Classic San Diego Restaurants

By Martin S. Lindsay
Posted on by Martin S. Lindsay

1926 USNTS firecracker menuWelcome! Sit down, relax, and enjoy the fascinating story of San Diego’s colorful restaurant world from by-gone days.

Call for Submissions We’re always looking for old photos, menus, postcards and memorabilia from Classic San Diego restaurants! If you have any, share on our Facebook Page, or please contact us. We may use them in an upcoming article!

Aloha Club, Tijuana, 1930s
Aloha Cafe, Tijuana

Jul 30, 2016


The Aloha Club San Diego
Aloha Club

Aug 22, 2016


Bradley’s Puka-Puka

Aug 03, 2017


Caesar Cardini Cafe marquee, San Diego, 1936.
Caesar Cardini Cafe

Feb 21, 2016


Caesar Cardini Villa in 2016
Caesar Cardini Villa

Dec 16, 2016


Caesar's Anniversary ad, 1931
Caesar’s Restaurant, Hillcrest

Feb 28, 2016


Caesar's Tijuana, 2016
Caesar’s Restaurant, Tijuana

Dec 28, 2017


Calypso Joe's
Calypso Joe’s

Jan 17, 2017


Casa de Bandini Restaurant, Old Town San Diego
Casa de Bandini

Sep 08, 2017


Chee Chee Club, San Diego, 2017.
Chee-Chee Club

May 22, 2017


Chi-Chi Restaurants match cover art
Chi-Chi Club, San Diego

May 27, 2016


Christian’s Hut / The Hut

Aug 15, 2016


Don Jose greeting his guests
Don Jose’s

Jan 12, 2021


Don the Beachcomber at Vacation Village
Don the Beachcomber, Harbor Island

Aug 23, 2016


Don the Beachcomber Vacation Village San Diego
Don the Beachcomber, Vacation Village

Dec 17, 2016


Foreign Club Cafe de Luxe and cabaret
Foreign Club, Tijuana

Aug 08, 2017


George Joe’s La Mesa in 1977
George Joe’s Chinese Village

Nov 22, 2019


1952-Neon-Alley-Hula-Hut-Charles-Phoenix
Hula Hut

Aug 01, 2016


1938 Islands Cafe ad
Island Cafe, Coronado

Aug 10, 2016


Johnnie Blackett's Copabana Club San Diego
Johnnie Blackett’s Copacabaña

Feb 06, 2017


La Plaza Restaurant, Bird-Rock, La Jolla Hermosa, 1947
La Plaza Restaurant

Nov 02, 2017


Lanai Room
Lanai Room, La Jolla

Aug 15, 2016


Las Cuatro Milpas, Bario Logan, San Diego, 1970s
Las Cuatro Milpas

Mar 27, 2022


Liquid Fuel Lunch Room

Apr 21, 2018


Luau Room, Hotel del Coronado, 1962
Luau Room

Aug 15, 2016


Lubach’s Restaurant

Jun 17, 2016


Mai-Kai Ft Lauderdale
Mai-Kai, San Diego

Jul 31, 2016


Menehune Max newspaper ad
Menehune Max

Dec 14, 2016


Fifth-Street,-New-Town-San-Diego-1887
Mexican Restaurant

Sep 16, 2017


Mr Tiki Mai Tai Lounge bar
Mister Tiki’s Mai Tai Lounge

Nov 25, 2019


Noah's Ark Cafe, Leucadia, San Diego, 1948
Noah’s Ark Cafe and Zoo

Feb 28, 2017


Nunus exterior
Nunu’s Tavern

Jul 30, 2024


Mason Street School, Old Town Tamale Factory, San Diego
Old Town Tamale Factory

Sep 07, 2017


Pagan Room La Jolla
Pagan Room

Aug 15, 2016


Red Sails Inn menu illustration, c1957
Red Sails Inn

Aug 29, 2016


Roberto's Taco Shop, San Ysidro, 1964
Roberto’s Taco Shops

Sep 19, 2017


SS Monte Carlo poster
S.S. Monte Carlo

Feb 29, 2016


2016 Salazar's interior
Salazar’s Fine Mexican Food

Jul 20, 2017


Sea Horse Inn Chula Vista ad
Sea Horse Inn

Nov 21, 2017


Sombrero Taco Shop
Sombrero Mexican Food

Nov 17, 2017


South Seas Cafe San Diego
South Seas Cafe

Jul 31, 2016


Tahiti Cafe, National City
Tahiti Cafe

May 11, 2017


The Tahiti / Ports of Call / L'Escale Restaurant
Tahiti Restaurant

Sep 23, 2016


Tahitian Room, Al Goodman design, 1960
Tahitian Room

Aug 22, 2016


The Hole
The Hole

Jul 23, 2024


The Hurricane, Hillcrest
The Hurricane

Aug 03, 2017


the java tiki bar san diego
The Java

Mar 12, 2017


Unusually high tide at the Marine Room
The Marine Room

Mar 18, 2016


The Polynesian tiki restaurant, La Jolla, CA
The Polynesian

Mar 12, 2017


The Rendezvous

Aug 22, 2016


The Tropics San Diego
The Tropics

Mar 13, 2017


Fried Won Tons
Tiki Hut Polynesian Restaurants

Sep 17, 2017


Tiki Hut, Town and Country Hotel.
Tiki Hut, Town and Country Hotel

Jul 10, 2020


Tropic Cafe cocktail napkin, c1940
Tropic Cafe

Jul 31, 2016


1937 Dottie Richardson, queen of Ramona Turkey Day
Turkey Inn

Nov 23, 2022


Restaurante Victor's, Tijuana
Victor’s, Tijuana

Sep 26, 2017


Wendell Hom’s Teapot Inn

Oct 02, 2022


Whaling Bar cafe La Rue exterior
Whaling Bar

Aug 15, 2016