Table Of Top Keto-Friendly Restaurants in San Diego
This condensed table includes the restaurant name, address, and contact number for quick scanning and referencing.
| Restaurant Name | Address | Contact Number |
|---|---|---|
| 100’s Seafood Grill Buffet | 2828 Camino del Rio S | 619-906-4886 |
| Lanna Thai Cuisine | 4501 Mission Bay Dr #1B | 858-274-8424 |
| Werewolf American Pub | 627 4th Ave | 619-234-0094 |
| Havana Grill | 5450 Clairemont Mesa Blvd | 858-430-6878 |
| Tocaya Organica | 4301 La Jolla Village Dr | 858-333-7920 |
| Meze Greek Fusion | 345 Sixth Ave | 691-550-1600 |
| Kettner Exchange | 2001 Kettner Blvd | 619-255-2001 |
| The Butcher Cut | 644 Fifth Avenue | 619-235-8144 |
| Point Loma Cafe | 4865 N Harbor Drive | 619-226-0255 |
| Crest Café | 425 Robinson Ave | 619-295-2510 |
Are you tired of looking for restaurants that are offering low-carb dishes? Do you dream of eating out without worrying about getting kicked out of ketosis? Lucky for you, San Diego, CA is the best city to do that! Considered one of the best new food cities in America, you can indeed find a place to satisfy your cravings, even if you’re on the keto diet! Here’s even better news: we already researched for you! Below you can find some of the best keto-friendly San Diego restaurants.
Introduction to Keto Diet and its Popularity
The keto diet, short for ketogenic, is a low-carb, high-fat diet that has gained immense popularity for its potential to aid in weight loss and boost energy levels.
By drastically reducing carbohydrate intake, the body enters a state of ketosis, where it burns fat for energy instead of glucose. As more people adopt this lifestyle, the demand for keto-friendly dining options has surged.
Benefits of Following a Keto Diet
Before we explore San Diego’s keto restaurant scene, let’s quickly highlight the benefits of following a keto diet.
Aside from weight loss, keto diets can improve mental focus, stabilize blood sugar levels, and enhance heart health. With these advantages in mind, it’s no wonder that individuals are seeking ways to stick to their keto regimen while enjoying the city’s culinary offerings.
Growing Demand for Keto-Friendly Restaurants
The growing demand for keto-friendly restaurants has ignited a culinary revolution, prompting chefs and restaurateurs to innovate and craft menus that cater to this specific dietary preference.
San Diego, with its health-conscious population, has embraced this trend wholeheartedly, giving rise to a variety of keto-friendly dining establishments.
Top Keto Restaurants in San Diego
Your search is finally over! Here are some of the best San Diego restaurants where you can enjoy delicious low-carb dishes that will satisfy your cravings the keto way! (*)
Table of Keto Menu Recommendations
| Restaurant Name | Editor’s Keto Menu Recommendations |
|---|---|
| 100’s Seafood Grill | – Hot Lobster Dinner Buffet – Rice-free Sashimi |
| Lanna Thai Cuisine | – Sa-Tay – Citrus Sea Bass |
| Werewolf American | – KISS Burger – Grilled Garlic Ginger Wings |
| Havana Grill | – Vaca Frita – The Hemingway |
| Tocaya Organica | – Keto Bowl – Protein Bowl |
| Meze Greek Fusion | – Solomos – Souvlaki (Greek Kabob) |
| Kettner Exchange | – Grilled Hamachi – Spicy Shrimp |
| The Butcher Cut | – USDA Prime Steaks |
| Point Loma Cafe | – California Tuna Salad |
| Crest Café | – Sunrise Salmon – Black and Blue Burger |
1. 100’s Seafood Grill Buffet
- Address: 2828 Camino del Rio S
- Contact Number: 619-906-4886
- Website: https://100sbuffet.com/
Opening Hours:
- Mondays, Wednesdays to Fridays: 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Tuesdays: Closed
- Saturdays and Sundays: 12:00 Pm – 9:00 PM
This restaurant’s claim-to-fame is they offer the best seafood buffets in San Diego. The good news is their offerings are not just about quality but quantity as well, so you can definitely make the most out of their all-you-can-eat buffet offering!
How to Order: Their buffet includes teppanyaki, seafood, sushi, grilled meats, hot dishes, desserts, salad, and fruit. Take advantage of their teppanyaki, seafood, hot dishes, and grilled meats offerings, but shy away from sushi, desserts, salad, and fruit.
Editor’s Recommendation on Their Keto Menu
- Hot Lobster Dinner Buffet – Enjoy fresh lobsters that will certainly satisfy your seafood cravings. The good news is the restaurant also offers keto-friendly dipping sauce!
- Rice-free Sashimi – Here’s a low-carb alternative for when you’re craving nigiri, but you want to stick to your diet.
2. Lanna Thai Cuisine
- Address: 4501 Mission Bay Dr #1B
- Contact Number: 858-274-8424
- Website: https://lannathaicuisine.com/
- Opening Hours: Daily: 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Step into this restaurant, and you’ll feel as if you’ve traveled to Thailand already! It has incredible interiors plus an authentic Thai menu that you can enjoy even while on the keto diet!
How to Order: No matter how tempting these dishes are, shy away from their wontons, egg rolls, noodles, and fried rice.
Editor’s Recommendation on Their Keto Menu
- Sa-Tay – Their grilled chicken is the best way to start your meal. These flavorful skewers are marinated in Thai spices. To further satisfy your taste buds, it also comes with peanut sauce and cucumber dip.
- Citrus Sea Bass – Steamed Chilean Sea Bass is served with broccoli and cabbage sautéed in lime sauce with minced garlic and cilantro.
Read: Low-Carb Thai Food Options: What to Eat and Avoid On Keto!
3. Werewolf American Pub
- Address: 627 4th Ave
- Contact Number: 619-234- 0094
- Website: http://www.thewerewolf.net/
Opening Hours:
- Sundays to Wednesdays: 8:00 Am- 3:00 PM
- Thursdays: 8:00 Am – 12:00 AM
- Fridays and Saturdays: 8:00 Am – 2:00 AM
This hip-and-happening pub is included in Yelp’s top 10 must-try pubs in San Diego. They offer different menus for brunch, evening, and even late-night menus.
How to Order: To be honest, there are only a few dishes in this restaurant that can be considered as true keto selections. While their menu is packed with carb-rich dishes like burgers, tacos, and sandwiches, you can quickly turn those into low-carb dishes by ditching the buns and breads.
Editor’s Recommendation on Their Keto Menu
- KISS Burger – This burger features their famous ½ lb beef patty topped with green onions, pickles, greens, tomatoes, and house sauce. Ask them to hold the buns. If you’re on strict keto, skip the pickles, tomatoes, and sauce as well.
- Grilled Garlic Ginger Wings – These are perfectly grilled chicken wings seasoned with garlic and ginger. It also comes with dojo sauce. Skip the sauce to minimize the carbs.
Fun Fact: Even fast-food chains have hopped on the keto bandwagon, offering bunless burgers, lettuce-wrapped sandwiches, and other creative alternatives. Casual dining spots have also incorporated keto-friendly options into their menus, allowing diners to enjoy social gatherings without compromising their dietary goals.
4. Havana Grill
- Address: 5450 Clairemont Mesa Bldv. Suite G
- Contact Number: 858-430- 6878
- Website: https://www.havanagrillrestaurants.com/
- Opening Hours: Daily: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Grilled meats are the best food options if you’re on keto. And there are no other establishments that will offer the best-grilled meat selection than an authentic Cuban grill like Havana Grill.
The best thing about this grill is they use the healthiest protein sources like grass-fed beef, hormone-free meats, wild salmon, and free-range chicken.
How to Order: Just replace the carb-rich sides (rice, black beans, and sweet plantains) with a vegetable side dish.
Keto Tip: Don’t be afraid to ask for substitutions or modifications to suit your keto preferences. Most restaurants are more than willing to accommodate requests, such as swapping carb-heavy sides for vegetables or requesting sauces on the side.
Editor’s Recommendation on Their Keto Menu
- Vaca Frita – Satisfy your meaty cravings with this shredded hormone-free flank steak seared crispy and topped with sautéed onions and their trademark mojo sauce.
- The Hemingway – Enjoy a surf and turf meal with The Hemingway, which features a perfectly grilled Australian grass-fed beef topped with wild-caught Gulf shrimp and herm chimichurri.
5. Tocaya Organica
- Address: 4301 La Jolla Village Dr
- Contact Number: 858-333-7920
- Website: https://tocaya.com/
- Opening Hours: Daily: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Tocaya Organica is famous for offering Modern Mexican cuisines known for their bold flavors and healthy and high-quality local ingredients. Their menu is so versatile that they can accommodate different lifestyles, including vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free.
How to Order: If you plan on ordering their salads, make sure to skip the carb-heavy ingredients like tortilla strips, corn, black beans, quinoa, and many more. Also, you can enjoy their bowls if you skip the rice.
Keto Tip: When dining out on keto, it’s important to approach menus strategically. Focus on protein-rich options, embrace healthy fats, and steer clear of high-carb temptations. Many menus now include specific keto indicators, making your choices easier.
Editor’s Recommendation on Their Keto Menu
- Keto Bowl – This bowl is made up of everything keto compatible, and this bowl includes Spanish-style cauliflower rice with sautéed peppers, avocado, black olives, jalapeno cabbage, and Arbol salsa.
- Protein Bowl – Here’s another bowl to add to your list. The Protein Bowl comprises Spanish-style cauliflower rice topped with scrambled eggs, sautéed mushrooms, poblano peppers, tomatillo salsa, and black beans. Don’t forget to skip the beans.
6. Meze Greek Fusion
- Address: 345 Sixth Ave
- Contact Number: 691-550- 1600
- Website: https://gaslampmeze.com/
Opening Hours:
- Mondays to Wednesdays: 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Thursdays to Sundays: 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM
The menu of Meze is a fusion between Greek cuisine and Southern Californian flavors. As a result, the restaurant is the home to modern Greek dishes that can satisfy both vegetarians and carnivores—and even people on keto!
How to Order:
Just hold or shy away from pita bread, breaded meats and seafood, pastas, and potato side dishes.
Editor’s Recommendation on Their Keto Menu
Solomos
This rice dish comes with a salmon filet that’s stuffed with feta and spinach and served with butter, lemon caper sauce, and grilled asparagus on the side. Make sure to skip the rice pilaf.
Souvlaki (Greek Kabob)
Grilled and marinated Filet Mignon or Chicken served with tzatziki sauce, sautéed vegetables, and rice pilaf. But, again, skip the rice pilaf.
7. Kettner Exchange
- Address: 2001 Kettner Blvd
- Contact Number: 619-255-2001
- Website: https://www.kettnerexchange.com/
Opening Hours:
- Mondays: closed
- Tuesdays to Thursdays: 5:00 PM – 12:00 AM
- Fridays: 5:00 PM – 1:00 AM
- Saturdays and Sundays: 11:00 AM – 1:00 AM
The beautiful 2-story building is the home to some of the most innovative dishes in San Diego. Their award-winning chef is famous for whipping up progressive American cuisines.
How to Order: It’s better to check out the restaurant in the evening as their dinner menu offers more keto-friendly options than their brunch menu.
Editor’s Recommendation on Their Keto Menu
- Grilled Hamachi – This is served with shiitake, Brussels, mustard miso, and crispy onion.
- Spicy Shrimp – Enjoy your favorite seafood with arugula, frisee, shiitake, and chipotle aioli on the side.
8. The Butcher Cut
- Address: 644 Fifth Avenue
- Contact Number: 619-235-8144
- Website: https://www.butcherscutsteakhouse.com/
- Opening Hours: Daily: 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM
This popular meat spot is the home to various meat dishes made using high-quality local beef and lamb. You can enjoy your favorite meat dishes in a beautiful rustic setting.
How to Order: Almost all of their meals are keto compatible. Just watch out for the usual suspects—rice, potatoes, and pastas.
Editor’s Recommendation on Their Keto Menu
USDA Prime Steaks: Some of the choices that you have are center-cut filet, center-cut New York, bone-in ribeye, T-bone, Prime Porterhouse, Sirloin Steak, and Tomahawk. These are served a la carte.
Shrimp Cocktail: It comes with olives and horseradish cocktail sauce.
9. Point Loma Cafe
- Address: 4865 N Harbor Drive
- Contact Number: 619-226-0255
- Website: http://www.pointlomacafe.com/
Opening Hours:
- Mondays: 6:00 AM – 1:30 PM
- Tuesdays to Sundays: 6:00 AM – 1:30 PM, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
This is the café to go to if you’re craving the classic American dishes. They also offer daily specials too which feature some of their creations.
How to Order: – Skip the breakfast menu as it’s packed with carb-rich dishes. For their lunch and dinner menu, go for salads or bunless burgers and breadless sandwiches.
Editor’s Recommendation on Their Keto Menu
- California Tuna Salad – The Albacore tuna salad comes with mixed greens, avocado, cucumber, tomato wedges, mushrooms, carrots, hardboiled eggs, and tomato wedges.
- Black and Blue Burger – The burger comes with a chili-rubbed hamburger patty, applewood bacon, melted bleu cheese, tomato, lettuce, pickled red onion, and garlic aioli. Skip the bun.
10. Crest Café
- Address: 425 Robinson Ave
- Contact Number: 619- 295- 2510
- Website: https://crestcafe.com/
- Opening Hours: Daily: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Its bright blue and pink color scheme will catch your attention, but its classic American dishes will capture your heart.
How to Order: Their salads, omelets, and burgers are your best bets!
Editor’s Recommendation on Their Keto Menu
- Sunrise Salmon – Considered one of their best omelets, this features a scrambled egg with freshly grilled salmon, red onions, chives, and capers. Skip the toast selections and opt for cottage cheese and sliced Roma tomatoes.
Final Words
All these amazing keto-friendly restaurants in San Diego prove that it’s is one of the best foodie cities in the US. Thanks to the inclusive menu of these dining establishments, you can eat out without having to worry about getting kicked out of ketosis.
All you need to do is choose from any of the restaurants listed above, and don’t forget to follow our tips and try our fantastic recommendations!
FAQs about Keto Restaurants in San Diego
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