Best Authentic Restaurants in Kensington

Price

$$
$$$
$$$$

Cuisine

AmericanItalianSteakhouseSeafoodFrenchMexican

Regions

East CountySan Diego

Neighborhoods

Banker's HillBarrio LoganBay ParkChula Vista / BonitaCoronadoDowntown

Top Rated

CharmingDog-friendlyFancyGood for business mealsGood for groupsGood for special occasions

Dining Options

All dining options

Delivery only

Takeout only

Seating Options

BarCounterStandardHigh TopOutdoor

Award-winning

MICHELIN

Accessibility

Gender-neutral restroomWheelchair access

120 restaurants available nearby

A photo of Trattoria Da Sofia restaurant

1. Trattoria Da Sofia

4.6

Exceptional(246)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Italian • Kensington

Booked 31 times today

Trattoria da Sofia is a brand new Italian restaurant located in the charming Kensington neighborhood of San Diego. Trattoria da Sofia features delicious, comforting Italian dishes paired with warm Italian hospitality. By day, the Trattoria is your new favorite coffee shop and cafe.

2. Bleu Boheme

4.7

Exceptional(3609)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• French • Kensington

Booked 13 times today

"World travel and its pleasures; items brought back from different places for décors; great stories shared with others; and very importantly, simple, yet delicious recipes from different cultures. Our mission is humble. It is simply for people coming to our restaurant to be transported around the world, and to travel with us for an evening, to a place of well-being and happiness."Bleu Bohème is designed to create a feeling of France's past generations. It mixes the Bohemian and artistic free spirited left bank of Paris with the roots and tradition of the rural areas. Bleu Bohème is a neighborhood restaurant that serves accessible, affordable and comforting French cuisine.

3. insideOUT

4.8

Exceptional(2452)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Californian • Hillcrest

Booked 70 times today

insideOUT is Hillcrest's elevated restaurant and lounge, and San Diego's only urban oasis! We are an 18+ venue.Reservations for our upcoming "Sweetheart Experience" are now open! The Experience will be February 5th - 16th!Our menu is curated by Executive Chef Johnny Duran and is updated seasonally to reflect his creative approach to California-Mediterranean inspired fare, using the freshest ingredients provided by our local purveyors.Aside from our impeccable hospitality, insideOUT is known for their over-the-top seasonal experiences. We also provide customized private event planning with venue buyout options. More information can be found on our website.

A photo of Cori Pastificio Trattoria restaurant

4. Cori Pastificio Trattoria

4.8

Exceptional(665)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Italian • North Park

Booked 34 times today

Acclaimed Sicilian Chef Accursio Lota serves up authentic cuisine in a cozy 60's-style Italian trattoria. Voted San Diego's Best Chef five years in a row, and Barilla’s World Pasta Champion, at Cori Trattoria Chef Lota serves up beautifully bold dishes like Agnolotti with Spring Peas and Beef Bone Marrow, and an unbelievably rich Vegan Parmigiana di Melanzane. The menu melds the flavors of Sicily and Italy with the best of fresh, locally-sourced Southern California ingredients, and is matched by a curated wine list and cocktail program that include indigenous, bio-dynamic varietals from all Italy. The current Spring menu features dishes like Agnolotti with Spring Peas, fava bean, and beef bone marrow, and Cacio e Pepe with sustainably-sourced Petrovich caviar.Enjoy full-service table seating, grab a place at the marble-topped bar, from which you can watch all the action of your meal being prepared in the open kitchen or just order your meal to enjoy at home with your family.

A photo of Alexander's on 30th restaurant

5. Alexander's on 30th

4.8

Exceptional(3154)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Italian • North Park

Booked 54 times today

Neighborhood gem located in the heart of the Historic North Park District, adjoining Balboa Park and the world famous San Diego Zoo. Specializing in homestyle Italian with Gourmet Flair. Hand made Pastas, Award Winning Pizza and Voted Best of Restaurants by San Diego Magazine "Most Romantic". Listed as Top 25 Places to Eat in San Diego "Before You Die" by San Diego Union Tribune. Make memorable celebrations on our beautiful patio, the perfect ambiance for any occasion. Remember to try our diners favorites, The Theodore's Fix Pizza and Baked Vodka Bolognese.Look forward to serving you soon!

6. Buona Forchetta

4.7

Exceptional(896)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Italian • South Park

Booked 99 times today

Buona Forchetta, meaning 'Good Fork' in Italian, is an authentic Italian restaurant. It was started by Matteo who wanted to bring his native Italy to San Diego. Customers praise its 'excellent and authentic Italian experience' with simple recipes that 'takes me back to all my travels to Italy'. The restaurant is highly recommended for its 'authentic and delicious' food, 'vibrant atmosphere' and 'excellent service'.

7. Callie Restaurant

4.8

Exceptional(377)

$$$$Price: Very Expensive

• Mediterranean • Downtown

Booked 70 times today

Callie represents Chef Travis Swikard's debut solo project after spending a decade working alongside the esteemed Chef Daniel Boulud in New York City. The restaurant’s name, "Callie," comes from the Greek word "kallos," meaning "the most beautiful," and embodies its blend of Mediterranean cuisine with local ingredients and terroir, from sea to land from San Diego, Swikard's hometown. In 2022, Callie was acclaimed as one of America's top new restaurants by Esquire and Robb Report, and received both a Bib Gourmand and a Plate from the Michelin Guide. Callie is a dedicated supporter of Feeding San Diego, having contributed over 1 million meals to those in need in San Diego since its launch. Swikard is set to open his second restaurant in La Jolla in 2025.

8. Siamo Napoli

4.8

Exceptional(1366)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Italian • North Park

Booked 52 times today

Specializing in Napolitano style pizza and pasta. We focus on clean fresh ingredients that thrive in our home land and make simple foods the star. We have a full bar with hand crafted drinks and a range of wines from Napoli and beyond.

9. RustiCucina

4.6

Exceptional(1201)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Contemporary Italian • Hillcrest

Booked 22 times today

Welcome to Rusticucina, where locally sourced ingredients, seasonal dishes and a warm ambiance reign supreme. We are named to reflect the merging of two cultures; American and Sicilian, since our owners are straight out of a small town in Sicily. We invite neighborhood dwellers and visitors to experience our farm-to-neighborhood restaurant unlike any other. Aperitivo, a traditional Italian-style happy hour, leads the way—think sensational small bites, Aperol Spritzes, Negronis and Limoncello. We also offer a full bar and carefully curated craft cocktails, along with an impressive beer and wine list. Our food menu, boasts hearty, rustic cuisine, with pasta made in-house, from scratch, as well palate-pleasing entrees and a slate of pizzas and flat breads. Our tableside service offers a one-of-a-kind, dedicated experience, and their outdoor space is the perfect landing spot for dog lovers and sun worshipers. We even offer a pet menu for furry guests.

10. Cloak + Petal

4.7

Exceptional(1005)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Sushi • Little Italy

Booked 40 times today

WELCOME TO CLOAK & PETAL!Where we invite you to journey into a place of both intimacy and companionshipOur concept is drawn from our name. The word “cloak” implies secrecy, inspiring our concept of a social sphere humming beneath the levels of ordinary life. “Petal” alludes to the Japanese tradition of “hanami,” when family and friends gather under blooming cherry blossoms to savor food, drinks and fellowship.Enter our space and travel underground to décor reminiscent of an abandoned Tokyo subway, a stratum of society all its own, an artist’s dream. Cross the threshold into a mystically transformed Japanese social dining lounge which appears to be an outdoor seating area, similar to a waiting platform. Sit beneath a trellis of draping vines and teardrop lights in the intimate space we’ve thoughtfully created, and feast on authentic Japanese sushi, appetizers, small plates and drinks with family and friends.Journey down to Cloak + Petal… and come unwind your soul.

‘About the restaurant’ descriptions have been generated using an artificial intelligence model comprised of OpenTable proprietary data that has not been independently verified by OpenTable. The content is presented as-is, for informational purposes only.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

J
JanetVIP
San Diego •14 reviews
4.0
Dined today
Have dined here many times. Food is always great. Have had the mussels before, great flavored sauce but the quality of the mussels themselves seemed off. Many shells empty and a good portion of them had a mushy texture. We love it here so we will be back. The dining room was very noisy, so it was difficult to have conversation without missing things said.
More info
Bleu BohemePrice: Expensive• French• Kensington
•
4.7
C
Cathy
San Diego •5 reviews
5.0
Dined 1 day ago
Always a great place for dinner. Love the food, ambience and service. Lovely waitress, Rachel served us last night. Mussels as always are outstanding!! Brought a friend who had not been there and she'll definitely be coming back. Keep it up Alexanders :)
More info
Alexander's on 30thPrice: Expensive• Italian• North Park
•
4.8
L
LisaVIP
Los Angeles •21 reviews
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
We love this place! The staff are warm, welcoming, and very experienced. The food is unique and delicious. Parking is a drag (anywhere in this neighborhood) but we find the evening worth it!
More info
Cori Pastificio TrattoriaPrice: Moderate• Italian• North Park
•
4.8
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco Bay Area •3 reviews
5.0
Dined 5 days ago
insideOUT was such a cool and fun experience! I would love to stay in the “oasis” part of the restaurant next time instead of at a standard table, but regardless the ambience was wonderful and the food was even better! So cute and lively for a fun brunch vibe and service was also amazing.
More info
insideOUTPrice: Expensive• Californian• Hillcrest
•
4.8
P
PaulVIP
San Diego •11 reviews
5.0
Dined 5 days ago
Unbelievable food and outstanding service. Would definitely recommend this restaurant.
More info
Trattoria Da SofiaPrice: Moderate• Italian• Kensington
•
4.6

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