San Diego Recommendations

Walk the strip and beach in Coronado
Bar hop and eat in the gaslamp
Walk around and eat in little Italy
Go for a run along the waterfront and maybe some fresh fish right off the boats

Starlite is good for Moscow mules. Born and raised is good. Herb and wood is good too. Azuki for sushi, hodads for a burger in OB. Rocky’s in crown point is good too. Nomads for donuts. Izola, Clement’s or Michi michi for pastries, saritas for burritos. What are you looking for?

What areas are considered safe and which areas do I need to avoid?

Depends on what you’re after. Gaslamp and little Italy are safe, some homeless around but they won’t bother you unless you stray too far east. Bankers hill, mission hills, OB, sunset cliffs, La Jolla, Del Mar, Encinitas, Carlsbad, Oceanside, pretty much all coastal areas are great. If you’re in your 20s are partying with people who are, pacific beach is good for you. La mesa further east is getting better restaurants, it’s close to sdsu. North park, South Park, university and normal heights are cool areas too.

I forgot about schwarma guys food truck. At one time it was the number 1 rated place on yelp. Coops west Texas bbq was as high as 7 but he tried to expand and then covid hit. I heard he was back to just making bbq so that might be worth a try in lemon grove.