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10 Must-Try Dishes to Get at Mission Hills Restaurants

Eat your way through this increasingly innovative neighborhood with everything from deep-dish pizza to Michelin-worthy ribeye and street tacos
San Diego restaurant La Puerta in Mission Hills featuring fish tacos
Courtesy of La Puerta

Mission Hills is a neighborhood of hills and heritage: missions, churches, palm-lined streets, and, now, a glorious food scene on the rise. Perched above the harbor, a 65-acre stretch of Mission Hills was purchased for just $16.25 in 1869 by Captain Henry James Johnston. His grandson, Henry Leverett Miller, shaped it into the Mission Hills subdivision in 1908, grading roads and planting the now-iconic palms.

With investors like famed horticulturist Kate Sessions linking the trolley line to Fort Stockton, the area quickly became a coveted enclave. For decades, it stayed that way—exclusive, manicured, and largely reserved for white, affluent San Diegans through racially restrictive land policies finally ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1948.

San Diego Chinese restaurant 24 Suns a pop-up restaurant in Oceanside

But today, that legacy is being rewritten, plate by plate. Mission Hills’ food scene now reflects a neighborhood transformed—one that’s bold, inventive, sustainable, and rooted in cultural respect.

Thanks to deep ties with Mexican border towns and an influx of visionary chefs and restaurateurs, 21st-century Mission Hills is flipping its past on its head. What was once closed off is now open to influence—from immigrant stories, international traditions, and next-gen visions.

How diverse is it? Consider these standout spots, each one telling a chapter of Mission Hills’ evolving story through flavor.

San Diego restaurant Wolf in the Woods in Mission Hills featuring the Carne Adovada dish
Courtesy of Yelp

Wolf In The Woods

Carne Adovada

Named our Best Restaurant of the Year in 2024, Wolf in the Woods—from Hash House a Go Go and Great Maple mastermind Johnny Rivera—is one of San Diego’s most acclaimed spots: a European-style wine bar and bistro infused with New Mexican flavors. The standout from chef Carmine Lopez is braised pork shoulder slow-cooked in red Hatch chile sauce, topped with fresh onion and cilantro, and served with fry bread. It’s earthy, 2balanced, and deeply satisfying.

San Diego restaurant Farmer’s Bottega in Mission Hills featuring the Bottega Stack dish
Courtesy of Yelp

Farmer’s Bottega

Bottega Stack

No visit to Mission Hills is complete without a stop at Farmer’s Bottega, where fluffy scrambled eggs do the talking. They come tangled with bacon, scallions, and Anaheim chiles; layered over crispy fried corn tortillas and melted jack cheese; and drenched in salsas verde and roja, with a drizzle of Oaxacan cream to bring it all together. Bold and comforting, it’s a meal that feels like home, no matter what part of the city you’re from.

San Diego restaurant La Puerta in Mission Hills featuring the Ranchero Shrimp Street Tacos
Courtesy of La Puerta

La Puerta

Ranchero Shrimp Street Tacos

Average street tacos are a yawn. But these aren’t any street tacos. Picture sautéed, spiced shrimp doused in ranchero sauce; topped with cabbage, crema, and cilantro; and served in a dog-friendly, neighbor-loved spot filled with eclectic art (Willie, Dolly, and Bowie appear on the walls and the menu). Lush, jungle-like greenery climbs the walls. Plus, the staff is genuinely welcoming—the kind who remember your go-to drink: the famous Demon Fire, a vibrant mix of La Puerta mezcal, gin, carrot, chile, and lime. Add a daily happy hour from 3 to 5 p.m., and it’s no wonder this place is the neighborhood’s favorite place to hang.

San Diego restaurant Cardellino in Mission Hills featuring the Spicy Rigatoni
Courtesy of Cardellino

Cardellino

Spicy Rigatoni

Blending American chophouse chutzpah with the rustic soul of a Tuscan trattoria, Cardellino is a neighborhood standout. The dish to get? Handmade rigatoni in a rich vodka sauce. It may sound simple, but it delivers a deep, comforting sense of place in every bite.

San Diego restaurant Fort Oak in Mission Hills featuring the 40-Day Dry-Aged Ribeye
Courtesy of Fort Oak

Fort Oak

40-Day Dry-Aged Ribeye

Michelin Guide–featured and an SDM 2023 critic’s pick for Best Restaurant, chef Brad Wise’s prettiest spot is equal parts refined and magnetic, thanks to oyster deals on Mondays, inspired craft cocktails, warm sourdough with house-cultured butter, and a menu that feels both effortless and exceptional. The headliner is a 40-day dry-aged ribeye that defines indulgence. Rich; smoky; perfectly charred; and served with whipped potatoes, salsa macha, and a flurry of fresh cilantro, it’s the kind of meal that turns a night out into a celebration.

San Diego restaurant Kettle & Stone Café in Mission Hills featuring the Simply Avocado Toast
Courtesy of Kettle and Stone Café

Kettle & Stone Café

Simply Avocado Toast

Mornings feel a little softer at Kettle & Stone. Shelves lined with jewelry, textiles, and antique furniture create a space that draws Gen Z and Gen X alike into its warm, eclectic charm. The toast menu is unfussy but elevated. Get the Simply Avocado, topped with a drizzle of olive oil, pink peppercorns, and everything bagel seasoning. Pair it with a comforting, stylish specialty latte—there is Turkish, violet, and more.

San Diego restaurant The Red Door featuring the Lamb Shank
Courtesy of Yelp

The Red Door

Lamb Shank

Milan-born chef Luciano Cibelli’s signature braised lamb shank is a star: tender, slow-cooked perfection paired with butternut squash risotto; finished in a rich port wine reduction; and brightened with a traditional Milanese gremolata of parsley, garlic, and lemon. Sustainably sourced ingredients and impeccable service have made The Red Door a go-to favorite among locals in the know.

San Diego restaurant Izakaya Masa in Mission Hills featuring the Hakata Ramen
Courtesy of Izakaya Masa

Izakaya Masa

Hakata Ramen

For over two decades, Izakaya Masa has quietly served what many consider the best Japanese ramen in Mission Hills—if not all of San Diego. Tucked into what might be Mission Hills’ smallest restaurant, this no-frills gem draws nightly lines for its rich, original tonkotsu broth topped with tender sliced pork, fried garlic, seaweed, and a pop of red ginger. A neighborhood institution hiding in plain sight.

San Diego restaurant What De Health Thai featuring the Tom Kha
Courtesy of Yelp

What De Health Thai

Tom Kha

Just across from the beloved Meshuggah Shack, this newer addition to Mission Hills offers a fresh take on healthy, Thai-inspired fare. The tom kha soup is the go-to—fragrant galangal root, lemongrass, makrut lime leaves, and chili oil come together in a crisp, citrus-infused broth. For a lighter touch, the tofu and vegetable versions offer a clear, crisp alternative to the classic chicken or shrimp options. The open-concept space is inviting and inclusive, with a focus on families and pets.

San Diego restaurant Lefty’s Chicago Pizzeria in Mission Hills featuring Deep Dish pizza
Courtesy of Lefty’s Chicago Pizzeria

Deep Dish

Lefty’s Chicago Pizzeria

With music on Fridays and local kids pitching in part-time, Lefty’s is the heart of the Mission Hills. Chicago-born owner Lauren Hodson, a familiar face and a force in the local culinary world, brings a deep cut of the Windy City to SD. Whether it’s a big game, a kid’s birthday, or a family gathering, the spacious back patio at Lefty’s is where the neighborhood gathers to celebrate. The menu is a no-nonsense affair, with crispy fries and the iconic Chicago-style pizza featuring a thick, buttery crust; a rich, hearty sauce; and a generous pile of toppings.

By Madhushree Ghosh

Madhushree Ghosh, the daughter of refugees and an immigrant woman in science, is the award-winning author of a food narrative memoir, Khabaar: An Immigrant Journey of Food, Memory and Family (University of Iowa Press, 2022). Her work has been selected as a Best American Essay in Food Writing (2023) and published in The New York Times, LA Times, Washington Post, Longreads, High Country News, Vogue (India) and others. Her TEDx talk (2023) "What We Talk About When We Talk About Food" highlighted San Diego refugee farmers of Africa. The founder of KhabaarCo, a literary salon and global supper club, Madhushree can be reached at @writemadhushree and her website www.writemadhushree.com

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