Highest-rated Italian restaurants in San Diego by diners

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February 10, 2025
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Highest-rated Italian restaurants in San Diego by diners

It's no surprise that, in most countries, traditional national cuisine is the most popular, according to a . But Italian food isn't just top-rated in Italy鈥攊t ranks as the second-most popular cuisine in Germany and France and takes the bronze spot in the U.K., Mexico, and India as well.

Of course, it's also among Americans' favorites鈥攁nd there's lots to love about it. Just thinking about dishes like chicken Parmesan and spaghetti and meatballs is enough to get your mouth watering, even though many of these world-famous dishes are actually more so than true Italian fare. Traditional Italian food embraces an assortment of sumptuous recipes that aren't dependent on fried breadcrumbs and red sauce鈥攖hink frittatas and focaccia, or carpaccio and panna cotta.

Italian immigrants have been weaving their cuisine into the fabric of the American food landscape for generations since they arrived in the United States nearly 150 years ago. And the cuisine, like the culture it hails from, tends to give off warm and fuzzy "family" feelings. For many people, the quintessential local Italian American restaurant鈥攃omplete with its red-and-white checkered tablecloths, pour bottles of olive oil, Parmesan cheese shakers, cute little jars of red pepper flakes, and wicker baskets of oven-fresh bread鈥攂rings back memories of special life moments, like first dates and milestone birthdays.

Luckily, today you don't need to be in a major metropolis like New York or Los Angeles or an area with a large Italian or Italian American community to score top-notch buon cibo. You can find excellent Italian offerings in almost every city from coast to coast. To celebrate all things mozzarella and marinara, compiled a list of the highest-rated Italian restaurants in San Diego based on diners' reviews on as of January 2025.

Read on to see if your favorite is among the top-rated or to find a new spot in your neighborhood.

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#30. Elvira

- Rating: 4.4/5 (233 reviews)
- Address: 4996 West Point Loma Blvd. San Diego, California
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Coffee & Tea
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#29. Basta!

- Rating: 4.4/5 (146 reviews)
- Address: 555 West Date St. Suite B San Diego, California
- Categories: Italian, Cocktail Bars, Breakfast & Brunch
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#28. Buona Forchetta

- Rating: 4.4/5 (3643 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3001 Beech St. San Diego, California
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
-

#27. Baci Restaurant

- Rating: 4.4/5 (531 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1955 Morena Blvd. San Diego, California
- Categories: Italian, Seafood
-

#26. Ristorante Illando

- Rating: 4.4/5 (3100 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1825 India St. San Diego, California
- Categories: Italian
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#25. Roman Wolves

- Rating: 4.5/5 (388 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1980 Kettner Blvd. Ste 10 San Diego, California
- Categories: Italian, Bars
-

#24. Cucina Basilico

- Rating: 4.5/5 (840 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3755 Murphy Canyon Road San Diego, California
- Categories: Italian
-

#23. Enoteca Adriano

- Rating: 4.5/5 (1432 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4864 Cass St. San Diego, California
- Categories: Italian
-

#22. Scuderie Italia

- Rating: 4.5/5 (528 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1525 Garnet Ave. San Diego, California
- Categories: Italian, Pizza
-

#21. Cori Pastificio Trattoria

- Rating: 4.5/5 (567 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2977 Upas St. San Diego, California
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars
-

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#20. Piacere Mio - South Park

- Rating: 4.5/5 (2124 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1947 Fern St. San Diego, California
- Categories: Italian
-

#19. Ambrogio15

- Rating: 4.5/5 (774 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 926 Turquoise St. Ste H San Diego, California
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Wine Bars
-

#18. IL Posto

- Rating: 4.5/5 (319 reviews)
- Address: 2145 Fern St. San Diego, California
- Categories: Italian
-

#17. Postino Del Mar

- Rating: 4.6/5 (252 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3745 Paseo Place Ste 800 San Diego, California
- Categories: Wine Bars, Italian
-

#16. Parma Cucina Italiana

- Rating: 4.6/5 (1244 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3850 5th Ave. San Diego, California
- Categories: Italian, Seafood, Wine Bars
-

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#15. Pesto Italian Craft Kitchen

- Rating: 4.6/5 (726 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1652 Camino Del Rio North San Diego, California
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Salad
-

#14. RustiCucina

- Rating: 4.6/5 (1227 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3797 Park Blvd. San Diego, California
- Categories: Italian, Cocktail Bars
-

#13. Cacio e Pepe Trattoria Romana

- Rating: 4.6/5 (172 reviews)
- Address: 2835 University Ave. San Diego, California
- Categories: Italian, Breakfast & Brunch, Cocktail Bars
-

#12. Ciccia Osteria

- Rating: 4.6/5 (648 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2233 Logan Ave. San Diego, California
- Categories: Italian, Vegan, Gluten-Free
-

#11. Oltre Mare

- Rating: 4.6/5 (601 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4286 Cass St. San Diego, California
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Seafood
-

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#10. Monzu Fresh Pasta

- Rating: 4.7/5 (847 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 455 Tenth Ave. San Diego, California
- Categories: Italian, Pasta Shops, Salad
-

#9. Cucina Caprese

- Rating: 4.7/5 (420 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3545 Midway Drive Ste East San Diego, California
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
-

#8. Osteria Cotto e Mangiato

- Rating: 4.7/5 (441 reviews)
- Address: 702 Ash St. San Diego, California
- Categories: Italian, Tapas Bars
-

#7. Postino Little Italy

- Rating: 4.7/5 (183 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2100 Kettner Blvd. Ste 1800 San Diego, California
- Categories: Wine Bars, Italian
-

#6. RoVino Restaurant + Bar

- Rating: 4.7/5 (1211 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2034 Kettner Blvd. San Diego, California
- Categories: Italian, Coffee & Tea, Cocktail Bars
-

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#5. Tavola Nostra Pizzeria e Cucina

- Rating: 4.7/5 (622 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1040 University Ave. Ste B101 San Diego, California
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
-

#4. Siamo Napoli

- Rating: 4.7/5 (1865 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3959 30th St. San Diego, California
- Categories: Italian, Vegan, Pizza
-

#3. Cesarina

- Rating: 4.7/5 (2970 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 4161 Voltaire St. Ste B San Diego, California
- Categories: Italian, Cocktail Bars
-

#2. Carbon

- Rating: 4.8/5 (118 reviews)
- Address: 2318 30th St. San Diego, California
- Categories: Modern European, Italian, Wine Bars
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#1. Vinarius Wine Bar & Restaurant

- Rating: 4.8/5 (595 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1445 India St. San Diego, California
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars, Pasta Shops
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This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jennifer Huizen, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 290 metros.

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