Oceanside

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Privateer Coal Fire Pizza

Cosmos Burgers

Oceanside | Website

Food Rating: 10/10

The highlight was the pepperoni. LOVED its crispiness. The amount of cheese and sauce was perfect.

Cosmos Burgers

Privateer Coal Fire Pizza

Cosmos Burgers

Carlsbad, Oceanside | Website

Food Rating: 10/10

This is my new favorite North County burger spot. The Cosmos Burger is as close to a perfect burger as it gets. The two patties were perfectly grilled and so tender, flavorful, and juicy. They nailed the caramelized onions and blew me away with their Cosmos sauce, which was like an elevated In-n-Out spread with hints of garlic. Highly, highly recommend!

Privateer Coal Fire Pizza

Oceanside | Website

Food Rating: 10/10

The highlight was the pepperoni. LOVED its crispiness. The amount of cheese and sauce was perfect.

Birria's El Padrino

Craft Coast Tacos & Beer

Privateer Coal Fire Pizza

Oceanside

Food Rating: 10/10

I loved the Quesabirria Tacos at Birrias El Padrino in Oceanside! It’s one of my favorite foods because of the tenderness of the meat and all the flavor from the tacos and consomé. This one met my expectations! The only drawback of ordering them takeout is that the tortilla isn’t as crispy.

Craft Coast Tacos & Beer

Oceanside, San Marcos | Website

Food Rating: 10/10

I love Craft Coast Tacos & Beer in San Marcos—truly one of my favorite places in North County. Their Birria Tacos are heavenly. The beef is so tender, juicy, and flavorful and dipped into the consome is perfection. I also highly recommend their Carne Asada and Al Pastor Tacos. Their beer also pairs so well with the tacos. It’s one of the best brew pubs in the area!

Killer Pizza from Mars

Craft Coast Tacos & Beer

Oceanside, Escondido | Website

Food Rating: 10/10

This pizza was killer: great sauce to cheese ratio, lots of toppings, and delicious overall taste.

Thai Table Time

Wu Lan Ramen Tap House

Thai Table Time

Oceanside | Website

Food Rating: 10/10

Thai Table Time is an amazing Thai spot in Oceanside! I loved the Yellow Curry and Spicy Noodles. They were both super flavorful and the portions were huge. Highly recommend!

Blue Bowl

Wu Lan Ramen Tap House

Thai Table Time

Oceanside | Website

Food Rating: 10/10

I haven’t had a ton of açaí bowls but this custom one from Blue Bowl in Oceanside is my new favorite! Shout out to Sebastian for walking me through the process, giving great recommendations, letting me sample all the components, and assembling this masterpiece! I chose 4 layers: açaí, pitaya (dragonfruit), blue coconut, and mango passion. I loved each of them, with the açaí and mango passion being my favorites. I topped it with maple quinoa granola, chocolate with chia seeds granola, banana, strawberry, and blueberry. Their nut butters are house-made and you can tell the difference in quality. I went with almond and peanut butter and loved them. I finished the bowl off with cacao nibs, agave, cacao powder. What a delicious, nutritious, and filling breakfast!

Wu Lan Ramen Tap House

Oceanside

Food Rating: 9/10

They have a wide variety of ramen to choose from, and I went with the Black Knight because I love black sesame oil. The broth was rich and garlicky and the chashu was fatty and charred to perfection. I also tried the broth for the spicy vegan ramen and it blew me away. I’m definitely coming back here!

Rockin' Baja Lobster

Wu Lan Ramen Tap House

Oceanside | Website

Food Rating: 9/10

Taco Tuesday! I ordered their Fried Fish, Surf & Turf, and Beef Short Rib Tacos. My favorite was the Surf & Turf. They loaded it with delicious carne asada and shrimp… need I say more? Plus, they had great margaritas and complimentary chips and salsa!

Ocean Thai

Rockin' Baja Lobster

Love Boat Sushi

Oceanside | Website

Food Rating: 9/10

We found an awesome Thai spot in Oceanside! Great food and service. Highly recommend the Yellow Curry and Drunken Noodles.

Love Boat Sushi

Rockin' Baja Lobster

Love Boat Sushi

San Marcos, Oceanside | Website

Food Rating: 9/10

I highly recommend Love Boat Sushi’s Padres Roll. That soft shell crab hit the spot—very crunchy and flavorful. During my second time, I tried the Chef Special Roll and it's my new favorite. The freshness of the spicy tuna won me over.

Savory Thai

Rim Talay Thai Cuisine

Oceanside | Website

Food Rating: 9/10

The highlights of this Yellow Curry were the texture and consistency; I appreciated the thickness of it. And the flavor was on point!

Rim Talay Thai Cuisine

Oceanside | Website

Food Rating: 9/10

This beautiful plate of Pad Thai was delicious. The sauce had great flavor and I appreciated the portions.

Frida's Taqueria

Rim Talay Thai Cuisine

Frida's Taqueria

Oceanside, Vista, Escondido

Food Rating: 9/10

On my first visit, I like to sample different tacos and went with the Adobada, Asada, and Quesabirria. My favorite by far was the Quesabirria because the meat was so tender and juicy. The Adobada and Asada were delicious, too. I slightly preferred the Adobada because it was more flavorful. Highly recommend!

Himalayan Bistro

Finney's Crafthouse

Frida's Taqueria

Oceanside | Website

Food Rating: 9/10

Himalayan Bistro is a great Indian spot in Oceanside and their Navaratna Korma is my new favorite Korma! The creamy sauce was the highlight, which was packed with flavor and had the perfect balance of savory, sweet, and spicy. The Vegetable Curry was good, but couldn’t compare to the Korma. I highly recommend this place and will be back for their Tikka Masala!

Ticca Tikka

Finney's Crafthouse

Oceanside | Website

Food Rating: 9/10

This lunch special was such a good deal! It came with the entree, rice, naan, salad and lentils. I loved the flavor of the Butter Chicken, which balanced sweet, spicy, and savory so well. I’ll be back to try more dishes!

Finney's Crafthouse

Oceanside | Website

Food Rating: 9/10

I love a good happy hour and highly recommend Finney’s Crafthouse in Oceanside! The Carnitas Nachos is a great choice if you’re looking for a delicious bang for your buck starter. The meat was flavorful and moist and the red chilis had a nice kick. Their Cheeseburger was also top-tier. There are so many dishes (and drinks) I want to try here—I’m excited to return!

Tanner's Prime Burgers

Oceanside | Website

Food Rating: 9/10

Tanner’s Prime Burgers is all about high-quality ingredients and delicious smash burgers! Their Prime Single Burger satisfied my cravings; I couldn’t get enough of the caramelized onions and burger sauce. The fries were perfectly crispy and well-seasoned and the lemonade was so refreshing! The Fatty Patty was the best dessert to round out this filling meal.

Turmeric Hut

Tanner's Prime Burgers

Oceanside | Website

Food Rating: 9/10

We ordered Tandoori Chicken, Chicken Tikka Masala, Butter Chicken, and Tofu Tikka Masala and all the dishes were so flavorful and creamy. They don’t mess with their spice levels here. I don’t have a great spice tolerance, but that didn’t stop me because the food was so good.

China Fusion

Tanner's Prime Burgers

China Fusion

Oceanside | Website

Food Rating: 9/10

China Fusion has great Kung Pao Tofu and Honey Walnut Shrimp. I loved the tofu’s spice and the glaze on the shrimp—just wish there was more glaze because it was so good. My favorite dish has been the Mongolian Beef. I’m looking forward to trying more dishes here!

Corner Pizza

Casera Latin Kitchen and Bakery

China Fusion

Encinitas, Oceanside | Website

Food Rating: 9/10

High quality pizza! I’m not a fan of thin crust, but it worked well here. I loved the mix of honey, balsamic, and BBQ chicken on the Chef’s Special slice.

Casera Latin Kitchen and Bakery

Oceanside

Food Rating: 9/10

Casera Latin Kitchen & Bakery in Oceanside features Peruvian and Colombian cuisine! I went with the Lomo Saltado because it’s my favorite Peruvian Dish and was excited to try my first Colombian empanada. It also came with Peruvian Chaufa rice, which was like a chicken fried rice. Everything was delicious and the portions were huge! The marinade of the beef was the highlight. I also enjoyed their Agua Panela drink. Highly recommend!

Odie's Pizza Co.

Casera Latin Kitchen and Bakery

Oceanside | Website

Food Rating: 9/10

Odie’s Pizza Co is an amazing new pizza spot in Downtown Oceanside! They serve high quality pizza with several gluten free and vegan options. I loved their “Welcome to Paradise” slice because of their crispy, cupped pepperoni. I also enjoyed the “Biggie Smalls.” I’d never had a pizza with vodka sauce, and it worked really well here! We came for happy hour and got a good deal on drinks, too. I’ll be back to try more slices!

Sweets

Little Fox Cup and Cones

Oceanside | Website

Food Rating: 10/10

This was very high quality, artisanal ice cream! All the flavors I sampled were so creamy. The Things + Stuff flavor came with salted pretzel cream, a peanut butter swirl, chocolate bits, and pretzel pieces. All the components came together so well and I’d definitely get this again. I sampled the S’more the Merrier flavor and it was magical. Highly, highly recommend!

Parlor Doughnuts

Little Fox Cup and Cones

Oceanside, San Diego | Website

Food Rating: 10/10

I found one of my new favorite donut spots in North County! They make such delicious donuts that are fried to perfection. You must try them if you’re in Downtown Oceanside, especially because they have vegan options, too! My favorites are the French Toast, Cookies n Cream, Peanut Butter Cup, and Sandy Beach.

Handel's Homemade Ice Cream

Vista, San Marcos, Carlsbad, Oceanside, Del Mar | Website

Food Rating: 10/10

This North County staple is my favorite ice cream shop of all-time. They have a wide variety of flavors and their ice cream is high quality. My favorite flavors are Graham Central Station and Buckeye. Plus, their 4 Scoop Sampler is an incredible deal and perfect for sharing.

Fugu Ice Cream and Taiyaki

Handel's Homemade Ice Cream

Oceanside

Food Rating: 9/10

Fugu Rolled Ice Cream & Taiyaki is a great dessert spot in Oceanside! This was my first time trying rolled ice cream, and I really enjoyed it! I loved its unique texture and the Cookie Monster flavor was a great call. I’ll be back to try their other flavors and Taiyaki!

Oceanside Sunset Market

Juanbachi

Full Belly BBQ

Food Rating: 10/10

This Filipino, Hawaiian, and Japanese spot is my favorite at the Oceanside Sunset Market! Their Liempo (Filipino BBQ Pork Belly) was so tender and flavorful—I loved how fatty it was. The Hawaiian BBQ Beef had such a great marinade and was very delicious. The Java Rice (Filipino Garlic Fried Rice) paired so well with the meats. Highly recommend!

Full Belly BBQ

Food Rating: 9/10

I loved their Brisket Sandwich, especially because they loaded it with well barbecued meat. The brisket was very tender and flavorful and the BBQ sauce had the right amount of tang and sweetness. It’s a bang for your buck meal and I recommend if you’re looking for good BBQ!

Shrimpholic

Full Belly BBQ

Shrimpholic

Food Rating: 9/10

I enjoyed my Shrimp Plate with Bang Bang and Hot and Spicy sauce. I liked how each of the shrimp were coated with a crispy batter and drizzled with the sauce. I preferred the Bang Bang and the Hot and Spicy didn’t hold back on the spice! I just wish there was more shrimp and sauce for the price.

Krispy Boyz

Hunter's Steakhouse

Shrimpholic

Food Rating: 8/10

This was a sinfully good meal. Birria and mac and cheese is such a great combination. I just wish the birria had more flavor.

Hunter's Steakhouse

Food Rating: 8/10

The Tri Tip Sandwich was calling my name as soon as I could smell the BBQ. This was a bang for your buck meal because they loaded the sandwich with meat. They also smothered the meat with their sweet and tangy BBQ sauce, which added nice flavor. I wished the meat had a stronger marinade or dry rub because it lacked a little flavor and the BBQ sauce would’ve been even better if it were spicier.

Vietnamese Grill

Hunter's Steakhouse

Food Rating: 8/10

This bang for your buck meal comes with lots of Pork and Chicken, shrimp, an egg roll, and rice!

Fish + Shrimp & Chips

Food Rating: 8/10

These were solid fish and chips! The fish was fried well and thankfully not oily or greasy. I wished the fries were thicker though.

Oceanside Sunset Market (Sweets)

Maya's Cookies

Crepe on a Stick

Food Rating: 10/10

I’m a HUGE fan of Maya’s Cookies. They make some of the best cookies I’ve ever had, and they’re all vegan! I got their $2 Chocolate Chip Happy Hour deal, which is every Tuesday and Wednesday from 4-5pm. My favorite cookies have been the Marble Fudge and S’mores. I highly, highly recommend! One of my all time favorite dessert spots!

Crepe on a Stick

Food Rating: 9/10

I tried my first Brazilian Crepe here! I got mine filled and drizzled with Nutella and absolutely loved it. It was crispy all around and the center parts were fluffy and gooey. It was very comparable to Taiyaki. Highly recommend!

Mini Donuts

Crepe on a Stick

Everything Sourdough

Food Rating: 9/10

I sampled their Cinnamon Sugar and loved it, which led me to ordering their Maple Bacon donuts! They fry up some high quality donuts because the donuts alone had a nice flavor and were crispy and airy. The maple glaze was just the right amount of sweetness and the bacon bits complimented it well.

Everything Sourdough

Food Rating: 9/10

I was surprised by how this chocolate chip cookie was made with sourdough yet tasted so good! It was thick and had a generous serving of chocolate chips. I recommend trying this cookie and/or their bread!

Bom Bom Donuts

Everything Sourdough

Bom Bom Donuts

Food Rating: 8/10

They had bombolini, an Italian fried donut, at the Oceanside Sunset Market! Their Nutella-filled one brought me back to Florence, where I first tried one. It was delicious! I loved the sugar coating and the Nutella inside.

Beignet Belly

Everything Sourdough

Bom Bom Donuts

Food Rating: 7/10

I wasn’t blown away by the beignets, but it was a satisfying dessert.

Mochinatics

Food Rating: 7/10

The Ube Marbled Cheesecake had a nice Ube flavor. It was a simple and tasty treat!