Looking for restaurants? Our top picks are Rice Chicken, El Pollo Grill Bonita and The Hills Pub, ranked by diner ratings. The full list below updates as menus change.
Discover the top 2 upscale dining experiences
Find upscale soul food restaurants in San Diego. Great soul food food that fits your budget.
San Diego's Upscale Soul Food Destinations
San Diego’s dining scene offers a sophisticated twist on classic comfort through its collection of upscale soul food destinations. These elegant eateries, including local favorites like Dirty Birds Bar and Grill, reimagine traditional American flavors with refined techniques and a polished atmosphere. Whether you are seeking a stylish date night or a high-end weekend brunch, this curated selection highlights the very best of the city’s soulful culinary landscape.
30 restaurants in Best Upscale Soul Food Restaurants in San Diego | Upscale Soul Food Food
- Rice Chicken · rated 5/5: Korean.
- El Pollo Grill Bonita · rated 5/5: Mexican.
- The Hills Pub · rated 4/5: American.
- Ceviche House · rated 4/5: Seafood.
- Soi OB · rated 4/5: Thai.
- Chicken Over Rice Co. · rated 4/5: Middle Eastern.
- Evolution Fast Food · rated 4/5: American.
- Contodo Fresh Mexican Eats · rated 4/5: Mexican.
- Taqueria By El Prieto · rated 4/5: Mexican.
- Filippi's Pizza Grotto Scripps Ranch · rated 4/5: Italian.
- Charley's Famous Hamburgers · rated 4/5: American.
- Main Chick Hot Chicken · rated 3/5: American.
- Dirty Birds Bar and Grill · rated 3/5: American.
- Cafe Pascale Grill & Deli · rated 3/5: American.
- Crazee Burger: American.
- Hash House A Gogo: American.
- Katsu Cafe: Japanese.
- The Curry Club: Indian.
- The Corner Drafthouse: American.
- Shank and Bone: Vietnamese.
- Tajima: Japanese.
- 55 Thai Kitchen: Thai.
- Caffè Calabria: Italian.
- Carnitas' Snack Shack: Mexican.
- The Smoking Gun: American.
- Lolita's Mexican Food: Mexican.
- Ali's Chicken & Waffles: American.
- Hasta Mañana Cantina: Mexican.
- Poncho's Mexican Food: Mexican.
- Bad Hombres Good Mexican Food: Mexican.
How this list is built
Chefi analyzes each restaurant’s menu and tags every dish’s dietary suitability with an ingredient-based engine. Restaurants with at least three matching dishes on their current menu rank first, ordered by diner ratings, with the number of matching dishes breaking ties; owner-verified restaurants are highlighted at the top. Lists refresh as menus and ratings change.
