Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Puffs

    5.0 (91 reviews)
    Closed Closed

    Puffs Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Puffs

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos - Puffs

    Jackfruit, lychee raspberry, and black sesame salted caramel puffs
    Anna N.

    These puffs are what my dessert dreams were made of! They taste as gorgeous as they look! After finding this on a random Google search for the best cream puffs in San Diego, I bought this to share with a group of people and it was well worth the wait! Kathy is very responsive, helpful, friendly, and am amazing baker! I can't wait to have these again! Here are some food notes: I really loved the crust on each of the puffs because it added a wonderful texture that contrasted the creamy inside. The puffs were perfection baked and had the perfect amount of sweetness. Here are the puffs we got: Black sesame and salted caramel: Wonderful black sesame flavor and the salted caramel was the perfect addition to the savory flavor making it an amazing dessert. I really loved the balance of flavors! Jackfruit: That crust was so amazing to have in every bite. The nice fruit cream had an amazing amount of chunks of jackfruit that was absolutely fantastic to get that punch of flavor and added additionally wonderful textures: creamy, crunchy, fruity! Yum! Lychee raspberry: That wonderful crust was here too. I really loved the light lychee cream with the chunks of chopped lychee and fresh raspberries. I am so in love with these puffs. They are definitely an amazing treat! I can see why they don't last long.

    Half a dozen order ($25)
    Emmett T.

    I had been in contact with the owner (Kathy) when she debuted the Tea Series of her cream puffs in February. After much back and forth and the release of a new set of flavors (i.e. guava, passionfruit, and strawberries 'n cream), I finally was able to arrange a pick-up date and time. Orders were previously available only on Saturday and Sunday, but Friday was recently added. That worked out well with my schedule earlier today. I was completing another errand in the East Village neighborhood which is where you need to go to receive a hand-off from Kathy. She makes and bakes each batch fresh and recommends that you consume the puffs within two hours of receiving them. They can be refrigerated overnight for future consumption, but the crunchy exterior (craquelin) disappears if you do that. I selected two of each of the above three varieties. The half dozen total cost $25. Before heading home, I dropped off 50% of the goodies to one of my friends so he could indulge too. These puffs were very delicate and of high quality. They could easily be sold as top-end choux pastries at a French patisserie. What I appreciated the most about these fluffy desserts was the slight tartness from the guava and passionfruit respectively to contrast the sweetness of the cream filling. The puffs were photogenic which made them attractive to drool over on IG and Yelp when I was researching this business. Kathy was quite responsive to private messages on either platform. After you confirm the type and quantity for an order, payment can be made via Venmo. She will then send the address of where to meet at the pick-up time. Keep up these great creations and good luck when you ultimately decide to open a standalone brick-and-mortar location!

    How big they are relative to your hands.
    Myphuong L.

    Kathy was a pleasure to work with from beginning to end. I contacted her via text on Weds 4/14/2021 for Sat 4/19/2921 pick up for half a dozen. Her texts were thorough with pricing, flavors, and even photos! Pick up times start at 11 and I wanted 11 but someone took that spot so the next one would be 11:15. But to secure that spot, I had to make sure I Venmo her the amount before the next person to guarantee my time slot because someone wanted that same time. In the Venmo description, she wanted me to include name, email, phone number, quantity and flavors. Kathy pipes the toppings fresh when you pull up so it's important to go by your exact time slot. She gave clear instructions on where to park curbside, text her that you have arrived, then she'll pipe each one and bring them down to you. I waited a few minutes at the corner and then there she was holding a cardboard box with a clear top box where you can see 6 beautiful round puffs. The flavors for that week was cheesecake edition. I got two of each. We shared among six adults so we used a serrated knife to cut each in 4s so that everyone could try the flavors. (I wouldn't recommend that because it's so good that I wanted my own!) - keylime - Original w/ berry compote - turtle (salted caramel, homemade dark chocolate ganache and roasted pecans) Usually I'm into key lime for other desserts but for this one I would rank my favorite would be original, turtle, then key lime. They all tasted good in their own way. Light, not too sweet, outside had a slight flaky crisp. Recommend to consume within 1-2 hours.

    a dozen creampuffs!! would've been prettier but moved around a bit in the car
    Jennifer F.

    First found out about this place through Eater SD and I was so excited because I love cream puffs!! When I reached out to Kathy through instagram, she was extremely friendly and accommodating with my order. We kinda went back and forth with the time and who would be picking up but she was super patient and nice the entire time :) My boyfriend and I was super excited that the week's flavors were guava, passionfruit, and strawberry. And THEY DID NOT DISAPPOINT!! They were beautiful and delicious. Guava was everybody's favorite - the flavor was apparent but not overwhelming. Passionfruit looked so visually intricate and eye-catching, and the taste was very strong and tart. Strawberry's flavor wasn't as unique, but it was very yummy and I loved how it was stuffed with a big strawberry in the center (I think I actually liked this more than passionfruit) The only thing I'd recommend is potentially an appointment booker to ease the process, since I did find it a bit confusing and not as smooth. However, I like how through IG I was able to interact with her to see how nice and passionate she is! Also, my friends and I were sad to find out that last week's flavor was tea themed because we're tea fanatics!! If you could rotate those flavors back, that would be awesome~

    Cheesecake Edition - Keylime, Original w. Berry Compote, & Turtle (3/28/2021)
    Tracy H.

    Details.. .. We took a day trip to San Diego & of course I went on Yelp to find all the good eats. .. Puffs came up, I sent Kathy a DM via IG, & the rest is delicious history. prOs.. .. Kathy is a sweetheart & super responsive. It was very easy to place my order, pay, & pick up. .. The puffs themselves were delicious; not too sweet or heavy. .. We pulled over to devour 2 of our puffs before getting on the freeway to go home. The rest were eaten once we got home (OC) & they were still just as good. no cOns.. yay!!

    Bay to SD series (left to right: passion fruit, strawberries n cream, guava)
    Nicole G.

    Cream puffs are probably my number 1 dessert, but it's hard finding places in SD that have the right texture and cream to puff ratio. KATHY (the owner) DOES IT RIGHT! I highly HIGHLY recommend checking out Puffs SD because no other cream puffs can compare. I tried out the Bay to SD edition which includes passion fruit, strawberries n cream, and guava. Passion fruit - such a unique flavor paired with the creaminess of the whipped cream and the slight crisp from the pastry, I loved the addition of the passion fruit curd if I needed an extra kick of passion fruit flavor Strawberries n cream - a commonly done flavor but in a class of it's own! Super huge fan of strawberry shortcake type desserts and often times, I see places put too much cream and not enough strawberry or vice versa. I initially thought it wouldn't have enough strawberry flavor but SURPRISE SHAWTY, there were strawberries on top and as a filling. Such a good mouth feel and a strong contender for my favorite Guava - I've never ever had a guava flavored cream puff and rarely see guava being used in desserts -- bakeries are sleeping on this flavor!! I grew up eating guava and sadly my guava tree is not in season, but this hit all the notes that I wanted in a guava cream puff. It was a nice delicate guava flavor which can be hard to do since guavas can get too tart if they're not ripe enough. Overall I had a wonderful experience with these cream puffs. They were so fresh and so yummy! This will be a business that I'll continue to support and I highly recommend that y'all try Puffs as well :)

    Red velvet, pistachio rose, and strawberries and cream.
    Stephanie H.

    These puffs are amazing! It's difficult to find a dessert like this in San Diego, but Kathy makes her delicious puffs so accessible! She's very responsive and she makes the pick up process as smooth as ever. The puffs themselves are phenomenal and she comes up with unique flavors. I'll definitely be back for more!

    John B.

    When it comes to cream puffs in San Diego, Kathy Tran is THE GOAT! I love that I can just dm my new cream puff peddler on social media during her ordering period, Venmo my payment, and then meet up on a street corner to pick up the goods during my designated time slot. What a time to be alive! Kathy, a home-based baker lauded for her tasty treats and whimsical flavors, has become increasingly popular among San Diego foodies. Perhaps you've found her through Yelp, read articles about her on other food-centric websites, or checked out her social (@puffs_sd). ___F O O D___ While there are only a few flavors available at a time (it's a small operation, y'all), her creativity and execution are second to none. She's been known to make cream puffs inspired by chamango, boba milk tea, and pumpkin spice lattes. But it's not just that she's creative. As someone who has actually attempted to make these things, Kathy produces some pretty phenomenal profiteroles! Light and airy pâte à choux are generously filled with some gloriously rich diplomat crème and topped with an impressive craquelin. My girlfriend Christina C. and I were thoroughly impressed with our order. Our order (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/puffs-san-diego-4?select=tI8LelFOsnTf5wAY1KXz-Q): Pandan up front. Turon in the middle. Ube in the back. -Turon: Roasted bananas mixed with whipped cream and topped with sugar rolled then fried eggroll wrapper. This one blew my mind. First of all, how you know bout that turon, Kathy?! Turon is a Filipino dessert that I haven't heard discussed outside of the Filipino community. Hence, I initially thought puffs_SD was a Filipino operation. Second, she pretty much nailed it! The flavors took me back to my childhood, hanging out with my lola and watching her fry up some turon. For me personally, it's only missing the langka/jackfruit since that's what I grew up with. No biggie tho. 10/10 -Ube cream puff: Ube diplomat creme with whipped cream cheese. It actually tasted like ube. It always irks me when I purchase something "ube flavored" only to be disappointed by complete lack of flavor. 9.5/10 -Pandan: Pandan diplomat creme with chunks of macapuno (young coconut). Basically the same notes as the ube. I appreciated the bits of macapuno! 9.5/10 ___E X T R A I N F O___ Parking around the pick-up location is somewhat difficult and I feel as though we were fortunate to find a spot. I'm still uncertain where she wants customers to park and if we're just supposed to stop at the intersection (not a parking spot) for a quick pick-up. Regardless, it's fun eagerly awaiting her posts announcing new flavors/specials. I know I'll be placing another order at some point so I can support a local businesses and fellow Bay Area native.

    Box top
    Irene Y.

    **Take-out: June 2021 Visit** I am definitely not a desert person, but WOW! these cream puffs are amazing and I would not hesitate to buy/eat them again! Process 1) check out Kathy's cream puff business on her IG page (@puffs_sd) 2) I think she does a monthly collection of flavors. For my order it was "Ode to Japan" meaning all flavors were inspired by that culture. She offered Matcha, Black Sesame with Salted Caramel, and Yuzu Passionfruit. 3) Patrons can choose to purchase in half dozen ($26) or dozen ($50). On this visit I decided to do a half dozen (with two of each flavor) 4) Payment is done through Venmo and pick up on Sat/Sun (11am - 3pm). She pipes the cream as soon as you're close to her places to keep it as fresh, light, and airy as possible. It's a home-business (which I really commend individuals taking their passions to the next level), but her's is located in a busy intersection in the more urban part of San Diego. I loitered in the red zone since there was no parking. 5) You communicate via text messages and she'll come down when you've arrived to drop off your goodies. The cream puffs are so beautiful and the box it comes in looks very official! I'm more of a savory girl, but these cream puffs were all so unique and different that my mom and I actually ate all six of them that day! My mom loved the Yuzu and the Black Sesame was my favorite, although honestly if you gave either of us any of these we would probably devour them. I can't wait to come back and try her other collections! Definitely two thumbs up if you want something artistic and delicious!

    Danny N.

    Pretty decent puffs in San Diego! You can order through their Instagram and set up a pick up day and time. Kathy was very responsive and the tea edition was great! I love the jasmine milk tea and Thai tea personally!

    Red velvet, rose pistachio and strawberries and cream
    Teresa P.

    I first tried Puffs last month and immediately became a repeat customer! I'm normally not a cream puffs fan, I tend to find them too sweet; Puffs is the exception. I ordered the Love and Luck edition (strawberries and cream, rose pistachio and red velvet) and ... YUM!!! Ended up eating two puffs in one sitting . The cream to ratio is a nice balance, the cream itself isn't too sweet, and the flavors? Kathy nailed it!!

    Key lime, Berry compote, Turtle
    Ro N.

    Great experience Kathy was quick to message back with. I picked my time for pick up pulled up and she popped my puffs when I arrived waited 5-10 for fresh puffs you know I'm here for that. She was very sweet and boasted about her product so I have to keep it real. The puff flavors were key lime cheesecake, Turtle cheesecake( caramel,chocolate and pecans for those not in the know) last but not least the berry compote. They were all fire the turtle was my favorite my wife said be cause it had a coffee taste and I love coffee I didnt taste it but it was bomb. I'm picky about my sweets and this was more then worth can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

    Jackfruit, lychee raspberry, sesame
    Josie T.

    Not too sweet, not too heavy, just perfectly balanced bites of heaven. Fun flavors with some reminding me of my Southeast heritage. You can tell she puts a lot of care and love into these puffs. Can't wait to try more!

    Passionfruit, Strawberries & Cream, Guava cream puffs

    See all

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Kathy T.

    Kathy T.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Kathy T.

    Kathy T.

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Kathy T.

    Kathy T.

    Helpful 18
    Thanks 0
    Love this 20
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Kathy T.

    Kathy T.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ryan M.
    503
    1687
    7157

    5 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Kathy T.

    Kathy T.

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 0
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Kathy T.

    Kathy T.

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Kathy T.

    Kathy T.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Kathy T.

    Kathy T.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Kathy T.

    Kathy T.

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Kathy T.

    Kathy T.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of John B.
    348
    607
    2835

    5 years ago

    Helpful 20
    Thanks 0
    Love this 22
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Irene Y.
    1940
    1731
    4004

    5 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Danny N.
    2653
    2238
    123159

    5 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Kathy T.

    Kathy T.

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 0
    Love this 9
    Oh no 0
    Photo of J C.
    0
    128
    38

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Kathy T.

    Kathy T.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ro N.
    18
    388
    1037

    5 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Kathy T.

    Kathy T.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Josie T.
    92
    92
    3554

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Kathy T.

    Kathy T.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Kathy T.

    Kathy T.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Kathy T.

    Kathy T.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Kathy T.

    Kathy T.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Kathy T.

    Kathy T.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Kathy T.

    Kathy T.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Kathy T.

    Kathy T.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Yao K.
    58
    8
    13

    5 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Kathy T.

    Kathy T.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Chrisna T.
    3
    197
    276

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Kathy T.

    Kathy T.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Kathy T.

    Kathy T.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Vu P.
    18
    60
    7

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of E R.
    0
    28
    3

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Kathy T.

    Kathy T.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Kathy T.

    Kathy T.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Kathy T.

    Kathy T.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Kathy T.

    Kathy T.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tan T.
    0
    21
    23

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Kathy T.

    Kathy T.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Kathy T.

    Kathy T.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Kathy T.

    Kathy T.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Yuko S.
    45
    11
    18

    5 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Kathy T.

    Kathy T.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Puffs

    Do they have a website to order or do you need to call? How can we view a menu? Thanks.

    Hi Elizabeth! Thanks for asking. Currently, we don't have a website. However, I post current Flavors on Instagram @puffs_SD. You can message me there or contact us directly 415-937-8337. :)

    View All 2 Questions

    You might also consider

    Extraordinary Desserts

    Extraordinary Desserts

    4.0
    (9.2k reviews)
    1.3 km
    $$$

    This place is properly named extraordinary dessert for a reason. They are known for their desserts…read moreboth in taste and in aesthetics. Desserts: 5/5 We got a blood orange scone and a strawberry danish. The scone was warm and delicious. The orange essence was well infused. The danish was crispy and creamy. Everything was so picturesque. Food: 3/5 Unfortunately, the food was not the best. We got the smoked salmon sandwich which was not very flavorful. The salmon was also slimy. The pesto spread was good though. It was creamy and the artisan bread it was served had great variety. Ambiance: 5/5 This place is such super cute. When you walk in, the desserts all look super appetizing. The seating areas are super cute and the floral decor are stunning. Service: 5/5 It is an order then sit down establishment. There is great attention to their dessert. I saw them heat up a knife just to cleanly cut the cake. The food service however did take some time to come out.

    I go here often enough to make reviews on specific items...lol…read more I highly suggest ordering the grilled cheese and tomato soup special if you like cheese and tomatoes. There is nothing like tasting a real, pureed vegetable in a veggie soup. If it started out canned, I wouldn't have known it (not that I'm saying that), and you have to like cheese because you get a thick, melted, and stringy cut on sourdough bread, toasted perfectly to hold up to dipping in the soup. On a warm day, this dish goes great with an IPA or chilled white wine.

    Photos
    Spinach dip and chips and tomato and basil soup
    Spinach dip and chips and tomato and basil soup
    One of our 'go to' dessert places in San Diego.
    One of our 'go to' dessert places in San Diego.
    Chocolate lemon bon bon

    See all

    Chocolate lemon bon bon
    Salt & Straw

    Salt & Straw

    4.6
    (2.2k reviews)
    1.7 km
    $$

    Salt & Straw rolled out their June 2026 Chef Series which sold out quick; Fortunately two were…read morebrought back for last chance scoops: 4.5/5 CHOCOLATE CARAMEL SMOKED BUDINO By Alex Meyer and Luciana Giangrandi - BOlA DE & WALRUS RODEO, Miami Chocolate olive oil custard, caramel candied hazelnuts, sea salt caramel swirl (like a turtle dove - very sweet - I'd prefer less sugar) 4.5/5 STARLING SWEET POTATO BUCKWHEAT CRUMBLE By Dan Barber - ROW 7, New York Starling sweet potato ice cream, sweet potato miso swirl, sprouted buckwheat Florentine crumble (novel color and flavor) SERVICE With the help of staff over the phone, I was able to snag a pint of the Hong Kong milk tea. AMBIANCE Colorful indoors with outdoor street-side seating

    Very good ice cream! And, free sample tastes from about 20 flavors to choose from…read more S&S offers some more unusual flavors, like Honey & Lavender and Pear & Blue Cheese, but I opted for the more predictable Chocolate Gooey Brownie. It did not disappoint. I ordered a double scoop, tho' the scoops were so generous that one scoop would have been plenty for me. Filled with chunky brownie bits, it was truly delicious, tho', perhaps, a little overpriced. The shop that I visited is in San Diego's Little Italy neighborhood, which has a 30 minute free parking zone right in front of the store front! They have a loyalty program to entice you to return again and again. Limited seating.

    Photos
    Cinnamon snickerdoodle
    Cinnamon snickerdoodle
    Cinnamon Snickerdoodle
    Cinnamon Snickerdoodle
    Outside of salt & straw

    See all

    Outside of salt & straw
    Pappalecco

    Pappalecco

    4.3
    (3.1k reviews)
    1.5 km
    $

    A cute authentic Italian neighborhood cafe in Little Italy serving coffee, treats, gelato, and…read morepaninis. My friends and I were just looking to get a coffee in Little Italy, but when we walked in and saw all the delicious treats we had to try something else as well. I ordered a latte and neglected to tell them it was for here so I was given a paper cup, but they give real cups if you ask. The latte was good, and my friend bought a kitchen sink type cookie with chocolate, coconut, and macadamia nuts. It was warm and gooey good! Another friend tried the gelato and said it was very good. There are a few tables inside and tables out in front outside. We sat outside and enjoyed the beautiful San Diego weather. The decor and tables definitely gives you an old school Italian neighborhood vibe with Italian markets right next door. If I am in the neighborhood again, I would definitely come back here to try the gelato and/or a piece of an excellent looking lemon pie bar I spotted.

    If there is better gelato in San Diego, I have not tried it…read more They have more than gelato here but gelato is all we tried. It was later in the day so they were out of or running low on some flavors. Nevertheless, the two flavors we tried were incredibly rich and flavorful. A little goes a very long way. Parking is incredibly tough in Little Italy but it is worth it for gelato this good.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Soup Tomato.
    Soup Tomato.
    A pathetic attempt at a $10 cannoli

    See all

    A pathetic attempt at a $10 cannoli
    Solunto Ristorante & Bakery

    Solunto Ristorante & Bakery

    4.0
    (1.2k reviews)
    1.6 km
    $$

    Went on Memorial weekend and was surprised how quickly we got seated. Waitress was nice and warned…read moreus the kitchen was backed up but honestly we didn't wait long. We ordered a calamari (10/10), lasagna (10/10), Penne Quattro Formaggi (7/10) and Fusilli Genovese (11/10). The Formaggi was a little too rich for me... but my son loved it. We will definitely be back!!

    Came here for lunch on a Saturday mainly because my husband just really wanted some gelato…read moreafterwards Lunch-- 3 stars Gelato - 0 stars Service - 3 stars Price - 4 stars my husband got some sort of fettuccine alfredo with shrimp, I got a Italian sandwich, and my best friend got a woodfired margarita pizza. Pizza was good, but soggy in the middle. The pasta was good, no complaints there. The sandwich was very lacking in the meat department... It was basically a bread and arugula sandwich. Had very low expectations for the gelato to begin with seeing as the colors were extremely unnatural and the way it was heaped was a clear indication to me that it is not legitimate gelato and unfortunately, I was proven very right. I got the strawberry so that my toddler could have a few few bites and it was so unnatural and weird tasting that she didn't even want any... And if that doesn't say something! My husband got the coffee flavor and he literally took three bites and threw it away as well. I will say, though, on the food front, the prices are reasonable here all things considered, but maybe stick with pasta... based on everything As a whole though, you can likely get a much more legitimate Italian meal somewhere else in the area, but it will probably cost you more.

    Photos
    Cute restaurant in little Italy
    Cute restaurant in little Italy
    Fusilli Genovese
    Fusilli Genovese
    Solunto Ristorante & Bakery

    See all

    Nonna + Zucchero

    Nonna + Zucchero

    4.1
    (573 reviews)
    1.7 km
    $$

    Came to this place of a beautiful afternoon on my trip down to San Diego…read more This place and basically all of Little Italy is such a vibe! Ambiance: 5/5 We for seat outside and I swear, I can spend the whole day just people watching here. It's a lively neighborhood. Food: 5/5 The food was delicious, probably one of the best calamari that I've ever tried. It was crispy and the warm marinara sauce paired so nicely. The rigatoni pasta was really good but the fettuccine funghi was a little too oily for my liking. The pizza had a crispy crust and the toppings all complemented each other. Service: 5/5 We got seated immediately even though it was a busy Saturday morning. Our waiter was hilarious and kept cracking jokes. It made our dining experience really enjoyable.

    Food: - fungi pasta: 7.5/10, strong mushroom flavor…read more - carbonara: 5.7/10, too much sauce and noodles were overcooked - lemon meringue cheesecake + Sicilian cannoli: super authentic cannoli, cheesecake was good but nothing special Service: - hostess was not friendly - they ran out of white peach Italian soda but instead of asking what other flavor we would prefer, they just brought out a vanilla Italian soda - ordering took forever but once our food was in, it came out in less than 10 min Ambiance: - outdoor seating Skip Barbusa (sister restaurant) and come here instead, at least there is better dessert

    Photos
    Nonna + Zucchero
    Beef carpaccio
    Beef carpaccio
    Tortellini Funghi

    See all

    Tortellini Funghi
    Nibble Chocolate

    Nibble Chocolate

    4.6
    (74 reviews)
    1.5 km
    $

    Stumbled upon Nibble Chocolate and I'm so glad I did. Ambience is sweet and cozy. It's a cute…read morelittle shop that feels like a hidden gem, especially if you're someone who appreciates good quality chocolate. They have a great variety to choose from, whether you're into milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or even non dairy options. I also love that they offer chocolate drinks and coffee, so it's easy to turn a quick stop into a little treat moment. I tried the peanut butter dates and they were so good. Smooth, rich, and just the right size when you want something sweet without going overboard. I also had a dark chocolate truffle and that one was just as good. You can really taste the quality. Customer service was a highlight. The guy helping me was super personable, gave great suggestions for drinks, and was genuinely kind, which always makes the experience better. Honestly, I'm just happy I found a chocolate spot within walking distance. Definitely worth stopping by if you're craving something sweet but still want it to feel a little elevated.

    I don't usually seek out vegan products, but Nibble chocolate is a Bean to bar chocolate shop in…read morelittle Italy in San Diego with single origin chocolates. I sampled chocolate from Peru, Madagascar, and Kenya, and they all had unique fruity characteristics. Because they're vegan, so they use oat milk for their chocolate instead of dairy. My wife and I also wanted some drinks while we were here. I had a hot chocolate. My wife had hers with espresso shots. Good espresso in pure chocolate will never not be good. They are family owned and they only add chocolate, sugar, and oat milk to make their bars. Overall, this was a fun place to check out at Little Italy, and they also had a stall at the Farmer's Market.

    Photos
    Nibble Chocolate
    Nibble Chocolate
    Nibble Chocolate

    See all

    Bobboi Natural Gelato

    Bobboi Natural Gelato

    4.8
    (277 reviews)
    2.2 km
    $$

    We stopped by this little gelato shop in Little Italy after seeing all the great reviews, and it…read moreabsolutely lived up to the hype. We got lucky and arrived just before the rush. There was hardly anyone in line when we walked in, but by the time we got our gelato and turned around, the line was out the door! I travel to Italy regularly for work, so I've had my fair share of authentic gelato. I have to say, the quality and flavors here were outstanding. Rich, creamy, and absolutely delicious. What made the experience even better was the staff. One of the employees was incredibly friendly, energetic, and genuinely passionate about the gelato. He encouraged us to sample flavors, asked what kinds of flavors we enjoyed, and made thoughtful recommendations based on our preferences. It felt like talking with a wine sommelier--someone who truly understood flavor and wanted us to find the perfect match. You could tell he genuinely loved his job, and that enthusiasm made the whole experience even more memorable. We took our gelato outside, sat at one of the sidewalk tables, and spent the evening people-watching. It was the perfect way to end a beautiful San Diego night. The shop itself is casual, with just a few seats inside and several tables outside. It's a great stop whether you're on a date, out with friends, or enjoying a family night in Little Italy. Definitely a five-star experience. I'll be back the next time I'm in San Diego.

    After a lovely dinner at Sugarfish we walked a block to Bobboi Gelato…read more They had some interesting flavors. I sampled Rose Almond (Lebanese Rose Water with Organic Almond Butter), Pure Watermelon and Stracciatella. The Rose Almond was fragrant, Pure Watermelon refreshing and Stracciatella was a classic. I chose Rose Almond and Stracciatella in a Piccolo cup which was perfect for me. The gelato was dense and delicious - I really enjoyed every bite of it. It was nice to be able to sit near the windows and people watch.

    Photos
    Pumpkin Amaretto, Mediterraneo, Pistachio
    Pumpkin Amaretto, Mediterraneo, Pistachio
    Small Vegan pistachio and matchatella   2 Flavor Gelato Container
    Small Vegan pistachio and matchatella 2 Flavor Gelato Container
    Seating by the open windows

    See all

    Seating by the open windows

    Puffs - desserts - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...