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Parma Cucina Italiana, San Diego, CA

Parma Cucina Italiana

4.8 (131)
$30 and under
Italian
3850 Fifth Avenue, San Diego, CA 92103

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 15 times today

About this restaurant

  • Charming
  • Neighborhood gem
  • Good for special occasions
Known for the Best Lasagna in San Diego, Parma Cucina Italiana is a charming and cozy family run Italian restaurant in the heart of Historic Hillcrest.

Our traditional Italian cuisine is inspired by generations of home cooking, fresh ingredients, and simple presentations. Our specialties originate from Northern Italy. The must try lasagna is decadent layers of Bolognese and béchamel sauce. Or try our tortellini with cream and prosciutto, or our pappardelle pasta tossed with slow braised short rib and porcini mushrooms.

We have an extensive wine collection with wines from the best regions of Italy. And an Italian meal wouldn’t be complete without our homemade desserts. We suggest tiramisu and profiteroles alla nutella.


Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Seafood, Dessert
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Thu 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri 4:00 pm–9:30 pm Sat 12:00 pm–9:30 pm Sun 12:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Celso
  • Catering
    Good food is an essential part of any event - let us do the catering and make it one to remember. See our website for more details www.parmaitaliankitchen.com
  • Private party facilities
    We welcome restaurant buy-outs or partial buy-outs for parties up to 45 people.
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Neighborhood
    Hillcrest
  • Cross street
    University and Robinson
  • Parking details
    Parking available in the area.
  • Additional
    Beer, BYO Wine, Cafe, Delivery, Dog Friendly, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Offers

  • Weekend Happy Hour

    Multiple dates available
    Sun - 3:00 PM - 5:30 PM,Sat - 3:00 PM - 5:30 PM
    Deals on Drinks + Eats Saturday & Sunday 3pm - 5:30pm Dog Friendly Patio

    Weekend Happy Hour Photo
  • Wine Wednesday

    Multiple dates available
    Wed - 4:00 PM - 8:45 PM
    30% off all bottles of wine on Wednesday

    Wine Wednesday Photo

What 131 people are saying

Parma Cucina Italiana reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
  • 4.9Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.8Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • San Diego

    Best Food

  • San Diego

    Best Value

  • San Diego

    Neighborhood gem

  • San Diego

    Romantic

  • San Diego

    Good for special occasions

  • San Diego

    Italian

  • San Diego

    Best Food

  • San Diego

    Best Value

  • San Diego

    Neighborhood gem

  • San Diego

    Romantic

  • San Diego

    Good for special occasions

  • San Diego

    Italian

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Parma Cucina Italiana is a charming neighborhood gem offering "the most authentic flavors" and "amazing dining experiences." Known for its "best lasagna in San Diego," the restaurant delights with fresh, hand-made pasta and "phenomenal service." Enjoy a cozy Italian atmosphere with friendly staff, making every visit feel like dining with family.

131 Reviews
  1. Sandy

    San Diego1 review

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    My husband birthday was today he ordered Lasagna was so good. I’m very happy with the owner great service and the best customer service ever thank you

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  2. william VIP

    San Francisco3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Perfect Friday night dinner. Food delicious, location fun, service outstanding. What more would you like on Friday night.

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  3. Curt

    San Diego2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    It was our 35th wedding anniversary and i wanted somewhere nice but without a lot of noise or fanfare. We had not previously been to Parma and the description and previous reviews made it sound like what i was hoping for. It was by all accounts! My wife had the lasagna, of course, which we also share as tonight’s leftovers and I had seafood linguine. Delicious food, friendly while appropriately attentive and reasonably priced, Leonardo and Francesca offer a wonderful dining experience.

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  4. Pier Paolo VIP

    Cincinnati12 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great italian food. We really enjoyed the good taste of the burrata and all the other dishes. The host is very nice. The waiter Robert is very attentive. We’ll come back.
    Parma Cucina ItalianaResponded 6 days ago
    Thanks for the review, Pier! We're thrilled to hear your meal. We look forward to seeing you again.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Robert VIP

    San Diego84 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This is the best Italian restaurant in San Diego. My wife and I have been going there for years. We have tried almost everything on the menu and it is all delicious. The owner and staff are wonderful. The service is excellent no matter how busy the restaurant is. If you haven't tried Parma, please do. You will love it like we do.

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  6. Quincy VIP

    San Diego9 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I recently had the pleasure of dining at Parma Cucina in San Diego, and I can’t wait to share my delightful experience! We made our reservations effortlessly through the OpenTable app, which set the tone for a smooth and enjoyable evening. Upon arrival, we were greeted warmly and promptly seated, ready to embark on our culinary adventure. We started our meal with the **Burrata Fiore di Parma** and the **Carpaccio di Salmone**. Both appetizers were generous portions, perfect for our party size. The burrata was creamy and rich, paired beautifully with fresh accompaniments. The salmon carpaccio was a standout—it had an intriguing smoky flavor that added a unique twist to the dish. For my main course, I chose the **Fagottini al Tartufo**, and it was nothing short of spectacular! The truffle flavor was rich and aromatic, enveloping the delicate pasta in a luxurious embrace. Each bite was a celebration of flavors that transported me straight to Italy. The wine selection at Parma Cucina was impressive, with a range of options that complemented our dishes perfectly. I appreciated the knowledgeable staff who helped us choose the right wine to enhance our meal. One delightful surprise was discovering that the restaurant has a Q for Quality, approved by Ospitalità Italiana—a prestigious European rating that speaks volumes about their commitment to excellence. Overall, my experience at Parma Cucina was exceptional, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an authentic Italian dining experience in San Diego. From the warm ambiance to the exquisite food and attentive service, it’s a gem worth visiting. I can't wait to return and explore more of their menu! 🍷✨

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  7. Stanford VIP

    Los Angeles44 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    We found this gem from a prior open table review. The staff was friendly and accommodating. Service was attentive and the food came quite quickly. All the dishes were delicious.
    Parma Cucina ItalianaResponded 6 days ago
    Grazie Stanford. We're so glad you found us and you enjoyed your experience. We hope to see you again.

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  8. Stephen

    Los Angeles1 review

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Thanks yummy 3rd visit……..zzz..zzzzzzzzzzzcccccccccc
    Parma Cucina ItalianaResponded 6 days ago
    Grazie Stephen! It warms our hearts to hear about your continued support. We hope to see you again.

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  9. Jason

    Atlanta4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 8, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Always our favorite neighborhood Italian with the most authentic flavors and preparations

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  10. David VIP

    San Diego32 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 6, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food is amazing. The Lasagna OMG. Best I’ve ever had. The service is phenomenal. What a great dinner. Barbara (Barbi) was amazing.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Parma Cucina Italiana offers delivery in partnership with Postmates and Uber Eats. Parma Cucina Italiana also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (619) 543-0049.

Parma Cucina Italiana is rated 4.8 stars by 131 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. San Diego
  4. San Diego
  5. Hillcrest

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 15 times today
Google Map for Parma Cucina Italiana

3850 Fifth Avenue, San Diego, CA 92103

Additional information

  • Cross street
    University and Robinson
  • Neighborhood
    Hillcrest
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Thu 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri 4:00 pm–9:30 pm Sat 12:00 pm–9:30 pm Sun 12:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Seafood, Dessert
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Parking available in the area.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Celso
  • Additional
    Beer, BYO Wine, Cafe, Delivery, Dog Friendly, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Phone number
  • Catering
    Good food is an essential part of any event - let us do the catering and make it one to remember. See our website for more details www.parmaitaliankitchen.com
  • Private party facilities
    We welcome restaurant buy-outs or partial buy-outs for parties up to 45 people.
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