BEST RESTAURANTS: 2023 Downtown Dining Readers’ Poll Complete Results!

All 25 category winners–and runners-up–are included in our inaugural list of the best restaurants in downtown San Diego as voted by readers

By Ron Donoho ● News ● October 23, 2023

The San Diego Sun’s Downtown Dining Readers’ Poll Results. (Photo by Derick McKinney on Unsplash)

Doing a poll of downtown San Diego’s best restaurants was a labor of foodie love.

There are plenty of regional best resto polls, but only ours focuses exclusively on the city. In our inaugural Downtown Dining Readers’ Poll, the upscale, urban eateries got their deserved due. Congrats to the continued culinary excellence displayed at spots like Callie, Cowboy Star Restaurant & Butcher Shop and Born & Raised.

Those places elevate the epicurean status of 92101. (VIDEO FUN: Sun editor Ron Donoho visits three poll winners–Lumi, Barleymash and Portside Pier.)

Bonus: Our poll also lets some lesser-known neighborhood joints share the spotlight. We specifically polled for best restaurants in six downtown neighborhoods. And it was a joy to see smaller, newer places like Ukrainian-owned Adore Coffee House, community-focused Modbom/Papalo and nonprofit-spirited Timmy’ Place get named as runners-up.

Unfortunately, Modbom/Popalo called it quits right after our poll results were released. It’s especially tough to keep a business going in East Village these days. (Check back on another day for stories about homelessness and politics.)

One of the things we learned in doing our downtown-SD-centric poll is that not everybody is familiar with borderlines for 92101’s neighborhoods. Core-Columbia. Cortez Hill. We’ll be back in the future with more insight not just on places to eat there but who the residents are and the challenges they face.

In all, we’re upbeat and grateful to the hundreds of readers who submitted ballots in our inaugural poll. We’ll do it again next year. In fact, we’ve been inspired to present some fun surprises in the form of other polls about what’s best about our downtown hood. In the months to come, expect more light from The San Diego Sun.

Enjoy this complete list of the restaurants that were recognized in our 2023 Downtown Dining Readers’ Poll:

BEST IN EAST VILLAGE

Callie was voted Best in East Village. (Facebook)

1. Callie 1195 Island Avenue

2. Cowboy Star Restaurant & Butcher Shop 640 Tenth Avenue

3. Beshock Ramen 1288 Market Street

Honorable mention: Knotty Barrel, Modbom/Papalo*, Wicked Chicken

*Modbom/Papalo has since departed the location

BEST IN LITTLE ITALY

Pan-seared seabass at Herb & Wood. (Facebook)

1. Herb & Wood 2210 Kettner Boulevard

2. Civico 1845 1845 India Street

3. Filippi’s Pizza Grotto 1747 India Street

Honorable mention: Fisher’s, Barbusa, Bencotto, Davanti Enoteca

BEST IN CORTEZ HILL

Chilaquiles La Bomba at Cucina 35. (Facebook)

1. Cocina 35 1435 Sixth Avenue

2. Adore Coffee House 550 Cedar Street

3. Timmy’s Place 1404 Fifth Avenue

Honorable mention: Flamin’ Pho & Sushi Bar, Cali Breakfast

BEST IN GASLAMP QUARTER

Loaded Iron Fries at Barleymash.

1. Barleymash 600 Fifth Avenue

2. Smokin J’s BBQ 751 Fourth Avenue

3. The Smoking Gun 529 Market Street

Honorable mention: Lou & Mickey’s, Meze, Prince Street Pizza, Royal India, Water Grill

BEST IN MARINA DISTRICT

The Lion’s Share was voted Best in Marina District. (Facebook)

1. The Lion’s Share 629 Kettner Boulevard

2. Animae 969 Pacific Highway

3. Puesto 789 West Harbor Drive

Honorable mention: Roy’s

BEST IN CORE COLUMBIA

Seneca was the top vote getter in Core Columbia. (Facebook)

1. Seneca (Hotel InterContinental) 901 Bayfront Court, Level 19

2. Garibaldi (Hotel InterContinental) 901 Bayfront Court, Suite 1

3. Karl Strauss 1157 Columbia Street

Honorable mention: none.

BEST OVERALL

Callie was voted Best Overall restaurant in downtown San Diego. (Facebook)

1. Callie 1195 Island Avenue (East Village)

2. Cowboy Star Restaurant & Butcher Shop 6410 Tenth Avenue (East Village)

3. Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse 901 Bayfront Court, Suite 105 (Core Columbia)

Honorable mention: Animae, Barleymash

BEST NEW

Best New: Wicked Chicken. (Facebook)

1. Wicked Chicken 721 Ninth Avenue (East Village)

2. Modbom/Papalo* 1429 Island Avenue (East Village)

3. Fisher’s 555 West Beech Street (Little Italy)

Honorable mention: Papasotes, Smokin J’s BBQ, Prince Street Pizza

*Modbom/Papalo has since departed the location

BEST VIEW

Portside Pier. (Facebook)

1. Portside Pier 1360 North Harbor Drive (Core Columbia)

2. Mister A’s 2550 Fifth Avenue (12th floor)

3. Seneca 901 Bayfront Court, Level 19 (Core Columbia)

Honorable mention: Techo Beso, The Nolen

COFFEE HOUSE

Spill the Beans. (Facebook)

1. Spill the Beans 555 Market Street (Gaslamp Quarter) and 813 West Harbor Drive (Seaport Village)

2. Bird Rock Coffee Roasters 2295 Kettner Boulevard and 1420 Kettner Boulevard (East Village)

3. Copa Vida 905 J Street (East Village)

Honorable mention: Modbom, Achilles, Caffe Italia

BEST BREAKFAST

Breakfast Republic. (Facebook)

1. Breakfast Republic 707 G Street (East Village)

2. The Mission 1250 J Street (East Village)

3. Baked 1000 Island Avenue (East Village)

Honorable mention: Fig Tree, Morning Glory

BEST BRUNCH

Gaslamp Breakfast Company. (Facebook)

1. Gaslamp Breakfast Company 551 J Street (East Village)

2. Barleymash 600 Fifth Avenue (Gaslamp Quarter)

3. Fig Tree Cafe 695 Sixth Avenue (East Village)

Honorable mention: Morning Glory, The Mission

BEST LUNCH

Barleymash. (Facebook)

1. Barleymash 600 Fifth Avenue (Gaslamp Quarter)

2. City Tacos 327 Seventh Avenue (East Village)

3. Knotty Barrel 844 Market Street (East Village)

Honorable mention: none

BEST DINNER

Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse. (Facebook)

1. Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse 901 Bayfront Court, Suite 105 (Core Columbia)

2. Barleymash 600 Fifth Avenue (Gaslamp Quarter)

3. Animae 969 Pacific Highway (Marina District)

Honorable mention: Callie, Juniper & Ivy

BEST DESSERT

Extraordinary Desserts. (Facebook)

1. Extraordinary Desserts 1430 Union Street (Little Italy)

2. Hinar Dessert Bar & Cafe 454 Thirteenth Street (East Village)

3. Parfait Paris 555 G Street (Gaslamp Quarter)

Honorable mention: Cali Cream Homemade Ice Cream, Cafe de l’Opera

BEST DATE NIGHT/ROMANTIC

Cloak & Petal. (Facebook)

1. Cloak & Petal 1953 India Street (Little Italy)

2. Seneca 901 Bayfront Court, Level 19 (Core Columbia)

3. Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse 901 Bayfront Court, Suite 105 (Core Columbia)

Honorable mention: Callie, Animae, Born & Raised, Cowboy Star, Mr. A’s

BEST FINE DINING

Mediterranean octopus at Callie. (Facebook)

1. Callie 1195 Island Avenue (East Village)

2. Born & Raised 1909 India Street (Little Italy)

3. Cowboy Star Restaurant & Butcher Shop 6410 Tenth Avenue (East Village)

Honorable mention: Del Frisco’s, Animae, Juniper & Ivy

BEST FOOD/MUSIC COMBO

Cafe Sevilla blends food and music. (Facebook)

1. Cafe Sevilla 353 Fifth Avenue (Gaslamp Quarter)

2. The Smoking Gun 555 Market Street (Gaslamp Quarter)

3. House of Blues 1055 Fifth Avenue (East Village)

Honorable mention: Madame Bonnie’s, Izola, Moonshine Flats, Quartyard, Tin Roof

BEST CHEAP EATS

Cheap eats at The Smoking Gun. (Facebook)

1. The Smoking Gun 555 Market Street (Gaslamp Quarter)

2. Mr. Moto Pizza 1702 India Street (Little Italy) and 879 W. Harbor Drive (Seaport Village)

3. Tacos El Gordo 511 F Street (Gaslamp Quarter)

Honorable mention: Doggos Gus, City Tacos

BEST STEAKHOUSE

The upscale rustic interior at Cowboy Star. (Courtesy photo)

1. Cowboy Star Restaurant & Butcher Shop 6410 Tenth Avenue (East Village)

2. Born & Raised 1909 India Street (Little Italy)

3. Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse 901 Bayfront Court, Suite 105 (Core Columbia)

Honorable mention: Morton’s, Ruth’s Chris, Huntress

BEST ITALIAN

Italian fave Barbusa. (Facebook)

1. Barbusa 1970 India Street (Little Italy)

2. Bencotto 750 West Fir Street (Little Italy)

3. Civico 1845 India Street (Little Italy)

Honorable mention: Filippi’s, Monello, Osteria Panevino

BEST SEAFOOD

Alaskan halibut at Water Grill. (Facebook)

1. Water Grill 615 J Street (East Village)

2. Fisher’s 555 West Beech Street (Little Italy)

3. Ironside Fish & Oyster 1654 India Street (Little Italy)

Honorable mention: Top of the Market, Lumi, Callie

BEST PIZZA

TNT Pizza. (Facebook)

1. TNT Pizza 550 Fourteenth Street (East Village)

2. Basic Bar/Pizza 410 Tenth Avenue (East Village)

3. Prince Street Pizza 415 South Market Street (Gaslamp Quarter)

Honorable mention: Mr. Moto, Isola, Filippi’s

BEST MEXICAN

Glazed steak taco at Lola 55. (Facebook)

1. Lola 55 1290 F Street (East Village)

2. La Puerta 560 Fourth Avenue (Gaslamp Quarter)

3. Papasotes 550 Park Boulevard (East Village)

Honorable mention: Miguel’s, Puesto, City Tacos

BEST SUSHI

Lumi sushi. (Facebook)

1. Lumi 366 Fifth Avenue (Gaslamp Quarter)

2. Beshock 1288 Market Street (East Village)

3. Cloak & Petal 1953 India Street (Little Italy)

Honorable mention: none

SDSun

Author

Ron Donoho

Ron Donoho lives and breathes the content on the San Diego Sun. He has more than two decades of local, regional and national media experience, built on a foundation of strong research, writing and editing, and crafting reported features. His broad background is hyper-locally channeled into the reporting done here on his own downtown San Diego neighborhood.