Quite possibly the hottest reservation in Encinitas, Herb & Sea, the sister restaurant of Herb & Wood, serves modern seafood in a lively atmosphere. There's a good variety on the menu here, including raw bar plates, appetizers like shrimp toast, and irresistible entrees like whole branzino and wood-fired pork chop. Be sure to arrive early if you want to nab a seat at the bustling bar, or plan to make a reservation well in advance.
While beach towns are often regarded more for their surf and sun than their savvy dining, the best restaurants in San Diego prove to be an exception—from stylish dining rooms to casual beachside eats, the coastal city bursts with creativity and bonafide kitchen chops.
While it once sat in the shadows of Los Angeles' flashy dining scene, San Diego has attracted several big-name chefs in recent years, including Richard Blais, Brian Malarkey and Claudette Zepeda (of Top Chef fame). Now, San Diego stands firmly on its own culinary reputation, popular enough that dinner reservations are recommended in bustling areas such as Little Italy, La Jolla, and the Gaslamp Quarter.
Looking for a signature dish? If there’s a staple order, it’s Baja-style fish tacos paired with local craft beer (likely a hoppy IPA from one of San Diego’s many craft breweries), a bright combo that’s perfect in the city’s gloriously sunny climate where dining al fresco (or inside chic, open-air spaces along its best beaches) is possible year-round. So if you’re headed to this coastal hot spot, check out our list of the best restaurants in San Diego—and don’t forget to bring a healthy appetite.
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