High Dive Is a Dive Bar That Serves Breakfast at 9 A.M. and Fried Chicken Until It's Gone

Overview

High Dive describes itself better than anyone else could: "We are a HIGH class DIVE bar."

It's been on Morena Boulevard "spreading the positive vibes since 2006," and it does something most dive bars don't: it opens at 9 a.m. and serves breakfast.

Every day it's open, the doors go up at nine. Brunch runs 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Then it keeps going until midnight most nights and 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

That's a sixteen-hour day at a neighbourhood bar.

But the thing that actually organises a visit here is the weekly calendar, because each night has its own reason to show up.

The Week

• Monday — Trivia, 7 to 10 p.m. Free to play, gift cards for prizes
• Tuesday — closed
• Wednesday — Birria. A birria plate, quesa tacos, a quesadilla and a birria melt. Plus tequila specials all day
• Thursday — Steak Night. "A different dish every week," plus drink specials. The week's dish is posted to their social accounts, so check before you go
• Friday — Fried Chicken Night. Brined, deep-fried chicken thighs with cornbread and two sides. "Starts at 4pm every Friday until sold out"

That last one is the detail that matters: until sold out. Friday fried chicken is not a thing you turn up for at nine o'clock and expect to find. Go early.

They also run Padres game-day watch parties, which is worth knowing if you're near Morena on a game afternoon.

What's on the Menu

The bar doesn't publish prices, so the list below is what they serve rather than what it costs.

Breakfast: Breakfast of Champions · Bay Park Breakfast Burrito · S.O.S · Moco Loco

Bar food: Wings · Chicken Tenders · Giant Bavarian Pretzel · Nachos · Gorgonzola Cheese Fries · Damn Good Gravy Fries · Grilled Fish Tacos

Sandwiches: French Dip · HD Philly · Chicago Beef (their note: "VERY SPICY!!!") · BLT · Fried Buttermilk Chicken Sandwich

Burgers: The High Dive · Spicy Reed 2.0 · The Duke · The Kraken — a one-pound patty

Dessert: Stout Brownie

Cocktails, including the one they call their signature:

High Dive Bloody Mary · Mamasita · The Local · Island Mai Tai · Moby Dick · Irish Hello · Squirt Paloma · Mules · Ranch Water

The Bloody Mary is the house signature, and at a bar that opens at nine in the morning, that tracks.

How to Visit

• Address: 1801 Morena Blvd, San Diego, CA 92110 — Bay Park
• Phone: 619-275-0460
• Hours:
  • Monday 9 a.m.–11 p.m.
  • Tuesday — closed
  • Wednesday–Thursday 9 a.m.–midnight
  • Friday–Saturday 9 a.m.–1 a.m.
  • Sunday 9 a.m.–midnight
• Brunch: Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri 9 a.m.–1 p.m.; Sat & Sun 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
• Outdoor patios — more than one
• "Family and pup friendly dining"
• Pinball

Good to Know

• Closed Tuesday. The single most important line in this article.
• Friday chicken sells out. It starts at four. Don't test it.
• Check their social before Thursday — the steak dish changes weekly and isn't published on the site.
• Wednesday is tequila day, all day, alongside the birria.
• Monday trivia is free with gift card prizes, 7 to 10.
• Nine in the morning, every day they're open. It's one of the earliest bar openings in the city.

The Takeaway

Go on a Friday at four for the fried chicken, and sit on the patio with a Bloody Mary.

What makes High Dive worth knowing isn't that Bay Park has a dive bar — it's that this one runs a different kitchen idea every night of the week, opens at nine in the morning, and has been doing it since 2006. The schedule is the attraction.

For more spots worth knowing, browse our Local Picks — and Bay Hill Tavern is a few minutes away if High Dive is shut on a Tuesday.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is High Dive? At 1801 Morena Blvd, San Diego, CA 92110, in Bay Park.

What are High Dive's hours? Monday 9 a.m.–11 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday 9 a.m.–midnight, Friday and Saturday 9 a.m.–1 a.m., Sunday 9 a.m.–midnight. Closed Tuesday.

Does High Dive serve breakfast? Yes — brunch runs 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

What are the weekly specials? Monday trivia 7–10 p.m.; Wednesday birria plus all-day tequila specials; Thursday Steak Night with a different dish each week; Friday Fried Chicken Night from 4 p.m. until sold out.

Is High Dive dog friendly? Yes — they describe it as family and pup friendly, with outdoor patios.

How long has High Dive been open? Since 2006.

Is there trivia? Yes, every Monday 7–10 p.m. Free to play, with gift card prizes.