18 spots to hit up during St. Patrick's Day
St. Patrick’s Day is fast-approaching, and San Diego’s restaurant scene is ready to celebrate! In no particular order, be sure to head to these spots around the city with unbeatable St. Paddy’s Day specials infused with the luck of the Irish.
Pacific Beach AleHouse
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Known for being a neighborhood staple, Pacific Beach AleHouse is slinging delectable bites and house-brewed beers this St. Paddy’s Day. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., guests will enjoy a special brunch including Smoked Corned Beef & Eggs served with two eggs any style and breakfast potatoes, followed by a hearty St. Patrick’s Day dinner from 2 p.m. to close, consisting of Smoked Corned Beef & Cabbage served with boiled potatoes and Irish soda bread.
721 Grand Ave., Pacific Beach
Backyard Kitchen & Tap
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Pacific Beach-dwellers can start St. Paddy’s Day off right with brunch from Backyard Kitchen & Tap, featuring their flavorsome rendition ofCorned Beef Hash, crafted from potatoes, peppers, onions, poached eggs and chive hollandaise. For the late-risers, Backyard will keep the St. Paddy’s Day spirit alive with an offering of Leprechaun Poutine, a heaping plate of fries piled high with crispy corned beef, sauerkraut, thousand island dressing, Jameson cheddar and scallions, as well as classic Beef & Cabbage served with roasted baby carrots and confit fingerling potatoes, all bathed in mustard cream sauce.
832 Garnet Ave, Pacific Beach
Union Kitchen & Tap Encinitas
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Celebrate in North County with Union Kitchen & Tap Encinitas, where they’ll be serving brunch from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with an offering of toothsomeCorned Beef Hash, prepared with house-cured brisket, breakfast potatoes, peppers, caramelized onions and two eggs any style. Pair this with their special brunch cocktail crafted for the occasion, the Morning Joe, infused with Bushmills, Nola coffee liqueur, cold brew and Branca Mentha whipped cream. If a celebratory dinner is on the St. Paddy’s Day docket this year, be sure to stick around for Union’s shamrockin’ dinner menu, available from 4 p.m. to close, and featuring Shepherd’s Pie, Corned Beef and Bangers & Mash.
1108 S Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas
Union Kitchen & Tap Gaslamp
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If the energetic Gaslamp District is more your style, join Union Kitchen & Tap Gaslamp for their Guinness Party! Get a true St. James’ Gate Brewery experience with a slew of brews, and whet your appetite with Corned Beef Hash & Eggs, as well as Corned Beef Glazed in Mustard & Guinness. For those St. Paddy’s Day enthusiasts with a hankering for green beer, this is the spot for you! Pair Union’s food and drink specials with a live DJ spinning from 10 p.m. to close, and you’re in for an unforgettable day brimming with St. Paddy’s Day festivities!
333 Fifth Ave, downtown San Diego
Waterbar
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Elevate your St. Paddy’s Day celebration with a trip to Pacific Beach’s newest ocean-front addition, Waterbar! Aside from its stunning views of the Pacific, Waterbar will be offering $5 Irish Coffees from 9 a.m. to noon along with $10 Jameson Cask Mates all day long! Guests can start the day off strong by rooting for their favorite teams during the England v. Ireland rugby match, which will be shown on Waterbar’s large flat screen TVs, and end the day with some traditional Irish tunes from a sunset bagpiper!
4325 Ocean Blvd., Pacific Beach
Breakfast Republic
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If a vibrant green libation (that isn’t foamy green beer) is in order this St. Paddy’s Day, look no further than Breakfast Republic. Treat yourself to a boozy morning indulgence with their MarchKiss Me Kiwi Mimosa, a sparking libation infused with crisp kiwi notes and garnished with a fresh kiwi wedge. A spritely libation with a truly Insta-worthy green hue, this month-long special is well-suited to the occasion.
All locations.
Fishmonger's Market
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Brought to life by celebrity Chef Frankie “The Bull” Terzoli of Top Chef and Cutthroat Kitchen fame, Fishmonger’s Market has answered San Diego’s call for an authentic, European-style fish market and dining destination. Complete with an impressive seasonal seafood collection, creative crudo bar, and a menu swimming with irresistible choices cooked fresh from the case, this sustainable eatery is bringing out all the stops for a St. Patrick’s Day with a savory seafood twist. Skip the shepherd’s pie this year in favor of a specialty seafood menu of Irish Seafood Chowder, Guinness Battered Cod & Chips, Irish Butter Poached Scallops with Leaks and Green Peas, an Oyster & Guinness special at the Crudo Bar, and a special Smoked Salmon Plate in honor of the Celtic mythology surrounding salmon in prehistoric Ireland to celebrate the luck of the Irish.
1735 Hancock St R, San Diego
Woodstock's Pizzza
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While pizza may not be what first pops into your head for St. Patrick's Day, it should be, because...pizza. Traditional or not, Woodstock's Pizza near SDSU and Pacific Beach is celebrating all the fun that is St. Patrick’s Day with a Bangers & Tots Pizza, a cheesy pie loaded with nitrate-free sausage and whole tater tots for an outside-the-box St. Paddy’s Day meal. A hometown favorite of college students and locals alike, Woodstock’s Pizza is dishing up amazing pizzas using Grandma Woodstock’s secret signature sauce, fresh hand-tossed dough, locally-sourced organic toppings, and a unique folded-over crust with sauce inside. Why drink green beer, when you can drink good beer and eat pizza?
SDSU: 6145 El Cajon Blvd Suite 3P, San Diego
PB: 1221 Garnet Ave, Pacigic Beach
Wokou Ramen & Yakitori
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Not your average ramen spot, Carmel Valley’s Wokou Ramen & Yakitori is breaking the mold when it comes to your St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. An urban, unique, and unexpected addition to The Village at Pacific Highlands Ranch, this vibrant Japanese-inspired eatery has a full liquor license at their lively, nightlife-driven bar, allowing for signature cocktails and over 38 variations of whiskeys. This year, Wokou is taking your St. Paddy’s celebration to a new level with $5 Jameson shots, $8 Irish Car Bombs, and $10 Jameson Mules to party like the Irish!
5965 Village Way, Carmel Valley
Pacifica Del Mar
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Head to the ocean view restaurant, Pacifica Del Mar, where the bar will be serving $8 Green Flash cocktails all night. The green sipper blends cucumber vodka, cucumber water simple and lime juice.
Del Mar Plaza, 1555 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar
Curadero
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The downtown Mexican kitchen, Curadero, will be celebrating at the bar with its San Patricio cocktail - a blend of Jameson Irish Whiskey, Kahlua, 1921 Tequila Crèma and horchata. In the dining room, order $3 Corned Asada Tacos from Chef Kraten, served with braised corned beef, potatoes, pickled mustard seed, cabbage slaw and chile de arbol salsa.
1047 Fifth Ave #100, downtown San Diego
Cusp Dining & Drinks
Photo Courtesy / Amy K Fellows
Located in La Jolla, this ocean view bar, Cusp Dining & Drinks, will be serving Irish Mules all night, as well as $5 bites from 4-6pm.
Hotel La Jolla, 7955 La Jolla Shores Dr,. La Jolla
Primavera Ristorante
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Primavera Ristorante, located in Coronado, will tap into the luck of the Irish on St. Patrick’s Day with a specialty cocktail – Emerald Isle. This cocktail is made with Grey Goose Le Melon, Apple Pucker, Midori and Sprite, priced at $12.
932 Orange Ave., Coronado
El Chingon
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You won’t hear anyone saying, “Irish I had a margarita” this St. Patrick’s Day at El Chingon. Gaslamp Quarter’s “Bad Ass Mexican” venue will celebrate the luck, and the spirit, of the Irish with a reimagined margarita. Beverage director and lead mixologist, Ryan Andrews, is shaking up the traditional margarita with an Irish twist for the holiday with the Irishman Abroad. The cocktail, priced at $12, is made with Tullamore D.E.W., El Jimador tequila, fresh lime juice, Cointreau and R&D House Bitters.
345 6th Ave., downtown San Diego.
Havana 1920
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No need to reapply sunscreen while sipping this cocktail. The new Havana 1920, located in the Gaslamp Quarter, will offer a refreshing alternative to green beer on St. Patrick’s Day with a reimagined mojito, the Sunburnt Irishman. Created by beverage director and lead mixologist, Ryan Andrews, the Sunburnt Irishman is made with Jameson Caskmates, fresh lime juice, fresh mint, fresh blood orange puree, Demerara syrup, fresh sugar cane and R&D Bitters Sarsaparilla, available for $12.
548 5th Ave.,, downtown San Diego
Prohibition
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Prohibition, located in the Gaslamp Quarter, will have San Diegans performing a jig with just one swig of its featured St. Patrick’s Day cocktail called Irish 2-for-1. Ryan Andrews is at it again. the popular The underground speakeasy will offer a handcrafted cocktail made with two of Ireland’s most famous ingredients: Jameson and Guinness. The Irish 2-for-1 is made with Jameson Black Barrel, Guinness Demerara reduction, R&D Bitters Aromatic #7 and R&D Bitters Cherry Apple, priced at $13.
548 Fifth Ave., downtown San Diego
Bleu Bohéme
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Bleu Bohéme, located in Kensington, is tapping into the luck of the Irish with a festive holiday cocktail, Or de Farfadet. The Or de Farfadet, which translates to leprechaun’s gold, is made with Bushmills whiskey, Mathilde Poire pear liqueur, lemon juice, JP Chenet Brut and Grand Marnier. The sparkling spirit will be served in a champagne flute and priced at $12.
4090 Adams Ave., Kensington
Cafe 222
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Whether you’re of Irish descent or simply Irish at heart, Cafe 222 will offer lads and lasses a hearty start to St. Patrick’s Day celebrations with a signature dish: corned beef hash. A popular menu item when the cafe opened 25 years ago. Diners will be ready to paint the town emerald green after a hearty portion of corned beef hash, made with braised and shredded corned beef, shredded potatoes, onions, peppers and garlic, topped with two eggs prepared any style and served with toast and breakfast potatoes, priced at $15.95.
222 Island Ave, San Diego