Brian Malarkey's Encinitas coastal-American — the follow-up to Herb & Wood, sized for the 101 corridor. Cocktail bar up front, dining room behind, and a menu that earned a Top ...
87
2
Solace & The Moonlight Lounge
American / Modern
Chef Matt Gordon's Encinitas modern-American — a downstairs dining room with a wood-fired kitchen, the Moonlight Lounge upstairs for cocktails, and a farm-to-table sourcing program...
85
3
Blue Ribbon Pizzeria
Italian / Pizza
Coast Highway 101 in Encinitas, working a wood-fired Neapolitan-style dough and a calabrian-chile pie that locals reorder by name. The chef-driven menu rotates, the sidewalk patio ...
85
4
El Callejon
Mexican
Encinitas's El Callejon on the 101 — a 400+ bottle tequila library, a traditional Mexican dining room, and a sidewalk patio that made El Callejon one of North County's defining Mex...
85
5
St. Tropez Bistro & Bakery
French / Bakery / Cafe
Encinitas's French bistro-and-bakery on the 101 — croissants, crepes, and a sidewalk patio that reads as a convincing Provençal transplant on the Encinitas beach strip. A defining ...
84
6
Lotus Cafe & Juice Bar
American / Vegetarian / Healthy
Encinitas's Lotus Cafe on the 101 — a vegetarian-focused menu with a juice bar, a sidewalk patio that's been part of the Encinitas surf-culture-plus-wellness routine for two decade...
84
7
Union Kitchen & Tap — Encinitas
American / Gastropub
The Union Kitchen & Tap outpost on Coast Hwy 101 in Encinitas punches above the gastropub label — a craft-beer list taken seriously, short rib that earns its place on the menu,...
83
8
Swami's Cafe
American / Breakfast / Brunch
Encinitas's 101-corridor breakfast institution — named for the Swami's surf break a block away, a menu built around the post-surf breakfast, and a garden patio that fills at sunris...
83
9
Vigilucci's Pizzeria Trattoria
Italian / Pizza
The Vigilucci family's Encinitas pizzeria-trattoria — Roberto Vigilucci's multi-location North County Italian empire with the Encinitas 101 location as the family-patio anchor. Hou...
83
10
Roxy Encinitas
Thai / Asian Fusion
Roxy sits on the 101 in Encinitas doing Thai and Pan-Asian on the kind of sidewalk patio that makes the Coast Highway feel like it was designed for restaurants, not cars. Thai curr...