I moved to San Diego, California five years ago as a student. On first arriving, I was horrified by the culinary wasteland that I thought lay before me. As a proud Bay Area native, born and raised, I was used to popping in on small mom-and-pop restaurants on a whim and being served up a delectable array of cheap cuisine. To me, the San Diego dining circuit was a barren string of chains and overpriced, moderately palatable fare.
Fortunately, I have since grown older and wiser, and have discovered dining gems tucked in among San Diego’s swaying palms. Since I spent most of my time here as a college student, I was able to discover many smaller restaurants that consistently deliver cheap, delicious meals and excellent service. Whether you are visiting San Diego, California on a budget or moving here, these five restaurants are sure to deliver winning, affordable dishes every time.
El Pescador
If you like fresh seafood, you’ll love El Pescador. Although this fish market/restaurant is famous among San Diego natives for its fresh fish sandwiches, the fish plates, lobster, and sashimi are also more than adequate choices. El Pescador is a lunch joint, and be sure to arrive a little early as the place is usually packed.
El Pescador is the ultimate in cheap, casual dining in San Diego. The restaurant itself is very small, with two or three plastic tables inside to seat patrons, and wooden benches outside. Your journey into fish sandwich heaven will begin by waiting in an unfortunately long line for your chance to place an order with the helpful waitstaff. Don’t be afraid to custom order; on one trip to the restaurant, I asked if I could assemble an assorted plate of sashimi that was not on the menu, and they allowed me to pick which types of fish I wanted straight from the display case.
Of course, most patrons go for a fish sandwich, which comes simply trimmed on a roll with shredded lettuce and assorted toppings, or a cheap cup of steaming hot clam chowder. Your trip to El Pescador will only set you back about seven dollars, or a little more if you opt for a fish plate (which includes salad, rice pilaf, and whatever type of fish is in season) or sashimi.
Teri Cafe
Ramen is the word of the day at Teri Cafe, an unassuming San Diego noodle house that serves a multitude of Japanese dishes. Although Teri Cafe serves sushi, I highly recommend veering clear of this cold dish and going for a hot counterpart instead, as the sushi can be lackluster and is not a particularly good value here.
The cheap ramen and udon noodle soups, however, are excellent, and are served with a variety of trimmings, including old standards like tempura, fish cake, sliced beef and bean curd. The lunch and dinner plates are also an extremely good value, and the pork katsu is particularly delicious at this restaurant. The first time I went to Teri Cafe I ordered the Katsu plate, and was awestruck when the tiny waitress brought me a large plate teetering with two huge fried cutlets, enough rice to feed an army, potato salad, a personal bottle of katsu sauce, miso soup and green salad – all for a scant seven dollars. Noodle soup will only set you back about five.
The dining atmosphere is casual – food is ordered at the counter and then brought to your self-selected table by the friendly waitstaff-but there is plenty of seating, and the restaurant is quiet and pleasant with whimsical surf culture decor.
Royal Thai
Vegans and vegetarians can sometimes be hard-pressed to find good, cheap restaurants in San Diego, but Royal Thai offers an array of delicious noodle dishes and curries that fit the bill perfectly. Royal Thai is a great restaurant to visit for lunch or dinner, and offers up tasty Thai delicacies at low prices for either meal.
After a day of enjoying all that La Jolla Cove or Downtown San Diego has to offer, you’ll feel perfectly comfortable strolling in to Royal Thai in slacks and a t-shirt, but will still be able to enjoy sit-down service and a beautiful, low-key atmosphere. The restaurant offers an array of Thai dishes, from noodles to roast duck to satay and curries.
Vegetarians will definitely want to take advantage of the restaurant’s willingness to sub textured vegetable protein into most curry and noodle dishes. You may also enjoy your choice of chicken, pork, beef, or shrimp with most meals. Royal Thai is most famous for its curry and cocktails, but I have such a weakness for their chicken Pad See-ew that it has become my regular order. Royal Thai is slightly more expensive than the other restaurants on the list, and will run you about ten to twelve dollars for dinner.
The Chalkboard Deli
The Chalkboard Deli is the best kept secret of San Diego locals and college students alike. Although this cheap restaurant is not open all too often (it is generally closed from Friday to Monday), it serves up some of the best sandwiches I have ever tasted.
One of the primary reasons for going to the Chalkboard Deli, in addition to its amazing sandwiches, is the atmosphere. The deli is housed in a small stand with – surprise, surprise – chalkboards advertising the day’s menu covering almost every wall. The counter and seats are adorned with whimsical puff paintings, and an impressive line of donated pennies replaces a penny jar on the counter.There is both outdoor and indoor seating, and I highly recommend sitting indoors at least once for the chance to chat with the restaurant’s colorful and friendly owner.
All of the sandwiches are amazing, and are adorned with simple but fresh condiments like home-made mayonnaise, fresh-cut lettuce, ripe tomatoes and sour kraut. My personal favorite is the Fred Flintstone, a double-decker club sandwich with crisp bacon, and I have also heard great things about the Fidel Castro, a warm, roast chicken sandwich that will knock your socks off. These cheap sandwiches will only run you about five or six bucks, and you always have the option of asking for a half-order as an economical snack.
Sushi Deli Too
Sushi Deli Too is another local San Diego favorite, although it is not a well-kept secret by any means. No matter what time you visit Sushi Deli Too you will always find the restaurant packed, and may have to wait anywhere from fifteen to thirty minutes to snag a seat.
Although Sushi Deli Too is by no means the best sushi I have ever tasted, it’s cheap, serves huge portions, and is extremely creative with its rolls. The unusually delicious Volcano Roll, for instance, is a four-piece salmon, red snapper, and crab roll smothered in creamy and spicy sauce, then served still packed into its neat foil wrapping.
While there, be sure to try Sushi Deli Too’s famous Katie Roll (avocado, shrimp tempura, and cream cheese), Smokey Salmon Roll (cooked salmon and carrot), and Dragon Roll (eel, avocado, shrimp tempura, and crab). Sushi Deli also offers a variety of sushi combos.
I’ve found the best way to enjoy Sushi Deli Too is to invite a lot of San Diego friends along, then order some large sakes and a variety of rolls to share. Dinner at Sushi Deli will probably cost you anywhere from seven to ten dollars.
Locations:
El Pescador – Seafood and Sandwiches
627 Pearl St.
La Jolla, CA 92037
Teri Cafe – Japanese Noodle House
San Diego:
7305B Clairemont Mesa Blvd
San Diego, CA 92011
Oceanside:
2249 El Camino Real A-2
Oceanside, CA 92054
Royal Thai – Thai and Vegan or Vegetarian Dishes
San Diego:
467 5th. Avenue
San Diego , CA 92101
La Jolla:
737 Pearl Street
La Jolla, CA 92037
Chalkboard Deli – Sandwiches
1146 Garnet Ave
Pacific Beach, CA
Sushi Deli Too – Sushi Rolls
135 Broadway
San Diego, CA 92101
Reference:
- Teri Cafe WebsiteRoyal Thai WebsiteSushi Deli Too Website
