San Diego Comic-Con is an overwhelming onslaught of awesome. During the event nerds are often so mesmerized that they forget to eat. Food can be a tricky proposition during the show, so here is the second installment of tips from Eat Your Comics, focused on helping you eat like a king during the show.



Don't Eat Convention Center Food

Through the San Diego Convention Center you'll find vendors selling overpriced food from stands. My first year at Comic-Con I survived on nothing but pretzel hotdogs and Diet Coke, and I dealt with the hideous heartburn that accompanied such a diet. Not only is the food bad for your digestive system, it is also extremely overpriced. The rest of these tips will show you how to get a great meal outside of the Center.

Your Hotel is a Good Place to Start

The closer you stay to the Convention Center, the more likely you are in a well-stocked hotel. Many of these hotels have cafe-style restaurants with grab-and-go meals that are perfect for your time in the Convention Center. This is especially important for breakfast, when you're trying to rush to get in line for Hall H or that panel you're just dying to see. Grab your grub and eat it in line.

Pack Snack Bags

My wife is a genius. She suggested that I take my own food to Comic-Con and has been packing fantastic snack bags for me ever since. This means I can throw a bag of snacks in my pack and munch on them throughout the day. To get the most of out your snack bags, pack many individually-wrapped snacks into a larger 1-quart Ziploc bag. I recommend trail-mix style bags of nuts, cheese or peanut butter crackers, dried cranberries or blueberries, and protein bars. Don't bring anything that stinks or is messy, unless you want a nerd fistfight to break out over your tuna salad. Also, don't be a bloody slob; if you bring a wrapper in with you, take it out with you.

Ralph's is a Convention-Goer's Dream

Just a few blocks away from the Convention Center, in the heart of the Gaslamp district, is Ralph's, a grocery store that has become adept at catering to the needs of your fellow Con attendees. Forget to pack a toothbrush or deodorant? Stop in a Ralph's (please do us all the favor, seriously). Need to grab a snack for the day? Ralph's shines at packing grab-and-go meals that are delicious. Trying to attend Con on the cheap? Ralph's can be a great place to eat lunch or dinner and save money; they even offer patio dining in the cool San Diego air. Ralph's is located at 101 G Street, just two blocks north of the Convention Center up 1st Avenue.

Stay Tuned for our Printable Restaurant Guide

I obsess over Comic-Con, and ever year I put together an epic restaurant guide that shows all of the best places to break bread in the Gaslamp district. The guide includes price ranges, rankings on taste, decor and service, addresses and phone numbers, and even how long it takes to walk to the restaurant from the Convention Center. We'll publish that list in a few days, so stay tuned!

Have other tips for eating during San Diego Comic-Con? Share them with us in the comments section!