Food and Drinks

Looking to chow down on an all-American burger, steak, or seafood dinner?  Or savor regional cuisine such as Cajun, Southern, soul food, California cuisine, or Texas-style barbecue?

Perhaps you’re hankering for health food, jarm-to-table fresh meals, or vegan options.  Or you're craving a sub sandwich or Jewish deli.  You can even sample exotic foods from Hawaii or U.S. territories including Guam and Puerto Rico—all in San Diego’s East County!

Our guide below lists many delicious options, arranged alphabetically by category.  Note:  Many of these eateries also offer options beyond American. Click each link to view full menus.

American-general

Applebee’s  (El Cajon and Rancho San Diego) – steaks, bowls, seafood, sandwiches, salads

Centifoni’s Restaurant  (La Mesa) –sandwiches, burgers, soups, salads and more

Denny's (all locations) -American-style breakfasts, lunches and dinners

D’Carlos (Ramona) – steaks, sandwiches, burgers and more

Descanso Junction (Descanso) – cowboy classics, frontier favorites, barbecue and more

Fox Bistro at La Casa del Zorro (Borrego Springs) -  seafood, steaks, salads, sandwiches, and more

H Brothers (Escondido) – North American comfort food

Jimmy’s of Santee (Santee) -- home-cooked American such as chicken pot pies, country-fried steak, prime rib, and meatloaf

Maria Callender’s  (La Mesa) – American foods and pies

Mastiff Kitchen (La Mesa) -  burgers, salads, flatbread pizza and more

Outpost by Valley Farms (Mt. Laguna) – Burgers, barbecue, and more

 Pine House Café and Tavern (Mount Laguna) – American, French, and fondue

Rainbow Oaks Restaurant (Rainbow) -American foods in a historic rustic setting

Ram’s Hill Restaurant (Borrego Springs) – upscale dining; steak, seafood, burgers, chicken, and more

Rank & File -  (Sycuan Casino & Resort in El Cajon) – American comfort food

Red Ocotillo (Borrego Springs) -- benedicts, burgers, sandwiches, salads, soups, pasta

The Trails Eatery (San Carlos) – American, breakfast and lunch

Bagels

Einstein Brothers Bagels (Del Cerro, San Carlos, Santee) – bagels, bagel sandwiches

Gold Coast Bagel (La Mesa/Lake Murray) – bagels and bagel sandwiches

Golden Bagel Café (El Cajon/Fletcher Hills) – bagels and bagel sandwiches

Memo’s Bagel Café (El Cajon) – bagels, sandwiches, wraps, focaccia, acai bowls, more

Barbecue

Buckboards BBQ & Brew  (El Cajon) – Santa Maria-style barbecue

Cali Comfort   (Spring Valley) – barbecue and pub food

Chamorro Grill (Grantville/Mission Gorge) – island barbecue with dishes from Hawaii, Guam and more

Coop’s West Texas BBQ (Lemon Grove) – Texas barbecue

Del’s Hideout (Del Cerro) – Texas-style slow-cooked barbecue

Descanso Junction (Descanso) – cowboy classics, frontier favorites, barbecue and more

Fat Ivor’s (Valley Center) – Texas-style barbecue

Grand Ole BBQ (Flinn Springs/El Cajon) – Texas-style barbecue

I-Que BBQ  (La  Mesa) – barbecue ribs, burgers, hot links andmore

Jay’s Southern Barbecue (Alpine) – Southern-style barbecue and soul food

L & L Hawaiian Barbecue (Ramona)

Phil's BBQ (Santee)  -- mesquite-brilled barbecue

Pioneer Barbecue (Fletcher Hills/El Cajon) -Texas-style barbecue

Smokey and the Brisket  (La Mesa) - Barbecue

Texas Roadhouse (El Cajon) – barbecue

Valley Farms Market - The Shack (Spring Valley) - barbecue, bowls, burritos and breakfasts

Breakfasts

Broken Yolk (Santee and SDSU College area)

International House of Pancakes (IHOP) (La Mesa)

Omelette Factory (Rancho San Diego and Santee)

Original Pancake House (Poway)

Sunshine Pancake House (La Mesa)

Breweries serving food

BJ’s Brewhouse (La Mesa)

Burning Beard Brewing Company (El Cajon)- beers, burgers, tri-trip, tacos, and more

Julian Beer Company (Julian) – pizzas, barbecue, salads and more

Mike Hess Brewing (Alpine) –Pub foods and craft beers

Burgers

Bighorn Burgers and Shakes (Borrego Springs)- burgers and shakes

Boll Weevil (Lakeside) – steer burgers, veggie burgers, chicken sandwiches

Brody’s Burgers and Beers (Jamul) – burgers, beers and more

Duke’s Old Fashioned Onion Burgers (La Mesa) – Oklahoma-style onion burgers

Full Metal Burgers (Escondido) – hand-crafted burgers, sandwiches and vegan options

Habit Burger and Grill (El Cajon, La Mesa, and SDSU college area) --charburgers

Johnny B’s  (La Mesa)  -- burgers and brews

Cafes and diners

Black Bear Diner  (El Cajon) – American cuisine

Brother’s Family Diner (Del Cerro) 

Campo Café (Campo) - American cuisine

Carlee's  (Borrego Springs) -American diner

Downtown Cafe  (El Cajon) – American

Izzy's Cafe (El Cajon) barbecue and country-style cooking

Kendall’s Café (Borrego Springs) – American and Mexican

Lakeside Café and Bakery (Lakeside) – American and Mexican entrees

Lemon Grove Café (Lemon Grove) - Mexican, Greek, and American

Lunchbox (La Mesa) - American breakfast and lunch

Julian Café and Bakery (Julian) – American foods and pies

Memo’s Bagel Café (El Cajon) – bagels, sandwiches, wraps, focaccia, acai bowls, more

Miner’s Diner (Julian) -burgers, sandwiches, soups, salads, soda fountain

Patty's Cafe (La Mesa) – American and Mexican

Janet’s Montana Café (Alpine) – American and Mexican entrees; breakfast and lunch

Off the 8 Café (Alpine) -- breakfast

Rachel’s Café and Eatery (Ramona)

Ramona Café (Ramona)

Sheldon’s Service (La Mesa) – Coffee, breakfast and lunch

Steele 94 Restaurant and Bar – roadhouse serving American and Mexican

Urbane Cafe (El Cajon) – sandwiches, salads, soups

California Cuisine

Bellamy’s Restaurant (Escondido) – California modern cuisine

Julian Grille  (Julian) – California cuisine and timeless dishes

Sage Cafe  (Barona Casino in Lakeside) – California cuisine

Viewpoint Neighborhood Kitchen (Sycuan) – Southern California cuisine

Cajun

Boxing Crab (Roland) – seafood and Cajun

Crab Pub (SDSU college area) – Cajun seafood

Cheeses

Bougie’s Cheese Shop (La Mesa) – cheeses and salamis

Chicken

Ali’s Chicken and Waffles (City Heights)

Chick-Fil-A  (La Mesa and Santee)

Chicken Charlie’s (Rancho Bernardo) - chicken

El Pollo Loco (La Mesa and Santee)

Greek Chicken (El Cajon and Lakeside) 

Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers (Lemon Grove and Santee) – chicken

Coffee shops

See our guide here:  https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/where-get-good-cup-coffee-east-county

Delis 

Ben and Esther’s Vegan and Jewish Deli (Rolando

Corner Deli and Pizza (Sycuan Casino Resort)

Danny’s Deli (Jacumba Hot Springs) – sandwiches, pizza and more

D.Z. Akins (La Mesa)

Hangry's Sunset Deli and Pizza  (Sycuan Casino Resort in El Cajon) – pizza and deli

Jersey Mikes (many locations) – sub sandwiches

K&B Bistro (Del Cerro) – sandwiches, tacos, burger, flatbreads, salads and more

Main Street Donuts and Deli (El Cajon)

Pepper Farm Deli (Santee) – deli sandwiches

Philly Steak Subs (El Cajon) Philly steak sandwiches

Ramona Family Naturals Market and Deli  (Ramona) – natural foods deli

Subway  (Alpine, La Mesa and other locations) – sub sandwiches

Sunrise Deli  (Spring Valley) – deli

Tommy’s Pizza and Subs (Santee) – sub sandwiches and pizza

Trolley Stop Deli (La Mesa) – deli sandwiches

Farm to Table

Collette’s on Grand (Escondido)  farm-to-table, American and French-inspired

Farmer's Table (La Mesa) – farm-to-table cuisine

Farmhouse 78  (Ramona) – farm to table

Jacumba Hot Springs Hotel Restaurant (Jacumba Hot Springs) – farm-to-table, Mexican, seafood, and more

Jeremy’s on the Hill (Wynola/Julian) – farm to table

Marinade on Main  (Ramona) – farm to table

Rachel’s Café and Eatery (Ramona) – farm-to-table

Rolando Garden Kitchen  (Rolando) – farm to table, special events only

Fruits and juice bars

Edible Arrangements  (La Mesa) – fruit arrangements

Extraordinary Fruits (Spring Valley) – fruits, juices, bowls, smoothies, salads, vegan, tortas and more

Fruity Loco (Spring Valley) – juices, smoothies, acai bowls, more

Tropifruit Juice Bar (El Cajon) – juices, sandwiches, bagels, smoothies, juice bars, sandwiches

Hawaiian

Island Style Café (Santee) -- Hawaiian

L&L Hawaiian Barbecue (El Cajon, Escondido, Ramona, SDSU College area)

Poke’Ona (Ramona) -- Hawaiian (Rancho San Diego) – American cuisine

Healthy foods

Extraordinary Fruits (Spring Valley) – fruits, juices, bowls, smoothies, salads, vegan, tortas and more

Tropifruit Juice Bar (El Cajon) – juices, sandwiches, bagels, smoothies, juice bars, sandwiches

Kali’s Garden (Julian) – Vegan cuisine, Mexican and Asian options; juices, smoothies

La Mesa Bistro (La Mesa) – healthy and nutritious foods; breakfast and lunch

Plant Power Fast Food (SDSU College area) – meatless burgers, salads, and more

Ramona Family Naturals Market and Deli  (Ramona) – natural foods deli

Spacebar Cafe  (La Mesa) -- soups, salads, panini sandwiches, bagel sandwiches, pastries, breakfast items, Spanish style tapas, coffees, juices, smoothies, wine bar

Swami’s Café (La Mesa) – salads, soups, burgers, wraps, sandwiches ,smoothies, juices, breakfast and lunch

Tropifruit Juice Bar (El Cajon) – juices, sandwiches, bagels, smoothies

Jewish deli

Ben and Esther’s Vegan and Jewish Deli (Rolando) – vegan Jewish deli

D.Z. Akins (La Mesa) – traditional Jewish deli

Pubs, Bars, and Taverns serving food

The Barn Bar and Dining (Ramona) – steak, burgers, pizza, salads, and more

Baron Long Bar & Grill  (Viejas Casino and Resort, Alpine) – bar foods, craft beers and cocktails

Casino Inn  (Alpine) bar and grill

Double Down Grill (Sycuan Casino & Resort, El Cajon) –pub food: sandwiches, burritos and more

Eastbound Bar and Grill (Lakeside)

The Hills Pub (La Mesa) -Pub food

Junction Bar and Grill (El Cajon) – burgers, steaks, tacos, pasta and more

Press Box Sports Lounge

Pub at Lake Cuyamaca (Cuyamaca) -soups, sandwiches, burgers, salads, fish and chips, and breakfast foods

Public House (Scripps Ranch) - gastropub

Red Tail Bar and Grill at Singing Hills (El Cajon) -Southern California cuisine

Tony Gwynn's Sports Pub  (Jamul Casino) – burgers, brews, sandwiches, pizza, tacos, and more

Puerto Rican

Jibaritos de la Isla (Bonita)—Puerto Rican

Salads

Crafted Greens  (El Cajon) – salads, hot sides, flatbreads

Seafood

Anthony's Fish Grotto  (La Mesa)

Boxing Crab (Roland) – seafood and Cajun

Brigantine Seafood and Oyster Bar (La Mesa) - seafood

California Fish Grill  (El Cajon) – seafood, wraps, Cajun tacos, and more

Crab Pub (SDSU college area) – Cajun seafood

Oyster and Pearl Bar Restaurant (La Mesa) -- Mediterranean

Prime Cut Steak and Seafood  (Jamul Casino) – steak and seafood

Surf and Soul (Roland) – seafood and soul food

Surfing Crab (Escondido) – seafood boils, South Carolina-style

Surfside Fish House (Scripps Ranch) – fresh fish

Terramar Mexican Kitchen (Ramona) -Mexican and seafood

Soul Food and Southern

Bankhead Mississippi-Style Cooking (Spring Valley) – Southern and soul food

Jay’s Southern Barbecue (Alpine) – Southern-style barbecue and soul food

Rise Southern Biscuits and Chicken (SDSU College Area)

Surf and Soul (Rolando) – seafood and soul food

Steak

Black Angus Steakhouse (El Cajon) – steak, prime rib, seafood and more

Bull and Bourbon Steakhouse (Sycuan) steak, seafood and more

Coyote Steakhouse  (Borrego Springs) – steak, chops, seafood and more

Grove Steakhouse (Viejas in Alpine) -steaks, classic and contemporary cuisine

Outback Steakhouse (El Cajon) – steaks, lobster, shrimp, burgrers and more

Prime Cut Steak and Seafood  (Jamul Casino) – steak and seafood

Ram’s Hill Restaurant (Borrego Springs) – upscale dining; steak, seafood, and more

Riviera Supper Club  (La Mesa) -grill-your-own steakhouse and bar

Vegan and vegetarian

El Veganito (La Mesa/Grossmont Center food court) – Vegan/Mexican

Kali’s Garden (Julian) – Vegan cuisine, Mexican and Asian options; juices, smoothies

Plant Power Fast Food (SDSU College area) – meatless burgers, salads, and more

Purple Mint (City Heights) – Vegan Asian cuisine

Purple Owl Café (Julian) – coffee, crepes, salads, vegan foods

Split Bakehouse (La Mesa) – vegan pastries

Wine bars with food

Reds,  Whites and Blues (Ramona)

San Pasqual Winery  - (La Mesa) wine tasting, charcuterie

Spacebar Cafe  (La Mesa) -- soups, salads, panini sandwiches, bagel sandwiches, pastries, breakfast items, Spanish style tapas, coffees, juices, smoothies, wine bar

Village Vino (Kensington) – small bites, charcuterie, salads, flatbreads

Zest Wine Bistro (Lemon Grove) - appetizers, soups, salads and flatbreads

Wraps

Wrap Shack (Santee and El Cajon) -- wraps (Lemon Grove) – International winds, charcuterie, and tapas

Our guide to delicious desserts in San Diego's inland region

San Diego’s East County has many options to satisfy your sweet tooth, thanks to our diverse population and rich heritage. From all-American Julian apple pies, candy cottages and ice cream parlors to international desserts such as Franch pastries, Mexican cakes and Middle Eastern baklava, you’ll find a wide variety of delicious desserts to savor—and even a vegan bakery.

Bakeries

Apple Alley Bakery (Julian) – pies, pastries and lunch items

Baklava King (Santee) – baklava

A Delight of France (Escondido)- French bistro and bakery

Al-Hamdani Sweets (Spring Valley) – Baklava and Middle Eastern sweets

Dudley’s Bakery (Santa Ysabel) – fresh-baked breads, sandwiches, pies

CroBean Bakery (Alpine) French bakery and coffee shop

Einstein Brothers Bagels (Del Cerro, San Carlos, Santee) – bagels, bagel sandwiches

Frank's Bakery- Gibaldi's Italian Bread (Spring Valley) – bakery

French Oven Bakery and Café (Scripps Ranch) – French pastries and more

Gold Coast Bagel (La Mesa/Lake Murray) – bagels and bagel sandwiches

Golden Bagel Café (El Cajon/Fletcher Hills) – bagels and bagel sandwiches

Julian Café and Bakery (Julian) – American foods and pies

Julian Pie Company (Julian and Wynola)

Lakeside Café and Bakery (Lakeside) – American and Mexican entrees

Lilac Heights Bakery (Ramona) home-based bakery

Maria Callender’s  (La Mesa) – American foods and pies

Memo’s Bagel Café (El Cajon) – bagels, sandwiches, wraps, focaccia, acai bowls, more

Miss Donuts (Casa de Oro/Spring Valley) – donuts and coffee

Mom’s Pie House (Julian) – pies

Split Bakehouse (La Mesa) – vegan pastries

Sultan’s Baklava (El Cajon)  --Turkish delights

Su Pan Bakery (El Cajon, Poway and San Marcos) – Mexican cakes and breads

Candy Stores

Bighorn Fudge Company (Borrego Springs) – fudge candy

Julian Candy Basket (Julian) – old-fashioned candy store

Wisteria Candy Cottage (Boulevard) – hand-dipped chocolates and candies

Donuts

Dunkin’ Donuts (Ramona)

Main Street Donuts and Deli (El Cajon)

Mary’s Donuts (Lakeside)

Steph’s Donut Hole  (Alpine) -donuts

Ice Cream

Baskin Robbins  (La Mesa, El Cajon, and Ramona)

Café Amor (Spring Valley) Menu – ice cream, smoothies, Crepes, sandwiches, bagels

Cold Stone Creamery  (Rancho San Diego, Santee, and other locations) – ice cream

Foster’s Freeze (Allied Gardens and Spring Valley) – ice cream, shakes, burgers, hot dogs

Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream (Santee)

Miner’s Diner (Julian) – old-fashioned soda foundation

Puddings

Extraordinary Banana Pudding (La Mesa) – hand-crafted puddings

Yogurt, frozen

Alpine Chill  (Alpine) – frozen yogurt

Menchie's Frozen Yogurt (La Mesa, El Cajon and Rancho San Diego – frozen yogurt

Yogurt Mill (La Mesa) – frozen yogurt

East County News Service

February 10, 2025 (El Segundo) – Tri-Union Seafoods has recalled canned tuna products sold under the Trader Joe’s, Van Camp’s, Genova and H-E-B brands due to defective pull-top resulting in leakage and potential contamination with botulism, a deadly toxin.  The products were sold in many states, including Genova 5 oz. cans sold in California at Walmart, Kroger, H-E-B, Public, Harris Teeter and independent retailers.  Retailers in other states include Trader Joe’s and Costco.

Consumers are warned not to eat the recalled products, even the tuna does not look or smell bad. If you did consume a recalled tuna product, seek immediate medical attention if you feel unwell, since botulism is a potentially fatal form of food poisoning.  No illnesses associated with the recalled products have been reported, however, and the recall is out of an abundance of caution to protect public safety.

Recalled products include specific can codes and Best if Used By dates indicated on the bottom of the cans, and UPC numbers listed below.

If you have a recalled tuna can, please return it to the retailer for a full refund, throw it away, or contact Tri-Union Seafoods directly for a retrieval kit and a coupon for a replacement product. Consumers can contact Tri-Union Seafoods at support@thaiunionhelp.zendesk.com or 833-374-0171, if they have any questions or to request replacement product. The toll-free number hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST.

This recall does not impact any other Tri-Union Seafoods products, as no other product packaging was impacted by this potential defect. Tri-Union Seafoods is committed to upholding the highest safety and quality standards.

Tri-Union Seafoods advises that consumers in possession of any product with the below Lot Codes should dispose of the product. Below is a list of specific Lots impacted:

By Fernanda Lopez Halvorson, County of San Diego Communications Office

Photo courtesy of the CDC

December 21, 2024 (San Diego) - County public health officials are warning San Diegans not to eat or drink raw milk products or give them to their pets because of the heightened risk for H5N1, or bird flu. 

By East County News Service

November 27, 2024 (San Diego)-- County Public Health officials are asking people to

throw away organic carrots tied to a nationwide E. coli outbreak. One person in San

Diego who consumed the carrots became ill from the same strain of Shiga Toxin producing E. Coli (STEC) that is part of a multi-state outbreak.

Thirty-nine people infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli have been reported from 18 states, 15 people have been hospitalized, and one person has died. The implicated carrots are organic, whole bagged carrots and baby carrots sold under multiple brands by Grimmway Farm at many major retailers. Brand labels include Trader Joe’s, Sprouts, O Organics, Cal-organic, Bunny Luv, Good & Gather, Full Circkle, Compliments, GreenWise, Marketside, Nature’s Promise, Wegmans, Wholesome Pantry, Raley’s, Simple Truth, President’s Choice, and Grimmway Farms, and in a variety of sizes.

E. coli can cause severe stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting, often within three to four days. The STEC found in the carrots can cause hospitalization and even death. Grimmway Farms has issued a nationwide recall. The carrots are likely no longer in stores for sale but may be in your home. 

“If you or a loved one are feeling sick, contact your doctor as soon as possible,” said

Ankita Kadakia, M.D., interim County public health officer. “The Shiga toxin producing E. Coli bacteria can cause serious kidney problems that require hospitalization, so it is important to get care promptly.” 

If you think you purchased affected carrots, do not eat them. Throw them away and

wash any containers or surfaces that touched the carrots with hot soapy water or in the dishwasher.  Make sure to also wash your hands with soap and water after handling the carrots or container.

By Miriam Raftery

January 20, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – Cal Fresh is offering up to one month of benefits to replce food lost due to a power outage or natural disaster—but you must apply within 10 days of food loss.

 That news comes as welcome relief for residents in rural East County, where some have lost power multiple times recently due to planned public saety power outages by SDG&E to prevent wildfires, as well as from other causes.

You can qualify for replacement food cost benefits if you had food spoilage due to:

• A power outage lasted longer than four hours
• Utilities were shut off for any reason
• A freezer or refrigerator stopped working

To apply, download a Replacement/Affidavit/Authoriization Form (CF-303) at https://SDHunger.org/replacement-calfresh . More details below.

To submit your form, you can either walk it into your local Health and Human Services office, contact a local CalFresh Application Assistance Provider at https://sdhunger.org/calfresh-assistance, or submit the form online at https://GetCalFresh.org/docs.

Questions?  If you need help finding or filling out the correct form, submitting your request, or have other questions, contact one of the following local CalFresh  Applicant Assistance Providers at:

4058 Willows Rd.,Alpine 91901, phone (619)445-1188 exdt. 543

36350 Church Rd., Campo 91906, phone (619)445-1199 ext.545.

East County News Service

January 17, 2025 (La Mesa) — Bougie’s Cheese Shop,  newly opened in December, invites you to a Garden Party on Saturday, January 18 and 25 from 1-4 p.m.   This patio event will feature non-alcoholic specialty drinks in honor of dry January paired with cheeses, along with curated snack boxes available for purchase.

Bougie’s Cheese Shop is located in the historic Levy house at 4679 Date Ave. in La Mesa.