This is a really great list. Thank you. I know where I'm eating lunch the next few days.

Neighborhood for local draft beers and delicious bistro food.

I noticed Posoleria Dona Maria has a good looking CR, but wasn't in the mood for that today. Not sure if I'll get there again by the end of the month. Just FYI.

Love Tacos el Panson. Should get more buzz. Or.... maybe it's fine as is.

Taco Surf????!!!!!

What a joke of an article. One wonders how they managed to avoid the dozens of better options in San Diego. This author is making zero effort.

Fried chicken

"Mariscos Seven Seas"

Do you mean NINE seas? Or is this new?

Oscar's Mexican Seafood in PB has good seafood tacos. Not as good as the stuff in South county, but you'd have trouble getting there without a car. It's over hyped, but good.

Mariscos German Beyer truck on Imperial is likely the closest honest seafood taco place to the locations you mention.

Blue Water Seafood Market & Grill is close to downtown and has great seafood sandwiches. You'll stand in line there most likely.

The Fishery in PB is a bit more upscale, but has reasonable prices for what you get.

Just as an FYI - If was was taking out of town friends for exactly what you're asking for I'd go to the Mariscos Issac truck in Imperial Beach. But that's way south.

So where is it?

OB - No great cheap ethnic food here. Actually I'm not even sure I've ever eaten a meal there......

PB - Papa Luna's Empanadas on Garnet.

Coronado - Maybe Delux Dogs? Not a lot of cheap and ethnic over there.

Downtown - Kabab Shop, JWok, not sure you want cheap seafood.

Old Town - This is a tourist area. Good and cheap aren't really on the itinerary. I would go to El Patio if I had to eat there. But no should have to eat there.

There are tons of great budget ethnic spots in SD. Just not so much in the places you mention. In my humble opinion.

"March should be devoted to CABs in his honor."

No. No it should not.

I'm done with the taco shop versions BTW. I'll hit El Comal, Rana, and Romescoes for CR this month.

El Jardin Mexican Cuisine in Pacific Beach.

This place used to be Margo's. Definitely a turn for the worse. No more street tacos, no more dual trompos, and a more burrito oriented menu.

Chile relleno was your basic cheese filled battered variety. It came sitting in a tomato sauce which was pretty good. Unfortunately they finished it by pouring on a crazy amount of ice cold crema which smothered all of the flavors. I feel if I'd been served just the hot relleno sitting in the yummy sauce I might have liked it. As it came though (20% crema by volume) it was not to my liking.

It may just be me being extra whiny over wonderful Margo's being replaced with this average CAB place, but I thought the horchata, carnitas, and salsas were also completely forgetable.

Yeah. No idea why you got the fancy plate. I feel even more cheated now.

Okay, this is weird. We may have actually been eating a CR there at the same time. I agree. Very bad. What the hell is that cheese they put inside? Was it actually Velveeta?

Pretty yummy carnitas though. Likely wouldn't come back with the other options in the area. Unless there is some specialty I'm missing?

To offer an actual report - This appeared to be a pre-prepared item. Likely frozen store bought. The chile for this was oddly stringy. Like fibery. it came with very little cheese inside at all, and the cheese it did have tasted like it might be "cheese product". Batter was fine. Sauce was spicy and actually not too bad. This was served on a Styrofoam plate with a plastic fork. The stringiness of the chili made it nearly impossible to eat. I actually sawed through the plate trying to saw through the chile.

Really nice. Fried cheese is delightful. Short rib sopes. Squash blossom tacos. Good agua frescas. Bottled beers. So much to like here. We'll be back.

It looks like a new Tacos El Gordo opening nextdoor? That's weird.

Pork loin sandwich at Wich Addiction. Hard to pick which of their sandwiches is best though. Let your preference guide you.

People saying good things about Puesto is a clear sign they should be shunned. It is possibly the worst abomination of both Mexican food and dining service that is physically possible.

Wich Addiction

The Mariscos German Beyer truck is about a one mile walk, maybe a little less. If you really want to walk that far, it's unique SD eats, and quite good.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/mariscos-germ...

Mariscos trucks.

There is an SDPM website?

Pop's > all.

That sort of bland corporate "Mexican" food is actually hard to find in that area. I'd suggest El Torito Grill or On The Border, but they don't have any of those near the Gaslamp. However, there is a couple faux Mexican places in the Horton Plaza and I'd suggest trying there. The food court is pretty diverse and they have many sit-down restaurants there as well.

While I haven't noticed that Honkman (I also live nearby) I will try Cali. Thanks for the tip.

An old friend asked me for some recommendations, I thought I'd share what I sent them here. They have a car and don't mind driving. Budget not an issue. "Real" food that locals eat is the theme they like.

San Diego has an odd blandness in terms of cuisine. There is plenty of good food here, but no cultural food identity like you have in places like NYC, San Fransisco, New Orleans, Boston, Chicago, Seatle, etc. In general, folks in San Diego eat just to fill their tummy, even when they go out. So don't expect something wild.

Having said that, here are some things locals eat which are absolutely worth trying.

The fish taco is our unofficial city dish. It's nothing fancy, and if I want a really good one I make it myself. But these are good -
Rubio's - It's a huge chain, but they make a tasty fish taco. Other things there are average at best.
Mariscos El Prieto - My personal favorite. Worth the drive, try the marlin tacos too.

The other thing we do well is craft brewing. There are tons of breweries here, and competition breeds quality. Be sure to grab some local craft brews if you see them on tap.

Brew pubs - Be sure to ask for local beer recommendations. All of these have good food and beer.
Blind Lady Ale House
Small Bar
Monkey Paw

Tacos -
Tacos El Paisa - Great place to have some street tacos and beer. I love the al pastor here.
Rudy's Taco Shop - Get the mini-street tacos, especially the carne asada.

Mariscos (Mexican seafood) - I prefer the trucks, but you'll eat standing in a parking lot. Which is fine.
Mariscos German Beyer - Don't let the neighborhood frighten you. Damn good tacos.
Mariscos Isaac - Everything is good here. Nice tacos and ceviche. Try a seafood cocktail.

Banh Mi - Great Vietnamese "to-go" sandwiches. Just get the BBQ pork.
K Sandwiches
Bale French Bakery

Seafood -
Fishery - Upscale.
Blue Water Seafood Market & Grill - There will be a line.

New American -
Urban Solace - Interesting take on classics, quality food.
Cucina Urbana - Suggest reservations.

Food trucks - Best to find a multi-truck event. Check this site for events and locations - http://sdfoodtrucks.com/
My favorites - Super Q Food Truck, Devilicious, New York on Rye.

Others -
Cafe Chloe - Bistro style
Cowboy Star - Upscale steaks.
Linkery - Farm to table.
Blue Ribbon Artisan Pizzeria - Upscale craft beer and pizza.

San Diego has a major craft beer scene as well. There are dozens of great breweries here, and many places will have our craft beers on tap. Be sure to try local beers when you see them. If you aren't familiar with West coast ales, be sure to get some advice from your server.

I seriously doubt anyone will disagree that Little Italy and Gaslamp are over priced, over hyped, and rare to impress. As a local I figure I'll need to drive a long way between good eats here.

It's important to remember, our culinary scene is sort of the opposite of LA and New York. Residents here embrace mediocre food, and penalize risk takers.

Maris's is right next to Robertos. Tiny little place. Right across the street from the rollercoaster.

Maria's Taco Shop has some of my favorite al pastor tacos in San Diego.