Coffee
Better Buzz Coffee Roasters
Better Buzz began in 2002 and has taken over the San Diego coffee scene with their great beverages and fun environments.
What to Order
The Best Drink Ever® + an OG Acai Bowl
My Favorite Location
There are FOUR locations in Pacific Beach right near the ocean as well as SeaWorld.
Better Buzz Coffee Roasters
@katie.howerton
Suggestion from Thatch. Small chain.
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Better Buzz Coffee Miramar
@katie.howerton
Suggestion from Thatch. Small chain.
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Better Buzz Coffee Roasters Pacific Beach West
@katie.howerton
Suggestion from Thatch. Small chain.
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Better Buzz Coffee La Jolla
@katie.howerton
Suggestion from Thatch. Small chain.
Details
Better Buzz Coffee Drive-Thru
@katie.howerton
Suggestion from Thatch. Small chain.
Details
Better Buzz Coffee Point Loma
@katie.howerton
Suggestion from Thatch. Small chain.
Details
Better Buzz Coffee Roasters
@katie.howerton
Suggestion from Thatch. Small chain.
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Better Buzz Coffee Escondido
@katie.howerton
Suggestion from Thatch. Small chain.
Details
Better Buzz Coffee: Pacific Beach
@katie.howerton
Suggestion from Thatch. Small chain.
Details
Better Buzz Coffee Roasters
@katie.howerton
Suggestion from Thatch. Small chain.
Details
Better Buzz Coffee Roasters
@katie.howerton
Suggestion from Thatch. Small chain.
Details
Better Buzz Coffee Roasters
@katie.howerton
Suggestion from Thatch. Small chain.
Details
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters
Dark Horse started serving the San Diego community in 2013 and now has locations in Orange County and Kauai.
What to Order
The Champ
My Favorite Location
The Chula Vista location is near the water.
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Bakeries
Paris Baguette
Paris Baguette was founded by a South Korean family in 1988 with a mission to serve high quality pastries in a neighborhood environment. While they operate over 3,600 stores in South Korea, the US only has about 100 locations; you can find others on the East Coast, too.
What to Order
Literally anything, it's so good
My Favorite Location
The Mira Mesa Boulevard location is near Lake Miramar.
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2588 El Camino Real
@katie.howerton
Paris Baguette - Suggestion from Ace Hotel, small intl chain.
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Fast-Casual Dining
Luna Grill
Luna Grill first opened in 2004 in San Diego with one purpose: to inspire good food choices. You can now find more than fifty of their Mediterranean kitchens throughout California and Texas.
What to Order
Loaded Fries, a Santorini Bowl, + Baklava
My Favorite Location
The Fenton Parkway location is near the Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala.
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Luna Grill - Rancho San Diego
@katie.howerton
Suggestion from Wanderlog, 50+ CA/TX locations.
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Pick Up Stix Fresh Asian Flavors
Pick Up Stix was started by a Chinese immigrant in Rancho Santa Margarita in 1989 and now boasts more than 50 locations throughout California.
What to Order
The House Special Chicken + Cream Cheese Wontons
My Favorite Location
The Carlsbad location is right on the water and near LEGOLAND.
Pick Up Stix Fresh Asian Flavors
@katie.howerton
Suggestion from Thrillist, 70+ locations.
Details
Pick Up Stix Fresh Asian Flavors
@katie.howerton
Suggestion from Thrillist, 70+ locations.
Details
Pick Up Stix Fresh Asian Flavors
@katie.howerton
Suggestion from Thrillist, 70+ locations.
Details
Pick Up Stix Fresh Asian Flavors
@katie.howerton
Suggestion from Thrillist, 70+ locations.
Details
Details
Pick Up Stix Fresh Asian Flavors
@katie.howerton
Suggestion from Thrillist, 70+ locations.
Details
Pick Up Stix Fresh Asian Flavors
@katie.howerton
Suggestion from Thrillist, 70+ locations.
Details
Pick Up Stix Fresh Asian Flavors
@katie.howerton
Suggestion from Thrillist, 70+ locations.
Details
Robeks
Robeks was founded in 1996 in SoCal with a mission to serve customers all their vitamins in one serving through smoothies, and now they've got 83 locations throughout the US.
What to Order
The Tropi-Kale or Hummingbird
My Favorite Location
The Bernardo Center Drive location isn’t far from the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.
Robeks Fresh Juices & Smoothies
@katie.howerton
Suggestion from Thrillist, 80+ US locations
Details
Robeks Fresh Juices & Smoothies
@katie.howerton
Suggestion from Thrillist, 80+ US locations
Details
Robeks Fresh Juices & Smoothies
@katie.howerton
Suggestion from Thrillist, 80+ US locations
Details
Robeks Fresh Juices & Smoothies
@katie.howerton
Suggestion from Thrillist, 80+ US locations
Details
Robeks Fresh Juices & Smoothies
@katie.howerton
Suggestion from Thrillist, 80+ US locations
Details
Robeks Fresh Juices & Smoothies
@katie.howerton
Suggestion from Thrillist, 80+ US locations
Details
Robeks Fresh Juices & Smoothies
@katie.howerton
Suggestion from Thrillist, 80+ US locations
Details
Robeks Fresh Juices & Smoothies
@katie.howerton
Suggestion from Thrillist, 80+ US locations
Details
The Taco Stand
The Taco Stand opened its first location in San Diego in 2013 and has had their fame spread to Miami, Las Vegas, and Orange County.
What to Order
Anything with their 100% Angus Beef Carne Asada Taco
My Favorite Location
The Upas Street and B Street locations are right outside Balboa Park, where the San Diego Air & Space Museum and San Diego Zoo are.
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Tender Greens
The first Tender Greens location opened in 2006 in Culver City and now operates 28 restaurants, each with their own executive chef.
What to Order
Anything with Steak (medium rare) + The Greens drink
My Favorite Location
The Historic Decatur Road location is right by the San Diego Airport for a quick meal before leaving town.
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Table Service Dining
Filippi’s Pizza Grotta
*Information coming soon*
Filippi's Pizza Grotto Escondido
@katie.howerton
Suggestion from Madeleine Lewis, 15 locations
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Filippi's Pizza Grotto Poway
@katie.howerton
Suggestion from Madeleine Lewis, 15 locations
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Filippis Pizza Grotto Pacific Beach
@katie.howerton
Suggestion from Madeleine Lewis, 15 locations
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Filippi's Pizza Grotto Mission Valley
@katie.howerton
Suggestion from Madeleine Lewis, 15 locations
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Filippi's Pizza Grotto Santee
@katie.howerton
Suggestion from Madeleine Lewis, 15 locations
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Filippi's Pizza Grotto Kearny Mesa
@katie.howerton
Suggestion from Madeleine Lewis, 15 locations
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Filippi's Pizza Grotto Imperial Beach
@katie.howerton
Suggestion from Madeleine Lewis, 15 locations
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Filippi's Pizza Grotto Jamul
@katie.howerton
Suggestion from Madeleine Lewis, 15 locations
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Filippi's Pizza Grotto Chula Vista
@katie.howerton
Suggestion from Madeleine Lewis, 15 locations
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Filippi's Pizza Grotto Scripps Ranch
@katie.howerton
Suggestion from Madeleine Lewis, 15 locations
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Filippi's Pizza Grotto Little Italy
@katie.howerton
Suggestion from Madeleine Lewis, 15 locations
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Filippi's Pizza Grotto Italian Market
@katie.howerton
Suggestion from Madeleine Lewis, 15 locations
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Dessert
Sprinkles Cupcakes
Sprinkles' first cupcake shop opened in Beverly Hills in 2005, and over two dozen locations later, they are known for their iconic Cupcake ATMs and have also expanded into the ice cream scene.
What to Order
A Red Velvet Cupcake or seasonal offering
My Favorite Location
The La Jolla locations are near the beach.
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Hungry for more dining suggestions?
More Essential Eateries Guides
Finding a place to grab coffee, eat lunch, or enjoy a nice dinner while traveling is hard enough as is, but when you’re in a big city, the options are truly overwhelming.
While my guides are full of one-of-a-kind restaurants for certain neighborhoods, this Essential Eateries map includes the top few LA-specific chains that will help you eat like a local on the go. Not only that, but I include a backstory of each chain, my top menu suggestion, and what I consider to be the best location to visit.
This guide can also serve as a “What NOT to Eat” if you’re the kind of person who only wants to try single-location restaurants and want to determine if the place you’re interested in dining is a chain. Just pull up this map when you’re out and about to see where the nearest spots are when your tummy starts rumbling!
Get access to ALL the Los Angeles area locations of 34 regional chains, including:
☕️ 7 Coffee/Tea/Boba Shops
🥐 2 Bakeries
🥡 15 Fast-Casual Restaurants
🍽️ 5 Table Service Restaurants
🍦 5 Dessert Spots
Worried this info is out-of-date? Fear not! I'll be updating this guide every six months for accuracy, as well as to add new favorites I find along the way.
Finding a place to grab coffee, eat lunch, or enjoy a nice dinner while traveling is hard enough as is, but when you’re in a big city, the options are truly overwhelming.
While my guides are full of one-of-a-kind restaurants for certain neighborhoods, this Essential Eateries map includes the top few Boston-specific chains that will help you eat like a local on the go. Not only that, but I include a backstory of each chain, my top menu suggestion, and what I consider to be the best location to visit.
This guide can also serve as a “What NOT to Eat” if you’re the kind of person who only wants to try single-location restaurants and want to determine if the place you’re interested in dining is a chain. Just pull up this map when you’re out and about to see where the nearest spots are when your tummy starts rumbling!
Get access to ALL the Boston area locations of 14 regional chains, including:
☕️ 2 Coffee Shops
🥐 5 Bakeries
🥡 5 Fast-Casual Restaurants
🍽️ 1 Table Service Restaurant
🍦 1 Dessert Spot
Worried this info is out-of-date? Fear not! I'll be updating this guide every six months for accuracy, as well as to add new favorites I find along the way.
Check out my other travel content, too!
2022 was the year of a lot of travel redemption for most of us, but it was also the year I had to turn down trips to Portugal, Spain, and Paris, as well as have a trip to New Orleans cancelled due to Covid. But thankfully that didn’t stop me from a spring road trip to Texas, a few summer days in DC, two trips to Disney World, and lots of Tennessee day trips in between. Enjoy this travel journal of 350 (!!!) places, including:
🖼️ 42 Museums, Gardens, and Attractions
☕️ 50 Coffee Shops
🍽️ 99 Restaurants, Bakeries, and Food Trucks
🛏️ 38 Hotels, Bed & Breakfasts, and Airbnbs
✨ and a whole bunch more!
Scroll to the bottom for my favorites of the year!
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