6 Best Mission Beach Restaurants

Mission Beach’s coastal vibe isn’t limited to an exquisite beach, a boardwalk, and Giant Dipper roller coaster. It’s got an eclectic food scene with appeal to all ages and tastes—from innovative sushi and outrageous burgers and fries to an old-school steakhouse, boardwalk donuts and stuffed churros and Caribbean steak and eggs.

Here are some of the best Mission Beach restaurants that you need to visit. Think fun eats!

1. Cannonball

Can’t bear to part with the ocean?

Cannonball at Belmont Park’s rooftop terrace gives you a 180° close-up view that you can dreamily gaze at while munching on a wide choice of sushi rolls, including the Baja Bound—tuna, avocado, seabass, serrano, habanero sauce, and marinated salmon roe. Or enjoy Baked Blue Crab Dip, Charred Bok Choy, or a Whole Fried Fish.

Adults can hit the bar for sake, beer and seltzers, wines, and a fun collection of specialty cocktails.

Insider Tip: Ask your server about intriguing off-the-menu specialties.

• Open for lunch and dinner daily, with M-F happy hour
• 3146 Mission Blvd.
• 858-488-1549
• Parking: There’s a large parking lot—but depending on the time of day and season, you may be competing with beachgoers.
• www.belmontpark.com/restaurants-san-diego-ca/cannonball

2. Dockside 1953

With Dockside 1953 it’s (almost) all about local seafood from local fishmongers. Set in the legendary Bahia Resort, which opened in 1953, the restaurant has plenty of bayside tables to take in the water and marina.

Catch the sunrise with a Shrimp Cocktail spiked with Chipotle Cocktail Sauce for breakfast or take a lunch break from the beach with choices including a poke bowl, ale-battered local whitefish fish tacos, or a Drugstore Burger with herb garlic fries.

In the evening, cozy up by a fire pit with seasonal craft cocktails, draft beers, and wine and Champagne.

Insider tip: Don’t miss the Crab Cakes with Spicy Remoulade. The dish was featured in the 2024 cookbook San Diego Cooks.

• Open daily all day, with breakfast starting at 7 a.m. Check the website for times for each meal service. Bar opens at 11:30 a.m.
• 998 West Mission Bay Dr.
• 858-488-0551
• Parking: There’s free self-parking for guests, as well as valet parking.
• www.bahiahotel.com/dockside-1953

3. Moe’s

If you dined at the iconic Saska’s Steak & Seafood back in the days before the pandemic, well, a new steakhouse is in its place. Moe’s named after the new owner’s beloved grandfather, still retains a traditional red Naugahyde steakhouse charm, but with an updated menu—a steakhouse for the ‘20s.

But it’s not so updated that you can’t indulge in classic hand-cut filet mignon, aged bone-in NY strip, prime ribeye, along with, say, a salt-crusted baked potato. Pair them with a classic martini or tropical cocktails.

Insider Tip: If steak’s not your thing, but Italian is, Moe’s has an array of pasta dishes like lobster carbonara and cacio e pepe, as well as lemon pepper calamari.

• Open daily starting at 4 p.m.
• 3768 Mission Blvd.
• 858-488-7311
• Parking: Look for street parking, but there are also two paid parking lots close by: one across the street and another a block north of the restaurant. Also check the lot at Santa Clara Point.
• moesmissionbeach.com

4. Molly’s

The folks at Moe’s know how to keep it in the family. Have a steak at dinner and return in the morning next door for breakfast at Molly’s.

On a gorgeous day, go up to the rooftop patio furnished with décor the owner shipped in from Tulum—you know, that very on-point Mexican beach town. Or stay downstairs and lounge on their patio.

Start with breakfast and sip a cup of coffee from house-roasted beans while munching on a croissant that is part of Molly’s in-house pastry program. Or opt for a rich shakshouka or seasoned avocado toast with a roasted tomato, broken lemon vinaigrette, and feta.

Lunch has salads and sandwiches and dinner features salads, a charcuterie board, and pasta like Pesto Campanelle with tiger prawns. And for dessert, how about Double Chocolate Caramel Mousse Cake?

Insider Tip: Because Molly’s roasts their own sustainably sourced beans, you can take home bags of any of their three roasts.

• Open daily, starting at 7:30 a.m.
• 3770 Mission Blvd.
• 858-301-6313
• Parking: Like Moe’s, there’s street parking but nearby there are also two paid parking lots: one across the street and another a block north. Also check the lot at Santa Clara Point.
• www.mollysmissionbeach.com

5. Miss B’s Coconut Club

This is the tiki tropical getaway you don’t need to board a plane for in north Mission Beach. And there’s always something going on, whether it’s speed dating, Paint & Sip with a complementary piña colada, or Havana Good Time Fridays with steel drums and rum tastings.

All with a Caribbean beat, including the drinks. Some arrive in pineapple mugs, shareable flamingo-shaped punch bowls, or even a treasure chest.

And, of course, there’s the food. Try a coconut rum breakfast burrito or French toast at brunch. Snack on Coconut Seafood Ceviche or Lechon Asado Fries throughout the day. Of course, there’s an El Cubano Sandwich, but also Coconut Curry Cheese Ravioli.

Hit the open-air bar for a frozen coconut margarita, a Puff Puff Passion, Tortuga Heater, or any of 20 local and microbrew tap handles, along with kombucha.

Insider Tip: Bring your pup. Miss B’s is dog-friendly!

• Open daily but check times
• 3704 Mission Blvd.
• 858-923-5503
• Parking: Street parking but there is a small public lot two blocks north.
• www.missbcoconutclub.com

6. Rosemarie’s

It’s unlikely you’ve ever seen sliders like the ones at Rosemarie’s. Come to think of it, the loaded fries are pretty insane, too.

Going for beef? Make it wagyu with the oh-so gooey Little Sal smothered in onion confit and bacon whiskey sauce. Or try the fried chicken thigh in the Bombay Hot Chicken—all about the duck fat curry and pickled veggies. Skip the cow and the bird and have a multi-level fried eggplant slider with Korean BBQ sauce and pickled cabbage.

No slider is complete without fries—or onion rings. The hand-cut Blue Cheese Bacon Fries are the ultimate more is more side. And, hey, you’re in SoCal; indulge in the Spicy Elote Fries. Then wash it all down with an ale, lager or a michelada—unless you want a mimosa. Say, a P.O.G., made with passionfruit, orange, and guava juice?

Insider Tip: Craving a Nashville Hot Chicken sandwich? Rosemarie’s made the Yelp list, rising above those in Nashville’s hot chicken restaurants.

• Open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• 3852 Mission Blvd.
• 858-999-0233
• Parking: Street parking, but also look for free and paid lots nearby.
• rosemariesburgers.com

Top photo credit: Diana Rose for Cannonball. A previous version of this article was published in 2019 and written by Darlene Horn.