Stop trying to find your bliss, we just found it for you. I partnered with Marketing Melodie – gal pal, social media consultant and yoga enthusiast – to uncover FREE yoga classes in San Diego County (or almost free). Expert yoga instruction without the strain on your wallet? What an enlightening idea.

FREE CLASSES

Lululemon
Lululemon, known for their knockout yoga workout wear, has three locations in San Diego County and each locale offers complimentary yoga classes. Each month, they invite a different yoga studio to host the free weekly class. The San Diego Showroom is located on the corner of G Street and 9th Avenue, and offers free yoga classes on Saturdays at 9:30 am. The Carlsbad location, located at 1923 Calle Barcelona, Suite 136, offers their classes on Saturdays at 9 am, and the La Jolla location, 7835 Girard Street, holds their classes on Saturdays at 8:30am.

Corepower Yoga
Corepower Yoga offers free beginner’s classes at four San Diego locations. Get your free workout at the following times and locations: Sundays at 1:30 pm in Hillcrest; Saturday and Sunday at 7 pm in La Jolla-UTC for Intro to Power Yoga; Monday at 7 pm and Saturday at 8:45 am and 4:15 pm (Yoga Sculpt) in Mission Valley; and Sunday at 6:30 pm at the Point Loma location.

DONATION-BASED

Charity Workouts
Get some healthy yoga classes in Balboa Park AND donate to charity. You get a professional instructor for a whole hour (every Saturday at 10:30am) of serenity and bliss for almost-free. All donations are completely voluntary and 100 percent of it goes to Outdoor Outreach, an organization that empowers at-risk youth through introducing them to outdoor activities. It’s a double win!

One Love Yoga San Diego
Free yoga classes are offered throughout the week in a beautiful hall adjoining the Swedenborg Church of San Diego in University Heights. Classes include Hatha, Vinyasa and Ashtanga Yoga. It’s fitting that a workout that’s as much spiritual as it is physical would be found here.

MEET-UPS

San Diego Outdoor/Indoor Yoga Meetup
Every Saturday, at the Recreational Center in La Jolla, various yoga instructors offer free yoga  (along with other classes) for free. These meet-ups bring together beginners and experienced, and those of different ideas and styles, all united under the greater philosophy that is yoga.

Basic Yoga and Meditation Meetup by the Beach
Most Sundays at 11am at the beach, find a refreshing atmosphere and fun companions… for a $5 donation. Meet people and make new friends “away from the snotty yoga studios”, according to the leader, Reza.

SD Free Yoga in Balboa Park Meetup
Created to promote longevity and healthy living in the community, this meet-up group meets in Balboa Park on different days of the week, usually in the afternoons or early evenings.  Check the site for times.

One of our favorite local food and flavor enthusiasts, Janice Dils from FoodIsMyFavorite.com, is known for tasting and eating her way through San Diego County restaurants, then reviewing her culinary adventures. Here she rounds up her favorite five eats under $10. 

Phil's BBQ Chicken Tickler

 Phil’s BBQ [Point Loma and San Marcos] 
The Deal: Ticklers … $6.45
Phil’s BBQ offers three combo meals called ‘ticklers’ that consist of three types of BBQ’d meats to include: one large beefy rib, three baby back ribs, or boneless chicken breast chunks called ‘chickless’ slathered with their delicious tangy sauce.  The ticklers’ sides are fresh cut fries, crunchy coleslaw, and two beer battered onion rings.  The only catch… no substitutions.  If you enjoy all of the flavors, this meal can fill you up for less.  Plus, additional side items are only $1.50 [small] / $2.25 [large]… did someone say sweet baked beans, macaroni salad, or potato salad?  

Sushiya Bulgogi

Sushiya [Eastlake]
The Deal:  $10 bulgogi entrée [and 50% off select sushi rolls] 
I know what you are thinking… bulgogi [Korean BBQ beef] at a Japanese restaurant?  Weeelll, regardless, I love this entrée at Sushiya.  The plate is $10 and comes with a large portion of Korean beef on a bed of onions, miso soup, a bowl steamed rice, bowl of mixed green salad with a delicious ginger citrus dressing, and a slice of orange.  Two people can share this entrée while enjoying 50% off select sushi rolls and still pay less than $10 a person.  The ‘half off’ rolls are served anytime, everyday and range from the popular California, Caterpillar, Philadelphia, Spicy Tuna and special rolls like Rainbow, Snowball and Spicy Albacore. 

TJ Oyster Bar Fish Taco - always only $.99

 TJ Oyster Bar [Bonita] 
The Deal: $0.99 Fish Tacos
TJ Oyster Bar is a teeny tiny restaurant located in a strip mall off of Bonita Road.   These delicious fish tacos are the ‘street taco’ size; however the crispy battered fried fish takes up a good portion of the corn tortillas.  Each taco is served with fresh shredded cabbage, diced tomatoes, and ‘crema’.  Heaven.  They are made to order – hot and fresh, right in front of you.  If you are lucky, you will get a seat inside the small establishment.  The staff is extremely friendly and will even make more food for you even though you have ordered and paid at the counter already.  TJ Oyster Bar offers a variety of tacos other than crispy fish, like oyster, shrimp, and even grilled fish tacos and serves other specialties like whole fried fish, ‘aguachile in molcajete’ [raw shrimp in lemon juice and hot chile] and oysters in a half shell for a $1.40 each. 

Ponce's Chicken Enchilada

Ponce’s Mexican Restaurant [Kensington] 
The Deal:  Almost EVERYTHING
Ponce’s Mexican Restaurant serves up a delicious albondigas [meatball] soup and the enchilada sauce is one the best I have ever tasted.  Once you browse their online menu, you will see that the majority of the items are reasonably priced and under $10.  The tips to save money here is to share an appetizer and to take the ‘a la carte’ route for your dinner entrée.  They also serve complimentary warm tortilla chips and salsa to start.  A number of their house specialty plates and their three item combination plates are a little more than $10 [highest priced item is $12.95!], but given the quality and quantity of the food here, still not a bad price.  There are talks that they have wonderful margaritas too, that I have not yet tried.    

Sage Cafe's Indian Fry Bread

Sage Café at Barona Valley Ranch Casino [Lakeside] 
The Deal: Almost EVERYTHING
Every casino has ‘that’ 24-hour restaurant.  Barona Valley Ranch Casino’s 24-hour restaurant is the Sage Café, which is not like any other all day restaurant in a casino. Sage Café is located near the entrance to the hotel rooms in the ‘non-smoking’ area of the casino and offers a cozy experience while dining on high quality and delicious food.  Did I mention large portions too?  

Every table gets a ‘fresh off the fryer’ basket full of Indian fry bread [cinnamon sugar and powdered sugar on the table] and warm bread rolls to start.  

The following menu categories and all the items under them on the Sage Café menu are all less than $10: appetizers [$3.50-$9.95], entrée salads [$6.00-$8.95], 24-hour breakfast [$3.95-$9.95], sandwiches [$6.50-$7.95], Build-Your-Own 1/2 Lb. USDA Choice Chuck or Grilled Chicken Breast burger [$6.95] and Comfort Foods [$4.95-$9.95].  

The sandwiches and burgers come with a choice of fresh fruit skewers, onion rings [not frozen], French fries, or cole slaw AND a cup of chef’s soup of the day.  The comfort food entrées include a choice of an iceberg wedge salad or a cup of the soup of the day.  

The best part… no tax. 

The Sage Café is way off the beaten path but if you are already looking to have a little casino fun, skip the buffet and $1.00 hot dogs and give the Sage a try. 

Janice is a local food enthusiast who shares her food adventures on her blog, foodismyfavorite.com.

***All images and content in this post are the sole property of the owner/administrator of foodismyfavorite.com.  Please do not take images or steal content without owner’s permission.

Cutting back on meat in your diet? Don’t run to microwave those frozen fish sticks or settle for fat-laden, fast-food fish sandwiches. Thinking beyond these unhealthy alternatives is a lot easier on your wallet than you think. Lucky for you, I’m a new vegetarian (well, technically a pescetarian who hasn’t yet given up on seafood), who also runs a Web site on maximizing money in San Diego. I’ve spent my inaugural meatless year eating my way through savory vegetarian and seafood options, all with sweet prices. Here are my top 15 picks to dine at when meat is off limits. What’s yours?

FRUTERIAS

Senor Mangoes
Okay, so you won’t be impressed with its unassuming façade in North Park, but walk inside and you’ll find regulars contently sipping on freshly blended aguas frescas or devouring  scrumptious ensaladas de fruta of chopped strawberries, papaya, pineapples, mangos, and bananas , all topped with cottage cheese, honey and granola. Sweet goodness! No premade menu items here, everything is chopped and made on the spot. Large fruit salads (big enough for two to share) costs $6.95. Also located in Escondido.

Diego On a Dime reader Brian Bischof at Tropical Oasis

Tropical Oasis
Located off the Telegraph Canyon 805 exit in Chula Vista, this healthy haven is often shadowed by the ever popular Lolita’s, which is located in the same small strip mall next to the gas station. But you’re not eating meat, remember? So, drop the carne asada cravings and instead reach for succulent dishes of fruits and veggies. My favorite treat at Tropical Oasis is ensalada pico de gallo, a combo of jicama, cucumber and watermelon doused in lime juice, salt and chile powder – tart and savory packaged together for only $5.

VEGETARIAN

Loving Hut
Sitting pretty at the top of my must-eat list is this chain vegan restaurant located on the west end of El Cajon Boulevard in North Park. While located in a not-so-pretty strip mall alongside Dominoes Pizza, Loving Hut has won over palates and wallets alike. Large entrees, big enough for two to share, will set you back a mere $7. On the first Friday of Lent season, I brought some friends over for lunch where we marveled over the Loving Hut’s big flavors and small prices, in between bites of our Lemon Grass Soy Chicken, Yum Yum Won Ton Soup, and BBQ Soy Beef.

Veg’n’Out
My first run-in with vegetarian food was at this quaint restaurant in North Park. They specialize in healthy tweaks on American classics, such as the seven-dollar Garden Philly Cheese Sandwich and sweet potato medallions that cost $3.50. Their crunchy vegetarian corndog will make you forever swear off those other corndog companies that wear funny hats.

Evolution Fast Food
Perfect when time is short, Evolution Fast Food has a drive-thru and buffet/take-go options, in addition to regular table seating. You might know this little hamlet as the next door neighbor to Extraordinary Desserts in Bankers Hill. So, make a Friday night date out of it and start the night off with the  Thai Peanut Wrap ($4.95) or the South of the Border Burger ($5.50), before indulging your sweet tooth.

Pokez
This funky East Village joint mixes crave-worthy Mexican eats (both with meat and without), dirt-cheap prices, and spunky service. Think Soup Nazi  – light on the nice, heavy in deliciousness. The hipster servers prefer you’re ready with your order by the time they notice you, so listen to me carefully. You must, MUST try the mahi-mahi quesadillas or vegan chorizo burrito, if only to appease me. Both will rock your world at rock-bottom prices; they are each only $5. Plus, the big portions will guarantee some leftovers for breakfast. You can thank me later.

Jyoti-Bihanga
I still don’t know how to pronounce the name of this Normal Heights restaurant, but I recognize an unforgettable dining landmark when I see one. While their powder blue walls don’t make for an appetizing experience, their original menu sure does. Some signature items under $10 include the Neatloaf Sandwich, made up of baked soy, grain and seasoning, topped with a tangy red sauce and the Infinite Blue, a zesty combo of onions, zucchini, broccoli, red peppers, mushrooms, carrots and brown rice sautéed in tamari.

Ranchos  Cocina
With locations in North Park and Ocean Beach, Ranchos’ attracts big crowds of both vegetarians and meat-lovers with its robust veggie versions of Mexican dishes. The enchiladas, burritos and tacos are filled with all kinds of goodies – take your pick of avocado and corn, tofu, lard-less beans, mushrooms, salmon, and shrimp just to name a few. The colorful macramé, foliage-filled walls, kitschy wall décor will be a feast for your eyes as well.

SEAFOOD

Sushi Deli (downtown, Mission Hills, and Kearny Mesa)
This sushi mecca’s downtown and Mission Hills locations have reached cult status for its drool-worthy prices and portions – the long lines you’ll see outside will attest to this. The fresh and funky rolls hover between $4-7, while adding on a side of miso soup will only add on an extra $.99 to your already skimpy bill .

El Pescador
You’ve got to see it to believe it  – a bargain bite amongst the Benzes and BMWs in La Jolla. El Pescador has been a signature spot in this seaside neighborhood for more than 30 years, but the prices don’t reflect its posh surroundings. Try out their char-grilled yellowtail sandwich or the Scottish salmon salad with lemon butter, both swim under your $10 budget.

South Beach Bar & Grill
Devotees to this Ocean Beach seafood spot will talk at length over why its fish tacos are considered San Diego’s best.  Keep one ear open to them while getting a taste of these crispy goodies yourself. Sit at the long wooden bar and watch the sun set behind the surf.  You’ll also find other savory seafood items at prices that won’t make you feel like you’re drowning. My picks are the tiger shrimp salad and mahi tostada.

ETHNIC EATS

Phuong Trang
If you crave authenticity, spice and a firework of flavors on your plate, than make a beeline over to this Vietnamese restaurant off of Convoy. You’ll find huge portions at tiny prices and a seemingly endless menu that seems to run on and on. Out of the 250 items, they have a dedicated page of about 15 vegetarian entrees including tofu with lemongrass and peppers or veggie stir-fry noodles, all at an average of $8 each. Once Lent season is over and meat makes its Friday comeback, keep this in your black book of cheap eats for healthy, but meaty, dishes.

Harar Ethiopian
Sometimes the tastiest food is found amongst unappetizing surroundings. Sandwiched among car repair shops and a gas station along El Cajon Boulevard is Harar Ethiopian, where forks are brought by request only and you scoop up lentils, eggplant, stewed veggies, and spicy greens with injera bread. Veggie combo plates go for a rock-bottom $7.50 with enough to share. Or savor your own entrée, and drink it all down with some honey wine.

Delhi Kitchen
“Gimme some more”. That’s what you’ll be saying after paying only $6.75 for a combination plate with a tasty entrée, naan bread, daal and rita (yogurt) and salad. This Carmel Mountain find serves up yummy Indian classics such as aloo gobi (cauliflower and potato cooked with tomato spices) and bhindi masala (fresh okra cooked in onion and ginger). If you decide to go vegetarian on Saturday and Sunday too, when Delhi Kitchen offers  a $7 all-you-eat-buffet, so be it. Welcome to the veggie lovers club.

El Zarape
This University Heights hamlet has been serving 99-cent fish tacos for years to a steady stream of adoring regulars and pleasantly surprised newcomers. Why the crowds of dedicated diners you ask? Because these crispy fish fillets are only the beginning. The extensive menu sports a seafood feast of $6 burritos and $3 tacos with succulent servings of scallops, mahi mahi, shrimp and salmon. Go with a friend who can wait in line, while you slyly scope out a seat in this seemingly always packed restaurant.

Take heed, culture cravers.  Just a half-hour walk with your family through the halls of your favorite museum can put a massive dent in your wallet. Want to visit the natural beauty of botanic gardens, see the ancient artifacts of tribes and nations, or see what internationally-recognized local arts have been producing these days…without paying a penny? Then check out this comprehensive list of museums you can visit for FREE in San Diego during their free-admission days.

San Diego Botanic Gardens - FREE admission every 1st Tuesday
Located in Encinitas, these four miles of garden trails include botanic beauty from around the world. In addition to California native plantlife, they contain desert, tropical rain forest, and everything in between. You may enjoy the world’s larges bamboo collection, an extensive herb garden, brilliant flowers from around the world, as well as other rarities from Mediterranean climate landscape and more. Admission to this year-round natural  wonderland is free the first Tuesday of every month, and they’ll even waive the parking fee for carloads of four or more, so why not “go green” and carpool?

California Surf Museum - Flickr/VisitOceanside

California Surf Museum - FREE admission every Thursday
“Surfs up” doesn’t sum it up enough when it comes to this museum. This is more than just a collection of old boards, swimsuits, trophies, and other competition memorabilia. This museum tells the story of some of the greatest surfers of history and their accomplishments. Right now, their current exhibition is called WOW, Women on Waves. Check out the achievements of some of the more significant female wave warriors in documented history. CSM shows surfing as a lifestyle as well as a sport, and it’s guaranteed to be a treat for the dedicated surfing enthusiast, as well as the curious passer-through.  

New Children’s Museum – FREE admission every 2nd Sunday Ever second Sunday of the month, treat your family to the creative, hands-on experience of the New Children’s Museum in downtown San Diego. Here, children can climb, explore, and create art instead of just see it hanging on a wall. Inside the mind of each child is a limitless creative engine, and the Museum works to tap that creativity. Admission is also FREE on the 1st weekend of each month for any Bank of America card holder, as part of the bank’s generous Museums on Us campaign. (Thanks to Marketing Melodie for that tip).

Museum of Contemporary Art – FREE admission every 3rd Thursday 5-7pm
At both the San Diego and La Jolla locations, you’ll find it all: paintings, sculpture, photography, video, and more, from both budding artists and major figures in the international contemporary art scene. You can take a gander at contemporary works from the San Diego/Tijuana region, as well as art from afar, like Latin America.  Plus, if you’re 25 years old or younger, your admission is forever FREE. (Thanks to Marketing Melodie for that tip).

Lux Art Institute – FREE Saturday every quarter
The Lux Art Institute, located in Encinitas, is much more than a museum. Instead of seeing polished, finished works of art hang lifelessly on the walls, at Lux you actually witness art in the making. In this working studio environment, you see the artistic process firsthand, as you interact with internationally recognized artists.  Here’s a tip: Ride your bike to the museum and you’ll get in free any day!

BALBOA PARK FREE TUESDAY PROGRAM
Balboa Park really stands up to it’s motto, “A landscape of Art and Culture.” Its collection of museums, theaters, gardens, and green space provide a place for fun and cultural exploration for the local and tourist alike. As a public service, they other free admission to different museums each of the first four Tuesdays of the month. Let’s look at what each Tuesday has to offer:

First Tuesdays

Centro Cultural de la Raza
Chicano, Mexican, Indigenous and Latino art and culture are featured in this multidisciplinary cultural arts center. You’ll find exhibits and performances with theater, dance, music, and film/video.

San Diego Model Railroad Museum
Not only is the San Diego Model Railroad Museum the only accredited railroad themed museum in the U.S., but its 27,000 square feet make it one of the largest indoor railroad displays in the world. Venture over to see the amazing detail and craftsmanship in the hundreds of intricate model railroad exhibits.

San Diego Natural History Museum Flickr/minkfink58

San Diego Natural History Museum
See the natural world of now and times past with a variety of exhibits, including the permanant exhibitions on the unique and fascinating natural biodiversity of the southern California region. This museum also features a giant-screenl 3D theater, which show films that focus on the natural world. Note: the theater still charges a fee.

Reuben H. Fleet Science Center (fee charged for theater)
Whether you’re interested in energy, space, or health and well-being, this center has something for you. These exciting exhibits show you how the world works from an innovative and hands-on perspective. Save on the admission, and you may have enough cash for one of the giant-screen films or planetarium programs.

Second Tuesdays

Museum of Photographic Arts
Come and marvel at this museum’s grand collection of  photographic works. These photographs tell the story of  photography, and showcase modern and contemporary work. They take special pride in their social documentary photography and photojournalism.

Museum of Photographic Arts Flickr/Laughlinc

Museum of San Diego History
History buffs and curious locals and visitors can explore one of the largest photograph collections in the western U.S., with more than 2.5 million images documenting local history. You’ll also find artifacts, costumes, textiles, and art, each display telling another piece of the region’s unique, colorful, and diverse story.

Veterans’ Museum and Memorial Center
What better way to honor our veterans. This center is more than a memorial to the men and women of the Armed Forces, Coast Guard, and Wartime Merchant Marine. The museum’s collection, housed in the historic Old Navy Chapel, contains artifacts, documents, photographs, memorabilia, and artwork detailing this unique history from the Civil War to the present. You can even see local veterans’ stories in changing exhibitions.

Third Tuesdays

San Diego Art Institute
SDAI has the theme “Museum of the Living Artist” in its 10,000 spuare-foot gallery, where the crisp white walls display their collection with deserved elegance. The works come from about 450 artist members, and there’s even a young artists gallery, which highlights art from youths in San Diego schools.

San Diego Museum of Art by Joanne Dibona, SanDiegoScenicPhotos.org

San Diego Museum of Art
This museum is full of 19th and 20th century American works alongside contemporary Latin American art, European old masters, and an encyclopedic Asian collection. The San Diego Museum of Art is the oldest and largest art museum of the region.

San Diego Museum of Man
Learn about history of the human race in this museum featuring the people and places of the Americas and around the world. Focused completely of anthropology, the San Diego Museum of Man is located beneath the colonial and mission style architecture of the 200-foot California Tower.

Japanese Friendship Garden
Originally a teahouse during the 1915-16 Panama-California Exposition, this two-acre garden promises a truly Janpanese experience. Exploring the intricately accented winding paths, you’ll find a Fujidana (wisteria arbor), a Zen garden for meditation, an exhibit house, koi pond, and a bonsai exhibit.

Mingei International Museum

Mingei International Museum
This museum contains the art and crafts from all eras and cultures of the world, featuring dynamic exhibitions of historical and contemporary folk art. You’ll find wood carvings, textiles, orignal furniture designs, pottery and more in the museum dedicated to the art of the people (mingei).

Fourth Tuesdays

San Diego Hall of Champions Sports Museum
Come and see the skateboard Tony Hawk used to land the first “900” in prefessional competition, call play-by-play for Tony Gwynn and Ted Williams, and see other memorabilia documenting San Diego’s sport legacies. Some of the greatest athletes in modern history were San Diegans, and you can see their stories here, in this 70,000-square-foot, multi-sport museum.

San Diego Air and Space Museum
The story of science, space, and aviation is fascinating to tell, and such is the mission of the San Diego Air & Space Museum—California’s Official Air and Space Museum. Aircraft and spacecraft from all over the world, and different points in history are proudly on display in this Smithsonian Institution affiliate. Among the exhibits worth checking out are the flying replica of Lindbergh’s Spirit of the St. Louis, the real-life Apollo 9 Command Module, and a real GPS satellite—the only one on display in the world.

San Diego Automotive Museum - Flickr/Kim the Star Princess

San Diego Automotive Museum
Loue Mattar’s amazing 1947 Cadillac, equipped with everything—including the kitchen sink—is just one of more than 80 historic autos and motorcycles on display at the San Diego Automotive Museum. You can also see Frank Sinatra’s 1967 Austin Petrol Hire Car and many others, all shined up and ready to be experienced all over again.

House of Pacific Relations International Cottages
Go to these historic 1935 Exposition cottages and you’ll find some 32 groups working towards multicultural goodwill and and understanding. Each of the  houses offers a window into different cultural experience, representing a distinct country or region from around the world with costume, dance, food, crafts and performances.