Life in San Diego: National City

Apr 21, 2025 - Mira Paranjape

Just 10 minutes south of Downtown San Diego sits one of South County’s best kept secrets: National City. It may be the second-oldest city in San Diego County, but a wave of new small businesses and pop-ups make it feel brand-new. The backdrop to these hip businesses—historic Victorian homes and gardens blooming with jacaranda trees.

Home to everyone from military families to engineers working at the nearby shipyards, if you’re searching for a suburb that combines community and culture with authenticity and affordability, look no further than National City.

Explore everything that makes this South County neighborhood so special:

Authentic eats from around the world

Whether you’re craving light and crunchy lumpia, fresh pho served piping hot, or tacos on hand-rolled tortillas, National City has it all. And thanks to the neighborhood’s rich Filipino and Mexican communities, you can find some of the most authentic eats right here.

At Tita’s Kitchenette, you’ll feel like you’re sitting down with family for a warm meal. The community staple has been serving up Filipino comfort food like savory pork sisig and aromatic chicken adobo since 1992, so you can trust it knows its stuff. Its name “Tita”—an affectionate term in Tagalog meaning “auntie” or older woman—is a nod to the vital role these women play in their communities, nurturing people through their cooking and care.

Affordable cost, authentic cuisine, or award-winning cooking—how about all of the above? PHOnomenal is a small mom-and-pop shop making it big thanks to its award-winning Cambodian-style pho. Voted #1 on Yelp’s Top 25 Pho Spots in the U.S. and #4 on Yelp’s Top 100 Places to Eat in 2025, each bowl is made with rich beef broth, bouncy rice noodles, fresh veggies, and tender beef short rib that falls right off the bone. What really sets it apart is the spice. Traditional Vietnamese pho may be full of flavor, but PHOnomenal takes it up a notch by serving it Cambodian-style: extra spicy with house-made chili oil and sliced jalapenos.

But you can’t visit South County without enjoying some of the tastiest Mexican eats this side of Tijuana. Make a stop at Carnitas Quiroga for authentic Michoacán flavors and food made with love. The mouthwatering carnitas from which it gets its name are a testament to their family history and tradition.

When it comes to comfort food, too, you can never go wrong with soup. Grab a bowl at Menuderia Don Vicente where you’ll find a variety of menudo and pozole.

Now, if you want to eat like a true local, you’ll need to find your way to the right cross-streets. While you can find incredible eats at sit-down restaurants around National City, the most authentic Mexican eats are being made in front of you at food trucks or taco stands. Start digging online to find where the community is coming through next.

Brick-and-mortar beginnings

Compared to some of San Diego’s trendier neighborhoods, one of National City’s strongest selling points is its affordability. Thanks to this, shoppers can enjoy a day out at a reasonable price point and first-time business owners can bring their dreams of a brick-and-mortar store to life.

A perfect example of this is I’m Still Developing., a film lab and camera store that started online before successfully opening its doors in National City. With a passion for photography and community, the business first brought together photographers of all ages and experience levels for photo walks and pop-ups to make development easy and affordable for anyone with an interest. Now with the store open, it’s making good on that promise with high quality film development at low costs. If you drop in with friends to develop or buy film, don’t miss out on the vintage photobooth for a must-do memento!

If you love trinkets and all things cute, stop by Sofia’s Precious Boutique to shop from its carefully curated collection of one-of-a-kind items. Named for the founder’s daughter, the boutique is filled with toys and treasures that have been purposefully selected to bring joy and reflect a person’s individuality. From the selection of pieces, to the service provided, to the styling and personalization, it’s clear just how much passion and love has gone into opening the small but mighty store. Whether you’re a Sanrio lover, Smiski collector, or simply looking for a plushie, the boutique has something for everyone.

Pop-ups that are popping off

Some of San Diego’s best new businesses are beginning as pop-ups, and National City is the perfect place for them to start. The neighborhood’s strong sense of community is truly highlighted by the number of people who show up to show their support for these budding businesses.

SD Flip BBQ is bringing savory pork and chicken skewers fresh from the grill straight to your plate. The popular Filipino street food is bursting with flavor, thanks to a 24-hour marinade and signature sauce. If you prefer your food stick-free, try the juicy pork jerky or fan-favorite chicken wings. Start marking your calendar to make sure you don’t miss its next pop-up.

After enjoying your Filipino street food, why stop there? Give a Filipino café a try. Kaphé Muna is a woman-owned, Filipino-American pop-up café that’s crafting delicious drinks by incorporating cultural ingredients like Asin Tibuok, a rare sea salt made by the Boholano people, and freshening up nostalgic favorites like Milo and Golden Sweet Corn Chips (trust us on this one). While it pops up around the county, Kaphé Muna can often be found at I’m Still Developing., where it has enjoyed an overwhelming surge of support and success, thanks to its focus is on community and creating a welcoming environment for all customers.

To really discover the pop-ups that represent San Diego’s South County community, pay a visit to the National City Flea Market, where you can enjoy a little bit of everything: treat yourself to delicious eats, sip on hand-crafted drinks, or do some shopping. With a large variety of vendors, it’s a true celebration of community and local businesses.

This South County neighborhood steps up for its community—show National City some love and experience it for yourself. Interested in getting to know some of San Diego’s other neighborhoods? Check out our other blogs!