It’s nearly Thanksgiving, and this year’s selection of prix-fixe, to-go, and specialty menus from restaurants in San Diego will satisfy any craving. Between mouthwatering turkey buffets, oven-ready prepared meals, and desserts you’ll be dreaming about for months, everyone can enjoy the only thing better than a home-cooked meal: One you don’t have to make yourself. Here are 30 San Diego restaurants—including some of the city’s best—that are serving Thanksgiving dinner this year.
Named after The Inn’s designer and architect, Lilian Rice, Lilian’s is serving a four-course dinner for $125 this Thanksgiving. The Rancho Santa Fe restaurant is offering options for each course, including perfectly fried and crispy squash blossoms, slow-roasted beets with creamy burrata, and a fall-off-the-bone 24-hour brandt beef short rib plate. Complement your meal with the restaurant’s iconic specialty drinks. Reservations are now available.
Time: 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Price: $125 per adult, $45 for children 12 and under
Address: 5951 Linea Del Cielo, Rancho Santa Fe
Cafe Champagne at Thornton Winery
Cafe Champagne at Thornton Winery in Temecula will host an all-day Thanksgiving affair, during which attendees should expect a memorable experience where they can indulge in a choose-your-own three-course meal alongside award-winning wines. Classic entrees will include butter truffle roasted turkey with mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce, or butternut squash ravioli and focaccia bread. The meal will run from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., and reservations are required via Opentable.
Time: 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Price: $105 Adults; $94.50 Wine Club; $89.25 Reserve Club; $32.95 Children 5-10 and up; plus tax & gratuity
In Barrio Logan, the food-truck-turned-brick-and-mortar Lia’s Lumpia is renowned for its mouth-watering Filipino menu. Owner Spencer Hunter and his mother—the eponymous Lia—will be offering preorders for Thanksgiving Day to-go boxes until November 26. Will you get the pork belly deviled eggs or turkey holiday lumpia? The mango-glazed ham or cornish game hen adobo? Just make sure you save room for the pan de sal stuffing and persimmon green beans, maybe with a side of the toasted rice vanilla ice cream.
Time: Preorders available until November 26 for pickup on Thanksgiving Day between 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Customers can make a reservation via text or email, and will receive a link to payment for pickup.
Price: $85 for two servings; $150 for four
Address: 2219 Logan Avenue, San Diego
Courtesy of Great Maple
Great Maple
Founded by award-winning restaurateur and San Diego native Johnny Rivera, this Hillcrest, Michelin-guide darling will be open for brunch from 8:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., serving a special of fried turkey, eggs, and pumpkin pecan caramel pancakes. Those who prefer a later Turkey day meal can join them for dinner starting at 11:30 a.m., or pick up one of Great Maple’s dinner boxes for two or four that includes a starter, salad, entree, and sweet from 3:30 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. the same day. This year, there will also be a special pie pickup—key lime or pumpkin with gingersnap crust—on both Wednesday, November 27, and Thursday, November 28. For reservations and pickup information, visit here.
Time: Dine-in from 8:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., pick-up from 3:30 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.; dine-in will be
Price: $160 for two; $295 for four
Address: 1451 Washington St, San Diego
Chefsgiving
On November 14, from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m., some of San Diego’s most decorated and respected chefs will join together to prepare a meal of their favorite Thanksgiving dishes, alongside carefully-selected wine pairings from The Prisoner Wine Company. Taste some of the city’s best of the best: duck carnitas from executive chef Roberto Alcocer of Valle Oceanside, dynamite lobster mac and cheese from executive chef Steven Ruiz at Lionfish, juicy turkey meatball with soy glaze from executive chef Brandon Sloan at Pendry San Diego, and pumpkin bars or a dark chocolate truffle torte for dessert. A portion of the proceeds will go to the San Diego Food Bank.
Time: 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.
Price: $150 per ticket
Address: Provisional Kitchen, 425 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
Mister A’s
Celebrate Thanksgiving in style with a 12th floor view of the San Diego skyline from Mister A’s in Bankers Hill, where business casual attire is encouraged. Look out at the city while enjoying the roman artichoke appetizer or the black truffle cacio e pepe. Stay close to tradition with the restaurant’s roasted turkey, or stray a bit further afield and try the 14-ounce Wagyu ribeye with maître d’ butter, potato croustillant, and scallion cream. And what’s that? Ginger butterscotch chia pudding for dessert? Or a salted caramel ganache? This prix-fixe menu has it all.
Time: First seating is from noon until 3:00 p.m.; the second seating is from 4:30 p.m. until 7:45 p.m.
Price: $105 for adults; $45 for children 12 and under.
Address: 2550 Fifth Ave 12th floor, San Diego
Pacific Catch
This is a safe space to acknowledge Thanksgiving food isn’t for everybody, so if you’re looking for a warm and cozy meal that isn’t chock full of tryptophan, swing by Pacific Catch in La Jolla for their updated fall menu. Choose between the West Coast and East Coast-style lobster rolls (though if you order the West Coast style, I’m sorry, you’re wrong), their new spicy green curry bowl, or clam chowder with applewood bacon and crispy shallots. They’ve also added a new surf and turf to the menu with lobster tail and either salmon or skirt steak.
Time: 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 11:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Price: Most entrees on the menu are $12.95 and up
Address: 575 La Jolla Village Dr Suite 1160, San Diego, CA 92122
Courtesy of George’s at the Cove
George’s at the Cove
Head to George’s at the Cove for a family style prix-fixe menu with a side of floor-to-ceiling views of the La Jolla coastline. Not only can customers expect a family-style selection with arugula salad, slow-roasted Diestel turkey breast, sausage stuffed leg roulade, smoked potato puree, and more. Pastry chef Anna Adams will be preparing three varieties of Thanksgiving pie for takeout: gingerbread pumpkin, Chai apple, and pecan caramel for $38 each. Preorders are required, and pickup will only be available after 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 27. Reservations are available on Tock.
Time: 2:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Price: $90 for adults; $45 for children 12 and under
Address: 1250 Prospect Street, La Jolla
Nine-Ten
Nine-Ten executive chef Jason Knibb and pastry chef Jose Alonzo III are designing a three-course, prix-fixe menu that blends Thanksgiving holiday favorites with seasonal ingredients and specialty plates. The award-winning La Jolla destination won’t be releasing the full list of dishes until mid-November, but reservations are expected to fill up regardless (and we can at least confirm there will be a roasted honeynut squash dish with whipped ricotta and a honey-sherry gastrique). Prearrange your table by calling (858) 964-5400. A waiting list will be established when reservations are full.
Time: 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.
Price: $100 per adult; $25 turkey plate for children 12 and under
Address: 910 Prospect St, La Jolla, California 92037
Chez Loma
Head over to “The Crown City” for a thanksgiving feast at Chez Loma located within the historic Carez Hizar House built in 1889. This charming restaurant offers a festive venue where friends and family can gather to savor in French and Baja flavors. Alongside their full dinner menu, Chez Loma will be offering a three-course french menu including a pan roasted half duck.
Time: 1p.m. until 9 p.m.
Price: Dishes range from $18 to $60
Address: 1132 Loma Ave, Coronado
Bronze Bird
Celebrate Thanksgiving in the Gaslamp Quarter with a three-course prix fixe at Bronze Bird. This holiday menu features SoCal-inspired takes on traditional favorites, including roasted turkey with herbed stuffing, rosemary mashed potatoes, and dessert choices like pecan walnut tartlet or pumpkin cheesecake. Reservations are available on OpenTable.
This year’s Thanksgiving buffet at the Hotel Del will take place in the recently restored Crown Room and Coronet Rooms, with gleaming chandeliers and a newly discovered and preserved mural from the 1880s. The menu is extensive, with a fresh sushi and sashimi station of yellowtail, ahi tuna, and assorted rolls. Help yourself to soups, charcuterie, pastas, and paellas, but make sure to leave room: The most wide-ranging table is the desserts.
Time: 12:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Price: Adult (Hotel Guest): $199*; Adult (General): $205* (On Nov 15, price increases to $225); Child (Ages 5-12): $100*; Young Child (Ages 0-4): Complimentary with paying adult. Members receive a member discount.
Address: 1500 Orange Ave, Coronado
Rancho Valencia
Go all-out at Rancho Valencia with a family-friendly celebration featuring a bounce house, carriage rides, face-painting, and even a petting zoo. Adults can make the most of the restaurant and spa’s raw bar and carving station, then head over to the dessert buffet. Not looking to hang around? Rancho Valencia will also be offering to-go boxes this year, which serve a minimum of four people and start at $350. Those orders must be placed by midnight on Sunday, November 24.
Time: To-go pickup will be on Wednesday, November 27. Dine-in will be from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 28
Price: $235 per adult; $95 for children 11 and under. Kids under 3 eat free.
Address: 5921 Valencia Circle, Rancho Santa Fe
Courtesy of Bahia Resort Hotel
Dockside 1953 at The Bahia Resort Hotel
You could spend all day at The Bahia Resort Hotel’s restaurant, Dockside 1953, which will be open for both its standard a la carte brunch and a Thanksgiving buffet. Expect seven stations and a whole lot to choose from such as oysters on the half shell, creamy soups and grain salads, and an indulgent smoked gouda and aged cheddar mac and cheese dish to satisfy even the strongest appetite. Don’t miss out on the made-to-order, sweet stuffed crepes, with everything from smooth, nutty nutella and bananas to apple compote.
Time: Brunch is from 7:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.; Dinner is from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
Price: $150 for adults; $68 for children 5-12; children 4 and under are free
Address: 998 W Mission Bay Dr, San Diego, CA 92109
Ember & Rye
There’s something for everyone at Ember & Rye this year, which has planned a truly expansive Thanksgiving brunchanddinner menu. Start your day at the buffet and choose from a smorgasbord of seafood like smoked salmon and trout, or maybe embrace full breakfast mode and order the lobster roll benedict or custom omelet. If you’re not really a breakfast person, swing back around in the evening for either smoked turkey or a Colorado rack of lamb. Top it all off with some praline pumpkin pie.
Time: Brunch is from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; Dinner is from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Price: Brunch is $155 for adults and $60 for kids ages two to 12. Dinner is a la carte.
Address: 7447 Batiquitos Dr, Carlsbad
Courtesy of Catamaran Resort
Oceana at Catamaran Resort
Savor a sumptuous holiday dinner that starts with bottomless plates of sushi and ends with an entire table spread of tarts and turnovers, but be sure to plan for the apple-cider-and-citrus-brined turkey course. Peer out at the view across Mission Bay from the resort’s ballroom while sipping on an Oceana espresso martini or zero-proof passionfruit-orange-guava juice with honey.
Time: 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
Price: $150 for adults; $68 for children between 5 and 12; free for children under 4
Address: 3999 Mission Blvd, San Diego, CA 92109
ARLO
The 2024 Reader’s Choice winner for Best Hotel Restaurant and Critic’s Choice winner for Best Restaurant For Big Groups is Arlo. And this year they’re hosting a buffet with festive favorites for the whole family. Start with a persimmon and arugula salad with smoked goat cheese crumbles before forking over butter-poached turkey thighs and a side of roasted sweet potato with maple streusel. There will be a butternut squash ravioli option for the pasta-lovers in the house (including a choice of sauce and toppings), and no one can say no to the flourless chocolate cake as one of several dessert options.
Time: 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Price: $90 per person, $38 for children 12 and under
Address: 500 Hotel Circle N, San Diego
Rumorosa
Head over to the recently-opened Rumorosa on Harbor Island for their Thanksgiving buffet — and waterfront views from the Sheraton. Enjoy a “Cali-Baja dining experience” with curated starters like charcuterie plates with cheeses from both Mexico and California, followed by your pick of adobo-roasted turkey breast, black garlic-marinated NY strip, or something else entirely. Let loose with an eggnog rompope and tres leches cake, or cream cheese flan. For reservations, visit OpenTable.
Time: 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Price: $49 adults and $25 kids 5 to 12; Kids under 5 eat free
Address: 1380 Harbor Island Drive, San Diego
Courtesy of Juniper & Ivy
Thanksgiving Take-Home Meals in San Diego
Juniper & Ivy
Feed parties of four to six guests with Juniper and Ivy’s thoughtfully-crafted holiday feast. Hassle-free yet elevated, Juniper and Ivy’s menu will allow you to host the perfect meal at home without the fuss involved in extensive preparation. Serve your family and friends the classics: herb-roasted turkey, Yukon gold potatoes, cider gravy, miso-maple candied yams, and parker house rolls. There are only a limited number of meals available, and pre-orders are now open.
Time: Wednesday, November 27, from 12:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Price: $395
Address: 2228 Kettner Blvd, San Diego
Terra
In addition to their a la carte menu, takeout-only Terra is serving an “everything but the bird” feast for four with a fall salad, roasted butternut squash soup, apple-pecan cornbread stuffing, and garlic-herb roasted cauliflower and broccoli. There’s even a scaled-down version as a fully prepared “kids menu” for the little ones in your life.
Time: Orders must be placed by 12 p.m. on Saturday November 23 to be picked up between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 27.
Price: A la carte items are available, and packages for four or more people start at $169.99
Address: 7091 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego
The Plot
Vegetarians, rejoice: The Plot has you covered with a satisfying, sustainable, three-course dinner of an autumn quinoa salad drizzled with maple olive oil dressing, your choice of entree—though who is really going to be able to choose between lentil and wild-rice based apple sage sausage or chorizo-stuffed squash (also faux meat, in case you were wondering) —and a creamy pumpkin cheesecake with pepita creme and chocolate crumble. Carnivores shouldn’t get to have all the fun.
Time: Pick-up Wednesday, November 27, between noon and 9:00 p.m.
Price: $35 per person for individual meals
Address: 1733 S Coast Hwy, Oceanside
Courtesy of Pop-Pie Co.
Pop-Pie Co.
For the month of November, Pop-Pie Co will be running a limited-time special of their turkey-pot pie in a buttery crust, filled with an herb cream sauce and stuffed full of shredded meat, peas, carrots, and pearl onions. Enjoy them hot-and-ready, or frozen to prepare at home. Pop-Pie will also have pre-orders open for their nine-inch Thanksgiving specialty pies: pumpkin cream cheese with a soft custard, vegan apple cranberry ginger crumble, sweet and salty caramel apple crumble, or nutty and zesty bourbon pecan.
Time: Turkey pot pies will be available during business hours at least through Thanksgiving day. Thanksgiving pie specialties will be available Wednesday, November 27, from 11 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. and Thursday, November 28 from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.
Price: Turkey pot pie is $12.50 plus tax, all other specialty pies are $37 plus tax
Address: 4404 Park Blvd suite a, San Diego
Beach Break Market
Don’t lift a finger and feel good about it with holiday catering from organic grab-and-go market Beach Break Market in La Jolla. Choose from appetizer platters of sweet potato bites, crudites, fresh fruit, and more. Get a beet and lemon salad with maple-balsamic vinaigrette and ricotta. Impress your guests by serving rosemary mustard lamb rack, stuffed acorn squash, and a side of the rosemary roasted rainbow carrots, or show up to someone else’s party with wild rice pilaf and winter mushrooms. If anyone asks, you definitely made it yourself. And your secret is safe with us.
Time: Pickup is anytime during regular business hours (10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) between November 1 to January 1.
Price: Roughly $40 – $90 per person, depending on order
Address: 5646 La Jolla Blvd, La Jolla
Tribute Pizza
Pizza? For Thanksgiving? Not quite, but certainly just as good. Tribute Pizza owner Matthew Lyons will be serving two versions of Thanksgiving dinner this year: A nourishing vegetarian option with a decades-old family recipe for a savory cheese and nut loaf, or all-natural turkey breast lightly smoked and roasted in the wood oven. Both will be accompanied by porcini mushroom gravy, Aunt Lynette’s Southwest stuffing, wood-fired focaccia with butter, and an organic greens and walnut salad. Pre-orders are officially open for pickup between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 27.
Price: $319 for the vegetarian package; $359 for the turkey package
Time: 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 27
Address: 3077 N Park Way, San Diego
Courtesy of Little Frenchie
Little Frenchie
Pre-orders are now live for Little Frenchie’s party trays and pies. Feed between four and six people with the Les Amis platter of domestic and imported cheeses, meats, house jam, spreads, breads, and dried fruit. There’s a larger size, the La Famille, that serves between eight and 12, and don’t forget to pick up a truly stunning dessert in the form of the restaurant’s holiday treats: an apple crumble pie with Biscoff cookie crust, cream cheese chantilly rosettes, filled with rich and delicious cheesecake; a pumpkin cinnamon roll cake with spiced pumpkin jam filling and a cream cheese glaze; or a barrel-aged bourbon pecan pie with a chocolate crust and satiny Valrhona chocolate mousse.
Time: 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 27
Price: Pies start at $45, platters start at $85
Address: 1166 Orange Ave, Coronado
Jensen’s Point Loma
Family-owned and operated since 1940, Jensen’s grocery store is selling Diestel turkeys ranging from 12 to 30+ pounds in size. Choose from fresh, fully cooked, or the whole bird as part of a holiday feast, including cranberry sauce, stuffing, King’s hawaiian rolls, pumpkin pie, and more. Fresh turkeys start at $4.59/lb, while the whole shebang goes for $259 to feed a dozen people. There’s also an organic, oven-ready option, and pre-orders are already available for your convenience.
Time: Monday – Saturday, 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Sunday 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Price: Fresh: $4.49/lb; oven-ready $5.59/lb; fresh organic: $5.99/lb, organic oven-ready: $6.99/lb; fully-cooked whole: $119.99/lb; complete feast $259.99 not including tax.
Address: 955 Catalina Blvd #101, San Diego
Siesel’s Meats / Iowa Meat Farms
If you’ve never had a turducken, make 2024 your year with a fully-prepped, ready-for-baking turducken from one of our best butcher shops in San Diego: Siesel’s Meats in Bay Park and Iowa Meat Farms in Mission Gorge. Both locations will be selling at the same prices as 2023, and are eager to continue the two-plus decade tradition with meals of three different sizes that can feed between 10 and 30 people. Comprehensive instructions are available for the home chef. Orders must be placed by Thursday, November 21.
Time: Orders must be placed by Thursday, November 21 via phone at 619-275-1234 (Siesel’s) or 619-281-5766 (Iowa Meat Farms), or in person at either store. Pickup will run during normal business hours from Friday, November 22, through Wednesday, November 27.
Price: Purchases begin at $125 and go up to $195.
Address: Siesel’s Meats: 4131 Ashton St, San Diego | Iowa Meat Farms: 6041 Mission Gorge Rd, San Diego
Courtesy of The Wise Ox
The Wise Ox
Pre-order a pasture-raised, naturally-fed whole turkey from Diestel Farms at either the North Park or La Costa Wise Ox location this Thanksgiving day. (Pro tip: They do sell out, so get your $50 deposit in quick). Birds will be roughly 16 to 18 pounds, and both outposts will also have homemade gravy, meat butters, Italian sausage and more for sale. Top it all off with a pumpkin or apple crumble pie prepared by executive pastry chef Jeremy Harville—the latter option of which is made from his grandma’s own special recipe.
Time: Pick up between November 25 and November 27
Price: Turkeys are $8.99 / lb, and crumble or pie is $35 each
Addresses: North Park: 2855 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego | La Costa: 7755 El Camino Real, San Diego
Frost Me Cafe + Bakery
Pick up a scrumptious seasonal quiche for brunch from woman-owned Frost Me Cafe and Bakery. Current flavors include bacon, feta, and spinach; veggie and goat cheese; and ham cheddar and chive. Or, swing by the morning of Thanksgiving for their usual breakfast to keep your own kitchen clean. Owner Audrey Hermes will be preparing seven different specialty pies, including a gluten-free option (pumpkin coconut pecan) and a lemon blueberry tart that’s both gluten-free and vegan. Pies are $35 each and order close on Monday, November 25.
Time: Open every day from 7:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
Price: Pies are $35 each
Address: 555 W Date St, San Diego, CA 92101
Courtesy of Del’s Hideout
Del’s Hideout
Feed your whole family—or any group of six to eight people, really—with a turkey-day spread from barbecue favorite Del’s Hideout. Their pre-arranged package includes a choice of chef’s carving (a whole smoked turkey, beef brisket, or turkey breast), with three sides like killer beans and gluten-free bacon potato salad, and dinner rolls or cornbread. Not looking for a banquet? Keep it small and order a la carte, instead, and add a dessert of decadent banana pudding or sweet and crumbly peach cobbler. All orders must be placed by Monday, November 25, by 3:00 p.m. local time.
Time: November 28, 2024, between 10 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Price: Feast is $214.95; sides and desserts are $29.95 a la carte. A la carte chef’s carvings are a whole smoked turkey for $129.95 (feeds 8-10), prime beef brisket for $31.95, or turkey breast for $29.95
Address: 5351 Adobe Falls Rd, San Diego, CA 92120
Morena Provisions
Skip the hours of cooking this Thanksgiving and treat yourself to one of Morena Provisions’ takeout specials for up to 10 guests. This year’s menu features a savory turkey breast roulade, maple-roasted carrot salad, red wine-braised short ribs, and your choice of dark chocolate ganache or pecan pie for dessert. Place your order by Friday, November 22, for stress-free pickup or delivery.
Time: Pickup available on Wednesday, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.; delivery available Wednesday from 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Pricing: A la carte options, with group packages starting at $19
Location: 1122 Morena Blvd., Bay Park
Solare
Supplement your tablescape with takeout from the one and only Solare in Liberty Station. Voted a top five readers pick of the best restaurants in San Diego, this Michelin-guide spot has opened pre-orders for three iconic Italian dishes that blend comfort and taste. Purchase the Tuscan-style butternut squash soup—the secret ingredient for which is a little bit of white chocolate blended with the organic squash—by the quart. Or, opt for quarter- or full-sheets of thinly-sliced eggplant parmigiana or bechamel and bolognese lasagna made by chef Maria from Sicily. Email orders to [email protected] or call 619-270-9670.
Time: Pickup will be from 12 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. daily from Saturday, November 23 until Wednesday, November 27
Price: Orders start at $17 per portion and go up to $26 per portion
Julie Bogen is an experienced writer and digital strategist whose work has been featured in The Atlantic, The 19th News, Cosmopolitan Magazine, and more. She is passionate about storytelling that centers women and marginalized communities, and when not working she's either with her family or in a barre studio.
Before, during, and after the Fourth of July, San Diegans can commemorate America’s 250th anniversary with an abundance of stars, stripes and local celebrations. America The Beautiful: 250 at The Rady Shell and Lamb’s Players Theatre’s revival of American Rhythm will look back at the many songs which define our country. Liberty Station’s Anchored in Freedom celebration and the Independence Day Carnival offer community-centered fun and loads of family-friendly activities. And who can possibly forget the Big Bay Boom, which will resume its reign over San Diego Bay as the state’s biggest fireworks show. Outside of the holiday festivities, this week brings the yearly return of Little Italy’s Summer Sera and the Athenaeum Summer Festival, as well as a slate of championship matches for All Elite Wrestling.
Sip on refreshing beverages and savor a panoramic rooftop view this Friday from 6-8 p.m. during the 21-plus Sunset & Spritz at Margaritaville Hotel San Diego Gaslamp Quarter’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar. There will be a live DJ (until 9 p.m.), appetizers, pool and cabana access, a photo booth, and a cash bar (until 11 p.m.). To accentuate the summer theme, guests are invited to dress in white, pink, and orange attire. Tickets are $29 and come with a welcome aperol spritz.
616 J Street, Gaslamp
The 250 Grand Tasting Menu at Amaya
July 3 & 4
Bring a patriotic palette to the Fairmont Grand Del Mar for The 250 Grand Tasting Menu at Amaya this Friday and Saturday from 5-8:30 p.m. Patrons will be treated to a five-course tasting menu, curated to exhibit a selection of standout regional flavors and culinary concepts that have shaped our country’s distinct food heritage. The meal will also include beverage pairings with each course, such as wine, cocktails, and artisanal drinks. Reservations are $330 per person (with tax and 20% gratuity) on OpenTable.
Don Toliver thrives at being the life of the party (and the “After Party”). His fifth album Octane, released in February, is indicative of his thrill-seeking nature. As with his earlier releases, Octane sees Toliver operating in the space between hip-hop and R&B, with warbling vocals and blaring beats that are best heard at a high volume. This Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., Toliver will play at Pechanga Arena, with rappers SoFaygo, Chase B and SahBabii—who had a guest verse on Octane standout “K9”—as special guests. Tickets start at $156 for this concert.
What makes musicals like Wicked, Cats, Chicago, and Jersey Boys so timeless is the legion of excellent songs that makes fans out of those who’ve never even watched the show. This Friday at 7:30 p.m. during Blockbuster Broadway! at The Rady Shell, conductor Evan Roider, the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, and veteran vocalists Alex Getlin, Jessica Hendy, Scott Coulter, and John Boswell (also on piano) will perform an all-star theater soundtrack. In addition to the shows named above, audiences can expect songs from A Chorus Line, The Phantom of the Opera, Annie,and more. Tickets range from $57 to $129 for this concert.
222 Marina Park Way, Embarcadero
America The Beautiful: 250 at The Rady Shell
July 4
One night after recognizing the brilliance of Broadway, The Rady Shell will ring in the United States’ landmark anniversary with America The Beautiful: 250 this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Conductor Byron Stripling, joined by a five-performer ensemble and the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, will lead a night of ballads that best resemble the red, white, and blue, including songs sourced from the Great American Songbook. After the show, concertgoers are invited to watch the nearby Big Bay Boom from their seats. Tickets range from $71 to $139 for this concert.
222 Marina Park Way, Embarcadero
Athenaeum Summer Festival at Athenaeum Music & Arts Library
Ryan Hardison is a freelance arts and entertainment writer and recent graduate of San Diego State. When he's not staring at his laptop, he's likely eating an adobada burrito or getting sunburnt at the beach.
If you’ve ever squeezed yourself into a pair of black skinny jeans with a studded belt, sported a track jacket under a band t-shirt, or swept your Manic Panic-hued hair so far to the side that your part got caught in your cartilage earring, I have good news: Ocean Beach will get a shot of emo and pop-punk nostalgia when Drink 182 opens this July.
The pop-punk bar and pizza spot comes with bonafide scene points. Co-founder Jay Nightride runs the music production studio Nightride Visuals, has worked with artists like Steve Aoki, Lil Jon, and Fall Out Boy, and also plays in Death Cab for Karaoke, a live karaoke band that performs every month at Soda Bar (among other venues). His partner Tony Jaw is easier to spot—he’s the guy with the sky-high mohawk manning the karaoke booth at Redwing Bar & Grill who’s been in the local bar and hospitality business for over a decade.
Nightride says he’s had the idea for an emo enclave for years, but it wasn’t until after Covid that he partnered with Jaw and got the funding to move forward. “What I was looking to build was a place that I would want to be, where would I want to go to remember these nostalgic songs,” he says.
Pending permits and final inspections, Drink 182 is slated to open the second half of July. The vibe will be dive bar meets emo night, with memorabilia from different bands who have supported the project splashed across the walls, plus a few arcade games, TVs, and (I assume) a decent sound system. The hours are still undetermined, but Nightride says they tentatively plan to be open until 2 a.m. on weekends and Wednesdays for the OB Farmers Market. In the mornings, they’ll serve fresh pastries and coffee from the similarly music-aligned James Coffee Company (whose co-owner David Kennedy is a member of Angels & Airwaves with blink-182’s Tom DeLonge).
But it’ll be the pizza that really stands out—or at least, they hope. “We’re doing New England beach pizza… a really niche pizza that not a lot of people would know about, unless you’re from North Shore, Massachusetts,” says Nightride, a former Bostonian. “It’s a thin crust, very sweet sauce, very simple, fast, go-to-the-beach kind of thing.”
“Beach pizza” is characterized by its rectangular shape, very thin crust, sweet tomato sauce, and slices of Provolone cheese with minimal toppings. Drink 182’s version will feature homemade dough and sauce, as well as freshly sliced Boar’s Head Provolone. And yes, they are aware there are already a lot of pizza options in the area. It won’t be the same, Nightride promises.
“Everybody’s first reaction when they hear ‘pizza’ is like, ‘Oh great, another pizza place in OB,’” he laughs. “But we’re trying to do something different, just enough to differentiate it and give people another option.” If you’re not keen on the style, try one of their “drunkables,” another nostalgic riff they hope the pop-punk and emo crowd will appreciate. And if you still need a reason to give Drink 182 a try, I have more good news—you don’t actually have to break out your old skinny jeans. (In fact, please don’t.)
Drink 182 opens July 2026 at 5049 Newport Avenue in Ocean Beach.
Courtesy of Margaritaville Hotels & Resorts
San Diego Restaurant News & Food Events
Beth’s Bites
If the steak hype wasn’t hot enough already, The Heritage Steakhouse in Santee just announced Meredith Manée will serve as executive chef of the New York-style steakhouse when it opens in August. Her star-studded kitchen resume spans over 25 years, with stints at the Hotel del Coronado, the Four Seasons, and The Ritz-Carlton Maui, so I think it’s safe to assume we’ll be in good hands.
Rather than waste away in Margaritaville, you have the chance to support the San Diego Music Foundation at the annual Jimmy Buffett-inspired Day of Service at Margaritaville Hotel San Diego Gaslamp Quarter. On September 4 starting at 5 p.m., the rooftop bar will be rocking with live music and plenty of flowing cocktails, plus a silent auction and other activations to raise money for the local music education organization. I’ll drink to that.
The early bird gets the worm and you can get the early ticket to Celebrate the Craft, the annual culinary festival that takes place at The Lodge at Torrey Pines on October 18. If you snag your ticket before the end of June, you can save $50 (which is nothing to sneeze at), plus you’ll be helping support the San Diego Food Bank.
Mani e Grani, the pizza spot from the same people behind Ciccia Osteria, seems to be inching ever closer to opening its doors in Barrio Logan. I know I’m not the only one anxiously awaiting sinking my teeth into some wood-fired, chewy but crispy, hot-from-the-oven, authentic Italian pizza.
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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 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.
If absence makes hearts (and stomachs) grow fonder, then shuttered restaurants quickly become the hottest tickets in town—something a number of iconic institutions found out after taking very public hiatuses after historically long runs. For instance, following a lengthy (and extremely flip-floppy) closing process after 92 years in business, Las Cuatro Milpas reopened two blocks away in Mercado del Barrio. Similarly, Carlsbad butcher shop Tip Top Meats reopened in the same location (albeit a smaller space) after the death of founder Joachim “Big John” Haedrich in 2023. Finally, after a whopping decade out of business, Sami Ladeki and chef Alfie Szeprethy brought back Roppongi to its original Prospect Street space, where it was the talk of the town in the late ’90s. All came back under the same proprietors, so they weren’t third-party nostalgia-licensing deals. The algorithm may have ravaged our attention spans away from all but the newest and shiniest, but this proves there’s still hope for our collective prefrontal cortex.
Other local eateries honored their pasts by bringing in new perspectives. The Lion’s Share in Embarcadero, Milton’s Deli in Del Mar, Dudley’s Bakery in Santa Ysabel, and J-K’s Greek Cafe in La Mesa handed over the keys to new owners willing to take on a big task: maintain the soul of icons through particularly rough economic circumstances for restaurants, navigate big feelings from longtime regulars (who often don’t take kindly to change), and make some necessary changes to keep going for another few decades. Taking over a project in process can be a lot harder than starting from scratch. But building that feel-good nostalgia doesn’t happen overnight, so it sure helps to have a well-established playbook of success passed down from those who came before.
Courtesy of Sugarfish
The Expansion Class Arrives
It wasn’t just restaurant groups from Los Angeles that decided to put down roots en masse, although San Diego saw plenty of LA transplants recently (Sugarfish, Mr. Charlie’s, For the Win, Katsuya Ko, Bacari). Global brands like Chef Fei, Zuma, and Pepper Lunch have locations of their own on the way, and upscale Canadian eatery Joey joined to the inescapable gravitational pull of Westfield UTC’s culinary cosmos for its first spot in America’s Finest City. Good to see the rest of the world is catching up with what we’ve been seeing the last few years—San Diego is a dining destination already on the rise.
Choosing To Not Choose
Between the never-ending news cycle of doom and perimenopause brain fog, I’m at the stage in life where I’m more than happy to let someone else make a decision for me, especially when it comes to what’s for dinner. And based on the way a lot of menus look right now, I’m not alone. It seems like half the places I visit offer some version of a prix fixe, omakase, or tasting menu. Restaurants are embracing the curated experience to solve the problem of affordability (a fixed menu reduces food and labor costs, guarantees an acceptable check average, etc.) and critical thinking in one fell swoop. Omakase (meaning “I leave it up to you”) is far from a new concept in high-end Japanese sushi culture, but now that it’s popping up everywhere from coffee experiences to grab-and-go sushi and sandwiches, it’s gone from somewhat niche to nearly omnipresent.
Courtesy of Rikka Fika
Local Coffee Hit the World Stage
The world got an up-close look at San Diego’s coffee industry when we hosted the premier specialty coffee expo World of Coffee for the first time this April. San Diego’s long and rich coffee history stretches back to the late 19th century. Things percolated fairly quietly for around a century before really picking up steam. Today, there are nearly 200 specialty roasters and cafes across the county, with many earning national accolades like the Good Food Award (Steady State Roasting, 2020; Bird Rock Coffee Roasters, 2023, 2021, 2019, 2017, 2016), Roaster of the Year by Roast Magazine (Mostra Coffee, 2020; Bird Rock Coffee Roasters, 2012), and the Specialty Coffee Association Coffee Design Award for packaging (Rikka Fika, 2026). Now that we’ve moved past the comically insufferable coffee snob era of the early 2000s, even java newbies can feel comfortable walking into pretty much any coffee shop in San Diego, asking questions, trying a few things, and feeling confident they’re going to get great service and a great beverage.
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.
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.
Summer has officially kicked off, and San Diego is celebrating the sunny season with a myriad of fun events. From San Diego Pride week and a fairytale performance at Civic Theatre to a Santigold concert and Comic-Con, there are dozens of opportunities to make memories worth adding to your scrapbook. Here are all the best things to do in San Diego this July:
Divine inspirations, operatic ballads, and symphonic pop production elevate Rosalía’s Lux to heavenly levels. Hear angelic vocals ascend—in up to 13 languages—during her performance at Pechanga Arena.
Enjoy a night of feel-good indie rock and sing-along anthems at the Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre courtesy of Young the Giant and special guest Cold War Kids.
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Santigold collects genres like gold stars: musical accouterments that brighten her uniquely alternative sound. See her live in concert with dancehall producer Troy Baker Sound at Humphreys Concerts by the Bay.
Two male government workers pursue a secret romance amid the Lavender Scare in the San Diego Opera’s production of “Fellow Travelers” at the Balboa Theatre.
Audrey Hepburn. Marlon Brando. Salvador Dalí. What do these icons have in common? Each was the enigmatic focus of a Cecil Beaton portrait. Step inside Cecil Beaton’s Fashionable World, an alluring showcase of 20th-century style at San Diego Museum of Art.
Courtesy of San Diego Pride
More Fun Things to Do in San Diego This Month
1
The Little Italy Mercato will trade morning rays for golden-hour glow through its free Summer Sera, an expansion of the neighborhood’s farmers market with live music, artisanal finds, and a fetching amount of pet activities.
11–19
San Diego Pride week starts with a Dyke March and ends with the two-day “Pride Shines On” festival. The days in between? Run a 5K, march in the parade, visit the rainbow-lit St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, and more.
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Dress up for a Mediterranean-themed tea time at the Estancia La Jolla, a laid-back yet refined afternoon planned for the resort’s monthly Tea in the Garden series.
23–26
Nerd culture’s biggest gathering returns to the Convention Center. San Diego Comic-Con welcomes fans of everything from comic book cinema to ultra-rare collectibles for panels, exhibits, sneak peeks, and much more.
Ryan Hardison is a freelance arts and entertainment writer and recent graduate of San Diego State. When he's not staring at his laptop, he's likely eating an adobada burrito or getting sunburnt at the beach.
Omakase and fixed-price menus are one way hospitality businesses are addressing our collective food decision-making fatigue. But on the opposite end of the spectrum, some restaurateurs are offering a bonanza of totally unrelated options for people ordering on a whim. Why not pair a lobster grilled cheese sandwich, açaí bowl, and ridiculously loaded hot dog?
Starting June 27, diners can satisfy their spur-of-the-moment appetites at Global Fork in Little Italy, the latest food hall from Southern California-based Tiger Hospitality.
Six different food concepts will be featured in the 4,685-square-foot, indoor-outdoor space along the Piazza della Famiglia promenade. The space’s inaugural lineup includes a mix of Tiger Hospitality-owned concepts (Cosmos Burger, La Vida, Lobster Lab, and Prik Ki Nu Thai) and outside operators (Seattle-based Moto Pizza and Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream). The space next door, Good Enough Cocktail Club, is another Tiger-backed brand, operated by the team behind Same Same and Amor y Magia in Carlsbad.
Cosmos Burger serves smashburgers stacked with classic toppings, while Lobster Lab focuses on seafood favorites including lobster rolls, shrimp rolls, and lobster mac n’ cheese. Prik Ki Nu Thai adds Thai street food to the mix, with traditional noodle, rice, and stir-fry dishes. And for those looking for something on the lighter side, La Vida offers things like smoothies, salads, and wraps.
Courtesy of Global Fork Food Hall
Moto Pizza focuses on Detroit-style square pizza with Filipino influences and, despite the name, is not affiliated with Mr. Moto Pizza. Handel’s, which began in Ohio in 1945, will offer dozens of flavors ranging from staples like chocolate and vanilla to rotating specialties packed with candies, cookies, and other mix-ins. (Handel’s already has a number of locations across San Diego, with a La Mesa store coming later this year.)
Some of these vendors already operate at Miramar Food Hall, the other Tiger-owned food hall in San Clemente. And some of them will also appear in Station8, the next food hall slated to open in UC San Diego’s Theatre District Living and Learning Neighborhood later this fall. But if you ask me, reviving the space that housed the Little Italy Food Hall before its closure last February is a far better outcome than leaving empty suites smack in the middle of an area saturated with fantastic food options. Plus, where else can you order a slice of beef adobo pizza alongside squares of caviar toast and a banana split?
Global Fork opens June 27 at 550 W. Date Street, Suite B, in Little Italy. Initial operating hours are from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week, but vendor hours may differ.
Courtesy of Holland Partner Group
San Diego Restaurant News & Food Events
Beth’s Bites
La Jolla is reviving one of its own shuttered spaces this August with Tacos & Jarros, coming to the space on Wall Street that formerly housedComedor Nishi and Coffee Cup. The all-day Mexican restaurant is the latest project from the family behind Cazadores Mexican Grill in Santee and Cotija’s Taco Shop, and will offer wine, beer, tacos, traditional breakfast dishes, as well as lunch and dinner. Some concepts may have hit their ceiling (craft beer, anyone?), but thankfully, it seems that Mexican food still has a long way to go before that.
In the latest hilariously-named collaboration, on June 9, The Lion’s Share will host executive chef Tara Monsod from Animae for a one-night event called Animaeniacs. (Millennials who know, know.) The three-time James Beard Award Semifinalist Monsod will work with Lion’s Share executive chef and co-owner Dante Romero to create a multi-course, family-style dinner inspired by Romero’s Mexican background and Monsod’s Filipino heritage. Tickets get you a seat at the table, plus access to an afterparty in the Marina neighborhood hotspot’s loft, with seatings at 5 p.m. for the early birds and 8:30 p.m. for the night owls.
Thanks to my son’s lifelong obsession with boba, I’m always on the lookout for the latest bubble tea place to check out. Next on my list is Tera Tea House, a boba, matcha, and fruit tea joint coming this month (maybe?) to City Heights near the Copley-Price YMCA. Will I go because their logo is a cartoon dinosaur sipping on boba tea? No, but it sure doesn’t hurt.
After opening their latest outpost in North Park, Moniker Group announced plans to open their third Moniker General later this year inside West, a 37-story mixed use building coming to downtown at 1011 Union Street. The space will continue the group’s signature menu of coffee, cold brew, matcha, small bites, wine, and beer, and founder Ryan Sisson says they identified downtown for their next location due to the area’s “tremendous amount of momentum.” I’ve never lived in a building with a built-in coffee shop, but I’ve got to admit, it does sound like a pretty nice perk.
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 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.
Daniel A. Kaplan is a founding partner of Panakos LLP with more than three decades of civil litigation experience in both state and federal courts. Mr. Kaplan pursues and defends legal claims on behalf of companies, entrepreneurs, and business owners in high-stakes disputes. He focuses on business disputes including breach of contract, unfair competition, trade secret theft, securities disputes, fraud/misrepresentations, and employment matters.
“The best advocacy combines preparation, perspective, and a client relationship built on trust and candor.” — Daniel A. Kaplan
His clients include real estate investors, private and public corporations, and individuals seeking sophisticated legal counsel. Known for practical judgment and strategic advocacy, he works closely with an experienced and diverse legal team to protect, enforce, and defend his clients’ interests.
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