National City

National City is where San Diego’s Filipino community built something remarkable. Along Plaza Boulevard and Highland Avenue, in strip malls and modest storefronts, you’ll find some of the best Filipino food on the West Coast — crispy pata that shatters at the touch of a fork, sinigang so sour and rich it’ll cure whatever ails you, and bakeries turning out mamon and ensaymada that transport you to Manila.

Most San Diego visitors never make it to National City. That’s their loss. I discovered this neighborhood through a Filipino co-worker 20 years ago who insisted I try Tita’s Kitchenette. I’ve been coming back ever since, working my way through a food scene that’s as authentic and affordable as anything in the city.

National City sits between downtown San Diego and Chula Vista, hugging the eastern shore of San Diego Bay. It’s a working-class community, predominantly Filipino and Latino, with a bayfront that’s undergoing a transformation. Pepper Park already offers stunning views across the bay to Coronado and downtown. The planned bayfront development will add restaurants, shops, and a waterfront promenade. But the real draw — the food — has been here for decades.

What Makes National City Different?

National City is San Diego’s most underrated food destination. The Filipino restaurant scene here is dense, authentic, and extraordinarily affordable. Where else can you feed two people a feast of lechon, lumpia, and pancit for under $25? The community that built these restaurants came from the Philippines — many via the U.S. Navy, which has a long history in National City — and the food reflects genuine home cooking, not a watered-down American interpretation.

The multicultural food scene extends beyond Filipino. You’ll find excellent Mexican restaurants, Vietnamese pho shops, and Korean BBQ along the main corridors. It’s the most diverse food scene in South Bay, and prices are a fraction of what you’d pay anywhere north of downtown.

The bayfront is National City’s emerging asset. Pepper Park sits on the bay with views of Coronado Bridge, the downtown skyline, and Navy ships. It’s peaceful, uncrowded, and beautiful at sunset. The ongoing bayfront development will eventually connect this waterfront to trails and amenities, but right now the park is a quiet gem.

Where to Eat in National City?

Tita’s Kitchenette — The crown jewel of National City’s Filipino food scene. Crispy pata ($18, feeds 2-3), sinigang na baboy ($14), and kare-kare ($15) that would make any lola proud. The portions are enormous and the flavors are authentic. Cash preferred. Small space, big heart.

Seafood City Supermarket — A Filipino supermarket with an incredible prepared food counter. Lechon kawali, pancit canton, lumpia shanghai — all fresh and under $10 per plate. The bakery section has ube pandesal and leche flan. It’s a cultural experience even if you’re just browsing the aisles.

Goldilocks Bakeshop & Restaurant — Filipino bakery institution with fresh bread, cakes, and a hot food section serving full meals ($8-14). The halo-halo (shaved ice dessert, $6) is essential on a warm day. Multiple locations, but the National City one feels most authentic.

Manila Fast Food — Breakfast tapsilog (garlic rice, fried egg, marinated beef, $10) is the reason to come. Quick, cheap, and exactly what Filipinos eat for breakfast. Open early, cash preferred.

Phở Hòa — Vietnamese chain but the National City location is excellent. Large bowls of phở ($12-14) that are rich, fragrant, and filling. A good counterpoint to the Filipino spots.

What to Do in National City?

Is Pepper Park Worth Visiting?

Yes — especially at sunset. The park sits on National City’s bayfront with unobstructed views across the bay to Coronado, the bridge, and the downtown skyline. Picnic tables, a small beach, and a boat launch. Bring food from one of the Filipino restaurants and eat with a view that rivals any waterfront in the city. Free, free parking, and almost nobody there.

What About the Mile of Cars?

National City’s Mile of Cars on National City Boulevard is one of the oldest auto dealer rows in California — a mid-century automotive strip that’s more historical curiosity than tourist destination. If you’re into car culture or mid-century signage, it’s worth a drive-through.

Is There a Food Tour?

Not a formal one, but create your own: Start at Seafood City for lechon and lumpia, walk to Tita’s Kitchenette for sinigang, and finish at Goldilocks for halo-halo and ensaymada. Three stops, under $30, and you’ve eaten some of the best Filipino food outside the Philippines.

Scott’s Pro Tips

National City won’t win any awards for scenery or nightlife. What it offers is something rarer: one of the most authentic and affordable food scenes in Southern California, built by a community that brought its recipes from 7,000 miles away and kept them honest. Come hungry, bring cash, and prepare to discover a side of San Diego that the tourist brochures completely ignore.