San Diego Sandwich - Boudin Bakery Cafe

Boudin sourdough bread is an icon of San Francisco and is found in restaurants all over Northern California. For some reason, two Boudin Bakery Cafes have made it way down to San Diego. It can't be easy to be famous for bread, but Boudin's tangy flavor has been impressing for over 150 years. At their Bakery Cafe you can buy freshly baked varieties or have them make you a sandwich on their original product. Here is a favorite.

Turkey Cranberry ($7.49)
Cranberry sauce, red onion, lettuce, mayo, sliced sourdough. With mixed greens.

San Diego Sandwich - Stone Oven

Stone Oven is a frequent find in many LA and SD mall food courts. Here you will get the speedy service of a food court but the quality ingredients of a sit-down restaurant lunch. Their large stone oven occupies the majority of the space, and this allows them to make their signature gourmet foccaccia sandwiches. Shoppers moonlighting as sandwich afficionados are guaranteed to stop by for this variation of a classic concept, and the choice of free sides amounts to a filling plate for anyone.

 BBQ Beef Brisket Sandwich ($7.95)
BBQ Beef Brisket, Cheddar Cheese, Chipotle Mayo, Onion Crisps & Avocadoes. With Basil Pasta Salad.

San Diego Burger - Elevation Burger

Elevation Burger is named for ingredients including grass-fed free-range beef and real cheddar cheese that rise above the standard of other burger restaurants. Their namesake burger has two patties, but you can stack them sky-high with a Vertigo Burger (up to ten). When going for an Elevation Burger the price is considerably lower during their daily happy hour from 2pm to 4pm.

Elevation Burger ($5.79 or $3.99 during Happy Hour)
With "Original" Toppings: Elevation sauce, pickles, lettuce, and tomato

San Diego Burger - Eureka! Burger

I found it! A burger topped with unique ingredients located in San Diego is always a must-try for me. Eureka!Burger is a burger-and-brew restaurant chain across California. This 21+ setting has sophisticated menu choices that are popular with drinkers and eaters alike. We both know that an order of craft beer followed by a gourmet burger is going to be what your friends are looking for. Gastropubs like this are often known for interesting appetizers so I included Eureka!'s most popular pre-meal decision as well.

Lollipop Corn Dogs ($7.50)
All-natural polish sausage hand-breaded in a sweet cornbatter served with a spicy porter mustard sauce, ketchup and a cheddar I.P.A. sauce.

Fig Marmalade Burger ($11.25)
Homemade fig marmalade, melted goat cheese, crispy bacon, garnished with minced tomato, onion and arugula dolloped in a spicy porter mustard.

San Diego Pizza - Regents Pizza

Regents Pizzeria can be found on many lists of the best pizza joints in San Diego and is very popular among UCSD students who can cross a street to get there. I'm not entirely sure what makes a pizza extra delicious, but this place has an uncommon menu feature that stands out. You can order Chicago style pizza by the slice here. Chicago style means thick stuffed-crust pizza with two layers of dough, extra cheese, and sauce on top. The Chicago Popeye is what they will recommend.

Chicago Popeye
With Spinach, Artichoke Hearts, Ricotta, and Parmesan.

San Diego Restaurant - Sushi Deli

When it comes to good sushi value in San Diego, any of the locals will recommend Sushi Deli. With 3 San Diego locations, no San Diegans are far from this restaurant. A Monday through Thursday Happy Hour keeps the atmosphere casual and lively. Sushi Deli also highlights a new special combo plate each month. So which sushi combo do your friends like to order? The Best Seller Combo of course!

Best Seller Combo ($10.99)
Rainbow Roll (4) Inside: cucumber, crab surimi. Top: tuna, salmon, yellowtail, shrimp, avocado.
Katie Roll (4) Inside: shrimp tempura, cream cheese, avocado. Top: salmon.
Ninja Roll (4) Inside: spicy tuna, shrimp tempura. Top: soy paper, red snapper, crab surimi, jalapeno. With spicy mayo & spicy sauce.
Navavava Roll (4) Inside: lobster mix, cilantro, jalapeno, crab surimi, smelt roe, cream cheese, fried calamari. Top: avocado. With spicy mayo.

San Diego Burger - BABS

A Juicy Lucy is a cheeseburger that has the cheese cooked inside the beef patty. Bao's Awesome Burgers and Sandwiches has an entire menu of Juicy Lucys with different toppings and filled with either cheddar, pepper jack, or Swiss. Called Quicksand Burgers at BABS, the bestseller is the Bacon Avocado & Swiss Burger but you can't go wrong with trying the original. If your friends are looking for a greasy burger in the Koreatown area, BABS will be their place.

OG Quick Burger ($4.99)
Stuffed with cheddar cheese and topped with lettuce, tomato, & onions, W/ cajun and chipotle sauce

San Diego Burger - Corvette Diner

Corvette Diner is a 50s throwback with jukebox music, big-haired sassy waitresses, glow-in-the dark tables, and classic diner food. The loud atmosphere and entertaining servers make this a very popular spot for families. The burger portion of the Corvette Diner's menu makes it obvious which choice adventurous eaters should make, even including a money-back guarantee.

Rory Burger ($9.50)
our money back, guaranteed to please burger with peanut butter, bacon, lettuce & mayo (elvis loved this one).

San Diego Burger - Tioli's Crazee Burger

Tioli's Crazee Burger is not a typical hamburger restaurant. This European-owned place makes its patties out of any animal that is able to burger. From Blue Crab to Kangaroo burgers, there are special flavors for everyone here. With over 30 types of exotic burgers on the menu, there isn't necessarily one best order. Some advice to take into Tioli's Crazee Burger is to try a burger made with meat you have never had before, and then you will be sure to have a story that you can share with your friends.

#36 Snapping Gator Burger ($13.99)
from Florida with Curry Fruit Tapenade

#40 Ebi the Wild Boar Burger ($9.95)
with poached Red Wine Pear, Mushrooms, Bacon, Cream and Plum Jelly

San Diego Burger - Slater's 50/50

Slater's 50/50 is named for its unique burger patties, which is also the reason your friends have gone here. This restaurant, where you build your own burger from a long list of vegetables and sauces, makes its patties with 50% ground beef and 50% ground bacon. The bacon spotlight expands from there with toppings like bacon cheese, bacon gravy, and baconnaise, and menu options like bacon brownies and maple bacon shakes. As for the rest of your 50/50 hamburger order, go with anything you like. You even get to name your creation after you design it. 

Signature 50/50 ($9.95)
Our 50/50 patty is topped with an egg sunny side up, avocado mash, pepper jack cheese and chipotle mayo, served on white brioche.

San Diego Burrito - Lolita's

Lolita's Restaurant is regarded as one of the better places to get Mexican food in San Diego. It started as Lolita's Taco Shop in Chula Vista and has since expanded to four additional locations serving fresh Mexican food to all of San Diego. Carne Asada fries and California burritos are common orders of San Diegans and Lolita's is able to accomodate those people. If you really want something that is unique to Lolita's however, go with their 2 in 1 burrito.

2 in 1 Burrito ($6.00)
Carne asada with two rolled beef tacos, cheese, and avocado

San Diego Sandwich - The Cheese Shop

The Cheese Shop is a deli located in the small beachside community of La Jolla Shores. The small market has shelves full of imported candy and cookies, refridgerators full of cheese blocks, and hanging photos of participants of The Cheese Shop Frisbee Challenge. Buy a $1 frisbee, bring in a photo of it from an exotic location, and receive a 10% discount.

Despite the implications of the name, The Cheese Shop is most known for the pork loin sandwich and flourless oatmeal cookie. I wouldn't normally add a review, but this cookie is absolutely amazing.

Roast Pork Loin Sandwich ($9.99)
Thinly sliced and tantalizingly spiced center cut pork loin. Served with lettuce, tomato, mayo, honey mustard and red onions.

Flourless Oatmeal Cookie ($0.75)

San Diego Sandwich - Studio Diner

Studio Diner is an east-coast style 24-hour diner that looks like a vintage Hollywood actor's trailer complete with movie props, clapboard menus, and spotlights above each table. There are many authentic comfort food choices that people like to order at any diner, but Studio Diner has a standout sandwich that your friends have probably made a special trip for.

Count of Monte Cristo ($11.25)
A Studio favorite, battered and fried sandwich stuffed with turkey, ham, Swiss & Cheddar served with raspberry preserves.

San Diego Burger - Burger Lounge

With locations spreading throughout both San Diego and Los Angeles, I had to get to Burger Lounge. The establishment boasts all organic ingredients and grass-fed single-source beef. Fortunately, the upscale ingredients don't elevate the prices. The Burger Lounge has only been around for a couple of years, so you might get to try this place before your friends do.

The Lounge Burger ($7.95)
Lounge bun, crisp lettuce, fresh tomato, house-made 1000 Island,organic cheese - white cheddar or American, and fresh or grilled onion

San Diego Restaurant - Blue Water Seafood

Blue Water Seafood Market & Grill in Mission Hills is one of the many fish markets in San Diego. What makes this place unique is that you can also order a sandwich, taco, salad, or plate with a choice of over 13 kinds of seafood and 6 kinds of marinade inside. An exotic fish taco or sandwich is something a lot of people have already gone here to try. You aren't going to go wrong with any of your orders here, but here are a couple of interesting options.

Bourbon Butter Shark Sandwich ($7.25)
Served on a soft bolillo roll with lettuce, red onion, and tartar sauce.

Yellowtail and Hawaiian Wahoo Tacos ($4.00, $4.00)
Served on warm El Indio tortillas with cabbage, tomatoes, onions, cheddar cheese, homemade white sauce, marinated in spicy chipotle.

San Diego Burger - Hodad's

Ocean Beach's coastline attracts a lot of hungry people to Hodad's located right on the sand. A "hodad" is a 1950s term for a beach bum, but they are ok if YOU come to experience their burgers too. All the components of the burger are large and the bacon is formed into its own entire patty to ensure that its presence is also noticed. The atmosphere reflects the name of the place and you will be able to eat your burger on a bench, barstool, or VW van seat.

Single Bacon Cheeseburger ($6.75)
with mayo, mustard, onion, ketchup, pickle, tomato, and lettuce

San Diego Taco - Mama Testa

Fish tacos are a very common sight on menus in San Diego restaurants. The fish tacos of Mama Testa Taqueria in Hillcrest were popular enough to win a throwdown against chef Bobby Flay. They are made with locally caught catfish and lightly deep-fried corn tortillas. All of the food choices of Mama Testa are based on regional dishes from different parts of Mexico. This, combined with an extensive salsa bar and brightly colored fiesta atmosphere, is what keeps San Diegans coming back for more.

Mividitas $11.99
Two catfish tacos served Querrero style (deep fried but not quite crunchy). Topped with Mexican coleslaw and queso fresco. Served with rice and black beans.

San Diego Sandwich - Donovan's

Donovan's Steakhouse is a fancy restaurant and very pricy for a normal meal, but all your friends know to get to this place during their happy hour for FREE sandwiches. Not only are they free, these Philly Cheesesteak sandwiches are made fresh throughout happy hour with 16-hour marinated beef. Just order a cocktail at the bar and watch as the free sandwiches come your way.

Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches FREE
Shredded Filet Mignon marinated with mushrooms and onions on a hoagie roll with cheddar cheese

Donovan's has restaurants in La Jolla and downtown San Diego. The happy hour is much more popular in the downtown location so that is where your friends would prefer to meet you.

San Diego Sandwich - Point Loma Seafoods

Point Loma Seafoods is a deli located directly on the Point Loma fishing and boating docks. Along with selling fish by the pound, Point Loma Seafood makes fried fish sandwiches. You probably aren't going to find a fried scallop sandwich on many menus which is why your friends have made sure to get to this spot. The outdoor seating with a view of the ocean and many sailboats is also a draw.

Scallop Sandwich ($15.00) 
Lightly breaded scallops on fresh baked sourdough with their famous tartar sauce

San Diego Sandwich - Phil's BBQ

San Diego is credited as the birthplace of the tri-tip sandwich. If you want to try a famous one, the amusement park-sized line at Phil's BBQ should be a good indication of its popularity. As the name of the restuarant probably suggests, their specialty is covered in bar-be-que sauce and accompanied by a roll of paper towels.

El Toro Sandwich ($6.95)
Char-grilled deli sliced tri-tip topped with BBQ sauce