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Our annual roundup of what's up-and-coming and full-on buzzy above the 56
Food & Drink | Shopping & Beauty | Health & Wellness | Arts & Culture | Kids & Pets
This modern Baja concept sports more than 80 varieties of tequila to wet your whistle. In the kitchen, Top Chef: All-Stars alum Angelo Sosa is whipping up items like Hawaiian ahi crudo ceviche and lobster guac. For a sweet treat, there’s the unexpected (and brilliant) tequila flan with caramel, Manchego, and lime. And if you’ve got room after, head to the bar to indulge in those rarer spirit brands like Mezcal Vago, Tequila Ocho, and Centenario Añejo. ¡Salud!
569 South Coast Highway 101, Encinitas
Seeking something gluten free before a day of hitting the beach? Nectarine Grove has breakfast tacos with grain-free tortillas, veggie pesto scrambles, and paleo French toast with orange-infused almond milk ricotta. To drink, there’s kombucha on tap, charcoal lemonade, and coconut bone broth. Go back for lunch to feast on the famous plantain-crusted fried chicken, and feel good doing it—a portion of their annual profit goes to Feeding San Diego.
948 North Coast Highway 101, Encinitas
The “build your own food” frenzy has a sweet new addition with this shop. Each warm vanilla cake donut comes fresh out of the fryer and is dipped in the icing and toppings of your choice. Try a melt-in-your-mouth combo like peanut butter, Oreos, and marshmallow drizzle. And if you really donut care about the calories, make your confection the foundation of an ice cream sundae.
1452 Encinitas Boulevard, Encinitas
Best of North County 2019
Dija Mara
Mad culinary genius chef Ryan Costanza has redefined brunch with his wildly creative midday menu, a whirlwind of exotic Indonesian and Thai flavors. Start with the ceviche to share and, when craving something sweet with a twist, go for the mango tartine with fresh ricotta, lime, and Thai chili heat, or the sumptuous Kaya French toast, with brioche, coconut jam, and whipped cream. Savory fans can chow down on Thai sausage hash with pork sausage, patatas bravas, a fried egg and green curry hollandaise, or the addictive nasi goreng rice dish.
232 South Coast Highway, Oceanside
The Costa Mesa–based bakery brought its creative confections to Del Mar Highlands Town Center early this year, and with it a menu that’s got all the favorites—huckleberry, lemon and thyme, butter and salt. There’s also a weekly gluten-friendly flavor, apple fritters on Fridays, and monthly specials from sweet to savory, like raspberry balsamic and butterscotch crunch. The malted salted cookie dough, designed in collaboration with Salt & Straw’s head ice cream maker Tyler Malek, is rumored to return later this year, as well—get in line!
3435 Del Mar Heights Road, Del Mar
This friendly neighborhood café and market in the Cedros Design District specializes in handcrafted comfort food, and its bestseller happens to be gluten-free. The hand pies are served fresh from the oven and made daily in two variations (served with a side salad or available a la carte): chicken pot pie, paired with sambol aioli, and a roasted curry farm veggie pie, with a side of seasonal chutney. Both are cocooned in warm, flaky crust and perfect with a cappuccino or passion iced tea. Delish.
346 South Cedros Avenue, Solana Beach
Lonche is a thing and Chef Iole Revilla is serving it. The Peruvian tradition of a late-day mini meal gets a full menu at this spot by the owner of Panca. Sample meaty, vegan, or gluten-free versions of empanadas, tamales, pasteles, and sandwiches. Indulge in sweets like alfajores, toffee pecan truffles, or ice cream made with the tangy Andean fruit lucuma. To sip, there’s bebidas from kombucha to agua fresca, espresso drinks, and more.
1904 South Coast Highway 101, Oceanside
From Local Tap House & Kitchen executive chef Daniel Pundik comes Exhale in Oceanside. Begin your experimental food journey with a “fire starter” like made-to-order guac, wood-oven-baked oysters, and wood-grilled delicata squash with smoked garlic crema. The mains and housemade tacos are served with blue corn tortillas and filled with everything from smoked brisket to cornhusk-wrapped wild scallops. Wash down your wood-fired feast with a craft cocktail like the tequila-forward Tell Me I’m Pretty.
236 South Coast Highway, Oceanside
Sure, they’ve been sprouting locations everywhere lately, but only Bird Rock Coffee Roasters’ Del Mar outpost (left) has a complimentary view for your cuppa. Sip the single origins from El Salvador and Panama or blends from South America while overlooking Los Peñasquitos Lagoon, and pair them with a slice of classic avo toast to make the moment last a little longer.
2212 Carmel Valley Road, Del Mar
Best of North County 2019
Bird Rock Coffee Roasters | Photo: Robert Benson
There’s nanoroasters, and then there’s Steady State, whose first 250-square-foot location was in an alleyway. Thankfully, connoisseurs can sniff out a good cup in the unlikeliest of places, giving this Carlsbad operation a reason to upgrade to new digs in an office complex about a block away. Another way they’re making use of the space? Public cupping classes every Thursday from 1–2 p.m.
2562 State Street, Carlsbad
This sleek, airy walkup by Trevor Mertens and Ryan Perry takes Bump from pop-up to permanent, offering customers the no-fuss menu of organic pour-over and cold brew they first served from a coffee truck at Pipes Beach and at local farmers’ markets. Decked out with custom woodwork and furniture by Suha Designs, the new digs (below) also boast small-batch juices and nut-milk shakes by Cardiff Juice, breakfast empanadas from Empanada Kitchen, and Mush overnight oats.
126 Aberdeen Drive, Cardiff
Chinese meets Korean cuisine just up the way from Moonlight Beach at Chiko, which comes to us from DC (where it was also a James Beard semifinalist for Best New Restaurant in 2018). Chefs Danny Lee and Scott Drewno are serving up items like soy-glazed chopped brisket and “orange-ish” chicken. There’s something for the wee ones, too: a kids’ platter of tempura chicken bites and steamed rice with butter. Still hungry? Try the blood orange sorbet with lemongrass-infused basil seeds for dessert.
101 North Coast Highway 101, Encinitas
Kai Ola delivers on its name as an informal Japanese sushi bar with a West Coast vibe. The menu—curated by head chef Lane Manriki (Kaisen Sushi) and a sous-chef, David Kim, who trained under Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto—has classic options like tuna sashimi and fresh salmon, plus creative rolls and specials. Try the Delicious Roll, with spicy tuna, cucumber, and avocado, topped with seared scallops, truffle oil, spicy ponzu, and smelt egg caviar.
918 North Coast Highway, Leucadia
Arguably the best pizza in San Diego is also the best pizza in NoCo. Buona Forchetta opened its third location in Encinitas in October, with a menu essentially carbon-copied from its South Park flagship—so North County dwellers needn’t bear the commute anymore. As is customary to all of its locations, the pizzeria brought along its “star player,” a gilded pizza oven made in Naples. This one’s name is Isabella. Che buono!
250 North Coast Highway 101, Encinitas
Best of North County 2019
Olleh Korean BBQ
The name means “come over” in Korean—and it’s a call hungry Rancho Bernardo residents have been heeding ever since Olleh opened in The New Mercado Shopping Center in December. As if the “we meat again” neon sign weren’t a dead giveaway, the newest venture by Heesun Cha and Yong Chi (Bing Haus, Cross Street Chicken & Beer) is a hip, 5,000-square-foot temple to grill-it-yourself dining. They offer lunch and dinner centered on house-marinated proteins for the grill built into each table, served with rice and at least 12 refillable banchan (side dishes). Feast well but in moderation, or expect to pay full price for leftovers—a common practice at all-you-can-eat Korean barbecues.
11828 Rancho Bernardo Road, Rancho Bernardo
Jen Phillips is revving up sleepy Fallbrook with her salon-like farm dinners for up to 40 people. The quarterly affairs celebrate San Diego’s bounty with dining under the stars, live music, wine and kombucha pairings, and craft cocktails. Most importantly, it’s front-row access to compelling chefs like Derrick Fox (MasterChef alum) or Jason McLeod (Ironside, Born & Raised) who serve delicacies like Gracey Lane Farm snails as escargot vol-au-vent and oysters with passion fruit straight from the garden. Cheers to that—and seconds please!
2111 Gracey Lane, Fallbrook
The latest venture from sushi chef Eric Lee (ex–Blue Ocean, Ototo), Umami opened in the new North City development near CSU San Marcos last year, offering specialty sushi rolls, poke bowls, ramen, bento boxes, bao buns, and more. Expect the sushi rolls to be large, but the prices relatively low. Look for unique rolls like the baked crawfish, spicy lemon, and fried tofu, or try a “sushi muffin” composed of two rice balls stuffed with seaweed, imitation crab, and masago, and topped with salmon, black tobiko (fish roe), and edible flowers.
251 North City Drive, San Marcos
Best of North County 2019
Jeune et Jolie | Photo: Becca Batista
When there’s no possible way to replicate something good, sometimes the best decision is to head in a totally new direction. Enter Jeune et Jolie. Following their first wildly successful concept, Campfire, owner John Resnick and executive chef Andrew Bachelier took the restaurant interior design revolution to a new level. Opened in December, the 2,000-square-foot space, designed by Los Angeles firm Bells + Whistles (Campfire, Starlite Lounge) is equal parts modern French (like the cuisine) and art deco sexy, complete with velvet booths, brass accents, and bold artwork. And the name? Besides translating to “young and beautiful,” it’s also an homage to Resnick’s and Bachelier’s daughters Elsie June and Margot Jolie, respectively. It doesn’t get more charming than that.
2659 State Street, Carlsbad
Calling all conscientious carnivores! Pam Schwartz is here for you. Cuts sold at her butcher shop and fast-casual eatery are sourced exclusively from Brandt Beef, a SoCal producer of certified all-natural, antibiotic-free meat. Sides include smoked cheddar and bacon mac ’n’ cheese, lemon and herb potato salad, and wild rice, quinoa, and amaranth pilaf. Schwartz also hopes to level-up appreciation of all parts bovine with cooking classes, demonstrations, and themed take-home dinners. Holy cow.
512 Via de la Valle, Solana Beach
Best of North County 2019
Cat & Craft
North County’s first cat café has “Purr-over” coffees from Manzanita Roasting Company to sip, and “Catprese” toast and Hazel & Jade pastries to nosh, while you canoodle with adoptable kitties from rescue organization Love Your Feral Felines. (Married owners Andrew and Caroline Vaught hope to rehome 500 cats in the café’s first year.) A glass viewing wall separates the café and the cage-free cat lounge, where you can reserve a one-hour session to pet and play with them.
3211 Business Park Drive, Vista
This new farmhouse-chic event space accommodates seated dinners of up to 40 guests and cocktail parties up to 60, catered by Harvest Kitchen. The grub’s organic and available in paleo, vegan, and gluten-free menus, and there’s bar packages. But the best part? All-night, loud-as-you-like partying unhindered by neighbors—gotta love Vista for that!
1495 Poinsettia Avenue, Vista
Since when did school get so sweet? Middle school teacher Rachel Flores’s students aced their project last May, when they brainstormed candy bar flavors and packaging ideas, surveyed their school, charted the data, and even tested a recipe in science class. Then Michael Antonorsi of Carlsbad’s Chuao Chocolatier got wind and invited them to his factory to blend the kids’ product with their own to make MintFully Brownie—and will soon distribute it nationally. A+ for collaboration!
Get your daily allotment of veggies at this fast-casual chain, with custom Mediterranean salads, grain bowls, and pita wraps. The portions are plentiful and the flavors are zesty—think spicy lamb meatballs, harissa, pickled banana peppers, roasted seasonal vegetables, and Sriracha Greek yogurt dressing. Find the perfect accompaniment in seasonal housemade juices such as beet lemonade or pineapple apple mint.
1042 North El Camino Real, Encinitas; One Paseo, Carmel Valley
Best of North County 2019
Far West Lounge | Photo: Sam Wells
It’s not just Modern Times’ newest tasting room. It’s also the brewery’s only San Diego outpost to serve food, offering a small menu of plant-based dishes like Beyond Meat burgers and bratwursts, chilaquiles, and kimchi elote. (Since Modern Times founder and CEO Jacob McKean is vegan, he’s made it a point that everything the brewpub serves be vegan too—including the beer and coffee.) But don’t think their beloved brews have gone by the wayside; there are still 30 on tap to choose from.
470 South Coast Highway 101, Encinitas
Everbowl’s hearty, made-to-order bowls are packed with way more than just acai, and they’re popping up all over the county, including in Encinitas, Escondido, Oceanside, and Poway, to name a few. Choose from predesigned favorites like the Hawaiian, topped with kiwi, pineapple, and coconut, or the Notso Green (can’t even taste the spinach). Feeling more adventurous? Build your own, starting with a base of either acai, pitaya, acerola, or graviola, and choose from six liquids (like cashew milk or coconut water), then load up on the toppings. With over 25 fruits, seeds, and drizzles to choose from, there’s something for everyone.
Multiple locations
Morgan Brown, Hannah Van Veen, and Jessi Goralski achieved such mastery in the art of making almond and cashew milks for their place of work—Bump Coffee—that their bosses encouraged them to think bigger. So, the trio recruited their friend and fellow nut-milk guru Rylee Owens to launch their own small-batch brand of bottled breakfast shakes featuring Bump Coffee cold brew. The grab-and-go items are available at their day job.
126 Aberdeen Drive, Cardiff
Westin Carlsbad Resort & Spa’s newly rebranded upscale dining option serves contemporary California cuisine coupled with crystal-clear views of the Pacific. The restaurant offers daily deals in the bar and lounge areas from 4 to 6 p.m., including cocktails for $2 off, $4 well drinks, $6 house wines, and half-priced appetizers. But Wednesday from 4 to 9 p.m. is our favorite time to swing by, when 20/Twenty hosts a progressive happy hour with draft cocktails—like the lemon-basil snakebite martini that rotates seasonally—starting at $4 and increasing by $1 each hour. Bottoms up!
5480 Grand Pacific Drive, Carlsbad
Best of North County 2019
Bar’n Co
Encinitas residents Caroline Green and Andy Wood gutted a 1982 horse trailer to its frame and transformed it into a head-turning dry bar available for events. After they literally raised the roof, the 12-by-7-foot space now features a reclaimed barn door, whitewashed wood paneling, and a hexagon-tile backsplash. It can be hauled to many locations and gussied up inside and out per a client’s theme. Packages include “The Stable,” just beer and wine; “Giddyup,” which adds two custom cocktails; and “No Horse’ing Around,” which includes a fully stocked bar and two licensed tenders for it.
Any restaurant can put together a wine menu. But how many of them curate a sherry list? Clara upstages the rest, with varietals like Pedro Ximénez San Emilio and Dry Amontillado Los Arcos. Order the fortified vinos on their own in three-ounce pours or try them in a craft cocktail (the Iron Maiden marries a Manzanilla sherry with mint, cucumber, and lime).
300 Carlsbad Village Drive, Carlsbad
Solana Beach couple JP and Kate Franklin just made getting this gut-friendly fermented elixir easier with their weekly home delivery service. Chilled growlers of spicy ginger, kid-friendly raspberry lemonade, or apple turmeric ginger kombucha arrive at your doorstep as though from a modern-day milkman. Not ready to go all in? You can find their bottled booch at Crust, Ranch 45, and Pizza Port, too.
Best of North County 2019
BOTTAIA Winery
Technically it’s in Riverside County, but we’re happy to claim it. Temecula’s newest winery got our attention when it opened last fall, situated on the other side of a 300-acre estate it shares with sister winery Ponte, and it’s the only one in Temecula Wine Country that has a wine blending lab as part of its main offerings. Opening this month are a pool, a café, and a cocktail bar (buy a guest pass or rent a cabana for the day, complete with lounge chairs, shower, and more). Vino and vitamin D? Yes, please!
35601 Rancho California Road, Temecula
The interior designer opened up her first retail space and design studio last year, housing antiques collected during her travels (for instance, a Paul McCobb bar cart). Then there’s bespoke collections created specifically for her: Grecian-inspired ceramics by La Jolla artist Joe Skoby, table lamps designed by Carol Leskanic in New York, coffee table trays by Erik Gustafson in Chicago, and mirrors by James Kendall Higgins.
16903 Avenida de Acacias, Rancho Santa Fe
Best of North County 2019
Amy Meier | Photo: Becca Batista
Encinitas mom Lindsy Richards designed and patented these adjustable leather-and-elastic headbands and corsages for use as the base of flower crowns. Gather your own blooms and arrange as you please.
Surfing photographer Jack English and his daughter, Eden, launched Sea of Seven from their Encinitas garage with giving back in mind—for every product sold they donate a tee to a homeless person. They sell surfer chic tees for him, her, and kids, as well as prints. Shopping never felt so good.
Sustainable and ethical—that’s the standard for the threads to hang on the racks at this airy brick-and-mortar. Opened by Audrey Latsko last year, Ineffably stocks only fair-trade organic goods that’ll withstand a lifetime of wear. There’s even seed paper price tags to ensure nothing goes to waste. Plant it, grow it, enjoy it. It’s a retail cycle that keeps on giving.
2650 Via de la Valle, Del Mar
Best of North County 2019
Marrow Fine | Photo: Jesse Chamberlin Marble
Jillian Sassone has been handcrafting head-turning gemstone settings and gilded masterpieces from Solana Beach for years. But her “Dreaming of Marrakesh” line, dropped last summer, has given us unprecedented bling envy. Inspired by Morocco’s iconic faded and intricately patterned tiles, the collection includes those stackable pieces Sassone is so known for, as well as standalone statements like Moon Signet Rings—choose one that reflects the moon’s phase during a special moment—and the Opal Headdress Ring (pictured), which is based on the first piece she ever made, using her late grandmother’s heirloom opal.
One Paseo, Carmel Valley
Heidi Ledger took over what had been storage space for her husband’s surf shop, Atacama, to set up a storefront for her online business selling women’s accessories, art, and home wares. It’s her latest step in building an environmentally conscious business that provides dignified employment opportunities to artisans around the world, including refugees resettled in San Diego. She also donates 10 percent of all sales to Circle of Health International, a nonprofit that supports organizations serving women and children. Follow @threadspun to stay in the know about future pop-ups, like one May 4–12 at Atacama Surf Shop.
1114 North Coast Highway 101, Encinitas
With 40-some tenants opening on a rolling basis, it’s too soon to say just how much we’ll love Carmel Valley’s new shopping concept. Still, here are the local retailers we’re glad to see moving in and the stylish and tasty newcomers we can’t wait to meet.
Best of North County 2019
With a vibe akin to the country marts in Malibu or Santa Barbara, it makes sense that the 96,000-square-foot One Paseo has recruited some brands from those haughtier areas to drive home its concept. Take the laid-back Whiskey & Leather and the edgier West of Camden boutiques out of Santa Barbara and Huntington Beach, respectively, plus cool-kid patterns from Faherty and, for children’s threads, Nathan West, which also houses a vintage barbershop in the back for the wee ones.
But it’s the local makers expanding into their second brick-and-mortars that we’re most excited about: Encinitas swimwear shop Blackbook Bikini and North Park clean beauty boutique Shop Good, respectively. Then there’s the boho-chic Van De Vort and beloved plant and gift emporium Pigment moving into third locations after their seconds in Liberty Station.
As for the grub, check out San Diego favorites like Tender Greens, Parakeet Cafe, and Sweetfin Poke, or the more upscale Newport Beach transplants Ways & Means Oyster House and grab-and-go stop The Butchery. Any complaints about the calorie-packed Shake Shack and Salt & Straw can be left at the door of BodyRok, SoulCycle, or Vibe Flow Yoga.
Follow up your workout with some pampering at cürBAR, Drybar, or The Color Counter, and you’ll never want to leave. Beginning in July, some San Diegans won’t have to—that’s when One Paseo’s residential development opens. As they say, if you build it, they will come!
12860 El Camino Real, Carmel Valley
Leucadia-based father-son duo Scott and Anthony Wing adorn their Damascus steel and Swedish stainless blades with equally sharp-looking handles, made from fabric-and-resin Micarta, elk antlers, and koa, sapele, and sycamore wood. They’re perfect for fishing and just as handy in the kitchen or workshop. Choose between an eight-inch chef knife, a fillet knife, a two-inch kiridashi and bottle opener (dubbed the “Beeradashi”), or other styles. Each piece is handmade to your liking, so expect to wait up to six months.
Wylie Avinion’s passion for barbering goes beyond giving fresh trims; it’s a dedication to clients and community. He’s partnered with Streets of Hope San Diego to give free haircuts to homeless people. At his newly minted Ivy League Barber Academy in San Marcos, Avinion teaches up-and-comers to not only act as entrepreneurs of their own brands, but that their craft—when done with care—can remind someone of their worth. Appointments are highly recommended.
555 West Country Club Lane, Escondido; 12145 Alta Carmel Court, Rancho Bernardo
You won’t see a plastic vessel in sight at this boutique. Grab a glass jar or bottle and fill up on health-conscious bath and home products like plant-based laundry detergents, Himalayan sea salt, baby wash, and lotions, with the option to customize the scents with pure essential oils. You can make your own shampoo, too.
1012 South Coast Highway, Oceanside
The new releases haven’t stopped since Lone Flag uprooted from Del Mar to Encinitas last year, but what’s caught our eye is their new Coast Denim line. The style is minimal and lightweight—to fit a SoCal lifestyle—and the fabric dyed in Los Angeles before the Lone Flag crew often puts its own spin on it. Consider the Moonlight Wash, where they dipped a batch of jeans in the ocean at Moonlight Beach and hung them out to dry, so each pair has a distinct distress from the salt and sun. So SoCal, indeed.
1057 South Coast Highway 101, Encinitas
This holistic hideaway is more than thatched bungalows housing inimitable healers. Inside there’s cupping, acupuncture, medical intuitive sessions and, our favorite, organic facials. Their CBD Revival Facial harnesses the power of Leef Organics CBD as a free-radical fighter and antioxidant. As you lie on a crystal-embedded infrared mat, your therapist massages the oil into your face with a chilled rose quartz roller to boost collagen and rejuvenate your skin and spirit.
775 North Vulcan Avenue, Encinitas
Hit “reset” in style and luxury with a new retreat at Rancho Valencia. Their Wellness Collective, in partnership with San Diego’s Lifewellness Institute, focuses on epigenetics and “generating positive gene expression.” Make those genes smile again with a customizable itinerary involving a combo of fitness, massages, special menus, and workshops. The revamped program allows for more flexibility and increasingly in-depth workshops on topics such as sugar addiction, the inflammatory lifestyle, and adolescent mental health.
5921 Valencia Circle, Rancho Santa Fe
In many parts of North County, our neighbors are coyotes and snakes. This center, headed up by Rancho Coastal Humane Society, is teaching residents how to coexist and support our wild neighbors with fun educational events, like a “baby shower” to collect gifts and donations for their growing pack, and a spring camp for kids (April 1–5 and 8–12).
2380 Camino Vida Roble, Carlsbad
Best of North County 2019
Inn at Moonlight Beach
A perfect staycation for a wellness weekend, this recently renovated Encinitas inn wins props for being the first building in America to adhere to the WELL Building Standard (even beyond LEED certification). The five-room modern retreat has all the right touches, from meditation nooks with gurgling fountains to biodynamic gardens for morning tea, sound therapy machines for dreamy sleep, deep soaking tubs, in-room aromatherapy, opportunities to harvest the herb and flower gardens for aromatic satchel making, and healthy organic breakfasts delivered to your door. Juice cleanse and ayurvedic wellness and relaxation packages are available too.
105 North Vulcan, Encinitas
Italy’s most elite and elegant bicycles have a new US headquarters in, of all places, Solana Beach. Peruse the sleek wheels, which run from $2K to $20K, and even step outside to demo your favorite. Keep an eye out for events with drop-ins from pro cyclists—2018 Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas has popped in. (Pinarello is, after all, the preferred choice of Tour de France champs.) But think gallery, not retail, as none of the bikes are for sale here. They’ll send you to one of their authorized retailers for a custom fit.
238 North Cedros Avenue, Solana Beach
Rather than having your little shredders “crooked grind” your flowerbeds into dust, check this out: The designer and builder of Street League Skateboarding courses (your kids will know what that means) just opened an indoor facility. Equal parts skate park and Olympic training center, it features competition-environment fixtures like time clocks and judging stands. Whether they’re beginners or budding pros, skaters can take lessons from legends and prepare to take the podium one day. Get ready to negotiate those energy drink contracts!
1410 Vantage Court, Vista
Best of North County 2019
San Diego Botanic Garden | Photo: Rachel Cobb
Keep your clothes on; it’s not what it sounds like. The San Diego Botanic Garden jumped on this meditative trend last year with the help of instructor Rhana Kozak, who’s trained in shinrin-yoku, the Japanese therapy of nature bathing. The two-hour course, typically held on Sunday mornings, is meant to help participants mindfully tap into their senses and soak up nature’s ambient cures. The immersion happens in two individual 20-minute walks, and ends with tea brewed with botanicals straight from the herb garden, followed by a savasana in the bamboo garden that’s as relaxing as it sounds.
230 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas
When you’re over trying to find parking for SparkCycle or need a break from hearing the SoulCycle instructors on their inspirational pedestal, there’s a new cycling studio in town. Carlsbad native Lena Rakijian opened Verve in January after recruiting two of her former fellow spin instructors from Boston. Their most popular class is VerveCycle, a 45-to-75-minute session that combines high-intensity intervals and upper body strength training for a no-nonsense, satisfying workout.
2630 Del Mar Heights Road, Del Mar
Just as schools are cutting arts programs left and right, Carlsbad’s Museum of Making Music is meeting needs with fun, unexpected programming and partnerships. Just last year they introduced a totally immersive music program for San Pasqual Academy foster teens interested in music as a possible career. Other MoMM programs put instruments in the hands of seniors or provide museum access to students living below the poverty line. Upcoming concerts include Grammy winner Daniel Ho Trio (April 6), Irish music from the Seamus Egan Project (April 13), and “chamberfolk” band Harpeth Rising (April 20).
5790 Armada Drive, Carlsbad
Best of North County 2019
ArtWalk Carlsbad
Launched last year by Little Italy’s Mission Federal ArtWalk, ArtWalk Carlsbad is positively kaleidoscopic, with more than 200 artists displaying and selling their work September 21–22. In a nod to the defunct Carlsbad ArtSplash event, chalk artists bring Armada Drive to vibrant life—coloring surfaces in turquoise, tangerine, silver, and more glowing hues.
Armada Drive, Carlsbad
You know his work if you’ve been to Moto Deli—the mural Arriba, Abajo y de Lado a Lado (“up, down, and side to side”) has been tempting patio patrons to pause for selfies ever since its completion in 2017. But that just scratches the surface of how this Carlsbad-based artist has muralized North County in his upbeat style (pictured), inspired by the Mesoamerican tradition of his Honduran roots and the street art he absorbed as a New Yorker in the mid-’80s. His Free Beans Project is a treasure hunt in which he leaves a numbered set of paintings—each one a Warhol-like can of beans—in public places for people to find and keep. Follow @wherehaveyoubeans to see where they’ll show up next.
Best of North County 2019
Santos Orellana
If you like theater and beer, this New Village Arts festival is definitely up your alley. The Final Draft New Play Festival gives local playwrights and breweries shared spotlight in a weekend-long event every January that includes readings of new plays, workshops, and panel discussions. It concludes with the Final Draft Party, where audience members can mingle and enjoy craft beers. Cheers to drama celebrated right!
2787 State Street, Carlsbad
The city of Oceanside is heating up, and its very own OMA is right there with it. They added their popular Music at the Museum series to various First Friday Art Walks—April 5 features live music and dance performances on the terrace and lobby. The best part? Free admission from 5 to 8, but you’re welcome to stay until 10, and there’s a cash bar. It’s the artful alternative to a night at the pub.
704 Pier View Way, Oceanside
This new pop-up for families and foodies sprawls through Flower Hill Promenade with food trucks, live music, free crafts for kids, and educational experiences from local museums. Parents can enjoy beer gardens and vendors selling jewelry, reclaimed wood art, pottery, hand-poured candles, European shoes, and more. See it the second Sunday of each month, starting in May.
2720 Via de la Valle, Del Mar
Best of North County 2019
Flower Hills’ Feast + Craft Artisan Market
You can make every day “bring your kid to work day” at this new coworking space. It’s a godsend for parents who work remotely and need more than naptime to get the job done. You’ll find a nursing lounge, Wi-Fi, private desks, communal workspaces, and a quiet room for conference calls. Children are cared for by professionals in a connected room outfitted with a baby zone, reading corner, train table, art zone, and more. All this and the chance to socialize and collaborate with other grown-ups? Sold.
7740 El Camino Real, Carlsbad
Best of North County 2019
Legoland
“Free” and “Lego” aren’t usually seen together, but all year, in honor of Legoland turning 20, kids 12 and younger get into the park for free on their birthday (proof of birth date required). Once inside, they can watch the new short Lego City 4D—Officer in Pursuit or take a spin on the recently opened Lego City Deep Sea Adventure submarine ride.
One Legoland Drive, Carlsbad
This birth center and boutique has long been a hub for new moms in Vista. It assists with everything prenatal and postpartum, including breastfeeding advice and support, car seat checks, and more. The infant and toddler art classes are the newest educational programs, but the most popular remain Baby & Me Yoga, Toddler & Me Yoga, and GroovaRu, a baby-wearing dance class. This month, snag free samples at the seventh annual BabyFest, April 28 at Westin Carlsbad Resort & Spa.
1948 Via Centre, Vista
Best of North County 2019
Harumama
Expand your picky eater’s palate with this Asian restaurant’s adorable steamed bao buns that look like cartoon pandas, bunnies, cats, and other creatures. The cloud-soft buns envelop fillings such as pork, purple potato and, for dessert, Nutella or red beans. Each order comes with two buns, which are nestled inside a steamer basket that kids can open just like a present.
2958 Madison Street, Carlsbad
If your kiddo is over the park playdate or library storytime routine, they’ll love this fun and festive event, which takes place the first Monday of the month at the San Dieguito Heritage Museum. When kids aren’t dancing and singing along to children’s band headliner Hullabaloo, there are activities like face painting and crafts. Meanwhile, parents can check out the booths where family-friendly vendors sell their wares.
450 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas
Best of North County 2019
Dr. Grey’s Play & Stay
This veterinarian-run home boarding and doggie daycare is more like a boutique hotel for your fur baby. Pampered pooches can sleep on dog beds in themed rooms—like Hollywoof, Safari, and Beatles & Bowsers—watch widescreen TVs, and leap into a swimming pool. There are spacious yards for private or group play, and bonus: They’re equipped with doggy cams, so you can watch Fido frolic from afar. An extension of Carmel Mountain Ranch Veterinary Hospital, Dr. Grey’s Play & Stay will provide medical care, facilitate special diets in the dogs’ dedicated kitchen, and even bathe your hound for free with a 24-hour stay.
San Pasquale
Best of North County 2019
PARTNER CONTENT
Death by Tequila | Photo: Becca Batista
Discover eateries, outings, and shops within this inland North County community
Just south of Lake Hodges near 4S Ranch and Poway, Rancho Bernardo is a suburban community that blends residential neighborhoods with industrial pockets, elevated by a decidedly diverse food scene.
Over 60 years ago, this North County neighborhood was once part of a family ranch. Since that time, big tech companies have taken up residence here, including Amazon, Sony Electronics, Oura Ring, HP, Teradata, and ASML. Rancho Bernardo Inn serves as a community hub, with locals frequently meeting at the hotel’s restaurants, golf course, and spa.
Whether it’s work or a round of golf that brings you to Rancho Bernardo, we’ve taken care of the agenda planning with our guide to the area’s best restaurants, activities, and shops.
Sample ingredients plucked straight from Rancho Bernardo Inn’s onsite garden and served at their signature restaurant Avant. One of the neighborhood’s most upscale dining options, they serve a French-inspired menu with nods to California, including many seafood options. Don’t miss their more casual sister restaurant Veranda for al fresco dining.
17550 Bernardo Oaks Drive
Wood-fired pizzas and handmade pastas are standouts at The Kitchen, Bernardo Winery’s counter-service restaurant specializing in Sicilian flavors. Charcuterie boards and bruschetta make for great starters or snacks while wine tasting.
13330 Paseo Del Verano Norte
Fast-casual and family-owned eatery Bushfire Kitchen recently opened a location in Rancho Bernardo, serving sandwiches, bowls, salads, burgers, protein plates, and housemade empanadas. Bushfire prepares comfort food with healthy ingredients, and offers plenty of vegetarian and vegan options.
11962 Bernardo Plaza Drive, Suite 110
Some might call The Cork & Craft an overachiever. This gastropub has an in-house craft brewery and winery: Abnormal Beer and Wine. The more, the merrier. Their sushi menu is definitely worth exploring, but don’t miss other specialties like garlic noodles, chicken wings, and pork belly.
16990 Via Tazon
You don’t have to leave Rancho Bernardo to get a white tablecloth steakhouse experience. Carvers Steaks & Chops has prime rib (their best seller), filet, ribeye, porterhouse, New York strip, and other cuts, served alongside crab-stuffed mushrooms, wedge salad, French onion soup, potato skins, and other steakhouse specialties.
1940 Bernardo Plaza Drive
This no-frills Burmese restaurant is known for its traditional tea leaf salad that’s topped with sesame and sunflower seeds, garlic chips, peanuts, tomatoes, jalapeños, fried yellow beans, and fermented green tea leaf dressing. Tucked into a nondescript strip mall, Burma Place is a great takeout option when you want to eat garlic noodles, fried rice, chicken curry, and samosas from the comfort of your couch.
16719 Bernardo Center Drive, Suite A
Find authentic Vietnamese cuisine at Phở Ca Dao, including favorites like phở noodle soup, vermicelli noodles, broken rice dishes, and spring rolls. One of eight locations throughout San Diego, this family-owned chain uses robot servers for food delivery.
11808 Rancho Bernardo Road, Suite 100
It’s all about the sauce at fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant The Kebab Shop. Smothering your chicken shawarma, gyro, or falafels in garlic yogurt, cilantro jalapeno, fire chili, and dill yogurt sauce is practically a rite of passage. The hardest part is deciding whether to order a wrap, bowl, or salad.
11980 Bernardo Plaza Drive
Get a taste of South Asian flavors at Casa Lahori, a Pakistani restaurant noted for its grilled meat kabobs. Other best-selling dishes include beef nihari, chicken biryani, and shahi paneer— best enjoyed with naan bread.
11975 Bernardo Plaza Drive
Grill your own meat on the tabletop at Kangnam Korean BBQ, an interactive, all-you-can-eat experience that’s well-suited for large groups. Marinated beef bulgogi, grilled galbi short ribs, and spicy pork are served alongside traditional banchan dishes like kimchi, japchae glass noodles, and flavorful stews. Weekday lunch specials provide a nice discount on these filling meals.
11828 Rancho Bernardo Road, Suite 117–119
Dig in to your favorite curries and kebabs at Curry & More Indian Bistro. Most entrees are served with a choice of two side dishes, including basmati rice, potatoes with cumin, daal, naan, or mixed greens. Help offset the spice with one of their sweet mango or strawberry lassi drinks.
11808 Rancho Bernardo Road, Suite 123
Kai Oliver-Kurtin is a San Diego-based writer who covers travel, dining, events, and culture. Her writing has been published in USA Today, Condé Nast Traveler, Fodor's Travel, Marie Claire, and HuffPost, among others.
From San Diego’s coastline to Los Angeles stadium and fan zones across the region, here’s how to experience soccer’s biggest event
When three nations and 16 cities come together to host the FIFA World Cup 2026, the scale stops feeling like a tournament and starts feeling like geography. A continent becomes the stage as borders soften into corridors. And Southern California—shaped by migration, sport, entertainment, and constant movement—sits inside that landscape with all eyes on it.
San Diego and Los Angeles have always felt connected. Hop on the Pacific Surfliner, and the trip unfolds in one continuous stretch of coastline, passing beach towns, neighborhoods, and city centers.
Traveling from San Diego, everything still feels slightly suspended as the Pacific Surfliner follows the coast north with ocean on one side and a slow suburban blur on the other. San Diego stays in exhale. Los Angeles is already building toward something louder.
This summer, Los Angeles will host eight matches of the FIFA World Cup at Los Angeles Stadium, including the US Men’s National Team opener on June 11, while the region stretches into 39 days of programming across stadiums, parks, transit hubs, beaches, and neighborhoods. Instead of one massive fan hub, Los Angeles is embracing a citywide celebration, with fan zones spread across its entirety.
But this pattern has been rehearsed here for decades. In 1994, Southern California became one of the defining stages of the World Cup, when matches at the Rose Bowl placed global attention on the region and turned local stadiums into international landmarks, confirming its ability to hold the world at scale.
What distinguishes Southern California is not just infrastructure, but cultural permeability. Fashion, music, film, art, and sport constantly overlap here, creating an environment where identity is flexible and always in motion. From the Venice boardwalk, where skate culture shaped modern street style, to global soccer stars rubbing shoulders with Hollywood celebs, to authentic Spanish cuisine moving up and down the I-5 corridor, everything circulates.
The World Cup is not introducing anything new here, it’s showing up for the summer and showing out, revealing what this city has always known about itself. What follows is a look at the fan zones and how Los Angeles turns itself into a city-wide stage for the tournament, one neighborhood at a time.
As the heart of Los Angeles, Union Station is an official Fan Zone June 25-28 during the World Cup, but in practice it never really stops being one.
It is the city’s circulation point, its meeting ground, its pressure valve. Commuters, travelers, match-day crowds, and everyday Angelenos all move through the same space, and everything mixes, overlaps, and scales in real time. In a way, this is where the World Cup stops arriving in Los Angeles and starts moving through it.
The Pacific Surfliner from San Diego to Los Angeles makes that shift feel almost too easy. No stress or gridlock anxiety, just a straight line up the coastline with ocean on one side and everything slowly becoming more built on the other. It’s one of the rare ways into LA that doesn’t feel like arrival as friction. You can sit with a laptop, watch the Pacific drift past, grab coffee from the café car, and let the city come to you in pieces.
That’s the beauty of arriving at Union Station. Instead of feeling like you’re on the edge of the city, you’re immediately surrounded by it. And, inside, the station already reads like a World Cup nerve center: banners, movement, multilingual energy, the sense that something global is about to funnel through this exact point. The Heart of the City Fan Zone only sharpens that feeling, with simultaneous match screens, DJ sets, meet and greets, and immersive activations built around marquee games like USA vs. Türkiye.
From there, the city splits outward.
ROW DTLA feels like the first exhale after arrival. A converted industrial campus turned creative district where restaurants, retail, and open-air courtyards form a self-contained ecosystem. If you’re looking for the perfect first meal in LA, make it lunch at Pizzeria Bianco. The thin-crust pizza is reason enough to go, but the space leaves just as much of an impression.
What I liked most about ROW DTLA is how quickly it resets you after the train. One minute you are stepping off at Union Station, and the next you are in a space that feels like its own version of LA, a city inside a city with some of the most curated shopping I’ve ever seen.
Bodega hides itself behind a convenience-store front, a sneaker and streetwear space disguised as something ordinary, like LA refusing to make anything feel too obvious. The whole campus moves like that, part retail, part gallery, part neighborhood you are only temporarily inside.
Isabella Dallas is a freelance writer for San Diego Magazine and the Arts and Culture Editor at The Daily Aztec in her final year at San Diego State University. She previously worked as an editorial intern for SDM, but when she’s not writing, you can find her trying the best coffee spots in SD, devouring the latest rom-coms, and indulging in anything and everything pop culture.
We rounded up the city’s best events, activities, and restaurants to celebrate Dad on June 21
Father’s Day is often the overlooked summer holiday that doesn’t quite get the extravagant brunch treatment or overflowing bouquets that Mother’s Day does. Sure, there’s the annual pair of socks, Padres hat you’re convinced he doesn’t already own, beer subscriptions, phone case doubling as a wallet, plus the classic “Best Dad” keepsakes. But this year, let’s flip the narrative with events, activities, and specials made with Dad in mind.
Whether he wants a quiet dinner, a big screen full of San Diego sports and wings, or a weekend that somehow includes NASCAR, a jazz festival, and a Broadway reimagining, there is something for every dad. Here’s your guide to a memorable Father’s Day in San Diego.
Jump To: Activities | Bars & Drinks | Dining Specials
Nothing says “Happy Father’s Day” like the sound of engines ripping across Naval Base Coronado. NASCAR is turning this into a historic race weekend that feels less like a casual outing and more like a full-scale San Diego moment people will be talking about long after June is over. This is the first time a NASCAR Cup Series race has ever taken place on an active military base, which instantly puts it in “you had to be there” territory.
It’s fast, loud, and very on-brand for a Father’s Day where Dad suddenly becomes an expert on tire strategy, pit stops, and track positions. The bar might be set unreasonably high for every Father’s Day that follows, but that’s a next-year problem, right?
Price: Tickets available on Ticketmaster
Dates: June 19–21 | Weekend Schedule
Address: Naval Base Coronado
At Humphreys, Father’s Day gets a little more sophisticated. Roger Friend and an all-star lineup of jazz musicians bring decades of international experience to the bay, where dads can lean into their musical side with head nods and shoe taps. It’s smooth, layered, and exactly the amount of jazz you didn’t realize your playlists were missing.
Price: Tickets available on Ticketmaster
Time: 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Address: 241 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego
Belmont Park is rolling out a Father’s Day lineup that basically turns Mission Beach into a living garage scene, with a free car show featuring everything from polished 1960s Camaros to classic Bel Airs and lowriders. If he has a ride of his own, vintage car owners can join the lineup for $35 per vehicle. After the chrome tour, it’s straight into a Mission Beach classic: boardwalk strolls, fish tacos on the sand, and rides at Belmont Park.
Price: Free to attend | Register vehicle here
Time: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Address: Belmont Park, 3146 Mission Boulevard, San Diego
I think it’s an unspoken rule that dads love Bob Dylan. Mine is already figuring out how he’s getting to San Diego for this. But this isn’t just a Father’s Day activity, it’s a cultural event that happens to land on Father’s Day weekend and immediately becomes the plan. Bob Dylan at The Rady Shell means you’ll be surrounded by city lights sparkling across the harbor, legacy music, and at least one moment where Dad leans over and whispers, “You know, this guy wrote everything.” And honestly? He’s not wrong.
Price: Tickets available on Ticketmaster
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Address: 222 Marina Park Way, San Diego
The San Diego County Fair returns with fried everything, questionable decisions, rides that definitely looked safer in the 2000s, and Dad’s very confident plan to “just walk around for an hour” that somehow turns into an entire day. It’s also the biggest, longest-running community event in San Diego County, running Wednesday, June 10 through Sunday, July 5, with a “Once Upon a Fair” theme. It basically becomes part of the Father’s Day season whether you planned it or not. So, consider this your annual reminder that “happily ever after” can, in fact, involve Cajun honey dogs, cinnamon rolls, a Ferris wheel you swore you wouldn’t go on, and Dad somehow knowing exactly which booth has the best Spam wonton tacos.
Price: Tickets available here: website
Date & Time: June 10 – July 5 (closed Mondays & Tuesdays) | 11 a.m.
Address: 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del Mar
Isabella Dallas is a freelance writer for San Diego Magazine and the Arts and Culture Editor at The Daily Aztec in her final year at San Diego State University. She previously worked as an editorial intern for SDM, but when she’s not writing, you can find her trying the best coffee spots in SD, devouring the latest rom-coms, and indulging in anything and everything pop culture.
The annual event honors middle market companies creating jobs, scaling up, and investing in the region
San Diego is known for its startup culture and innovation economy, but what happens when the company moves beyond its early-stage years? The San Diego Business Impact Awards aim to answer that question, spotlighting the middle market businesses helping drive the region’s economy.
Hosted by San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and JPMorganChase, the second annual awards celebration takes place on Thursday, July 23, from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Scripps Research Auditorium. More than 200 executives, entrepreneurs, and business leaders are expected to attend the networking and cocktail event honoring some of San Diego County’s fastest-growing companies.
Businesses headquartered in San Diego County that have operated for at least two years are encouraged to submit their nomination by Thursday, June 18 at 4 p.m. Companies across industries—from technology and life sciences to tourism and consumer products, as well as pre-revenue startups—are eligible for recognition.
For EDC President and CEO Mark Cafferty, the event is as much about building connections as celebrating success. “We’ve had a longtime partnership with JPMorganChase; their work aligns with our efforts to support underserved communities and drive talent development,” says Cafferty. “And the networking was invaluable last year. I’m still in touch with people I met at last year’s awards.”
EDC is an independently-funded nonprofit that works directly with San Diego companies to help them grow the local economy, make the region as a whole more competitive, and attract and retain top-tier talent with quality jobs. Through EDC, companies can get help starting or expanding their business with support for things like site selection, permit navigation, and regulatory guidance, plus connections to local resources and potential business collaborators.
The San Diego Business Impact Awards began as an idea with one of EDC’s longtime strategic partners, JPMorganChase. The two organizations share a commitment to San Diego and are dedicated to bolstering middle market businesses.
“We’re blessed with a robust innovation economy and startup community,” says Aaron Ryan, San Diego Region Manager for JPMorgan’s Commercial and Investment Bank and vice chair of the firm’s’ San Diego Market Leadership Team. “But one of the segments of the business community we felt was overlooked was emerging middle market companies—the businesses that are no longer small but not yet large.”
Ryan says supporting those companies is critical as they scale and decide where to invest, hire, and grow.
San Diego’s high cost of living remains one of the region’s biggest business challenges, making talent recruitment and retention increasingly competitive. But local leaders point to the region’s quality of life, climate, and collaborative business community as advantages that continue to attract employers and workers.
“In order to support thriving households, there has to be enough high-quality jobs for people to be able to afford to live here,” Cafferty says. “Once a company grows and excels past that middle market point in their growth cycle, they become much more likely to pay higher wages and compete globally.”
Both Cafferty and Ryan proudly tout the unique collaboration that exists among San Diego County businesses. Bringing together top universities producing high-quality talent, cutting-edge research institutions, a robust military and defense presence, leading ocean science and environmental organizations, and a binational, cross-border identity creates a distinct business ecosystem that defines and strengthens the San Diego region.
Last year’s San Diego Business Impact Awards celebrated nearly 60 honorees from 49 industries, representing a total of 8,232 jobs across eight sectors, including: software and technology, healthcare and life sciences, consumer goods, professional services, finance, construction and manufacturing, defense, and hospitality and tourism. On average, honoree companies doubled their revenues over the previous year, employed more than 145 San Diegans each, and offered an average annual compensation of $192,415.
Top honorees included defense contractor Innoflight, environmental consulting firm Bancroft Construction Services, life sciences startup Element Biosciences, defense technology contractor GALT Aerospace, organic grocery store chain Jimbo’s, and biopharmaceutical company LENZ Therapeutics. During the event, Innoflight Founder and CEO Jeff Janicik held a fireside chat offering his insights on investing in the community and embracing San Diego culture.
This year, organizers hope to continue highlighting the middle market players driving economic impact across the region. Nominations are now open through June 18 at 4 p.m. Get your tickets to the San Diego Business Impact Awards celebration to enjoy drinks by Snake Oil Cocktail Co., light bites, live music, and networking.
Food writer Beth Demmon names local bites we love—both at the high and low ends of our budgets
We love a mega-fancy tasting menu, but let’s be honest—we’re not all blessed with unlimited Wagyu funds. So we picked some of the breakout dishes of the last year (or couple of years) from the best chefs in the city, reverse-engineered their chief charms (salty, smoky, caramelized?) in the test lab of our mouths, and found some budget-friendly alternatives that hit some of the same notes with an everyday price tag.
Where do delicately plucked marigold blossoms adorn Deer Isle scallops, or ingredients like fermented raspberry precede roasted coffee oil, shiro miso caramel, or bronze fennel in a parade of hit-after-hit dishes? Lilo in Carlsbad, of course. San Diego’s newest Michelin star changes its menu with the seasons, but one stalwart dish has kept tongues wagging since opening day last April: the caviar ice cream. A boat-shaped sliver of orgeat ice cream, smoked celery root bushi, and freshly pressed almond oil are topped with a generous heap of caviar. It’s a dish so good and defining that chef Eric Bost will tire of talking about it for a very long time.
Price: $265 for the tasting menu (before tax, tip, and drinks)
There’s a reason Stella Jean’s s’mores ice cream is part of the local scoop shop’s “always available” menu. Made with fire-roasted marshmallows and coconut ash ice cream mixed with dark chocolate-covered graham crackers and mini marshmallows, its strangely ashen hue dabbled with flecks of tawny brown is a far cry from the wildly vibrant ube and pandesal toffee flavor seemingly made for Instagram reels. But it’s a sensation in your mouth—smoky, toasty, torched, creamy, marshmallowy, coconutty, ashy, and bitter from the dark chocolate. Pro tip: If you really want to DIY Lilo’s ultra-luxe treat, bring your own caviar.
Price: $6.25 for a single scoop
There’s no question what comes first at Lucien. It’s the egg. Chef and co-owner Elijah Arizmendi’s 12-course tasting menu begins with welcome bites under the calamansi tree before moving inside to start the Journey (the actual name of this section of the menu). The first step is one of the most astounding—a perfectly intact, upright, ochre-hued eggshell containing his take on Japanese chawanmushi (egg custard), topped with a dollop of caviar. The accompanying ingredients have ranged from sweet corn and huitlacoche to banana and buckwheat, but each one has precisely demonstrated Arizmendi’s commitment to French technique with California experimentation and global influence.
Price: $260 for the chef’s tasting menu (before tax, tip, and drinks)
The biggest difference (besides price) is that while Lucien’s dish changes with the season, Sushi Ota is comfortably predictable. A San Diego staple since 1990, the legendary Sushi Ota has been one of those if you know, you know joints that locals try to keep off the radar. (It hasn’t worked at all.) Known for ultra-fresh fish and ultra-traditional service, the small Pacific Beach restaurant also serves Japanese comfort foods like udon noodle soup alongside sashimi, nigiri, and rolls. But it’s the savory steamed egg custard, called chawanmushi, that really gives you the warm and fuzzies. Add a side of salmon roe (ikura) for a few bucks more, and this dupe is about as good as it gets.
Price: $12 for chawanmushi, $11 for ikura
Enough ink—and tears, I’m sure—has been spilled over Chick & Hawk’s long and arduous journey to opening its doors. But now that the Encinitas eatery is in full swing, chef Andrew Bachelier’s tightly curated menu of fried chicken sandwiches, fries, and bowls command lines of hungry locals and skate-culture loyalists. The Birdman, the signature hot chicken sandwich named for partner and skateboarding legend Tony Hawk, is piled with cabbage slaw and pickles and slathered with a tangy kimchi comeback sauce on a soft brioche bun. Although this Nashville meets California meets Mississippi meets Korea sando doesn’t command a triple-digit price tag, the fact that it’s nearly a $20 chicken sandwich (sans side) has been a topic of conversation. Bachelier—who worked at Addison before opening Jeune et Jolie, then launched SDM’s 2024 “Best New Restaurant,” Atelier Manna—and his team earned that price tag.
Price: $18
It’s hard to beat Koreans at the chicken game. Korean fried wings are defined by a double-fry technique—first at a low temperature to ensure the chicken is cooked through, then at a high temperature to ensure the famed extra-crispy, ear-splittingly crunchrageous magic. At Cross Street, they follow a similar fusion ethos as Chick & Hawk, using inspiration from the American South as well as Thailand, Korea, Vietnam, and more, with flavors like “Seoul Spicy” or “Honey Butter” for whatever you’re feeling that day. Pair it with a cold beer to go full chimaek (a popular Korean combination of pairing fried chicken and beer). Now that’s a combo—and price tag—that’s hard to beat.
Price: $8.75 for five wings
PB&J. Captain & Tennille. Brad Wise and steak. Steak frites ranks among the iconic global duos. And when the holy union of prime cuts and twice-fried carbs comes from Wise and the meat-loving masters at Trust Restaurant Group, it’s a pretty safe bet. À L’ouest—the group’s newest fancy, but not fussy, drippy plant dreamscape of a French steakhouse on the prime corner of 30th and University in North Park—gives guests a choice: 12-ounce New York strip, 8-ounce filet mignon, or 8-ounce Wagyu hanger, topped with sauce au poivre (the classic French pan sauce—peppercorns, shallots, heavy cream, brandy) and served with a heaping pile of 24-hour salt-brined fries and a watercress salad. One bite acts as a transport to a Parisian brasserie, so if you think about the cost in terms of time-space travel, it’s a pretty great deal.
Price: starts at $48
To satisfy the same urge for meat and potatoes, feel at least moderately European while doing so, and save a couple quid, a trip to The Shakespeare in Mission Hills ticks all the boxes. The classic British shepherd’s pie arrives in a piping hot oval au gratin dish, smothered with a thick layer of mashed potatoes. Beneath it lies a hefty portion of marinated ground beef and vegetables in the pub’s secret sauce, and while there are a few choices of sides, the correct order is peas and “proper” chips (a.k.a. chunky, thick-cut fries versus the typically thinner American “French” fries). It’s more tickety-boo than très bien, but it’s immensely satisfying in any language.
Price: $22.95
Beth Demmon is an award-winning writer and podcaster whose work regularly appears in national outlets and San Diego Magazine. Her first book, The Beer Lover's Guide to Cider, is now available. Find out more on bethdemmon.com.
From dedicated line cooks to seasoned bartenders, these are the people making magic happen in city's top restaurants
Chefs have done gobs of thankless, lumbar-breaking work over years to land the role. Restaurateurs put their entire livelihoods on the line, microdosed sleep, took ultimate responsibility for every minor stress. They earned the spotlight they get. But ask one of them, and they almost always defer to a line cook who’s showed up for years, been deep in the thing, and whose absence would bring the kitchen to its knees. Or the bartender with a warmth that draws people whether they’re thirsty or not. Or the noble and spreadsheetable soul in charge of purchasing everything needed for the nightly show.
They call it the “heart of the house.”
Spotlight or not, these are the people who make a food culture hum at its daily core.
For this year’s “Best Restaurants” issue, we asked a handful of the top chefs and one restaurant owner—Tara Monsod (Animae/Le Coq), Jason McLeod (Ironside Fish & Oyster), Ananda Bareño (The Marine Room), Owen Beatty (A.R. Valentien), and Ryan Thorsen (Mister A’s)—who that person is for them.
These are the hearts of houses.
Roger Feria Krile is not only the guy you want to be friends with at work, but also the guy you want to hire: respectful, nose-to-the-grindstone, versatile. And he’ll drop off a fresh batch of cinnamon rolls at your house for the holidays. Born in Tijuana, Krile moved to the US with his mom and sister when he was in elementary school. He saw the sacrifices his mother made to give her children a better life, and he pushed himself to live up to that brighter future.
He came to cooking during the pandemic, asking himself, “What do I really love to do?” His answer: “Bake cakes for friends and break bread with people,” he says. That led to a culinary school degree and a stint in a Michelin-starred NYC kitchen, where he grew to “love and understand” fine dining. Now back in San Diego, Krile’s showing up at Animae in a major way. He does prep work three mornings a week and comes later in the day twice a week for dinner service. Most line cooks do one or the other, but he requested both tours of duty.
“Gotta get my reps, keep my skills sharp,” Krile says, “and I don’t want to miss the rush.” Prep work in the mornings helps him learn how Executive Chef Tara Monsod uses each ingredient to the fullest. Krile’s not just a line cook. One-quarter Filipino (and learning about his culinary heritage from mentor Monsod), he’s building his own Mexican-Filipino pop-up concept. Look for Sarsa—Filipino for salsa—where every dish is a play on words fusing Mexican and Philippine Spanish or Tagalog. He’s already R&D’d a breakfast sandwich, the tortantalong: a torta filled with a signature Filipino eggplant omelette called a tortang talong. Friends in the industry say it’s unexpectedly delicious.
“He shows up every day with a clear goal of one day opening his own restaurant, and that drive pushes him to go above and beyond,” says Monsod. “He is constantly learning, asking questions, and absorbing as much as possible, all while leading by example on the line.”
Ruben Martinez knows every bottle of wine at Mister A’s—not necessarily by taste (though he was on the tasting committee for years), but by where they are in storage and whether they need replenishment. Owner Ryan Thorsen wants the wine list at 100 percent available every night, and Martinez’s job is to make that a reality. He’s been keeping inventory on Mister A’s wines since the 1970s, back when he worked for founder John Alessio. And it’s not just vino: Martinez also procures the ingredients, arriving at 5 a.m. to meet delivery trucks, stock shelves, and alert chefs if anything’s amiss.
Then he hits the dining room for a once- or twice-over to find any imperfections. If a light is out, if the plumbing acts up, if something major happens after he leaves in the afternoon, he’ll fix it all. He’s the best guy to ask, anyway; he knows every inch of Mister A’s. “Before ‘Google it,’ there was ‘Call Ruben,’” Thorsen says.
Martinez started out in hospitality at 17 with his father at Hotel Del. “I thought it would be easy working with my dad,” he says. “But early on, he caught me fooling around with the boys and told me, ‘We’re here to make money for the company. If you’re not willing to work, get out of here.’” That set him straight and set the foundation for Martinez’s lifelong dependability.
He moved to Mister A’s a couple years later, and after over five decades, he’s now the indispensable purchasing manager who worked with Alessio, Betrand Hug, and now Thorsen. Later this year, he’s planning on retiring—though he’s already offered to keep showing up a couple days a week and help out with Thorsen’s new project at Liberty Station.
Thorsen knows this man is a gem. “I don’t think we fully grasp what it will feel like without him,” he says. Last year, he threw Martinez a surprise birthday party in Mister A’s Blue Room, inviting Martinez’s family and a whole cast of coworkers going back to Alessio days. Martinez says he had to leave the room to hide his tears.
There’s an hour most people never see, when a restaurant’s technically awake but not yet accountable, and that’s where Patrick Mattoon lives. He’s been the foundation of Ironside’s prep team for the past five years, quietly guiding the day toward success. He and his team are the first in, and they turn on ovens, check deliveries, catch mistakes before they become problems, and fix everything without ceremony so the chefs and line cooks walk into a day that already works.
Mattoon organizes, but more importantly, he owns. There’s no job too small, no detail beneath notice. In a kitchen, bad prep’s the one thing you can’t fix later, no matter how talented of a chef is at the helm.
Five years in, Mattoon still approaches each day with the same care and intensity that he had on day one. He takes every task seriously and sees it through completely—the kind of consistent work that doesn’t draw attention but makes everything else possible. When the restaurant got a soft serve machine, a notorious maintenance nightmare, he taught himself how to clean and run it just to make sure it never broke, not for credit but because that’s just how he’s wired.
“He is a silent leader who has the respect of the entire team due to leading by example,” says Ironside chef Jason McLeod.
Through 23 years, three executive chefs, and a recent kitchen remodel, lead line cook Arturo Celestino is a constant at A.R. Valentien. He’s there at 6:30 a.m. five days a week—sometimes six—for the Lodge’s breakfast service. That means he’s up early prepping potatoes, slicing mushrooms, whisking pancake batter, and stirring sauces “always with a smile,” says Owen Beatty, the restaurant’s new chef de cuisine. “He’s a good leader.”
Celestino shows the younger guys how to make the eggs fluffy, so the omelettes are always perfect (don’t stop twirling the spatula!). He keeps his line in line when their spirits start to naturally droop during the morning shift home stretch when his crew just wants to get out of there. As the lead, he’s also the one chefs turn to when newbies need motivation.
His secret sauce: “mucho talking!” It keeps people happy, and it also helps the chefs retain talent in the kitchen.
Celestino learned to cook out of “necesidad,” he says. He cut his teeth on fine dining at Pacifica Del Mar at the Hyatt and moved to A.R. Valentien in 2003, just a few months after it opened in 2002.
“I’ve had good jefes,” Celestino says of the three executive chefs he’s known at A.R. Valentien: Jeff Jackson, Kelli Crosson, and now Michelin-starred Eric Sakai. Under Jackson—who’s known for pioneering farm-to-table dining in San Diego—Arturo learned to appreciate local ingredients.
“My favorite is basil,” he says, “added to tomato sauce with garlic, it’s mmm.” Fresh basil plays the supporting role in A.R. Valentien’s signature brunch plate, which is also Celestino’s top choice on the menu (to make and to eat), via the Bull’s Eyes: slow-roasted eggplant with sunny-side-up eggs, tomato sauce, and La Quercia prosciutto.
“I love my job,” Celestino says as he flashes that smile. “It’s not just a plate of food. It’s an experience.”
If you’ve been to The Marine Room, you’ve probably met bartender Tony Suarez. With his charming Cuban accent and dapper vest and tie, he makes it his business to regale guests coming and going—even while he’s pouring, mixing, shaking, polishing glasses, and taking orders.
“Over 90 percent of our guests are celebrating a special occasion,” he says. “So I keep up the celebration throughout their whole visit.” He’ll make you a sparkling toast and a customized cocktail, and on your way out, he’ll wish you a happy birthday (again) and invite you back for drinks on him.
“My goal is always to delight the guest,” he says. “I like to discover how you feel and lead you to what you would like to drink.” That spirit of experimentation has led to new signature cocktails, such as the Gerald—crafted for a neighbor who’s a regular—featuring housemade pomegranate puree and bourbon, or the I Drink of You with local Bebemos tequila, Gran Marnier, and Green Chartreuse. You won’t find this anywhere else.
“[Suarez] has mastered the art of the personalized guest experience,” says Marine Room’s Executive Chef Ananda Bareño. “He remembers the small details and favorite orders that make our regulars feel like family.”
Suarez’s tenure at the Marine Room started with a walk on the beach and a knock on the door. He was impressed by the beautiful location, and he asked if they were hiring. He immediately started as a server assistant—right before Valentine’s Day. The bartender took Suarez under his wing, and he took to the books to learn all about spirits.
He’s taken on the bartender role with wisdom and grace, offering a sympathetic ear, a pick-me-up, and a “human to human connection,” he says. Ten years into his career, the surroundings still inspire him as much as they did on day one.
“The Marine Room, the windows onto the ocean, [all] have a healing effect,” he says.
Leorah Gavidor won her first essay contest at age 5. She writes features, news, and non-fiction in San Diego.
Scripps study shows that some patients may be able to taper their dose and maintain results
While glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agents have been used to treat Type 2 diabetes for more than 20 years, their recent emergence as weight-loss wonder drugs marked a new frontier in medicine. But their effectiveness has left some patients wondering what to do once they’ve reached their goal. Stopping the medication could mean regaining some, if not all, of the weight. A Scripps Clinic internal medicine physician recently conducted a small study of whether GLP-1 patients who had reached their goal weight could maintain that weight by taking their regularly prescribed injection every other week instead of weekly. Spoiler alert: 30 of 34 patients did. Read more about the study here and what that may mean as pharmaceutical companies roll out oral GLP-1s.
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