Dog Friendly Restaurants in San Diego

Eating with your pet in San Diego becomes easier daily with dog-friendly restaurants opening up all around town. This Southern California hot spot is a paradise for pets. In one moment, they’ll be running leash-free on the golden sand Pacific coastline at the Original Dog Beach and sitting in the Barkyard to watch the SD Padres play in Petco Park.

No worries about returning your dog home after a fun day out because they’re cordially invited to eat with you at these pet friendly restaurants in San Diego.

Take your dog on a scenic walk along the rugged La Jolla coastline. The vast sparkling sea will mesmerize you and your pet until you’ve worked up an appetite. Dine nearby at Ambrogio by Acquerello with dog-friendly seating.

Having a curated dining experience isn’t the only reason why Ambrogio by Acquerello is one of San Diego’s top restaurants—it has a covered outdoor patio so that pets can sit through the experience with you. Gaze at your pet after each dish is served for their nod of approval on appearance and smell while you play the judge for the taste. It’s a cycle that will repeat for each course for the evening.

 Ambrogio by Acquerello is open only during dinner hours, 5:00-9:00 PM. Fine cuisine is prepared by Chef Salmoiraghi, who also owns a Michelin-starred restaurant in Milan. Six-course meals include dishes like insalata mare e Monti for starters, spaghettoni alla Nerano for your entree, and a surprise dessert.

For an even more immersive dining experience, make reservations for a seat at the chef’s table.

Amenities and More: Takes Reservations, Waiter Service, Wheelchair Accessible, Heated Outdoor Seating

Address: 7556 Fay Ave, San Diego, CA 92037

San Diego to Tijuana, Mexico, is only an approximately 30-minute drive. However, local hotspots like Birrieria Don Alvaro make your taco missions much quicker. No passport is required since it’s located in the North Park district. The best part is that the tacos are just as delicious.

Since 2020, owner and cook Alvaro has served traditional Mexican street food recipes to San Diego’s pet community. He operates a pop-up in a storefront lot that lets you hang around while you eat. So, slide your pet leash on your wrist because you’ll need both hands.

Taco Tuesday isn’t just a catchy phrase at Birriera Don Alvaro. It’s the best day to dine in for taco discounts all day. Now, you can try as many taco flavors as you’d like, made with fresh, premium ingredients—taco de birria, taco de Cabeza, fish taco, and shrimp taco. He also prepares other Mexican foods like consume, quesadillas, and ceviche.

Birrieria Don Alvaro is open until 9 PM, but don’t wait until the last minute since it frequently closes early once it sells out!

Amenities and More: Covered Outdoor Seating, Happy Hour Specials, Accepts Credit Cards

Address: 3812 Grim Ave, San Diego, CA 92104

San Diego Restaurant Week is an annual event recognizing must-try restaurants throughout the city. Zest Wine Bistro was featured in 2022, but local pet owners know it’s always been a popular spot to dine with dogs. Choose the designated dog walker while waiting on your table because the wine and spirits will flow as soon as you’re seated.

Zest Wine Bistro is located next door to Giardino’s, its sister restaurant. The updated bar interior evolves into a stylish shaded back patio allowing pets to join your dinner reservations. Friendly sommeliers recommend wines to try for your flight, ranging from reds, whites, chardonnay, rosé, and other spirits worldwide.

Fine wine and cuisine are the perfect match. If the meat and cheese charcuterie board doesn’t fill you up, pick an entree from the menu to accompany your meal. It has seafood dishes like poke tacos and octopus, European-style paninis, and American classics like gourmet grilled cheese. It has several small plates to share with the table.

Amenities and More: Takes Reservations, Heated Outdoor Seating, Women-Owned, Wheelchair Accessible, Waiter service

Address: 8129 Broadway, Lemon Grove, CA 91945

Dress your pet in their dog-sized lederhosen because Taste of Denmark will send you on a taste trip to Scandinavia. Located in Hillcrest, this restaurant lets you try genuine foods from Denmark. It was established in 2017, although its recipes date as far back to the day of the Vikings.

Bask in the California lifestyle when dining on the outdoor patio at Taste of Denmark. Large palm trees shade the sidewalk patio as you watch other pets walk by with their owners—don’t worry, the patio has a partial fence to keep them stationary while you eat. You’ll never miss a cool breeze since your server does all the running for you to ensure you have a pleasant meal.

Food at Taste of Denmark looks and tastes like authentic Danish food. Try a smørrebrød, a signature open-faced sandwich made with your choice of meat like pork belly or smoked salmon, hand-picked vegetables, and served on Danish Rye Bread. Other Danish specialty menu items are Danish meatballs, pastry tartlets, and sweet danishes to take home for dessert.

Amenities and More: Takes Reservations, Many Vegetarian Options, Accepts Credit Cards, Offers Military Discount, Wheelchair Accessible, Waiter Service

Address: 142 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92103

Sniff your way around the UCSD campus to find the new Ridgewalk Social. The local community is an audience that the owner, Takes Vartelas, knows after succeeding with the Santorini Island Grill also on campus. However, this new venture targets the pets of the community who can’t stand to let their owners enjoy a meal without them. Luckily, the outdoor patio lets them tag along whenever you’re craving a bite to eat.

The coast isn’t the only place to find excellent views in San Diego. Ridgewalk Social has a patio overlooking the university baseball field stretching out towards the faded mountains in the distance. The stunning views quickly become the backdrop once your food is ready. The restaurant specializes in craft burgers, wood-fired pizza, chicken, and healthy options are also available.

School season is the busiest time for Ridgewalk Social when students fill the campus. However, it’s also open at other times of the year when it’s easier to get a patio seat with your pet.

Amenities and More: Offers Military Discount, Wheelchair Accessible, Happy Hour Specials, Accepts Apple Pay, Accepts Android Pay

Address: 10000 Hopkins Dr, La Jolla, CA 92093

Award-winning chef Andrew Bent took over the kitchen at Little Thief to bring a touch of Americana to the European-style wine bar. Now, you can order food just as varied and delicious as your favorite glass of wine. Established in 2022, Papalito has created a modern venue for classic eats.

Papalito specializes in barbecue and crafty deli sandwiches. It Caters to the flavor demands of meat eaters and the dietary requirements of vegan diners. Signature sandwiches like the Klepto chicken sandwich and the Buccaneer fish sandwich use locally sourced ingredients from Southern California farmers’ markets to maintain the fresh taste.

Dine on the outdoor patio with your pet from noon to 10 PM daily—it also has brunch hours on the weekend. Choose a table for a proper sit-down meal or grab a stroll at the bar-style table for a quick bite and drink. You’ll have access to both the Little Thief drinks menu and the Papalito food menu, so you’ll have more than enough to choose from.

Amenities and More: wheelchair Accessible, Waiter Service, Covered Outdoor Seating

Address: 3017 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92104

Your friendly neighborhood bar just got a lot nicer by allowing pets. Good Bar has revived a local bar to become one of the top dog-friendly restaurants today in San Diego. So, claim your home-field advantage at this modern sports bar keeping you and your pet amused with live and televised entertainment.

Five decades is a pawful lot of dog years when the original bar opened at the location. Recent updates in 2017 turned this watering hole venue into the go-to spot to eat and hang out in Point Loma. Put your paws together for the live music performances, enjoy barking laughter during comedy nights on the venue’s stage, or watch the MLB’s San Diego Padres playing nearby in Petco Park on the TV screens. There’s also outdoor dining for pets—food from the kitchen can be ordered right on the patio.

Chow down on pub grub in between innings and music sets. Goodbar has selections like burgers, wings, and sandwiches. It is veteran-owned, and the military discount sweetens the daily happy hour specials.

Amenities and More: Accepts Credit Cards, Offers Military Discount, Wheelchair Accessible, Happy Hour Specials

Address: 1872 Rosecrans, San Diego, CA 92106

The Plaza Sorrento shopping Center in the Mira Mesa suburb is a place for shopping and eating. Takeout containers from Sue’s Korean Kitchen top many tables in the shopping center’s food plaza. And for a good reason, because it’s one of the best Korean comfort food spots on this side of the Pacific.

Sue’s Korean Kitchen is a small corner restaurant in the plaza with take-out service only. Grab your food and sit on the plaza picnic tables that allow pets to hang around.

Straight from Sue’s Kitchen, you’ll get a taste of homemade Korean food that even locals can confirm its authenticity. It’s family-owned, with original recipes to prepare famous Korean dishes. Menu favorites like Kimchi fried rice and beef bulgogi dishes spotlight the best of Korean cuisine. Also, small bits like fried dumplings and fish cake are great to snack on. After tasting the first drop, you can never have enough of the bulgogi sauce.

Amenities and More: Offers Takeout, Outdoor seating, Limited Vegetarian Options

Address: 6755 Mira Mesa Blvd Ste 109, San Diego, CA 92121

Cool ocean breezes make San Diego surprisingly chilly. Since you don’t have a body of fur to keep warm like your pet, a bowl of steamy soup at Soup Du Jour always does the trick. The Asian-inspired soups and other fusion dishes give a unique menu to browse and order from.

The outdoor patio is excellent for photogenic pets that love snapping pictures before your food is served. It has a contemporary style featuring tables lit by fire centerpieces, stylish lights strung across the space, and a large palm tree for shade.

Every soup is made from scratch using seasonal ingredients. It helps create their special soup of the day offers, giving something new to try on each visit. But favorites like albondigas, chicken tortillas, and hot and sour soup are always available to order. Soups are served with a side of bread to dip, chips to crunch and add, or even toss in the bite-sized, crispy, savory donuts.

Amenities and More: Women-owned, Many Vegetarian Options, Accepts Apple Pay, Accepts Android Pay, Wheelchair Accessible, Offers Military Discount, Waiter Service

Address: 8583 Aero Dr., San Diego, CA 92123

Namaste! Dine in peace with your pet at Bhojan Griha. It’s a restaurant serving zen meals inspired by the cuisines of the Indo-Chinese region. Located in Old Town, it’s the perfect place to eat after sightseeing with your pet.

Old Town is filled with landmarks preserved since the 1800s. It feels like a walk-through time walking down historic buildings showing Mexican and European influences on the town’s early days before arriving at the Bhojan Griha restaurant with its modern Himalayan region-inspired decor.

Step your paws onto the brick-laid patio to enjoy the relaxing setting. Colorful prayer flags hanging from the ceiling billow in the breeze while flames keep you warm in the evenings. You’ll be plenty cozy while eating dishes like lamb tikka masala, vegetable coconut curry, samosas, and momos. Food is served on metal trays, with each compartment filled with savory sauces for dipping your food or pita bread.

Bhojan Griha is open daily between 11 AM – 9 PM.

Amenities and More: Takes Reservations, Many Vegetarian Options, Waiter Service, Heated Outdoor Seating, Happy Hour Specials

Address: 2367 San Diego Ave, San Diego, CA 92110