San Diego is a top travel destination with plenty to offer for a fun-packed family holiday, from beautiful beaches and world-renown attractions to a diverse dining scene. In this family dining guide, I will be sharing our selection of the best family friendly San Diego restaurants.
Best Family Friendly San Diego Restaurants
From casual burger eateries to oceanfront fine dining experiences, there is a wide selection of restaurants in San Diego offering great food for the whole family.
Since we live abroad in London, visits to my hometown are also our chance to enjoy all the Mexican food we’ve been missing. In addition to the best places to eat in San Diego with kids, you will find some of the best kid friendly Mexican restaurants in San Diego on this list!
The following restaurants are welcoming to families, offering a kids’ menu and often crayons and colouring sheets, along with great service and an inviting atmosphere. Read on for our selection of the top family friendly restaurants in San Diego, listed by neighborhood.
Mission Beach
Home to Belmont Park amusement park, Mission Beach is a popular place for families to stay in San Diego. The laid-back beach neighborhood has an oceanfront boardwalk lined with several restaurants and shops.
The business district along Mission Boulevard offers a variety of cafés, burger joints and brunch restaurants within walking distance of many of the waterfront vacation rentals at Mission Beach and Mission Bay.
The Mission Restaurant
3795 Mission Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92109 | https://www.themissionsd.com
One of our favourite restaurants in San Diego is The Mission Restaurant, which has locations in Mission Beach, North Park and Soma East Village.
The Mission Restaurant is one of the best San Diego restaurants for brunch and is definitely worth visiting. Note that The Mission Restaurant does not take dining reservations and since it is first come, first served, the wait can get lengthy on the weekends.
The pancakes are fluffy and scrumptious – and a beautifully plated, generous portion!
My favorite brunch dish at The Mission Restaurant is the Papas Loco plate off the Latino breakfast menu. It is absolutely delicious and bursting with flavor, a heaping plate of rosemary potatoes, grilled jalapenos, black beans, cheese, avocado slices and sour cream, served with salsa, tortillas and two scrambled eggs.
View the menus at The Mission San Diego
I can also highly recommend the Mission Chilaquiles (shown below) and Mission Rosemary dishes for their brunch menu. Other popular breakfast dishes include their breakfast burritos, omelets and steak & eggs.
We stayed in a VRBO vacation rental in Mission Beach on our most recent family trip to San Diego. It was convenient to order breakfast takeaway at The Mission Restaurant with DoorDash to enjoy their delicious food at our holiday rental.
Related: Fun Things to do in San Diego with Kids
My kids’ favourite items from The Mission Restaurant menu are the French toast and pancakes served with fresh fruit.
The Mission Restaurant also offers a lunch menu, which includes quesadillas, a hearty chicken salad, tortilla soup and a selection of sandwiches.
The Mission Restaurant, 3795 Mission Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92109
Opening Hours: Monday to Thursday, 7am to 1:30pm. Friday to Sunday, 7am to 2pm.
Contact: +1 (858) 488-9060 | themissionsd.com
Olive Café
805 Santa Clara Place, San Diego, CA 92109 | https://olivecafe.biz
Olive Café is another great family friendly restaurant in the Mission Beach business district. Open for breakfast and lunch, Olive Café also offers the convenient option to order online for pick-up.
The quaint café has both indoor and outdoor seating. Some of the delicious breakfast items that Olive Café serve are cinnamon roll french toast, acai bowls, buttermilk pancakes and breakfast burritos.
I ordered the smoky chilaquiles that come with scrambled eggs and avocado and a choice of carne asada, chicken or shredded beef.
View the menu at Olive Café
The lunch menu at Olive Café features a wide selection of sandwiches, salads and wraps. Popular lunch items are the BLTA sandwich; Full Monte burrito loaded with chicken, hash browns, green peppers, mushrooms, onions and white American cheese; and a Mediterranean wrap with mixed greens, tomato, cucumber, feta cheese and Kalamata olives.
Olive Café, 805 Santa Clara Place, San Diego, CA 92109
Opening Hours: Daily, 7am to 2pm
Contact: +1 (858) 488-1224 | olivecafe.biz
The owner of Olive Café has also opened the Olive Baking Company, located just across Mission Boulevard. The Olive Baking Company serves organic coffee alongside freshly baked bread, kolaches and pastries made from uniquely crafted recipes.
I can highly recommend making a stop at the bakery when visiting Mission Beach for delicious pastries and coffee! The Olive Baking Company is well known for its scrumptious cinnamon rolls that are made from scratch and baked daily for the freshest taste.
Olive Baking Company, 735a Santa Clara Place, San Diego, CA 92109
Opening Hours: Daily, 7:30am to 1pm
Contact: +1 (858) 291-8222 | olivebakingcompany.com
La Jolla
The charming seaside community of La Jolla is another popular destination for families visiting San Diego. Known for its beautiful coastline and pristine coves, La Jolla offers a wide range of accommodations, from holiday lettings to luxury hotels.
La Jolla is one of our favourite places to visit when we are in San Diego. On one of our recent family holidays, we stayed in a La Jolla vacation rental that was conveniently located for walking to Coast Boulevard and the shops and restaurants of La Jolla Village. Read on for our recommendations of family friendly restaurants in La Jolla.
Puesto La Jolla Village
1026 Wall Street, La Jolla, CA 92037 | https://www.eatpuesto.com
Puesto have three locations in San Diego: Downtown (West Harbor Drive), Mission Valley and La Jolla. Puesto are known for their delicious dishes with a modern twist and a great menu that celebrates Mexican street food with artisan tacos.
We have had dinner at their location in the heart of the La Jolla Village a few times. I can highly recommend the pork carnitas tacos!
View the menus at Puesto
My kids enjoyed the Agua Fresca drinks and the chicken and Baja fish taco plates off the Puesto kids menu, which come with a side of rice and beans.
Related: Birch Aquarium La Jolla with Kids
Puesto La Jolla, 1026 Wall Street, La Jolla, CA 92037
Opening Hours: Sunday to Thursday, 11am to 9
Contact: +1 (858) 454-1260 | www.eatpuesto.com
The Cottage La Jolla
7702 Fay Avenue, La Jolla, CA 92037 | https://thecottagerestaurants.com
The Cottage is a popular brunch spot in La Jolla Village, offering scrumptious pancake and French toast dishes and a wide range of egg dishes from hearty omelettes to chilaquiles and benedicts.
Specialising in traditional American and Southern California cuisine, The Cottage La Jolla is also well known for its delicious lunch menu. Lunch menu highlights include their special Milanese chicken sandwich, Mahi Mahi fish tacos, crab cake melt and a chicken and goat cheese salad.
View the menus at the Cottage La Jolla
The Cottage La Jolla also have a kids menu and offered our children an activity sheet, crayons and fun creative toys, which were a great family friendly touch. The kids enjoyed the fruit plate and French toast from The Cottage kids menu.
I ordered the Monterrey scramble, which comes with bacon, cheddar cheese, green chilies, pico de gallo, black beans, served with cottage potatoes and a side of corn tortillas
The La Jolla location of the Cottage offers dining spaces on its covered outdoor patio or in its cottage-like indoor seating area. The Cottage also has locations in Encinitas and Del Mar.
The Cottage, 7702 Fay Avenue, La Jolla, CA 92037
Opening Hours: Daily, 7:30am to 3pm
Contact: +1 (858) 454-8409 | thecottagerestaurants.com
The Taco Stand La Jolla
621 Pearl St, La Jolla, CA 92037 | https://letstaco.com
While more for a quick bite than a proper sit down meal, I have included this eatery on the list because The Taco Stand La Jolla is one of the best places for tacos in San Diego.
The Taco Stand is especially well known for its authentic tacos al pastor, which are made with marinated pork cooked on a vertical rotisserie spit and served with pineapple, cilantro, onions and cilantro sauce.
View the menu at The Taco Stand
Other must-try plates on The Taco Stand menu are their pollo asado tacos; the California burrito stuffed with flame-grilled 100% ceritified Angus beef, cheese, fries, guacamole, tomato, salsa and sour cream; and their Mexican street style corn on the cob served with mayonnaise, parmesan cheese and chilli powder.
The Taco Stand is inspired by Tijuana’s bustling taco stands and culinary adventures across Baja California. There are several other locations around San Diego, in Encintas, Oceanside, Downtown and North Park.
The Taco Stand, 621 Pearl St, La Jolla, CA 92037
Opening Hours: Monday to Thursday, open 9am to 9pm. Friday and Saturday, open 9am to 10pm. Sunday, open 9am to 9pm.
Contact: +1 (858) 551-6666 | letstaco.com
Old Town
One of the best San Diego family friendly attrations is Old Town. This historic neighborhoods is not only the oldest in San Diego, but it is also the location of the first European settlement in California.
Old Town is one of the best places in San Diego to find kid friendly Mexican restaurants. During our family trips over October half term, we have also had opportunities to visit Old Town during its Día de los Muertos celebrations, considered to be one of the biggest outside of Mexico.
Read on for our selection of the best family friendly San Diego restaurants in Old Town.
Casa Guadalajara
4105 Taylor St, San Diego, CA 92110 | http://www.casaguadalajara.com
Voted the most kid friendly restaurant in San Diego, the vibrant Casa Guadalajara restaurant in Old Town offers authentic Mexican cuisine, live performances and a lush outdoor patio dining area.
The extensive menu at Casa Guadalajara features traditional and contemporary cuisine, inspired by the regional villages of Mexico. Signature dishes include Ensenada fish tacos, Chipotle chile-inspired entrees and chicken mole enchiladas.
View the menu at Casa Guadalajara
The tortillas at Casa Guadalajara are all homemade and served fresh off the griddle for the best flavour.
Related: Kids Free October San Diego
Enjoy live mariachi band performances at Casa Guadalajara every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings from 5:30pm to 8:30pm.
Casa Guadalajara, 4105 Taylor St, San Diego, CA 92110
Opening Hours: Daily, 11am to 9pm
Contact: +1 (619) 295-5111 | casaguadalajara.com
Old Town Mexican Café
2489 San Diego Avenue, San Diego, CA 92110 | http://oldtownmexcafe.com
A staple in San Diego for over 40 years, Old Town Mexican Café is one of the best Mexican restaurants in Old Town. This family friendly restaurant offers a wide variety of handmade and authentic Mexican dishes.
Some of the most popular menu items at Old Town Mexican Café are the carnitas plate, one of their original house specialties; street tacos (shown above) with your choice of carne asade, pollo asado, carinitas or adobada; Mexican style ribs and Mariscada, marinated shrimp and white fish with lime juice, onions, tomato, cucumber and avocado.
View the menu at Old Town Mexican Café
One of the most unique Mexican dishes at Old Town Mexican Café is its signature Molcajete. Grilled wild shrimp, marinated chicken, carne asado, Spanish chorizo, aged queso, nopales, green onions and chili gueros are grilled and served in this stone dish (shown below) that is heated up on the stove.
The kids menu at Old Town Mexican Café offers main options of fish fingers, chicken nuggets, salad with shrimp and quesadilla (shown below).
The food is fantastic and the restaurant offers so many options for combination plates, from tacos and enchiladas to chile relleno and burritos, all served with rice and beans.
Old Town Mexican Café are also well known for their handmade tortillas, which you can see being made right by the entrance.
Old Town Mexican Café, 2489 San Diego Avenue, San Diego, CA 92110
Opening Hours: Monday to Thursday, 8am to 9pm; Friday 8am to 9:30pm; Saturday 7am to 9:30pm and Sunday 7am to 9pm
Contact: +1 (619) 297-4330 | oldtownmexcafe.com
Related: USS Midway Museum San Diego with Kids
Café Coyote
2461 San Diego Ave, San Diego, CA 92110 | https://www.cafecoyoteoldtown.com
Another one of the best family friendly San Diego restaurants for Mexican food is Café Coyote, also located in the heart of Old Town. Café Coyote provides guests a lively atmosphere and a large dining space, including a festive courtyard for al fresco dining.
View the menu at Café Coyote
Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Café Coyote make everything from scratch on their premises every day. Breakfast menu favorites include their breakfast burritos, chilaquiles and huevos rancheros.
Popular dishes from the Café Coyote lunch and dinner menus include the tortilla soup, fish tacos, Margarita shrimp tacos, California burrito and carnitas plate.
Book a table at Café Coyote
Café Coyote also offer a selection of tamales, including the Verde tamale, made with pork and tomatillo sauce, and the delicious Sante Fe tamale, made with black beans and chiles with tomatillo sauce.
Children can choose between the kids’ menu options that include cheese quesadilla, bean and cheese burrito, a shredded chicken or beef taco, chicken nuggets or cheeseburger. All kids’ menu options are served with a small side of rice.
Cafe Coyote, 2461 San Diego Ave, San Diego, CA 92110
Opening Hours: Monday to Thursday, 11am to 9pm; Friday 9am to 9pm; Saturday 8am to 9pm; and Sunday 8am to 9pm
Contact: +1 (619) 291-4695 | cafecoyoteoldtown.com
Balboa Park
One of the must-visit attractions in San Diego, Balboa Park is a 1200-acre cultural and recreational hub. Balboa Park features 18 museums, several gardens, the San Diego Zoo and various cultural attractions.
Related: Best Things to Do with Kids in San Diego
Many San Diego museums and attractions offer special promotions for families for February Museum Month and Kids Free October. Make sure to check the San Diego Museum Council website for latest information.
The Prado at Balboa Park
1549 El Prado, Suite 12, San Diego, CA 92101 | https://www.pradobalboa.com
One of the best kid friendly restaurants in San Diego is The Prado in Balboa Park. Located in the heart of Balboa Park, The Prado is a lovely restaurant to take a break from exploring the attractions and enjoy a great meal.
Located in the Historic House of Hospitality, a National Landmark originally built in 1915, The Prado at Balboa Park features stunning architecture, artwork and fountains that showcase Spanish, Moorish and Mexican design elements.
Book a table at The Prado at Balboa Park
The Prado is in a beautiful setting, with a charming indoor dining area and an outdoor patio space in lush gardens.
The Prado at Balboa Park offers lunch and dinner menus that feature diverse and innovative cuisine with Spanish influences. Favorite menu items at The Prado that showcase the best of land and sea include spicy calamari fries, red wine braised beef short ribs and the famous Prado Paella.
My favorite dish at The Prado is the grilled chile-lime marinated steak tacos served with charro beans, Spanish rice, cabbage slaw, flour tortillas and extra avocado.
View the menu at The Prado at Balboa Park
The Prado offers a delicious selection on its children’s lunch and dinner menus. For lunch, kids can choose between a chicken salad, chicken fingers, grilled cheese sandwich, cheseeburger, mac and cheese or grilled fish tacos (shown below).
Options on the children’s dinner entree menu also include grilled petite filet and sea bass, both served with mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables.
The Prado at Balboa Park, 1549 El Prado, Suite 12, San Diego, CA 92101
Opening Hours: Open Tuesday to Saturday, 11:30am to 8pm; Sunday 11:30am to 7:30pm. Closed Mondays
Contact: +1 (619) 557-9441 | pradobalboa.com
Related: The New Children’s Museum Downtown San Diego
Point Loma
Located between San Diego Bay and the Pacific Ocean, the Point Loma peninsula is known for dockside dining at Shelter Island, the dramatic Sunset Cliffs and the historic Cabrillo National Monument.
The Point Loma Midway District is a big commerical area, adjacent to the San Diego River and conveniently located to Ocean Beach and Mission Beach, offering numerous supermarkets, restaurants and shopping centres.
Phil’s BBQ Point Loma
3750 Sports Arena Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92110 | philsbbq.com
Known for its mesquite grilled baby back and beef ribs, chicken and sandwiches, Phil’s BBQ has also been featured on the Food Network, on the “Man vs Food” show with Adam Richman. A top family friendly San Diego restaurant, Phil’s BBQ is a popular barbecue restaurant for locals and out-of-towners.
Phil’s BBQ is a popular restaurant for families, offering mouth-watering baby back, beef and chicken dinners. Baby back rib and beefy rib family meals to serve 4 to 6 people are also available to order.
The family meal options come with either a full rack of baby back ribs or 5 beef rib bones, plus one whole chicken, sausage links, a large garden salad, two large sides, homemade cornbread and cookies.
View the menu at Phil’s BBQ
The BBQ rib-less baby back ribs (shown above), chicken, beef ribs or baby back ribs dinner plates are served with either two small sides or one large side. Popular sides at Phil’s BBQ are their fresh cut fries, sweet baked beans and macaroni salad.
Other menu items are loaded fries, colossal onion rings, huge burgers and Caesar or garden salads.
The Point Loma Phil’s BBQ location is very popular and operates on a first come, first served basis. You can view the current queue at Phil’s BBQ on their Point Loma webcam.
Other Phil’s BBQ locations are in Temecula, Rancho Bernardo and Santee. You can also find Phil’s BBQ at Terminal 2 West in the San Diego International Airport.
Phil’s BBQ, 3750 Sports Arena Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92110
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 11am to 10pm
Contact: +1 (619) 226-6333 | philsbbq.com
Encinitas
The scenic drive along Highway 101, the Pacific Coast Highway, north from Del Mar towards Encinitas in North San Diego offers stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and coastal scenery.
Among the charming beach towns you will pass along the way is Cardiff-by-the-Sea, known for its popular beaches and surfing opportunities.
Las Olas Cardiff
2655 S. Coast Highway 101, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA 92007 | https://www.lasolasrestaurant.com
Las Olas Mexican Restaurant is one of our family’s favouite restaurants through the years. Located right on Highway 101 and across from the beach, Las Olas is a great restaurant for families to stop off at after a day at the beach.
Las Olas Restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. For breakfast, the Las Olas menu features a selection of breakfast burritos and combinations served with flour tortillas, rice and refried beans that include huevos rancheros and beef machaca.
View the menus at Las Olas Restaurant
Along with a la carte options, the lunch and dinner menus include a variety of combination plates, served with rice and refried beans. Popular combination plates include the surf and turf combo with steak taco and grilled shrimp taco, the chile verde burrito and the classic combo with crispy taco and cheese enchilada (shown above).
Children can choose from several options on the Las Olas Restaurant kids menu, all served with rice and refried beans. Kids menu options are two mini bean and cheese burritos, crispy taco with chicken or beef, two Baja fish sticks (shown above), nachos, or two taquitos with chicken of beef.
Las Olas, 2655 S. Coast Highway 101, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA 92007
Opening Hours: Sunday to Thursday, 11am to 8:30pm; Friday and Saturday 11am to 9pm
Contact: +1 (760) 942-1860 | lasolasrestaurant.com
San Diego with Kids Guide
I hope you found this list of family friendly San Diego restaurants helpful. Make sure to save this post for more updates on restaurant recommendations from our San Diego family holidays.
You can also find our restaurant recommendations, along with fun things to do with kids in San Diego, pinned in my “San Diego with Kids” Google Map Guide. For a direct link to the map to bookmark, click here. To explore the map, click on the door sign with an arrow just before the map title.
Read on for more tips and reviews for planning a family trip to San Diego, California;
Best Things to Do in San Diego with Kids
Birch Aquarium La Jolla CA
USS Midway Museum San Diego
The New Children’s Museum San Diego
Kids Free San Diego October
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Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, so if you do click through and make a purchase I may receive a small amount at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support! This post was updated on 6 April 2025 with more photos and recommendations for family friendly San Diego restaurants.
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