Guidebook for La Mesa

Susan
Guidebook for La Mesa

Food Scene

Delicious Russian food. Sundays and Thursdays they have soup dumplings, which are a must-try!!
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Pomegranate
2312 El Cajon Blvd
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Delicious Russian food. Sundays and Thursdays they have soup dumplings, which are a must-try!!
Authentic Ethiopian food
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Harar Restaurant
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Authentic Ethiopian food
If you need a pho fix, this place is close by and delish!
Pho And Grill International
9676 Campo Rd
If you need a pho fix, this place is close by and delish!
Nothing fancy about this place, but the verde and mole stewed meats are divine! They will let you sample anything you wish.
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Super Cocina
3627 University Ave
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Nothing fancy about this place, but the verde and mole stewed meats are divine! They will let you sample anything you wish.
Endless menu of Vietnamese specialties, including pho, spring rolls, broken rice and bahn mi.
Saigon Restaurant
4455 El Cajon Blvd
Endless menu of Vietnamese specialties, including pho, spring rolls, broken rice and bahn mi.
Affordable Mexican food, close to the guest house. Try the California burrito or the ceviche.
Sarita's Taco Shop
9906 Campo Road
Affordable Mexican food, close to the guest house. Try the California burrito or the ceviche.
Little deli with all sorts of sandwich options, close to the guest house.
Sunrise Deli New York Style
9945 Campo Rd
Little deli with all sorts of sandwich options, close to the guest house.
Authentic Ethiopian. Can be very slow service on the weekends, so I don't recommend taking young kids there. Food is EXCELLENT.
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Red Sea Ethiopian Restaurant
4717 University Ave
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Authentic Ethiopian. Can be very slow service on the weekends, so I don't recommend taking young kids there. Food is EXCELLENT.
Delicious Indian/Himalayan food with a cute interior. The garlic naan is a must. We also love the tikka masala and vindaloo dishes.
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Himalayan Cuisine
7918 El Cajon Blvd
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Delicious Indian/Himalayan food with a cute interior. The garlic naan is a must. We also love the tikka masala and vindaloo dishes.
Upscale restaurant with a delicious menu. Close to the guest house. Great for a romantic dinner.
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Brigantine Seafood Restaurant
9350 Fuerte Dr
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Upscale restaurant with a delicious menu. Close to the guest house. Great for a romantic dinner.
Great sushi restaurant that is close by.
Yi Sushi
2650 Jamacha Road
Great sushi restaurant that is close by.
Quaint, walkable village setting with some great restaurants!
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La Mesa Boulevard
La Mesa Boulevard
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Quaint, walkable village setting with some great restaurants!
If you're looking for healthy breakfast/brunch options, this will do it! They are also open for lunch and dinner.
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Swami's Cafe
8284 La Mesa Boulevard
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If you're looking for healthy breakfast/brunch options, this will do it! They are also open for lunch and dinner.
Great Russian food and cute furniture. Hole-in-the-wall.
The Village House Kalina
8302 Parkway Dr
Great Russian food and cute furniture. Hole-in-the-wall.
Great coffees/teas/pastries and a decent selection of meals. Sometimes there is live music.
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Sheldon's Service Station
8401 La Mesa Blvd
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Great coffees/teas/pastries and a decent selection of meals. Sometimes there is live music.
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Public Square Coffee House
8278 La Mesa Blvd
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Restaurant in a historic building in Old Town San Diego. Authentic Old West interior and furniture makes this place fun to visit!
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Cosmopolitan Hotel & Restaurant
2660 Calhoun St
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Restaurant in a historic building in Old Town San Diego. Authentic Old West interior and furniture makes this place fun to visit!

Sightseeing

Cute shops on the harbor, great people watching, restaurants are touristy
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Seaport Village
849 W Harbor Dr
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Cute shops on the harbor, great people watching, restaurants are touristy
Wide open sandy beaches, boardwalk, people watching, lots of restaurants. Parking can be tricky.
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Pacific Beach
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Wide open sandy beaches, boardwalk, people watching, lots of restaurants. Parking can be tricky.
Lots of museums and cultural spots to explore in Balboa Park.
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I-Balboa Park
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Lots of museums and cultural spots to explore in Balboa Park.
Experience the history of early San Diego here! Historic buildings include museums, unique retail shops, and restaurants. We love getting freshly-made tortillas filled with butter or fresh salsa from Cafe Coyote. The woman who makes the tortillas has been doing this for decades! Our favorite restaurant in Old Town is the Cosmopolitan, which is in a historic hotel building with authentic old west decor and furniture. The food is always very good here!
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Old Town San Diego
4002 Wallace St
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Experience the history of early San Diego here! Historic buildings include museums, unique retail shops, and restaurants. We love getting freshly-made tortillas filled with butter or fresh salsa from Cafe Coyote. The woman who makes the tortillas has been doing this for decades! Our favorite restaurant in Old Town is the Cosmopolitan, which is in a historic hotel building with authentic old west decor and furniture. The food is always very good here!
For a classic Southern California boardwalk experience, start here. Restaurants and retail shops abound!
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Crystal Pier Hotel & Cottages
4500 Ocean Blvd
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For a classic Southern California boardwalk experience, start here. Restaurants and retail shops abound!

Entertainment & Activities

The iconic San Diego Zoo.
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Iziko likaSan Diego
2920 Zoo Dr
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The iconic San Diego Zoo.
Huge water park, open in the summer. Lines can be very long on the weekends!
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Sesame Place San Diego
2052 Entertainment Cir
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Huge water park, open in the summer. Lines can be very long on the weekends!
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SeaWorld San Diego
500 Sea World Dr.
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Paragliding and hang gliding near La Jolla.
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Torrey Pines Gliderport
2800 Torrey Pines Scenic Dr
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Paragliding and hang gliding near La Jolla.
Classic beach-side amusement park, complete with wooden roller coaster and bumper cars. There is also a zip line and small ropes course. Tons of fun for kids and adults!
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Belmont Park
3146 Mission Blvd
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Classic beach-side amusement park, complete with wooden roller coaster and bumper cars. There is also a zip line and small ropes course. Tons of fun for kids and adults!
Fun hands-on activities for kids and adults alike. My kids love the clay area, where they can sculpt whatever they like and leave it out to dry while they explore the rest of the space.
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I-New Children's Museum
200 W Island Ave
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Fun hands-on activities for kids and adults alike. My kids love the clay area, where they can sculpt whatever they like and leave it out to dry while they explore the rest of the space.

Parks & Nature

Inspiring views from the top of this little-known park, very close to our guest house! Take a short 1/4 mile hike around the pinnacle.
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Iphakamisa i-Mt. Helix
4901 Mt Helix Dr
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Inspiring views from the top of this little-known park, very close to our guest house! Take a short 1/4 mile hike around the pinnacle.
Great place to go for a walk or run
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Mission Trails Regional Park Lake Murray
5540 Kiowa Dr
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Great place to go for a walk or run
With over 40 miles of hiking trails, there is something for every type of hiker or nature lover. If you're feeling extra adventurous, look up the Mission Trails 5 Peak Challenge! For families, I recommend the Mission Trails Visitor Center, which has fun activities for kids and ranger-led hikes.
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Mission Trails Regional Park
1 Father Junipero Serra Trail
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With over 40 miles of hiking trails, there is something for every type of hiker or nature lover. If you're feeling extra adventurous, look up the Mission Trails 5 Peak Challenge! For families, I recommend the Mission Trails Visitor Center, which has fun activities for kids and ranger-led hikes.
Playground, tennis courts, and big grassy open space
Iphakamisa yeLa Mesita
8855 Dallas St
Playground, tennis courts, and big grassy open space
National monument at the tip of Point Loma, with sweeping panoramic ocean and downtown SD views.
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I-Cabrillo National Monument Visitor Center
1800 Cabrillo Memorial Dr
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National monument at the tip of Point Loma, with sweeping panoramic ocean and downtown SD views.
Cliffs, beautiful sunsets, and lots of hiking options.
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I-Torrey Pines State Reserve
12600 North Torrey Pines Road
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Cliffs, beautiful sunsets, and lots of hiking options.
Where lush alpine forests meet the dry, desolate desert below... Prepare for amazing views from many spots all along Sunrise Highway! This is truly one of my favorite places on earth. The Pacific Crest Trail runs through Mt. Laguna, so there are lots of opportunities to pick up a little section of this famous trail that runs from the border of Mexico to the border of Canada.
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Mount Laguna
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Where lush alpine forests meet the dry, desolate desert below... Prepare for amazing views from many spots all along Sunrise Highway! This is truly one of my favorite places on earth. The Pacific Crest Trail runs through Mt. Laguna, so there are lots of opportunities to pick up a little section of this famous trail that runs from the border of Mexico to the border of Canada.
We love checking out Green Valley Falls in the spring and early summer. Usually dries up by late July. There are also lots and lots of hiking opportunities throughout the state park.
Cuyamaca Rancho State Park Visitor Center
We love checking out Green Valley Falls in the spring and early summer. Usually dries up by late July. There are also lots and lots of hiking opportunities throughout the state park.
Basketball court, playground, splash pad for kids, grassy open field, sidewalks.
Hilton Head County Park
1605 Hilton Head Rd
Basketball court, playground, splash pad for kids, grassy open field, sidewalks.

Drinks & Nightlife

This place has all kinds of beers and wines. Good place to hang out without a bar atmosphere.
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KnB Bistro - Del Cerro
6380 Del Cerro Blvd
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This place has all kinds of beers and wines. Good place to hang out without a bar atmosphere.

Essentials

Laundromat that gets good reviews and is close to shopping. Also has free Wi-Fi.
Quality Wash - Coin Laundry - Dry Cleaning - Fluff and Fold Service
Parkway Drive
Laundromat that gets good reviews and is close to shopping. Also has free Wi-Fi.
Trader Joe's in La Mesa.
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Trader Joe's
5495 Grossmont Center Dr
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Trader Joe's in La Mesa.
Health food store that has good specials, and on Wednesdays you get the specials for both weeks (prior week and upcoming week). Bulk foods. Great selection of vitamins, essential oils, health/beauty too.
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Sprouts Farmers Market
152 N 2nd St
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Health food store that has good specials, and on Wednesdays you get the specials for both weeks (prior week and upcoming week). Bulk foods. Great selection of vitamins, essential oils, health/beauty too.
When you need a standard grocery store, this is the closest one to our guest house.
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Vons
1201 Avocado Ave
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When you need a standard grocery store, this is the closest one to our guest house.
Great middle eastern grocery store! Produce is cheap and varied. Try the freshly baked breads and mana'eesh.
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North Park Produce
3551 El Cajon Blvd
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Great middle eastern grocery store! Produce is cheap and varied. Try the freshly baked breads and mana'eesh.

Everything Else

If you're looking for a library, this is a nice one!
Rancho San Diego Library
11555 Via Rancho San Diego
If you're looking for a library, this is a nice one!
If you're looking for a casino that's not too far away, this will do! The buffet is outstanding, and the food court is surprisingly delicious. We go there just to eat sometimes! My favorite food court item is the street tacos for $1.50!
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Barona Resort & Casino
1932 Wildcat Canyon Rd
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If you're looking for a casino that's not too far away, this will do! The buffet is outstanding, and the food court is surprisingly delicious. We go there just to eat sometimes! My favorite food court item is the street tacos for $1.50!