Hillcrest Restaurants

Taste of Thai in Hillcrest offers an extensive selection of authentic Thai cuisine that is light, fresh, and traditional. The menu includes Thai curries, noodle and rice dishes, and house specialties, often offered with a choice of chicken, pork, seafood, tofu, or vegetables. The seafood section of the menu is especially tempting, with dishes like Whole Fish in Curry sauce and Grilled Thai Prawns. While the menu is extensive, every dish is prepared well, proving that the kitchen is skilled in crafting intricate and harmonious presentations of taste and flavor. The simple décor imparts a subtle elegance, which serves as …

A fanciful curtain of monsoon rain, visible through floor-to-ceiling glass doors, is a friendly greeting as guests enter the spacious and elegant dining room at Bombay restaurant. Aromas of exotic spices promise a feast of flavors. Having won awards for the “Best Vegetarian Restaurant” and “Best Indian Restaurant in San Diego”, from AOL City Guide and San Diego Magazine respectively, one can remain assured they will enjoy an authentic culinary adventure. The kitchen serves to satisfy expectations and the attentive wait staff ensures a delectable dining experience that you’ll want to repeat over and over again. Flavorful, mysterious fruit drinks …

Elegantly decorated with white tables and splashes of lime green mixed with black trimming, Celadon is a stunningly modern Thai restaurant located in Hillcrest. An evening here promises a classy and contemporary spin on Asian cuisine, with a mixture of traditional Thai dishes and modern interpretations of Thai cuisine, with just a hint of French influence. Specialties include Larb Pla, a deep-fried whole striped bass topped with green mangoes, onions, scallions and a mint and chili lime sauce, and Duck Red Curry, featuring barbequed duck, pineapple, bell peppers, and basil in a special red curry sauce. Just one meal at …

Just north of University Avenue, Aladdin restaurant is one of Hillcrest’s most flavorful dining destinations. This Lebanese and Mediterranean restaurant serves an array of fresh, vibrant dishes such as Lamb Schwerma, Vegetarian Bryani, and the chef’s favorite, Halibut Arrabiata. Lighter fare includes an array of traditional Meza such as hommos, tabouleh, and dolmas, as well as salads, sandwiches, and wood-fired middle-eastern pizzas. The casual setting and elegant décor is welcoming and comfortable; combined with the food it just may convince you that you’re not in Hillcrest anymore.

Hillcrest’s India Palace offers a refreshing and casually elegant dining experience. The prime corner location at the shopping center at University and 7th is a serene space filled with fountains, live trees, and warm tones. A stunning, inlaid-wood star motif on the ceiling watches over the dining room, where guests take solace in curved booths and intimate round tables. Whether dining on the lunchtime buffet or the dinner menu, guests will find a tantalizing array of Northern Indian cuisine, with classics such as Chicken Tikka Masala, Rogan Josh, and Sag Paneer, plus an array of Tandoori offerings. Whether you stick …

Nestled just one block south of University Avenue in Hillcrest is Crest Café, a haven of fresh and organic American cuisine with a southwestern twist. While it may seem like a surfside diner plucked from the past, the food here is far superior to most cafes or diners you’re liable to find. Along with the food, the bright and fun décor and extremely friendly servers have given the restaurant an extremely loyal and diverse group of regulars that just can’t get enough. Crest Café is open until midnight every day and serves an all-day breakfast menu, so diners can enjoy …

Whimsically whisking guests off to a sweet oasis of tasty times is Babycakes, in Hillcrest. This chic uptown eatery is located in a handsome craftsman-style home characteristic of the neighborhood’s charming architecture, and boasts a large front and back patio. Inside, visitors enjoy a home-away-from-home vibe complemented by antiques, cozy couches, the brick fireplace, and open-beamed ceilings. Sweet dreams meet saccharine-scented fantasies with Babycakes’ luscious dessert cocktails, cupcakes, pastries, and savory delights. Celebrate the weekend with a Babycakes brunch (the Red Velvet Hot Cakes are a hit) or meet up with friends for a proper Monday night nightcap: pair the …

LA BONNE TABLE is a cozy and intimate restaurant in the heart of the bustling neighborhood of Hillcrest. We serve country french food in a bistro fashion. Our menu consists of classic french dishes, a modest but excellent selection that will change with the seasons. We offer a romantic atmosphere and elegant setting, full bar and french beer on tap. Reservations are recommended as seating is very limited in this exclusive restaurant. ​Bon Appetit!

Executive Chef and Partner Deborah Scott’s faithful friend is Kemo Sabe Restaurant, in Hillcrest. The Pacific Rim-inspired décor and cuisine reflects an appreciation for unique cultural perspectives, and melds textures, colors, and flavors into artful culinary masterpieces. Diners may not only feast on the exquisite tastes of each dish, but their imaginations will be fueled by the visual intricacies Chef Scott arranges on the plate. The flash-fried Whole Tilapia is simply statuesque, and the desserts are scandalously seductive. Each element on the menu strives to be a faithful friend to the taste buds, and keep you coming back for more.

While Sushi Itto of Hillcrest offers an extensive selection of traditional Japanese fare, it is not your typical Japanese restaurant. The menu is filled with inventive twists on the traditional, often incorporating ingredients from Western cuisines. The highlight of the extensive sushi and sashimi menu is the Specialties section, which includes exceptionally unique sushi rolls such as the Mexican-inspired “CuauhtemItto,” with breaded crab surimi, chives and avocado with manchego cheese, sautéed chili and chipotle sauce. In addition to sushi, the restaurant offers a modest selection of appetizers, as well as noodle, rice, and curry dishes. Elaborate presentation and innovative parings …

The flagship restaurant of the Busalacchi family has been serving up authentic Sicilian cuisine since 1986. Housed in a quaint converted house, the restaurant boasts an elegant welcoming setting indoors, and a cheerful, a charming patio for fair weather dining. The extensive menu is peppered with flavorful favorites such as Scallops alla Romana, featuring plump scallops wrapped in pancetta and served in a cream sauce, and Gnocchi alla Busalacchi, potato pasta in a pesto and sundried tomato sauce. As with all Busalacchi restaurants, the service is gracious, and the staff is waiting to cater to your every need.

Yakitori Izakaya Tec Chan is the place to go in Hillcrest for an authentic Japanese meal. The menu spans a wide range of cuisine. Classic Yakitori such as Beef Tongue, Quail Egg, and Asparagus Bacon offer diners a tasty snack, while an array of salads, sautéed dishes, ramen, udon, and soba will satiate any appetite. Expertly prepared sushi is also available to round out any meal. Beverages include Sapporo on draft as well as bottled Asahi, Sapporo Premium, Koshihikari – Echigo -, and Orion on the beer side. Soju is available in both barley and sweet potato variety, as are …