You know when you eat, and eat, and eat when you aren’t even hungry because the food is THAT good? Yeah, that’s my experience with a number of the La Jolla restaurants we went to during our last trip to California. Seriously, the food was incredible.
Here are some of my favorite places we ate at:
El Pescador Fish Market
One of my favorite places we ate at was El Pescador Fish Market. We walked into the busy market unsure what to expect and perused their extensive menu. Their clam chowder, ceviche, and seafood sandwiches all called to me. How was I to choose? Ultimately, I decided to order their fish tacos (pictured above) — we were in SoCal after all. It only took one bite for me to realize that I made the right call ordering these tacos. The fish was SO fresh, and the vegetables were crisp and refreshing.
Herringbone
Another delicious restaurant in La Jolla is Herringbone. This establishment is owned by celebrity Chef Brian Malarkey who was a finalist on the popular show Top Chef. We made reservations to try out this trendy restaurant our last night in La Jolla, and it lived up to its reputation. We started with their seasonal stone fruit salad. It was a super refreshing summer salad, and the vinaigrette on it was incredibly tasty.
After eating the salad and snacking on the serving of olives they gave us, I was having a hard time figuring out what to order as an entrée. I was so, so, so full. Our friendly server pointed me in the direction of the smaller plates, and I decided to order their Mussels Tikka Masala. These green-lip mussels were served with cilantro and grilled flatbread and were so yummy. Despite being so full, I managed to eat most of them.
I also managed to order and eat dessert. I couldn’t resist their soft, warm, doughnuts with a fruity, seasonal icing. I shamelessly inhaled them.
Not only is the food at Herringbone amazing, the design of the space is stunning. Large, inground trees are lip up by elegant, stringed lights, and wooden canoes hang from the ceiling with contemporary light fixtures falling from them — it’s a gorgeous restaurant.
Puesto (La Jolla Location)
Last but not least, I recommend stopping by Puesto for tasty margaritas and small-plate Mexican food. We went for dinner our first night in La Jolla and had so much fun. We enjoyed the cool weather while sipping on our margaritas at one of their outdoor tables. As far as tacos go, they offer really unique flavor combinations that they pair with their signature “crispy melted cheese”. I too was curious as to what this “crispy melted cheese” is. Think of a thick, unbreaded cheese stick that is melted and gooey but also crispy and has a good bite to it. Just trust when I say that it’s AMAZING. I tried a number of their tacos (all were yummy), but my very favorite one was their zucchini and cactus taco. The zucchini, cactus, crispy melted cheese, corn, tomato, avocado, and cilantro-tomatillo were an undeniably delicious combination of ingredients. I highly recommend stopping by Puesto to try some of their unique flavor combos!
If you visit La Jolla and try any of these spots, let me know what your experience was like by commenting below or emailing me at emilykeenphotography@gmail.com.
Emily Keen Photography 