I’ve eaten my way through California more times than my waistline would like to admit. This state has arguably the best and most diverse food scene in the country, and I don’t say that lightly. When you combine year-round growing seasons, Pacific Ocean seafood, immigrant communities from every corner of the world, and a culture that genuinely cares about where food comes from, you get something special.
Here’s my region-by-region breakdown of what to eat, where to eat it, and what you’ll spend.
San Diego: Fish Tacos and Craft Beer
San Diego’s food identity starts and ends with fish tacos, but there’s a lot more going on here.
The Must-Eats
Fish tacos are non-negotiable. The classic San Diego fish taco is beer-battered white fish (usually mahi or cod), shredded cabbage, white sauce, and a squeeze of lime on a corn tortilla. Simple and perfect.
- Oscar’s Mexican Seafood in Hillcrest and Pacific Beach. My go-to. Two tacos for about $6-7. The shrimp taco is just as good as the fish.
- Tacos El Gordo in Chula Vista and National City. This Tijuana transplant does adobada tacos on the spit that rival anything across the border. $3-4 per taco.
- El Zarape in University Heights. Their surf-and-turf burrito is legendary. Expect to pay $14-16 for a burrito that could feed two people.
Beyond tacos, San Diego’s craft beer scene is world-class. There are over 150 breweries in the county. A tasting flight runs $10-15 at most taprooms. I always recommend Societe Brewing for IPAs and Modern Times for their stouts and sours.
Budget Tip
Hit the taco shops for lunch and splurge on a brewery dinner. You can eat incredibly well in San Diego for $30-40 per day if you lean into the casual scene.
Los Angeles: Everything, Everywhere
LA’s food scene is so vast it’s almost impossible to summarize. The city’s immigrant communities have created pockets of authentic cuisine from every country imaginable, and the competition keeps quality high and prices reasonable.
The Must-Eats
Burritos. LA burritos are different from San Diego’s and San Francisco’s. They’re typically larger, rice-heavy, and smothered in sauce. The breakfast burrito culture here is unmatched.
- Cielito Lindo on Olvera Street. Their beef taquitos with avocado sauce have been served since 1934. $6 for a plate.
- Guerrilla Tacos in the Arts District. Chef Wes Avila turned his food truck into a brick-and-mortar restaurant. Tacos run $6-9 each but they’re unlike anything else in the city.
- Howlin’ Ray’s in Chinatown. Nashville-style hot chicken that people wait hours for. A sandwich and fries runs about $16-19. Go early on a weekday if possible.
Korean BBQ in Koreatown is essential. All-you-can-eat spots like Road to Seoul or Hae Jang Chon run $25-35 per person and include unlimited banchan (side dishes), meats, and the full tabletop grilling experience. For a splurge, Park’s BBQ ($50-70 per person) has some of the best galbi I’ve had outside of Seoul.
Thai food in Thai Town along Hollywood Boulevard is exceptional. Jitlada is famous for its southern Thai dishes, and Sapp Coffee Shop does a boat noodle soup for $11 that I genuinely dream about.
Budget Tip
LA’s Grand Central Market downtown is a food hall with vendors covering everything from ramen to pupusas to egg sandwiches. You can get an outstanding lunch for $12-18 and sample multiple cuisines.
San Francisco: Dim Sum, Sourdough, and Mission Burritos
San Francisco punches far above its weight for a city its size. The combination of Chinatown (the oldest in North America), the Mission District, and a fanatical farm-to-table culture makes it one of America’s top food cities.
The Must-Eats
Dim sum in Chinatown or the Richmond District is a must. I’ve tried at least 20 spots over the years and keep coming back to a few.
- Good Mong Kok Bakery on Stockton Street. Cash only, no frills, and the best baked BBQ pork buns in the city. $2-4 per item.
- Palette Tea House for a more modern dim sum experience with creative dishes. Budget $35-50 per person.
- Dragon Beaux in the Richmond. Beautifully presented dim sum with some innovative twists. Weekend brunch runs $40-55 per person.
Mission burritos are their own category. The San Francisco burrito is defined by the flour tortilla, rice, beans, meat, salsa, sour cream, and guacamole all wrapped into a tight cylinder. No sauce on top.
- La Taqueria on Mission Street. Won a FiveThirtyEight “best burrito in America” title. $13-16 for a burrito. They don’t use rice, which is either brilliant or controversial depending on who you ask.
- El Farolito on 24th Street. Open late and beloved by locals. The super burrito is about $14 and it’s enormous.
Sourdough bread from Boudin Bakery at Fisherman’s Wharf is touristy, sure, but the bread bowl of clam chowder ($12-14) is genuinely good and worth doing once.
Budget Tip
The Ferry Building Marketplace on Saturdays hosts a farmers market where you can assemble an incredible meal from vendor samples and affordable prepared foods. Budget $15-25 for a fantastic lunch with Bay views.
Napa Valley and Wine Country: Farm-to-Table Perfefined
Wine Country takes California’s farm-to-table philosophy and turns it up to eleven. The combination of world-class vineyards and some of the most fertile agricultural land in the state means restaurants here have access to extraordinary ingredients.
The Must-Eats
- Oxbow Public Market in Napa. Think of it as a food hall for wine country. Oysters from Hog Island ($3-4 each), tacos from C Casa ($5-7), and a glass of local wine ($12-18). You can eat and drink well here for $40-50.
- Gott’s Roadside (formerly Taylor’s Automatic). A burger joint that happens to be in wine country. Their ahi tuna burger is $19 and worth every penny. Expect a line.
- The French Laundry in Yountville if you’re splurging. Thomas Keller’s legendary restaurant runs about $350 per person for the tasting menu, and reservations open exactly 60 days in advance. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime meal if you can get in.
- Bouchon Bakery next door to The French Laundry. Same Keller quality, but a croissant and coffee will run you $8-12.
Wine tasting fees across Napa average $40-60 per winery, with some charging $75-100 for reserve tastings. Sonoma is generally cheaper at $20-40 per tasting and more laid-back overall. I always recommend doing Sonoma if it’s your first time and you don’t want the sticker shock.
Budget Tip
Many wineries waive the tasting fee if you buy a bottle. Ask before you pour. Also, picnicking is a Napa tradition. Grab cheese, charcuterie, and bread from Oxbow or the Oakville Grocery, buy a bottle at a winery, and eat on their grounds.
Central Coast: The Hidden Gem
The stretch from San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara doesn’t get the attention of LA or SF, but the food scene here quietly rivals both.
- Splash Cafe in Pismo Beach serves a clam chowder bread bowl ($10-12) that I’d put against San Francisco’s best any day.
- Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone has a cluster of wine tasting rooms, breweries, and restaurants in a walkable area. Municipal Winemakers does tastings for $15 and the vibe is refreshingly unpretentious.
- La Super-Rica Taqueria in Santa Barbara was famously Julia Child’s favorite taco stand. A plate of tacos runs $10-14. The chile relleno is outstanding.
What Makes California Food Special
After eating across this state for years, I think what sets California apart is the lack of pretension about quality ingredients. A taco stand in a strip mall parking lot can use the same locally-grown produce as a $300-per-person restaurant. The farmers market culture is real, the growing season never truly ends, and the diversity of cuisines available within a single city block is unmatched anywhere in the country.
My biggest piece of advice: eat where the locals eat, not where the guidebooks send you. Ask your hotel staff, your Uber driver, or the person next to you at the bar. Californians love talking about food, and their recommendations are almost always better than what you’ll find on Yelp’s front page.