Your cooking free options for Thanksgiving dinner
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Thanksgiving at George's. Photo: Courtesy of George's at the Cove
Your Thanksgiving Day doesn't have to involve a roasting pan.
The big picture: San Diego restaurants are offering everything from traditional turkey dinners and waterfront buffets to sushi platters and a take-home duck feast.
Plan ahead: Some takeout orders close as early as Thursday, Nov. 19, and reservations are booking up fast.
🍽️ Thanksgiving dine-in
🌊 George's at the Cove: Gather in the Ocean View Room for a family-style feast with turkey breast, sage-sausage-stuffed turkey leg, chestnut-mushroom stuffing, Parmesan mashed potatoes and Japanese sweet potatoes with yuzu marshmallow. Pumpkin cake finishes the meal.
- Seatings from 2–7pm.
- $95 per person and $45 for children 12 and under.
- Reserve through Tock.
🏖️ The Shores Restaurant: For a more casual beachfront celebration in La Jolla, The Shores is serving a buffet of coastal-inspired dishes and traditional Thanksgiving fare.
- Noon–7pm.
- $95 per adult and $45 for children 12 and under.
- Reserve through The Shores
⛵ Covewood at San Diego Mission Bay Resort: The three-course dinner includes kabocha squash bisque, turkey and an apple pie cinnamon roll.
- 2–8pm.
- $98 per adult and $44 per child.
- Reserve through OpenTable or call 619-275-7922.
🦀 Vistal and Garibaldi at InterContinental San Diego: The waterfront restaurants share a Thanksgiving buffet featuring chilled seafood, roasted turkey, prime rib, glazed ham, salmon, traditional sides and a live Crêpe Suzette station. A vegan, gluten-free polenta stuffing comes with chestnuts, leeks and apples.
- 2–7pm.
- $135 per adult, $75 for children ages 5–12 and free for children 4 and under.
- Reserve through OpenTable for Vistal or Garibaldi.
🌆 The Rooftop at Andaz San Diego: Skip the formal feast for stuffing hush puppies, turkey-and-stuffing sliders, citrus-fried green beans and pumpkin pie mini cheesecake.
- Noon–11pm.
- Reserve through Tock.
🍺 Shakespeare Pub: Choose turkey breast with stuffing or roast beef with Yorkshire pudding, both served with roasted and mashed potatoes, seasonal vegetables and gravy. The meal is available for dine-in or takeout, alongside a selection of regular pub dishes.
- 10:30am–3pm.
- $42.95, plus tax.
- Reserve through Toast or call 619-299-0230.
🥡 Thanksgiving takeout
🦃 The Cork & Craft: The Rancho Bernardo restaurant's dinner package includes sliced turkey, sage-sausage stuffing, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, candied yams with marshmallow, Brussels sprouts, turkey gravy and Caesar salad.
- Order by Sunday, Nov. 22, for pickup Wednesday, Nov. 25.
- $37.50 per person, with a four-box minimum.
- Order through Eventbrite.
🍣 Glass Box: Give the turkey a year off. The Del Mar restaurant's sushi platters include varieties such as California, shrimp tempura, Rainbow and Dragon rolls, plus soy sauce, ginger, wasabi and serving utensils.
- Order by Sunday, Nov. 22, for pickup Thanksgiving Day.
- $100 for a six-roll platter serving four, or $150 for an eight-roll platter serving six.
- Order through Eventbrite.
🔥 Del's Hideout and Coaster Saloon: The feast includes a choice of meat, three family-size sides, rolls and cranberry sauce. Side options include stuffing, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, collard greens, candied yams and green bean casserole.
- Order by Monday, Nov. 23, at 3pm. Pickup is Thanksgiving Day, 10am–4pm, in Del Cerro or Mission Beach.
- $229.95 for a feast serving 8–10. A whole smoked turkey is $135.95; pies or apple crumble are $24.95.
- Order through Del's Hideout or Coaster Saloon.
🥔 Urban Plates: The chilled turkey feast includes herb-roasted turkey breast, mushroom stuffing, gravy, cranberry relish, bread and two sides.
- Order by Sunday, Nov. 22, for pickup Nov. 24 or 25.
- $199.99 serving 6–8, $114.99 for a hot meal serving four or $27.99 for an individual plate.
- Order through Urban Plates and select a location.
🥧 Kitchens for Good: Outsource the turkey's supporting cast. Options include macaroni and cheese, greens, tamales, cornbread muffins, rolls, pumpkin pie and cranberry-apple crumble pie.
- Order by Thursday, Nov. 19. Pickup is Nov. 24 or 25, 10am–5pm, at 980 Hornblend St. in Pacific Beach.
- Order through Kitchens for Good.
🥪 Big Front Door (BFD): The University Heights deli's smoked-turkey dinners come with sides like green beans, mashed potatoes, stuffing and pumpkin bread.
- Contact BFD at 619-255-4100.