This is a highly biased guide to eating in Encinitas written by a local (me, David Lecours).
Breakfast
101 Diner
552 South Coast Highway 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
Get the cilantro hollandaise benedict, german apple pancake, or corned beef hash
El Nopalito
582 Santa Fe Drive, Encinitas, CA 92024
Get the breakfast burrito, then hit the fresh salsa bar for roasted salsa
pick up a bag of chips and fresh guac from the reach-in “˜fridge
Good On Ya Deli
1051 South Coast Highway 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
Super healthy, organic, and delicious
Swami’s Cafe
1163 South Coast Highway 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
Originator of the Acai bowl, great egg dishes, smoothies
Honey’s Bistro & Bakery
632 South Coast Highway 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
Omelettes, scrambles, croissant sandwiches all good
Le Papagayo
1002 N. Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
A unicorn- equally good for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Order the chili verde benedict on sopes
Coffee
A Better Buzz
578 South Coast Highway 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
all those fancy, hipster coffees
Lofty Coffee
90 North Coast Highway 101 #214, Encinitas, CA 92024
Baristas have PhDs in coffee. If crowded, go across Hwy 101 to:
Lofty Coffee Roasting Works
97 North Coast Highway 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
Bakery
Darshan Bakery & Cafe
949 2nd St., Encinitas, CA 92024
best Chai outside of India, spiritual sweets
Pannikin Coffee & Tea
510 North Coast Highway 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
the greek eggs and bagels are good too. Great outdoor vibe at a converted train station.
French Corner
1200 N. Coast Highway, Encinitas, CA 92024
get the quiche, olive drop coffee, breakfast crepe or banana bread
Mexican
El Nopalito
582 Santa Fe Drive, Encinitas, CA 92024
Get the california burrito, tacos, or plate lunch. Pick up a bag of chips and fresh guac from the reach-in “˜fridge. Note: there is a restaurant and market named El Nopalito in the same strip center
Jorge’s Mexicatessen
417 Santa Fe Drive # B, Encinitas, CA 92024
Get the chicken soup, rolled tacos, or any burrito
The Taco Stand
642 S Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
Authentic street tacos. I love the al pastor. Get the corn on the cob too.
La Especial Norte
664 N Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
I love the Tlapeño soup. Chicken Tortilla soup is amazing too.
Death by Tequila, sign reads ‘DxT’
569 S Coast Hwy 101 Encinitas CA, 92024
Modern Baja cuisine and tequila bar. Get the Hawaiian ahi crudo, guacamole flight, cuatro tacos
Asia
Birdseye Kitchen
540 North Coast Highway, Encinitas, CA 92024
Thai + Vietnamese, get the drunken noodles, pho, mussamun or yellow curry, spring rolls, and coconut gelato
Thai Society
1070 North El Camino Real, Encinitas, CA 92024
Get the pad thai, red or yelow curry, or thai steak salad
Chiko
101 N Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
Get the orange chicken, cold peanut noodles, brussel sprouts and the custard dessert.
Indian
Himalayan Kitchen
1337 ENCINITAS BLVD. ENCINITAS, CA
Delicious Nepalese and all the Indian classics. Get the veg samosa, chana masala and chicken tikka masala
Pizza
Blue Ribbon Artisan Pizzeria
897 South Coast Highway 101 #101, Encinitas, CA 92024
They make their own cheese, dough, sauce, charcuterie
Try the deep friend brussels sprouts, staff’s favorite or my father’s pizza. You must get the salted caramel, butterscotch pudding for dessert
URBN Coal Fired Pizza
764 South Coast Highway 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
Chopped italian salad, peppered salami or mashed potato pizza
Nice selection of local craft beers on tap
Buona Fochetta
250 N Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
Pizza oven made in Naples. No reservations and hard to get a table ‘cuz it’s delicious
Corner Pizza
1246 N Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
Get the Killer Bee
Peruvian
Qero
564 South Coast Highway 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
Good place to take a date, or spend your prize money
Fish
Encinitas Fish Shop
1010 South Coast Highway 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
Get the fish tacos or mahi mahi salad
Fish 101
1468 N. Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
Surfy vibe. Fish ‘n’ Chips is tasty
Italian
Buona Fochetta
Pizza oven made in Naples. No reservations and hard to get a table ‘cuz it’s delicious
250 N Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
Alice’s Italian Gourmet
252 N El Camino Real, Encinitas, CA 92024
Get the lasagna and the sliders.
Bistro
Valentina
810 N Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
Get the wiener schnitzel, spicy caesar, corn soup,
Herb & Sea
131 W D St, Encinitas, CA 92024
Get the roasted baby carrots, crispy boardwalk potatoes, pizzas and bucatini puttanesca
Third Corner Wine Shop & Bistro
897 South Coast Highway 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
Good place to take a date, or spend your prize money
Get the cuban sandwich, fries, goat cheese salad, grilled chicken penne, short rib, or NY steak
Craftsman Tavern
267 N. El Camino Real, Encinitas, CA 92024
high-end burgers, brussels sprouts w/ bacon, and fried chicken
Union Kitchen & Tap
1108 South Coast Highway 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
Great breakfast, lunch and dinner menu too. Cool, good-looking youngsters frequent
Healthy (Vegetarian & Vegan Options)
Good On Ya Cafe
1051 South Coast Highway 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
Super healthy, organic, and delicious.
Lotus Cafe & Juice Bar
765 South Coast Highway 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
Get the Tofu tacos, smoothies, juices, salads, huevos rancheros, pancakes. A rare gem that is good for breakfast, lunch or dinner
Plant Power
411 Santa Fe Dr, Encinitas, CA 92024
Get the holy guacamole, buffalo ’66, and iconic fries
Burger, Chicken & Beer
Crack Shack
407 Encinitas Blvd., Encinitas, CA 92024
Richard Blais (top chef) fast casual. Fancy fried-chicken.
Regal Seagull
996 N. Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
Pub food. Tasty Philly cheese steak
Fast Food Burger
In-n-Out
130 Calle Magdalena, Encinitas, CA 92024
If you are from out of town, and have never had one, it may change your opinion of fast food. Get the double double animal style, fries, and a chocolate shake
Ice Cream
JoJos Creamery
937 S Coast Highway 101, Suite 106, Encinitas, CA 92024
Get the cayenne sea salt caramel, nibby chocolate, or honey lavender
Gelato 101
480 South Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
Get a cup and sneak it into a surf movie at La Paloma across the street
Cali Creamery
9o North Coast Highway 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
I like the coconut cream pie flavor, nearly always a line
Bars & Cocktails
Bier Garden
641 South Coast Highway 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
next to Whole Foods
Normal people frequent, good people watching
Union Kitchen & Tap
1108 South Coast Highway 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
Great breakfast, lunch and dinner menu too. Cool, good-looking youngsters frequent
Culture Brewing Co.
629 S Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, CA
Get pizza from next door and eat it with your beer.
Surf Shops
Encinitas Surfboards
107 North Coast Highway 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
small shop, local shortboard vibe, great service, iconic Encinitas Surfboards t-shirt, hat or hoodie
Hansen’s
1105 South Coast Highway 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
huge shop, local longboard vibe, they have it all for all ages
Markets
Lazy Acres (delicious poke bowls)
El Nopalito Mexican (warm homemade tortillas)
Sprouts
Jimbo’s
7-11
Beaches
Moonlight State Beach (official SoCal Classic beach)
take Encinitas Blvd until it ends
Swami’s State Beach
1298 South Coast Highway 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
Sights
Self Realization Fellowship Gardens
215 West K Street, Encinitas, CA 92024
koi pond, gardens, and cliffside view from Oceanside to La Jolla
San Diego Botanical Garden
230 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas, CA 92024
