/outdoor, it was very toasty and comfortable on a cold night.

Coya Peruvian Secret

4.4

4.4 (662)

$30 and under

Peruvian

Del Mar

About the restaurant

Located next to Del Mar beach on 11th street, Coya Peruvian Secret Restaurant offers award winning gourmet Peruvian- Cali fusion Peruvian cuisine in charming cottage house under a tree. All seats are outside tucked in greenery so its in all casual seating. Voted best Seafood by locals and best Latin American in SD we are primally seafood place but we also proudly serve great meat choices, like our surf and turf with Rib Eye, traditional Lomo with Filet mignon, lamb stew with New Zealand lamb, excellent short rib with sweet potatoes and Peruvian half roasted chicken. If you seeking cozy color full vibe full of magic for a date or family reunion we are perfect choice. You will astonish your party with unforgettable flavors. Take them of a gourmet trip to Peru and back tonight.

Top review

Larry

Dined on Feb 23, 2025

Coya Peruvian is a very authentic Peruvian Restaurant with amazing food, drinks and ambiance. Be sure to have a Pisco Sour to start (just like in Peru) and the Ceviche. Rodrigo is amazing!

Urbana Del Mar

4.2

4.2 (157)

$30 and under

Contemporary Mexican

Carmel Valley

About the restaurant

Its ‘Dia de los Muertos’ every day at URBANA, the Skydeck's most colorful restaurant. Farm Fresh Mexican Chef inspired plates. Complementing the menu, URBANA’S sexy departure on craft cocktails featuring Tequila and Mezcal favorites as well as top shelf agave spirits. Massive smiling murals a tribute to owner Javier Cuadra's Michoacán upbringing where ‘Dia de los Muertos’ is celebrated to define URBANA.

Top review

FJVIP

Dined on Feb 22, 2025

This restaurant can get very, very cold because of the open window at the bar area. The kind and amiable bartender eventually closed the window roll-up and our experience got a whole lot better. Although our food was delicious and our drinks very refreshing, we did have to wait a long time to get our check as well.

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Experience

URBANA hora feliz

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