Best Authentic Restaurants in Tierrasanta

103 restaurants available nearby

A photo of The Godfather Restaurant restaurant

1. The Godfather Restaurant

4.7

Exceptional(1887)

Price: Expensive

• Italian • Kearny Mesa

Booked 24 times today

The Godfather, a Balistreri restaurant, is an Italian monument in downtown San Diego providing authentic cuisine from the hills of Italy. Established in 1974, The Godfather is a sophisticated and classy establishment that centers around generational recipes from both Northern and Southern Italy. Over the years, the quality of food and standard of service has never declined and thus garnered The Godfather a national recognition as one of the top twenty-five Italian restaurants in the entire nation. The menu is filled with classic favorites based in steak, chicken and pasta. For an intimate evening for two, try the Sicilian kiss prix fixe meal that includes a bottle of champagne.

2. Rakiraki Convoy

4.7

Exceptional(13)

Price: Moderate

• Sushi • Kearny Mesa

Booked 4 times today

For reservations of 3 or less please book through our sister restaurant The Yasai by RakiRaki Convoy!Experience the original RakiRaki Ramen experience at our first location located in Kearny Mesa—the epicenter of San Diego’s thriving Asian food scene. The lines out the door are worth the wait for Chef/owner, Junya Watanabe’s signature ramen recipes that blend the art of traditional ramen making with the highest quality ingredients available and a modern atmosphere. RakiRaki serves a wide variety of authentic ramen dishes and Japanese cuisine including tsukemen (dipping noodles), charcoal-fired yakitori, curry, ramen burgers, and specialty sushi rolls along with local craft beer and sake selections.

3. Studio Diner

3.9

Excellent(4)

Price: Moderate

• American • Kearny Mesa

Booked 5 times today

Do the time warp down Ruffin Road and feast your eyes on the neon-lighted Studio Diner. It’s an authentic trip back to the ’40s — in the middle of the Kearny Mesa Business District. Wrapped in chrome & Blue neon, the Diner is a welcome roadside stop.

4. Cape Fire Grill

4.3

Awesome(0)

Price: Moderate

• Southern African • Miramar

Booked 2 times today

Cape Fire Grill - Bunny Chow is owned by Andrew Georgitsis, born and raised in South Africa. Andrew started his career as Chef and head of food development at All Prepped Up, working on designing and creating international foods. With a passion for creating & cooking innovative dishes that blended flavors and textures from all over the world. He formed SA Franchises LLC DBA: Cape Fire Grill - Bunny Chow in September of 2022 and using his past experiences, strengths and passion has developed the first authentic South African Fusion causal dining restaurant in San Diego. Specializing in fast, fresh, hand crafted meals made from scratch. Voted in Yelp's 2022 Top 10 New Restaurants Cape Fire Grill has several signature dishes including the Mixed Grill for 2 and South Africa's National Bobotie. Cape Fire Grill is a fast causal dine-in restaurant that has take out, delivery, catering (corporate and private), and ships South African food nation wide.

A photo of Emiliano's Mexican Restaurant restaurant

5. Emiliano's Mexican Restaurant

4.5

Awesome(5)

Price: Moderate

• Mexican • Grantville

Booked 2 times today

Welcome to Emiliano's Mexican Restaurant,with authentic dishes made from fresh ingredients.

6. Buona Forchetta

4.6

Exceptional(865)

Price: Moderate

• Italian • South Park

Booked 71 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'.

7. Kettner Exchange

4.7

Exceptional(1371)

Price: Expensive

• Contemporary American • Little Italy

Booked 57 times today

Kettner Exchange boasts two levels of indoor/outdoor drinking and dining and Little Italy’s only rooftop patio with spanning harbor views. We feature Progressive American cuisine from critically acclaimed Executive Chef Brian Redzikowski. In 2019, Kettner Exchange was named to Michelin Guide's prestigious Bib Gourmand list. Kettner Exchange has proudly maintained this award every year thereafter. Originally introduced in 1997, the Bib Gourmand category highlights restaurants that serve high-quality meals which include two courses and a glass of wine or dessert for $40 or less.

A photo of Cori Pastificio Trattoria restaurant

8. Cori Pastificio Trattoria

4.7

Exceptional(624)

Price: Moderate

• Italian • North Park

Booked 32 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. Cloak + Petal

4.6

Exceptional(970)

Price: Expensive

• Sushi • Little Italy

Booked 38 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.

10. Civico 1845

4.4

Awesome(2421)

Price: Moderate

• Italian • Little Italy

Booked 39 times today

Civico 1845 is an authentic Italian restaurant located in Little Italy, San Diego. The menu is a homage to the Calabria region of Italy and incorporates sustainable practices. Reviews rave about the fresh, light, and delectable dishes, with one reviewer claiming it's 'untouched by American ignorance'. The restaurant is also praised for its friendly staff, good atmosphere, and amazing vegan menu.

‘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

M
Michelle
San Diego •1 review
5.0
Dined on 28 Dec 2024
Raki Raki never fails, ramen is so good! Appetizers too!
More info
Rakiraki ConvoyPrice: Moderate• Sushi• Kearny Mesa
•
4.7
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Diego •1 review
5.0
Dined on 27 Dec 2024
All meals were excellent, chicken Parmesan, steak sinatra and raviolis
More info
The Godfather RestaurantPrice: Expensive• Italian• Kearny Mesa
•
4.7
L
LisaVIP
San Diego •103 reviews
4.0
Dined on 20 Dec 2024
We love Studio Diner. The food is always fantastic! Jay was our server this time. She is an excellent server. We can’t wait to go back again!
More info
Studio DinerPrice: Moderate• American• Kearny Mesa
•
3.9
T
Tracy
San Diego •8 reviews
4.0
Dined on 2 Dec 2024
Our first visit. Lots of seating. Service was great. Food was great. Drinks actually had alcohol. We will be back to try other menu items. We want to come back for brunch.
More info
Emiliano's Mexican RestaurantPrice: Moderate• Mexican• Grantville
•
4.5

Best Authentic Restaurants in Tierrasanta

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103 restaurants available nearby

1. The Godfather Restaurant

2. Rakiraki Convoy

3. Studio Diner

4. Cape Fire Grill

5. Emiliano's Mexican Restaurant

6. Buona Forchetta

7. Kettner Exchange

8. Cori Pastificio Trattoria

9. Cloak + Petal

10. Civico 1845

See what locals rave about

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