Best Fun Restaurants in Hillcrest

280 restaurants available nearby

1. Cocina de Barrio

4.8

Exceptional(425)

Price: Moderate

• Mexican • Hillcrest

Booked 18 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

4.2

Awesome(83)

Price: Moderate

• Creole / Cajun / Southern • Hillcrest

Booked 5 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.

A photo of Ortega's A Mexican Bistro restaurant

3. Ortega's A Mexican Bistro

4.6

Exceptional(1016)

Price: Moderate

• Mexican • Hillcrest

Booked 5 times today

Ortega’s Mexican Bistro features the authentic flavors of Puerto Nuevo. Experience Baja style lobster and table side guacamole while sipping one of our classic fresh squeezed margaritas. Enjoy dining in our restaurant or for a more energized evening, dine in our bar - La Cantina. Additional flavors include Banana Crusted Huachinango, Flat Iron Steak Burrito, Chicken Mole. The design captures the festive traditions and tasteful flavors of Puerto Nuevo and Baja California.

4. insideOUT

4.8

Exceptional(2359)

Price: Expensive

• Californian • Hillcrest

Booked 81 times today

insideOUT is Hillcrest's elevated restaurant and lounge, and San Diego's only urban oasis! We are an 18+ venue.Reservations for our upcoming "Sweetheart Experience" are now open! The Experience will be February 5th - 16th!Our menu is curated by Executive Chef Johnny Duran and is updated seasonally to reflect his creative approach to California-Mediterranean inspired fare, using the freshest ingredients provided by our local purveyors.Aside from our impeccable hospitality, insideOUT is known for their over-the-top seasonal experiences. We also provide customized private event planning with venue buyout options. More information can be found on our website.

5. Seneca

4.7

Exceptional(4239)

Price: Expensive

• Italian • Downtown

Booked 144 times today

Roman trattorias are a timeless expression of simplicity. Immune to the lure of gastronomic experimentation and ego. In Rome, no chef can cook better than the mothers and grandmothers before them. Our goal is to merge the dogmatic approach of Roman cooking with the amazing abundance of ingredients available to us in San Diego. A True Roman Holiday In SD. A 4% surcharge is added to all guest checks.

6. Juniper & Ivy

4.6

Exceptional(8074)

Price: Expensive

• Unspecified • Little Italy

Booked 90 times today

Juniper & Ivy is a blast, with a menu that's as creative as it is delicious. Reviews rave about the 'inventive food', 'interesting decor', and 'thoughtfully curated ambiance'. It's a spot where you can try new things, like a 'reworking of old culinary favorites'. Plus, the service is top-notch, making it an unforgettable dining experience. The restaurant's commitment to using locally sourced, seasonal ingredients is another feather in its cap. It's a must-visit for foodies and anyone who loves a cool vibe.

7. Mister A's

4.9

Exceptional(8712)

Price: Very Expensive

• Contemporary French / American • Downtown

Booked 67 times today

Mister A's is the perfect spot for a special occasion or a night out. With its stunning views of San Diego's skyline and bay, it's a treat to dine in. Reviewers rave about the 'spectacular views, elegant atmosphere, and professional, friendly service'. The food and drinks are consistently praised as 'exceptional' and 'delicious'. The restaurant also boasts one of Wine Spectator's top-rated wine lists in the country, so you know you're in for a treat!

8. Barbusa

4.6

Exceptional(4325)

Price: Moderate

• Italian • Little Italy

Booked 80 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!

9. Herb & Wood

4.6

Exceptional(6499)

Price: Expensive

• Californian • Little Italy

Booked 92 times today

A timeless, sought-after dining escape, celebrated Chef Brian Malarkey opened Herb & Wood to instant acclaim over four years ago. In that time, the restaurant has become an icon, a dining destination that has helped to propel San Diego's culinary reputation to new heights. By focusing on rustic, wood-fired dishes, Chef Malarkey's menu elevates humble ingredients such as carrots, beets, and chicken, incorporating Mediterranean flavors and a California ethos of seasonality and sustainability.

10. MOTHERSHIP

4.8

Exceptional(347)

Price: Moderate

• Tapas / Small Plates • North Park

Booked 40 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.

‘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

A
Andrea
San Diego •1 review
5.0
Dined today
Will definitely be returning I fell in love with the place and the food.
More info
SenecaPrice: Expensive• Italian• Downtown / Gaslamp
•
4.7
I
Ian
San Francisco Bay Area •1 review
5.0
Dined 1 day ago
We really loved the space! It had a great, almost club like atmosphere. I ordered the filet mignon, which I had to cook table side. It was brought to me on a hot stone. It came with rustic potatoes, best potatoes I ever had. My fiance ordered the chicken breast, the chicken was very bland and dry, he was pretty disappointed. Over all great experience, staff was very friendly, will come back.
More info
insideOUTPrice: Expensive• Californian• Hillcrest
•
4.8
J
JohnVIP
Phoenix / Arizona •5 reviews
5.0
Dined 6 days ago
fast service excellent food quality and reasonable prices
More info
Ortega's A Mexican BistroPrice: Moderate• Mexican• Hillcrest
•
4.6
I
Indra
Mexico City •1 review
5.0
Dined on 1 Jan 2025
The food at Cosina de Barrio was incredible—each dish was packed with authentic, rich flavors that truly felt like a taste of home. The ingredients were fresh, and the preparation was spot on. Every bite was a celebration of traditional flavors. The drinks, though, were a bit too inflexible for my taste; they lacked the creativity and variety I was hoping for.
More info
Cocina de BarrioPrice: Moderate• Mexican• Hillcrest
•
4.8
S
Slim
San Diego •1 review
5.0
Dined on 3 Dec 2024
Reservations or walk in, even to-go, either way the food is delicious. Angie was excellent. She didn't hover around us yet she showed up when she needed! Great food and we were serviced with a smile!
More info
NOLA on 5thPrice: Moderate• Creole / Cajun / Southern• Hillcrest
•
4.2

Best Fun Restaurants in Hillcrest

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280 restaurants available nearby

1. Cocina de Barrio

2. NOLA on 5th

3. Ortega's A Mexican Bistro

4. insideOUT

5. Seneca

6. Juniper & Ivy

7. Mister A's

8. Barbusa

9. Herb & Wood

10. MOTHERSHIP

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