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Dining in the North County tends to reflect the land where the restaurant is located. Along the coast, for example, there is one luxury fine-dining spot after another. Most have dramatic water views and offer platters of exquisite fare created by graduates of the best culinary schools. Right next door you can wander into a typic
Dining in the North County tends to reflect the land where the restaurant is located. Along the coast, for example, there is one luxury fine-dining spot after another. Most have dramatic water views and offer platters of exquisite fare created by graduates of the best c
Dining in the North County tends to reflect the land where the restaurant is located. Along the coast, for example, ther
Dining in the North County tends to reflect the land where the restaurant is located. Along the coast, for example, there is one luxury fine-dining spot after another. Most have dramatic water views and offer platters of exquisite fare created by graduates of the best culinary schools. Right next door you can wander into a typical beach shack or diner for the juiciest hamburger you’ve ever tasted. Locally sourced food can be found at restaurants throughout the area, although a few chefs have adopted molecular gastronomic techniques. Backcountry cuisine is generally served in huge portions and tends toward home-style cooking, steak and potatoes, burgers, and anything fried.
Get ready for a true French garden experience, where you can sip espresso, pluck flowers from galvanized buckets, and even hold a bunny. This flower shop-meets-café experience has lite bites and pastries that will have you sinking your teeth into a flaky croissant and saying “merci!”
In 1984, “Mom” (aka Anita Nichols) opened her first pie shop in the old Julian Café building. People lined the streets for a slice of the guilty pleasure, known for its buttery crust, not-too-sweet filling with local apples, and commitment to quality. Two bakeries later—plus training at Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Institute—the integrity of Mom’s pies remains the same. And although apple is the moneymaker, you can’t go wrong with peach, bumbleberry, or pecan pies, or other sweet treats like chocolate chip cookies and apple dumplings. For something savory, there are soups, salads, sandwiches, and chicken potpies. When the wait is too long at the Main Street location, head five minutes outside of town to Mom's Wynola on Highway 78, or better yet, call in your order and they will ship a pie right to your door.
This bakery tucked down a narrow alley proves there’s no such thing as too many pie shops in Julian. After mastering the apple-to-crust ratio, they took on lunch specials by offering a soup–sandwich–pie combo for $13. Wraps, salads, and other wholesome goodies are also available. Apple crumb is the biggest seller, but few can pass up their lemon tarts, molasses cookies, and berry strudels.
The line out the door—especially during happy hour—is a clear sign you’re at the best place in North County to find locally sourced, sustainably caught fish at a great price. Owned by surfers-divers-fishermen, John Park and Ray Lowe, the vibe is SoCal at its best, with a chill staff serving fresh-shucked oysters, thick clam chowder, and fish sandwiches grilled to perfection; a chalkboard menu displays the day’s catch and what’s been shucked on ice. Fish plates like mahimahi with flash-fried Brussels sprouts and Baja fish tacos with killer salsas are great options. They've got wine on tap, their own micro brew, and a second location in Cardiff. Don’t be surprised to see pro surfers and skateboarders enjoying a cold one: Fish 101 sponsors some of the biggest names in action sports.
1468 N. Coast Hwy. 101, Encinitas, California, 92024, USA
Fast-casual takes a healthy spin at this cheery spot—think Technicolor peace sign, floral wallpaper in the bathroom, and power-boosting juices. The menu evokes the same colorful vibe with bowls like the Mother Earth (ancient grains and sweet potato) or the glow bowl (sweet potato noodles, bok choy, shiitake mushroom, and coconut milk); soups; mix-and-match sides; wraps; and salads mixed with fresh ingredients like organic kale, ginger miso vinaigrette, and proteins that include sustainable salmon, grass-fed steak, and organic, non-GMO tofu.
2690 Via De La Valle, Del Mar, California, 92014, USA
Pick up a basket of fresh-cooked fish-and-chips at this dive and you're in for a treat. The shop has been serving clam chowder, shrimp cocktail, and fish sandwiches since 1969. Trophies and photos of big catch are on display. Outdoor tables offer terrific views of the Oceanside Marina. Early risers and late-night diners should look elsewhere since this spot opens at 11 am closes at 7 pm.
276 S. Harbor Dr., Oceanside, California, 92054, USA
Fans of Top Gun—or the 2022 Maverick comeback—can get a taste of the historic house featured in the original 1986 film. In 2023, the 100-year-old home was moved to its current beachfront location, which operates as a pie shop serving hot hand-held pies in cherry, apple, blueberry, and seasonal favorites.
The apple pies that made Julian famous come from the Smothers family bakery in a one-story house on Main Street. In pleasant weather you can sit on the front patio and watch the world go by while savoring a slice of hot pie—from Dutch apple to apple mountain berry crumb—topped with homemade cinnamon ice cream. The Smothers family has been making pies in Julian since 1986; by 1989 the family had bought its own orchard, and by 1992 it had built a larger bakery in Santa Ysabel that makes and serves only pies. Arrive by 9 to avoid the lines that wrap around the building.
Veggies with a view could be the subtitle for this venerable Cardiff restaurant that grew from a simple juice shack. Ki’s is well known for heart-healthy, gluten-free, vegan, locally sourced, ovo-lacto, vegetarian-friendly dishes like huevos rancheros, filling tofu scrambles, taco plates, chopped salads with feta and nuts, seasonal juice, and carrot ice-cream smoothies. From 4 to 8 pm, the menu takes a step forward with macadamia-coconut mahimahi, miso-glaze salmon, and filet mignon topped with a mushroom Cabernet sauce.
2591 S. Coast Hwy. 101, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California, 92007, USA
Don't count calories here, because you'll lose track at this old-fashioned sweet shop with 22 types of fudge, 43 flavors of ice cream, 15 different candy apples, and funnel cake sprinkled with powdered sugar and every naughty topping imaginable. Their retro candy will take you back in time.
28545 Old Town Front St., Temecula, California, 92590, USA
Put your phone down and lose track of time—or thyme—at this darling cottage in the heart of Rancho Santa Fe. Owner-chef Keely Barrera has created quite the spread with artisan-baked goods made with locally sourced ingredients like the homemade muffins that blend blueberry with bran or raspberry with mango. Grab a scone or sweet bread to go, or stay for the savory Mediterranean quiche, albacore tuna salad, or old-fashioned turkey meat loaf; the focaccia sandwiches are guilt-free with locally grown avocado, tomatoes, and eggplant. If available, snag a table on the patio overlooking the rose garden.
16905 Av. de Acacias, Rancho Santa Fe, California, 92067, USA
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