Food Network star Guy Fieri is known for making family restaurants overnight sensations through the popularity of his Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives television show, and the polarizing culinary personality is no stranger to America's Finest City. Here is a road map of the 12 spots Guy has visited in San Diego over the years and what he's eaten along the way.
Below you'll find the dozen San Diego restaurants featured on Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives, along with descriptions from the DDD website, what specific dishes were featured, recipes, and links to the episodes. There is also a nifty map at the end.
Hodad's - 5010 Newport Ave, Ocean Beach - Hodads' burgers don't simply have bacon strips on top. Instead, this funky joint adds an entire bacon patty to the mix. They really "put the shama lama in ding dong," Guy says of his favorite burger, which includes two sizzling beef patties and cheese — a "run-down-your-arm burger," for sure. In addition to the OB location, Hodad's also house a branch in San Diego's East Village and locations inside Petco Park. Special Featured Dishes: Bacon Burger, Guido Burger. Seen on Season 0, Episode 10, entitled Top 10 Burgers (it was #1); Season 2, Episode 6, entitled Seaside Eats; and Season 17, Episode 11, entitled All San Diego, All the Time. Hodad's will also be featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives again on the episode set to premiere at 9pm on Food Network on Friday, August 9.
Pizzeria Luigi - 1137 25th St, Golden Hill - It only took one bite of Pizzeria Luigi's Capone meat-lover pizza for Guy to instantly become a fan (he has since deemed it his favorite West Coast pizza). The Donatello pie delivers equally delicious flavors with sweet mozzarella, garlic, spinach and creamy ricotta dollops all over. Pizzeria Luigi also house outposts in North Park and Imperial Beach. Special Featured Dishes: The Donatello Pizza, Mona Lisa Pizza, El Diablo Pizza, Crime Scene Pizza, Capone Meat-Lover Pizza. Seen on Season 0, Episode 14, entitled Best of Pizza; Season 5, Episode 2, entitled Real Deal Italian; and Season 17, Episode 11, entitled All San Diego, All the Time.
OB Noodle House - 2218 Cable St, Ocean Beach - When you visit OB Noodle House, make sure to pronounce the signature dish, Pho, correctly. It's "fuh" and not "fo." You'll be glad you did, because the expert blend of spices and meats makes for one unbelievable flavor. As Guy says, "You're going to have a pretty tough time finding it this good." OB Noodle House has expanded with another location in central Ocean Beach and new concept The Holding Company. Special Featured Dishes: Pho, Tofu Lettuce Wraps, Sizzling Beef Short Ribs, Spicy Garlic Chicken Wings, House Fried Rice. Seen on Season 0, Episode 18, entitled Global Flavor Faves; Season 0, Episode 92, entitled Triple D Nation: Flavortown Favorites; and Season 17, Episode 11, entitled All San Diego, All the Time.
Blue Water Seafood Market & Grill - 3667 India St, Middletown - The two brothers that run this eatery lure in the locals with their fresh fish, which is the main ingredient in every dish they serve. Guy thought the fresh sea bass taco with lemon garlic butter was "outstanding." The cioppino with wahoo, mahi mahi, ahi tuna and scallops gives a spicy kick. Other standouts include the halibut sandwich, oyster shooters and clam chowder. Blue Water now has an additional branch with ocean views in Ocean Beach. Special Featured Dishes: Sea Bass Taco, Halibut Sandwich, Cioppino, Oyster Shooters, Clam Shooters. Seen on Season 0, Episode 56, entitled All Stacked Up; and Season 6, Episode 2, entitled Their Own Way.
Crazee Burger - 4201 30th St, North Park - With a name like Crazee Burger, it's no surprise that Chef Lothar Manz serves burgers that are far different than your typical fare, including ones made with ostrich, venison and kangaroo meat. Guy never thought he'd be eating an alligator burger, but he was sold on the first bite. Special Featured Dishes: Ostrich, Alligator and Angus Beef Burgers, Turkey Burger with Orange Mustard Glaze. Seen on Season 0, Episode 10, entitled Top 10 Burgers; and Season 4, Episode 11, entitled Grabbin' a Sandwich.
Hob Nob Hill - 2271 First Ave, Bankers Hill - San Diegans know Hob Nob Hill as a historical landmark. The menu never changes and that's the way they like it. On DDD, Guy raved about the fall-apart corned beef. But the comforting chicken and dumplings were the real deal — he called them "the definition of chicken and dumplings." Special Featured Dishes: Chicken and Dumplings, Roast Tom Turkey, Corn Beef & Cabbage. See on Season 0, Episode 55, entitled Hearty Home Cookin'; and Season 5, Episode 8, entitled Just Like Yesterday.
El Indio Mexican Restaurant and Catering - 3695 India St, Middletown - Guy's love of taquitos met its match at El Indio, where this "home of the great taquito" has been dishing tasty Mexican cuisine for more than six decades. Regulars flock for the handmade chile rellenos and, if you're waiting in line, you might get a hot-off-the-press tortilla. Special Featured Dishes: Taquitos, Tortillas. Seen on Season 2, Episode 9, entitled Family Owned.
Haggo's Organic Tacos - 1302 N Coast Hwy 101, Ste 101, Encinitas - It's hard to find a shack near the beach with fish tacos ''bordering on gourmet,'' but that's exactly what Guy thought of Haggo's Organic Taco near Leucadia, CA. Owner James Haggard uses ''at least 95 percent'' organic ingredients in all of his dishes and cooks halibut with his own dry rub. Special Featured Dishes: Fish Tacos. Seen on Season 17, Episode 9, entitled From Pound Cake to Pot Pie.
Spirito's Italian Diner - 2508 El Camino Real, Carlsbad - Spirito's Italian Diner may be nestled in a strip mall, but that didn't mean Guy couldn't enjoy some "old-school Jersey gravy." Owner Mike Spirito has been keeping his family's recipes alive with pizza napoletana, "monster" ravioli and the signature Roman meatballs, made with raisins and pine nuts. Special Featured Dishes: Handmade Cheese Ravioli, Spaghetti with Spirito's Original Gravy and One Meatball. See on Season 17, Episode 12, entitled From the Heart.
Studio Diner - 4701 Ruffin Rd, San Diego - Studio Diner carries breakfast 'round the clock -- and lunch and dinner, too. Take it from Guy, who says "everything is top-notch" here. Owner Stu Segall insists on flying in whole belly clams and lobster from Maine, and for a real late-night treat, divulge in the deep-fried favorite, Monte Cristo. Special Featured Dishes: Monte Cristo (Deep-Fried Turkey, Ham and Cheese), Fish & Chips. Seen on Season 2, Episode 10, entitled Open 24/7.
Grand Ole BBQ - 15505 Olde Highway 80, Flinn Springs - Andy Harris used to be a tour manager for rock bands, firing up his smoker for the crews. His food was so successful he decided to open a restaurant to bring Texas barbecue to San Diego. He teamed up with Chef Ami Cisneros to elevate barbecue to the next level. Don’t miss the massive El Borracho Beef Rib with house-made queso and pickled red onion relish. The original Grand Ole BBQ is located in San Diego's North Park, but it is currently closed for renovation. Special Featured Dishes: Lamb Tacos, El Borracho Beef Rib. Seen on Season 30, Episode 2, entitled A World of Barbecue.
Tahini Street Food - 9119 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, Kearny Mesa - High school buddies, Mahmoud Barkawi and Osama Shabaik, combined their Egyptian and Syrian backgrounds to bring authentic Middle Eastern flavors to San Diego. Guy loved the shaved Chicken Shawarma, which is piled onto a salad, crispy fries or house-made pita. They make their falafel the Egyptian way with fava beans instead of garbanzo beans. “That’s no joke,” raved Guy. Special Featured Dishes: Chicken Shawarma, Falafel. Seen on Season 30, Episode 3, entitled Sausage, Shawarma and Scaloppini.
Chuy's Taco Shop - 6663 El Cajon Blvd, Unit G, Rolando - San Diego has a lot of taco joints, but diners rave about this mom-and-pop shop where two brothers are cooking up memories from their childhood in Mexico. And if you’re searching for spice, look no further than the fiery Shrimp a La Diabla. Special Featured Dishes: Chili Relleno Burrito, Shrimp a La Diabla. Seen on Season 30, Episode 4, entitled British, Hawaiian and Mexican.
Tiger!Tiger! - 3025 El Cajon Blvd, North Park - Tucked away in San Diego’s North Park neighborhood is this farm-to-table pub that serves a variety of local beers and a diverse rotating menu that is designed to go with the brews. You won’t miss the meat in entrees like the Hot Mushroom Sandwich: A head of beech mushrooms are deep fried and topped with scallion aioli and a house-made pickled celery and cabbage slaw. “I could eat one of these every day!” Guy said. Special Featured Dishes: Pork Belly Bahn Mi, Hot Mushroom Sandwich, Chicken Shawarma Sausage. Seen on Season 30, Episode 6, entitled Crazy Chicken and Twisted Burgers.
Alforon - 5965 El Cajon Blvd, Rolando - After growing up around his father’s restaurant in Lebanon, George Salameh decided to open up his own spot serving up traditional Lebanese dishes in San Diego. Locals flock here for the delicious flatbreads, like the one topped with Soujouk: a cumin-heavy blend of spices and ground meat topped with white Lebanese cheese. “I could have a hundred of those,” Guy said after just one bite. Special Featured Dishes: Soujouk Flatbread, Ouzi Lamb. Seen on Season 30, Episode 7, entitled International Infusion.
Jo's Diner - 807 W Washington St, Mission Hills - This unusual diner was once a French bistro, so when owner Ric Libiran decided to switch up the menu, he kept the upscale bistro attitude. Guy loved the Short Rib French Dip, which is served with decadent jus made from more than four hours of braising: “The only problem with this is that you didn’t serve it in a kiddie pool so I can get in with the sandwich and the jus,” he said. Special Featured Dishes: Short Rib French Dip, French Onion Soup, Jo’s Meatloaf. Seen on Season 30, Episode 8, entitled Beef Bonanza.
Check out our convenient map below of all the San Diego restaurants featured on Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive Ins and Dives.
