Top 10 Italian Restaurants In Encinitas, California

italian restaurants in encinitas
Kapil
Kapil 
Published
| 4 min read

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

Lobster Ravioli - Fiola - Stierch
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Missvain used under CC BY 4.0

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)

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2. Firenze Trattoria

Salmone Alla Griglia
Source: Pixabay

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

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3. Vigilucci's Trattoria Italiana

Venezia Chicken Pizzaiola
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user blynneda used under CC BY 2.0

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

Octopus Carpaccio
Source: Photo by Flickr user bob walker used under CC BY-SA 2.0

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

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5. Maurizio's Trattoria Italiana

Caprese Salad
Source: Pixabay

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

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6. Alice's Italian Gourmet

Chicken parmiagana
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Tristan Kenney used under CC BY 2.0

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)

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7. Borrelli's Pizza & Italian Food

Italian pizza
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Armineaghayan used under CC BY-SA 4.0

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

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8. Leucadia Pizza Encinitas

Pizza with tomatoes
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user jeffreyw used under CC BY 2.0

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

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9. Rosannas Pasta Shop

Meatball sub with marinara sauce, mozzarella, and roasted peppers
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user jeffreyw used under CC BY 2.0

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

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10. Pizzaiolo Encinitas

Pizza Prosciutto
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user https://pizza.de/ used under CC BY-SA 4.0

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)

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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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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
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