Update 2026: This post has not been updated since 2018, so RIP many of the restaurants I mentioned below. The best way to keep up with where to eat in San Diego and beyond is to sign up for my quarterly newsletter.
August 2018:
San Diego may be the eighth largest city in the country, but walkable pockets like Little Italy make it feel cozy and manageable. My mood guides my appetite, and most times I’m in the mood for strong coffee and sweet and savory foods prepared with no-fuss and quality ingredients. I’m also into the sort of places where you can linger as long as you like, and Little Italy is bursting with these establishments.
In the years that I’ve either worked and/or played Downtown, here’s my most-frequented eat and drink list in Little Italy:
Breakfast
- For a leveled up breakfast or lunch in a casual, airy setting (with free WiFi)…Herb & Eatery
Lunch
- For when those Kogi BBQ cravings hit…Not Not Tacos’ Korean short rib taco
- For a, ‘that’s ok i’ll fight through the food coma feels’ lunch…a Kebab Shop döner (I get the lamb and beef, with lots of garlic sauce)
- For all manner of chicken sandwiches...The Crack Shack
Dinner
- For vermouth y pan con tomate...Bar Bodega
- For equally delicious beers and bites…Ballast Point (most people know their beers, but the food is highly underrated)
- For legit ramen…Rakiraki
Coffee and more
- For a coffee and gelato combo…Pappalecco
- For long, IRL convos and smooth lattes…Lofty Coffee or Bird Rock Coffee (+ choice indoor/outdoor vibes)
- For small-batch ice cream made with a rotating list of local ingredients…Salt & Straw
Travel With Me!
Every quarter, I send The Curious Passport newsletter—a behind-the-scenes peek of my reporting trips near and far, notes from my home base in San Diego, and the places and ideas that continue to shape how I see the world.
I’m San Diego-based freelance writer Ligaya Malones, and my work has appeared in print and online for Condé Nast Traveler, Lonely Planet, Bon Appétit, San Diego Magazine, Salt & Wind, Time Out, and more.
In 2024, I published San Diego Cooks (Figure 1).
The newsletter is the best place to keep up with my travels and more.
the curious passport 
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