Macaroni and cheese — mac ‘n’ cheese — that gooey, glorious combination of macaroni noodles and cheese sauce. The mac and cheese debate is a highly sensitive subject for some, as it’s a comfort food near and dear to many of our hearts.

Luckily, San Diego is home to some passionate mac and cheese enthusiasts and as a result, we have an excellent assortment to choose from.

From breakfast mac to having your mac served in a bread bowl, here are 10 places where you can get some of the best in SD.

1. Urban Solace

Duckaroni at Urban Solace. It’s made with duck and topped with bread crumbs. It comes in a cream-filled skillet and may closely resemble a dish you’ve literally been dreaming of (and, now, drooling over). The good news is — it actually exists, game bird and all.

2. Karl Strauss Brewery

At Karl Strauss, they serve ‘Mac on Tap’ and give you the choice of the Piggy Bank (beer-brined bacon, Black Forest ham, Andouille), the P.A.C. Man (portobello, arugula, chicken), the Tree Hugger (broccoli, spinach, roasted red peppers), and The Norm (noodles, cheese sauce, parmesan breadcrumb topping). Keeping everyone happy here is easy-cheesy.

3. Stacked

At Stacked, you can build your own mac and cheese starting with a base of large elbow macaroni mixed with cheddar, American and pepper jack cheeses — and topped with a parmesan bread crumb crust. From there, choose your proteins (like applewood smoked bacon, Italian sausage, meatballs) and your vegetables (like onion strings, sautéed mushrooms and sundried tomatoes).

4. Cali Comfort BBQ

If you’re looking for an entree type of mac and cheese, go for the Southern Mac ‘n’ Cheese at Cali Comfort. You’ll find it with bacon, blackened chicken, and — get this — a dollop of sour cream. To round off the deal, they’ll even serve it with a side of garlic bread.

5. Slater’s 50 / 50

Sports bar Slater’s 50/50 is all about the bacon, burgers and beer, but they also have a creative shared menu that features things like deconstructed guacamole, shmanimal fries, and fried bacon mac and cheese balls served with Tapatio ranch.

6. Toronado

The spicy mac and cheese at Toronado is made with Passilla peppers, chipotle, and habañero. And if that all sounds too spicy, don’t even worry about it. There’s a beer list full of cold ones that will get you fixed up straight away. And, you have the option of pairing your mac and cheese with pigs in a blanket.

7. Mother’s Saloon

Mother’s Saloon in Ocean Beach offers baked mac and cheese with Andouille sausage, grilled corn, smoked jalapeños and bread crumbs. You can add in their made-in-house bacon, of course, and as a wild bonus: you can even have it served in a bread bowl.


8. Breakfast Republic

If your hankering for a cheesy bowl of mac comes up around morning time, no need to fear: Breakfast Republic is here. They offer breakfast mac and cheese made with parmesan bread crumbs, chives, macaroni, bacon and jack & cheddar cheese sauce. You can top it with 3 eggs any style and even — upgrade to jurassic pork, if you’d like.

9. Mister A’s

Hailed as one of the fanciest joints in the city, Mister A’s knows how to put the class in our beloved cheese-filled dish of wonder. How, you ask? Pancetta and black truffle. Pair that with the bay and skyline views as you dine high above the city, and this spot is made for for a romantic mac and cheese date.

10. Neighborhood

Known for their creative burgers, craft beer and overall cool vibe, the jalapeño mac and cheese with cheddar and chives at Neighborhood is also pretty killer. Oh, and for $4 more, you can even make it hamburger-helper style!

Because macaroni and cheese is always a good idea — use these 10 suggestions to steer yourself in the direction of some of the best ones San Diego has to offer.

Have it for breakfast. Have it for dinner. Have it on a first date or have it solo. But by all means, eat, enjoy and relish in all the gooey goodness mac and cheese provides for your soul.