11 Must-Try Restaurants in Vista, CA: Where the Vista Locals Eat

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Updated on March 26th, 2024

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Just outside of San Diego you’ll find Vista, CA, a beautiful area filled with parks, hillside views, and a quaint downtown. You’ll also find amazing local restaurants while living in Vista. But if you’ve recently moved to the city or into an apartment in Vista, you may be searching for a few spots to check out to get a taste of the town. Redfin has a list of 11 must-try restaurants in Vista, CA, to visit this year. Let’s dive in.

daffodils and hummingbird in vista ca

#1: Belching Beaver Tavern & Grill 

Cuisine: Brewery and American restaurant
Address: 302 E Broadway, Vista, CA 92084
Belching Beaver Tavern’s Website

Situated in downtown Vista, Belching Beaver Tavern is a great place to have a casual evening with one of their 70 beers on tap or a craft cocktail. And make sure to order some food off their menu whether you’re in the mood for a soft pretzel, brussels sprouts, basil parmesan chicken, fish tacos, or ribeye.

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#2: Curbside Café

Cuisine: Café and American restaurant
Address: 307 Main St, Vista, CA 92084
Curbside Café’s Website

Another must-try restaurant in Vista, CA, is Curbside Café. You’ll find a stellar assortment of local and seasonal dishes at this café, like their famous cinnamon rolls, soup of the day, wraps, salads, and sandwiches with salmon, chicken, or swordfish.

#3: Partake Gastropub

Cuisine: Gastropub and American restaurant
Address: 721 S Santa Fe Ave, Vista, CA 92083 
Partake Gastropub’s Website

Maybe you’re on the hunt for a new pub with wine, beer, and upgraded classics like baked brie, fried pickles, grilled cheese, burgers, shrimp and grits, and apple cobbler? If so, head to Partake Gastropub.

#4: Chin’s Szechwan Restaurant

Cuisine: Chinese restaurant
Address: 600 E Vista Way, Vista, CA 92084
Chin’s Szechwan Restaurant’s Website

Another one of the many restaurants in Vista, CA, you should consider grabbing a bite at is Chin’s Szechwan Restaurant. A Chinese restaurant serving the community since 1984, you can find them dishing out egg rolls, teriyaki chicken, tangerine chicken, and more.

#5: Mama ‘n Papa’s Pizza Grotto

Cuisine: Italian restaurant
Address: 988 Civic Center Dr, Vista, CA 92083
Mama ‘n Papa’s Pizza Grotto’s Website 

Mama ‘n Papa’s Pizza Grotto, Vista’s oldest Italian restaurant, has some awesome options for those looking for an authentic Italian meal. You can order dishes like lasagna, meatball sandwiches, create-your-own pizza, eggplant meatballs, calamari, spumoni, and cannoli.

three people sharing nachos at a table

#6: El Ranchero

Cuisine: Mexican restaurant
Address: 226 Main St, Vista, CA 92084
El Ranchero’s Website

You can find El Ranchero located in the heart of Vista, where you’ll find a great selection of authentic Mexican dishes like nachos, albondigas, tostadas, tacos al carbon, and chimichangas.

#7: Best Pizza & Brew

Cuisine: Brewery and pizzeria
Address: 230 S Santa Fe Ave, Vista, CA 92084
Best Pizza & Brew’s Website

Best Pizza & Brew is a casual brewery and pizza place serving garlic knots, calamari, burrata caprese, spinach and ricotta pizza, buffalo chicken pizza, and meatball sandwiches.

#8: Tortilleria Los Reyes

Cuisine: Mexican restaurant
Address: 218 Main St, Vista, CA 92084
Tortilleria Los Reyes’ Website

You’ll find Tortilleria Los Reyes, a Mexican restaurant and grocery store, where you can pick up fresh produce, corn tortillas, meat, breakfast burritos, sopes, tacos, and house-made salsa.

#9: Mom’s Kitchen

Cuisine: Diner
Address: 124 Hanes Pl, Vista, CA 92084
Mom’s Kitchen’s Website

If you’ve recently moved to Vista and are searching for the city’s oldest diner, you can find that at Mom’s Kitchen. From their famous biscuits and gravy to salmon benedicts, scrambles, omelettes, cinnamon roll pancakes, chicken sandwiches, salads, and burgers, there’s an option to satisfy any craving.

#10: Milk Organics

Cuisine: Café
Address: 210 E Broadway, Vista, CA 92084
Milk Organics’ Website 

Milk Organics is a cozy café where you can find options like smoothies made with home-made plant based milk, smoothie bowls, coffee, breakfast and lunch toasts, bagels, and sandwiches.

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#11: When Pigs Fly BBQ

Cuisine: BBQ joint
Address: 1211 E. Vista Way, Vista, CA 92084
When Pigs Fly BBQ’s Website

When Pigs Fly BBQ is a stellar spot to stop by in Vista. A BBQ joint serving all the classics like pulled pork and chicken, tri-tip, brisket, and spare ribs, and sides like smoked corn, mac and cheese, and potato salad, don’t miss out on this restaurant.

If you are represented by an agent, this is not a solicitation of your business. This article is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for professional advice from a medical provider, licensed attorney, financial advisor, or tax professional. Consumers should independently verify any agency or service mentioned will meet their needs. Learn more about our Editorial Guidelines here.
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Alison Bentley

Alison is part of the content marketing team and enjoys writing about housing affordability and home interior design ideas. Her dream home is a cottage-style house with a chef’s kitchen and a cozy room to store and play vinyl records.

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