Why College Students Should Get the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (June 2026)
NCnextcard team
Best San Diego Restaurants for Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit in June 2026
NC
nextcard teamPublished Mar 19, 2026Updated Jun 2, 2026
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There are 19 restaurants in San Diego where you can use your Chase Sapphire Reserve dining credit, but OpenTable's interface doesn't make it easy to browse them. You can't see pricing, filter by location, or pull up a map without opening each restaurant one by one.
We built a tool (MealMaxxer) that displays all 19 on an interactive map with neighborhoods and price estimates so you can stop clicking around and actually pick a spot. You can even use MealMaxxer to find restaurants that are a part of multiple dining rewards programs like inKind or Bilt Neighborhood.
TLDR:
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® provides up to $300 annually in statement credits at participating OpenTable Exclusive Tables restaurants. You get up to $150 from January through June and another up to $150 from July through December, with no rollover between periods.
Credits post within 3 business days, though Chase allows up to 4 weeks. Your purchase must come directly from the restaurant, so paying the bill at your table works but third-party delivery apps typically won't qualify.
In December 2025, Chase and OpenTable quietly expanded the Exclusive Tables network from around 200 to roughly 400 restaurants, bringing in over 20 new cities nationwide. San Diego's count remained at 19 participating locations heading into mid-2026, so the local options you see here reflect the current state of the program.
San Diego has 19 restaurants participating in the OpenTable Exclusive Tables program. They range from Little Italy hotspots to La Jolla Shores oceanfront dining, covering everything from wood-fired Mediterranean to contemporary seafood:
OpenTable displays these in a multi-page grid with large photos but no filtering, search bar, or map. You can't see pricing estimates or compare neighborhoods without opening each restaurant individually.
Chef Brian Malarkey's flagship in Little Italy draws crowds for rustic wood-fired Mediterranean cooking. The multilevel former warehouse features barrel-vaulted ceilings and has earned Michelin Guide recognition since opening over four years ago.
The menu follows California's seasonal ethos with dishes ranging from grilled mushrooms and wood-fired pizzas to refined plates like venison over buttermilk polenta. Most entrees fall between $30 and $70, which makes it a good spot to use most of your semiannual credit with a friend or partner..
Juniper & Ivy earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2019 and remains listed in the Michelin Guide. It operates out of a converted 1920s warehouse in Little Italy. Chef-owner Michael Rosen runs an open kitchen that turns out rotating menus built around seasonal ingredients with Latin and Asian accents.
Main entrees like the Miso Black Cod or Linguine run about $40.
Kettner Exchange sits in Little Italy's Kettner Boulevard corridor with an industrial-chic interior that features exposed brick, steel beams, and a lively open bar. The restaurant delivers California-inspired cooking with dishes that shift between approachable and refined, from Brussels sprouts with maple-chili glaze to seared scallops with cauliflower puree.
The cocktail program leans heavily into craft preparations with house-infused spirits and rotating seasonal ingredients. The bar doubles as a social hub where you can order small plates without committing to a full dinner.
Pricing falls in the mid-range, with entrees typically between $18 and $38.
Ironside Fish & Oyster brings coastal seafood to Little Italy with nautical decor. The restaurant serves fresh oysters, raw bar selections, and seafood towers that work for weeknight dinners and celebrations alike. Menu options span oysters on the half shell to grilled whole fish, with entrees typically priced $22 to $42, reaching the $150 semiannual threshold in three to four visits.
You could get any of the hot dishes like the prawns or taiwanese chicken for $20-35. Or you could go with their prized wagyu, which obviously comes with a heftier price tag. The 8oz choice filet costs $68, whereas the 28oz dry aged ribeye runs $240.
Coasterra occupies a prime Harbor Island location with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking San Diego Bay and the downtown skyline. The restaurant serves Mexican coastal cuisine with an upscale tilt, featuring ceviche variations, grilled octopus, and upscale tacos alongside an extensive tequila and mezcal program.
The waterfront setting and higher price point make Coasterra perfect for entertaining visitors or celebrating. Entrees typically run $24 to $48, and cocktails add another $14 to $18 each, putting dinner for two with drinks near or above $150.
Solare Ristorante Lounge delivers traditional Italian cooking in Point Loma with housemade pastas, wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas, and classic preparations. The intimate dining room suits date nights or small gatherings, with an Italian wine list that goes deep on regional bottles.
Pricing flexibility comes from the menu structure. Pizzas start around $16 to $22 while pasta dishes run $18 to $28, giving you control over how quickly you approach the $150 threshold. You could stretch the credit across multiple casual pizza dinners or consolidate spending with wine pairings and family-style antipasti platters in one visit.
The credit applies after a few days when you pay directly at the restaurant with your card. Once the change appears on your transaction history, you’ll usually see a statement credit appear as well.
If you're splitting the bill between multiple cards, each cardholder should receive their own credit up to their available balance.
Cash or check payments don't qualify. The transaction needs to be processed through your Sapphire Reserve and the restaurant's payment system directly. Statement credits appear on your account without any activation or enrollment required (it can sometimes take a few weeks)
The Reserve's up to $300 annual credit splits into two $150 semiannual periods with no activation needed, while the American Express Platinum Card® offers up to $400 annually through up to $100 quarterly increments (enrollment required).
Chase limits you to OpenTable Exclusive Tables, whereas Amex covers over 10,000 US Resy partner restaurants. Amex credits can take up to 8 weeks to post.
| Feature | Chase Sapphire Reserve | Amex Platinum |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Dining Credit | Up to $300 annually split into two $150 semiannual periods | Up to $400 annually split into four up to $100 quarterly increments |
| Credit Period Structure | January-June and July-December with no rollover between periods | Quarterly credits with no rollover between quarters |
| Enrollment Required | No activation needed, credits post automatically | Enrollment required to activate the benefit |
| Eligible Restaurant Network | OpenTable Exclusive Tables only (19 locations in San Diego, ~400 restaurants throughout the US) | Resy partner restaurants (over 10,000 locations nationwide) |
| Credit Posting Timeline | Credits post within 3 business days, Chase allows up to 4 weeks | Credits can take up to 8 weeks to post to your account |
| Payment Method | Must pay directly at the restaurant, third-party delivery apps don't qualify | Must pay directly at participating restaurants, third-party delivery apps don't qualify |
OpenTable's grid layout requires clicking through multiple pages to see all 19 San Diego restaurants. You can't search, filter by neighborhood, or compare pricing without opening each listing individually.
Our MealMaxxer tool maps all eligible restaurants with average price per person shown for each location. Filter by neighborhood, search specific spots, and see which restaurants participate in other programs like inKind or Bilt Neighborhood Dining without leaving the map view.
Interestingly though, 0 restaurants in San Diego qualify for both the CSR Exclusive Tables credit and inKind/Bilt Neighborhood programs.
San Diego's 19 participating restaurants give you solid options across Little Italy, Gaslamp Quarter, Point Loma, Harbor Island, and La Jolla Shores. Whether you're after wood-fired Mediterranean at Herb & Wood, coastal seafood at The Marine Room, or traditional Italian at Solare, the range covers most preferences with typical spending between $40 and $100 per person.
That pricing structure means you'll hit the $150 semiannual threshold in roughly two to five visits depending on where you eat and whether you order wine. MealMaxxer maps all your options with neighborhoods and average prices shown upfront so you're not stuck clicking through OpenTable's clunky interface.
Credits post automatically when you pay directly at an eligible OpenTable Exclusive Tables restaurant, usually within 3 business days but sometimes up to 4 weeks. Third-party apps like UberEats won't work because the charge processes through the app instead of the restaurant. Gift cards and merchandise don't qualify either.
No, you do not.
Nothing in the Chase terms and conditions say that you have to book a reservation with a qualifying restaurant. You merely need to pay the bill with your eligible card.
You lose it. Credits expire June 30 and December 31 with no rollover. A fresh $150 becomes available July 1 and January 1, but anything left from the previous period disappears.
Takeout qualifies when you pay the restaurant directly at pickup or through their ordering system. Orders through DoorDash, UberEats, or Grubhub don't work because the charge shows up from the app, not the restaurant.
Little Italy dominates with Herb & Wood, Juniper & Ivy, Kettner Exchange, and Ironside Fish & Oyster all within walking distance. La Jolla offers premium seafood options like The Marine Room, while Gaslamp Quarter and Point Loma each have select spots.
