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.

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