Bring the Pooch to These 8 Dog Friendly Restaurants in San Diego

San Diego is very dog-friendly. The city boasts one of the first off-leash dog beaches in the country and an array of dog parks for pups large and small.

It’s also a city with a wide range of restaurants that won’t just welcome your pup, they’ll treat your dog like a customer. Check out this guide to the 8 best dog friendly restaurants in San Diego, from large patios for them to lounge in to dog-friendly menus they can sink their teeth into.

1. Working Class

Working Class in North Park has two separate outdoor patios for you to choose from if you come for a meal and a beer with your pup. The back area is more suitable for skittish pups, as you’ll be off the main street with access to artificial turf for them to lounge on. The staff is welcoming and will bring your pup water as soon as you’re seated. If you’re in the back area, a water refill station will keep the extra thirsty pups comfortable.

The eatery serves up pub food, so you’ll be choosing from their selection of sandwiches, burgers and salads for lunch, and a variety of comfort food—think fish and chips and pot pies—for dinner. If you’d like to treat your pup to something while you’re having your own meal, choose from their beef patty or chicken breast, both served with a side of rice.

2. Baja Betty’s

Baja Betty’s is well-known in Hillcrest for their brunch spread and generous mimosa specials on the weekend. It’s also popular with dog owners in the neighborhood, especially those with dogs who love a vibrant atmosphere and lots of attention. The staff there love their four-legged visitors, and will treat them just like the special guests they are.

If you’re there for brunch, their giant breakfast burritos are a popular option for dog owners. Their breakfast tacos are a less intense version of their Mexican spins on the brunch classics. They don’t offer a dog menu at Baja Betty’s, but your pooch won’t be missing out on attention at this lively place. That means dogs that don’t like a lot of activity happening around them may not be the most comfortable at this one, but it’s great for social pups.

3. OB Noodle House

OB Noodle House is popular with dog owners in San Diego’s Ocean Beach neighborhood for one main reason: the food there is delicious. You don’t need to sacrifice a thing to bring your pup to their outdoor patio, and you’ll be able to enjoy a big bowl of pho or a plate of their delectable Vietnamese egg rolls knowing that your dog is welcome there.

The Asian eatery doesn’t have a menu specific to dogs for you to peruse, but the staff there is one of the most welcoming when it comes to the best dog friendly restaurants San Diego has to offer. Those water dishes will come out immediately, likely even as you sit down, and most will want to interact with your pooch if you let them. That means well-behaved pooches only at this place. It does get crowded with both people and dogs.

After your meal, you’ll be within half a mile of San Diego’s best dog beach, an off-leash bonanza for dogs who love to swim and play in the sand.

4. Shorehouse Kitchen

Head to a popular dog friendly brunch in San Diego at Shorehouse Kitchen and you’ll likely find quite a few other guests there with their furry friends. Shorehouse Kitchen has two locations, one in La Jolla and another in Carlsbad. The location in La Jolla is known as one of the best dog friendly restaurants in La Jolla, but both get busy as they are only open until mid-afternoon after the lunch rush.

The food for human guests is delicious, but they also have a menu for dogs. Complimentary purified water is available for all four-legged guests, but you can also choose from something a bit fancier if you want to treat your pup.

Choose from menu items like The Brunch Bark Bowl, scrambled eggs topped with their house-cured bacon, or their Fido’s Finest, a seared and sliced ground beef patty topped with roasted turkey and bacon bits. Bring home a bag of their honeyed bacon bits for treats at home.

Your pup will never complain about your brunch habit again.

5. The Regal Beagle

With a name like The Regal Beagle, what would you expect? This Mission Hills pub is popular for locals seeking a place with good food and a fun atmosphere to watch sports and hang out with friends during their daily happy hours.

Dogs are allowed on their front patio. They don’t have a menu dedicated to dog-friendly treats, but they do have a daily sausage menu if you’re looking to really spoil your dog. Human visitors, don’t miss out on their impressive mustard station if a sausage is what you’re after.

6. The Bier Garden of Encinitas

The drive up to North County from San Diego is well worth it if you’re looking for a dog-friendly eatery that’s fit for a beach pup. The Bier Garden of Encinitas has two outdoor spaces for dogs, in the front and in the back. It’s a doggie oasis no matter where you choose to sit. Palm trees and succulents frame this space, a nod to being close to the beach from here.

The food served there is elevated pub food. You’ll have what you’d expect to have at a beer garden, from pretzels and beer cheese to beer-battered fish and chips, on top of fresh salads and seafood-based appetizers that can keep things light. Four-legged guests can choose from a limited menu of dog-friendly options like burger patties, grilled chicken breast and ground turkey or beef.

7. Anthony’s Fish Grotto

Anthony’s Fish Grotto is a local mainstay in San Diego, but if you’re looking for a place to eat with your dog, their La Mesa location will be your best bet. The setting doesn’t get much better, either. The grotto in the name can be taken literally here. You’ll be sitting with views of their private lake, surrounded by running water features and impressive landscaping that makes this feel much more remote than La Mesa.

In addition to the chowder and steamed mussels you should be ordering at Anthony’s Fish Grotto, the eatery has a fish plate for both large and small dogs for your furry friends to chow down on while you’re there. Salmon, rice and veggies will give your dog a well-rounded, healthy meal with a view.

Keep in mind that while the setting is serene, that private lake does get the attention of the local waterfowl. That means you’ll likely encounter ducks while you’re there. If your pup gets a little wild around ducks, you’ve been warned.

8. Backyard Kitchen & Tap

Keep things casual at Backyard Kitchen & Tap in Pacific Beach. The sports bar is certainly popular during sporting events and can get a bit rowdy. But the open-air patio you’ll take advantage of if you’re with your dog is much more tame.

The menu here is solid pub food, with flatbreads and burgers to choose from for lunch and dinner. Fido will appreciate some of the dog treats they offer, too. They make their own dog biscuits, or elevate things with a full meal of grilled chicken or hamburger meat with rice.

If you’re well-versed in San Diego neighborhoods, you already know that Pacific Beach vibes are much calmer during the daytime hours. Dogs are welcome at this bar, but if you have a pooch that doesn’t love a lot of activity, come for brunch or an early lunch and take in the sunshine.

The best dog friendly restaurants San Diego has to offer all have something that sets them apart from restaurants that may allow dogs on outdoor patios. They’re welcoming to pets, with some even offering special menus for your dogs.

Ready to explore the best dog friendly restaurants in San Diego? Start with these. You’ll have access to delicious food for yourself and a great experience for your pup.

Written by Agnes Groonwald for Knockaround.