The Best Steakhouses in Del Mar & Solana Beach

The best modern steakhouse in the county and the most fun wagyu tasting format.

Rare Society updated the steakhouse formula with a loud room, a good cocktail list, and small-format wagyu flights that let you taste several grades in one sitting. It is a better night out than most of the old-guard rooms, even if the beef sourcing isn't quite Born & Raised level.

Local tip: Split the wagyu flight between two people — full portions of A5 get overwhelming fast.

A chain, but the sizzling-butter execution is genuinely consistent across visits.

Ruth's Chris is where the chain format works: 500-degree plates, butter, and cooks who hit temperature every time. You are paying a premium for reliability rather than personality, and for a lot of diners that trade is worth making.

Local tip: The happy hour bar menu is the only affordable way into this room.