Celebrated to be one of the best surf towns in the world, Encinitas is a beautiful beach city in Southern California. Travelers come here to dive into the beach culture, feel the adventure thrill, and taste exotic cuisines while enjoying the breathtaking ocean views. It’s the most popular vacation destination in the United States and it attracts thousands of travelers from different corners of the world. If you happen to be in Encinitas looking forward to trying some authentic Italian cuisines, then the thriving culinary scene of the surf will enchant you with plenty of options to explore. Read on to discover the top Italian restaurants in Encinitas, California.
1. Trattoria I Trulli
Boasting elegant interiors and modern decor, this is a delightful restaurant serving the best Italian cuisines in town. It’s the brainchild of Salvatore, Daniela, and Antonino, who wanted to cheer up seasonal tourists and beach locals by serving delicious and authentic Italian food. Trattoria is famous for serving homemade ravioli, fresh salads, different varieties of pasta, and flavorful wines. Their best-sellers include lobster ravioli, marinara, spinach-cheese ravioli, and minestrone soup. Reservations are recommended as the restaurant is popular, and gets crowded most of the time.
Trattoria I Trulli
Address: 830 S Coast Hwy 101 A, Encinitas, CA 92024, United States
Website: Trattoria I Trulli
Opening hours: 11am - 2:30pm, 5pm - 9pm (daily)
2. Firenze Trattoria
Offering unparalleled service and remarkable food, this restaurant is another top spot to enjoy authentic Italian food in Encinitas. The ambiance transports you to Italy for a night, where you’re served with homemade different kinds of pasta, yummy lasagna, and house wines. There’s a lovely patio too if you want to dine outside under a beautiful shed. Do try the Tiramisu, butternut squash ravioli, Rigatoni Alla Vodka E Fungi, Rigatoni Al Forno, and Salmone Alla Griglia, they’re the most ordered cuisines here.
Firenze Trattoria
Address: 162 S Rancho Santa Fe Rd, Encinitas, CA 92024, United States
Website: Firenze Trattoria
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 11:30am - 10pm; Sun: 4:30pm - 9pm
3. Vigilucci's Trattoria Italiana
This restaurant is a dream of Roberto Vigilucci, an entrepreneur who always wanted to introduce authentic Italian cuisines in the culinary scene of San Diego. The place has awesome service, coastal ambiance and serves homemade pasta varieties, prime steaks, and fresh seafood. During your visit, you’ll be delighted by the soothing live piano performance at the center, making your dining experience more enchanting. You must try their lasagna, Caprese, sliders, Tiramisu, and Pollo Parmigiana; they’re loved by locals and tourists alike.
Vigilucci's Trattoria Italiana
Address: 530 N Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, CA 92024, United States
Website: Vigilucci’s Trattoria Italiana
Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 12pm - 9:30pm; Fri - Sat: 12pm - 10pm
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4. Buona Forchetta - Encinitas
Buona Forchetta is another top Italian restaurant where you can taste authentic Italian cuisines made from fresh ingredients and served with love. The dining place boasts modernly designed interiors and comfortable indoor as well as outdoor seating. The menu offers a wide selection of food options to try, including oven-baked pizzas, hunger-satisfying appetizers, healthy salads, and homemade pasta accompanied by contemporary beer and wine. Do try the vegan pizza, octopus carpaccio, burrata, focaccia, and bruschetta; they’re the popular dishes here.
Buona Forchetta - Encinitas
Address: 250 N Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, CA 92024, United States
Website: Buona Forchetta - Encinitas
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 12pm - 3pm, 5pm - 10pm; Sat: 12pm - 10:30pm; Sun: 12pm - 9pm
5. Maurizio's Trattoria Italiana
This is a fine-dining restaurant renowned for serving flavorful Italian delicacies and offering attentive service in Encinitas. The classic decors and pleasant ambiance attract students, couples, and families alike where they sit down and enjoy authentic Italian cuisines. The menu is wide, packed with food, drinks, and wines so you won’t run out of options, and make the most of your Italian restaurant experience. Chef’s special dishes include tasty lobster ravioli, stuffed artichoke hearts, homemade pasta, Caprese salad, fritto misto, and marinara.
Maurizio's Trattoria Italiana
Address: 505 S Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, CA 92024, United States
Website: Maurizio’s Trattoria Italiana
Opening hours: Mon - Wed: 4pm - 10pm; Thu - Sun: 11:30am - 10pm
6. Alice's Italian Gourmet
Rejoice in the flavors of Italian street food by stepping into this beautiful Italian restaurant set inside the El Camino Promenade. It’s run and operated by Carlo and Alice, a lovely couple from Milan, Italy, who moved here to introduce authentic Italian street food in Encinitas. The food menu is inspired by the food trucks in Italy and made from high-quality imported ingredients and fresh local produce. The best-selling cuisines of this beautiful dining place include chicken parm sliders, Caprese salad, chicken parmigiana, and smoked salmon sandwiches.
Alice's Italian Gourmet
Address: 252 N El Camino Real, Encinitas, CA 92024, United States
Website: Alice’s Italian Gourmet
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 11:30am - 8pm (closed on Sun)
7. Borrelli's Pizza & Italian Food
Owned and operated by the Borrelli family, this is one of the finest restaurants in the town serving fine Italian dishes accompanied by attentive service. It’s a good spot to hang out with friends or spend time with family, where you can sit together and enjoy the moment. They’re famous for serving the best pizzas in Encinitas, all made from home-ground ingredients and cooked to perfection in Italian style. The drinks menu is awesome, ranging from frosty beer and imported wines to regular soft drinks and freshly brewed coffee.
Borrelli's Pizza & Italian Food
Address: 285 N El Camino Real #106, Encinitas, CA 92024, United States
Website: Borrelli’s Pizza & Italian Food
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 11am - 9pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 9:30pm; Sun: 4pm - 9pm
8. Leucadia Pizza Encinitas
Leucadia shares a special place in the memories of the beach town locals who have been visiting here regularly to celebrate special occasions and celebrations. It’s situated in a beautiful location and is brilliantly designed with indoor and outdoor patio seating. You should definitely try their special pizzas, hunger-satisfying entrees, healthy salads, and yummy pasta. They’re brilliantly cooked in Italian style and offer an unforgettable taste.
Leucadia Pizza Encinitas
Address: 315 S Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, CA 92024, United States
Website: Leucadia Pizza Encinitas
Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 11am - 9pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 10pm
9. Rosannas Pasta Shop
Set inside the Camino Village Pizza, this family-owned Italian restaurant is famous for offering home-made pasta, delicious pizza, and exotic sandwiches made from freshly baked bread. The staff is friendly, fast in service and they make sure you’re having a wonderful time around. The place’s ambiance will remind you of a beautiful cozy pasta shop in Italy and lighten up your mood. The most popular dishes include tasty spaghetti, meatball sub, Italian combo sandwich, gnocchi, Caprese panini and meat lasagna. Authentic taste and quick service make this place one of the top Italian restaurants in Encinitas.
Rosannas Pasta Shop
Address: 270 N El Camino Real, Encinitas, CA 92024, United States
Website: Rosannas Pasta Shop
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 10am - 7pm; Sun: 10am - 4pm
10. Pizzaiolo Encinitas
If you’re craving some mouthwatering pizzas and pasta in Santa Fe, then Pizzaiolo is the perfect place to drop by. It’s a family-operated Italian restaurant offering authentic cuisines and it boasts a cozy ambiance. The owner, Micah, is a friendly man who will curate the right cuisines according to your palate and ensures you’re having a nice time. The menu is packed with homemade pasta and awesome pizzas with the best-sellers being Carne pie, alfredo, and barbecue chicken pie.
Pizzaiolo Encinitas
Address: 554 Santa Fe Dr, Encinitas, CA 92024, United States
Website: Pizzaiolo Encinitas
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 11am - 9pm (closed on Sun)
Enjoy authentic and delicious Italian cuisines
The beautiful beach town of Encinitas is packed with fantastic Italian restaurants. They’ll transcend you to the rich culinary scene of Italy where you can enjoy mouthwatering pizzas, homemade pasta, and flavorful wine. And with our recommended list, choosing the best Italian restaurant will be a hassle-free experience for you!
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