If you’re looking for a sumptuous keto restaurant in San Diego, you’ll have quite a few outstanding choices – since the locale has been called one of the best new foodie cities in American by Thrillist Travel. In addition, it’s location near the water makes it an ideal place to savor fresh, local seafood, which is definitely on the menu for keto enthusiasts.
What else can you expect to find in this coastal town? The intersection of two culinary styles… California cuisine (with “fresh local ingredients and farm-to-table roots”), and Mexico’s Baja Med cuisine, (a “food revolution that combines traditional Mexican ingredients with those of the Mediterranean”). From amazing burgers to succulent lobster to keto baked goods, you’ll likely find all you’re looking for and more at the keto-friendly restaurants in San Diego!
Get organized beforehand and know what menus are the best to explore… Check out our list of the best keto restaurants in San Diego, below!
If you're looking for quick and easy keto-friendly meals, try our keto starter kit. They can be conveniently substituted for a meal or snack and we've provided tons of keto-friendly recipes to help you on your journey.
1) 100s Seafood Grill Buffet
2828 Camino Del Rio S., San Diego, CA 92108
If you love seafood and you’re looking for a keto restaurant that’s one of the “top 10 must-eat restaurants in San Diego” on Yelp, this is your spot! Reviewers describe this restaurant as “a visually appealing buffet”, which is typically pretty crowded due to its popularity (plan for a potential wait to get in)! However, according to over 1,000 reviews, the food is well worth it! Plus, there’s an incredibly large selection of dishes, (including meats for non-fish eaters).
Keto Menu Highlights: You can’t go wrong with their hot lobster dinner buffet, (which is only available Thursday and Friday nights), and comes with keto-friendly melted butter for dipping. In addition, you can also get fresh keto-friendly fish selections like salmon and tuna, plus choose from over 30 kinds of sushi and rice-free sashimi. There’s also an intriguing meat selection including lamb, chicken, sausage and more.
2) The Protein Plate
2322 Proctor Valley Rd., Chula Vista, CA 91914
This keto-friendly restaurant offers lots of yummy selections for breakfast or brunch, depending on what you’re in the mood for… eggs, salads, spaghetti squash dishes, entrees (with a protein and sides), and even keto-friendly protein shakes! This is honestly a dream locale for anyone wanting to truly dig in while eating out on the keto diet.
Keto Menu Highlights: If you want breakfast, try the Tri-Tip and Eggs – just swap out the carb side for one of their amazing low-carb veggie selections, like sautéed mushrooms, steamed asparagus, steamed broccoli or grilled zucchini. If you want lunch, one reviewer mentioned to check out the meat spaghetti squash plate with homemade roasted marinara sauce, grilled bell peppers and ground turkey topped with parmesan cheese.
3) Lanna Thai Cuisine
4501 Mission Bay Dr., San Diego, CA 92109
When you’re in the mood for Thai food while eating out on the keto diet, this spot allows you to sample some of San Diego’s fresh local seafood. Along with their large selection of ocean dishes, they also serve specialty meat plates with duck, steak or chicken. Reviews also mention that their curry is something special, and is served with your choice of meat, seafood, fish, tofu or assorted veggies.
Keto Menu Highlights: Keto reviewers mention that the wok-prepared entrée of Spicy Green Beans with chicken in red curry is incredible – along with the Summer Salmon fillet topped with Thai mango salsa on fresh baby spinach. Another great keto option is the Island Treasures entrée, which includes a young coconut stuffed with shrimp, squid, mussels, scallop, bell pepper, basil and a creamy curry sauce!
4) Werewolf American Pub
627 4th Ave., San Diego, CA 92101
This keto restaurant is also on Yelps’ top 10 restaurants to try in San Diego list. With a few adjustments to the meals (like removing your burger bun) you can easily indulge at this pub hot-spot. There’s a brunch, evening, and even a late night menu with various options including breakfast plates, burgers, sandwiches, appetizers, salads, tacos and even poki bowls.
Keto Menu Highlight: One of the menu highlights in different food categories is their pork belly – a true keto selection. On the breakfast menu, the pork belly benedict looks outstanding – just replace the potato cake with some bacon. And if you’re in the mood for a burger (sans the bun), the Triple Threat features maple-glazed pork belly, fried egg, greens, garlic aioli tomato and pickles – just swap out the fries for the Brussel sprouts side dish.
5) Havana Grill
5450 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., San Diego, CA 92117
When you’re in the mood for authentic Cuban food while eating out on keto, Havana Grill doesn’t disappoint. If you sub out the black beans and rice for some veggies, there are a number of delicious food plates that you can choose from. Plus, they use the healthiest choices of proteins, such as hormone-free meats, wild salmon, free-range chicken, and grass-fed beef.
Keto Menu Highlights: Try the hormone-free flank steak, seared crispy with sautéed onions and their staple “mojo sauce” – made with classic Cuban olive oil, citrus and garlic – pair it with the roasted veggies or a salad and hold the rice. Or, try the Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon Fillet (just go light on the mango salsa).
6) Low Carb Keto Crave
Have a sweet tooth or craving keto-approved carbs while in the San Diego area? This keto restaurant/bakery will fulfill your cravings for decadent baked goods that won’t kick you out of ketosis. Plus, you don’t even have to go to them… just order online and they will deliver it right to you!
Keto Menu Highlights: The selection at this keto bakery is small but mighty… covering the main breakfast and dessert baked goods you typically crave. Plus, all the items are baked fresh three days a week. Choose between low-carb/keto-friendly everything bagels, chocolate chip cookies, brownies, blueberry or chocolate chip muffins. (Note that the macronutrients and ingredients for each item are listed on the product page)!
Ready to Eat Out On Keto?!
We hope this list of top keto-friendly restaurants in San Diego serves as a great guide to help you along on your culinary adventure in the city! Whether you’re seeking fresh and healthy or slightly indulgent, if you use the list above, you’ll definitely enjoy your meals while staying within your daily macronutrient goals.
Plus, along with helping you find keto restaurants while you’re eating out on the keto diet, we also want to help you when you’re back in your own kitchen. It starts with the 310 Keto Kit – which comes equipped with all the necessities you need to make keto-friendly meal replacement shakes (which taste delicious and are great for sticking to the diet on-the-go)!
In addition, the kit also contains MCT Oil – a keto staple that can make your shakes and all your drinks higher in fat, while helping you get into ketosis. Plus, it also contains a keto recipe book with great ideas for quick, clean keto meals. Check out the Keto Kit today!
Stay tuned for the next 310 City Dining Guide highlighting keto-friendly restaurants in a major US city!
