Best Cheap Eats in San Diego

The pizza is well-regarded for its authentic Italian taste, freshness, and quality ingredients, often described as the best experienced outside of Italy.

“Best pizza I’ve had”

Service is frequently noted as friendly, fast, and welcoming, contributing to a positive overall experience.

“Great service. The food”

The atmosphere is described as a small street pizzeria, with some noting it can be busy at night and offering limited seating options.

“Sit on the street”

The restaurant is consistently lauded for its very reasonable prices, offering outstanding quality for the cost.

“Great price point”

The salads and sandwiches are well-regarded for being delicious, healthy, and of top-notch quality.

“Delicious and healthy food”

Service is frequently described as top-notch, though mentions are older.

“Top-notch service”

No specific details about the atmosphere or vibe were provided.

The restaurant is noted for offering great prices for the quality and quantity of food.

“At a very good price”

The food is well-regarded for its first-rate flavor, freshness, and generous portions, particularly the California and breakfast burritos.

“Best burrito I’ve had to date”

Service is frequently described as friendly, fast, and hospitable, with staff sometimes going above and beyond for customers.

“Amazing staff! Highly recommend!”

The atmosphere is characterized as a casual, local, and historic spot, often described as a 'gem' or 'joint'.

“Cool little joint, too.”

Customers consistently find the prices to be very reasonable, especially given the large portion sizes and high quality of the food.

“Super affordable. Reminder, cash only.”

The birria is well-regarded for being juicy, flavorful, and generously portioned. Fish tacos are also highlighted as excellent for their price point, with crispy fish and tasty sauce.

“Best fish tacos for the price”

Service is frequently described as friendly and outstanding, with staff being helpful in guiding choices.

“Great service. Recommend Quesatacos”

As a food truck, the vibe is casual and straightforward, with no specific ambiance details provided.

The restaurant is considered a great value, with generous portions and reasonable prices, especially for the quesabirria taco special.

“Price is more than doable”

The food is well-regarded for its quality, flavor, and generous portions, with burgers and lamb dishes frequently highlighted as outstanding.

“The steak and secret menu soup is amazing”

Service is frequently described as friendly, welcoming, and personable, with the owner often singled out for his engaging and generous interactions.

“Amazing service and food!”

The atmosphere is consistently described as warm, homey, and welcoming, with a strong sense of community fostered by the owner.

“Warm, inviting atmosphere”

The restaurant is lauded for its first-rate value, offering large portions and high-quality food at very affordable prices, especially for combo meals.

“The price for what you get”

The restaurant is celebrated for its authentic, delicious, and freshly prepared Colombian street food, particularly its arepas and carimañolas. Flavors are well-regarded, with many calling them the best they've had.

“Best arepa (con huevos) of my life!”

Service is generally described as friendly and attentive, though some recent signs suggest potential issues with preferential treatment towards certain groups.

“Very good service, friendly and attentive.”

Operating as a street food stall, the vibe is casual and bustling, often busy with locals. It's situated in a park or plaza, offering an authentic local experience.

“Great arepas de huevos and empanadas from a food cart”

The restaurant is consistently lauded for its affordability, offering generous portions and high-quality food at very low prices, making it an excellent value.

“So good!!! Expect to wait 15-20 mins”

The food, particularly the lumpia and pancit, is well-regarded for its authentic, homemade taste, freshness, and delicious flavor. Many diners consider it the best in San Diego.

“Everything tastes fresh and homemade”

Service is generally described as friendly, kind, and efficient, with staff often accommodating special requests and being welcoming.

“Friendly service, generous portions”

The atmosphere is consistently described as simple, no-nonsense, and not a focus, with some noting it's a small, hot lobby area. It's primarily a takeout establishment.

“They don't waste time on atmosphere”

The restaurant is well-regarded for its generous portions and affordable prices, offering excellent value for the quality and quantity of food.

“Great prices. You get a lot of food”

The food is well-regarded for its delicious, homemade flavor and generous portions, with a wide variety of options for breakfast and lunch. Desserts also receive positive mentions.

“Homemade flavor”

Service is generally good to outstanding, with many diners highlighting friendly and attentive staff. However, some diners report occasional lapses in attentiveness, slow bill delivery, and inconsistent mood-based service.

“Very attentive”

The atmosphere is generally described as pleasant, comfortable, and family-friendly, suitable for various gatherings.

“Nice and comfortable place”

The restaurant is consistently lauded for its extremely affordable prices, offering first-rate value for the quality and quantity of food served.

“Very affordable prices”

The food is well-regarded for its authentic Jamaican flavors, with many dishes like oxtail, curry goat, and jerk chicken highlighted for their tenderness and rich seasoning. Portions are frequently described as generous.

“Amazing and you can tell it's made fresh”

Service is a mixed bag, with some diners experiencing friendly and welcoming interactions, while others report rudeness, unfriendliness, and a general lack of courtesy. There are also instances of orders being incorrect or items being forgotten.

“Very rude taking our order.”

The atmosphere is described as humble and authentic, with some noting Jamaican-themed decor. It's generally seen as a casual, neighborhood spot rather than a trendy establishment.

“Jamaican decorated dining room”

Well-regarded for the restaurant for its generous portion sizes relative to the price, making it an excellent value for money.

“Large portion and amazing service”

The ramen and curry dishes are generally well-received, with many celebrating the rich broths and flavorful curries. Some find the ramen broth too oily or salty, and a few note an Americanized twist.

“Absolutely the best Japanese food.”

Service is consistently described as friendly, attentive, and helpful, with staff often going the extra mile. The QR code ordering system is also noted as convenient.

“Incredibly clean atmosphere with an attentive polite staff.”

The atmosphere is generally considered pleasant, clean, and relaxing, with some comparing it to a Studio Ghibli movie.

“Cute little spot”

The restaurant is well-regarded for its affordability, with many specials and reasonable prices, especially for ramen and curry dishes.

“Great prices for quite a bit of food.”