Best Restaurants: San Diego, CA (Inexpensive)
Expertise Provided By: “Lonely Planet”
Bread & Cie
Hillcrest – Famed for its breads, this bakery and deli serves up delicious sandwiches and pastries as well.
Café 222
Downtown – Tucked into a Gaslamp side street, the small breakfast and lunch spot is prized for its breakfast egg dishes, waffles, and pancakes.
Porkyland
Hillcrest/LaJolla – Hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurant with two branches dishes up tasty burritos and fish tacos, a staple of San Diego cheap eats.
Saffron
Hillcrest – Touted by no less than Julia Child and Martha Stewart, the popular restaurant encompasses both a grilled Thai chicken spot and a noodle shop.
Zinc Café and Market
Solana Beach – Vegetarian mainstay in the heart of Solana Beach. Breakfast and lunch fare ranging from yummy egg dishes to salads to pizza and more.
Big Kitchen Café
South Park – Another San Diego institution, this arty, funky, friendly joint just east of Balboa Park dishes up fabulous French toast and omelets. Whoopi Goldberg used to waitress here, and she has a dish named in her honor.
El Indio Café
Hillcrest – Located near Saffron, the venerable Mexican spot has been dishing up tasty Mexican comfort food since 1940. Breakfast burritos are a relatively recent addition to the menu.