O'Brien's   

Who would have thought that the ultimate place in town to quench a beery thirst would be located in the hot plains of Kearny Mesa, among the Korean shops and the occasional strip joint? Yet it's a sweet, foamy truth. O'Brien's has topped Best Beer selection lists for years and years, and as long as the owners persevere in their efforts to bring San Diego the most obscure, diverse microbrews on the planet, the bar will continue to reign at the top. O'Brien's is cozy and close-quartered, although there is quite a bit of room to expand the party onto the patio. It's been dubbed "the hoppiest place on earth," and the pun stands true in both directions. No crowd is more jovial than that at O'Brien's; in addition, the majority of the bar's beers are heavily hopped, which hardcore beer drinkers seem to appreciate, although novices looking for an easy swallow might be disappointed. The place also offers a noteworthy variety of pub food. Most regulars swear by the garlic fries, smothered in an avalanche of stinking rose. Just remember: You'll be tasting them for days afterward.