9 Top Restaurants in Carlsbad
The coastal city of Carlsbad is the midpoint between the glitzy Orange County and Downtown San Diego, but is mostly known for its oceanfront beaches and for being the home of one of the most popular kids’ parks in the country — Legoland. However, you may be surprised to learn you can find some of the best restaurants in Carlsbad, CA.
In Carlsbad, you’ll find a rich culinary tradition with a wide range of foods and wines waiting to be part of your gastronomic experience. Sit back and salivate as you take in our top 9 best Carlsbad restaurants.
#1. Campfire
After earning a Michelin Star in 2022 and being on the top of many of the best Carlsbad restaurant lists, there is no reason to doubt why Campfire is our #1 pick. Located in a midcentury Quonset hut decorated with funky outdoorsy decor, this down-to-earth counterpart to Juene et Jolie stays true to theme with a 12-foot wood-burning hearth that smokes many of the kitchen’s offerings — everything from crispy roasted broccoli with a tangy chermoula sauce, or grilled octopus with Jimmy Nardello peppers.
If you’re a “meat person”, the Campfire has you covered with slow-cooked brisket or a large tomahawk steak. And to top off this glamping dining experience are DIY s’mores, served with a small pile of red-hot coals for toasting fluffy house-made marshmallows.
#2. Juene et Jolie
Looking for the best places to dine while being under the stars? The second on the top of our list of the best restaurants in Carlsbad is the sister restaurant of Campfire, Juene et Jolie. Unlike the campy vibes of Campfire, Juene aims to reimagine French cuisine with some Southern California flair. Jeune et Jolie also has a Michelin star, so you cannot go wrong with anything on their menu — their dishes are delicious and lovely to look at.
Starters like white asparagus in a lemongrass glaze with a fluffy sabayon and chive blossoms and the Hay smoked-perfumed jidori chicken breast with a sauce of morels and vin jaune. Conclude the evening with a light dessert featuring lime leaf sorbet, young coconut and tapioca pearls.
You can enjoy dinner here two ways: one is a 4-course menu in which guests make their own selections, offered at $105 per person. Reservations are available for dining inside the Carlsbad restaurant or outdoors on our garden patio beneath twinkling stars. The second way for a more casual evening is their “Le Menu du Bar”, an à la carte offering available for walk-in guests at our bar and lounge.
#3. Paon
This next Carlsbad restaurant is a crowd favorite — coming in as #1 for TripAdvisor’s 2022 list of the best restaurants in Carlsbad. Paon, known for its delicious selection of French food and wine, has become the go-to place in Carlsbad village for every type of occasion — special dinners, corporate events, or even to enjoy an after-work glass of wine coupled with a delicious meal.
Looking for wine bars in San Diego? Paon boasts an elegant art deco dining room and a plush cocktail lounge, plus the adjacent wine bar has been converted into another dining space for regulars and visitors alike.
Taste seasonal, locally grown, and daily specials along with escargot, oysters, charcuterie, prime steaks, duck confit, scallops, and other lighter plates that pair perfectly with world-class wines the Paon restaurant is famous for. You can walk on over or make reservations on OpenTable.
#4. Park 101
If you’re looking for a more casual dining experience without sacrificing taste, Carlsbad’s unique answer to this is Park 101. Located in the heart of Carlsbad Village, this restaurant has something for everyone – it’s both kid-friendly and dog friendly! Park 101 has the BBQ game and lobster game down. Check their daily menu for their smoked meat specials — available from 4 pm until they’re sold out.
Your options could include a St. Louis half or full rack of ribs or smoked brisket, pulled pork, and tri-tip by the pound depending on availability. You can top these meats off with sides like Surf n’ Turf Fries and Loaded Macaroni and Cheese. From 11 am – 8 pm, you can satisfy your lobster desires with Wicked Maine Lobster menu items such as the California Lobster Roll, Lobster Tacos, and Lobster Mac n’ Cheese.
#5. Beach Break Cafe
No list of the best restaurants in Carlsbad would be complete without a place to grab breakfast. This place is technically in the Oceanside zip code, but 1.5 miles for a breakfast at Beach Break Cafe is undoubtedly worth it. Proof in the pudding is it being ranked #3 on TripAdvisor’s top Carlsbad restaurant’s list. Started in 1988 by Gary and Zell Dwelley, Beach Break Cafe has become an essential part of the community.
The dining room is bright and open, lined with surfing décor throughout history. Feel like you’re in Mom’s kitchen by the beach when you step foot into this Carlsbad restaurant. A few of the most popular dishes are the Banana Crunch French Toast, Chicken Fried Steak with eggs and hashbrowns, their eggs benedict, and the Killer burrito.
#6. Casa de Bandini
You can’t have a list of Carlsbad’s best restaurants without including some Mexican influences. Casa de Bandini Mexican Restaurant is the essence of Mexican culture: authentic Mexican food, fabulous mariachi entertainment, hot-off-the-grill homemade tortillas, giant margaritas, and an environment depicting Colonial Mexico.
Sip on one of their famous selection of handmade margaritas as you indulge in chips and guacamole or queso as an appetizer, and try some of their well-liked authentic Mexican meals such as the Enchiladas del Mar (Shrimp and Pescado Blanco enchiladas made with a creamy, spicy jalapeno sauce), the Burrito Bandini (burrito filled with seasoned shredded beef or chicken & refried beans, topped with cheese sauce & sour cream served with Mexican rice), or Pollo Fundido (deep-fried, crispy folded flour tortilla filled with tender seasoned shredded chicken, then covered with melted cheese sauce. Served with rice.) Casa de Bandini will satisfy your Mexican and margarita cravings guaranteed!
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Most Popular#7. Vigilucci’s Seafood and Steakhouse
Looking for a seafood restaurant while on a food tour? Located directly across from the placid waves on the Carlsbad coastline, enjoy stunning sunset views while the chefs whip up creations from one of the best restaurants in Carlsbad. Their menu features only certified prime steaks and the freshest seafood, all with a dailyItalian flair, as well as an award-winning wine list. Our recommendations for all the courses:
ANTIPASTI DI PESCE:
- Ostriche Fresche – Half-dozen fresh, chilled oysters on the half-shell served with cocktail sauce and horseradish
- Capesante ai Porcini – Pan-seared diver scallops topped with fresh chopped tomatoes and porcini mushrooms finished in a white wine-truffle sauce atop crispy polenta.
INSALATE E ZUPPA:
- Insalata Alla Caprese – Imported buffalo mozzarella and heirloom tomatoes, basil, extra virgin olive oil, and aged balsamic
- Zuppa del Giorno – Homemade soup of the day.
LA PASTA
- Spaghetti e Polpette – Homemade, 100% prime beef meatballs braised in Vigilucci’s tomato sauce.
- Pappardelle con Funghi e Capesante – Homemade wide ribbon pasta with porcini, shiitake, portobello, field mushrooms, and pan-seared diver scallops in a white truffle and brandy cream sauce.
- Cappellacci di Manzo – Homemade hat-shaped pasta filled with braised prime short rib. Simmered in a porcini peppercorn cream sauce and finished with aged asiago and black truffles.
IL PESCE
- Salmone con Macadamia – King salmon topped with a macadamia nut-panko crust, served over roasted potatoes and garlic spinach. Finished with a lemon-butter sauce and rock shrimp.
- Cioppino — Fresh seafood including seasonal mussels, Manila clams, jumbo prawns, calamari, fresh fish, rock shrimp, and a diver scallop sautéed with roasted garlic in a zesty tomato sauce.
CARNE
- Grass-fed Nebraska steaks & chops wet-aged 40 days – comes in Choice Filet, Prime Filet, Prime New York Strip, Rib-eye, Prime Rib, and Choice and Prime Tomahawk
- Grigliata di Carne — 8 oz. skin-on, Statler-cut Mary’s Free Range chicken, 4 oz. prime filet mignon, and Italian sausage served with baked potato, seasonal vegetables and spinach.
#8. Vigilucci’s Cucina Italiana
In the heart of Downtown Carlsbad, this counterpart of #7 on this list focuses on pure Italian goodness! Vigilucci’s Cucina Italiana is the perfect spot for a date night, delicious lunch, or kicking off the evening at their full-service bar. Our course by course recommendations for Vigilucci’s Cucina Italiana are:
ANTIPASTI:
- Capesante ai Porcini — Pan-seared diver scallops topped with fresh chopped tomato and porcini mushrooms finished in a white wine-truffle sauce atop crispy polenta.
- Carciofini al Forno – Oven-roasted artichoke hearts filled with Parmigiano, parsley, black olives, garlic, and mozzarella.
INSALATE E ZUPPA
- Rucola e Portobello – Grilled portobello mushroom and arugula tossed with a honey-truffle dressing and shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano.
- Brodetto di Cozze e Vongole – Mussels and manila clams with roasted garlic and chopped tomato white wine broth, served with toasted country bread.
LA PASTA
- Pappardelle con Funghi e Capesante – Homemade, wide ribbon pasta with assorted field mushrooms and pan-seared diver scallops in a white truffle and brandy cream sauce.
- Ravioli di Ricotta e Spinaci – Fresh homemade ricotta and spinach-filled ravioli with your choice of sauce.
- Lasagna – Fresh homemade pasta filled with Bolognese and besciamella sauce, topped with mozzarella and parmigiana.
#9. Naked Cafe
Naked Cafe keeps their recipes simple, clean, and natural – hence where the name Naked Cafe comes from. They’ve managed to perfect the art of balancing wholesome grains, herbs and spices and fresh produce to create fabulous flavors with inspiration from across the globe. Please your palate, body, and mind, and do what they say … eat naked for breakfast and lunch.
This restaurant in the heart of Carlsbad Village is one of the best restaurants in Carlsbad, CA to find healthy eats. Some of their most popular items are their Coconut French Toast, Plate of Prosperity, and the Pesto Scramble. If you’re looking to do brunch with the family or friends, they also have a wide selection of fun drinks and mimosas to choose from!
Whether breakfast, lunch, or dinner … steak, seafood, or pasta … we’d love to be part of helping you enjoy some of the best cuisine Carlsbad has to offer. So, if you’re looking for fun Carlsbad food tours and San Diego tours, you can get a curated experience and visit some of the city’s finest restaurants, sip on carefully selected drink samples, and dig into a delectable local dessert on our private tour. We’ve crafted the best culinary itinerary of Carlsbad for you: come join us!
Written by:
This blog was written by Aleezah Davenport. Aleezah is a native San Diegan, and a second-generation PLNU alumna. She enjoys exploring the city and taking her girls out for dinner on the cliffs at Sunset Cliffs. Writing about San Diego provides her the opportunity to learn more about the local scene, and share her newfound knowledge about her hometown – two of the things she loves most. She enjoys sharing her passions with readers, and is excited to be writing for a platform that provides fun information to a large audience.
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