When it comes to pasta, there’s nothing quite like the magic of authentic homemade pasta. I’m always searching for a restaurant that serves freshly made pasta. The perfect pasta is a combination of texture, flavor, and nostalgia that keeps you coming back for plate after plate. If you are craving good pasta, the easiest way to find the best pasta in San Diego is to ask locals. Luckily, I’ve already done the taste tests and found several spots with the best pasta in San Diego.
Siamo Napoli
The pappardelle con il ragù d’agnello at Siamo Napoli in North Park is one of my list of favorite Italian restaurants. And a top contender for the best pasta in San Diego. And for a very good reason. I’m immensely jealous that I cannot make a dish this well at home, even though I have tried. They slowly braise the lamb all day so that it is soft and tender. You don’t need a knife at all. When you combine the ragu with their Cabernet-infused pasta, you have my favorite pasta dish in San Diego.
Civico 1845
Civico 1845 just celebrated its 10th anniversary in Little Italy. There’s a dish that’s been on the menu since the day they opened. The pappardelle brasato is homemade pasta with a slow-cooked short rib ragu. It’s some of the best pasta in San Diego. This dish is a past lover’s dream. It is no wonder that this dish is a customer favorite. It is finished with generous shavings of Parmigiano cheese.
Piazza 1909
No matter which pasta dish you order at Piazza 1909, you’ll have made a good choice. Two of my favorites are the lasagna and tagliatelle all bolognese. They serve some of the best pasta in San Diego. You can watch the chef make it fresh right inside the kitchen, adding to the experience. The pasta is perfectly cooked, flavorful, and satisfying. It’s a must-try for anyone who loves authentic Italian food.
Ciccia Osteria
Ciccia Osteria offers some of the best pasta in San Diego, served in a cozy old house. The charm starts with a handwritten menu of daily specials. Each dish is fresh, flavorful, and beautifully made. It’s the kind of place that makes pasta feel like a true craft.
Buona Forchetta
The pappardelle pasta with bolognese sauce is one of my favorite items on the menu at Buona Forchetta. They serve some of the best pasta in San Diego. I love the Encinitas, South Park, and Coronado locations. But the San Marcos spot changed how I enjoy this dish. They recommended that I add fresh burrata on top – now I have to get it that way. It’s that extra bit of cheese on their pasta and ground beef bolognese sauce that makes it so yummy.
RustiCucina
If you’re dining at RustiCucina, order the chef’s cheese wheel pasta, popular for the best pasta in San Diego. There are two reasons for that. First, watching the dish being prepared tableside looks almost as good as it tastes. Second, the special changes regularly, so it’s worth asking what’s new. They always prepare it in a 36-month Parmesan cheese wheel. It’s the perfect amount of pasta and cheese.
PIACERE MIO
If you said Piacere Mio makes some of the best pasta in San Diego, that would be a good statement. I’ve seen them make pasta fresh many times. And my favorite dish is the pappardelle with the bolognese sauce. It’s a generous portion, even more so with a heavy rain of cheese on top. If you’re dining with someone else, make sure you each get a different pasta and sauce. That way, you can share and enjoy more than just one of each. (Update: the Del Sur location has closed.)
Trattoria Da Sofia
I was really impressed with the freshly made pasta at Trattoria Da Sofia. They serve some of the best pasta in San Diego. I thoroughly enjoyed all the food I tried at this new restaurant in Kensington. I highly recommend the Pistacchiosa (spaghetti pasta, pistachio pesto cream sauce, stracciatella cheese). Also, the Cacio e Pepe (housemade asiago-filled gnocchi, pecorino cheese, black pepper). While you are there, save room for their tableside tiramisu.
RoVino Restaurant + Bar
Rovino Restaurant + Bar is one of the places to find the best pasta in San Diego. While the pasta is fantastic, so is everything else. You should try their signature tortellini, stuffed with chicken and topped with pesto cream and lots of cheese. But save room for the arancini, grilled lamb chops, burrata, and rotisserie chicken.
SORRENTO Ristorante
At Sorrento Ristorante, you can watch the kitchen staff making gnocchi fast. It’s a popular dish, and along with their lasagna and ravioli, they serve some of the best pasta in San Diego. It’s some of my favorite gnocchi in San Diego. They serve a version at lunch, but my favorite is the Gnocchi Tuscan at dinner. Their homemade gnocchi comes with short ribs and duck ragu, plus a porcini mushroom sauce. It’s pure perfection on a plate.
Who else serves the best pasta in San Diego? Let me know.
