Best Casual Restaurants in Hillcrest

Price

€€
€€€
€€€€

Cuisine

AmericanItalianSteakhouseSeafoodFrenchIndian

Regions

East CountySan Diego

Areas

Banker's HillBarrio LoganBay ParkChula Vista / BonitaCollege AreaCoronado

Top Rated

CharmingDog-friendlyFancyGood for business mealsGood for groupsGood for special occasions

Dining Options

All dining options

Delivery only

Takeaway only

Seating options

BarCounterStandardHigh TopOutdoor

Award-winning

MICHELIN

Accessibility

Gender-neutral toiletWheelchair access

205 restaurants available nearby

1. Cocina de Barrio

4.8

Exceptional(428)

€€€€Price: Moderate

• Mexican • Hillcrest

Booked 7 times today

*Brunch hours are on a walk-in basis only. Thank you for your cooperation & support during this time!Cocina de Barrio by Chef Jose J. FloresBienvenidos a Cocina de Barrio, the newest modern-urban Mexican restaurant located in Hillcrest, San Diego! We are proud to feature the culinary richness of Oaxaca as well as other Mexican regions. Stop by and enjoy our bar stocked with plenty tequila and mezcal selections, MUCHA cerveza, and wines sourced from Valle Guadalupe. Don't forget to join us during our daily brunch (where we add a Mexican kick) and our happy hour every Tuesday-Friday from 3-5pm! Stay Chido!

2. NOLA on 5th

4.5

Awesome(85)

€€€€Price: Moderate

• Creole / Cajun / Southern • Hillcrest

Booked 4 times today

NOLA on 5th brings the flavors and spirit of New Orleans dining to San Diego. You will find a casual bar and outdoor patio downstairs, with a more upscale experience in our upstairs room overlooking bustling 5th Avenue in San Diego's famous Hillcrest neighborhood. We've been featured on Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, as well as on A&E and The Travel Channel.Chef Andrew Boyer, a long-time New Orleans resident, has left no detail untouched in our food, from ingredients to presentation. You will find all of the traditional NOLA favorites here like jambalaya, gumbo, po'boys, red beans and rice, and more. We fly our bread in from Leidenheimer's bakery in Louisiana, and we'd love to serve you a delicious Abita beer with your meal. And while they are in season, be sure to stop by for one of our Louisiana crawfish boils, which are some of our busiest and most fun days of the year.

3. C-Level

4.7

Exceptional(5042)

€€€€Price: Moderate

• Cocktail Bar • Downtown

Booked 136 times today

Resting on stilts atop San Diego By C Level Lounge, is an upscale-casual lounge on the waterfront overlooking the city skyline and Coronado.

4. Barbusa

4.6

Exceptional(4358)

€€€€Price: Expensive

• Italian • Little Italy

Booked 82 times today

Barbusa Local Modern Sicilian Restaurant.Lively atmosphere with our craft cocktails, handmade pastas, freshest seafood, delicate pizza, and our famous Sicilian Ribeye.Pizza Served from our stone fired oven.Gluten free and Vegan Items AvailableWHILE WE VALUE THE TIME OF ALL OUR LOYAL GUEST AND SMILING FACES, WE KINDLY REQUEST YOU LIMIT THE TIME SPENT AT YOUR TABLE TO 1 HOUR AND 30 MIN DUE TO MANDATED REDUCTION IN CAPACITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT, WE COULDNT BE MORE THRILLED TO HAVE YOU DINE WITH US!

A photo of Benihana - San Diego, CA restaurant

5. Benihana - San Diego, CA

3.9

Excellent(7544)

€€€€Price: Moderate

• Japanese • Mission Valley

Booked 173 times today

Welcome to Benihana, a dining experience unlike any other! Our guests are seated at communal tables in groups, where your personal chef will perform the ancient art of Teppanyaki. Watch as we slice and dice, preparing a meal that will dazzle your eyes as well taste buds, whether you choose mouth-watering steak, tender chicken or succulent seafood. You can also enjoy sushi prepared by a talented sushi chef and indulge in a specialty cocktail.

A photo of Ironside Fish & Oyster restaurant

6. Ironside Fish & Oyster

4.6

Exceptional(4616)

€€€€Price: Moderate

• Seafood • Little Italy

Booked 96 times today

Little Italy was built by the fishing industry. Ironside attempts to continue that narrative. It's our contemporary interpretation of the classic fish house and oyster bar. Located in a historic auction house on India St we did a full comprehensive restoration of the building, with three open-air culinary hubs featuring an expansive raw bar, chefs table, and bakery. We tried to be mindful of the past while looking towards the future. Groups of 6 or more will be charged an automatic 20% gratuity. A 4% surcharge will be added to all guest checks.Ironside is now taking reservations for patio and dining room seating. We are now offering Happy Hour MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM 3:00PM - 5:00PM.

A photo of Parc Bistro-Brasserie restaurant

7. Parc Bistro-Brasserie

4.8

Exceptional(3175)

€€€€Price: Moderate

• French • Banker's Hill

Booked 38 times today

Listed as one of OpenTable’s “100 Best Neighborhood Gems in America for 2021”, Parc Bistro is located in the center of beautiful Bankers Hill, just minutes away from everything San Diego has to offer. We have an incredible wine menu, creative craft cocktails, dedicated, attentive, warm, and knowledgeable service, a fantastic heated patio and Multi-Award Winning Cuisine. We are a seafood focused French Bistro that offers both classic French cuisine and globally inspired dishes. Don't miss our Famous Brunch, Voted "Best Brunch in San Diego!"Once you visit us once…you’ll want to become a regular!Offering Private Events Spaces that can accommodate anything from 10-150 guests, Parc Bistro is an excellent choice for your next event! We specialize in birthday parties, baby showers, wedding rehearsal dinners, corporate events, family gathering and more. We know how to make each event special. Sit back, relax, and let us take care of the details! Email jenny@parcbb.com for inquires

8. Roman Wolves

4.6

Exceptional(371)

€€€€Price: Moderate

• Contemporary Italian • Little Italy

Booked 45 times today

"Roman Wolves is more than a bar and restaurant; it's a celebration of epicurean tapestry of what Italians call the Eternal City" said Nino Cusimano. "We've created our own take on the enduring essence of Rome's legacy and it's significant historical, cultural, and culinary impacts on the Italian food scene"

9. MOTHERSHIP

4.7

Exceptional(386)

€€€€Price: Moderate

• Tapas / Small Plates • North Park

Booked 45 times today

Tropical space adventure in South Park! Exotic cocktails. Interplanetary fusion small plates. Named Best Bars In America by Esquire Magazine. Reservations offer 90-minute experience like no other, venturing towards the outer limits of the tropical flavor galaxy! WALK INS WELCOME - Walk-in tables are available daily. Early arrival is encouraged and there is a paging system in the event of a waitlist.

10. Cellar Hand

4.6

Exceptional(128)

€€€€Price: Expensive

• Farm-to-table • Hillcrest

Booked 6 times today

Nestled in the heart of Hillcrest, San Diego, Cellar Hand embodies a commitment to sustainability, craftsmanship, and community. Through a farm-to-table approach, our menu showcases hyper-local seasonal fare. Our extensive wine list highlights the diverse terroir of California, serving as an extension of founder’s Pali Wine Co. Santa Barbara County winery. By fostering deep connections with local artisans, farmers, fishers, and stewards, Cellar Hand strives to be a destination where guests can savor the essence of California’s bounty in every bite and sip.Enjoy our exposed kitchen, an indoor-outdoor bar, outdoor fire pits, and artwork by Nick Perr. Opened Wednesday - Sunday with daily happy hour specials and Sunday brunch!

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

T
Tom
1 review
5.0
Dined today
Great food and great service! It was a great experience!
More info
BarbusaPrice: Expensive• Italian• Little Italy
•
4.6
S
Susie
San Diego •7 reviews
4.0
Dined 1 day ago
My French Onion Soup, made GF for me, was the best I have ever had. The avocado, crab, and Ahi stack was a bit disappointing. On the whole we all enjoyed our time there.
More info
C-LevelPrice: Moderate• Cocktail Bar• Downtown / Gaslamp
•
4.7
A
AbbyVIP
New York City •41 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
Really good food and drinks! A quick meal because we were short on time, it was easy to get a reservation. I’ve also been here for brunch and it was just as delicious! Definitely recommend!
More info
Cocina de BarrioPrice: Moderate• Mexican• Hillcrest
•
4.8
C
ClaudiaVIP
San Diego •7 reviews
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
Waitress Erin and Chef Jesse are a dynamic duo who made our dinner experience at Benihana the best we’ve ever had! Erin was so attentive to us all, even on one of the busiest days of the year, Valentine's Day. Chef Jesse was a great entertainer, and his food was delicious! This was the first time my kiddo had no leftovers. We had the best time ever, and the food was terrific! Thank you, Erin and Jesse; you guys are the best!
More info
Benihana - San Diego, CAPrice: Moderate• Japanese• Mission Valley
•
3.9
S
Susan
Washington, D.C. Area •8 reviews
4.0
Dined 5 days ago
It's a small place with the front space filled with the bar. It was so cold that we had to keep our coats and fleece on! The food was hot, tasty and came out quickly. We would definitely eat there again.
More info
NOLA on 5thPrice: Moderate• Creole / Cajun / Southern• Hillcrest
•
4.5

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