Ocean Crest - San Diego, CA Area Guide

The development of the Ocean Crest community began in 1998, making it one of the newest neighborhoods in San Diego. It was annexed to San Diego County, along with other areas in South San Diego, in 1957. The South San Diego region was initially inhabited by Native Americans called the Diegueno.

The Bonita Museum & Cultural Center is a local museum that features local history and fine arts exhibits including Native American displays. It hosts events throughout the year including the “Bonita People” Speaker series, the annual Dia De Los Muertos celebration and a concert series.

Many Ocean Crest residents head to neighboring Chula Vista to dine. Being so close to the Mexican border, it is no surprise that there are plenty of Mexican restaurants that populate the area. Karina's Mexican Seafood Cuisine, a popular neighborhood favorite, delivers seafood with a traditional Mexican twist as well as authentic Mexican dishes. Try menu items such as shrimp aguachile, enchiladas, quesadillas and ceviche. The decor is an experience unto itself with various colors, Mexican figures, art and culture all contributing to the atmosphere.

If you're in the mood for Greek food, check out Zorba's Greek Buffet. This restaurant serves authentic Greek food based on 50 year old family recipes. Menu items include chicken souvlaki, spanakopita, gyros, mousaka and pastitsio. Zorba also hosts live entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights.

Tomodachi Sushi Bar & Restaurant is a great dining option if you're craving Asian food. It offers an extensive selection of menu items such as tempura salmon, stamina noodle soup, edamame, shumai and of course a variety of different types of sushi.

Over The Border is a popular nightclub in Chula Vista that plays the best in hip-hop, Reggaeton, Latin and Top 40. On $2 Tuesdays, you can enjoy well drinks and beers for only two bucks. Other special nights include ladies' night on Thursdays, live music on Fridays and noches de atrancon on Saturdays. Other nearby nightlife venues include La Nueva Generacion and Diamond Jim's.

Ocean Crest offers many methods of transportation. Many people travel by automobile because public transportation does not fully service the neighborhood.

This pedestrian-friendly community comes equipped with bicycle lanes on main roads and sidewalks. You can call and arrange for a taxi or Uber service. The wait time for Uber, excluding peak times, ranges from 5 to 10 minutes. The Ocean Crest neighborhood is bordered by Interstate 805 and California State Route 905, making it extremely convenient to access the highways.

overview section could give more of a feel for the place, who lives there, etc. Shopping section needs less on malls and more on local boutiques and such. Transportation section needs info on parking.

The Ocean View Hills Community Park, dedicated in 2002, provides visitors with picnic areas, basketball courts, a children's area and a multipurpose green area.

If you are looking for a larger park with more recreational activities, check out Montgomery-Waller Recreation Center, which provides both indoor and outdoor amenities. Outdoor amenities include multipurpose athletic fields, two lighted basketball courts and picnic areas. Among the indoor amenities are a gymnasium that can be used for basketball, volleyball and indoor soccer, a kitchen, and various rooms for meetings, arts and crafts, and children’s classes. It also hosts youth recreational leagues, which costs around $20 for the season. Every year, the Montgomery-Waller center throws a carnival where visitors can enjoy food, games and entertainment.

The Otay Valley Regional Park is a favorite in South San Diego. This 200-acre park boasts seven ponds, seven staging areas and more than eight miles of non-motorized trails. It also has various amenities like amusement parks and concert venues. This park welcomes dogs, but they must be kept on a 8-foot maximum leash. Visitors come here for activities such as hiking, fishing, bicycling and even equestrian riding.

Other nearby parks include Silverwing Park, Los Ninos Park and Valle Lindo Park.

The cost of living in Ocean Crest tends to be lower than in the rest of San Diego. The cost to rent, however, is a little higher. The mean rent in the Ocean Crest neighborhood is $1,533, compared to $1,516 in the rest of the city. The cost of a beer at a local pub like MJ’s Bar and Grill is around $5 to $6. The cost of gas is about 12 percent higher than the national average.

The premier shopping area near Ocean Crest is Otay Ranch Town Center located in Chula Vista. This mall offers more than 100 different stores and services. Popular stores include Banana Republic, Apple, Carter’s, H&M, Macy’s, Zumiez and Sephora. If you have furry friends, they can enjoy themselves at the 10,000-square-foot dog park on site.

The Westfield Mission Valley mall is about 18 miles from the Ocean Crest neighborhood but supplies South San Diego with a larger selection of stores, including Macy’s, Nordstrom Rack, and Target. Westfield also houses impressive dining options, including the Broken Yolk Cafe, King’s Fish House, the Tilted Kilt Pub and Eatery and the Lazy Dog Restaurant and Bar.

Grocery-store options for Ocean Crest are nearby stores like Vons, Wal-Mart and Sprout's Farmers Market.

overview section could give more of a feel for the place, who lives there, etc. Shopping section needs less on malls and more on local boutiques and such. Transportation section needs info on parking.