A Michelin-recommended ramen spot. A vintage store for sneakerheads. A natural oasis home to more than 500 species. It’s not solely the population that’s diverse in the inland suburban community of Mira Mesa—it’s the adventures, too.
Here are some of the top spots to eat, drink, shop, and explore in and around Mira Mesa:
Ramen at Menya Ultra Photo Credit: Justin Halbert
Mira Mesa Restaurants & Bars
Loving Hut
Loving Hut dreams up vegan alternatives to some of your most beloved American and multicultural classics. Try plant-based carne asada fries, pad thai, pho, burgers, burritos, and more. The restaurant even offers their own takes on certain chain restaurant favorites, like the McLovin’, an animal-free version of the Egg McMuffin.
Menya Ultra nabbed both critic’s and reader’s choice for Best Ramen in our 2023 Best Restaurants issue, and it scored a spot in the Michelin Guide this year. The business began in Japan in 1994, and SD is the only US city where you can try their housemade noodles and deeply umami-flavored broth.
8141 Mira Mesa Boulevard
Caked
Sweet spot Caked offers more than 30 cookie flavors, including inspired varieties like chocolate-dipped strawberry and milk tea. Dietary restrictions? Go for the vegan and gluten-free chocolate chip.
8680 Miralani Drive, Units 129–130
Little Sakana
Founded by two Mira Mesa locals, Little Sakana specializes in all-you-can-eat sushi. Wash down nonstop nigiri and specialty rolls with shared pitchers of fruity soju cocktails like the Sweet Heart, made with guava, yogurt, and club soda.
8270 Mira Mesa Boulevard
TP Banh Bao 3
Sure, there’s Vietnamese coffee, smoothies, and egg rolls, but the stars of the show at TP Banh Bao 3 are the buns. You’ll find 21 different kinds on the lineup, available à la carte or in boxes of nine. Regulars like the chicken-and-egg and the bacon-filled breakfast bun, plus the sweet taro for dessert.
11271 Camino Ruiz
Hawaiian Fresh Seafood, Inc.
SD-based wholesale fishery Hawaiian Fresh Seafood ships their sashimi-grade catch to restaurants all over the US—including its local own poke shops. Head to their Centerpark Labs location for pre-sauced scoops of ahi, octopus, and more, plus cooked sandwiches, tacos, and plates.
6491 Weathers Place
Golden Chopsticks Chinese Restaurant
Local mixologist Dannika Underhill named Golden Chopsticks’ salt-and-pepper wings part of her perfect local dinner in a 2021 episode of our Happy Half Hour podcast. Chase your order of wings with classic Chinese dishes like chow fun, fried rice, and honey-walnut shrimp.
8155 Mira Mesa Boulevard, Unit 9
Jaunt Coffee Roasters
Jaunt Coffe Roasters serves cold brew and lattes alongside light bites like açai bowls, breakfast burritos, empanadas (try the sweet corn and basil), and baked goods. If you fall in love with their java, sign up for a customizable subscription of ethically sourced coffee, selecting the quantity, frequency, and flavor (including single-origin beans, coffee blends, and a surprise option).
8680 Miralani Drive, Unit 131
Courtesy of Kickback Vintage & Sneakers
Mira Mesa Shops & Boutiques
Haha Fashion
Bursting at the seams with cute, colorful apparel, gifts, stationary, and accessories, Haha Fashion is a great spot to grab gifts for fans of anime, Studio Ghibli, and Hello Kitty. Check out their robust assortment of collectable Sonny Angels.
Add sustainable secondhand finds to your closet without spending hours sifting through the racks at Goodwill. The team at CSU Thrift handpicks pre-loved streetwear with a focus on retro band and sports merch and vintage Nike, New Balance, and Adidas.
9460 Mira Mesa Boulevard, Unit N
Kim Long Jewelry
The mother-daughter duo that own Kim Long Jewelry will help fine-jewelry shoppers find the perfect future heirloom. They also fix broken chains, repair watches, and replace lost stones at an accessible cost.
8995 Mira Mesa Boulevard, Suite B
Daiso Japan
The Mira Mesa location of this gift shop chain sources homewares, stationary, toys, and other goodies from Japan, from purely practical buys like toothpaste tube squeezers and exfoliating washcloths to fun stuff like plushies. Many items will set you back a mere $1.75.
9420 Mira Mesa Boulevard, Unit B
Kickback Vintage & Sneaker Store
Sneakerheads know that keeping up with the market for Jordans and other Nike lines is like a sport unto itself. Keep your collection sharp with coveted, fairly priced styles from Kickback Vintage, plus slick secondhand tees, sweatshirts, and hats.
9910 Mira Mesa Boulevard, Unit C
Dasheen Jewelry Studio
Searching for a ring as unique as your beloved? Dasheen Jewelry owner Dikran Nodznaia will work with you to select stones and metals, create molds, and craft the perfect piece. The studio also offers jewelry repairs, restoration, deep cleans, and appraisals.
9823 Carroll Canyon Road, Suite F
Courtesy of Performance Archery
Things to Do in Mira Mesa
Mira Mesa Lanes
Home to one of the country’s largest youth bowling programs, Mira Mesa Lanes hosts leagues for multiple age groups (including grown-ups) and skill levels. In addition to 44 lanes where you can practice your strike shot, they have a full service bar and snack bar, billiards, and an arcade room.
8210 Mira Mesa Boulevard
San Diego Ice Arena
Glide into the San Diego Ice Arena for public skate sessions and ice hockey and figure skating lessons. Kids and adults looking to unleash their inner Wayne Gretzsky can join the rink’s hockey teams, armed with equipment from the onsite pro shop.
11048 Ice Skate Place
Rockin’ Jump
Anyone who’s ever watched American Ninja Warrior and thought, “I can do that” can live that dream at Rockin’ Jump, a trampoline park equipped with a heart-pumping challenge course and a stunt bag arena, plus a climbing wall, a dodgeball court, and more.
8190 Miralani Drive
Performance Archery
This bow-and-arrow wonderland is San Diego’s largest indoor archery range. Beginners nine and older can book classes to learn how to let ’em fly, while more experienced Hawkeye types can stroll into the pro shop for a new bow or hunting gear.
8665 Miralani Drive, Unit 301
Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve
Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve is paradise for birdwatchers—more than 175 avian species take flight from the area. You’ll also find massive oak trees, a stream hopping with tree frogs and crayfish, and a waterfall cascading through ancient volcanic rock.
Mimi Le is a web intern at San Diego Magazine. She is currently majoring in Communications at the University of California - San Diego with a minor in Marketing and plans to graduate in spring of 2024. She is always looking for creative and culturally-enriching ways to fill her days.
