Best Authentic Restaurants in National City

Price

$$
$$$
$$$$

Cuisine

AmericanItalianSteakhouseSeafoodFrenchMexican

Regions

East CountySan DiegoTijuana

Neighborhoods

Banker's HillBarrio LoganChula Vista / BonitaCoronadoDowntownHarbor Island

Top Rated

CharmingDog-friendlyFancyGood for business mealsGood for groupsGood for special occasions

Dining Options

All dining options

Delivery only

Takeout only

Seating Options

BarCounterStandardHigh TopOutdoor

Award-winning

MICHELIN

Accessibility

Gender-neutral restroomWheelchair access

103 restaurants available nearby

A photo of Acqua E Farina Trattoria Romana restaurant

1. Acqua E Farina Trattoria Romana

4.3

Awesome(40)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Italian • Chula Vista / Bonita

Booked 2 times today

Start your day with a delightful brunch at Farmers Table Chula Vista and then indulge in a delicious Trattoria Romana experience at Acqua e Farina by night! 🍽️❤️✨At Acqua E Farina, we bring you a modern take on authentic Italian cuisine. Our menu features homemade pastas crafted with love, along with Grandma's cherished meatball recipe that will transport you to Italy with every bite. Indulge in traditional dishes, including classics like Parmigiana, Brazatto, homemade pizzas and stuffed pizzas as well, our famous Parmesan wheel pastas, each prepared with the finest ingredients and attention to detail. To complement your visit at Acqua E Farina, we offer a full bar featuring a delightful selections of cocktails designed to bring friends together. Enjoy refreshing Aperol spritzers, an array of flavorful sangrias, and dont miss our signature Espresso Martini. We also proudly showcase a selection of exquisite Italian wines to enhance your dining experience.

A photo of Kalaveras - Chula Vista restaurant

2. Kalaveras - Chula Vista

4.3

Awesome(116)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Mexican • Chula Vista / Bonita

Booked 7 times today

We're creating a new concept of modern rustic dining with a fusion of traditional and vanguard Mexican ingredients. Our food is chef-driven, using classic cooking techniques with fresher and healthier options. We're elevating bold, authentic flavors and presenting a new way of eating. In the bar you'll find over 90 different tequilas and Mezcal spirits.

3. Ciccia Osteria

4.7

Exceptional(227)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Italian • Barrio Logan

Booked 33 times today

Nestled in Barrio Logan, San Diego, Ciccia Osteria is a charming Italian restaurant that invites guests on a culinary journey through Italy. With its warm ambiance, attentive service, and exquisite cuisine, Ciccia Osteria is a beloved destination. Notably, it has won the Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand award in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024Entering Ciccia Osteria, guests are transported to Italy's bustling trattorias. The cozy interior, with small tables, exposed brick walls, and soft lighting, creates an intimate atmosphere perfect for any occasion.Committed to the finest ingredients and traditional techniques, Ciccia Osteria offers handmade pastas, succulent seafood, and tender meats, ensuring an unforgettable dining experience. The curated wine list features Italian and California wines to pair with the menu.Under Chef Mario Cassineri's guidance, Ciccia Osteria is more than a restaurant—it's a destination where guests can savor authentic Italian cuisine and create lasting memories.

4. insideOUT

4.7

Exceptional(2439)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Californian • Hillcrest

Booked 89 times today

insideOUT is Hillcrest's elevated restaurant and lounge, and San Diego's only urban oasis! We are an 18+ venue.Reservations for our upcoming "Sweetheart Experience" are now open! The Experience will be February 5th - 16th!Our menu is curated by Executive Chef Johnny Duran and is updated seasonally to reflect his creative approach to California-Mediterranean inspired fare, using the freshest ingredients provided by our local purveyors.Aside from our impeccable hospitality, insideOUT is known for their over-the-top seasonal experiences. We also provide customized private event planning with venue buyout options. More information can be found on our website.

5. Callie Restaurant

4.8

Exceptional(344)

$$$$Price: Very Expensive

• Mediterranean • Downtown

Booked 57 times today

Callie represents Chef Travis Swikard's debut solo project after spending a decade working alongside the esteemed Chef Daniel Boulud in New York City. The restaurant’s name, "Callie," comes from the Greek word "kallos," meaning "the most beautiful," and embodies its blend of Mediterranean cuisine with local ingredients and terroir, from sea to land from San Diego, Swikard's hometown. In 2022, Callie was acclaimed as one of America's top new restaurants by Esquire and Robb Report, and received both a Bib Gourmand and a Plate from the Michelin Guide. Callie is a dedicated supporter of Feeding San Diego, having contributed over 1 million meals to those in need in San Diego since its launch. Swikard is set to open his second restaurant in La Jolla in 2025.

A photo of Garage Buona Forchetta restaurant

6. Garage Buona Forchetta

4.6

Exceptional(940)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Italian • Coronado

Booked 49 times today

Authentic Neapolitan Pizzeria & Italian Ristorante in Coronado, San Diego, California.

7. Buona Forchetta

4.7

Exceptional(889)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Italian • South Park

Booked 68 times today

Buona Forchetta, meaning 'Good Fork' in Italian, is an authentic Italian restaurant. It was started by Matteo who wanted to bring his native Italy to San Diego. Customers praise its 'excellent and authentic Italian experience' with simple recipes that 'takes me back to all my travels to Italy'. The restaurant is highly recommended for its 'authentic and delicious' food, 'vibrant atmosphere' and 'excellent service'.

A photo of Cori Pastificio Trattoria restaurant

8. Cori Pastificio Trattoria

4.8

Exceptional(654)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Italian • North Park

Booked 34 times today

Acclaimed Sicilian Chef Accursio Lota serves up authentic cuisine in a cozy 60's-style Italian trattoria. Voted San Diego's Best Chef five years in a row, and Barilla’s World Pasta Champion, at Cori Trattoria Chef Lota serves up beautifully bold dishes like Agnolotti with Spring Peas and Beef Bone Marrow, and an unbelievably rich Vegan Parmigiana di Melanzane. The menu melds the flavors of Sicily and Italy with the best of fresh, locally-sourced Southern California ingredients, and is matched by a curated wine list and cocktail program that include indigenous, bio-dynamic varietals from all Italy. The current Spring menu features dishes like Agnolotti with Spring Peas, fava bean, and beef bone marrow, and Cacio e Pepe with sustainably-sourced Petrovich caviar.Enjoy full-service table seating, grab a place at the marble-topped bar, from which you can watch all the action of your meal being prepared in the open kitchen or just order your meal to enjoy at home with your family.

9. Little Frenchie

4.7

Exceptional(1494)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• French • Coronado

Booked 29 times today

Little Frenchie is a chef-driven approachable bistro modeled after Parisian neighborhood cafes. Enjoy our rotating menu of Provencal classics, our immense selection of unique cheeses imported from France and our extensive wine collection from both France and California. We take pride in the imported and local ingredients we use; our produce is sourced from regional farmers, and our seafood from local area fisherman.

10. Cloak + Petal

4.6

Exceptional(995)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Sushi • Little Italy

Booked 46 times today

WELCOME TO CLOAK & PETAL!Where we invite you to journey into a place of both intimacy and companionshipOur concept is drawn from our name. The word “cloak” implies secrecy, inspiring our concept of a social sphere humming beneath the levels of ordinary life. “Petal” alludes to the Japanese tradition of “hanami,” when family and friends gather under blooming cherry blossoms to savor food, drinks and fellowship.Enter our space and travel underground to décor reminiscent of an abandoned Tokyo subway, a stratum of society all its own, an artist’s dream. Cross the threshold into a mystically transformed Japanese social dining lounge which appears to be an outdoor seating area, similar to a waiting platform. Sit beneath a trellis of draping vines and teardrop lights in the intimate space we’ve thoughtfully created, and feast on authentic Japanese sushi, appetizers, small plates and drinks with family and friends.Journey down to Cloak + Petal… and come unwind your soul.

‘About the restaurant’ descriptions have been generated using an artificial intelligence model comprised of OpenTable proprietary data that has not been independently verified by OpenTable. The content is presented as-is, for informational purposes only.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

S
Scott
San Diego •1 review
5.0
Dined 1 day ago
Unique setting, great staff. The food was quick on a busy night, the waiter was quick with serving ours and other patrons tables.
More info
insideOUTPrice: Expensive• Californian• Hillcrest
•
4.7
F
faneVIP
San Diego •26 reviews
5.0
Dined 1 day ago
Callie has the most delicious food in San Diego. The home made pita, the hummus the carrots( yes carrots!) the Aleppo chicken ( yes chicken) the Lemon saffron linguine the lamb chops I could go on and on. Worth the wait for reservations!
More info
Callie RestaurantPrice: Very Expensive• Mediterranean• Downtown
•
4.8
D
Demontray
Baltimore / Maryland •2 reviews
4.0
Dined 7 days ago
Took a while to be greeted at the door but once seated, service was great. It was well suited for our large party. The food was great, drinks were good, food came out fast and it was an overall good time.
More info
Kalaveras - Chula VistaPrice: Moderate• Mexican• Chula Vista / Bonita
•
4.3
R
Rima
Hawaii •1 review
5.0
Dined 7 days ago
It was a beautiful patio/atmosphere with friendly hosts! Loved the variety in the menu & the fact that there was an entirely vegan menu. My partner & I both agreed that the appetizers were delicious (mushroom flan, olive oil vegetables w/bread, etc) but the main dishes were just okay (the squash in my pasta dish was not cooked enough and the sauce was quite watery; his chicken was a bit dry). Overall, we enjoyed our experience but are not sure if we would return again for a full meal.
More info
Ciccia OsteriaPrice: Expensive• Italian• Barrio Logan
•
4.7
V
Vanessa
San Diego •5 reviews
5.0
Dined on Feb 15, 2025
For Valentine’s Day they had a prefixed menu with delicious options. Great service and food was fantastic.
More info
Acqua E Farina Trattoria RomanaPrice: Moderate• Italian• Chula Vista / Bonita
•
4.3

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