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The Best Places to Eat and Do in El Cajon

3 places ranked

The best places to eat and do in El Cajon, according to the experts: Los Angeles Times, Eater, and San Diego Magazine have all weighed in, and their honors are what rank this list. Mal Al Sham comes out on top.

Read the San Diego Edition

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  • Pizza
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  • Seafood
  • Oyster Bars
  • Sushi
  • Kaiseki
  • Yakitori
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  • Barbecue
  • Noodle Shops
  • Ramen Shops
  • Bakeries
  • Patisseries
  • Boulangeries
  • Bagel Shops
  • Doughnut Shops
  • Dessert Shops
  • Ice Cream & Gelato
  • Breakfast
  • Delis
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  • Burger Joints
  • Sandwich Shops
  • Taquerias
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  • Bistros
  • Brasseries
  • Trattorias
  • Osterias
  • Tapas Bars
  • Vegetarian
  • Vegan
  • Wine Bars
  • Beer Bars
  • Pubs
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  • Izakayas
  • Coffee Shops
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  • Outdoors
  • Shopping
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  • Museums
  • Amusement Parks
  • Venues
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  • Clubs
  • Spas

  1. Rank 1. Mal Al Sham

    The awards

    Address
    388 E Main St, El Cajon, CA · El Cajon
    Hours

    Closed now, opens Mon 9 AM

    Sunday 9 AM–10 PM

    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    Save On the Way What's Around

  2. Rank 2. Crafted Greens

    The awards

    Address
    745 Jamacha Road, El Cajon, CA · El Cajon
    Online
    Website
    Save On the Way What's Around

  3. Rank 3. Grand Ole BBQ

    Central Texas Barbecue

    The awards

    Address
    15505 Olde Hwy 80, El Cajon, CA · El Cajon
    Hours

    Closed now, opens Tue noon

    Sunday Noon–9 PM

    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    Save On the Way What's Around

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Eat Score

The score comes from the awards it's won, weighted by who gave them: a Michelin star outweighs a listicle. When you sort by what's nearby, distance changes the order, never the score.

    How we score →

    Drink Score

    The score comes from the awards it's won, weighted by who gave them: a Michelin star outweighs a listicle. When you sort by what's nearby, distance changes the order, never the score.

      How we score →

      Stay Score

      Four fifths of the score is the awards it's won, weighted by who gave them: a Michelin Key outweighs a listicle. The last fifth is where it is: the ranked places to eat and things to do around it, and how safe the country is. When you sort by what's nearby, distance from you changes the order, never the score.

        How we score →

        Do Score

        The score comes from the awards it's won, weighted by who gave them: a Michelin star outweighs a listicle. When you sort by what's nearby, distance changes the order, never the score.

          How we score →

          Best Place Score

          The Best Place Score rates the area around a point, not any one place. The places are 60% of it: the best of what's within reach, weighed by distance. The setting is the other 40%: how life goes in that country (how people rate their own lives, how long and how well they live, how safe they are) and what it's like right there (the air, and the weather). If the score looks low, we probably haven't found enough critics out here yet.