Old Town: Birthplace of California Is Famous for Mexican Food and More

Barra Barra Saloon is a period saloon that is part of Fiesta de Reyes in Old Town State Historic Park. The furnishings and menu represent the merging of Mexico with American traditions in the mid-1800s. The cozy ambiance is akin to a ranch home in Old Mexico with authentic reproductions of Mexican artifacts and art as decor. In addition to indoor dining rooms, the outdoor patio has fire pits. The menu offers traditional Mexican favorites including what they claim is the best margarita in San Diego for $6. It's also easy to make reservations online, which are recommended during weekends.

Jack & Guilio's Italian Restaurant used to be located in Pacific Beach and has been in business since 1961. In addition to a nice list of Italian wines, they are famous for their scampi recipe in addition to homemade pastas, veal, poultry, beef, and seafood specialties. They also have the space for large groups and events on their patio or private balcony. The hole-in-the-wall atmosphere is warm and the service is friendly, making it a perfect break from the Mexican food restaurants in Old Town. The chef for the last 40 years is none other than Guilio himself and most of the pasta is made fresh daily.

Old Town is among San Diego's top tourist stops, and all those visitors need to eat somewhere. Mexican restaurants are obviously popular, and Casa Guadalajara in Bazaar del Mundo ranks near the top of the list. Tortillas made in-house, great margaritas and live mariachi bands give it an edge over much of the competition, but the food is quite well-prepared and fresh with all the expected choices plus a few non-standard ones. Try the chimichangas or enchiladas. Be prepared to wait on weekend evenings. Choose to dine indoors or on the patio amid the fountains. People also love the folk art and overall ambience.

Casa de Reyes feels like its own little village with plenty of seating as well as a small entertainment area and shops lining the restaurant's courtyard. It's a great place to enjoy a margarita al fresco. Guests rave about the carnitas, tamales, chili rellenos and the fresh guacamole. Portions are huge as are the fish bowl-sized margaritas. Because it has an open air vibe, it's also a great place to eat with the kids. Live entertainment happens nightly in the lush garden area. Its location right off of Old Town State Historic Park, makes it a popular choice for tourists.

Miguel's is a popular Mexican restaurant chain in San Diego that's famous for their amazing jalapeno cream sauce that arrives shortly after being seated, in addition to chips, salsa, and pickled vegetables. The restaurant has made a name for itself by serving reliable Mexican-American food in a fun, kid-friendly atmosphere. You'll find a broad menu with plenty of options such as albondigas soup, ceviche, carnitas, fish tacos, pollo asado, calamari-wrapped chile rellenos, enchiladas suizas, and lobster or shrimp fajitas. Service is usually good though the restaurant can get busy. It's part of San Diego's renowned Cohn Restaurant Group and has another location in Coronado.

The Old Town Cosmopolitan Hotel and Restaurant's full-service restaurant and bar are open 7 days a week for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. The American grill, seafood and Mexican inspired favorites range from overstuffed chili rellenos to a rack of ribs to ahi lettuce cups. The menu changes throughout the year depending on what is in season. The restaurant, located inside of the restored 1870s hotel, prides itself on offering delicious food at reasonable prices with a choice of indoor or orchard patio dining. Private parties and specialized events are available and happy hour is honored daily from 3-6 PM.

Old Town is one of San Diego's top attractions, and all the restaurants in the area are nearly always packed. OTMC has a bit of an edge over the competition: the "tortilla ladies" who make over 7000 tortillas every day, strolling mariachis, and an atmosphere that's unfailingly festive. Then there's the food. Most folks rave about the carnitas while other good choices are pozole, albondigas soup, menudo, Mexican style ribs or rotisserie chicken, Steak Azteca, chicken mole, or a big old burrito stuffed with chile verde, machaca, carne asada, or beans. Wash it all down with an ice cold margarita or cerveza.

Not only is Harney Sushi a favorite of San Diego locals for sushi, they are pioneering the local, sustainable fish movement to ensure that customers are only eating the very best (no fish fraud here). Needless to say sashimi is a popular order, as are their specialty rolls, but there is also plenty of cooked Japanese food to choose. Harney has a festive vibe with both indoor and outdoor seating available as well as a DJ spinning tunes on some evenings. They also have San Diego's only sake bar, a long list of specialty cocktails, and more than 40 award-winning wines.

From tortillas to tamales to salsa, Coyote Cafe makes everything from scratch every day on the premises. Start the day with a Breakfast Margarita, chilaquiles, menudo, or a chile relleno omelette. For lunch, try the chile verde, a quesadilla, tortilla soup, or a taco salad. If your appetite is massive by dinnertime, this is the place to go. Hearty portions of traditional and gringo favorites arrive steaming and flavorful: tamales, tequila-lime shrimp, carnitas, California burritos (huge tortilla stuffed with carne asada, cheese and French fries!), and enchiladas. This Old Town restaurants is known for good margaritas, a decent selection of tequila, pitchers of sangria, and ice cold cerveza, too.

Sushi Tadokoro serves up traditional Edo-mae-style sushi in Old Town. The venue is small and intimate, quite like sushi restaurants in Japan, and guests may feel temporarily transported when dining here. Delivery of some seafood from Japan is received by Sushi Tadokoro in the same amount of time that markets in Tokyo receive the same shipment (thanks probably to our new direct flight). Note that the restaurant is closed on Sundays and that they do not take American Express. They boast the best uni (sea urchin) in San Diego and you will get what you pay for here. However, they do have daily happy hour featuring discounted drink and appetizer specials.