It is hard to imagine life beyond the walls of Trujillo’s and the heavenly creation of the Sigma Pi burrito, but San Diego is bursting with after-hour restaurants and food stands to satisfy dangerous intoxicated munchies. From hot dogs with a unique twist in the hustle and bustle of Pacific Beach to organic hamburgers in the sophisticated Gaslamp Quarter, there is a little bit of everything to fulfill imbibed hunger past 2 a.m.
Berkeley Pizza
Back in the day, Berkeley Pizza was solely a delivery service with no set restaurant location. Now, the one-of-a-kind pizza place is located in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter, a stone’s throw from Stingaree. Berkeley Pizza serves custom-stuffed pizzas by the slice or entire pie until 3 a.m. every Friday and Saturday.
Each pizza is created from scratch to ensure the true essence of family cooking, which Berkeley Pizza originated from. The pizzas are thick with toppings rather than a heavy crust, and the surface of the pie is layered with hearty, stewed tomatoes.
However, take note: Berkeley Pizza wants customers to remember good things come to those who wait. Each pizza takes about an hour to bake and slices of pizza are served fresh out of the oven.
Burger Lounge in Gaslamp
There is a way to maintain culinary standards, even after a couple of Long Island iced teas. Burger Lounge is the miracle on 5th Avenue for late-night food fiends. Although the restaurant has five other San Diego locations, this spot is open latest. The chic, modern ambiance of the restaurant is the perfect setting for a premium quality food menu available until 3 a.m. every Friday and Saturday. According to the restaurant’s website, Burger Lounge serves healthy food items produced in a sustainable environment. All meat products come from one farm that keeps the animals free from hormones and antibiotics. With menu options such as a Wild Alaskan Salmon Burger with fried green tomato and a house-made barbecue glaze and side options including a fresh vegetable salad or fresh-cut french fries, Burger Lounge can keep the heart and stomach happy.
Pink Noodle
Pink Noodle is a Thai restaurant that offers exactly what the name implies. Open seven days a week, and on Friday and Saturday until 3 a.m., this restaurant is situated in Hillcrest and features an entrée of noodles called Pink Lady that may appear a bit peculiar to the intoxicated eye. However, don’t be fooled by the odd color. This exotic noodle dish is a combination of pink-dyed rice noodles served with a choice of chicken or tofu, covered with creamy red coconut sauce. The cocktail menu continues this rosy theme with signature martinis such as Pink Princess, a mix of vodka, lychee syrup and raspberry puree, and French Kiss, a mix of vodka, pineapple, cranberry, raspberry puree, triple sec and champagne.
The flavorful Thai cuisine of Pink Noodle is exactly what the late-night doctor ordered when the classic California burrito just won’t do.
Mateo’s Hot Spot
A night out in Pacific Beach would not be complete without a hot dog from Mateo’s Hot Spot. Rated the No. 1 San Diego hot dog joint on Yelp, Mateo’s travel carts are a PB post-bar favorite. However, forget about ketchup and mustard. These dogs can be customized with mouthwatering condiments such as cream cheese, spicy homemade chili, grilled onions and hot nacho cheese. It’s a dream come true for munchie victims, and with three hot dog carts located throughout PB, there is no excuse to not experience a classic PB delicacy. If it wasn’t already accessible enough, Mateo’s Hot Spot also accepts any type of debit and credit card, so there is no need to stop at an ATM beforehand.
