Hungry travelers rejoice: The dining options at San Diego International Airport have continued to improve since the closures of 2020. These days, you can find an assortment of local favorites (like The Prado, Stone Brewing, Bankers Hill Bar + Restaurant, and Pannikin Coffee and Tea), upscale wine bars like Bubbles Seafood and Wine and Beaudevin Wine and Tapas, as well as the usual fast-casual, fast food, and coffee shop chains. With so many choices, narrowing down your options can be time-consuming, so follow our handy guide to the airport’s best bars, kiosks, coffee stands, sit-down restaurants, and other things to do.
If you’ve already settled into a seat at your gate and don’t feel like lugging your carry-on across the terminal, there’s still hope. Simply download At Your Gate, a mobile ordering and delivery service app that allows you to order food and retail items via your mobile devices and have them delivered to you at your gate (or other locations inside the airport). Problem solved!
Terminal 1
Pre-security
Pacifica Breeze Cafe
Like its Del Mar location, Pacifica Breeze Cafe serves up acai bowls, French toast and breakfast burritos (before 10:30am) as well as fish tacos, sugar-spiced salmon sandwiches, avocado toast, soups, salads and wraps.
Jack-in-the-Box
Until In-N-Out opens an airport location, this other San Diego-based chain is your best bet for nabbing a quick burger and fries before the security checkpoint.
Bay Books of Coronado
This outpost of the beloved Coronado bookstore has the latest bestsellers as well as a section of local and new authors, and last minute educational toys and games, kid’s books, and Lego blocks if you’re traveling with children.
East
Einstein Brothers Bagels
Closest gate: 3
This popular bagel chain serves breakfast all day, along with deli sandwiches, panini and hot bagel melts, espresso and frozen drinks, and a special menu of breakfast and lunch selections that come in under 350 calories and 15 grams of fat.
Ciao Gourmet Market
Closest gate: 4
You’ll find grab-and-go wraps, ciabatta sandwiches, salads, yogurt parfaits, energy bars and fruit cups, along with plenty of snacks and bottled drinks here, including organic, vegan, gluten-free, kosher, fair trade, and dietary and lifestyle options.
The Counter: Custom Built Burgers
Closest gate: 4
Build your own burger from an extensive list of meat and vegetarian options and dozens of different cheeses, toppings, and sauces, or make it into a bowl with organic mixed greens or lettuce blend.
West
Bankers Hill Bar + Restaurant
Closest gate: 7
Expect to find an abbreviated menu of the same American comfort food as the gone-but-not-forgotten Fourth Street venue. Highlights include buttermilk blueberry pancakes (before 10am), a grilled chicken and forest mushroom sandwich with brie, and marinated steak street tacos. Wash it down with one (or two) of their excellent craft co*cktails.
Peet’s Coffee & Tea
Closest gate: 11
Choose from classic coffee or tea, or a full complement of espresso drinks, iced beverages and blended freddos.
Urban Crave
Closest gate: 13
Dive into a range of cuisine from breakfast burritos to burgers, bánh mì, and barbecue sliders with excellent house-made chips at this street food-inspired stop. Don’t pass up the salted caramel cheesecake with a fresh berry compote -- if time gets short, they’ll happily box it to go.
Terminal 2
Pre-security
Einstein Bros. Bagels
This popular bagel chain serves breakfast all day, along with deli sandwiches, panini and hot bagel melts, espresso and frozen drinks, and a special menu of breakfast and lunch selections that come in under 350 calories and 15 grams of fat.
East
Artisan Market
Closest gate: 23
The best of local fare at this grab-and-go market includes Pannikin coffee and breakfast sandwiches, (non-grab-and-go) Stone beer on tap, fresh co*cktails, and made-to-order salads and panini.
Peet’s Coffee & Tea
Closest gate: 26
Choose from classic coffee or tea, or a full complement of espresso drinks, iced beverages and blended freddos.
Panda Express
Closest gate: 26
Fast-casual chain that serves American Chinese food, the most popular meals combine entrees like Kung Pao Chicken and Beijing Beef with fried or steamed rice, chow mein or mixed vegetables. Check out our Panda Express menu ranking to make your decision simpler.
Jack-in-the-Box
Closest gate: 26
Until In-N-Out opens an airport location, this other San Diego-based chain is your best bet for nabbing a quick burger and fries before the security checkpoint.
California Pizza Kitchen
Closest gate: 26
The chain that brought the world California-style pizza also serves breakfast sandwiches, pizzas, and burritos before 10 am, pasta, salads, soup, and panini, as well as a substantial children’s menu.
The Prado at the Airport
Closest gate: 26
It may not have the romantic atmosphere of San Diego’s beloved Balboa Park iteration, but you can expect all your Prado favorites, including their popular spicy calamari fries, lobster and shrimp potstickers, and grilled fish tacos. Breakfast is served until 10:30 am, and you'll also find an opportunity for much-needed preflight co*cktails, beer, and wine.
Be Relax Spa
Closest gate: 27
Spend your time before or in between your flights pampering yourself by booking treatment instead of drinking in the bar. Services include mani/pedis, facials, and all types of massages from massaging loungers to full deep tissue table massages. Booking your appointment well ahead of time is recommended, but walk-ins are welcome if a technician is available.
West
Stone Brewing Company
Closest gate: 36
San Diego’s hometown brewpub features flights, regular and specialty drafts, freshly made craft co*cktails. Assuming you want food to go with your drinks, you'll find favorites including duck confit tacos, spicy lamb rigatoni, grilled chimichurri steak sandwiches, and chipotle glazed salmon.
PGA Tour Grill
Closest gate: 36
Following the adage “Eat smarter, play harder," the expansive PGA Tour Grill features upscale, healthy fare such as egg white omelets, hickory plank salmon, shrimp and mahi mahi ceviche, and vegan pasta marinara. Splurge on a crisp specialty co*cktail to balance it out.
Tommy V’s Pizzeria
Closest gate: 36 (Sunset Cove)
Tomaso Maggiore brings the magic of his Del Mar and Carlsbad restaurants to the San Diego Airport. Early birds will enjoy Tomaso’s creative signature breakfast pizza and breakfast sandwiches; wood fired pizzas feature San Marzano tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella and locally raised vegetables.
Be Relax Spa
Closest gate: 36
Booking your appointment well ahead of time is recommended, but walk-ins are welcome if a technician is available.
Saffron Thai
Closest gate: 36 (Sunset Cove)
Chef Su-Mei Yu of San Diego favorite Saffron Thai specializes in marinated rotisserie chicken, healthy stir fries, noodles and curries prepared using traditional Thai methods and healthy cooking techniques showcasing the fresh flavors of each dish’s natural ingredients.
Starbucks
Closest Gate: 37
The only outpost of the ubiquitous coffee shop still open in the airport has all your favorite coffee, espresso-based drinks, Teavana teas, and iced beverages.
Pannikin Coffee and Tea
Closest gate: 38
Family-owned and operated Pannikin roasts their single origin and proprietary blends of coffee in small batches every day, to bring San Diegans the freshest possible espressos, specialty drinks, and hot and iced teas.
Elegant Desserts
Closest gate: 38
This is a great grab-and-go stop for all kinds of candies and sweets, but especially for their daily delivery of fresh donuts from local obsession Donut Bar.
Beaudevin Wine and Tapas Bar
Closest gate: 42
Sip wines from around the world while you nibble small plates of charcuterie, artisan cheeses, pates and pickles, smoked salmon and savory tartines.
Phil’s BBQ
Closest gate: 46
Choose from Phil’s wildly popular, award-winning baby back ribs, mesquite grilled chicken, and classic sandwiches like the El Toro (featuring barbecue-sauced tri-tip) or the BBQ Broham with pulled pork. If variety's what you're after, try the Best of Both: samplers featuring ribs and chicken with two sides and cornbread.
Camden Food Company
Closest gate: 47
Craft your own tasty hot sandwiches, bagels, and panini on artisan bread. Vegetarian options include a roasted veggie sandwich and caprese panino. There’s also a salad bar, daily soups, oatmeal, and the usual grab-and-go snacks and beverages.
Bubbles Seafood and Wine Bar
Closest gate: 47 (Sunset Cove)
Bubbles features a color-coded menu to help you pair a distinct wine with any of the unique small plates on the menu, such as Paloma Ceviche with Matanzas Creek Sauvignon Blanc or Fennel Shrimp and Dungeness Crab Farfalle with Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars “Hands of Time”, Red Blend.
Warwick’s of La Jolla
Closest gate: 47
Warwick’s is famously the country’s oldest continuously family-owned and operated bookstore, with a history dating back to 1896. Browse to see what clicks from the exceptionally curated book selection of bestsellers, local authors, children’s titles, travel guides, maps and business books, comic books, toys, greeting cards, electronics and e-books.
Red Mango
Closest gate: 48 (Sunset Cove)
Red Mango features their low fat, low calorie yogurt, with or without protein, antioxidant or energy boosts in their 25 varieties of delicious fruit smoothies. Other options include all-fruit smoothies, parfaits and boba.
Qdoba Mexican Grill
Closest gate: 48 (Sunset Cove)
A stiff competitor in the Mexican fast-casual arena, Qdoba Mexican Grill brings handcrafted meals with fresh, premium ingredients, from their signature three-queso sauce and hand-smashed guacamole to grilled steak and slow-roasted pulled pork.
Urban Crave
Closest gate: 48
Dive into a range of cuisine from breakfast burritos to burgers, bánh mì, and barbecue sliders with excellent house-made chips at this street food-inspired stop. Don’t pass up the salted caramel cheesecake with a fresh berry compote -- if time gets short, they’ll happily box it to go.
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Mary Beth Abateis a San Diego-based freelance writer.
