With stunning mountain views, beautiful weather, and close proximity to San Diego, there are lots of reasons you might love living in El Cajon. And when it comes to restaurants, El Cajon locals most likely have a favorite spot to eat. But if you’re a new resident or recently rented an apartment in El Cajon, you might be curious about what restaurants to go to for a meal out. Redfin has you covered with a list of 10 must-try restaurants in El Cajon. Find out where the locals go for a bite to eat.
Located in downtown El Cajon, Testo Pepesto Italian Restaurant is a fantastic spot to have a casual Italian meal whether you’re craving bruschetta, Caesar salad, Italian sausage sandwich, lasagna, or tiramisu.
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Serving the community since 1974, Por Favor Mexican Restaurant’s El Cajon location is another option to add to your list of must-visit restaurants. From enchiladas, taquitos rancheros, chile relleno, and Sonora fundido, to enchiladas del mar and buñuelos, there’s plenty to try on their menu.
You can find authentic Philly cheesesteaks without ever having to leave Southern California. At Philly Steak Subs you can order Philly cheesesteak with the works, pastrami and provolone, Philly fries, and veggie subs.
Another one of the many restaurants in El Cajon you should consider grabbing a bite at is Ali Baba Family Restaurant. A Middle Eastern restaurant, you can find their location serving beef, lamb, and chicken kabobs, dolma, marinated lamb shank, falafels, lentil soup, Arabic coffee, and kunafa.
#5: Greek Chicken
Cuisine: Greek restaurant Address: 955 E Main St, El Cajon, CA 92021 Greek Chicken’s Website
Greek Chicken, known for their Greek-style lemon chicken, has plenty of options for those looking for a new spot to try. You can also order gyros, plates, sandwiches, and sides.
Funky Fries and Burgers is a burger joint serving smash burgers, burgers topped with grilled onions, fried eggs, mac and cheese, or avocado, funky fries with a variety of toppings, and jalapeno poppers.
If you’ve recently moved to El Cajon and are searching for a Thai restaurant serving favorites like fresh tofu rolls, tom yum soup, mango chicken curry, catfish delight, and pad see ew, you can find that at Busy B Thai Cafe.
A pizzeria located in the heart of El Cajon, New York Giant Pizza is the perfect place to grab a bite whether you’re looking for a veggie pizza, classic margherita, gluten-free pizza, cheesy breadsticks, or a calzone.
#9: Mal Al Sham
Cuisine: Mediterranean restaurant Address: 388 E Main St, El Cajon, CA 92020 Mal Al Sham’s Website
Mal Al Sham is a fantastic eatery to check out in El Cajon. A Mediterranean restaurant with authentic dishes like tabbouleh, chicken shawarma, falafel sandwich, kibbeh, and mutabal, you’ll find something no matter what you’re craving.
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The tenth restaurant in El Cajon to add to your list is El Cotixan Mexican Food. You can find this spot serving lots of great food and drinks like huevos rancheros, carne asada tortas, carnitas tacos, shrimp enchiladas, and horchata.
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Alison is part of the Content Marketing team as a Content Marketing Specialist. In her 4 years at Redfin, Alison has written a variety of articles ranging from home design tips to housing affordability. A California-native, Alison currently resides in Seattle where you can find her catching a concert or exploring farmers’ markets. Her dream home is a cottage-style house with a chef’s kitchen and a cozy room to store and play vinyl records.