Explore San Diego Airport's Best Food Joints

where to eat san diego airport

San Diego International Airport (SAN) offers a wide range of dining options for travellers, from local favourites to upscale wine bars and fast-food chains. The new Terminal 1 will house notable San Diego brands such as Puesto and Cutwater Spirits, while The Chase Sapphire Lounge in Terminal 2 West features a wellness area and food from Oscar's Mexican Seafood. Other options include Stone Brewing Company, PGA Tour Grill, and Tommy V's Pizzeria. For those short on time, the 'At Your Gate' app allows travellers to order food and retail items to be delivered directly to their gate.

Characteristics Values
Dining options Salads, seafood, burgers, bagels, sandwiches, pizza, Mexican food, coffee, wine, cocktails, craft beer, acai bowls, French toast, breakfast burritos, fish tacos, soups, salads, wraps, paninis, hot melts, espresso, frozen drinks, American comfort food, pancakes, grilled chicken sandwiches, marinated steak street tacos, iced beverages, bánh mì, barbecue sliders, salted caramel cheesecake
Notable restaurants The Prado, Stone Brewing, Bankers Hill Bar + Restaurant, Pannikin Coffee and Tea, Bubbles Seafood and Wine, Beaudevin Wine and Tapas, Phil's Barbecue, The Counter: Custom Built Burgers, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Jack-in-the-Box, Pacifica Breeze Cafe, Urban Crave, Peet's Coffee & Tea, Tommy V's Pizzeria, PGA Tour Grill
Terminal Terminal 1, Terminal 2 West
Opening hours 5 am–10 pm, 6 am–10 pm
Notable people involved Tony Hawk

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Local favourites

San Diego International Airport offers a wide array of dining options within its terminals and concourses. The airport houses several fuel-up spots that have ties to local restaurants. For example, Phil's Barbecue, a crowd-drawing local chain, brings its meaty menu to a spot near Gate 46, open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Another local favourite is The Counter: Custom Built Burgers, which is co-owned by skateboarding legend Tony Hawk. You can find it near Gate 4, open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

If you're looking for something a little more upscale, Prado at the Airport is an excellent choice. This restaurant and bar is an offshoot of the longstanding Cohn Restaurant Group, located in Balboa Park. You can find it daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. near Gate 26.

For those who want to grab something quick and healthy, there are salad vending machines and a lounge featuring food from Oscar's Mexican Seafood, a beloved local fish taco shop.

If you're willing to travel a little further, there are some iconic dining destinations near the airport. Island Prime, for example, rests on stilts atop San Diego Bay and offers stunning views of the city skyline and Coronado. Herb & Wood, opened by celebrated Chef Brian Malarkey, has become a dining icon, elevating humble ingredients with rustic, wood-fired dishes and a California ethos. For a more casual experience, try Starlite, helmed by Chef Ted Smith, offering a timeless San Diego dining experience with a fresh future.

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Upscale wine bars

San Diego has a thriving wine bar scene, with a variety of upscale options to choose from. Here are some of the best wine bars in the city:

WineSellar & Brasserie

WineSellar is a well-established wine bar and brasserie that has been owned by Gary and Lori Parker for almost 30 years. With a huge selection of around 2,500 wines, they offer wine-tasting events, blind tastings, and winemaker dinners. They also make their own wines on-site from grapes sourced from all over California and Mexico's Valle de Guadalupe. WineSellar is more than just a wine bar; it's a destination for wine lovers.

Mabel's

Located in North Park, Mabel's is a celebrated wine bar and restaurant that showcases the best of the Iberian peninsula and local San Diego ingredients. Their wine list features a carefully curated selection of wines from Portugal, Spain, and California, which pair perfectly with their sustainable seafood dishes, such as house-smoked mackerel and mussels escabeche. Mabel's also has a bottle shop next door, Bodega Rosette, where you can purchase their wines to enjoy at home.

Postino

Postino is an all-day restaurant and wine cafe with a daily happy hour that runs until 5 pm, offering wines by the glass and a menu of savory toasts, panini, and snack bites. With a relaxed and cozy atmosphere, Postino is the perfect spot to unwind and enjoy a glass of wine with friends.

Turquoise Cellars

By day, this place is known as Turquoise Coffee, but at 5 pm, it transforms into PB's favorite wine bar, Turquoise Cellars. The lights are dimmed, and the menu changes to cheese boards and flatbreads, creating a cozy and romantic atmosphere. They offer a selection of wines by the glass and affordable bottles to enjoy in their intimate space.

Solterra

Solterra is a wine bar and restaurant that features a Mediterranean-inspired menu created by Executive Chef Suzanne Williams, winner of the Food Network's "Chef Wanted, Mediterranean Madness" competition. Join their wine club, or visit their tasting room to sample a variety of Mediterranean wines. Solterra serves lunch on weekends and dinner seven days a week.

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Fast food and coffee shop chains

San Diego International Airport offers a wide range of fast food and coffee shop chains. If you're looking for a quick bite, you can choose from a variety of options, including popular brands such as Jack-in-the-Box, which offers burgers and fries before the security checkpoint. Another option is Einstein Bros. Bagels, conveniently located near Gate 3, offering a special menu with breakfast and lunch options under 350 calories. They serve breakfast all day, along with deli sandwiches, paninis, hot bagel melts, and a variety of drinks.

For coffee lovers, Peet's Coffee & Tea, located near Gate 11, offers classic coffee and tea options, as well as espresso drinks, iced beverages, and blended freddos. If you're looking for a quick breakfast option, Pacifica Breeze Cafe serves acai bowls, French toast, and breakfast burritos before 10:30 am. They also offer a variety of lunch options, including fish tacos, salmon sandwiches, avocado toast, soups, salads, and wraps.

Additionally, if you're a fan of street food, Urban Crave near Gate 13 offers a diverse range of cuisine, from breakfast burritos to burgers, bánh mì, and barbecue sliders. They also have delicious desserts, such as salted caramel cheesecake, which can be boxed to go if you're in a hurry.

For a more upscale option, PGA Tour Grill near Gate 36 offers healthy and delicious fare such as egg white omelets, hickory plank salmon, shrimp and mahi mahi ceviche, and vegan pasta marinara. You can also enjoy a specialty cocktail with your meal. With so many choices, you're sure to find something to satisfy your cravings at San Diego International Airport.

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Terminal 1 restaurants

San Diego International Airport's Terminal 1 has a food court, but the options are limited. One source suggests avoiding eating at Terminal 1 altogether unless you are "absolutely dying of hunger". However, there are still some options available.

Einstein Bros. Bagels is a popular bagel chain that serves breakfast all day, along with deli sandwiches, paninis, hot bagel melts, espresso, frozen drinks, and a special menu of breakfast and lunch options under 350 calories and 15 grams of fat.

There are also some notable restaurants in the works for Terminal 1, including Puesto, Cutwater Spirits, Novecientos Grados by Tony Hawk, and SIP Wine and Beer Bar.

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Vending machines

If you're looking for a quick bite to eat at San Diego International Airport, there are vending machines provided by Farmer's Fridge. These vending machines serve fresh, affordable meals, including salads, bowls, wraps, sandwiches, and snacks. Each meal is under 600 calories and costs less than $10. You can check the ingredients and nutritional facts on the touch screen before purchasing. After enjoying your meal, you can recycle the plastic jar in an opening on the front of the vending machine. Farmer's Fridge vending machines can be found in seven locations in both pre and post-security areas of the airport.

Frequently asked questions

There are plenty of great restaurants near San Diego Airport, including Phil's Barbecue, Pacifica Breeze Cafe, and The Prado.

If you're in a rush, you can grab a quick burger and fries at Jack-in-the-Box, or a bagel at Einstein Bros. Bagels.

Yes, there are several good bars near San Diego Airport, including Stone Brewing Company, PGA Tour Grill, and Bubbles Seafood and Wine.

Yes, there are restaurants inside the San Diego Airport, including Oscar's Mexican Seafood, Groundwork Coffee, and Parcelle Wines.

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