Escondido is an inland city located 30 miles from the city center of San Diego. It's an up-and-coming area of the San Diego suburbs and also happens to be the hometown of my hubby. Many of my in-laws live in Escondido, and I also lived there a year while studying graphic design.

So I believe it's safe to say that this guide is written from the perspective of a local. In my guide I've included the popular big attractions as well as secret gems only known by Esco natives (many of the locals use the abbreviated name Esco).

Foodie's Guide:The Best Restaurants in Escondido

Sayulitas Mexican Food

Have you heard of the famous SoCal Hot Cheetos burritos and nachos? Well they were born at Sayulitas Mexican Taqueria in Escondido. You may be skeptical of this culinary concoction, and believe me I was too. But once I finally tried it for myself, I discovered that the crunchy little Cheetos add a fun texture and spice to the traditional Cali-Mexican entrees.

I will admit that it's a very indulgent meal (the burritos from Sayulitas are huge!) and it's not something I would eat very often. I suggest ordering one burrito or nacho to share with friends. They have since expanded and now have five locations throughout the San Diego area.

Brigantine

This local San Diego chain serves up trendy and modern seafood dishes. Their location in Escondido is a great spot to order jumbo crab cakes or fancy fish tacos alongside a craft beer or cocktail. Don’t forget to check out the dessert menu!

Kettle Coffee & Tea

This hot spot for millennials is your standard hipster-ish coffee shop serving trendy beverages such as Vanilla Lavender Latte, Honey Lavender Latte and London Fog. My standard order is either a Chai Latte or Matcha Latte with avocado toast. If you’re visiting during the autumn or holiday season, keep an eye out for the seasonal drinks - Kettle Apple Cider, Eggnog Latte, or Mexican Mocha.

Pan Dulce

Escondido has a very concentrated Mexican population which makes it a great place for authentic Mexican cuisine. Whenever there's family visiting my mother-in-law's house, she always has plenty of freshly baked "pan dulce" (sweet bread) on hand for breakfast and afternoon snacks.

When you enter a Mexican "panaderia" (bakery), there's usually at least 20 varieties of baked goods to choose from. Our favorite Mexican bake shop is called Fiesta Mexicana Bakery and located at 1815 E Valley Pkwy in Escondido. It's definitely not a fancy location, more of a "hole in the wall" type of spot but it offers great deals - you can get about 3 pastries for a dollar. They also have really good handmade tamales.

La Michoacana Ice Cream

A couple of doors down from the pan dulce bakery is the ultimate Mexican ice cream parlor. La Michoacana is by far my favorite ice cream spot in all of the San Diego area because they offer flavors you can't find anywhere else.

The menu is impressive with around 40 plus flavors of ice cream. Along with all the American classic flavors, you can find authentic Mexican flavors such as:

chondos zamoranos
chocolate Abuelita
pinenut
Tres Marias
Mangonada (mango and chamoy)
tamarindo
guanoabana soursop
nanche
gansito
mazapan
tequila
queso (cheese)
and mamey
If you have no idea what these Mexican flavors taste like, you can have a lot of fun sampling them until you find your winning combo. They are open late daily until 10pm, so it’s a great spot for a night sugar rush run.

Tamales Bar in Northgate

One of my favorite grocery shopping trips in Esco is to the Mexican market Northgate. They have a full tamale and salsa bar with all kinds of pre-made tamales. Tamale flavors include corn, cheese and chili, pork, chicken, beef, strawberry, and pineapple. You can also find all kinds of authentic Mexican foods and goods, it’s an excellent place to shop for Dia de los Muertos.

Peterson's Donut Corner

This donut shop is a favorite among locals for its large assortment of fresh baked goods and fun retro inspired building. On a day with nice weather (which is most days in Escondido), you can sit outside on the benches and enjoy your donuts and sweets. It’s a great place for an afternoon pick-me-up. It’s also open 24 hours in case of any donut emergency!

Mi Rancho Market

Right next to Peterson’s Donuts you’ll find some of the most authentic Mexican tacos inside Mi Rancho Market. My husband swears that they are the closest you’ll find to the tacos they make in Tijuana. Don’t be fooled by the modest and unassuming store entrance, Escondido locals love this spot and you’ll see all kinds of people enjoying a meal.

Better Buzz Coffee

The popular chain Better Buzz Coffee is opening up a new location in Escondido in early 2020. This much anticipated store launch is just one of the new trendy brands branching out from San Diego. Coffee snobs swear by their coffee, and Instagrammers love their modern coffee decor.

EscoGelato

This cafe and gelato shop is located right off the main downtown strip of Grand Ave. They source their products and ingredients from local farms and vendors, and strawberry season is a big deal. They make in-house strawberry cheesecake gelato and strawberry basil sorbet.

H Brother’s Comfort Food

This joint serves up your classic cheeseburgers, fries and sandwiches… but then there’s some fun surprises on the menu. Try the jambalaya with cheese grits, poutine, hush puppies and boozy kombucha.

Bellamy’s

If you’re looking for a more formal date-night spot, Bellamy’s serves a fusion of French and California cuisine. This farm-to-table restaurant is located on Grand Ave, which makes it perfect for an evening stroll through downtown before or after dinner.

Burger Bench

This is another popular eatery on Grand Avenue. The menu is filled with all kinds of burgers, sliders and grilled cheese sandwiches. My favorites are the truffle parmesan tots, salted caramel pretzel milkshake, and fig jam sliders.

TJ Tacos

Street style tacos are all the rage in California, and TJ Tacos often has a line of patrons out the door waiting to get their fix. Street tacos are small mini tacos that you can mix-and-match to build your own custom plate. Try the nopal (cactus) tacos!

Trendy Escondido Shopping Guide

MIYO - Make It Your Own

This very trendy and boho-chic thrift boutique is exactly my style. It really embodies those California Girl vibes, and it’s also awesome to support women-owned small businesses. Located right on Grand Ave, it’s a great place to stop-by after lunch.

Valley thrift store

Thrift shopping is one of my favorite pastimes and Escondido has one of the best thrift stores I've ever seen. While it's a privately owned company and not affiliated with Goodwill or Savers, Valley Thrift is a very large department store and is filled with high quality brands at very discounted prices. Like most thrift stores, it's a bit gritty and requires some elbow grease to find the gems - but the thrill is all in the hunt anyway!

Escondido Westfield Mall

I rarely put a shopping mall into a travel guide, but the Escondido mall is kinda fun because it still retains some of the glory from the era of the early 2000's when malls still reigned supreme.

Boutiques on Grand

Grand Ave is the main pedestrian strip through Escondido and it makes for an entertaining walk with ample window shopping. You can find trendy boutiques, nail salons, restaurants, coffee shops, a large antique mall and art galleries.

Popular Attractions & Events in Escondido

Cruisin’ Grand Vintage Car Show

On Fridays in the summertime the main strip of Grand Ave turns into a lively vintage car show. This popular event brings out all kinds of folks of all ages and backgrounds.

The cars on display range from early 1900's to the 1970's, with the bulk of them being from the 1950's and 1960's. There's even some tricked out lowriders and totally cool surfer vans. In a nutshell there's something for everyone.

The restaurants on Grand often offer happy hour deals and patio seating right in the middle of the event. You'll also hear music playing and find vendors selling food and sweet treats.

Old Escondido

Old Escondido is a historical district in North County and is most know for its adorable houses in the victorian, craftsman, and art deco style. Located fairly close to Grand ave, it’s a beautiful walk through the Old Escondido neighborhoods, and it’s especially magical during the holiday season.

Escondido Farmer’s Market

Because the weather is so great all year in the San Diego area, the Escondido Farmer’s Market happens every Tuesday year-round. There’s a bounty of foods and products sold from local farms and vendors, including honey, nuts, fruits and vegetables.

The Farmer’s Market has two locations - Heritage Garden at Juniper and Grand, as well as on Juniper Street between Grand Avenue and Valley Parkway. Both markets are open Tuesdays from 2:30pm - 6pm.

Breweries, Booze & Wineries

Wine Counrty in Escondido

In Escondido you can get a little taste of Napa's California Wine Country at any one of the several wineries in the area. Enjoy sips of locally made wine while enjoying vineyard views in the outdoor seating area. Some wineries have restaurants on-site, while others have picnic tables where you can bring your own lunch to munch while you drink wine.

Popular Escondido Wineries:

Stone Brewing Company

Casually referred to by locals as “Stone”, this brewery is the ninth-largest craft brewer in the United States and makes world famous IPAs. The Escondido bistro and gardens are a big attraction, folks love the modern and inviting aesthetic paired with good food and of course beer.

Escondido Breweries & Taprooms

The Best Parks in Escondido

Kit Carson Park

We’ve been to Kit Carson Park several times to walk our dogs on leash. This large park has a long list of amenities open to the public, but the show stopper is the Queen Califia's Magical Circle Garden located inside the 5-acre arboretum called The Iris Sankey Magical Garden. This very large scale art installation makes for a great photo-opportunity and is fun to explore. For more photos of Queen Califia’s Magical Circle Garden you can check out the Instagram location or search the hashtag.

San Diego Zoo Safari Park

You've probably heard of the world famous San Diego Zoo, but you may not know that the zoo has a sister park in Escondido. The Safari Park rivals the San Diego Zoo in both the size of the property and the array of wild animals they house. You can find all your favorites such as lions, tigers, elephants, rhinos, giraffes, monkeys, etc.

The layout and experiences inside this park are unique and differ from traditional zoos because you can get very unclose and personal with the wildlife. There's also many free roaming animals and you can ride around on the tram to view them (very similar to the way Jurassic Park is set up - minus getting eaten by dinosaurs). I recommend a visit to the Safari Park for pretty much anyone, it's enjoyable for both kids and adults alike.

Felicita County Park

This is a great park for families with small children. It has an impressive and well maintained playground, which even has sun shades for the warmer months. There’s often family-friendly events on the weekend. There’s a $3 parking fee, but everyone says it’s totally worth it because there’s so much for the kiddos to explore.

Daley Ranch

Nature lovers craving some time outdoors can enjoy a hike at Daley Ranch. There are several dog-friendly trails and the level of difficulty ranges from beginner, intermediate, and advanced for hikers. For the most popular and least-strenuous trails, start at the La Honda Drive entrance.

Lakes In the Escondido area

Dixon Lake - A popular place for rock climbing, camping, fishing, and picnics.
Lake Hodges - If you enter the Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve, you can take a trail to the Lake Hodges overlook which has an elevation of 1,200 feet so can get some great views. See the trail maps here.
Lake Wohlford - A great outdoor place for fishing, hiking and picnics.