Food is a big part of any vacation, but there are a few places where the food is so good that it can be the reason for a vacation. Join us today as we take a food road trip to Southern California for some serious eats!

Southern California is known for beautiful beaches and the glitz and glam of Hollywood, but the food may just be the best reason for a trip out west.

On our food road trip to Southern California we will be starting in sunny San Diego. Home to one of the best beaches in the world (Coronado Beach), as well as one of the most diverse populations of any city in America, it’s no wonder that San Diego is culinary gem.

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Broken Yolk Cafe, a San Diego institution, may just be the best breakfast in America. Stop in for their famous Hawaiian bread French toast and leave happy and full. Originally started in the Pacific Beach region of the city, Broken Yolk Cafe is currently expanding (aka franchising) with locations even as far as Florida. Their omelettes, biscuits, and breakfast burritos will leave you happily satisfied and planning your next breakfast visit.

Sally’s, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel downtown, is another fantastic San Diego eatery. Featuring fine dining on the waterfront, you can find anything from sushi to steak. One item that absolutely must be tried when you’re at the restaurant is the famous lobster pot pie. Be ready to share, it’s enough for two!

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If you’re more inclined to indulge a taste for the exotic, then Punjabi Tandoor should be on your list for dinner. Quite possibly the best Indian food in America (it gets my vote), you will be amazed at the myriad of curries available on any visit. Be sure to try the Butter Chicken as it goes great with some naan bread and some raita! Locations include multiple in San Diego, Anaheim, and more (though we are inclined to go old school at the original location just south of Mira Mesa).

Head up the coast to San Clemente for another great California eatery, Mr. Pete’s Burgers. This small, non-descript eatery serves up one of the best breakfast burgers you will ever eat, at it is known as the 420am burger. This delicious morning treat is loaded up with hashbrowns and a fried egg, and we love to pair it with jalapenos, salsa, and some extra crispy bacon for a meal that’s good anytime of the day.

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Los Angeles is filled with amazing food throughout the city! You can dine with the stars at Beso as well as Musso and Frank’s, eat like a local at Canter’s Deli and In-N-Out, or indulge your sweet tooth at Sprinkles Cupcakes or Donut King in San Gabriel (Donut Prince in Burbank has peanut butter and chocolate donuts that are pretty good, too).

If you’re looking for a great taco, you absolutely have to take a trip to Leo’s Tacos, a low-key taco truck located at Venice & La Brea. Their al pastor taco may just be the best taco in America! Order yours with no pineapple and add cilantro, onion and a solid helping of lime juice. You won’t regret it and will be ready for more after your very first bite.

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More of a burger guy? The aforementioned In-N-Out Burger has achieved legendary status for a reason: it’s a darn good burger at an affordable price. Pull up to any one of the multiple locations throughout the city for a quick, delicious bite, and if you’re looking for what to order this is what we get every single time: double-double, add ketchup, animal style (caramelized onions, special spread, meat cooked in mustard), add chopped chilies, bun extra toasted, fries well done, with a diet coke (gotta watch those calories). You won’t be disappointed.

Other great LA burgers include Father’s Office, Carl’s Jr. (Western Bacon Cheeseburger and Crisscut Fries are a must!), and our vote for best burger in America: 25 Degrees #1. We like to eat it with sweet potato fries and an adult milkshake or a soda. Located at the famed Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, 25 Degrees is an oasis of (relatively pricey) burger goodness smack dab in the desert of Southern California.

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Ever had Korean BBQ? If you haven’t, or even if you have, make time for Soowon Galbi, a Los Angeles Korean BBQ restaurant located just north of downtown Los Angeles. Order their eponymous galbi and some tiger shrimp for a fantastic meal that goes perfectly with an ice cold Hite beer.

If sushi is more your thing then you’ll love exploring the many different sushi houses in Los Angeles. Sugarfish, Katsuya, and Blue C Sushi (a Pacific northwest transplant located in Hollywood) are all excellent options, but Nobu is definitely the premiere sushi restaurant in all of Los Angeles. Located in Beverly Hills as well as in Malibu, Nobu has a fantastic menu featuring excellent cuts of sashimi, sushi, and more. Try the omokase (the tasting menu) for a unique dining experience, but be sure to eat the fries okra as an appetizer!

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Who says you can’t get a decent slice in LA!? Pizza is an excellent option in the city, and two places in particular do it right: Masa and Pizzeria Mozza. Masa serves up their pies deep dish style, so authentic you’ll think you’re back in Chicago. Pizzeria Mozza on the other hand serves their pies the old fashioned way, utilizing a brick oven to cook up favorites such as pepperoni pizza and margarita pizzas, both of which are to die for.

For fine dining, Mastro’s Ocean Club provides the best surf ‘n’ turf in the city (and their lamb chops are seriously good too!). Indulge in their free pretzel bread, fresh from the oven, a wedge salad, shrimp cocktail, and a steak with some lobster for one of the best meals you’ll ever eat in your life. Don’t forget to save room for dessert, as everything from the fresh berries with cream to the lava cake are delectably delicious. Morton’s, another fantastic LA steakhouse, is also highly recommended for fine dining. Make sure to get some of their warm baked bread to start off your meal!

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Well that about wraps up our food road trip to sunny Southern California! Did we miss any must-see and must-eat places? If so, let us know!

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