Enable JavaScript to run this app.
Skip to main content
OpenTable logo
  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. San Diego

Best Neighborhood Gem Restaurants in Hillcrest

Price
Cuisine
Regions
Neighborhoods
Top Rated
Dining Options
Seating Options
Award-winning
Accessibility

110 restaurants available nearby

A photo of Cocina de Barrio restaurant
4.8
Exceptional(422)
Price: Moderate
• Mexican • Hillcrest
Booked 13 times today
*Brunch hours are on a walk-in basis only. Thank you for your cooperation & support during this time!Cocina de Barrio by Chef Jose J. FloresBienvenidos a Cocina de Barrio, the newest modern-urban Mexican restaurant located in Hillcrest, San Diego! We are proud to feature the culinary richness of Oaxaca as well as other Mexican regions. Stop by and enjoy our bar stocked with plenty tequila and mezcal selections, MUCHA cerveza, and wines sourced from Valle Guadalupe. Don't forget to join us during our daily brunch (where we add a Mexican kick) and our happy hour every Tuesday-Friday from 3-5pm! Stay Chido!
A photo of La Bonne Table restaurant
4.9
Exceptional(1415)
Price: Moderate
• French • Hillcrest
Booked 4 times today
LA BONNE TABLE is a cozy and intimate restaurant in the heart of the bustling neighborhood of Hillcrest. We serve country french food in a bistro fashion. Our menu consists of classic french dishes, a modest but excellent selection that will change with the seasons. We offer a romantic atmosphere and elegant setting, full bar and french beer on tap. Reservations are recommended as seating is very limited in this exclusive restaurant. ​Bon Appetit!
A photo of Books + Records restaurant
4.7
Exceptional(377)
Price: Expensive
• American • Banker's Hill
Booked 13 times today
Global inspired American cuisine, craft cocktails, and weekend brunch in an upbeat atmosphere, with live music.Chef Ryan Stickel is serving up San Diego's freshest food takes in an art deco meets mid-century mod warehouse space. With a tenured run on both Eater's Heat Map and list of San Diego's Hottest Cocktail Bars, the food and drinks are both guaranteed to delight your senses.
A photo of Mister A's restaurant
4.9
Exceptional(8669)
Price: Very Expensive
• Contemporary French / American • Downtown
Booked 55 times today
Mister A's is the penthouse, fine-dining destination of San Diego, and has been for over 50 years. Located just a few minutes from downtown, you will take the elevator to the top floor and look back out over jetliners sweeping past at eye level, the San Diego skyline, bay and Pacific, while enjoying Modern American cuisine, hand-crafted cocktails, and one of Wine Spectator's top-rated wine lists in the country. The culinary staff hand-selects local farm produce and the highest quality ingredients in every category to offer you selections that are made from scratch in house for brunch, lunch, dinner.. or simply the finest rooftop drinks and appetizers in town.Please visit our website for specific dress code guidelines: https://www.asrestaurant.com/contact/(Guests not in dress code will be turned away)
A photo of Herb & Wood restaurant
4.7
Exceptional(6465)
Price: Expensive
• Californian • Little Italy
Booked 57 times today
A timeless, sought-after dining escape, celebrated Chef Brian Malarkey opened Herb & Wood to instant acclaim over four years ago. In that time, the restaurant has become an icon, a dining destination that has helped to propel San Diego's culinary reputation to new heights. By focusing on rustic, wood-fired dishes, Chef Malarkey's menu elevates humble ingredients such as carrots, beets, and chicken, incorporating Mediterranean flavors and a California ethos of seasonality and sustainability.
A photo of Great Maple San Diego restaurant
4.8
Exceptional(4386)
Price: Moderate
• American • Hillcrest
Booked 72 times today
We Serve Dinner, Lunch, Brunch and Weekday Breakfast. We are a modern American eatery featuring seasonal fare, fresh house made pies, and local produce cocktails. We have a full bar and a social wine list. Open for Outdoor dining!
A photo of Barbusa restaurant
4.6
Exceptional(4307)
Price: Moderate
• Italian • Little Italy
Booked 66 times today
Barbusa Local Modern Sicilian Restaurant.Lively atmosphere with our craft cocktails, handmade pastas, freshest seafood, delicate pizza, and our famous Sicilian Ribeye.Pizza Served from our stone fired oven.Gluten free and Vegan Items AvailableWHILE WE VALUE THE TIME OF ALL OUR LOYAL GUEST AND SMILING FACES, WE KINDLY REQUEST YOU LIMIT THE TIME SPENT AT YOUR TABLE TO 1 HOUR AND 30 MIN DUE TO MANDATED REDUCTION IN CAPACITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT, WE COULDNT BE MORE THRILLED TO HAVE YOU DINE WITH US!
A photo of Cowboy Star restaurant
4.9
Exceptional(4753)
Price: Very Expensive
• Steakhouse • Downtown
Booked 33 times today
Located in the heart of the East Village neighborhood of San Diego, Cowboy Star is dedicated to providing an unmatched attention to detail and a level of service that immediately sets us apart. Cowboy Star guests are the number one priority and guest satisfaction is the base upon which our entire concept is built. Our level of service is only matched by our celebration of regional American heirloom recipes offered with genuine neighborly hospitality. We are committed to supporting local and regional farmers, fishers and producers by cooking food that recaptures the simple and pure tastes found in locally grown, natural and organic ingredients. We strive to raise awareness of a more sustainable food future, while helping to restore a sense of community that brings us back to a more homegrown time.The Cowboy Star Menu features the finest in select natural products including Niman Ranch all natural beef from the nation's leading Certified Humane Angus herd.
A photo of Madison restaurant
4.5
Awesome(3023)
Price: Expensive
• Mediterranean • University Heights
Booked 15 times today
With their stunning design, classic cocktails & highly acclaimed fare, Madison finds itself among San Diego's can't miss restaurants! Serving many of Michelin recognized Chef Mario Cassineri classic dishes, perfect for Date Night of celebrating with friends. ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ʜᴏᴜʀ - ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴅᴀʏ 4-6ᴘᴍᴛᴜᴇꜱᴅᴀʏ - ʟɪᴠᴇ ᴊᴀᴢᴢ 7-9ᴘᴍᴡᴇᴅɴᴇꜱᴅᴀʏ - ᴅɪɴɴᴇʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴅᴏɢꜱᴛʜᴜʀꜱᴅᴀʏ - ᴅᴊ ꜱᴘɪɴɴɪɴɢ ᴏʟᴅ ꜱᴄʜᴏᴏʟ ᴠɪɴʏʟꜰʀɪᴅᴀʏ & ꜱᴀᴛᴜʀᴅᴀʏ ɴɪɢʜᴛ - ᴀʟᴡᴀʏꜱ ᴀ ᴘᴀʀᴛʏ ᴡᴇᴇᴋᴇɴᴅ ʙᴏᴏᴢʏ ʙʀᴜɴᴄʜ - ʟɪᴠᴇ ᴅᴊꜱꜱᴜɴᴅᴀʏ ɴɪɢʜᴛ - ʟᴀᴛɪɴ ᴊᴀᴢᴢ 6-8ᴘᴍ
A photo of The Prado at Balboa Park restaurant
4.6
Exceptional(7904)
Price: Moderate
• Californian • Downtown
Booked 44 times today
Located in San Diego's Balboa Park, in the Historic House of Hospitality, The Prado offers historic charm and California cuisine.

How is content generated

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you
From verified diners like you
  • Olivia
    Los Angeles •2 reviews
    5.0
    Dined 1 day ago
    The view is unbeaten! We were less excited about the menu but we were proven impressed. Great meals and fantastic service
    More info
    Mister A'sPrice: Very Expensive• Contemporary French / American• Downtown
    4.9
  • Kenneth
    Baltimore / Maryland •1 review
    5.0
    Dined 3 days ago
    Food and service was outstanding. The must have dishes are the pork belly and venison tare tare appetizers, the oxtail gnocchi and Secreto entrees, and the date cake for dessert. The H&W Negron was also a stand out.
    More info
    Herb & WoodPrice: Expensive• Californian• Little Italy
    4.7
  • ileanaVIP
    Baja California •8 reviews
    5.0
    Dined 3 days ago
    I came here for a romantic date and it was so amazing! We booked a reservation right away and that’s hard to find on a Saturday night. Parking was super easy and service is very friendly and fast. The food is 10/10 as well as drinks ! The music is great quality and I’ll come back pretty soon to try more of the cocktails.
    More info
    Books + RecordsPrice: Expensive• American• Banker's Hill
    4.7
  • Linda
    San Diego •5 reviews
    5.0
    Dined 4 days ago
    La Bonne Table serves a regular, limited and consistently excellent menu. There were four of us celebrating a birthday so we shared several appetizers and entrees. Great onion soup and escargot, and the crab lobster rillettes were surprisingly delicious. Every entree was great - we had cassoulet, the pork chops and the mussels. Large portions so leftovers the next day! Even the French 75 cocktail was great. We felt like we were in France; the ambiance was cozy and the neighboring patrons were friendly and chatty. A wonderful experience - highly recommend.
    More info
    La Bonne TablePrice: Moderate• French• Hillcrest
    4.9
  • Tonya
    San Diego •2 reviews
    5.0
    Dined on Dec 7, 2024
    We had a work winter gathering and had a great time. The hosts were accommodating to reserve the lounge room for our party. It was spacious enough to hold a few table games. The host was very attentive, kind and patient. We all enjoyed ourselves very much!!!
    More info
    Cocina de BarrioPrice: Moderate• Mexican• Hillcrest
    4.8

Discover best neighborhood gem restaurants in Hillcrest

Discover the charm of Hillcrest in San Diego through its delightful neighborhood gems, offering a diverse array of culinary experiences that cater to every taste. Hillcrest is renowned for its vibrant dining scene, where local favorites serve up authentic dishes in cozy, welcoming settings. Whether you're craving the rich flavors of French cuisine, the hearty comforts of Italian food, or the vibrant zest of authentic Mexican dishes, Hillcrest's neighborhood gems have something special to offer. Each restaurant prides itself on providing excellent service, a warm ambiance, and a unique dining experience that makes each visit memorable. These establishments are celebrated for their commitment to quality and their ability to make diners feel like part of the community. Perfect for both casual diners and food enthusiasts alike, these neighborhood gems embody the spirit of Hillcrest, making it a must-visit destination for anyone looking for a truly local dining experience.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
Copyright © 2024 OpenTable, Inc. 1 Montgomery St Ste 500, San Francisco CA 94104 - All rights reserved.
OpenTable is part of Booking Holdings, the world leader in online travel and related services.
Booking Logo
Priceline Logo
KAYAK Logo
Agoda Logo
OpenTable Logo