El Cajon
Chaldean and Iraqi kitchens, a real theater, and downtown stops worth planning around.
Start here
7 in total
Neighborhood Guides7 Places Worth Your Time in El Cajon, Ranked7
MarketsThe 6 Best Middle Eastern Markets in San Diego, Ranked6
MarketsThe 11 Best International Markets in San Diego, Ranked11
Cheap EatsThe 10 Best Cheap Eats in San Diego, Ranked10
Sports & GolfThe 9 Best Public Golf Courses in San Diego, Ranked9
Cheap EatsThe 10 Best All-You-Can-Eat Restaurants in San Diego, Ranked10
Every list that covers El Cajon
Updated as places change- 7 rankedNeighborhood Guides7 Places Worth Your Time in El Cajon, RankedUpdated Jul 27
- 6 rankedMarketsThe 6 Best Middle Eastern Markets in San Diego, RankedUpdated Aug 2
- 11 rankedMarketsThe 11 Best International Markets in San Diego, RankedUpdated Aug 2
- 10 rankedCheap EatsThe 10 Best Cheap Eats in San Diego, RankedUpdated Jul 27
- 9 rankedSports & GolfThe 9 Best Public Golf Courses in San Diego, RankedUpdated Jul 27
- 10 rankedCheap EatsThe 10 Best All-You-Can-Eat Restaurants in San Diego, RankedUpdated Jul 23
11 rankedGlobal KitchensThe 11 Best Middle Eastern Restaurants in San Diego, RankedUpdated Jul 23
The neighborhood itself
14 verified places · 5 eat & drink and 2 things-to-do listsEl Cajon is more than the commercial strip visible from Interstate 8. Its Chaldean community built one of California's most concentrated Iraqi food corridors, while downtown supports a legitimate concert hall and a small museum. Treat the city as an East County sequence, not somewhere you pass on the way east.
If you only do 5 things
1Crafted Greenseat2The Magnoliashows3Wieghorst Museumart4Nahrainmasgouf5Al AzayembreakfastKnow before you go
Heat: East County runs hotter than the coast — use Al Azayem's 6am opening for an early start during summer
Show nights: The Magnolia's free public lot is at 233 Magnolia Ave; the Courtyard Marriott lot tows
Short hours: The Wieghorst Museum is a late-week stop — call ahead before crossing the county
Where they are — 14 verified places
The index
Ranked places pulled from all 7 listsSound and sightlines are why this room works.
Olaf Wieghorst painted the West, and the house he lived in is now hung with the results.