Best Authentic Restaurants in Encanto

104 restaurants available nearby

1. Buona Forchetta

4.6

Exceptional(866)

Price: Moderate

• Italian • South Park

Booked 78 times today

Buona Forchetta, meaning 'Good Fork' in Italian, is an authentic Italian restaurant. It was started by Matteo who wanted to bring his native Italy to San Diego. Customers praise its 'excellent and authentic Italian experience' with simple recipes that 'takes me back to all my travels to Italy'. The restaurant is highly recommended for its 'authentic and delicious' food, 'vibrant atmosphere' and 'excellent service'.

A photo of Cori Pastificio Trattoria restaurant

2. Cori Pastificio Trattoria

4.7

Exceptional(626)

Price: Moderate

• Italian • North Park

Booked 33 times today

Acclaimed Sicilian Chef Accursio Lota serves up authentic cuisine in a cozy 60's-style Italian trattoria. Voted San Diego's Best Chef five years in a row, and Barilla’s World Pasta Champion, at Cori Trattoria Chef Lota serves up beautifully bold dishes like Agnolotti with Spring Peas and Beef Bone Marrow, and an unbelievably rich Vegan Parmigiana di Melanzane. The menu melds the flavors of Sicily and Italy with the best of fresh, locally-sourced Southern California ingredients, and is matched by a curated wine list and cocktail program that include indigenous, bio-dynamic varietals from all Italy. The current Spring menu features dishes like Agnolotti with Spring Peas, fava bean, and beef bone marrow, and Cacio e Pepe with sustainably-sourced Petrovich caviar.Enjoy full-service table seating, grab a place at the marble-topped bar, from which you can watch all the action of your meal being prepared in the open kitchen or just order your meal to enjoy at home with your family.

3. Ciccia Osteria

4.7

Exceptional(190)

Price: Expensive

• Italian • Barrio Logan

Booked 41 times today

Nestled in Barrio Logan, San Diego, Ciccia Osteria is a charming Italian restaurant that invites guests on a culinary journey through Italy. With its warm ambiance, attentive service, and exquisite cuisine, Ciccia Osteria is a beloved destination. Notably, it has won the Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand award in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024Entering Ciccia Osteria, guests are transported to Italy's bustling trattorias. The cozy interior, with small tables, exposed brick walls, and soft lighting, creates an intimate atmosphere perfect for any occasion.Committed to the finest ingredients and traditional techniques, Ciccia Osteria offers handmade pastas, succulent seafood, and tender meats, ensuring an unforgettable dining experience. The curated wine list features Italian and California wines to pair with the menu.Under Chef Mario Cassineri's guidance, Ciccia Osteria is more than a restaurant—it's a destination where guests can savor authentic Italian cuisine and create lasting memories.

4. RustiCucina

4.6

Exceptional(1163)

Price: Moderate

• Contemporary Italian • Hillcrest

Booked 47 times today

Welcome to Rusticucina, where locally sourced ingredients, seasonal dishes and a warm ambiance reign supreme. We are named to reflect the merging of two cultures; American and Sicilian, since our owners are straight out of a small town in Sicily. We invite neighborhood dwellers and visitors to experience our farm-to-neighborhood restaurant unlike any other. Aperitivo, a traditional Italian-style happy hour, leads the way—think sensational small bites, Aperol Spritzes, Negronis and Limoncello. We also offer a full bar and carefully curated craft cocktails, along with an impressive beer and wine list. Our food menu, boasts hearty, rustic cuisine, with pasta made in-house, from scratch, as well palate-pleasing entrees and a slate of pizzas and flat breads. Our tableside service offers a one-of-a-kind, dedicated experience, and their outdoor space is the perfect landing spot for dog lovers and sun worshipers. We even offer a pet menu for furry guests.

5. Siamo Napoli

4.8

Exceptional(1330)

Price: Moderate

• Italian • North Park

Booked 58 times today

Specializing in Napolitano style pizza and pasta. We focus on clean fresh ingredients that thrive in our home land and make simple foods the star. We have a full bar with hand crafted drinks and a range of wines from Napoli and beyond.

A photo of Saint James French Diner restaurant

6. Saint James French Diner

4.6

Exceptional(242)

Price: Expensive

• French American • Downtown / Gaslamp

Booked 17 times today

Saint James French Diner is a real gem in downtown San Diego, serving up a blend of French and American cuisines. Reviewers rave about the authentic French experience, with comments like 'Flavorful food, well-priced, and the menu has a variety of options to choose from' and 'A must-visit'. The food is consistently described as delicious and the ambiance, with its vintage details, is often referred to as beautiful and charming. It's the perfect place for a date night or a night out with friends and family.

A photo of Louisiana Purchase SD restaurant

7. Louisiana Purchase SD

4.6

Exceptional(693)

Price: Expensive

• Creole / Cajun / Southern • North Park

Booked 58 times today

Conveniently set on Louisiana Street in North Park, our design of this intimate cocktail restaurant was inspired by the charm &; character of New Orleans, with creative touches of personal effects giving guests the feeling of warmth, community & fun Architect Jeff Svitak helped create a modern interpretation of a classic French Quarter restaurant, introducing elements of wood, marble &; rich velvet. Our lush patio seating flows seamlessly into our indoor dining space, a nod to the courtyards found across the beautiful southern city.Our rotating food menu will be dedicated to only the best seasonal ingredients, featuring big &; bold flavors from the region. Executive Chef Quinnton Austin recently relocated to San Diego from New Orleans, bringing with him an exciting wealth of knowledge &; experience in the culinary melting pot that defines southern cuisineAlligator Cheesecake, Andouille Fried Red Beans & Rice w/Chipotle Mousse, &

8. CUCINA urbana

4.8

Exceptional(7119)

Price: Moderate

• Italian • Banker's Hill

Booked 54 times today

We are a wine shop inside of a restaurant | Dining and design form the perfect union at San Diego's highly acclaimed CUCINA urbana, a California-inspired Italian kitchen and wine shop, located in the heart of Bankers Hill since 2009. The restaurant boasts comfort and familiarity, welcoming diners to a country farmhouse with the added whimsy of a contemporary art installation.CUCINA urbana is the originator of the CUCINA retail wine program where each dedicated shop allows guests to hand select wines at a retail price, either to enjoy with their meal for a minimal corkage fee or for purchase to-go. The wine list is comprised of many familiar labels as well as rare and small-batch gems, with an emphasis on Italian varietals.

A photo of Zama Restaurant & Bar restaurant

9. Zama Restaurant & Bar

4.0

Excellent(296)

Price: Expensive

• Sushi • Downtown / Gaslamp

Booked 13 times today

Located in San Diego’s vibrant downtown, Zama brings Latin American cuisine with an Asian infusion in a captivating space inspired by the Amazonian jungle. Zama will focus on Latin American cuisine with the addition of Peruvian and Mexican dishes like Carpaccio, Agua Chile and Tartar and a Japanese-inspired sushi bar created by Chef Tayuka Kudo (formerly of Nobu and Lumi) against the extravagant backdrop of the lush jungle-inspired space.

A photo of ARTIFACT at Mingei restaurant

10. ARTIFACT at Mingei

4.8

Exceptional(866)

Price: Expensive

• International • Downtown / Gaslamp

Booked 26 times today

ARTIFACT is a full-service restaurant featuring craft cooking inspired by ancient methods, spices and botanicals located inside the beautiful Mingei Museum at Balboa Park . Offering indoor, outdoor courtyard, and bar seating for lunch Tuesday-Saturday.Crafted by Tim Kolanko, Executive Chef, Urban Kitchen Group, and Tony Coito, ARTIFACT’s Chef de Cuisine, will be a nod to Mingei’s changing international exhibitions in an environment filled with functional, innovative art and design by Jennifer Luce, Founder and Principal of LUCE et studio, who led the design and renovation project. ARTIFACT and CRAFT CAFE at Mingei-the latest additions to restaurateur Tracy Borkum and Executive Chef Tim Kolanko’s CUCINA family of restaurants. An Urban Kitchen Group Concept. CUCINA urbana, enoteca, sorella, UKG Catering, Urban Kitchen at The Ready Shell at Jacobs ParkFollow the journey on social media @Dine.Mingei

‘About the restaurant’ descriptions have been generated using an artificial intelligence model comprised of OpenTable proprietary data that has not been independently verified by OpenTable. The content is presented as-is, for informational purposes only.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

M
mauro
San Diego •1 review
5.0
Dined 1 day ago
I’ll definitely come back..from the frittura di calamari to the panna cotta with in between maddalene al tartufo it was excellent. Truly a typical Italian restaurant …
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Ciccia OsteriaPrice: Expensive• Italian• Barrio Logan
•
4.7
R
Richard
San Diego •1 review
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
There are a lot of Italian restaurants in San Diego, but this is perhaps one of the best ones I have recently discovered! The flavor and presentation of these dishes were amazing! The service was also incredible, our server was amazing, things were brought to us in a. Timely manner and she made fabulous recommendations! 10/10 would HIGHLY reccomend!
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Cori Pastificio TrattoriaPrice: Moderate• Italian• North Park
•
4.7
L
LeviVIP
Columbus •6 reviews
5.0
Dined 5 days ago
Outstanding neighborhood gem. Service and food were exceptional. Terrific neopolitan pizza and fresh pasta.
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Siamo NapoliPrice: Moderate• Italian• North Park
•
4.8
M
Matthew
San Diego •4 reviews
5.0
Dined 6 days ago
Great meal as always! Love the food here and will certainly be back. I had the pork chop and risotto special which was fantastic. Others in our group also loved their choices. We brought a bottle of wine and the corkage fee was $25. It was a bit on the loud side for a table of 8 to hear each other, but in a way that's part of the experience.
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Buona ForchettaPrice: Moderate• Italian• South Park
•
4.6
J
Jeff
San Diego •1 review
5.0
Dined on 2 Jan 2025
My wife and I went there for our anniversary. We chose this one because of its high ranking (near 5 stars across multiple platforms.) BELIEVE THE HYPE! Beautifully decorated space - open floor but it still works (a genius installed sound proofing on the ceiling so voices wouldn’t bounce and echo) Really friendly welcoming service. And the food! - Calamari that is lightly breaded so when you bite into it - you get mostly calamari! Meatballs seasoned so well. Tomato sauce just the right consistency. I had a parpadelle with short rib and truffle oil. This usually makes me nervous as truffle is a really strong flavor and can overpower. They absolutely NAILED it. Same with my wife who got the cheese wheel. Rich, full of flavor. Fresh pasta. So GOOD! OH! And I almost forgot - I got the Copper Fig as a mock tail because I don’t drink. Absolute heaven. I love places that can serve good, thoughtful non alcoholic drinks. A little on the pricey side ($35 per entree, so it’s easy to go $60-70 per person) - but so effin’ worth it!
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RustiCucinaPrice: Moderate• Contemporary Italian• Hillcrest
•
4.6

Best Authentic Restaurants in Encanto

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104 restaurants available nearby

1. Buona Forchetta

2. Cori Pastificio Trattoria

3. Ciccia Osteria

4. RustiCucina

5. Siamo Napoli

6. Saint James French Diner

7. Louisiana Purchase SD

8. CUCINA urbana

9. Zama Restaurant & Bar

10. ARTIFACT at Mingei

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