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Food & Wine Stroll in Downtown San Diego

Gaslamp Flavor & History Walking Tour

By Linda Kissam 'Food, Wine & Shopping Diva'

San Diego is a foodie heaven.

Most people think of Mexican Food and fresh fish when they think of Southern California. The city's long history and close proximity to Mexico has blessed the area with an extensive variety of authentic Mexican restaurants, regional homemade specialties, border fare and haute cuisine.

Several chain restaurants made their start in San Diego including  Jack in the Box, Pat & Oscar's, Souplantation (March 1978), Rubio's (1980s), Filippi's Pizza Grotto, Sammy's Woodfired Pizza, Roberto's, Alberto's, and Anthony's Fish Grotto (1950s).  This is the foodie Olympics for sure.

The culture of San Diego, California is influenced heavily by American and Mexican cultures due to its position as a border town, its large Hispanic population, and its history as part of Spanish America and Mexico. However, because of its ethnic and cultural mix, San Diego has a wide range of cuisines; think  Mexican, Italian, French, Spanish, Filipino, Vietnamese, Greek, Latin, German, Indian, Central and East Asian, Middle Eastern and Pacific Islander food throughout the city. In addition, there are numerous seafood restaurants and steakhouses.  San Diego's warm, dry climate and proximity to the ocean also make it a center for fishing and for growing a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. Long a center of the tuna industry, San Diego benefits from an abundant supply of seafood.

Whether you’re a local or a visitor, the next time you’re in the downtown area, experience the fun and flavor of San Diego through a foodie walking tour.  There are several companies to choose from, but my money and recommendation is on Another Side Of San Diego Tours’ 2-hour walking tour ($149) of the unique and eclectic downtown Gaslamp Quarter, one of San Diego's most famous neighborhoods.

Taking a guided stroll through time you’ll admire restored Victorian-era buildings, housing, restaurants, cafes, art galleries, boutiques, shops, nightclubs and more. You’ll love the local fare at three of the tour guide’s favorite San Diego restaurants while immersing yourself in the incredible neighborhood experience. You’ll be trying ample samples of several different cuisines on the tour.  The tour company has taken the time and consumed the calories necessary to find the most unique diners, dives, and mom & pop spots that the Gaslamp district has to offer.  

At the start of your tour your guide will check you in at the tour desk next to Horton Plaza. They offer you a bottle of water and a big smile and off you go on a 1.5 to 2 mile stroll. At each restaurant, you’ll sample the cuisine of the restaurant while learning about its food and history. You can purchase wine or spirits at most places for an extra charge. This was an important component for the group I was in. During the walking portion of the tour, your guide will share interesting facts and stories about the buildings, streets, and culture of San Diego.

The Gaslamp Flavor & History Walking Tour doesn’t go to the fanciest restaurants in San Diego but it does take you to the yummiest places while providing great local scenery.  My tour took me from Italian (The Opera Café) to Mexican (Rockin’ Baja Coastal Cuisine) to the richest gelato shop (Chocolat Cremerie) I’ve ever been to.  I know I was visiting places that are usually only known to locals.  

The tours get a hodgepodge of people, both local and visitors. People who love food, people who love regional architecture, people who want to know more about the San Diego culinary scene, people who love to experience a city by walking and tasting it, people who want to do immerse themselves in a city’s taste and feel.  People who go on foodie tours are the curious, fun loving sort who will gladly walk and chat for two hours. If your friends describe you as “lethargic," or a "picky eater,” or if you have a cast on your foot…then a 2-hour foodie tour is probably not the event you.  Plus, your fellow tour goers are likely to roll their eyes and talk behind your back a lot.

San Diego is a pretty casual place when it comes to fashion, so don’t feel like you have to dress up. Come as you are.  Dress in looser threads – and definitely no prom shoes, keeping in mind you’ll be casually strolling for about 2 miles/ 2hours total. Go ahead and wear your favorite statement t-shirt from a local tourist shop or you home town.  Be who you need to be.

Once you take one tour, you’re likely to want more.  The good news is that you can take more than one tour and not visit the same restaurant or area twice because this company has a variety of tours like the famous Gaslamp Segway® Tours, Coronado Segway® Tours, and La Jolla Segway® Tours.  You can also sign up for a variety of other experiences: Helicopter Tours, Horseback Riding Tours, Hot Air Balloon Flights, Sightseeing Tours, Sailing Tours, Kayaking Tours, and Hiking Tours.  Pretty much if you can think of it, they’ll sell it to you.

So…why not put on your most outrageous t-shirt, slap on your sun hat, pull on some hiking shoes and I’ll see YOU soon on one of the year-round tours. That Coronado Segway® Tours is calling my name.  Not sure how much longer I can last before I hop on that bad boy.

Linda Kissam ‘Food, Wine & Shopping Diva' is a professional travel, food and wine writer based out of Southern California. Through her websites www.WineChixs.com  and www.AllinGoodTaste.info  she specializes in easy, breezy destination stories sharing her favorite things about the places she visits.