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In Oceanside, you can do that thing where you plan lunch while eating breakfast, and then spend the afternoon daydreaming about dinner. Chefs here know they’re part of something special and all over town, the restaurant scene is drawing rave reviews—all while staying true to that O’side come-as-you flip-flop-dining vibe. From barbecue to brew pubs, next-wave mom-and-pop to global fusion, and everything in between, find fresh flavors and settings that are totally o’riginal.
Award-winning O’riginal O’sider Davin Waite is a rule-breaking chef on a mission in South O.
Whether you’re carbo loading for a jam-packed adventure day or looking to lounge leisurely with bottomless mimosas, O’side takes the most important meal of the day seriously. Options range from pancake joints and seaside breakfast burritos to juice bars and house-made pastries, with global (even Michelin-acknowledged) brunches and hearty diner-style spreads in between. And coffee, of course. Oh, the coffee.
Care for some epic harborside views with your appetizer? A little surf scenery with your salad? A gilded sunset with your sushi? Eating in Oceanside is a feast for the senses, and that includes enjoying stunning ocean views and cool, sea-spray breezes while enjoying a meal on some of O’side’s favorite restaurant patios (many of which are pet-friendly!). Outdoor dining is a way of life in Oceanside thanks to our year-round sunshine and brilliant beaches.
We’re proud of Oceanside’s agricultural traditions. Here, your chef can probably tell you the exact dirt divot where this week’s greens were harvested, and the person sitting next to you may well have grown and picked the produce themselves. Giving back to our local ecosystem—both environmental and human—is part of the O’side dining ethos, expressed in tasty eats driven by fresh local ingredients.
For more than 15 years, locals and visitors alike have been watching the sunset while cruising for leafy greens, listening to local bands, and noshing on fresh-made international delicacies. Mainstreet Oceanside’s Sunset Market is a Thursday night tradition, held 5pm-9pm on Pier Way west of Coast Highway downtown. Find four city blocks of merchants and farm vendors offering gourmet goods, artisan products, and quirky gifts.
We love happy families in O’side! We also love disgruntled preteens, grumpy babies, and moms and dads just looking to catch a break. That’s called keepin’ it real, people. Across town, you’ll find fast casual eateries perfect for grabbing and going when the kids need to roam, outdoor patios where loud noises drift away on the breeze, and child-friendly menus to ensure everyone eats. Plus, great beer! (That helps.)
Given the exceptional caliber of local ingredients on offer and the eclectic, international vibe of our dining scene, it was probably inevitable that Oceanside would draw top culinary talent like bees to honey. Now, O’side is fast gaining a reputation as one of the most exciting, dynamic places to eat in Southern California. Fine dining here means innovation, creativity, and flair—from menus to chefs’ tables to service to settings—inspired by cultures from all over the world.
Reviewers get a little breathless talking about dining in O’side. Restaurant Dija Mara—with its painterly Southeast Asian-influenced and Balinese-inspired dishes—earned Oceanside its first Michelin nod. Now Matsu—rooted in Japanese techniques and flavors—and MICHELIN Restaurant Valle—celebrating the style, bounty, and wines of Baja’s Guadalupe Valley—are poised for recognition. Meanwhile Chef Davin Waite received the California Travel Association’s 2022 Sustainability Advocate Award, acknowledging his long-standing dedication to sustainable seafood (Wrench & Rodent Seabasstropub) and his plant-based zero-waste South O resto, The Plot.
You love food photos, O’side loves sharing. It’s a match made in heaven. Follow #DineOside on Instagram and share your o’riginal take on the Oceanside food and drink by tagging your photos @DineOside with the #DineOside hashtag. Your image could become internet-famous here.
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