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Where to Find San Diego’s Most Iconic Foods

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This advertising content was produced in collaboration between Vox Creative and our sponsor, without involvement from Vox Media editorial staff.

When searching for a destination to escape your winter woes, San Diego is sure to be at the top of your list — and it’s hard to argue with its stats. Sunny and warm temperatures year-round? Check. Ideal location on the coast, with ocean views to beat? Check. A well-rounded restaurant scene with epic dishes to spare? Check.

If you love farm-to-table freshness, seafood, and tacos (as if that were a question), we bet you might just flip for dining in San Diego. The JetBlue Card is offering travelers throughout the U.S. the chance to “Flip the Forecast” for a change in scenery.* Here’s where to find the foods that put the city on the national dining map.

*The JetBlue Card Flip the Forecast promotion has ended. To learn more about the JetBlue Card, visit JetBlueCard.com.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

The Nest Coffee & Tea

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This Ocean Beach cafe tucked behind a home goods store selling local artisan wares specializes in creative, health-oriented coffee drinks like the Americoco, which blends espresso shots with coconut water. It also features the city’s best acai bowl, with fixings like matcha powder, bee pollen, homemade nut butters, coconut and much more paired with unsweetened acai.

Good Time Poke

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This mostly take-out poke joint specializes in mainland-style poke, meaning a more modern kind of Hawaiian marinated fish and rice. Guests pick from a list of different fish, like big eye tuna, albacore, spicy tuna, Skuna Bay salmon, or octopus. Then, they select a marinade along with toppings, which include scallions, cucumbers, pickled shiitake and more. And a bonus: Those who come after sundown can access the Grass Skirt, the speakeasy tiki bar attached to the restaurant.

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Tacos El Gordo

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Like the name implies, one isn’t going to walk out of Tacos El Gordo feeling light, but that’s not the point of eating Tijuana-style street tacos, anyway. A tradition that skipped the border into San Diego, these small, palm-sized corn tortillas are served with a variety of freshly grilled meats, from marinated pork adobada to beef tongue and everything in between.

Wrench and Rodent Seabasstropub

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Sustainable and seasonal is the guiding principle at this Oceanside sushi restaurant. The chef and owner has longstanding relationships with local fishmongers, fishermen, and farmers to ensure the best and most responsibly sourced products end up on his menu. The creations are whimsical and usually off the cuff, so springing for the omakase is best.

Mitch's Seafood

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This unsuspecting fish joint right on the docks in Point Loma is a no-frills, high-quality place to get any and all seafood. One of their most-loved offerings is their fish taco. Mitch’s version is made the classic way, battered and fried fish is wrapped in a corn tortilla with cabbage, salsa, and a variety of sauces, giving credence to the fact that there’s no reason to mess with a good thing.

Mike's Taco Club

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Whether it’s part of the weekday morning, post-surf breakfast rush, or the late-night weekend after-bar run, almost-oceanfront Mike’s Taco Club provides the quintessential San Diego burrito experience. Those looking to change up their classic carne asada California burrito order should try the surf-and-turf option, which comes with shrimp.

It's Raw Poke Shop

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This unassuming small storefront in downtown Ocean Beach is serving what is some of San Diego’s best poke. The selection here is island-style, meaning you’ll buy it by the pound or in “plate” form, which means scoops of fish, scoops of rice, and nothing else. And that’s the beauty of it.

Blind Lady Ale House

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San Diego is rightly famous for its craft beer — the city is credited with founding the ultra-hoppy, West Coast-style of IPAs that dominate beer menus these days. One of the best craft beer experiences can be had at Blind Lady Ale House, one of the city’s original brewpubs. They also specialize in pizzas, which they use strictly local ingredients to make. For a crash course in San Diego beer drinking, choose from one of the zillions of rotating taps alongside BLAH’s in-house brewery choices.

Oscar’s Mexican Seafood

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Oscar’s is a San Diego-based mini-chain that gives those seeking the best of San Diego’s Mexican food a tough choice: fish tacos and burritos. They’re mostly famous for their fish tacos, but their various burrito and ceviche options aren’t to be slept on, either. There are a few locations, but the one in Pacific Beach, right next to the ocean, is the best.

Garden Kitchen

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The chef and owner of this restaurant is maniacally committed to only sourcing directly from local farmers and other purveyors. That means an ever-changing menu that’s high on health, creativity, and flavor, something that’s especially exciting when knowing the chef is entirely self-taught. For those looking for the best place to experience San Diego’s farm-fresh bounty, Garden Kitchen is it.

This advertising content was produced in collaboration between Vox Creative and our sponsor, without involvement from Vox Media editorial staff.

The Nest Coffee & Tea

This Ocean Beach cafe tucked behind a home goods store selling local artisan wares specializes in creative, health-oriented coffee drinks like the Americoco, which blends espresso shots with coconut water. It also features the city’s best acai bowl, with fixings like matcha powder, bee pollen, homemade nut butters, coconut and much more paired with unsweetened acai.

Good Time Poke

This mostly take-out poke joint specializes in mainland-style poke, meaning a more modern kind of Hawaiian marinated fish and rice. Guests pick from a list of different fish, like big eye tuna, albacore, spicy tuna, Skuna Bay salmon, or octopus. Then, they select a marinade along with toppings, which include scallions, cucumbers, pickled shiitake and more. And a bonus: Those who come after sundown can access the Grass Skirt, the speakeasy tiki bar attached to the restaurant.

J c

Tacos El Gordo

Like the name implies, one isn’t going to walk out of Tacos El Gordo feeling light, but that’s not the point of eating Tijuana-style street tacos, anyway. A tradition that skipped the border into San Diego, these small, palm-sized corn tortillas are served with a variety of freshly grilled meats, from marinated pork adobada to beef tongue and everything in between.

Wrench and Rodent Seabasstropub

Sustainable and seasonal is the guiding principle at this Oceanside sushi restaurant. The chef and owner has longstanding relationships with local fishmongers, fishermen, and farmers to ensure the best and most responsibly sourced products end up on his menu. The creations are whimsical and usually off the cuff, so springing for the omakase is best.

Mitch's Seafood

This unsuspecting fish joint right on the docks in Point Loma is a no-frills, high-quality place to get any and all seafood. One of their most-loved offerings is their fish taco. Mitch’s version is made the classic way, battered and fried fish is wrapped in a corn tortilla with cabbage, salsa, and a variety of sauces, giving credence to the fact that there’s no reason to mess with a good thing.

Mike's Taco Club

Whether it’s part of the weekday morning, post-surf breakfast rush, or the late-night weekend after-bar run, almost-oceanfront Mike’s Taco Club provides the quintessential San Diego burrito experience. Those looking to change up their classic carne asada California burrito order should try the surf-and-turf option, which comes with shrimp.

It's Raw Poke Shop

This unassuming small storefront in downtown Ocean Beach is serving what is some of San Diego’s best poke. The selection here is island-style, meaning you’ll buy it by the pound or in “plate” form, which means scoops of fish, scoops of rice, and nothing else. And that’s the beauty of it.

Blind Lady Ale House

San Diego is rightly famous for its craft beer — the city is credited with founding the ultra-hoppy, West Coast-style of IPAs that dominate beer menus these days. One of the best craft beer experiences can be had at Blind Lady Ale House, one of the city’s original brewpubs. They also specialize in pizzas, which they use strictly local ingredients to make. For a crash course in San Diego beer drinking, choose from one of the zillions of rotating taps alongside BLAH’s in-house brewery choices.

Oscar’s Mexican Seafood

Oscar’s is a San Diego-based mini-chain that gives those seeking the best of San Diego’s Mexican food a tough choice: fish tacos and burritos. They’re mostly famous for their fish tacos, but their various burrito and ceviche options aren’t to be slept on, either. There are a few locations, but the one in Pacific Beach, right next to the ocean, is the best.

Garden Kitchen

The chef and owner of this restaurant is maniacally committed to only sourcing directly from local farmers and other purveyors. That means an ever-changing menu that’s high on health, creativity, and flavor, something that’s especially exciting when knowing the chef is entirely self-taught. For those looking for the best place to experience San Diego’s farm-fresh bounty, Garden Kitchen is it.

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