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Features MAY 30, 2023

San Diego’s Best Restaurants of 2023

The votes poured in like hard kombucha. Here's the best of the best of San Diego, according to you (and us)

San Diego’s Best Restaurants of 2023
Photo Credit: Eric Wolfinger

Browse This Year’s List by Category

Overall | Specific Cuisines | Specific Dishes | Ambience  | Drinks


This year’s “Top Five” is a chronicle of obsession. When Callie chef and San Diego native Travis Swikard learns local boats have fresh spot prawns, he drives to Scripps Oceanographic Institute, secures optimal seawater, and keeps the prawns swimming in his kitchen until dinner service.

On the other side of downtown, fellow hometowner Tara Monsod and her three main chefs at the heavy-draped, softly opulent Animae are Filipina a major local culture represented at the height of San Diego restaurant life.In Mission Hills, truckfuls of American red oak are stacked and set aflame at Fort Oak.

Live-fire chef Brad Wise is among the city’s most active and ascendant talents, and his surf-and-turf haven—charred bones with one of the best pokes on the planet in an Atomic Age car dealership—is still the one to beat. The gravity in Little Italy still leans toward Born & Raised, where F. Scott Fitzgerald meets rap culture, a maximalist revolt against old steakhouse tropes and warehouse minimalism.

And, finally, this year has to be Addison’s. They hauled in their third Michelin star, making them one of only 14 restaurants in the country to hold that esteem. No matter your feelings about the tire company, chef William Bradley put San Diego on a mythological culinary map. People who travel the world for food will come here—and, in the process, discover tiny charms like Muzita Abyssinian Bistro or Wolf in the Woods.

This is the 2023 “Best Restaurants” list. Not the ultimate list. Just mine. A notebook scribbled in and adjusted and fine-tuned all year—my fifteenth year of eating the city, obsessing over its details.


Overall

Best Restaurants in San Diego

Critic’s Picks

Callie

Fort Oak

Addison

Born & Raised

Animae

Reader’s Picks

Callie

Mister A’s

Animae

Kingfisher

Herb & Wood

Best New Restaurant in San Diego:

Critic’s Choice:

Marisi

Reader’s Choice:

Paradisaea

Runner-Up:

The Sushi Stand

Brad Wise Rare Society Meat Freezer
Photo Credit: Matt Furman

Best Chef in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

William Bradley

Reader’s Choice:

Brad Wise

(Trust, Fort Oak, Cardellino, Rare Society, Wise Ox)

Runner-Up:

Kelston Moore

(Bad Boyz of Culinary)

Best Restaurant Service in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Solare

Reader’s Choice:

Callie

Runner-Up:

Solare

Nine Ten Hamachi Sashimi
Courtesy of Nine-Ten

Best Hotel Restaurant in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

AR Valentien

Reader’s Choice:

Nine-Ten

Runner-Up:

Arlo

Best Catering in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Wild Thyme

Reader’s Choice:

Rubicon Deli

Runner-Up:

Chef Kelston’s Culinary Experience

Best Restaurant in Baja California

Critic’s Choice:

Deckman’s

Reader’s Choice:

Fauna

Runner-Up:

Animalon

Best Cheap Eats in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

The Friendly

Reader’s Choice:

The Friendly

Runner-Up:

The Kebab Shop

Best Healthy Food in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Parakeet Cafe

Reader’s Choice:

Parakeet Cafe

Runner-Up:

Shak’s Mediterranean Bistro

Kindred High SteaksRestaurant San Diego
Photo Credit: Arlene Ibarra

Best Vegetarian/Vegan Restaurant in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Kindred

Reader’s Choice:

The Plot

Runner-Up:

Kindred

Best Farmer’s Market Food Vendor in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Maya’s Cookies

Reader’s Choice:

Island Life Foods

Runner-Up:

Casa Ocho

Best Breakfast in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Breakfast Republic

Reader’s Choice:

Breakfast Republic

Runner-Up:

Morning Glory

Youngblood Interior Bar San Diego
Photo Credit: Arlene Ibarra

Best Bar in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Youngblood

Reader’s Choice:

Understory

Runner-Up:

Swan Bar

Best Brunch in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Morning Glory

Reader’s Choice:

Trust

Runner-Up:

Le Parfait Paris

Wayfarer Bread Pastry San Diego Bakery
Photo Credit: Airyka Rockefeller

Best Bakery in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Izola

Reader’s Choice:

Izola

Runner-Up:

Wayfarer Bread

 

Best Seafood Restaurant in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

The Fishery

Reader’s Choice:

The Fishery

Runner-Up:

Mitch’s Seafood

Best Barbecue Restaurant in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Grand Ole BBQ

Reader’s Choice:

Phil’s BBQ

Runner-Up:

Grand Ole BBQ

Rare Society, San Diego
Photo Credit: Matt Furman

Best Steakhouse in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Rare Society

Reader’s Choice:

Rare Society

Runner-Up:

Cowboy Star

Best Dessert Spot in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Sugar & Scribe

Reader’s Choice:

Extraordinary Desserts

Runner-Up:

Le Parfait Paris

Best Food Truck in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Shawarma Guys

Reader’s Choice:

Shawarma Guys

Runner-Up:

The Craft Taco Truck

Best Chain Restaurant in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

The Plot Express

Reader’s Choice:

The Kebab Shop

Runner-Up:

Rubio’s Coastal Grill

Animae Chicken Inasal Dish San Diego Restaurant
Photo Credit: James Tran

Specific Cuisines

Best Asian Fusion Restaurant in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Animae

Reader’s Choice:

Animae

Runner-Up:

Kingfisher

Best Caribbean Restaurant in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Havana Grill

Reader’s Choice:

Rock Steady Real Jamaican

Runner-Up:

Miss B’s Coconut Club

Best Chinese Restaurant in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Eastern Dynasty

Reader’s Choice:

Zen Modern Asian Bistro

Runner-Up:

Fortunate Son

Best Ethiopian Restaurant in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Muzita Abyssinian Bistro

Reader’s Choice:

Muzita Abyssinian Bistro

Runner-Up:

Awash Ethiopian Bistro

White Rice Lechon Kawali San Diego Restaurant
Courtesy of White Rice

Best Filipino Restaurant in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

White Rice Bodega

Reader’s Choice:

Animae

Runner-Up:

White Rice Bodega

Best French Restaurant in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Jeune et Jolie

Reader’s Choice:

Et Voilà!

Runner-Up:

Le Parfait Paris

Best Greek Restaurant in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Mezé

Reader’s Choice:

Olympic Cafe

Runner-Up:

Mezé

Best Indian Restaurant in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Charminar

Reader’s Choice:

Taste of the Himalayas

Runner-Up:

Punjabi Tandoor

Best Italian Restaurant in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Catania

Reader’s Choice:

Amalfi Cucina Italiana

Runner-Up:

Solare

Matsu Turnip Chawanmushi Restaurant San Diego
Photo Credit: Leo Cabal

Best Japanese Restaurant in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Matsu

Reader’s Choice:

Sushi Ota

Runner-Up:

Matsu

Best Korean Restaurant in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Woomiok

Reader’s Choice:

Woomiok

Runner-Up:

Grandma Tofu

Best Mediterranean Restaurant in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Callie

Reader’s Choice:

Callie

Runner-Up:

Kebab Craft

Valle, San Diego
Photo Credit: Audrey Ma

Best Mexican Restaurant in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Valle

Reader’s Choice:

Casa de Pico

Runner-Up:

Casa de Bandini

Best Middle Eastern Restaurant in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Tahini

Reader’s Choice:

Shak’s Mediterranean Bistro

Runner-Up:

The Kebab Shop

Best Peruvian Restaurant in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Q’ero

Reader’s Choice:

Q’ero

Runner-Up:

Coya Peruvian Secret

Best Southern Restaurant in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Flying Pig

Reader’s Choice:

Bud’s Louisiana Café

Runner-Up:

Louisiana Purchase

Best Spanish Restaurant in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Cafe Sevilla

Reader’s Choice:

Costa Brava

Runner-Up:

Cafe Sevilla

Best Thai Restaurant in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Plumeria

Reader’s Choice:

Bahn Thai

Runner-Up:

Supannee House of Thai

Kingfisher Smoked Dry Aged Duck Restaurant San Diego
Photo Credit: Kimberly Motos

Best Vietnamese Restaurant in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Kingfisher

Reader’s Choice:

Kingfisher

Runner-Up:

Shank & Bône


Specific Dishes

Best Donuts in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Sidecar

Reader’s Choice:

Barrio Donas

Runner-Up:

Dodo Bird Donuts

Best Ice Cream/Gelato in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Stella Jean’s

Reader’s Choice:

Stella Jean’s

Runner-Up:

Salt & Straw

Shank & Bone
Courtesy of Shank & Bône

Best Pho in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Shank & Bône

Reader’s Choice:

Shank & Bône

Runner-Up:

Pho Hòa

Best Ramen in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Menya Ultra

Reader’s Choice:

Menya Ultra

Runner-Up:

Underbelly

Best Wings in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

OB Noodle House

Reader’s Choice:

Dirty Birds

Runner-Up:

Shank & Bône

Best Burrito in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

La Perla de Michoacan

Reader’s Choice:

The Taco Stand

Runner-Up:

Colima’s Mexican Food

Best Chips & Salsa in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Puesto

Reader’s Choice:

Miguel’s Cocina

Runner-Up:

Barrio Starr

Best Birria in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Tuétano Taquería

Reader’s Choice:

Tuétano Taquería

Runner-Up:

Mike’s Red Tacos

Best Fries in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

The Kebab Shop

Reader’s Choice:

The Kebab Shop

Runner-Up:

In N Out Burger

Blue Poke Restaurant San Diego
Courtesy of Blue Poke

Best Poke in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

It’s Raw

Reader’s Choice:

Blue Poke

Runner-Up:

It’s Raw

Best Sushi in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Sushi Todokoro

Reader’s Choice:

The Sushi Stand

Runner-Up:

Wrench and Rodent Seabasstropub

Best Fish Taco in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

TJ Oyster Bar

Reader’s Choice:

Mitch’s Seafood

Runner-Up:

Oscar’s

Best Taco in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Ed Fernandez

Reader’s Choice:

Tacos El Gordo

Runner-Up:

The Taco Stand

Best Sandwich in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Moto Deli

Reader’s Choice:

Rubicon Del

Runner-Up:

Smallgoods

Best Pizza in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Buona Forchetta

Reader’s Choice:

Ambrogio15

Runner-Up:

Amalfi Cucina Italiana

Best Burger in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Nine-Ten

Reader’s Choice:

Rocky’s Crown Pub

Runner-Up:

The Friendly

Din Tai Fung Dumplings Steamed Buns Appetizers
Courtesy of Din Tai Fung

Best Soup Dumplings in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Steamy Piggy

Reader’s Choice:

Din Tai Fung

Dumpling Inn & Shanghai Saloon

Runner-Up:

Best Pasta in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Cesarina

Reader’s Choice:

Cesarina

Runner-Up:

Cori Pastificio


Ambience

Best Restaurant or Bar Design in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Part Time Lover

Reader’s Choice:

Paradisaea

Runner-Up:

Animae

Best Date Spot in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Wormwood

Reader’s Choice:

Understory

Runner-Up:

Mister A’s

Best Patio Dining in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Monarch Ocean Pub

Reader’s Choice:

Mister A’s

Runner-Up:

Gravity Heights

Best Dog Friendly Restaurant in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Sally’s Fish House

Reader’s Choice:

Ambrogio15

Runner-Up:

Dodo Bird Donuts

Best Diner in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Corvette Diner

Reader’s Choice:

Corvette Diner

Runner-Up:

Station Tavern

Best Restaurant for Big Groups in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Stone Brewing

Reader’s Choice:

Herb & Wood

Runner-Up:

Park 101

Best Restaurant at Petco Park

Critic’s Choice:

Grand Ole BBQ

Reader’s Choice:

Grand Ole BBQ

Runner-Up:

Puesto

Best Restaurant with a Waterfront View

Critic’s Choice:

Marine Room

Reader’s Choice:

Coasterra

Runner-Up:

Marine Room

Best Restaurant with a View of the City

Critic’s Choice:

Mister A’s

Reader’s Choice:

Mister A’s

Runner-Up:

Seneca Trattoria

MisterAs New Dining Room Restaurant in San Diego
Photo Credit: Kimberly Motos

Best Restaurant Reinvention/Rebirth/Remodel in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Mister A’s

Reader’s Choice:

Mister A’s

Runner-Up:

Cardellino


Swan Bar Juarez Weekend Cocktail Bar San Diego
Photo Credit: John Schulz

Drinks

Best Dive Bar in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Nunu’s

Reader’s Choice:

Swan Bar

Runner-Up:

The Loft

Best Bloody Mary in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Cafe 21

Reader’s Choice:

Barleymash

Runner-Up:

Snooze

Best Margarita in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Cantina Mayahuel

Reader’s Choice:

Cantina Mayahuel

Runner-Up:

Barrio Star

Wolf In The Woods Wine Bar San Diego
Photo Credit: James Tran

Best Wine Bar in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Wolf in the Woods

Reader’s Choice:

Gianni Buonomo

Runner-Up:

Ambrogio15 Enoteca

Best Brewpub in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Gravity Heights

Reader’s Choice:

Gravity Heights

Runner-Up:

Blind Lady Ale House

Best Coffee in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Por Vida

Reader’s Choice:

Dark Horse Coffee Roasters

Runner-Up:

Bird Rock Coffee Roasters

Best Cocktails in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Polite Provisions

Reader’s Choice:

Understory

Runner-Up:

Paradisaea

You & Yours Cocktails Bar San Diego
Photo Credit: Haley James

Best Distillery in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Pacific Coast Spirits & Kitchen

Reader’s Choice:

Pacific Coast Spirits & Kitchen

Runner-Up:

You & Yours

Best Brewery in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Fall

Reader’s Choice:

Hopnonymous

Runner-Up:

Fall

Best New Brewery in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Rincon

Reader’s Choice:

Rincon

Runner-Up:

Seek

Best Winery in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Gianni Buonomo

Reader’s Choice:

Gianni Buonomo

Runner-Up:

Rustic Ridge

Best Wine List in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Addison

Reader’s Choice:

Solare

Runner-Up:

Ambrogio15

Best Juice Bar in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Northside Shack

Reader’s Choice:

Pina Smoothies

Runner-Up:

Rad Habits

Best Alt-Drink, Alcoholic (Cider, Seltzers, Canned Cocktails) in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Bivouac Ciderworks

Reader’s Choice:

Bivouac Ciderworks

Runner-Up:

Juneshine

Best Kombucha in San Diego

Critic’s Choice:

Nova Easy Kombucha

Reader’s Choice:

Juneshine

Runner-Up:

Nova Easy Kombucha

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Food & Drink AUGUST 26, 2026

Filo Brings a Taste of the Mediterranean to Bankers Hill

The team behind El Agave and Nómade will open a breezy new restaurant with tapas, housemade pasta, seafood, and plenty of wine this September

Filo Brings a Taste of the Mediterranean to Bankers Hill
Courtesy of Juan Carlos Gomez

After running El Agave Restaurant & Tequileria in Old Town for 30 years and opening Nómade Tapas & Records in North Park in 2025, owner Juan Carlos Gomez wasn’t actively on the hunt for a new project. But sometimes, you have to grab the opportunities as they come, unexpected though they may be.

He was taking a stroll in Bankers Hill last year when he noticed Barrio Star was closing after 17 years. “[It] was a neighborhood staple for a long time,” he says. So he figured he’d take a look. “We were talking with ownership and threw out an offer, and then it was accepted. So we were like, ‘Okay, cool, guess we’re going to get a new concept going!” (Much respect to the YOLO business style.)

That new restaurant is nearing completion. Filo will open early in September. The restaurant’s name, pronounced fie-low, references phyllo, the Greek word for “leaf” and an unleavened pastry dough commonly used in Mediterranean (often Greek) cuisines. Gomez says the menu will range from all over the Mediterranean region.

“I’ve always been a fan of European cuisine, obviously, but I can’t land on just one,” he laughs. “I’m part Spanish, so we wanted to do something Mediterranean, have a little bit of Spanish, have a little bit of French, Italian, Greek… a lot of olive oil, a lot of sea salt, and very, very light seasoning.”

Courtesy of Juan Carlos Gomez

Although the menu feels European, Gomez says expect the vibe and ingredients to feel very Southern Californian. There will be tapas, of course, and other small plates, along with housemade pastas, salads, with lots of seafood (like a whole branzino) coming from local purveyors. The accompanying beverage program will feel equally breezy, “fresh, very light, citrusy, salty,” he says. “We’re going to have a pretty hefty wine list and full bar.”

Gomez’s goal for Filo is for it to feel like a laid-back, seaside eatery on the craggy Mediterranean coastline—light colors, white oak, lime wash, flowing between the indoor dining room and outdoor patio. Personally, a European escape sounds pretty awesome right about now. 

Filo opens at 2706 Fifth Avenue in early September. Initial operating hours are 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily, with lunch and happy hour coming soon. (Subject to change.) 

Courtesy of Nobu Del Coronado

San Diego Restaurant News & Food Events

Beth’s Bites

  • It’s hotter than a mile of Georgia asphalt in July, but relief is on the horizon. No, I don’t mean autumn (or as we San Diegans call it, “second summer”). I’m talking about the Sails & Ales Beer Fest at Kona Kai San Diego. The annual brew fest takes place on Saturday, September 12 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Polynesian-themed Shelter Island resort, with over 30 local beverage makers bringing their most refreshing products to the hot and thirsty masses. Look for names like Pure Project, Coronado Brewing, Ketch Brewing, and a whole lot more, all of whom are donating a portion of the proceeds to Surfrider Foundation San Diego. Tasty waves? A cool buzz? Sounds just fine. 
  • If you seek edible respite before September 12, Hotel del Coronado has you covered. On Friday, September 11 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., the man behind global sushi powerhouse Nobu—Chef Nobu Matsuhisa himself—will host Taste of Nobu, an immersive evening of sushi and signature cocktails on the Paseo Lawn. Prepare yourself for the famous black cod miso, Wagyu dumplings, hand rolls galore, and much more. (Personally, I will also prepare myself to be somewhat star-struck.)
  • I love a group grilling get-together, something Kingfisher must have known when the Golden Hill restaurant launched its Nướng Nights series. The recurring patio grill event brings patrons to the curb with a casual, but ridiculously delicious collection of skewers alongside special cocktails, this month coming from Realm of the 52 Remedies. Keep August 26 open for grilling glory (and save September 29 for the Mid-Autumn dinner with chef Helen Nguyen of NYC’s Saigon Social).

Listen Now: The Latest in San Diego’s Food and Drink Scene

Have breaking news, exciting scoops, or great stories about new San Diego restaurants or the city’s food scene? Send your pitches to [email protected].

Beth Demmon

About Beth Demmon

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.

Food & Drink AUGUST 18, 2026

Fish Guts’ Pablo Becker Is Betting Bigger on Barrio Logan

The city's fish taco hero is opening Concrete Cowboy across the street, plus a home-cooked Mexican sandwich spot

Fish Guts’ Pablo Becker Is Betting Bigger on Barrio Logan
Courtesy of Fish Guts | Photo Credit: Adam Martinez

You have to be crazy or a genius to name a restaurant Fish Guts. You have to be even crazier to open a restaurant that holds maybe two dozen people at a time—if you don’t mind elbowing one other while scarfing down some of the best fish tacos in San Diego.

And yes, “best” is a relative term. But in Fish Guts’ case, it’s for real—and that’s saying something in a town literally world-famous for fish tacos

Ever since Pablo Becker opened up his diminutive eatery in 2023 at the corner of Logan Avenue and Sampson Street in Barrio Logan, Fish Guts has been named one of the city’s best new restaurants in 2023, Critic’s Pick for the best fish tacos in San Diego in 2024, 2025 and 2026, as well as readers’ top pick in 2024. It’s like if Rubio’s married into the royal family. 

Most of his ingredients come straight from the cold waters of the Pacific Ocean, which happens to be down the street. His de espada (blackened swordfish) taco is the stuff of legend. He’s kept Fish Guts operating at an elite level, which tends to happen when you work for five years in Chicago under chef Richard Sandoval (who, by chance, is also his cousin) and open an ahead-of-its-time high-end modern Mexican restaurant in East Village (El Vitral Restaurant & Tequileria, 2009-2013). 

Now Becker is branching out again, opening two new concepts in Barrio Logan this fall. 

The first will be upstairs from Fish Guts, which at one point was destined to become an intimate omakase counter. Santo Poco will be a lunch-only sandwich shop, offering takeout and delivery (no dine-in), and the sandwiches will be a little Mexican, a little French, a little Italian, a little from Chicago, a little from New York. Basically, a bunch of different styles all on really, really good bread. 

“There’s probably going to be a Cuban-style sandwich in there with a touch of Mexican, some cold cut Italians, too, putting my touch on them,” he says. “That’s what I feel like is my style of cooking.” 

Things will be traditional, but inventive. Like his fish & chips taco at Fish Guts: two classic dishes, one killer mash-up. There will also be a hat tip to the late, great Anthony Bourdain, a sandwich called the Antonio Bourdain. 

The second will be across the street from Fish Guts in the former Lia’s Lumpia space. Concrete Cowboy will be a taco-driven joint on the same wavelength as Fish Guts (keep it simple, keep it special), but featuring land animals rather than sea brethren. Think tacos made with duck confit, ribeye, pork belly, skirt steak. 

The inspiration behind Concrete Cowboy comes from Becker’s father, a lifelong Western obsessive, despite growing up in Mexico City’s urban metropolis. “He always liked that cowboy life, that vibe,” he says. “I always say ‘Dad, you just grew up in the wrong city.”

He’s aiming to open Santo Poco in October and Concrete Cowboy in November. Neither require massive renovations, and while the former Lia’s Lumpia space will keep the cabin-esque aesthetic, he’s creating more of an adobe-style exterior and an interior lined with Western-themed wallpaper and taxidermied animals. He’ll also tweak the bar layout to move from a fast-casual feel to full service. 

Local designer Dane Danner is designing both spaces and visual direction for menu layouts, logos, and packaging, going for low-key, but high on vibes. Once Concrete Cowboy opens, Fish Guts will temporarily close to remodel the space to switch its white palette for a warmer feel, plus introducing a refreshed menu featuring some new tacos and other items. 

Could another Fish Guts be on the way somewhere else in San Diego? Not likely, says Becker. “Fish Guts is cool, “ he says. “I feel once you start branching out, it’s more forced, not as organic.” So for now, count on Becker staying in the neighborhood. 

Santo Poco opens for lunch daily October 2026, 2222 Logan Avenue (above Fish Guts). Concrete Cowboy opens Tuesday through Sunday for lunch and dinner November 2026, 2219 Logan Avenue.

Beth Demmon

About Beth Demmon

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.

Food & Drink AUGUST 16, 2026

Madison on Park Temporarily Closing Next Month

The University Heights eatery will close September 7 for a multi-month renovation and rebrand

Madison on Park Temporarily Closing Next Month
Courtesy of Madison on Park

Ten years ago, restaurant design centered around sleek minimalism. Fonts lacked serifs, clean lines dominated, and any manufacturer that made globe-shaped chandeliers must have made an absolute killing.

Things have changed since then, and Jeff Fink says it’s time for Madison on Park to glow up. On September 7, Madison will temporarily close its doors for a top-to-bottom renovation of the space and concept. Fink hopes to reopen this fall ahead of the busy holiday season, with a new look he calls moody mid-century maximalism. 

“We have to take into consideration what’s going on culturally,” he says. When Madison first opened, TikTok wasn’t a thing in the U.S. and craft cocktails felt relatively cutting-edge. Today, he sees a resurgence in the vintage look, handmade goods, and low-to-no ABV drinks dominating menus everywhere. 

Courtesy of Madison on Park | Photo Credit: Andy McRory

Fink and his partner Matt Sieve have already dabbled with that sort of motif at Sonny’s Pizza, their Brooklyn-inspired joint around the corner. Fully half of the cocktail menu is made up of spritzes, mocktails, and Negronis. Madison 2.0 will take it further.

The new concept doesn’t have a name yet—Fink says they have to feel out the vibes as they make progress with the design. “The name comes when you see it appear,” he says. But he has a few design elements in mind: things like more artwork and more uplighting. “Not cluttered and overstuffed… I want to keep it intimate, sexy, and immersive.”

Madison rightly earned its rep as one of the best-dressed eateries in San Diego, nabbing an Orchid Award for interior design its first year. The returning designers Anna and David Sindelar originally transformed the space from weird padded walls and fake greenery at Lei Lounge into a mid-century modern wonderland, complete with a signature arched ceiling and geometric patterns aplenty. Michelin-recognized chef Mario Cassineri (Ciccia Osteria, Bice Ristorante) built a menu heavy on Mediterranean flavors mixed with California classics. 

The new menu shouldn’t feel completely jarring, but will take cues from Fink’s recent travels in Spain with his family. Expect shareable plates with lighter ingredients. “Americans eat way too much, and our portions are way too big,” he says. “I like the idea of smaller plates, healthier plates, and being creative… I’d rather see 15 items on the menu that are all less than $20 so that I can try different ones.” Bar manager Danny Kuehner will continue developing craft cocktails and mocktails for the new venture, as well as curating a selection of wine from Europe and locally. 

Courtesy of Madison on Park | Photo Credit: Haley Hill

This isn’t the only project on their plate. Besides running Sonny’s in University Heights and Madi in Normal Heights, later this fall, Fink and Sieve will also open Josie’s, a modern all-day, Midwestern-style diner inspired by Sieve’s Minnesota roots. Like all their restaurants, it’ll hold a special part of their families’ legacies—something Fink hopes people feel as soon as they enter.

“You walk into Sonny’s, you’re like ‘Oh, Jeff’s at home,’” Fink laughs. “[Josies’] will be ‘Matt’s at home.’” The next version of Madison? We’ll have to wait and see. 

Madison on Park will temporarily close on September 7 until October (barring any unexpected delays). Keep up with the newest updates on Madison’s Instagram.


Listen Now: The Latest in San Diego’s Food and Drink Scene

Have breaking news, exciting scoops, or great stories about new San Diego restaurants or the city’s food scene? Send your pitches to [email protected].

Beth Demmon

About Beth Demmon

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.

Studio S FEBRUARY 26, 2026

Chef Aidan Owens Thinks Your Fish is Boring

The 29-year-old culinary director at Herb & Sea is making seafood sexy (and approachable) again

Implementing a farm-to-table model hardly deserves acknowledgement these days. It’s not a stretch. It’s not innovative. “It’s the bare f**king minimum,” says Herb & Sea‘s executive chef Aidan Owens.  

When I arrive at the Encinitas restaurant, I’m ready to talk sustainability, farm-to-table stuff, with Owens. “Did you see the chin on that?” he says of the extra big jiggly chin on the sheephead that just arrived with the day’s fresh catch. I did. It was Jay Leno adjacent.

I learn quickly that he somehow oozes both charm and stone-cold honesty. Maybe he could construct a new dish with chin goo, like he did when he had a bunch of tuna scraps and voila’d it into a smooth and crowd-pleasing ‘nduja. “I want to know what’s in there,” he says.    

Courtesy of Herb & Sea

The instinct to look closer, to dig into what others might discard, says a lot about the chef’s approach. I guide him back to our topic, but he has something else on his mind. “We’re overcomplicating food—what happened to just cooking good food and having fun with it?”

Owens grew up on a farm in Byron Bay, Australia, where sustainability wasn’t a concept you chat about so much as a way of life. Think dirt roads, backyard chickens, pulling vegetables straight from the ground, and a mother who believed that if you couldn’t pronounce the ingredients on a package, you shouldn’t eat what was inside.

Food wasn’t precious or performative. Making it was what you did because you were hungry and that’s still what inspires Owens today. “I like to cook good food because I like to eat good food,” he says.

His approach to sustainability at Herb & Sea began so naturally that it felt just like instinct. “I was just like, ‘Let’s order food from the people who live and work here,’” he says.

Courtesy of Herb & Sea

And why wouldn’t he when lives in San Diego? Cities all over the world vie for our goods. Our tuna is sent overseas. Our spiny lobsters hit dinner plates in China and Japan. Not to mention California’s producing a third of the country’s vegetables and three-quarters of its fruits and nuts. 

“Why would we outsource when it’s all here?” Owens asks.

Sustainability, in this context, is about cooking what exists in abundance, nearby, right now. “I love the local fish here. It’s f**king delicious and San Diego citrus, I mean, it is so f**ing good,” he says.

Instead of importing ingredients, Owens also looks for nearby alternatives. “You can find really cool things in the local waters,” he says, pointing out that stingray cheeks taste similar to scallops.

Courtesy of Herb & Sea

Whatever he finds in that sheephead chin might just be the next substitute for marrow. But to make this work, it means getting diners amped up about the slightly unfamiliar. 

Tasting menus, where diners are completely in his hands, become an opportunity to gently push boundaries. “I’ll serve mackerel, because people think they hate it,” Owens says, noting that the abundant local fish can have some fishiness. “But when it’s fresh, it’s arguably one of the best fish in the ocean.”

He also tweaks the language on the menu so people might feel more compelled to give dishes a try without preconceived notions. He might use “lengua” instead of “tongue.” “Whelk” instead of “snail.” When he puts “stingray throat” on the menu, he disarmingly calls it “skate.” 

To reduce waste, scraps aren’t always discarded but rather turned into something new. Sometimes they’re smoked, cured or fermented. Apples going bad turn into apple ponzu. Lemons turn to marmalade, which stretches their usefulness far beyond peak season. “And it’s super tasty on our pizza,” he says.

What makes the food even richer, is the relationships he’s built with farmers. Though it didn’t always feel natural, Owens sought personal connection first. He recalls approaching a fisherman at the Tuna Harbor Dockside Market. “I was awkward,” he says. “I went up to him and said, ‘I like your fish.’”

Owen’s is now so close to his suppliers—like fishermen Ryan Sebo and Joe Daly—that he gets texted pictures of fresh catches right as they flop on the boat. The messages always ask if he wants first dibs. “I say yes to a lot of fish,” Owens says, noting that Herb & Sea can go through 2,000 pounds of seafood a week.

Courtesy of Herb & Sea

The next evolution of sustainability, in his view, will be chefs working directly with producers such as his alliance with Sebo, cutting out middlemen and purveyors where possible. “It will put more money in the pockets of the people doing the work,” he says.

It will mean that chefs can’t just know their local farmers and producers, but they’ll choose to work with the ones who have the best practices. Dining and sustainability will become much less about the final plate. “It will be more about the impact that plate has on the Earth,” he says.  

Ultimately, he believes sustainability doesn’t need to be loud. It doesn’t need hashtags. It just needs to be honest.

“We aren’t saving lives. We’re feeding people good food,” he says.

And yet, in feeding people well—simply, thoughtfully, responsibly—something meaningful happens. Guests leave satisfied. Ingredients are respected. Local ecosystems are supported and food returns to what it has always been at its core: nourishment, pleasure, and a quiet reflection of the place it comes from.

No buzzwords required.

Food & Drink AUGUST 14, 2026

A New Cinnamon Roll Obsession is Baking in South Bay

Sinner Buns is building a following for its slow-made, seriously gooey weekend treats

A New Cinnamon Roll Obsession is Baking in South Bay
Courtesy of Sinner Buns

When I was pregnant, my food craving was singular and intense. If I didn’t eat at least one thing doused in cinnamon every day (ideally, more than one), I was—to put it gently—a complete monster. 

Since then, my obsession has tempered somewhat. But cinnamon buns still perch high on my top treats list, so I’m always on the lookout for the next great place to indulge. IMO, The Huddle in Mission Hills’ mondo cinnamon roll remains top-tier, but after eyeing the ooey, gooey goodies from Sinner Buns, we might have a contender. 

Originally from Ukraine, Daria Nadar had already done everything one can do at a bakery—business operations, wholesale contracts, actually baking, you name it—so during the pandemic, she started dabbling with perfecting her cinnamon rolls. After she got a couple fans over social media, she threw her first pop-up to see how they’d be received. She sold out.

After a few false starts with a couple storefronts and business deals, Nadar officially launched Sinner Buns in October 2025 with her partner Filipe Pazi. After making it through an unexpectedly hectic season stuffed with holiday orders, the team closed temporarily to get everything in line and reopened this April. Business has remained in full swing ever since. 

There are only so many ingredients in a cinnamon roll, but “the process is what makes it special,” she says, adding they use fresh yeast rather than powder and a 48-hour process for each batch of brioche dough made to order. (Thus the need for pre-orders.) Customers can preorder until Thursday each week for pickup Friday, Saturday, or Sunday from Sinner Buns’ ghost kitchen at 780 Hollister Street, just east of Imperial Beach.

You can also catch her at various pop-ups around San Diego. Eventually, Nadar opens to offer nationwide shipping (once she figures out the logistics and quality control) and one day, her own storefront. 

But it’ll be on her terms, not the whims of social media. “We already learned how to not only rely on virality of the product, because you go viral and then it fades,” she says. “It’s a slow burner, and I know eventually, it’s going to grow much more.”

Courtesy of San Diego Spirits Festival

San Diego Restaurant News & Food Events

Beth’s Bites

  • Get spirited away at the 17th annual San Diego Spirits Festival. If you understood that reference, I regret to inform you that it is not a Studio Ghibli watchathon, but it’s still a win with a bonanza of craft makers pouring libations at the Museum of Contemporary Art in La Jolla for two full days. On September 26-27, try sips, glugs, and guzzles from brands like Condesa Gin and Uncle Nearest (with some bites to wash it all down, of course). Could you ask for a more picturesque venue? Spoiler alert: no.
  • You love to see a longtime employee take the reins of a beloved local institution. That’s exactly what happened at Konito’s Cafe in Pacific Beach, which is currently transitioning to Pablo’s Cafe, which is now under new ownership. (Yes, his name is Pablo.) Will their breakfast sandwich still slap? Guess we’ll have to go find out. 
  • I’ve yet to visit Tigawok, the small California-based chain serving mini bowls like Kung Pao chicken and Mapo tofu. But the latest storefront (and the first in San Diego) is now soft open in La Jolla, and it’s only a matter of time before their Sichuan shredded chicken gets in my belly.

Listen Now: The Latest in San Diego’s Food and Drink Scene

Have breaking news, exciting scoops, or great stories about new San Diego restaurants or the city’s food scene? Send your pitches to [email protected].

Beth Demmon

About Beth Demmon

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.

Food & Drink AUGUST 13, 2026

Love Pupusas Brings Salvadoran Home Cooking to San Diego

From her Rancho Peñasquitos kitchen, Yanira Majano is sharing family recipes through San Diego’s growing home-restaurant movement

Love Pupusas Brings Salvadoran Home Cooking to San Diego
Photo Credit: Jen Lo

When San Diego launched Micro Enterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKO), it changed everything. Riverside County first established the experimental program in 2019, with San Diego introducing its own countywide pilot program in 2022 and granting it permanent status in 2024. The new category allowed people to launch at-home retail food operations—basically, home restaurants—with special requirements and restrictions to ensure food safety and smooth operations. Over two dozen counties across California have since adopted their own versions with over 1,200 permits issued, around 100 of them in San Diego alone.

Some have a dizzyingly long waitlist (Warung RieRie), others are still getting their name out there (The Hidden Gazebo Eatery), and still others use MEHKO for pickups rather than fully opening their home as an onsite dining facility. Love Pupusas falls into that category.

Yanira Majano came with her family from El Salvador to the United States when she was 11 years old, bringing a love of cooking and desire to share the country’s cuisine along with her. “There’s a lot of similarity [between Salvadoran food and] Central, South America, even Baja Mexico,” she says. Salvadoran cooking tends to be less spicy than some Mexican cuisines, with an emphasis on ingredients like corn, staples like yucca root (cassava), meats like crispy pork (chicharrón), and sides like curtido, a tangy cabbage slaw that’s typically either naturally fermented or vinegar-based. 

And of course, the signature dish of El Salvador—pupusas. 

In San Diego, Salvadoran food lacks the widespread availability of other Latin American cuisines like Mexican or Peruvian food, but Majano says she’s seen pupusas gain popularity over the past few years. But she likes to think her recipes, which have been passed down by her mother and kitchen partner Martha, contain a certain special something.

Some pupuserías use rice flour to create the handheld stuffed tortillas, but she prefers the more traditional gluten-free corn flour. Still, it’s what’s inside that really counts. “That’s where we put our own touch,” she explains. Most of Majano’s pupusas come with cheese and different fillings like carnitas, black beans, mushrooms, or zucchini, but she also offers vegan options. Every one comes with a side of curtido and salsa, each made fresh daily.

Showing people the magic of home-cooked food might not have been possible without the MEHKO program or The Cook Alliance, a MEHKO support and advocacy coalition. Opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant requires a huge amount of start-up capital—at least six figures, generally. Not exactly pocket change. “But when the MEHKO program started in 2022, I said, ‘Oh my God, this is for me,’” says Majano. 

Now with four years under her belt, she says she’d love to bring Love Pupusas to more food festivals, host more pop-ups, and eventually open a food truck to keep serving the humble dish of her homeland, taking pride in every bite. “[I put] a lot of love in everything I do. You see it when you taste the food,” she promises. 

Pre-order Love Pupusas for next day pickup in Rancho Peñasquitos between noon and 5 p.m.

San Diego Restaurant News & Food Events

Beth’s Bites

  • It’s not the end of the road for Catalina Offshore Products—just the end of an address. The local family-owned fish market announced that come September, they are moving from their longtime location in the Morena District to The Old San Diego Seafood Building at 1842 McKinley Avenue in National City. Normal business operations will resume in October with the same retail market fully stocked with premium seafood and local catches, so it’s not goodbye, it’s just “see you later.” (And yes, 5202 Lovelock Street is still open until moving day.)
  • Don’t come at me with complaints about autumnal seasonal creep—I got an email this week about holiday shopping. In August. In comparison, the 2026 release of Karl Strauss Oktoberfest seems right on time. For the 38th year in a row, ahead of the Munich-inspired festivities, the 5 percent ABV malty amber lager is now available in bottles, with draft coming to the brewpubs in September. Despite the lack of chill in the air, there’s no reason why your fridge can’t be stocked with this frosty German delight.

Listen Now: The Latest in San Diego’s Food and Drink Scene

Have breaking news, exciting scoops, or great stories about new San Diego restaurants or the city’s food scene? Send your pitches to [email protected].

Beth Demmon

About Beth Demmon

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.

Partner Content AUGUST 21, 2026

This Scripps Clinic Physician is Serving Up Care

Laika Nur, MD, takes her love of volleyball from the court to the clinic as team physician for the San Diego Mojo

This Scripps Clinic Physician is Serving Up Care
Courtesy of Scripps Health

Growing up, Laika Nur, MD, Scripps Clinic sports medicine specialist, loved watching beach volleyball when the Association of Volleyball Professionals tour came to her hometown of Chicago. A talented volleyball player herself, she remembers sitting in the stands all day, and once, even got a couple autographs. Years later, Dr. Nur was attending a professional event focused on women’s sports, and the discussion turned to a new professional women’s volleyball league. The general manager and coaching staff  for San Diego’s team, the Mojo, happened to be in attendance, and Dr. Nur took the opportunity to ask them if they needed a team doctor. Flash forward to the Mojo’s inaugural 2024 season, when Dr. Nur officially became the team physician. Click here to read more about Dr. Nur and how she incorporates lessons she learned on the court into her practice. 

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