Restaurants in El Cajon, CA
There are 60 independent places to eat in El Cajon, San Diego County, counted on . National chains are left out. 12 have hours on record. El Compadre is open 24 hours every day.
Counted from the live Hot Tip map. Listings start from OpenStreetMap and are corrected by hand.
By kind
- Restaurant28
- Counter service27
- Deli3
- Ice cream2
Kitchens, as tagged in OpenStreetMap
- Mexican16
- Chinese5
- Pizza3
- American2
- Burgers2
- Chicken2
- Donuts2
- Sushi2
- Vietnamese2
- Greek1
Every one of the 60 is listed. Places named in print or on Reddit come first, the ones more publications have named ahead of the rest. Then places with hours on record, then the rest by name. The order is how much the map knows about a place, never how good anybody thinks it is.
Named in print or on Reddit 26
Mal Al Sham
Syrian388 East Main Street, El Cajon, CA 92020
Named bySan Diego Magazine, Gareth Eats (video) and 3 more mentions
On Reddit87 threads, among them r/sandiego thread, r/SanDiegan thread, r/FoodSanDiego thread
Ali Baba Family Restaurant
Middle eastern421 East Main Street, El Cajon, CA 92020
Named bySan Diego Magazine, downtownelcajon.com
On Redditr/sandiego thread
The Burrito City
Mexican1255 Avocado Avenue, El Cajon, CA 92020
Sun to Thu 8am to 9pm, Fri and Sat 8am to 10pm
Named bySan Diego Reader
On Reddit10 threads, among them r/sandiego thread, r/FoodSanDiego thread, r/SanDiegan thread
China 1968
Chinese500 Broadway, El Cajon, CA 92021
Named byNBC 7 San Diego
On Reddit9 threads, among them r/sandiego thread
Yogurt Mill
Ice cream935 Broadway, El Cajon, CA 92021
Named bySan Diego Magazine
On Reddit9 threads, among them r/FoodSanDiego thread, r/sandiego thread, r/SanDiegan thread
Antonelli's Deli
Deli1354 North Magnolia Avenue, El Cajon, CA 92020
Tue to Fri 7am to 4pm, Sat 8am to 4pm, closed Sun and Mon
Named bySan Diego Magazine
Funky Fries and Burgers
Burgers, American, counter service101 West Washington Avenue, El Cajon, CA 92020
Named bySan Diego Magazine
Victoria Mexican Food
Mexican, counter service677 East Main Street, El Cajon, CA 92020
Named bydowntownelcajon.com
Beef N' Bun
Counter service2477 Fletcher Parkway, El Cajon, CA 92020
On Reddit23 threads, among them r/sandiego thread, r/SanDiegan thread
Los Chavos
Mexican, counter service1340 North 2nd Street, El Cajon, CA 92021
On Reddit17 threads, among them r/FoodSanDiego thread
Janet's Cafe
Restaurant1696 Greenfield Drive, El Cajon, CA 92021
Every day 6:30am to 2:30pm
On Reddit10 threads, among them r/FoodSanDiego thread, r/SanDiegan thread
Mr. Shawarma
Restaurant1056 East Main Street, El Cajon, CA 92020
On Reddit9 threads, among them r/FoodSanDiego thread, r/sandiego thread
Tacos El Gallo
Mexican, counter service569 North 2nd Street, El Cajon, CA 92021
On Reddit9 threads, among them r/FoodSanDiego thread, r/SanDiegan thread
Crafted Greens
Restaurant745 Jamacha Road, El Cajon, CA 92019
On Reddit7 threads, among them r/sandiego thread, r/FoodSanDiego thread
Greek Chicken
Greek, Chicken, counter service955 East Main Street, El Cajon, CA 92020
On Reddit7 threads, among them r/FoodSanDiego thread, r/sandiego thread
Bobs Big Boy
BurgersOn Reddit5 threads, among them r/asksandiego thread, r/FoodSanDiego thread, r/sandiego thread
China Panda Garden
Chinese1788 East Main Street, El Cajon, CA 92021
On Reddit4 threads, among them r/sandiego thread, r/FoodSanDiego thread
El Cilantro Mexican Grill
Mexican, counter service1285 East Madison Avenue, El Cajon, CA 92021
On Reddit4 threads, among them r/SanDiegan thread, r/sandiego thread, r/FoodSanDiego thread
Finest thai
ThaiOn Reddit4 threads, among them r/FoodSanDiego thread
Pho Tam
Vietnamese1771 North 2nd Street, El Cajon, CA 92021
On Reddit4 threads, among them r/FoodSanDiego thread
Taste of the Himalayas
Indian1786 East Main Street, El Cajon, CA 92021
On Reddit3 threads, among them r/sandiego thread, r/FoodSanDiego thread
The Habibi Sweets
Restaurant131 Jamacha Road, El Cajon, CA 92021
On Reddit3 threads, among them r/FoodSanDiego thread
Chen Golden Palace
Chinese530 North 2nd Street, El Cajon, CA 92021
On Reddit2 threads, among them r/FoodSanDiego thread
City Bistro
Restaurant1248 East Main Street, El Cajon, CA 92019
On Reddit2 threads, among them r/sandiego thread
Pancho's
Mexican1709 East Main Street, El Cajon, CA 92021
On Redditr/asksandiego thread, r/FoodSanDiego thread
Santanas Mexican
Mexican411 Broadway, El Cajon
On Redditr/sandiego thread
Hours on record 9
Ahi Sushi & Grill
Sushi, Japanese2872 Fletcher Parkway, El Cajon, CA 92020
Every day 11:30am to 2:30pm and 4pm to 9pm
El Compadre
Mexican, counter service595 North 2nd Street, El Cajon, CA 92021
Open 24 hours, every day
Franco's Giant Pizza
Pizza, counter service574 Jamacha Road, El Cajon, CA 92019
Every day 10:30am to 8:30pm
Jamacha Junction
Restaurant777 Jamacha Road, El Cajon, CA 92019
Mon to Thu 11am to 9pm, Fri 11am to 10pm, Sat 9am to 10pm, Sun 9am to 9pm
La China Restaurant
Chinese2852 Fletcher Parkway, El Cajon, CA 92020
Every day 10:30am to 9:30pm
Marechiaro's Italian Restaurant
Italian14120 Olde Highway 80, El Cajon, CA 92021
Sun to Thu 11am to 9pm, Fri and Sat 11am to 10pm
Pho Superbowl
Vietnamese382 North 2nd Street, El Cajon, CA 92021
Tue to Sun 11am to 8:45pm, closed Mon
The Cajon Pass Deli
Deli1195 North Cuyamaca Street, El Cajon, CA 92020
Mon to Fri 8am to 3pm, closed Sat and Sun
On the map, hours not on record 25
Amanii’s Meat Market
Restaurant1299 East Main Street, El Cajon, CA 92019
Christy's Donuts
Donuts, counter service657 Jamacha Road, El Cajon, CA 92019
Daniel's Taco Shop
Mexican, counter service1104 East Washington Avenue, El Cajon, CA 92019
Dondurma Gelato Cakes Coffee
Ice cream725 Jamacha Road, El Cajon, CA 92019
El Cotixan Mexican Food
Mexican, counter service538 North 2nd Street, El Cajon, CA 92021
El Cotixan Taco Shop
Counter serviceFamily Golden Palace
Mediterranean820 Jamacha Road, El Cajon, CA 92019
Gate of Damascus
Restaurant1142 East Main Street, El Cajon, CA 92019
Hana Sushi
Sushi749 Jamacha Road, El Cajon, CA 92019
Kabul Kebab House
Kebab, counter serviceMarieta's
Mexican1746 East Main Street, El Cajon, CA 92021
Maya's Deli
Deli450 Fletcher Parkway, El Cajon, CA 92020
New Century Buffet
Chinese, American868 Jackman Street, El Cajon, CA 92020
Ochoa's Mexican Food
Mexican, counter service1051 East Main Street, El Cajon, CA 92020
Panda's Tortas and Frutas locas
Counter service532 North 2nd Street, El Cajon, CA 92021
Pizza Xpress
Pizza, counter service1270 Broadway, El Cajon, CA 92021
Poncho's Mexican & Sea Food
Mexican, counter service1279 East Main Street, El Cajon, CA 92019
Rose Donuts And Ice Cream
Donuts, counter service1760 North 2nd Street, El Cajon, CA 92021
Rosendo's Taco Shop
Mexican, counter service1408 East Main Street, El Cajon, CA 92019
Silva's Taco Shop
Mexican, counter service998 Broadway, El Cajon, CA 92021
Sombrero
Mexican, counter service1501 East Washington Avenue, El Cajon, CA 92019
Sombrero
Counter serviceThe Grinder
Sandwiches, counter service1300 North 2nd Street, El Cajon, CA 92021
Valerio's Mexican Food
Counter service1267 North 2nd Street, El Cajon, CA 92021
Wings Empire
Chicken, counter service740 Jamacha Road, El Cajon, CA 92019
What the hours can tell you
How many places to eat are there in El Cajon?
Hot Tip lists 60 independent places to eat in El Cajon, San Diego County, counted on 5 October 2026. By the tag each one carries in OpenStreetMap: Restaurant 28, Counter service 27, Deli 3, Ice cream 2. National chains are not counted, so the area has more than this in all.
Which places to eat in El Cajon are open after 11pm?
Of the 12 with hours on record, 1 is open after 11pm at least one night: El Compadre (24 hours every night).
Which places to eat in El Cajon are open on Monday?
Of the 12 with hours on record, 10 open on Monday. The ones that do not are Antonelli's Deli and Pho Superbowl.
Hours come from OpenStreetMap or from the business's own website. A place with no hours on record stays on the map and is never the app's answer, because the answer promises open now. Something wrong or missing? Write to hello@hottip.club. If the place is yours, claiming it is free.
Also in El Cajon
County-wide
One of these, picked for you, open right now.
Free. A first name and an email, and no password.