The 25 Best Restaurants in San Diego

"This tiny izakaya is pretty inconspicuous, so anyone inside is clearly in-the-know. You come for the ramen, but you stay for the small plates. Start with the Hakata ramen, a smooth tonkotsu broth layered with pork belly, fried garlic, seaweed, and ginger, before making your way to shareables like fried agedashi tofu, vegetable gyoza, and salmon ochazuke (a rice-in-soup dish topped with fish). Skim the list and you'll see imported Japanese beer and vodka, though it's sake that reigns supreme. The food at this place is on point, and it has a line to show for it—but Izakaya Masa's intimate vibe and size are part of the fun, ratcheting up the experience of any date or (small) group meal with friends. More importantly, though, waiters don't circle like vultures—so you can stretch it out for as long you'd like." - Archana Ram, Marie Tutko